Also in December

Believe it or not, we did some things in December that were NOT Christmas. Here are a few:

Dinner with Diana (our little friend from Tai O Village), and the Powells

Training the Maynes on Public Affairs duties. They are going to Mongolia from Price, Utah. We wanted them to try being a bit more adventurous in their eating. That's cow tongue on the right. Michael Hillam is seated affectionately next to them.

Sister Van Wagenen, Sister Gong, Sister Chamberlain. Van Wagenen's got called away from Hong Kong on a mysterious assignment. We still don't know what they'll be doing. Sister Gong is also leaving with her husband, as he is now in the Presidency of the Seventy. 

Training the Pattersons, who were on their way to Malaysia. Brad Hillam standing next to them.

I got to baptize Lizel Pedroso. She was so excited. So was I. 

Venim Jequinto and Dominic MC'd the staff Christmas party in Wanchai building. They did great. 

Always the bearer of gifts, Diana dropped by to give us some nourishment. We were in the thick of Christmas events and getting very exhausted and malnourished.

Christmas Party with the Susan and Gerrit Gong, on their way to SLC to take on a new assignment.

As Christmas winds down, it was time to relax with a hike around Victoria peak with the Ortons.

A family visiting from Bermuda, with some family members from the Philippines. They visited our little branch one Sunday in December. 

The Christmas tree in the lobby of our apartment building. 

Elder and Sister Powell, with me and Sister Roberts, putting together some Christmas letters for the staff of our apartment building. 

Christmas Service Project Video

We created this video to share with the public about our Christmas service project, "Blanketing Hong Kong with Christmas Warmth." We did such a great job with blankets, we've been asked to produce another 800 blankets for some other organizations who work with the elderly. This will be something we do prior to Chinese New Year.

Blanketing Hong Kong with Christmas Warmth

December--the reality!

Sisters Orton and Roberts sewing table cloths for our VIP dinner

Wayne Burton and "Songs of the Saints" practicing for the December 4th Concert

VIP Dinner on December 5th. About 50 people came to the pre-concert dinner.

Missionaries who brought investigators to a concert were allowed to attend. These missionaries paused for a picture after the concert. 

We had 300 people put together 1,300 blankets for the poor and the elderly. This woman (red hat) came off the street and wanted to help. Everyone had a great time at these projects in three different church buildings around Hong Kong. Approximately 10 non-government organizations then helped us distribute the blankets to their clients. 

Sister missionaries helping to make one of a gazillion batches of cookies for our "Creche's, caroling, and cookies" event that covered 5 days at Wanchai building. 

Handing out cookies to passers-by in front of Wanchai building

Young missionaries singing carols in front of Wanchai building

A brave soul who wanted one of our cookies. Some thought eating a cookie meant they had to "drink our koolaid" (join the church), so some were reluctant. Missionaries reported great success with the five days of Creche's, cookies and caroling. 

Caroling outside of the Wanchai building

Sister Brown conferring with Elder Chamberlain in preparation for Christmas Eve program that Sister Brown called a "big production." 

The Tai family, participating in the Christmas Eve event. Their father, district president Tai, was away due to family emergency. 

Christmas shepherds, angels and wise men getting ready for the big event. 

Preparing for Christmas Eve program backstage.

Wayne Burton with his family and in-laws (who serve as a couple in Hong Kong). Wayne did two excellent concerts.

December--The Plan

December, 2015 was the busiest we've ever been. With two concerts, a VIP dinner, a major service project in three locations, a creche' display, caroling, and cookies, and a Christmas Eve program all wrapped up into one gigantic month, we were as busy as missionaries could possibly be. Here is the marketing piece we produced for the month's events:

Visit from Family!

It is always nice to have family come and see where we work. Having Jeremy, Rozana, and little Juliana, with Rozana's parents Lizbeth and Reyes gave us a nice break. We even got to see Mark Chamberlain and family for a weekend. The time went by way too fast.

Sight-seeing for the day, Elder Chamberlain with Brigham Young (well, Jeremy LOOKS like Brigham Young). 

Juliana wasn't used to this kind of transportation. Maybe she'll learn from her cousins who have pulled out most of grandpa's hair. 

At Peking Garden with Chuck's brother Mark and wife Diana. 

No way . . . Mark, you cannot have grown taller!!

On the ferry with Lisbeth, Juliana, Reyes, Rozana and Jeremy. A fun time was had by all. 

Jeremy's in-laws with our friend, Diana. They loved her! 

Diana's house with our family.

Hoping to get Juliana to recognize that this is her grandpa. 

In Tai O Village with the family and Diana (our friend and guide)

Hong Kong commercial display for the holidays. 

Outside the Hong Kong temple 

Busy November 2015

November was a busy month as we prepared for our December events.It was a great treat to have Bishop Jakins and his son Brenton come to visit. They brought us some delicious treats from the Young Women in Provo. Meeting Sis Marriott and Sis Esplin was also a treat. Thanksgiving meals with Senior couples and the branch made it feel like Thanksgiving.

Brent and Bishop Jakins visited our Peninsula 2 Branch in November, 2015

Sister Marriott, Sister Esplin from the General YW and General Primary visited. We got to interview them. 

Our Sikh guide introduced us to the Sikh religion and we felt welcome. His family waited for him outside the Sikh Temple.

(L to R) Sisters Coffey, Macbeth join a Sikh "Sister", then Sister Roberts, another Sikh "Sister", Sister Orton, Chamberlain, Van Wagenen, and Brown. 

Even the men had to wear head scarves. Elder and Sister Edwards enjoyed the food.

Around the Thanksgiving table (L-R) Elder Chamberlain, E/S Smith, E/S Roberts, E/S Macbeth, E/S Holcomb.

Couples were in charge of Thanksgiving at Pen 2 Branch, but some of the Filipinas helped anyway. L-R: Rowena, ??, Sister Lee, Cora Pollard, Elder Lee.

Thanksgiving meal at Pen 2 Branch