Sunday, October 5, 2014

I am not quite sure what happened to September but it flew by like a whiz!!!!  I am liking the little 'month at a glance' app!  Helps me keep track of the whole month at one glance.

 We got back from our Hong Kong week-long trip completely exhausted.  And realized we had absolutely NO time for recovery.  Sunday, we went to Sacrament Meeting only so we could come home and repack and get ready to head back up to North Carolina Raleigh Mission.  We would spend the next 2 weeks up there.

However, Wayne needed a little 'surgery' performed before we left town.  And who was he going to get to drain the little cyst on the back of his neck??  Well, Elder/Dr. Thompson of course!!!  The 'doctor want-to-be'!!  He was thrilled to be able to do that.  Elder's Jones and Laws wanted to be in on the action.

And Elder/Dr. Allgaier could squeeze my hand when the incision hurt too much!!

Elder/Dr. Thompson actually did a great job!!!

However, Elder Laws (front) and Elder Lam (back) started freaking out just a bit when the going got a little 'rough'!!!

It was a FULL week of Zone Conferences in Raleigh....covering Wilmington, Fayetteville (2 days, 2 zones) and Apex.  

One of the things President Bernheisel likes to do is a few exercises after lunch!!  The missionaries all love to do that!!

In the meantime, David had texted some fotos to us of the riots that were taking place in Hong Kong. Oh my heavens!!!  We got out of there just in time.  We actually heard some 'bull-horn' activity the day before we left but didn't know what was going on because it was in Chinese and we couldn't understand anything!!

On Wednesday night President and Sister Bernheisel treated us to dinner at a Thai Restaurant in Fayetteville, along with the office Senior couples Elder and Sister Burnsides.  It was good.  And it was fun to be with everyone!

I did a little instagram foto.

Because President and Sister Bernheisel did not want any of the missionaries seeing the Doctor during training, we basically had nothing to do (at least I didn't!).  Wayne had plenty to do with the phone and emails, etc.  I was able to finish this afghan for John and Charlotte Marion.  Ready for delivery!!

Little did we realize that the Apex Zone Conference was on the Raleigh Temple Grounds!!!!  Oh for heaven sake!  Jonathan and Tina's old stomping grounds.  And here is the home that they bought and lived in when they lived in Apex!  The trees have grown a TON!!

We even got to participate in on a sealing team for an hour during the morning on Friday.  What a treat for us!!

Checking the 'surgery' that Elder/Dr. Thompson did.....healing nicely.

On Saturday we drove from Apex over to Boone, N.C. for the weekend.  It was easier than driving all the way back to Peachtree City, GA.  And I have been wanting to see this part of the country anyway. So we headed over.  The leaves are just beginning to turn.....and how gorgeous they are.

On Saturday afternoon after we arrived in Boone, we drove up to the top of Grandfather Mounting......took a little selfie on the way up.

The foto does not do this justice but it was HIGH up there and FREEZING, WINDY COLD at the top.  In fact, we were told that in the morning the top was closed because the winds were up to a sustained 65 miles per hour.  We were lucky we got to go up.

Be Careful.....absolutely right.  The wind felt like it was going to blow us off the mountain.

I was holding on the railing of the swinging bridge.  A little scary!

On Sunday we watched General Conference on our laptops in our hotel room.  So relaxing!

In between conference sessions we decided to drive around just a little bit as well as get something to eat for lunch.  Found this great Russian Store right here in the mountains!

And we found a Doc Watson statue and bench right down town Boone by the Mast Hardware Store.  He was a very famous BlueGrass Singer.

Gary Willlard, my cousin, and Gail, his wife, called and invited us over for pie after conference.  We had a fun evening visiting with them.

Again, the fall colors are just gorgeous!!!

 Wayne caught me just chilling on the sofa of our hotel room.  

All in all it has been a fast-paced, busy week......and nice to chill for a few here in Boone, N.C. for the weekend.  Back to work again this week!!!  This was a nice 'Preparation Weekend' even though we still had work to do!

Sunday, September 28, 2014

It has, indeed, been quite the week!!!  With our unexpected trip to Hong Kong to make sure Sister Ngai got home safely we have definitely had a TON of adventure.  We were greeted at the airport by her Mother, her Aunt and her 'Boyfriend'.  We have been able to spend a fair amount of time this week with Sister Ngai and her 'boyfriend' as well as David (who has been in Hong Kong for the week on business).

David arrived in town on Monday afternoon late.  He grabbed a taxi and headed to our hotel to pick us up.  He took us to the RITZ CARLTON 102nd floor where we had an amazing dinner!!  It was an 'early birthday dinner' for me and also David.  It was incredible!!!  And the view was gorgeous.

The restaurant staff surprised us with a little BIRTHDAY dessert!!!

We just 'hung out' enjoying the view from the hotel drive-up.  It was just amazing!!!

We had a chance to do a little sightseeing as well as shopping on our own.  We have enjoyed exploring the adventures outside of our hotel.  The Nathan Hotel was situated in the perfect spot for us.....close to stores, sights and parks.

A few more shots of our being out and about......viewing the various stores and sights.  I bought some LAVENDER JADE.....necklace, bracelet and earrings.  You can see the jeweler hand stringing the necklace in the bottom left foto.

We went to THE PEAK on Hong Kong Island with Sister Ngai and her 'boyfriend' on Tuesday evening.  What a treat it was.....We rode the tram to the top.  What a FANTASTIC night view we had.  We arrived about 6 p.m. and the sun set at about 6:45 p.m.  Timing was perfect.

Sister Ngai with Wayne and myself at THE PEAK.

When we finished looking around at the top, it was time for dinner.  We literally walked around Hong Kong Island for 45 minutes trying to find a Mexican Restaurant that Jacob (my brother) had recommended.  We never found it but thanks to Sister Ngai's boyfriend we found another Mexican restaurant!!!  It was her boyfriends first time eating mexican.  I think he eventually liked it.....or adjusted fairly well to the taste!!

On Thursday, Wayne and I headed over to the Hong Kong Temple.  What a wonderful opportunity we had in being able to be there.  Everyone was so warm and friendly and helpful to us.  Just as one would expect temple workers to be.  We had met the Temple President and Matron at Stake Conference on Sunday.  They were very happy to see us again!

 We got to spend more quality time with David.  He took time out of his busy work schedule to 'make time' for us.  We very much appreciated that.  I think he really enjoyed being with us.  We certainly enjoyed being with him.

David took this foto.......us 'old folks' just do weird things sometimes.  Like looking out of the bottom of our trifocals!!

We 'hide' one of Becky's Core Kits in Kowloon close to the temple.  There were a number of her fans who were trying to find it (we could tell by their remarks on InstaGram) but after 2 hours of waiting Sister Ngai and her boyfriend came to meet us and 'found' it!!!  They were thrilled!!!  And so were Becky's fans thrilled that a young 'couple' had found it.

David took this foto of a sunset out of his hotel room on Hong Kong Island.  His view was better than ours.  He shared it with us.....what a gorgeous view.

We went 'strolling' the streets again and ended up in Kentucky Fried Chicken......I needed some 'normal' food.  I had corn on the cob and mashed potatoes with gravy!!!  Cute little selfie!

David also took this foto of us as we crossed the street......median was right in the middle so that is where we stopped.  Thanks David!

It has been totally a GREAT week on all fronts.  Spending time with David was definitely a highlight for us.  Knowing that Sister Ngai was going to be ok (because we checked on her throughout the week) made it worth our being in Hong Kong for a week.....and being able to catch up on some much needed rest!!

We did a LOT of walking and I really didn't have the right walking shoes.  We packed up and left Georgia in such a hurry I just grabbed my sandals.  BAD CHOICE!!!  Thank goodness we found a pharmacy and could buy a box of bandaids!!!

And so it goes.....all good things must come to an end!!!  Flying over Hong Kong and actually being able to see without a bunch of low-lying clouds made it wonderful.  An amazing week.....and amazing trip.  We just never thought we would end up in Hong Kong as a part of our mission assignments!!!  Tender Mercies for sure.

And the sun SETS somewhere between Japan and Alaska!!!  L.O.N.G. trip back to Peachtree City, Georgia.....but well worth it.

The APs met us at the Atlanta Airport when our airplane arrive at about 10:30 p.m.  It took us 24 hours to from Hong Kong to Georgia.  We are grateful to be back and to get 'back to work' with this part of our mission.  This coming week promises to be very busy.  We have a 2-week road trip scheduled for the North Carolina Raleigh Mission!!!  And here we go......!!!!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

We just never know where in the world we may be from day to day on this mission.  This weekend ended up being just that!!!  We were going about attending Zone Conferences in the North Carolina Charlotte Mission when we got a phone call from President Harding on Wednesday night!  We were to escort a sick missionary home......to HONG KONG!!!  Yes, that is exactly what we would be doing and that would be on Friday of this week.  That meant we needed to drive 7 hours back to Peachtree City so we could repack and get ready for a 21 hour flight!!!  Oh my.....WE CAN DO THIS, RIGHT!?

But....before we leave for Hong Kong I have to tell about the beginning part of the week.  We were in Utah the preceding weekend so that Wayne could set Kevin apart as a High Priest.  He had been called to serve on the High Council!  We are so excited for him.....

We got to have a family dinner on Sunday at Kevin and Lauren's home.  Andy and Geralyn and the boys were able to come down!!!!  And Spencer was able to come as well!!!  LOVE FAMILY TIME!!!  It is always the best time!!

And we were able to catch a beautiful sunset as we approached our Atlanta landing on Monday night.

Tuesday morning we woke up to a FLAT TIRE!!!  And with a 7 hour drive to North Carolina today we really had not planned on having to fix a flat tire.  Better here in Peachtree City before we left than while we were on the road!!

What a blessing to have a AAA Membership!  A little rain never hurt anyone...right!!??

Driving up to High Point we stopped in Charlotte to do a little HIDE AND SEEK Project Life for Becky!  SO fun to help in this little adventure.  What sweet ladies came to claim it!!

This PEACH is actually located in South Carolina.  I have always thought it should be in Georgia.  Oh well......love to see it!

I have been looking forward to going to DEWEY'S BAKERY there in Winston Salem for a while.  And Thursday after the Zone Conference there was the perfect time.  LOVE this bakery.  We used to go there all the time as kids.

Thursday was a 'sweet memory' day as it marked the 2-year mark of Jonathan's passing away.  Hard to believe it has been that long and still so sad that he is not with us here in mortality.  How grateful we are that we can be a forever family and look forward to being with him again some day!!

SO...after a whirlwind day and a half in North Carolina trying to conduct our 'Mini Clinics' and Medical Training it was time to get back to pick up our little 'treasure' Missionary and get her back home.  President Harding got us to the airport early on Friday morning.  Bless his heart.

The flight was NOT a direct flight, of course.  Last minute tickets never are.  We flew from Atlanta to Salt Lake City, to Seattle WA to Hong Kong.  A 21 hour flight.......

As we flew into Hong Kong it was about sunset time and this is what we saw.  Gorgeous welcome from our friends here in Hong Kong.  We lost a day so it was actually Saturday night.

YUP....we are actually here.

We had a member of the ward/stake pick us up this morning at our Nathan Hotel and drove us to Stake Conference.  We had been asked to share our testimonies in the conference.  What a great event this has been today.

The Stake Center is only about 2 years old.  It is very nice.

The young missionary's uncle is the Stake President.  They invited us over to their home after church where they prepared a wonderful dinner for us.  Here is Sister Ngai to my right, her mother to my left.  Behind us is her father on the right and Wayne on the left.

Sister Ngai's uncle and aunt are standing in the back next to Wayne.  

It has been a wonderful Sabbath.  We love our newly found friends here in Hong Kong.  I feel we will stay in touch with them for a long time!!