Visit To East Malaysia - and Other July Highlights

This month we traveled to East Malaysia.  We visited the cities of Kota Kinabalu, Sibu and Kuching over the course of five days.  We conducted training sessions with the local priesthood leaders in each of the three districts in these cities and conducted some audits in two of the districts.  We were joined by our Assistant Area Auditor for this region, Brother Tan Seow Heng who lives in West Malaysia.  Elder Subandriyo, the Area Seventy for East Malaysia also joined us for our session in Kuching.  He lives in Jakarta, Indonesia.  East Malaysia shares the island of Borneo with Indonesia and the small Kingdom of Brunei.  It is mostly tropical jungle and mountainous terrain.  It was not all that long ago when head-hunting was common amongst the indigenous jungle tribes of this island.  When Elder Holland visited the Asia Area in 2011 he suggested that the Church is still in the 1840's in some parts of Asia.  I think East Malaysia would be one of those regions.  This country is predominately Muslim, so missionary work is a challenge but it is moving forward.  The priesthood leaders we met with are truly gospel pioneers.  These districts struggle with small numbers in their priesthood leadership pool but they are humble and faithful and want to do what is right.  It was a faith promoting experience to meet with them and to feel of their faith and testimony.

Here we are in Kota Kinabalu - it is a 3 hour flight south from Hong Kong

They call this the Floating Mosque because it is surrounded by a moat.  we were not allowed inside.

 Unique Design - Government Building

From the Waterfront Promenade - People live on those boats

Mount Kinabalu - people come from around the world to hike this mountain and visit the adjoining national park which is a world heritage sight.

Priesthood leaders at the training session. 2nd from left is district president Ling.  On the right end is Brother Tan our Assistant Area Auditor for East Malaysia. Two outlying branches were not represented as they are 10 and 7 hours away.

Off to Sibu

Kota Kinabalu from the air.  People live on all the boats you see near the shore of the island.

Sibu is a small city of about 250,000 with a large Chinese population.  It is a jumping off point for river cruises into the jungle.

These are the priesthood leaders we trained in Sibu along with a senior couple, Elder and Sister Gledhill who are serving in Sibu to help strengthen the local branches. The brother in the blue shirt in front rode his motorbike 20 miles into town to attend the training session.  The district president, Michael Chua is standing behind him.  Church premises there are two rented floors in a high rise building.  A new chapel is under construction.

There was a big festival going on in town when we were there called the Borneo festival.  It was in a park in the middle of town right behind our hotel.  Bands playing, food stalls, merchandise displays, etc.  Kind of like the stampede midway on a much smaller scale.  We spent a couple of hours walking around one evening.

Next stop Kuching

 Kuching Chapel was just dedicated in May 2012

Our training group in Kuching.  President Govin is hiding in the back (4th from the left in back row).  He had us to his home for Sunday dinner - different fare than our Sunday dinners at home - but it was nice.  We were able to meet his wife and two of his five children.  He and his wife are both school teachers.  President Govin has been in the church only 6 years.

 We had an extra day in Kuching so we were able to spend it with a senior missionary couple and the group of young missionaries working in Kuching.  We went to a Malaysian cultural village where they have a number of longhouses representing the history of the indiginous tribes from the area.  Then there was a stage show.  The village is right next to a beach so the young missionaries rolled up their pants and waded in the water.

Entrance to the Sarawak Cultural Village

One of the tribal longhouses

The 3 pics below are of traditional dress of some of the indigenous tribes represented

Three pics from the stage show

Young Elders at the beach

A Kuching Mosque

Sarawak legislative buiding

There are two senior couples in Kuching.  The Winters and the Nielsons.  Elder and Sister Winters are serving a member and leader support mission and Elder and Sister Nielson are CES missionaries.  They had us for dinner our last evening there and it was great to hear of their missionary experiences.  Unfortunately, I did not get their pictures.  This was a successful and enjoyable trip.

Other July Highlights

Elder Jerome and Sister Gladys Wigg, good friends from many years ago, who are serving as the mission office couple in the India Bangalore Mission had the opportunity to accompany a young family from India to the Hong Kong Temple.  We were able to have lunch and spend an afternoon together.  We lived in the Calgary 15th Ward together when our kids were young and Elder Wigg and I served in the bishopric together.  It was wonderful to visit and catch-up after so many years.  Makes one wonder why you let the years pass by without keeping in touch with great people who have been a part of our past.  Who would have thought 30 years ago that the four of us would be in Hong Kong at this point in our lives having lunch together. 

The International Dragon Boat Races were held near our apartment early in July, so we took the opportunity to watch some of the excitement.  There were teams from all over the world including a few teams from Canada.  The event went on for several days.

 

And They're Off !!

Elder and Sister Gong invited the area office senior missionary couple to have a 4th of July BBQ pot luck on their apartment patio at the top of the area office building.

 

The food was delicious !

 I thought this would be a neat picture.  The church office building reflecting in the glass of the building next door.  You can see all of us up on the patio.

We were invited to the wedding reception for the daughter of the Asia Area Controller - Sui Hong Pon and his wife.  We work very closely with Elder Pon (he is also an Area Seventy) as he is essentially the chief financial officer for the Asia Area and sits on the Area Audit Committee.  The reception was held in one of the local chapels and was quite similar to a reception we would have at home.  Lots of food to eat and a little program, cutting the cake and throwing of the bridal bouquet, etc.

Sister Whitehead is always a favorite with our Filipino and Indonesian sisters.

Scripture of the month - Alma 38:11-12

See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.

Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.

God bless and our love to all

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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

MAY HIGHLIGHTS

7/14/49

July 7, 1949.  The date Elder Matthew Cowley dedicated Hong Kong for the preaching of the gospel.  This inscription is on a rock wall on a mountain known as Victoria Peak 'the Peak'.  One clear sunny afternoon this month we decided to head up to The Peak and take a look at the view.  Of course we had to make the pilgrimage to this dedication spot.  It is a very scenic site near a lovely waterfall and overlooking the ocean below. 

Waterfall near dedication site

View from dedication site

On the other side of the Peak one finds amazing views of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong.  A sample of the views we saw are below.

The tall building on the left across the harbour is the ICC Tower - 4th tallest building in the world

Here are a couple of upscale residences on the Peak

 We took the double-decker bus up to the top and then took the tram down.

View from the bus

 On the tram

In the middle of the month Elders Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve, Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy and Bishop Davies of the Presiding Bishopric came to the Asia Area to do the annual area review.  They visited Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India where they created the first stake in the city of Hyderabad.  They spent three full days in Hong Kong in devotionals/firesides/missionary meetings and meetings with the Area Presidency.  We attended an area office staff devotional where they spoke and then a meeting with the missionaries of the Hong Kong Mission.  We were invited to attend this mission meeting even though we are not attached to the Hong Kong Mission.  We were asked to sit at the back and not ask any questions.  Then that evening they and their wives spoke at a public fireside/devotional.  It was a full house and the meeting was also broadcast to other buildings throughout Hong Kong.  It was nice to hear their messages and to feel of their spirit.

Jolayne is in the Hong Kong International District Primary presidency.  In May they held a temple activity for all the primary children in the district.  It was held in the chapel across the street from the temple on a Saturday morning.  They invited Stanley Wan to speak to the children about how President Hinckley revelation in choosing the temple site.  Brother Wan was involved in the detailed site selection for the temple.  Then they had 4 different activity stations and then took the kids across the street in smaller groups to the courtyard of the temple where the temple presidency and matrons talked to them about the temple.  There were about 80 children who attended - so it was a successful event.  Here are a few pics of the event,

We really enjoy our Friday evening temple assignment.  It is always a nice end to our work week in the office.  We enjoy the association with the local temple workers who are there each week.  It is such an interesting experience to see how the ordinances get done in so many different languages.


Our district conference was held this month.  Elder Gong of our Area Presidency was the visiting authority.  At the beginning of the Saturday evening session after the first speaker the district president announced that Elder Gong would like to hear testimonies from 3 members of the congregation.  As soon as he said that I had the prompting that I would be one of them - and I was.  Fortunately, I was number 3 so I had a little time to gather my thoughts.  I told the conversion story of my great-grandfather, Christian Hans Monson, who joined the Church as a young boy in Norway in the mid 1800's and was dis-owned by his family.  I compared his story and courage to many in the Asia Area today who are gospel pioneers who have the courage to accept the gospel in spite of family and cultural opposition.


Jolayne had the assignment to give the thought at one of the Monday morning office staff devotionals during the month.  She talked about making good choices and the importance of doing our research and studying things out in our minds before seeking the Lord's confirmation as we make choices and decisions in our lives.  She did a great job.


We are grateful for the opportunity to serve!


"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17













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HONG KONG REPORT - APRIL 2012

With the year-end audits completed, April's focus was on following up with all the stakes and districts in the Area to ensure that the audit exceptions noted in the audit reports are being resolved/corrected.  This task falls primarily to the Assistant Area Auditors and our job is to follow-up with them to ensure the local priesthood leaders properly address these issues.  This activity will carry-on through May and tends to be somewhat tedious - but hey someone has to do it and that is why we are here.

The first two weeks of the month were disrupted as a result of our office space being renovated.  Five of the senior couples had to all work in one of the conference rooms during this period so it cut into our productivity significantly.  We now have new cubicles - one couple per cubicle.  They had to make room for two more couples who are coming in the near future.  

Our new office space

 
 We enjoyed attending the General Conference broadcasts.  Conference week-end for us was the 2nd week-end in April due to the time difference.  One talk that we particuarly enjoyed was Jefferey R. Holland - it is a classic.  If you have not heard it take a listen - if you have - listen again.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-laborers-in-the-vineyard?lang=eng&media=video


Jolayne has now started doing ESL tutoring via Skype with two church employees in the Phnom Penh, Cambodia administration office.  She works with them two mornings per week and she is really enjoying it.

We were asked by our branch president a couple of months ago to give a powerpoint presentation on modesty in dress and preparing to attend the temple during the 5th Sunday 3rd hour joint meeting.  Preparation for that was also a primary focus for us during April.  I am happy to report that the presentation went very well.

 On Easter Monday we attended a temple worker outing to Wan Chuen Temple.  It is a Taoism temple located in the New Territories of Hong Kong near the border with mainland China.  They had a multi course vegetarian lunch after - a lot of tofu etc.  We did not partake.  Well over 100 temple workers attended the event.  Here are a few pics of the place.

Jolayne and sister Renee at Wan Chuen Temple

The senior missionary activity in April was a visit to the Hong Kong History Museum.  Very interesting to learn the about the evolution of Hong Kong from a colonial outpost to a modern world financial center.  Here are a few pics but they do not do the place justice.

 An old Chinese Junk

 

Lunch at the Museum

One of our Saturdays off we decided to take a little junket over to the other side of Hong Kong island to a village called Stanley.  People had been telling us it was a nice place to go and that it has a good market.  So after we got our weekly chores of cleaning and shopping done off we went.  Here are a couple of pictures of the place.

 

 

 

  Enjoyed a nice dinner overlooking the Stanley harbour

So life goes on for us here in Hong Kong. It is hard to believe it is May already.  Not quite sure where April went.  We appreciate the opportunity to get involved in many different assignments so our days and weeks are varied.  The best part about our mission is working and associating with wonderful people - the area office staff, the other senior missionaries, the Filipino sisters in our branch, the temple workers on our weekly shift and of course our assistant area auditors.  We feel very blessed to have this opportunity to serve and to be able to make some small contribution to building the Church in this part of the world.  This past weekend the 20th stake in the Asia Area was created in Indonesia.  So the work continues to move ahead.  We are happy to be part of such a great cause.

Scripture of the month

Doctrine & Covenants 128: 22

Brethren shall we not go on in so great a cause?  Go forward and not backward.  Courage, brethren: and on, on to the victory!  Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad.  Let the earth break forth into singing.  Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

God bless

ASIA AREA ACHIEVES 100% ON-TIME AUDIT COMPLETIONS

The Asia Area continued its 100% on-time audit completion record again.  It went right down to the wire with one outstanding audit of an outlying Branch in Indonesia being completed on the deadline date of March 31.  A counselor in the Indonesia Mission Presidency traveled to the Branch a day before its' Branch Conference in order to get the audit done.  A total of 463 audits were required.

 

March was a vey busy month for us. We had the Assistant Area Auditor training seminar here in Hong Kong on March 9 & 10. We had 13 Assistant Area Auditors here from around the Asia Area. We were also privileged to have Elder C. Scott Grow of the Seventy and Chairman of the Church Audit Committee, Robert W. Cantwell, Managing Director of the Church Auditing Department and Michael W. Beck, Director of the Church Auditing Department here to provide training and guidance. The conference was a great success and well received by the Assistant Area Auditors. Elder Gong of our Area Presidency and Chairman of our Area Audit Committee said it was an out of the park home run. So that of course made us feel good about all our planning and preparations.

Meet some of our great Assistant Area Auditors

 

Sujud from Indonesia

Muugii from Mongolia

Keut Channa from Cambodia

Pang Meng Hock from Singapore

Our Assistant Area Auditors are a wonderful group of men who serve with great humility and diligence.  They all have other Church callings and in most cases multiple other callings. They range in age from 26 to 57 years old and have been in the Church on average 20 years (excluding the 3 that were born in the Church).

 The rest of the month was focused on following up to ensure all the audits got completed and reviewing all the results to identify areas of concern and where added training may be necessary.

Jolayne has taken on an added assignment to do some ESL tutoring with two Church employees in Cambodia.  She will work with them via Skype on a weekly basis to help them with their speech and writing skills.

Another big highlight during the month was the arrival of Jolayne's sister Renee and husband Allen Rhyasen who are here in Hong Kong to serve a mission in the Hong Kong Temple.  It is fun having them here.  They live in the same apartment complex we live in so we are able to see them often.

Elder and Sister Rhyasen's arrival

We are enjoying our mission assignment and feel very blessed to serve here in this amazing city with so many other dedicated missionary couples.  We hope and pray we can do our small part to move the work forward here in this area of the world.  We are happy to be disciples of Jesus Christ !

Here is our scripture of the month.

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." (3 Nephi 5:13)

God bless