August - We're Packing...

Our newest granddaughter - Nyla Jane - arrived July 2nd. She has been in the NICU at Murray Hospital for 5 weeks. Struggling with pneumonia \ breathing\ eating issues. 

At first we adopted a 'wait-a-few-days-and-see' policy.  Then last week, in consultation with the area presidency, it was suggested that home is where we most need to be - since we only have a few weeks left and we've trained our replacement and all is well.  We're currently in a flurry of cleaning, packing, throwing away, last minute training, etc. We'll be home on Fri August 8th.  We're excited. Latest news from the baby situation is encouraging. We're excited. 

How fun to have our friend Roxann Rowberry here for visiting for a few days. It was so great. In spite of typhoon warning, blister, rain, heat and humidity, (114 temp one day) we had such a great time. What a treat for us.

                                   oooooh - the flower market

                          Time out for blister first -aid. It worked - didn't slow her down.

                             A picture of Roxann taking at picture at Big Buddha

Gondola to Big Buddha - RAIN 

Visiting Chung Chau Island  - fishing village. 

A special baptism this month with a very special Filipino sister. 

Farewell lunch with the PEF/SRC team. We've worked hard together and we love these folks. Candy is on the left front. Marco, the newly hired PEF operations manager - is seated on my left. He is the young man we've worked with to take over all PEF activities. Smart, young, energetic, advanced IT degree - he'll be great. To think - when we arrived we were the only PEF people and now look. 

 Many fond farewells with sisters in the branch. 

 Some more of the great people we work with on the 8th floor. They threw a little surprise cake\farewell party in the lunchroom.  We had strictly requested - "no fanfare\no hoopla."  No one listened.

Garald visiting with some other senior couples in our apartment\garage sale\give away. Oh my - how apartments collect 'stuff' after years of seniors living there. Because our apartment is going to be closed, we must get rid of everything. We're almost there. 

 Had to add this -just cuz it's so cute. A sister in our branch. 

Another farewell - The directions were to do a 'funny face,' So how come I'm the only one...?

W

We may be heading home, but part of our heart stays here. We'll never forget. We're changed for the better.

Now that's a LINE and you can only see part of it in the pic.  SOOO many people.  Aw, that's China.

Taking on our last ferry ride home at the end of the day yesterday. We'll miss this daily commute

June - Yes, we do know it's almost July. Sigh

Stole this pic off my facebook page. We do love these Filipino ladies.  They're beautiful inside and out

Yes... broke a rule and took this pic in Sac Mtg. Both of these sisters are domestic workers from Indonesia. They love it when we use our limited Malay as we talk to them. Sister Muugi on the left only gets one Sunday off per month - she doesn't speak English. Sister Daryanti, on the right, whisper translates for her. You can see how they love being together on their one Sunday. They're both in our FHE group - women of strength and testimony. 

                                 Tourists on Macau -

The rock behind us is at The Peak in HK and has been church verified as where Mathew Cowley etched the date - 7\1949 - when he dedicated HK for missionary work for the church. 

On Lantau Island - visiting world's largest sitting Buddha. A beautiful gondola ride took us to this destination. 

Shopping at the local Wet Market 

Well, it's not from our garden, but we do love shopping at the wet market - especially the lettuce. It's really delicious. 

There's some pretty amazing figures right next to the harbor as one of HK's tributes to the world cup. Here's two of them. 

Hong Kong Shopping 

May.... really? ..... already?

Beautiful, isn't she! We've become great fans of the Mongolian Throat Singers - unique and rare cultural art. We attended a performance when we were in Mongolia. Then a group performed here in HK and we were fortunate to get tickets. She was one of the performing group. The music is beautiful

They were kind enough to let us have a picture with them after the performance. 

Cool... don't you think?  A contortionist was part of the show.  

It was our turn to plan the monthly senior Saturday outing. We chose to take a bus to Sai Kong - a little fishing village - This pic was in front of the seafood restaurant - where you could choose the creature you wanted and they cooked it for you. Actually, we didn't know what most of them were, so we just ordered inside the restaurant. Still weren't sure what everything was, but it was good!

When we first arrived at Sai Kong, we watched the fishing boats come in and sell their catch at the pier. This is one of fishermen passing the change back up to the person next to me who had just purchased 'dinner.'

A pic showing part of the fish selection for sale.  Looks like a tough way to make a living.

Another view of the 'choice' selections outside the restaurant. Yikes - looks like they could eat us. 

Inside the church service center in Thailand. Elder & Sister Seppi from Sandy, Utah and two of the young men who are refugees from their own countries because of religious persecution and are now trying to find jobs.

On the street in Bangkok. Sometimes we've eaten from street vendors, but elected not to on this trip. It did look a little 'sketchy.' Oh My - it was sooo hot. 112 degrees F. 

One of the restaurants in Bangkok - Thai food - very unique and delicious.

We had one 'cultural' day while there - Saturday. Two of the senior couples took us to the Palace Grounds. Pretty amazing.

Ah, here's the two couples. Seppi's on the left. Meeker's on Garald's right. Elder Meeker had served a Thai mission in his youth so he spoke the language. It was so great to have his great experience and expertise. This is a Buddhist wat - we were allowed to climb to the top on steep, narrow steps. Going up wasn't as scary as coming back down.

Two more views of the Royal Palace Grounds.

We do look with amazement at the electrical wiring on the streets. Some of them are at 'eye level.'

We had four working days while in Thailand. This was a great experience when we visited Bangkok University. The President is the classy lady in the pink suit in the middle. As we discussed the school, scholarships, tuition etc. we found the president had a Ph.d from Utah State University in Logan, Utah - 1977. She is well aware of the LDS faith and has positive feelings about it.  A nice plus for the PEF program. 

What a beautiful LDS church service center in the middle of Bangkok. The nicest one we've seen in Asia. The members there have such fond hopes that one day some of its floors will house a temple. 

A quick pic from a seniors FHE game night .  Elder & Sister Wilson on the left - from Sandy. The gentleman on the right is Elder Castleton from Chicago where he served as temple president. Elder Wasson in the middle. Although we miss visiting with members and investigators here, we do have a wonderful association with many other senior missionaries. We'll be friends for life - they're hard working, smart and very dedicated. We're definitely the 'least of these.' 

A temporary art display on the promenade are some very unique statues. This is just one of them. Just couldn't resist a pic among them. 

Another view with fellow seniors and Elder Watkins 'hamming it up as the director.' Dear people.

Another one of the art works on display - a little reminiscent of the bean in Chicago.

Okay, can you see the little Fit Bit on my left wrist. It counts the number of steps I do in a day. (I know - silly, but fun) The goal is 10,000 per day. Most days, we are between 17 and 20,000. I always say we 'walk a lot.' Now I have proof. Thankfully, my feet are pretty happy lately and I'm so grateful. 

Bye for now! 

March\April

The highlight of this month was March 16th - the day we'd received First Presidency to open the temple on Sunday - two sessions for the Filipino sisters - many of whom can only get Sunday off. It was an emotional day for all. Seven sisters attended for the first time - even though some of them had temple recommends for a very long time. They had lived so close, but unable to attend when Sunday was their only day off. I watched them as they quietly waited on the third floor where I directed them where to go. Tears ran down their cheeks as their emotions were so clearly evident. The sessions were totally run by the senior missionaries and had taken some detailed planning. A never-to-be-forgotten experience.  The above pic is some of the sisters from our branch who attended. 

     The other highlight of the month was Elder & Sister Holland visiting - don't have pics, but it was also a few great days with them. The Area office seniors planned and served most of the meals for the week and found the Hollands to be, of course, kind, encouraging and inspiring. I received a hug from Sister Holland - sweet experience.

Our March senior activity was a full day at Macau. It began with this one hour jet foil transport.

It also included a great buffet lunch at a 360 restaurant  - stunning views, good company  and bungee jumpers just outside the windows.

One of Garald's top desires was to see Panda bears in China - Wish fulfilled.

And Yes... it may be hard to believe, but the day included a stop for all the seniors to go racing in 

     go-karts. 

The day ended with a stunning Water Show 

This is my one token pictures of 'shoes in Hong Kong.' I'd like to post a bzillion of them. Always so very fun to see. This woman was the 'announcer' at the Chinese New Years Parade. She was a bundle of energy - cavorting all over the place - microphone in hand. We held our breath - wondering if a broken leg would be in the mix. Not a chance. 

Roasted pig on the sidewalk right outside the church office building. Yes, I know you can only see the snout - that's the only pic I could get.  Incense and fruit offerings.

A birthday cake gathering in the lunch room on the 8th floor. Candy Lau in the center - in purple. She's the newly-hired PEF\SRC Area Manager. Smart, energetic, full of ideas to improve and we're loving working with her. All others are  employees in the building - except for Elder & Sister Lasson. Well, and us, or course.

 WAHOO - look who visited us in HK. This is my sister Karen. What an amazing week with them. Yes, it was  rainy, but it didn't stop us from going as fast as we could to see as many places as possible. And oh yes... eat as much HK food as possible as well.  We did everything from the gondola ride to Big Buddha, two fishing villages, flower market, Stanley Village, mid-level escalators, shopping, gardens, The Peak, Macau, church\R.S. Anniversary social, and HK temple - just to mention a few. Our feet hurt and we returned exhausted every night - laughed a lot - and had a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience.

                                                            The Four Of Us

Couldn't resist snapping this picture of a little elderly woman enjoying her sandwich at a  sidewalk table - Cheung Chou Island.