Look for the Miracle

The last few weeks have been full of miracles and many different things. The weather is cooling off here in Hong Kong which is really nice.

We just got back from a week in Mongolia, which is always an adventure. Things are moving forward and we are almost done with phase two of this project. (150 retrofitted existing Gers, and 10 new build Ger like structures) Joe has people in Mongolia who are “on the ground” doing the work while he manages the project with a lot of conference calls, FaceTime, finding solutions to issues, and halting construction when he sees it’s not being done right, which is about every day. :) My role in this assignment is to serve as therapy for his frustrations, ha ha which are abundant. Dealing in a third world country with a serious language barrier and a different idea of quality workmanship is no small thing. (Eek) The BYU Capstone Engineering teams have started 4 new classes to support this Mongolia project that Joe also manages.

1) Improve the "do it yourself" retrofit kit for the existing Gers for mass production
2) Design a modular insulated Ger floor for mass production
3) Design a retrofit for a Bashin (A Bashin is a brick structure with no indoor sewage/water like a Ger and also uses a coal stove)
4) Improve the sensoring system of gathering PM2.5 information as well as charting heat retention and consistency with the electric heater verses a coal stove.

As frustrating and exhausting as all of it is at times, he is LOVING the engineering/creative processes and the impact it is having on the country of Mongolia! How cool is it that Heavenly Father knows him so well and what will bring him so much joy to be involved in something groundbreaking and life changing. I love being involved as well but my part is more on the logistics side. Who knows, some of you may have an opportunity to come with us back to Mongolia for a week next summer or the following summer to continue the forward movement of this project. It will be interesting to see how things unfold.

Another complication is that our mission in Hong Kong is the “Asia Area” which included 22 countries, now only 21. Mongolia was part of our area, and now has been changed to the “Asia North Area” which includes Japan, South Korea, and the Micronesian islands. What that means is that we are working with a different Area Presidency for this project, and still working and living in Hong Kong for the rest of our assignments here. Elder Budge is the new General Authority we work with (who by the way is speaking in General Conference on Saturday afternoon) but Elder Meurs from our area is still involved because of his government relationships. Both of them have asked Joe to stay on this project for another two years. That means, that our mission is complete December 7th and we go home like planned, but he will be a technical specialist for the church to make sure this project succeeds. My joke with him is that at least his boss (God) is a whole lot better than the one he had while working for Corporate America. :)

A few weeks ago I went to Kowloon Tong, which is an area of Hong Kong where the mission office is. I was preparing for the upcoming leadership training lunch and needed to check and make sure everything I needed was there. If there is one thing I have learned is to ALWAYS check several days before because often times, deliveries of items may or may not be complete or correct so this was my errand that day. It was HOT and humid, I was tired and needing to get a hair cut, which is an interesting (and expensive) thing here as well as stop at the store. I was going to go to a different area but had a feeling that I should stay in Kowloon Tong and find someone who speaks English to get my hair cut (It will grow back right?) and then go to the store. By the time I got to the market, It was much later than expected so I shopped and was going to be on my way. 

While shopping, there was a lady that kept looking at me and then came up to me. She knew very little English, (three words) and I know very little Cantonese, (three words, ok maybe a little more, but I can’t carry on a conversation) and she pointed to my missionary name tag. I know enough Cantonese to understand what she was asking me which was, is the church in Wan Chai the same church as was stated on my name tag? I said yes, and that was about it.

I kept shopping, and she came up to me again! We could not communicate, so I got out my phone and started using google translate. She told me that she was not a member and asked if she could come to church and also if she could bring her daughter. I said yes, and had her type her name and phone number into my phone. I told her my husband speaks cantonese and would call her that night.

Joe called her and connected her with the young missionaries and we set it up to meet her an hour before church and then attend church with her. That Sunday, as we met she said that she went to a different church growing up with her parents but didn’t go anymore and she had been praying for direction. She felt like something was missing in her life and was searching. She was often told that our church was bad and a “devil” church but that when she saw me with the tag she felt that it could not be true and that is why she wanted to talk to me. The Cantonese language is all about the different tones, and the name of the church if not said correctly sounds like “devils church”. 

She loved the meeting, and the church experience and is now meeting with the young missionaries. We are having her and her daughter over with them on Saturday night which will be great!

What is really interesting is that I was not even “supposed” to be at that particular store at that time. What is MORE interesting, is that she has a part time job and does product promoting at this brand of stores which are all over Hong Kong and it was the first time she was ever assigned to that particular store. Heavenly Father is in the details! He knows us and what we need. He hears our prayers and will help us if we ask and sometimes helps us even when we don’t. :) His grace is enormous and it’s not about being perfect. He loves us exactly where we are at and helps us in ways we often don’t realize. Look for the miracles in your own life. They are there. If you look you will find them. He loves me and he loves you! This I know.

Love you all!

Sister Kwan

Traditional dress of Mongolia

Elder and Sister Budge of Asia North Area Presidency.
Notice, there are no missionary tags in Mongolia.

Mongolia at an Indian food restaurant with the Lui's.
He works for the church in the Asia Area and was there
 for the "hand over" to Asia North.

Mongolian man cleaning the coal stove pipe with Coca Cola.
Totally took all of the rust off of the pipe :)

Bathroom in the Hong Kong airport.
Very clean, very family friendly. :)

Because of the protest situation in Hong Kong, they have a security checkpoint before you can even go in the door to check in. You have to prove you have a ticket and then you can enter the airport building.

 Visit to the old "Walled City" in Hong Kong.
It was 92 degrees, with 89% humidity and seriously
felt like 110. When it is that humid it almost makes one sick
to be outside for a long time. This was a beautiful place.

More of the "Walled City"

Dinner with some YSA's at our
apartment.