We always wanted to experience a typhoon while in Hong Kong, and a #8 hit us the first week of August. Here are some photos to remember it by.
We had to cancel church on Tuesday because all transportation was at a standstill.
David and I decided to go out in the wind and rain.
He said we should take our BIG umbrella as the little ones would be blown to bits.
Elder Chandler was out with his little umbrella, but he didn't stay long.
Note the waves in the harbour.
Soon our umbrella was inside out......
And before long it was toast!
Many trees were blown over or broken.
On our monthly temple trip with area presidency and senior couples we met this handsome couple from India who had just been sealed. They asked to have a picture with all of us.
E&S Chandler, E&S Orton, E. Roberts.E. Norman, E. Nielsen,
E&S Thong, Bride and Groom, E&S Towers
Later that day, we went to the Hong Kong Garden Wedding chapel to be the witnesses for a darling couple from Cambodia, Ray Sreyroth and Charles Prunier. We didn't know them before, but she knew several of our Cambodian missionaries and they gave our names to them as someone they could ask to help them in Hong Kong.
When Sister Orton heard they were getting married, she went out and bought a cake and flowers and invited all the couples in the office. After the ceremony, we took them to the church and surprised them with a little reception. They were thrilled. The bride broke into tears at Sister Orton's thoughtfulness! Thank you, Linda!!
Of course we needed a picture of our last day with Friday Family!
Keng, Edelyn, Gloria, Claire, Lyrma, Novalyn, Mylene, Arcelle and Gemma.
Sister Roberts wrote a great goodbye song to us. Here are the Senior Missionaries singing it.
Elders and Sisters Neilson, Thong, Kendell (Whimans in the rear)Chandlers, Normans, Chamberlains, Bodilys, Ortons and Roberts (not in the picture)
Stan and Judi Pett are our good friends who help us in Saturday family.
Elder and Sister Thong have an office right down the hall from us.
Saturday Family planned a spectacular going away party.
Here we are with some of our wonderful Indonesian sisters.....Eka, Leona, Titin and Zizi.
This is a picture of many of us.
Jenn, Yolly and Marlene did a rendition of "Dancing Queen".
Zizi and Yani did a traditional Indonesian dance.
They did a skit of our life together, including our exchange students.
Those who were acting as our exchange students are
Rhea, Zcarina, Katrina, Nerissa, Ems, Marlene and Nerrisa.
The missionaries sang beautifully.
Elders White and Johnson,
Sisters Amemita, Valenzula, Bongo, Ofilan, Caluza, Baluyot, and Molina.
Us and Sister Nerissa Sabegay
They made a huge poster for us.
More pictures: Elder White, Ester, Maryann, Marisel, Nerissa and Nancy above.
A Sunday Sister, Edna and Yolly in front.
On our last day with Tuesday Family they presented us with this cool wall hanging that Siska made and everyone signed.
Kriska, Sister Molina, Wilson, Siska, Abie, Lala, Leah, Sister Bongo
Maravic in front.
Here's a closeup of all the work they did!
Abie posted this on her Facebook page.
We had so much fun with Wednesday family.
Back: Catalino Estrellia, Analiza , Marisell, Dipal, Daisy, Betsy and Joy
Front row: Elder and Sister Kendell, Marjorie, Us, Kate.
Daisy couldn't come on Saturday to say Goodbye, so she and Dipal came on Wednesday.
Wednesday Family
Back: A friend of Joy's, Joy, Dipal, Daisy Maricelle, Catalino
Middle: Joy, Analyn, Maricel Marjorie, Kate, Analiza, Betsy
Elder and Sister Kendell and us.
The special Filipino food was wonderful as always!
Lots of pictures with Thursday family on our last day in Hong Kong.
Shelley, Gin, Sally, Amihan, Me, Jenn, David, Noravee and Beth.
Sister Maritess, Us and Kendells.
Tess and Ems with us.
These are our beloved missionaries at our last Missionary correlation meeting.
Sisters Awit, Caluza, Valenzuela Amimeta, Elders Johnson and While, Sisters Ofilan, Baluyat, Bongo and Molina, Elder and Sister Kendell and us.
Sister Eva Marie was baptized on our last day, making a perfect ending for us...
........and beginning for her!
Novavee, Elder White, Eva Marie and us.
Sister Sally has been going through chemotherapy]y for breast cancer.
Here she is still smiling without her wig on.
Her positive attitude has inspired all of us.
Shelley Lee joined the church while she was working in Cambodia.
She came to Hong Kong from mainland China to tell us goodbye on our last day.
We went to lunch at our favorite bakery, Passion!
Ling was our barber and hairdresser while we were in Hong Kong.
Here are a few shots of the pool and workout room at our hotel complex.
Sometimes you could see a huge cruise ship pass by in the harbor while on the treadmill!
We often meet other senior missionaries, like Elder Roberts, working out.
On our last evening we took a walk along the harbor with our friends, Stan and Judi Pett.
They sent us this picture.
Brother Estrellia came to find us at the airport. He works there pushing wheelchairs.
This is the day we were waiting for!
We surprised Elder Weston Monson in Seattle as he was returning from Cambodia.
Have you ever seen such a dapper looking returning missionary???
He asked us if we were going back to Hong Kong to finish our mission.
We assured him that we were heading home with him!
Home Sweet Home!!!!
Nothing beats family!
We got off the plane first.
Here we all are waiting for Elder Monson!
Home at last!
Welcome home, son!
The Monson Family.....reunited for a few days!
This is most of the people there to welcome us home.
Carolyn, Karen, Elder Towers, Tom, Elder Monson. Jordan, Zach, Ryan,Eliza, Ben, Nicole, Melissa
Sister Towers, Kristin, Zane, Kimberly, and Rhiannon.
The first thing David did at home was try to pull back his bow.
Success!!
After our homecoming talks, many friends and family members came over to visit.
Tammy, Carolyn, Brian, Tom, Karen and Jim.
Judy and Natalie
Weston and Scott Smith
Barry and Trisha, Yaundry and Stephen
Emma and Norb
Rhiannon, Zane, Jordan and Zach
Kimberly, Zane and Rhiannon
Nicole, Zane and Rhiannon
Myrna, Yaundry and Stephen
Whitney, David, Nicole, Tammy
Tom and Weston
The amazing swan was made by Jenn Japitana as a going-away present.
I shipped it home to use as our centerpiece.
It's made from about 1,000 pieces of folded paper but NO glue.
The water lilies were a gift made by Myrna Agular.
The turquoise plate belonged to Grandma Helme
Our co-workers and friends, Scott and Karen Smith.
Soon after returning home we had dinner with some of our fellow missionaries from Cambodia:
Emma (not pictured) and Norb Kemp, LaRee and Gary Philippi and Betty Briggs.
Here's Emma with Norb.
We bought a new car......an Acura MDX
Tom, Ben and David on Rocking Chair Ridge setting up a tent for the elk hunt next month.
Dinner with Scott and Karen.
We are so lucky to get home in time to enjoy all the wonderful fruits of Tom and Ben's gardens.
It's even fun to cook again!
Zucchini Ratatouille!
And of course.......family time is the best time
Hot dog roast at our firepit in the back yard!
