Thoughts on Being a Missionary by Sister Chamberlain

Since we have been on our mission (almost 5 months) we have come to appreciate how senior

couples are desperately needed all over the world. There are so many wards and branches that long for experienced people in the gospel. We have come to appreciate that being called as Public Affairs missionaries does not mean that is what we do all the time or even most of our day. We serve here in the Asia Area Office, which means we really do wear a lot of hats. It makes for many experiences.

We serve as temple workers once a week. That is a highlight of our week. We get to serve in a temple that services 1/2 the world and 11 different languages on a regular basis. There are temple missionaries here but they still need more help, so we are privileged to do that. 

We serve in a branch with Filipina sisters, which means we wear many hats on Sundays. For instance I have played the organ in Sacrament meeting and last Sunday I had to last minute practice with the choir to perform a number in church that very day. I serve as a Self Reliance facilitator, which is a two hour lesson every Sunday for two hours before church. Chuck serves as a branch presidency 1st counselor, which means he may conduct Sacrament meeting and then go teach a Sunday school class. He also sings in the ward choir. Then of course there is the accounting that goes on after the meetings.

We also help out with other missionaries and their projects, which might include fixing food, doing dishes, or whatever grunt work is needed. 

This sounds like a lot of things and it looks tiring to even read this myself but I have learned that being a missionary means you have a mantle associated with that calling that is a feeling I have never experienced in my life. The Spirit carries you through the day and you have more energy than you should have. You work long hours and go to bed so tired you fall right to sleep. But somehow those 7-8 hours of sleep totally renew your body and spirit to start a new day.

 

I don't know how it works but I can see that serving a mission feels like you have a closer and more direct connection to the Lord. It seems that inspiration comes more readily and feeling the love of the Savior for others flows more easily than at home. It is a feeling and experience that I want to relish every minute I have it.

 

Serving a mission is the best Self Development course available. The Lord knows exactly how you can serve in your calling and assist those around you. He also knows the areas of your life that need a little help and we are given opportunities to grow and learn from others.

Aprons, Octopus's, and Amazing Friends

Elder Chamberlain did "bar tending" duties at the blender with Elder Powell and Sister Powell. This was at the Mission Presidents' training seminar for all Mission Presidents in Asia. There were six brand new Mission Presidents being trained for their three year stints. What was the drink? Watermelon with a splash of lime. 

Sister Chamberlain with Asia Area Seventies (Church leaders), and Elder Randy Funk of the Asia Area Presidency (on the right). She was the resident expert who helped these gentlemen create their portion of a meal to be eaten by all other general authorities in the room. They had a great time, and some of these guys can really cook!  

New Friend, Nicole, who is a cashier at the grocery store near our office in Wan Chai. She's a very sweet 18-year-old Catholic girl that we see every time we go to the store. She has noticed a lot of wrinkled old missionaries like us coming and going. After having lunch with her, we gave her a Book of Mormon and paused for this picture before she went back to work and we went back to our office down the street. 

Accompanied our dear friend, Diana, to this branch in Tung Chung for a missionary-going-away BBQ. As soon as Diana set foot in the chapel, she started "fellow-shipping" the members there--even though this was the first time she had ever been to a church gathering. She even sought out the most backward of the group and talked to them most of the night, helping them with their problems and making sure they felt accepted and loved. Future Relief Society president. 

BBQ included octopus, fish balls, chicken, pork, and even roasted honeydew melon with garlic. Unusual tastes 

Our little Diana at the BBQ with Elders Dale (from U.K.) and Elder Cerdon who was going home the next day. 

Lotsa' Lamma

One of the flowers on Lamma Island

Unusual Flowering Shrub - Lamma Island

Lots of these little creatures. As big as an adult's hand. At the end of our day on Lamma Island, we were far away from our destination, walking in the dark, knowing these spiders were all around and we could not see them. We could only feel their silky webs as we walked through the rain forest.  

One of the little villages on Lamma Island

Beautiful beach on Lamma Island

Another beautiful flower - Lamma Island

Found a new friend on Lamma Island

One of the several ridge lines we hiked on Lamma Island

Sok Kwu Wan-- Lamma Island. We missed our ferry back to Hong Kong Island twice from this little fishing village. First time was just happenstance. The second time was due to a miscalculation of hiking times on a map. It wasn't 40 minutes, it was 2 hours. Soaking wet from sweat, exhausted from our uphill/downhill climb over about 7-8 miles. But FUN! Also, isn't Sister Chamberlain the cutest? 

Saw this little turtle family on our hike to Sok Kwu Wan --- Lamma Island

Kept seeing these trees with bright blossoms and these berry-like seeds. Very unusual. Lamma Island

Sok Kwu Wan Village Temple -- Lamma Island

Fishermen at Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island--burning incense for their ancestors

Very blurry!  And the picture isn't good either. 4 bottles of Gatorade needed to get hydrated. Nighttime, but very hot and muggy. You can't tell, but I am completely drenched in sweat. 

Big Buddha

Big Buddha -- largest seated Buddha in the world

Sister Chamberlain with Scott and Carly Ludlow, legal BYU intern, outside Po Lin Monastary next to Big Buddha

Steps up to Big Buddha

Outside of Monastary--Buddhist worshipper

Ludlows on steps to Po Lin Monastary

Gateway at entrance of monastary complex

Elder and Sister Chamberlain visiting Big Buddha

View from top of steps

Buddha's head -- zoom lens

View to south islands from Lantau's Big Buddha

View of Po Lin Monastary from Big Buddha Statue

On the "Wisdom Path"

View of Big Buddha from Gondola--beginning of 25 minute ride to other side of island

Scene from gondola ride descending to Tung Chung city, past HK Airport located on reclaimed land (a man-made island) just north of Lantau Island. Beautiful and thrilling ride over the mountains, trails and waterfalls of the island. 

The Diana Experience

If you've ever met a "one of a kind" person--someone you know you'll never ever forget--you'll understand what we're experiencing with "Diana" (real name Leung Po Chun). She is an absolute character, and a loving and gracious hostess. When Elder Powell asked her how long she's known the Chamberlains, she said, "A very long, long time--since before I was born." (It's only been a week in mortality, however). With a few pictures and videos, I'm trying to paint a picture of what it's like to be in Diana's presence, but it doesn't come close to conveying it. When we got off the bus this time, we were each greeted with a huge hug, a sun umbrella, a cool pack for Sister Chamberlain, and the warmest, friendliest laughter and smile you've ever seen. We're glad we were able to bring the Powell's with us on this Pday so that we could share the "Diana experience" with them.

Conversation is largely in English, as Diana wants to work on her language. When she struggles, she glances over at me (Elder Chamberlain), says the word in Cantonese, and then hopefully I give an English translation.

The stilt side of stilt houses, or "Paan Uk"

Ho Jeung Mui (One of Dian's Friends), Sister Chamberlain, Elder Chamberlain, Elder Powell, Sister Powell. This is where we bought fresh, live shrimp which we ate about 15 minutes later

A to Z Full Throttle Missionaries

Friday lunch with all Asia Area office missionaries. We're saying goodbye to the Johnsons who are being transferred to Timor-Leste (AKA East Timor), to open up a humanitarian presence there. We all feel a part of that effort, and it's bitter sweet to see them go. 

Blue Moon over Hong Kong. Taken outside our apartment building, on the promenade after one of our long days.

Elder and Sister Johnson pointing to their new assignment. They'll be great!

For a Mormon Newsroom article, interviewed new Hong Kong Mission President and his wife - President and Sister Lam

Training Hong Kong PA Council on creation of Infographics and Video production.

Dinner out with the Tong's, my former mission companion and his wife. They treated us to Peking Duck. Wonderful, delicious evening.

After dinner "get to know you" magazine game with Public Affairs Council- Kowloon Tong Building

An abandoned village in the hills above Sai Kung, an area I used to work when I was a missionary 40 years ago. These few buildings are surrounded by mountains, vegetation, and wild cattle.

Meet Natasha, one of the next members of the Church. So grateful to have Mandarin-speaking missionaries to take over when we can only go so far sharing the gospel. There are others but we don't have pictures of them (yet).   

These are the Gurkha Guards that keep us safe 24 x 7. A small army of them surrounds our apartment / hotel complex. What? You don't have Gurkha guards at your house? 

Doin' the dirty work. Getting ready to host the new mission presidents' seminar, had to try out some recipes and give feedback to the chefs. Left to right: Me, Sister Whitman, Elder Whitman, Sister Van Wagenen, Sister Inouye, Elder Inouye, Scott Ludlow (legal intern), Carly Ludlow. 

Prepping for a dinner we created for the Hong Kong National Public Affairs Council

Kam Tong 40 Years Later: Gettin' "Reminisc-y"

What does it say about your age when they make a museum out of your old missionary housing? I was privileged to live with about 7-8 other elders in the Kam Tong mansion (or castle) on Castle Road, Hong Kong, for much of 1976. We were the only residents there and had the massive place to ourselves, except on Sundays when there were two branches of the church meeting there. It was an awesome experience. 

It was here where: 1) I met Stephen R. Covey (he borrowed a tie from me and never gave it back) 2) I taught one of Chairman Mao's executioners and was able to get clearance to have him baptized. We filled the font, but he never showed up. 3) I permanently damaged my big toe, trying to move a large refrigerator down some stairs. 4) We baptized quite a few people here. 5) I had the opportunity to be a companion to Elders Rowley and Chan (Charlie Chan). Elder Charles Chan and I shared the same name, so it was fun that one of us was Chinese and the other a "Gwai-lou." It was my third area, and one of the most favorite places I have ever lived. Imagine me trippin' around in this building in my pajamas.  

Today, Laraine and I got to tour the building, now owned by the government and converted into a museum. I told Laraine, "I am not a 'reminisc-y' person, but wow was I doing some major reminiscing." Enjoy these pictures and short video (please excuse my chewing. I had just put some nuts in my mouth);

 

Kam Tong "Chapel" now a museum. Our missionary bedroom was top floor, far left. Amazing wood workmanship and gold leaf in the chapel and other areas. It was an awesome building to live in. 

Baptismal font remains, and much is said about the Church's ownership of the building throughout the various displays.

Heading upstairs to our living quarters. You can't see it well but this is some beautiful stained glass.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen

Front Courtyard. Used to play a little basketball here.

Laraine taking a breather after touring the building. It was very hot and muggy outside.

Some of the amazing workmanship on each of the balconies. 

After touring the Kam Tong, we found an incredible, old-fashioned neighborhoods in the North Point area of Hong Kong. 

Laraine wanted me to get this woman behind her as she squats--something the Chinese people used to do a lot more than they do now. 

The "Ding Ding" in North Point neighborhood

Laraine in a market section of North Point, near the ferry to Hung Hom