This Is A Special Place!

The last couple of days in the temple have been terrific.  I have been able to participate in baptisms, confirmations, initiatories, and endowments.  Yesterday was the first time I was able to help someone with their personal initiatory and endowment.  The Spirit was so strong, it was so special, just unlike anything I have ever been a part of.  This is a special place with special people.  I have never had such a hard time of controlling my emotions.  It is special.
Elder Bodily

Solomon's Farewell in Island 1st Branch!

Elder and Sister Solomon spoke in Sacrament Meeting today. 

 It was their last Sunday in the Island 1st Branch before heading home.

They both gave good talks, and I especially won't forget Sister Solomon's message:  

'I have no regrets', and each of us should live our lives 

 in such a way that we have no regrets either.

Sister Solomon went out of her way to make sure we clearly knew the best way possible to get home from the Wan Chai Chapel.  She is a sweet lady, and even though we have only known her and Elder Solomon for a short time, we will miss them.

Welcome and Goodbye!

This is a picture of the temple missionaries, the temple presidency, the temple recorder and a sweet sister that works in the office that can do everything.

This photo was taken after a wonder Chinese meal served to us by the presidency as a going home and coming party.

We were in awe of the dessert served, and I couldn't resist taking a picture.
Our temple recorder's wife, Sister Sonia Lee made these baked apples that looked like roses.  I hesitated eating mine knowing the time and work Sister Lee had to have gone to, in creating such a work of art.   But, I didn't hesitate for too long, because they looked scrumptious, and sure enough, they tasted as delicious as they were beautiful to look at.
It is obvious that Sister Lee is a talented woman, and if I knew her better, I would ask her to teach me how to make something so delectable.

Oops!  I digressed!
Elder and Sister Solomon have completed their mission and are going home to Arizona Tuesday morning and we are the new comers.  However, next Friday we get some other new missionaries so we will no longer be the new guys.

We had a wonderful time and feel very welcome by these wonderful people, we are so blessed.

What A Wonderful Day!

President and Sister Hui's daughter, Angela came to the temple today to receive her own endowment, as she is preparing to move to the states.

I had the unexpected pleasure of assisting Sisters Ball and Wilson
 with the Initiatory ordinance for Angela.  

Wow!  What an experience, and a first time for me to help with someone receiving their own Endowment.  I felt overwhelmed by the Spirit.
 I couldn't hardly get the words out that needed to be said.
I can only hope more experiences such as this, await us as we continue serving here as full-time missionaries in the Hong Kong Temple.
Our mission is such a tremendous blessing from the Lord.

I want to tell you about my day in the Hong Kong temple today. The problem is, I don’t know how to express it in words, I just don’t know the right words, but I will do the best I can.

      Today was a ‘mandatory holiday’ in Hong Kong, I am not sure what that really means but I do know that the temple workers knew to have everybody scheduled from 6:30 am - 1:00 pm because they knew all these wonderful sweet sisters who normally have to work would show up at the temple as soon as they got a day off. And show up they did.

      I was privileged to be able to receive at the veil for three overly filled sessions that was 90% women. Today we had a group from Mongolian, Thailand and the sisters from the branches here in Hong Kong, who are from the Philippines. 

     These women do not get to come often, a lot know very little or no English, and I know no Tai, Mongolian, Tagalog (spelling? whatever the Philippine women speak, they really don’t know what to say, but they have a desire more than anyone I have ever seen. 

     This one sweet little bitty sister, not even close to five feet tall, worked so hard to get through the veil, and when she did she just kept saying, “I made it, I made it, I finally made it.” It was so cool to witness and be part of.

     As I was bringing these sweet women through the veil the spirit was so strong I couldn’t hardly get the words out, I was crying, they were crying, the ordinance worker on the other side of the veil was crying, it was just incredible. 

     I was drained from the spirit, it reminded me of when Joseph Smith made a comment to whoever was with him after a vision and the other guy was just drained from energy and Joseph said, something like, “it drains you doesn’t it, but it get easier as you go”. 

     On my way away from the veil Sister Wilson, another sister senior temple missionary who is on her second mission at this temple, ask me how my day at the temple was so far today, I just lost it, I was crying like a baby. I couldn’t even get words out  to say how wonderful it was. I have never felt like that before. It truly was one of the most spiritual special experiences of my life. I wish I could adequately explain how I felt, but I just don’t know how. 

     So I just hope you know that I am feeling extremely honored, humbled and blessed to be here serving in this special one of a kind temple. It is special. 

     The church is true. It is Jesus Christ’s church, and He is in control and will get His work done, in spite of all the weaknesses of people like myself. We do have living prophets now, today, here on the earth that can and do tell us what we need to know to be able to accomplish our goal on the earth. 

WOW, WHAT A DAY!

          Elder Bodily 

This building is where we go to church. It is owned by the church and as you can see is a multilevel building, downtown Hong Kong. Not a cheap place to buy real estate. There are several branches that meet in this building, like 5 or 6, plus it is the district (like a stake) center and a bunch of offices for the 'area' missionaries, authorities etc. We have I think 138 sisters in our branch, plus assigned missionaries and others to help out. 

First Day at the Hong Kong Temple

  It is Tuesday, April 21st, and President Patrick Wong set us apart this morning as Temple Missionaries for the Hong Kong China Temple.  I don't recall all that he said, but I do know he gave us the following blessings:  to be respected, to understand the language of the temple ordinances, to find joy, to love the culture and customs of the Chinese people, to fulfill this mission.
  President and Sister Wong comes across as people of great faith and humility.  They have made us feel very welcomed and needed here, and we look forward to serving under their leadership and direction and fulfilling any assignments they give.

  The Balls have been assigned to be our trainers and I believe we are in good hands since they were ordinance workers for quite some time prior to coming to Hong Kong.

  The layout of this temple is unlike any we have been in before.  The ground level, 3rd, 4th, 5th levels and basement are part of the temple.  The 1st and 2nd floors are not.  The first floor is a chapel and locker and dressing rooms.  The second floor is housing for the temple and mission presidents and APs to the mission president.  There are three elevators and each are for certain areas of the temple.  It has been a bet confusing as to which we are to use depending upon whether we are helping in the Baptistry, Initiatory, Sealings, or having lunch.  I am sure with time, we will get it all straight in our heads.

   Sister Wong asked me to introduce myself to the other sisters in our Prayer Meeting.  One of the sisters translated for me, and I will not forget the reaction of the Chinese sisters when I mentioned I have seven children.  They all gasped and one sister's eyes looked the size of quarters because she opened them so wide.  They found it so hard to believe.

  I had the opportunity to assist Melissa M. Purity, a young woman from Africa receiving her own endowment.  This was a first for me.  I have not helped with New Endowments before because that is reserved for the Temple Matron and her assistants, or the coordinators.  But, because this woman speaks English, I was asked to help her in initiatory.  It was a special experience and joyful.

  Gary met a man from India who had come 9 hours to attend the temple.  He also learned of a man who saved seven years to come to the temple.
He assisted a man who did not speak English and somehow it worked out.

Even though we have been told not to be concerned about learning the language, it is obvious that we can be of greater service if we do.  So, we will continue to study and learn the temple ordinances in Cantonese.

By the end of the day, we were able to do all that was asked of us.  We love being here.

It has been a nice way to celebrate our Meagan's 30th birthday!