Our Last Missionary Welcome!

We have been anticipating the arrival of Elder and Sister Chan for several weeks now.

That day has come, but not without their flight getting delayed.

What does this photo have to do with the new missionaries coming?

Nothing really, but since it was expected that the Chans would now be arriving around 11:00, we decided to take up some time by walking to Haagen Daz in Whampoa for some scrumptious ice cream.  Then explored around the newly remodeled Aeon Store.  Found ourselves in the appliance department and saw the most compact electric washing machine ever. Hence, the photo.

 Hard to believe a clothes washer so small would cost more than a whopping $5000HK. ($650US). 

 Just the right size though

 for the average apartment in Hong Kong.

Hadn't planned on trying on swim suits, but couldn't resist a bargain and actually found one my size. Of course, the call came that President Wong was on his way with our new missionary couple while  I was in the changing closest. 

As we hustled to get back, we got our first look at the Pokemon Go craze! It was unbelievable how many were gathered on the street corners playing some game on their iPhones. 

We must be getting old because it doesn't make sense to us.

We didn't stick around long to watch, 

and made it back in time to welcome Charles and Fannie from Vancouver, BC. 

Elder and Sister Chan both served as full-time missionaries here in Hong Kong

 when they were young.

Elders Chamberlain and Norman, who are serving here in the Asia Area Office, were both missionary companions of Elder Chan back then.  Little did they know all those years ago, they would end up in Hong Kong as missionaries again. 

You can always depend on Sister Hathaway offering helpful advice.

Their entire belongings, at least while here in HK.

Elder Chan claims their luggage is filled with 200 pounds of Sister Chan's clothes.

He quickly retracted that statement.

J/J Chans, Bodilys, P/S Wong, C/F Chans, Hathaways, Rancies

This is our last Welcoming-the-New-Couple-Missionaries photo.

The Chans have not served as temple ordinance workers before, so we have been assigned to be their trainers.  They are sharp as tacks and will catch on quickly.  With their ability to speak three languages, they will be an even greater help at the temple.

They have a fun sense of humor too, and we're looking forward to getting better acquainted and serving with them. 

Typically, we as missionaries got a day or two to catch our breath when we arrived and adjust to the time difference, but it isn't working out that way for  Charles and Fanny.  We just hope they get a good night's sleep because tomorrow is the Sunday Opening.

The next set of missionaries is not arriving until after we leave, so the C/F Chans will be our last couple to train before our mission ends.

They will actually be the 10th couple we have trained while serving our mission.  We have enjoyed the experience of this assignment, and the opportunity it has given us to work closely with the other missionaries.  It has required a few extra long days,

 but it has been well worth that time being in the House of the Lord, 

with those who too, want to serve Him.

Baptisms In Mandarin!

The Baptistry was as busy as we've seen it today.  The room was filled beyond seating capacity with young and old, and it was great.  Seeing Elder Bodily standing in the font and performing the baptisms in Mandarin was something unexpected, and extra special to witness.
Unexpected, because I didn't know he had begun learning this ordinance in Mandarin.
In fact, President Hui warned the patrons that Elder Bodily might sound a bit hard to understand, but the Lord will hear him clearly, and the work will still count.

One young woman stood out because of her hesitance to walk down into the font.
Sister Hui took me aside and quietly explained her situation.
Sister Liu had been too scared to do the baptisms the previous two days,
even with President Hui there to help her.
Today she worked up enough courage to try again, this time with Elder Bodily reassuring her in a language she doesn't understand, that he would help her.
It touched us both to the point of tears, to see her successfully go down into the water and perform baptisms for four women who needed her to be brave.

The Sprit is always present in the temple, but sometimes it is felt especially strong,
and today was one of those times.
It made me grateful for Sister Law's assignment to help in the Baptistry at this time.
Sister Hui admonished me to remember this day.
After what was witnessed in that room, I expect I'm not the only one who will.

Moon Cakes Are Back!

Autumn Festival is about to begin, and moon cakes are very much a part of that.

We were pleasantly surprised today, when President and Sister Hui brought a bag of their home baked moon cakes and asked Elder Bodily and I to deliver a package to each of the temple missionaries.

They are not your traditional mooncake, but rather delicious, and for that reason we like them.  

Sure wish we could find them in the states.

We Met Scar Today!

It wasn't all that busy to begin with today at the temple.

In fact, it was being discussed as to whether the 9:00am session would need to be cancelled because no one had showed up to attend the first session of the day.

Those who had showed up, were planning on attending the special 10 o'clock session.

But then, a nice young couple arrived about 8:45, and since neither of them spoke Chinese, guess who was assigned at the last minute to take care of the session?

Thanks to Brother and Sister Lee, we had the smallest and the quickest Endowment Session, 

 at least for Elder Bodily and myself.

With only four of us in the room, it felt a bit strange.

The Lees basically had their own private Endowment Session.

Even though we were small in number,

 we felt the Spirit attend just as strong as if the room had been filled.

This is Quentin and Angela Lee
We each visited with them for a few minutes afterwards, and found them to be so pleasant to talk to.  We learned that she is from Utah, and he is from California,
but they met in Manhattan at a YSA activity.
They will soon be celebrating their first wedding anniversary.
They live here in Hong Kong, where Sister Lee is a theatre director in Tin Hau, and Bro. Lee plays the part of Scar in the production of The Lion King at Disneyland.
Kind of makes us want to go to Disneyland now just to see him perform.
We are glad to have met them, and maybe we'll see them again before our mission ends.

The Williams Are Leaving The Country!

Jonathan, Kristin, and their family are moving to Great Britain this Thursday, and plan on staying for 3-5 years.

We  Skyped with them this morning before they leave the good ol' U.S. of A.
to live in the village of Aldwincle, England.

With our kids living on the other side of the world, we are grateful for technology that makes
Skyping possible.
It will help us feel not quite so far away.

Macie was helping her mom out with her hair.

Bye Bye, Macie!

A Friendly Competition Between Ortons, Chamberlains, & Bodilys

Thanks to the Chamberlains, we recently learned how to play the card game, Hand and Foot.

Since then, we have learned that we are about the only ones around here 

who have not heard of it before. 

 Its a good game though, and if not careful, a little addictive.

We have since got together with the Hathaways and Rancies to hone our card playing skills, only to lose big time.  There is no winning against them - they are masters at this game.

Surprisingly, we were finished at the church today earlier than usual, so we excepted Chamberlain's invitation for another try at Hand and Foot, but this time at the Orton's place.

We discovered that the Chamberlains are quite competitive and rarely lose.

But, tonight it seems they were down on their luck.  Guess who reaped the benefits of that one?

No, not Elder Bodily and I, but we proudly came in second.  It was Elder and Sister Orton who came off as the winners, and by a landslide.  We obviously need more practice.

We had an enjoyable evening with these
 hard working and fun-loving Asia Area missionaries.
Sister Orton even baked and served a yummy pumpkin pie.
Anyone for a game of Spoons?

A First for Lai Hung Jou

We needed to pick up an order at the Distribution Center today.  Look who we saw while waiting?

Elder Bodily's new friend, Lai Hung Jou.  He is just a little guy in size, but he is twelve years old, and today was his first time to come to the temple to be a proxy for the dead in the baptistry. 

 Elder Bodily was thrilled to be the one standing with him in the font 

and assisting him with that ordinance earlier today.