Easter, Hiking and Unexpected Events

So much has happened in the last three weeks. Where to start? The beginning of the month started with Cody coming to visit. It was great to spend some time with him here. It was the weekend of the Young Single Adult Convention in Hong Kong so he helped me with the big meal which was a Mexican fiesta. I told him I was going to make him Sunday dinner, but it would be with about 100 other people :) Ha ha. We were able to do some hiking and a few other fun things while he was here that week as well. We had a great time! Many people think of Hong Kong with all of the big city buildings and millions of people, but they don't often think of the rainforest, hiking, beautiful beaches and other outdoor opportunities. As couple missionaries, as long as we have our assignments handled we have a lot of freedom. Most couples have family come and visit which is a great experience for everyone for many reasons. :)

On Easter we had a really nice program at church where we attend. They had a narrated Easter program with a choir as well as small groups singing. That is not really common here in Hong Kong but this ward  (congregation) has more people who love to do those kinds of things. Some of the songs were in English but most were in Cantonese. They sang, "Master the Tempest Is Raging" in Cantonese and it was pretty powerful. Although I don't know the language, I knew what they were singing because I know and love this song.

"The winds and the waves shall obey thy will, peace be still. Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea or demons or men or whatever it be, no waters can swallow the ship where lies, the Master of ocean and earth and skies... They all shall sweetly obey thy will... Peace, peace be still."

Here we are, literally across the world reminded in another language that we are all one and that the whole earth is loved, governed, atoned for, and supported by this same power regardless of our background, beliefs, decisions, or struggles. Our Savior Jesus Christ is always there with loving arms and our Father in Heaven's eye is always on us even if ours is not on him. He is truly in the details of our lives and I'm personally reminded of that every day.

That night we had Easter dinner with a few missionary couples at our apartment and I made a roast, and bread and they all brought food as well. We had a "crepe bar" for dessert with different kinds of fruit, sauces, and of course whip cream. We had a great time!

Our work has continued moving forward here. The Mongolian project is just as intense as Joe is preparing everyone involved to start construction on 10 Ger new builds in June, and then 150 of the retrofitted existing Gers starting in August. He will go to Mongolia for a few days the middle of May to meet with contractors and other government officials. I'm not going on the May trip but will go with him for a few days in June. We still have the Hong Kong-wide YSAs we work with, the young missionaries food assignments, FSY preparations (It's like Especially For Youth at BYU but takes place in other countries), Joe's High Council responsibilities, a shift at the temple Tuesday mornings, and other miscellaneous assignments that come up. For example, on Wednesdays the women at the Asia Area Office building have an Institute class and I am teaching on May15th. Sometimes we will have assignments to speak at a district meeting, or the fact that Elder Ballard of the 12 (as in Apostles) is coming to visit this month and I was asked to execute the dinner. It is fun (most of the time :)) and not boring for sure!!

Last week we got a call that Joe's Mom was not doing well and was expected to pass within the day. We got a message that night that she indeed did pass and that the funeral would be that weekend (4 days later). We made arrangements and took a three-day trip to Los Angeles the last weekend in April to honor his Mom. It was a traditional Catholic Chinese funeral and it was really good that all of Joe's kids could be there as well. She lived to be 92 years old and I'm sure that she was happy to be reunited with Joe's dad, and sister who had passed on before.

I think we take the record for going back to the States the most amount of times as missionaries for funerals :(. That makes three in less than a year! My brother, Father, and Joe's Mother. What I do know is that Heavenly Father is in charge and that he knows what we need and what is best even when we don't understand everything. Life continues on regardless of our circumstances or what others do around us. The important thing is that we continue to focus on what is most important. The Savior said, "Come follow me"... (not other people). I love the quote, "If God is your co-pilot, swap seats." I can testify that it is a much more peaceful place to be.

Love you all!
Sister Kwan

We explored a semi abandoned old traditional
village way out in the New Territories.

Cody and Joe hiked from the bottom of Lantau Island
to the base of the Big Buddha. The rest of us took the
gondola and met them at the top. :)

Dim Sum! A couple friends came to visit
for a few days while Cody was here. 

While out exploring, we found this old traditional "bathroom". If you zoom in on the picture, you will see a hole in the middle. (eek)

We had six missionaries over for dinner. Chicken
enchiladas, chips, salsa, and fruit pizza.

At the grave site for Joe's 
Mother's funeral.

The YSA Convention committee. We had a dinner at 
our apartment and discussed what worked, what could be
 improved, and what they learned. It was a great evening.

Funny story... I was asked to teach a chocolate chip cookie making class for Relief Society (Women's group). The sky "cracked" and it started pouring SHEETS of water... No umbrella, so here I am RUNNING with a pan over my head for about a half a mile to get to the church.

We were both SOAKED! Joe was ringing out his socks.

Easter dinner with missionary friends.

Went on an amazing hike on Lamma Island last week.
We saw this abandoned school. It was completely
over grown with ghosts of school children past, ha ha.