Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Another exciting week in Hong Kong
We are so loving our time in Hong Kong. I certainly feel my understanding and knowledge increase as I watch and interact with another culture. Our duties at the Area Office are exciting and fulfilling. We have been assigned to a Filipino (I learned how to spell it correctly see how much I am learning) Branch. This coming Sunday will be our first week with the Pennisula 3 Branch. Our branch does not meet at the church office building. We understand that we will have to take the MTR (train) or taxi to our building. We are serving with two other couples that are on our floor (both are part of the legal team). They love the branch and are excited to have us attend with them.
This week our Area Presidency has returned from Salt Lake and we were able to experience devotional led by one of our beloved presidency for the first time. Elder Gong led a discussion that summarized messages from conference. Afterwards the medical team had a meeting with Elder Gong regarding missionary support where we each gave a report of what we are doing. Elder Gong had Carlos and I introduce ourselves. He learned for the first time that we are fairly newly married. He asked that we talk about how we met and our families. His interest in us was tender and sweet but I was very uncomfortable being so personal in that group where there were some that we were meeting for the first time.
On Wednesday, we were invited to have dinner with the Area Presidency in President Watson's apartment which is on the 11th floor. Elder and Sister Heiner, the mission doctor and his wife, attended the dinner with us. Elder and Sister Heiner have finished their mission and are returning home this coming Saturday. It was a most incredible evening. I felt the love of my Savior as strong as I ever have as we sat around President Watson's living room, sang songs and bore testimony to each other. The feeling of love is just indescribable.
Saturday we had a group outing where we traveled to Shek-O beach. We took a train ride and then transferred to bus into the countryside. I have many pictures that I will post of our trip. I got a few pictures of a golf course just for Ben. I knew he would be interested. The problem was I was taking the pictures from the second floor of a speeding bus and it was hard to get a good picture. I also took a picture of a bus coming towards us. It is identical to the bus we are in. Please notice how narrow the road is and how much space there is for each bus. I have grown to have a great admiration for these bus drivers. They are expert at getting around in tight spaces.
I have included a picture of our friends standing outside the bus. I wanted a picture of the Chinese woman and her hat. Carlos and I are in the bus and our friends are outside of the bus. I know to you they are just pictures of people. I want you to know that I have the tenderest of feelings for these dear missionaries. They feel like family to me and I can't help but glow with love when I look at them in these pictures.
We had another national holiday yesterday (Tuesday Oct. 23). Carlos and I didn't know and scheduled appointments. So we worked in the morning (it was quiet at the office since most were celebrating the holiday), then went grocery shopping (a nearly daily task since we can only buy what we can carry and have no room to store things anyway), then sat at home and watched the debate (I'm ready for this election to be over, it is exhausting).
Today we began practicing for the Christmas program. Sister Gong is leading us as we play the chimes. It is so fun. I am middle C. We are playing "Away in a Manger" and "Carol of the Bells." We practice every Wednesday until Christmas. We will need the practice.
We are just having a great time! Every day is a new adventure. I am filled with love just about all the time. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for this great opportunity to learn and grow in such a rich environment.
This week our Area Presidency has returned from Salt Lake and we were able to experience devotional led by one of our beloved presidency for the first time. Elder Gong led a discussion that summarized messages from conference. Afterwards the medical team had a meeting with Elder Gong regarding missionary support where we each gave a report of what we are doing. Elder Gong had Carlos and I introduce ourselves. He learned for the first time that we are fairly newly married. He asked that we talk about how we met and our families. His interest in us was tender and sweet but I was very uncomfortable being so personal in that group where there were some that we were meeting for the first time.
On Wednesday, we were invited to have dinner with the Area Presidency in President Watson's apartment which is on the 11th floor. Elder and Sister Heiner, the mission doctor and his wife, attended the dinner with us. Elder and Sister Heiner have finished their mission and are returning home this coming Saturday. It was a most incredible evening. I felt the love of my Savior as strong as I ever have as we sat around President Watson's living room, sang songs and bore testimony to each other. The feeling of love is just indescribable.
Saturday we had a group outing where we traveled to Shek-O beach. We took a train ride and then transferred to bus into the countryside. I have many pictures that I will post of our trip. I got a few pictures of a golf course just for Ben. I knew he would be interested. The problem was I was taking the pictures from the second floor of a speeding bus and it was hard to get a good picture. I also took a picture of a bus coming towards us. It is identical to the bus we are in. Please notice how narrow the road is and how much space there is for each bus. I have grown to have a great admiration for these bus drivers. They are expert at getting around in tight spaces.
I have included a picture of our friends standing outside the bus. I wanted a picture of the Chinese woman and her hat. Carlos and I are in the bus and our friends are outside of the bus. I know to you they are just pictures of people. I want you to know that I have the tenderest of feelings for these dear missionaries. They feel like family to me and I can't help but glow with love when I look at them in these pictures.
We had another national holiday yesterday (Tuesday Oct. 23). Carlos and I didn't know and scheduled appointments. So we worked in the morning (it was quiet at the office since most were celebrating the holiday), then went grocery shopping (a nearly daily task since we can only buy what we can carry and have no room to store things anyway), then sat at home and watched the debate (I'm ready for this election to be over, it is exhausting).
Today we began practicing for the Christmas program. Sister Gong is leading us as we play the chimes. It is so fun. I am middle C. We are playing "Away in a Manger" and "Carol of the Bells." We practice every Wednesday until Christmas. We will need the practice.
We are just having a great time! Every day is a new adventure. I am filled with love just about all the time. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for this great opportunity to learn and grow in such a rich environment.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
More pictures
Here is a picture of the swimming pool at our complex. Also a picture of us with other missionaries waiting for the fireworks on National day. And pictures of us at the Hong Kong temple. 
Tidbits from Hong Kong
I have been a bit remiss on posting. I think it's been nearly two weeks. So, I have some catching up to do. I'm going to break it into categories so that it seems a bit more organized. First let me talk about transportation:
Hong Kong has an intricate public transportation system. There is an underground railway called the MTR. I have had the opportunity to ride the MTR on two separate occasions. The interesting or should I say important thing to know about the MTR is that it will take you to the destination and then it has several exits and if you take the wrong exit at the right stop, you will not be where you want to be. It is a bit like the airport with all the different gates. All the exits are labeled and you need to pay attention to exits. We are hoping to get more acquainted to the MTR in the near future. There is also a subway system. It isn't what you would think. Subways are underground walkways. There are millions of pedestrians here. Everywhere you go you have to do a considerable amount of walking. For instance we walk 3/4 of a mile to catch a bus that takes us about 6 miles (under the harbor). The bus does drop us right in front of the office. On the way home we walk another 3/4 mile from the bus stop. We use the bus system daily. Another option for transportation is taxi. There are hundreds maybe thousands of taxis. The roads are filled with buses and taxis. By the way, pedestrians do NOT have the right of way in Hong Kong. If you are run over by a bus (which I am shocked doesn't happen daily) you are at fault. It is a busy bustling place. Some times of the day are busier than others. Carlos and I are beginning to be a bit more brave and wander off the beaten path. But mostly we are escorted by other missionaries who are familiar with the area.
I find the people to be delightful. Most times they seem aloof and distant and then I am surprised by their interest in me and their warmth of each other. They seem to be loving and family oriented with each other. It is common to see a group of women or teenage girls walking arm in arm or holding hands as they walk down the street. They are happy and smiling and friendly with each other. On the other hand, they can stand 4 inches from your face on the bus (they crowd a hundred or more on each bus) and not acknowledge you at all. It really is quite humorous mostly because I have to quiet my childish urges to get them to engage with me.
The variety of food is interesting. Last night while the men attended Priesthood meeting, we (the sister missionaries) went to dinner. There were 18 of us. The Chinese are a rigid rule following people. A favorite restaurant of the missionaries here is an Italian restaurant called Al Dente. One of the more persuasive sisters had to talk the manager of the restaurant into letting us eat at their restaurant. He would not, however, let us each have a separate ticket. He wanted us to double up so he didn't have to write 18 tickets...and then he booted us out at 6:30. We laughed and had a good time. I forgot when talking about transportation, the ferry was the option last night after our dining experience. We went out with other friends on Friday night to an American restaurant called Dan Ryan's. Great food, very spendy. We spent over 300 Hong Kong dollars for a hamburger and a salad. Carlos had the hamburger and I had the salad. For reference 100 Hong Kong dollars equals $12.88...so the dinner wasn't really that bad...just feels like it when you are forking over the money.
I am including some pictures and will try to label them but haven't really figured this out yet.
Carlos and I are doing well. I had a bit of a setback this week but am totally recovered today. In our mission office is a doctor who we can walk in and consult with whenever he isn't busy. He is a wonderful, friendly and kind man. If we know what is going on, he recommends an antibiotic and then we find a drugstore willing to give us antibiotics without a prescription which most are willing to do. So Carlos talked with Dr. Heiner who told Carlos what he recommended and Carlos went hunting and was home with the needed medication.
So here are pictures. Katie and I were talking about a vegetable and I told her I would post a picture of it. I have no idea what it is but it is wonderful in stir fry..
The pictures reminded me. Carlos and I frequently walk what is called the promenade. It is a walkway that goes along the harbor. If we walk to both ends of it, we have been told that the complete walk is about 5 1/2 miles. When we go west it is called the Avenue of the Stars and like Hollywood Boulevard has handprints of Chinese stars in the cement so one of the pictures is of that. The promenade is fairly new, I think within the past 5 years, so Bruce Lee had long passed away prior to its creation. His star is there without handprints but there is a statue of him. The one picture I got of handprints are of Jackie Chan. Most of these pictures are along the promenade including the boat with red sails. The other pictures on the water are taken from the ferry. It is the year of the dragon which is the picture of what looks like a rock dragon hanging from a frame
Hong Kong has an intricate public transportation system. There is an underground railway called the MTR. I have had the opportunity to ride the MTR on two separate occasions. The interesting or should I say important thing to know about the MTR is that it will take you to the destination and then it has several exits and if you take the wrong exit at the right stop, you will not be where you want to be. It is a bit like the airport with all the different gates. All the exits are labeled and you need to pay attention to exits. We are hoping to get more acquainted to the MTR in the near future. There is also a subway system. It isn't what you would think. Subways are underground walkways. There are millions of pedestrians here. Everywhere you go you have to do a considerable amount of walking. For instance we walk 3/4 of a mile to catch a bus that takes us about 6 miles (under the harbor). The bus does drop us right in front of the office. On the way home we walk another 3/4 mile from the bus stop. We use the bus system daily. Another option for transportation is taxi. There are hundreds maybe thousands of taxis. The roads are filled with buses and taxis. By the way, pedestrians do NOT have the right of way in Hong Kong. If you are run over by a bus (which I am shocked doesn't happen daily) you are at fault. It is a busy bustling place. Some times of the day are busier than others. Carlos and I are beginning to be a bit more brave and wander off the beaten path. But mostly we are escorted by other missionaries who are familiar with the area.
I find the people to be delightful. Most times they seem aloof and distant and then I am surprised by their interest in me and their warmth of each other. They seem to be loving and family oriented with each other. It is common to see a group of women or teenage girls walking arm in arm or holding hands as they walk down the street. They are happy and smiling and friendly with each other. On the other hand, they can stand 4 inches from your face on the bus (they crowd a hundred or more on each bus) and not acknowledge you at all. It really is quite humorous mostly because I have to quiet my childish urges to get them to engage with me.
The variety of food is interesting. Last night while the men attended Priesthood meeting, we (the sister missionaries) went to dinner. There were 18 of us. The Chinese are a rigid rule following people. A favorite restaurant of the missionaries here is an Italian restaurant called Al Dente. One of the more persuasive sisters had to talk the manager of the restaurant into letting us eat at their restaurant. He would not, however, let us each have a separate ticket. He wanted us to double up so he didn't have to write 18 tickets...and then he booted us out at 6:30. We laughed and had a good time. I forgot when talking about transportation, the ferry was the option last night after our dining experience. We went out with other friends on Friday night to an American restaurant called Dan Ryan's. Great food, very spendy. We spent over 300 Hong Kong dollars for a hamburger and a salad. Carlos had the hamburger and I had the salad. For reference 100 Hong Kong dollars equals $12.88...so the dinner wasn't really that bad...just feels like it when you are forking over the money.
I am including some pictures and will try to label them but haven't really figured this out yet.
Carlos and I are doing well. I had a bit of a setback this week but am totally recovered today. In our mission office is a doctor who we can walk in and consult with whenever he isn't busy. He is a wonderful, friendly and kind man. If we know what is going on, he recommends an antibiotic and then we find a drugstore willing to give us antibiotics without a prescription which most are willing to do. So Carlos talked with Dr. Heiner who told Carlos what he recommended and Carlos went hunting and was home with the needed medication.
So here are pictures. Katie and I were talking about a vegetable and I told her I would post a picture of it. I have no idea what it is but it is wonderful in stir fry..
The pictures reminded me. Carlos and I frequently walk what is called the promenade. It is a walkway that goes along the harbor. If we walk to both ends of it, we have been told that the complete walk is about 5 1/2 miles. When we go west it is called the Avenue of the Stars and like Hollywood Boulevard has handprints of Chinese stars in the cement so one of the pictures is of that. The promenade is fairly new, I think within the past 5 years, so Bruce Lee had long passed away prior to its creation. His star is there without handprints but there is a statue of him. The one picture I got of handprints are of Jackie Chan. Most of these pictures are along the promenade including the boat with red sails. The other pictures on the water are taken from the ferry. It is the year of the dragon which is the picture of what looks like a rock dragon hanging from a frame
Monday, October 1, 2012
Hong Kong National Days
Not really sure what the holiday is. I heard two different things. One was a Fall festival the other was National Day. Anyway here are some videos of the incredible fireworks last night that is if I can get this to post video. It may just be pictures. 
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