June 2012

The building pictured below is the Dr.Sun Yat-sen Museum formerly known as Kom Tong Hall.  It was purchased by the Church in 1960 and was used over the years as a chapel, activities center and Asia Area Office.  Rather than spend money on renovating it, the Church sold the building to the government in 2004. The government provided funding to restore the property and it became the museum recognizing the life of Dr. Sun Yat-sen - a Chinese revolutionary who pushed for democracy in China but ultimately failed.

As a sign of appreciation from the government to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Dr Patrick Ho, Secretary for Home Affairs, arranged for the baptismal font to be preserved as a reminder to museum visitors of the Church’s 44-year part in the building’s history. In addition, a plaque on the front of the building displays the following:

"The Kom Tong Hall was the Hong Kong Headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1960 to 2004. It was well preserved, leaving behind a cultural legacy that has been made available to the people of Hong Kong.”

 

Statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen

The senior missionaries toured Kom Tong Hall in June.  Stanley Wan, a local Church employee gave us the tour.  He actually lived in the building as a child growing up as his father was the custodian and the family lived right there. 

Our Area President, Elder Anthony D. Perkins, and his wonderful wife left us in June to take up a new assignment at Church headquarters.  He has been in the Asia Area Presidency for the past 5 years.  We are very sorry to see them go.  It has been a great blessing to work under his leadership and to see his vision for the work here in Asia.


A new Assistant Area Auditor was called for southern India during the month so we have had some Skype sessions with him to provide orientation and training.  Other than that the month was spent on administrative work and record keeping.  Jolayne lost one of her Cambodian ESL students as she is on maternity leave for a few months - so for now she is down to one student.


Our Branch had an activity day on June 23, which was a holiday here.  They had a lunch and then played some games - relays, tug-of- war, etc, and visited.  These sisters are very competitive!

 

June 26, marked the halfway point of our mission.  It is hard to believe we have been here that long.  The time really does fly by.

This month's scripture


"For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.
And now I say, is there not a type in this thing?  For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.
O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so it was with our fathers; for so it was prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us.  The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."   (Alma 37: 44-46)

God Bless