Roots... How deep are they really?

Cooking, cooking, and more cooking....It could seem that it wouldn't be very important to go across the world and do so much cooking under very different circumstances than what I'm used to back home. Of course, that isn't all that I do but what is interesting is that food is an amazing way to bring people together. It's comforting, bonding, and it bridges differences between people and can break down barriers emotionally. Many of these young missionaries are sent here from the USA, Australia, the UK, and Europe. The Asian culture is SO completely opposite from everything they are used to and lets not forget the fact that they have left all that is familiar back home including their families. When they come to Zone conference every six weeks, it can feel like a piece of home with comfort food that would be too expensive for them to buy on their own. (Something involving cheese, salsa, and chocolate, ha ha.) Basically, they have a five hour meeting as a group with the Mission President and his wife. They are instructed, hear testimonies, participate in music, have group activities, etc... All in English and then have a meal together. It supports them in getting recharged and strengthened to be able to go do what they do. The hope is during this process they will develop deep spiritual roots that will carry them through, not only to the end of their mission in Hong Kong, but will be a foundation for the rest of their lives.

We went back to California for 5 days for my Dad's memorial. It was good to be able to be there and be with the family. I'm grateful that I had an opportunity to speak at the memorial and honor my Dad. I was a bit worried and stressed knowing I had been asked to do this, but a week before we left for California I was awoke twice in the night and the words were just there. I literally got out of bed twice to write and write. I'm grateful for that experience knowing what God wanted me to say. I talked about the meaning of life and how the Savior fits into that plan and that everyone of us will be leaving this world at some point. What legacy will we leave with our loved ones? If we were to meet our maker today, are we at peace with God and our relationship with him? It was good to see family and especially to snuggle with the grandkids. At the same time, we also felt very pulled and anxious to get back to Hong Kong as our life is here for another year and wanted to get back to our assignments and responsibilities.

Upon our return to Hong Kong, we hit the ground running. The very next morning we were on a train at 7am to head up to the Kowloon Tong Building where the mission office is to prepare lunch for 50 young missionaries who were attending a leadership training. We had spaghetti, Caesar salad, rolls, and a cherry dump cake (Look it up online if you don't know what it is. Pretty amazing) with vanilla ice cream. Needless to say they were pretty happy and honestly, so was I!

Saturday night there was a Hong Kong wide dance for the singles ages 19-40. They had the equivalent of $1300 in US dollars they had to spend before the end of the year, and I said, "I can do that!" ha ... There is a member of the church here who owns this incredible Italian restaurant called, Amaroni's and he gave us this great deal. The story gets better because we were invited to the restaurant to try all the food before we placed the catering order. Joe laughed and said, "Now THIS is a mission". We had two kinds of pasta, two kinds of salad, and fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic. These Chinese young adults had never experienced food like this at a party... ever. They loved it! The theme was "Back to the 80's"... I didn't know if it was US 80's or HK 80's but most of the music was American and they had a great turn out and a good time! Very successful event.

This week is our Zone Conference so Wednesday and Thursday we are making tacos for 150, split up into two days. I have a friend here who helps me a lot and offered to make 192 pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! She invited us over for dinner and to try them. Yep! They were awesome. She's from Tahiti and her husband is from Texas. Very cool couple.

I've been thinking a lot about testimony and roots and how those two things relate to each other. It is really interesting because before the huge typhoon hit here in Hong Kong, you would see these big beautiful trees. They looked so strong, big, and healthy. After the typhoon, some were battered, but they maintained their stand in the ground. Some trees were completely ripped out of the ground. Some were sheltered by location but ALL were effected by the massive storm. What is interesting to note, is that although the big beautiful trees looked amazing on the outside, the ones that were ripped from the ground happened because they were basically grown in a pots under the ground so their roots never got that deep... Unless the roots of our testimony are deep enough, being firmly planted in the Savior and the atonement we will be swayed by the storms of life in all its forms. We see it every day. Let us examine our own roots and be firm in what we know is true and right and if we are currently struggling, doing what is necessary to get our roots deep enough to sustain further storms that are headed our way. Peace and safety will always be found in the Savior.

Love to you all!
Sister Kwan

Went to this place called "Ten thousand Buddas" which actually is about 13,000, but it was very cool.  It was a decent hike with 400 steps up a pretty steep incline. The main monastery houses thousands of miniature Buddha statues with glittering lights etc.

On the way up to the monastery both sides were lined with Buddhas all the way up to the top with every possible expression.

This is what a Relief Society (church women's meeting) lesson looks like in a Cantonese ward :) It was about ways that we can connect and help minister to others more effectively.

On the plane 15 hours back to Hong Kong. Eek!

This is the crew from Amaroni's who catered the meal at the Hong Kong YSA dance.  Joe was at the front desk pretending he could read Chinese, (ha) and checking people into the event.

This is carved out of a tusk... The detail is incredible. We saw this when visiting Macau several weeks ago.