Celebrations, Weddings, and Shopping

The best news was that Elder Chandler celebrated his birthday last week.  Here are some of his favorite things on his birthday photo: Building his power plants, cruises, Hawaii, Japan and Hong Kong Missions, working in self-reliance, etc.

The sisters in the Everyday branch helped celebrate during the self-reliance group meeting with a cake.

That night we went to hear the Asian Youth Orchestra, too.If you would like to click on the link below, you can learn more about the history and music of this wonderful group:

Asian youth Orchestra

This is a photo of when we went to the temple and, as always, there were people there from other countries.  This day, they were from India. Elder Funk had the privilege of performing the marriage for this sweet couple. The bride was an orphan and had never had a family so it is extra special for her to now have an eternal family. The sweet bridal couple were waiting outside the temple and wanted photos with some of us when we came out.

The very same afternoon, this sweet couple from Cambodia were married here in Hong Kong. They didn't have anyone with them to celebrate so Elder and Sister Orton bought a wedding cake and invited the senior missionaries and some of the sisters who were attending the branch that day to come.

The bride was really touched that people in the church who didn't know them would do this for them.  It was special for all of us!

This isn't related but we also shopped again at the "Wet Market" and never tire of taking photos there.

Where's Waldo?  (No, where's Elder Chandler?)

Okay, back to self-reliance. We also started a new, "Education for Better Work" class as the sweet sister on the left, Genevieve, would like to use the Perpetual Education Fund to help her with her education so she can return to the Philippines. Before a person can be considered for this loan he or she needs to complete this twelve week self-reliance course. She is a domestic worker here but her employer will let her study at night. She already has a degree but is unable to teach in the Philippines until she takes additional classes.  She hopes to take an on-line course from a university in the Philippines so that she can teach when she returns there.  The Perpetual Education fund is just opening in Hong Kong so we're glad she should be able to do this. If you would like to learn more about this, click on the link below:
A BRIGHT RAY OF HOPE

Elder Chandler and I love to serve in the Hong Kong Temple.  It has been 20 years since it was built here.  There are people from all over Asia who come here for the blessings of the temple. Sometimes it is very challenging because most of the workers speak Cantonese and we're English speakers and there are so many different languages that the people who come speak. However, they are able to receive much of the instruction in their own languages using headphones, though. This last week there was a new gold-leafed statue of the Angel Moroni placed on top.

Here is a link about the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Temple:  Hong Kong Temple
We wish you all a great weekend and a great week ahead!