Hong Kong

 Dear Family, It has been a very busy week at work. Lots of work to do every day. I think I am more busy here than I have ever been in my "pay" jobs. But busy is good. As usual, every day brings new and very interesting issues. But we did find a little time on the side to do stuff. So here we go Yesterday was our Preparation Day. A bunch of the seniors got together and visited this Bhuddist Monastary. This is a giant statue of Guan Yin, a Bhuddist goddess of compassion and mercy. The statue itself is taller than the Statue of Liberty. This was a quiet, peaceful place way out in the country.Very Impressive. When we arrived there were hundreds of worshippers there all chanting together. When they finished, these monks then took their umbrellas and walked, two by two back to their rooms. This is the actual statue. You can see Mom on the left side with her back to us, talking to another couple. We've talked about the Thurstons before. They served with us in Cambodia. He is th...

 Dear Family, I've been meaning to share this little story for a few months and I keep not getting it done, but this seems like a good time. This is a big week for our family as we begin new experiences and adventures in "The Harvest."  A few weeks after we arrived here in Hong Kong you might remember that I got to help with catering for the Mission Leaders Seminar. That meant that we got to meet all the current serving mission leaders including the Hughes who are serving in Vietnam. They went out of their way to find us and they were so kind, even expressing how honored they felt to be meeting one of the first 4 missionaries to go to Vietnam. They asked lots of questions and we had a very lively conversation. As part of that they shared with us this painting that was commissioned by President Lewis Hassel who was one of the very last missionaries to serve back in the 70's when Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. He was serving with us in the Cambodia Phnom Penh Miss...

 Dear Everyone, Happy sabbath! Not a lot of crazy things this week. So I'm just going to go through some miscellaneous events and pictures. I won these at a local amusement park for your mother/grandma.They have now taken up permanent residence on our bed. I thought it was time for you to meet them. Finally! The Thurstons made it to HK. We became fast friends with these two when they served with us in Cambodia. They are the finest of people. So glad to finally have them join us. We took the Thurstons out for dinner last night. We then went down the street to get some "bubble waffles". This is a little buddhist temple next to the waffle shop. Here we are waiting for the waffles. And here, Elder Thurston is enjoying his choco waffle. Mom got to play the organ this week. Just for fun. She was the only person in the chapel (which is located a few floors below ours). She looooooooved it! This is what you mom/grandma does everyday -- she helps send recently returned missionarie...

 Dear Family, It's been a blessedly quiet week, no real big events, nothing that caused undo stress or excitement. Dad and I have worked hard, slowly making progress on the many assignments that each day brings. I had pretty even work in my three major assignments spending equal time writing Primary training, editing an article for the Asia Liahona and sending it off to translation, and managing missionary temple groups. I also have a new assignment to help put together a 21Day reading challenge for the   Book Of Mormon to be presented to the entire Asia Area next year. At the initial meeting with the Asia Area President where this idea first came up it was presented as an additional Book of Mormon reading experience, on top of Come Follow Me . As they talked, all I could think about is all our Sunday conversations about how hard it is just to keep up with the regular  Come Follow M e. I listened for a minute or two and then finally weighed in with the conundrum of ...