On July 3, we attended the open house of a new church meetinghouse across the street from the
Hong Kong Temple. The window on the upper level provided a perfect backdrop of a photo of the temple.
There were many very effective displays -- the one for family history provided a backdrop for a Chinese family who were attending.
Prior to attending the open house, we had a senior couples' 4
th of July brunch in the cultural hall of our building. Elder
Linford sang "God Bless America" (he's sung it for over 70 years) and his deep bass voice resonated. Elder Whitman, on the piano, can play anything and sound marvelous. We enjoyed group singing, round-the-table ping-pong and a delicious brunch.
Yummy food is always enjoyed by all. The tables were festive and many of the women wore red-white-and/or blue.
July 1 was a holiday for
Hong Kong -- the anniversary of the turnover from British rule to China (1997). We had the day off and served in the temple in the morning -- after lunch (Sister Goo always provides a meal for the temple workers -- this time it was hot dogs, potato salad, veggies and brownies -- delicious!!) we explored. People were at work keeping
Hong Kong Clean while others were enjoying a day off work!
Festival Walk is a beautiful mall close to the temple. An ice skating rink there provided a great place to cool-off. Our daytime temperatures are generally a little over 90 degrees with the low temp of the day about 85 degrees. Considering the 80-95% HUMIDITY, we are grateful for air-conditioning and places like the mall!
I'm so drawn to the children, and little Simon
Burby is adorable. His dad is a University of Utah law student doing an internship with the Church legal department, so they are spending several weeks in
Hong Kong this summer. His maternal grandparents are thrilled to have Simon and his parents staying with them.
When shopping at
IKEA last week, I spotted an adorable little girl "just cooling it" in a special chair. She was agreeable about having her photo taken (I always ask
parent's permission first!)
Our dear friends, Elder Chuck and Sister Carol
Kewish have returned home to Provo, Utah. They are sorely missed as Area Public Affairs missionaries, but Carol needed medical attention and they are home where they should be. It was hard to see them leave, but they are never far from our thoughts.
Before leaving
Hong Kong, the
Kewishes wanted to go to the Peak. A rather clear day helped us get a few good shots of a city we have grown to love.
Spending time with our
Filipina women on Sundays is always such a joy! This particular day there was an activity of making pearl earrings. They rush to have
their photos taken whenever a camera is brought out.
Cat's Street Bazaar in the mid-levels is a fun spot to visit. There is everything from expensive antiques to "cheap" souvenirs.
Western Market is a beautiful, historic, well-preserved building. On the upper level, there are stalls after stalls of fabrics -- many beautiful Chinese silk pieces were inviting, but I didn't buy anything. The problem is: fabric is great, but the clothing needs to be constructed!
Out our apartment window, the building diagonally across the street is getting a face-lift. In one long Saturday recently, all the bamboo scaffolding went up. It is an amazing project! I don't think I'd be interested in climbing out thereon!
A Chinese cooking class this month (with accompanying written recipes) should allow us to be able to prepare something authentic when we return home. The variety was wonderful, and we were appreciative of our Chinese friends who willingly taught us -- the food was enjoyed for lunch by our husbands.
Joyce (left) and Sister
Yuen demonstrated (and let us help) spring rolls, various chicken and fish dishes, noodles, fried rice and mango pudding. These women are expert cooks!
Ned and I went to
Sai Kung village recently (another holiday on June 16) and enjoyed seeing all the fresh fish.
Carrying the fish from one place to another was made easier by the handy shoulder pole.
Fishing boats were lined up and the customers on the pier would place their order and the men would deliver by pole or climbing the ladders. Talk about FRESH!
People were enjoying the beach that day -- lots of families were in the village and on the sand!
The boat ride out to the island was pleasant indeed.
Our friends, Jay and
JenaVee Smith completed their mission in June. A program was held in their honor, and one of the dances was a traditional Philippine "glass" dance. Holding a filled water glass in each hand with one balancing on the head, these women were amazing. They could move in every direction, and even got on the floor and rolled over while still balancing the glass on their head. The one in the center, Luz, says she began doing this when she was 6 years old.
Friends of Blake and Becky in St. George, the Snows came to
HK (15 year old daughter is in the center) on their way to mainland to get their newly adopted son. It was a pleasure to spend a little time with them here in
Hong Kong. We know they will love having Tao join their family.
On July 3, we attended the open house of a new church meetinghouse across the street from the Hong Kong Temple. The window on the upper level provided a perfect backdrop of a photo of the temple.
There were many very effective displays -- the one for family history provided a backdrop for a Chinese family who were attending.
Prior to attending the open house, we had a senior couples' 4th of July brunch in the cultural hall of our building. Elder Linford sang "God Bless America" (he's sung it for over 70 years) and his deep bass voice resonated. Elder Whitman, on the piano, can play anything and sound marvelous. We enjoyed group singing, round-the-table ping-pong and a delicious brunch.
Yummy food is always enjoyed by all. The tables were festive and many of the women wore red-white-and/or blue.
July 1 was a holiday for Hong Kong -- the anniversary of the turnover from British rule to China (1997). We had the day off and served in the temple in the morning -- after lunch (Sister Goo always provides a meal for the temple workers -- this time it was hot dogs, potato salad, veggies and brownies -- delicious!!) we explored. People were at work keeping Hong Kong Clean while others were enjoying a day off work!
Festival Walk is a beautiful mall close to the temple. An ice skating rink there provided a great place to cool-off. Our daytime temperatures are generally a little over 90 degrees with the low temp of the day about 85 degrees. Considering the 80-95% HUMIDITY, we are grateful for air-conditioning and places like the mall!
I'm so drawn to the children, and little Simon Burby is adorable. His dad is a University of Utah law student doing an internship with the Church legal department, so they are spending several weeks in Hong Kong this summer. His maternal grandparents are thrilled to have Simon and his parents staying with them.
When shopping at IKEA last week, I spotted an adorable little girl "just cooling it" in a special chair. She was agreeable about having her photo taken (I always ask parent's permission first!)
Our dear friends, Elder Chuck and Sister Carol Kewish have returned home to Provo, Utah. They are sorely missed as Area Public Affairs missionaries, but Carol needed medical attention and they are home where they should be. It was hard to see them leave, but they are never far from our thoughts.
Before leaving Hong Kong, the Kewishes wanted to go to the Peak. A rather clear day helped us get a few good shots of a city we have grown to love.
Spending time with our Filipina women on Sundays is always such a joy! This particular day there was an activity of making pearl earrings. They rush to have their photos taken whenever a camera is brought out.
Cat's Street Bazaar in the mid-levels is a fun spot to visit. There is everything from expensive antiques to "cheap" souvenirs.
Western Market is a beautiful, historic, well-preserved building. On the upper level, there are stalls after stalls of fabrics -- many beautiful Chinese silk pieces were inviting, but I didn't buy anything. The problem is: fabric is great, but the clothing needs to be constructed!
Out our apartment window, the building diagonally across the street is getting a face-lift. In one long Saturday recently, all the bamboo scaffolding went up. It is an amazing project! I don't think I'd be interested in climbing out thereon!
A Chinese cooking class this month (with accompanying written recipes) should allow us to be able to prepare something authentic when we return home. The variety was wonderful, and we were appreciative of our Chinese friends who willingly taught us -- the food was enjoyed for lunch by our husbands.
Joyce (left) and Sister Yuen demonstrated (and let us help) spring rolls, various chicken and fish dishes, noodles, fried rice and mango pudding. These women are expert cooks!
Ned and I went to Sai Kung village recently (another holiday on June 16) and enjoyed seeing all the fresh fish. 
Carrying the fish from one place to another was made easier by the handy shoulder pole.
Fishing boats were lined up and the customers on the pier would place their order and the men would deliver by pole or climbing the ladders. Talk about FRESH!
People were enjoying the beach that day -- lots of families were in the village and on the sand!
The boat ride out to the island was pleasant indeed.
Our friends, Jay and JenaVee Smith completed their mission in June. A program was held in their honor, and one of the dances was a traditional Philippine "glass" dance. Holding a filled water glass in each hand with one balancing on the head, these women were amazing. They could move in every direction, and even got on the floor and rolled over while still balancing the glass on their head. The one in the center, Luz, says she began doing this when she was 6 years old.
Friends of Blake and Becky in St. George, the Snows came to HK (15 year old daughter is in the center) on their way to mainland to get their newly adopted son. It was a pleasure to spend a little time with them here in Hong Kong. We know they will love having Tao join their family.
You always have wonderful pictures to go along with your stories. I can tell you are really enjoying your mission. You will be home to Utah before you realize. We will be glad to have you home, but I know you will really miss Hong Kong. It is an amazing place.
ReplyDeleteAlways fun, interesting, and educational to read your blog entries!
ReplyDeleteSister Arnold! This is Kerri Ballinger Young. Tara Swift (Logie) passed your blog address onto me and how wonderful it is to read your news and see how your family has grown after so many years. You may ( or may not!) remember me but i most certainly remember you and the fun we had when you were in Young Women's at Waverley Ward. To this day I cannot bake Chocolate Chip cookies without thinking of you with a smile and your Texas Sheet cake is a staple at my home, my children love it and all its chocolatey goodness.
ReplyDeleteI now live in Queensland on the Gold Coast With my husband Andrew and three children, Shiloh 12, Ethan 10 and Siobhan 4. We love it here the climate lends us a wonderful lifestyle and living so close to the beach is wonderful. We swim in the ocean all year round. Funnily enough Felicity Truman Now Berends and her family of three boys lives just up the road from me here!
Tara tells me that when you move back to Utah you will be only 20mins away from her. Luck you! I do miss her being so far away and I know she is looking forward to a little piece of our 'home' being so close by.
Well I hope you and Bro Arnold are enjoying your time in China, It looks fascinating.
Take care
Kerri Xxx