Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (which are true)
Jesus' Invitation: Come Ye After Me (Mark 1) Come Unto Me (Matt 11, John 6) through belief and faith in Jesus Christ, (Mark 5), Jesus heals a woman with an issue of blood 12 years, a blind man is given sight and a young girl is raised from the dead--Miracles continue today!
The Invitation Remains Today
"Behold, I Stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:19)
Last week I had the privilege of teaching four 15–20-minute sermons on faith to the 'Everyday Branch' in our Hong Kong church office 12-story building which has 3 chapels. The 'Everyday Branch' is a church service held every Tuesday through Saturday for Philippine domestic workers here in Hong Kong. Most are sisters, but there also some men who work as drivers and construction workers. Their off "free" day each week may not allow a typical Sunday worship schedule, so an 'Everyday Branch' is held for these hard working, faith-filled saints and believers in Jesus Christ from the Philippines.
The topic of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has been on my mind as I started this post. Paul's words remind us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Our faith in Jesus Christ is the reason we chose to serve another mission--we are answering His call to Come Follow Him. We are privileged to serve and support Humanitarian efforts of His Church in the Asia area.
When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He imparted two great commandments: to love God and to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). As we seek to show our love for God, our hearts naturally turn toward the well-being of others. Christ Himself set the example of loving our neighbor as He healed the sick, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and cared for the vulnerable.
Our Humanitarian efforts in Asia is seeking to do what Jesus taught every day, every day, every day.
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me...............40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Faith and Testimony grow when we follow Jesus' teachings to pray always, be believing, study His Word, and to love God and our neighbors. Conversely, Faith and Testimony in God fades when self-serving becomes one's focus (goods, pleasure and little love for others). Fortunately, His love is always inviting us to repent and become our best selves through Faith in Jesus Christ's Atonement.
We serve in the Hong Kong Island Branch (Philippine workers) of some 200+ sisters, 15+ brothers and many supporting senior missionaries. Our family group is about 40 sisters. Most are domestic workers who support their children and parents back in the Philippines laboring very hard here in Hong Kong. Their energy and zeal for life is contagious. We love our Liahona family group. They warmly welcomed us our first week. I had 3 chicken feet (quite tasty), it endeared me to many of them. This past Sunday we had dried fish and taro like spinach. Their Philippine dishes are a delight!
- the beautiful baptism and testimony of Chris Chow, a famed movie screenwriter, we learned during his testimony given after his baptism. He studied the gospel of Christ more than one year. Born in northwest China, he studied in Hong Kong. NYC and CA (USC). His first film was Fearless. He spoke about his journey, many experiences around Hollywood etc. Without fear, he has placed his faith in Jesus Christ and decided to follow Him this past Sunday, 11-August 3:30pm. I enjoyed getting to know him these past 3 weeks and look forward to our future associations in the branch. He is back in Hong Kong primarily to take care of his aging parents--filial piety is strong in Asian cultures.
Elder Aggen (our branch president conducted) and Elder Allen performed Chris' baptism, both are retired attorneys serving in the Area Office of General Counsel (OGC)
young missionary joy in Chris' decision and a cadre of caring friends
after the baptism our Liahona group says good-by to Sister Snell
Sister Snell send-off by most of our HK senior missionaries: Hotel Apartment lobby, 13-Aug
Our roles as Asia Area Welfare Specialists (AWS) Humanitarian Missionaries We love being involved with the Humanitarian effort of Christ's Church in the Asia Area. The link below will give you an idea that we are striving to do more and more as a Church to relieve suffering, help the poor and needy around the world.
2023 Summary on Caring for Those in Need (churchofjesuschrist.org)
We basically work a full-time office job (40-45 hours per week). Our primary role is to support 7 Humanitarian couples in 4 countries: Cambodia (4), Nepal (1), Indonesia (1), East Timor (1). My ExxonMobil work experience with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Customer Relationship Databases (CRM), legal contract processes has proved helpful. Our Asia Area Office is working legal agreements with India and Bangladesh governments to re-authorize our NGOs and humanitarian missionaries, charity work/proper funds flow in those 2 countries. The other Area Asia Specialists, the Oelkers (from Dallas Texas area), work with humanitarian senior missionary couples in Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam and Laos. He was CEO of Domino's Pizza in Taiwan and in Japan. We both do much more detailed data management than we did during our careers. As volunteer missionaries, we both keep motivated to help those in need through timely execution of our project work and activities.
We basically work a full-time office job (40-45 hours per week). Our primary role is to support 7 Humanitarian couples in 4 countries: Cambodia (4), Nepal (1), Indonesia (1), East Timor (1). My ExxonMobil work experience with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Customer Relationship Databases (CRM), legal contract processes has proved helpful. Our Asia Area Office is working legal agreements with India and Bangladesh governments to re-authorize our NGOs and humanitarian missionaries, charity work/proper funds flow in those 2 countries. The other Area Asia Specialists, the Oelkers (from Dallas Texas area), work with humanitarian senior missionary couples in Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam and Laos. He was CEO of Domino's Pizza in Taiwan and in Japan. We both do much more detailed data management than we did during our careers. As volunteer missionaries, we both keep motivated to help those in need through timely execution of our project work and activities.
Both AWS couples had mission preferences to be in the field closer to the people in need (directly working with government agencies, NGOs, communities, hospitals, schools). We are embracing our roles to help the senior couples in the field have their projects go smoothly with all the back-office paperwork, approvals and payments. We meet with all our senior humanitarian missionaries and welfare employees (language and local knowledge is so valuable) in our 4 active countries 1-2 times a week by video calls, and keep in constant communication via Teams' chat etc. Nepal is remote and they like to chat with us for sure.
We present about 1-3 projects a week to our Area Asia Presidency with aggregate project request totaling ~$150,000 - $500,000/week so far. When our church says it's spending $1.3B/year in Humanitarian relief—I witness our part, and I believe it.
Our Asia Welfare target support areas: (1) women-children health, (2) medical, (3) education and (4) clean water/hygiene. We have also seen emergency relief funds (in last few months: post volcano support in Indonesia, flooding and mudslides aftermath....). The world is in turmoil and God's children are in need. More than half the world's population of some 8 billion souls live in our area (India to China and SE Asia). There will always be work for us to do.
Camaraderie among us 14-18 senior missionary couples here in Hong Kong
(send off dinner for Sister Snell and Elder & Sister Clark 12-Aug-24)
I've mentioned the 2 AWS, but there are couples supporting Youth Programs, English, Education, including Pathways, Member Support, Area office leaders, Philippine branch leaders, Medical advisors (physical and mental health). We saw some great videos of FSYs in Pakistan (incredible growth in a turbulent place), Vietnam and Taiwan. We meet for lunch, combined preparation day trips, activities, receive and send off each other. I've joined Mon/Tues after work pickleball games (Michele enjoys the free evenings....) in the cultural hall on the 1st floor.
Pickleball open invitation Mon-Tues after work, 13-Aug pm
Macau visit, 27-Jul-24 a splendid Saturday p-day with 4-5 other couples. A bus ride on the longest bridge in the world from Hong Kong across a wide ocean bay. We came back by ferry (faster by an hour due to location of bridge start and local bus travel in Hong Kong), but it cost 4-5 times the bus fare.
Group photo at the Macau's main city square
Infamous Portuguese church front wall standing post a fire years ago--not so famous couple
Macau's replica of the Las Vegas Strip (hotel, buildings, casinos of course)
A magic show with the our senior couples the next Saturday, 3-Aug
The past 2 Saturdays we've taken ~3 mile walks along the picturesque promenade on the Kowloon side, and then cool down in our pool. The summer weather is 81-88 F (27-30 C) and ~85% humidity
we live on the 16th floor in a 600+ sq ft place
a pretty fantastic city view both day and night from our living room or along the promenade
Weekly visits to the Hong Kong Temple -- House of the Lord, increase our Peace
After a month we applied for our Hong Kong IDs - official residents
our blessing and setting apart to be missionaries from President Christensen in the Provo MTC (1st counselor) was a profound spiritual blessing (we recorded it for our family). Official pictures here in the office are nice, but who we represent, and follow (Jesus Christ) is truly the most important. We will strive to make our time here all about Him.
One of our favorite paintings of Christ which hangs in our home and in our hearts always
painting by Greg Olson
Grateful for Family Facetime calls and connection with our kids and grandkids!
of course we miss our family, but modern technology allows us to keep connected. We missed Alejandro's sealing into Marissa's family, but we're so grateful we lived with him/them most of the last year between our missions. School started this week in Denmark (Shelby's kids), and in UT (Marissa's kids). We'll miss a grandbaby's birth in the next 5 months--it's part of the sacrifice to serve.
Provo - Rock Canyon Park (our last Saturday in the MTC), 13-July-24
2011 to 2024 (we miss Garrett tons); all are growing up well
Millie (13) standing in the 2nd sibling spot for her dad, her/our guardian angel
loved our 3 days with family as we wrapped up our 2nd MTC week
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Shelby and Josh Loud family (Copenhagen Denmark)
Marissa and Chase Anderson family (Bountiful, UT), Alejandro Taylor Anderson temple sealing day
Taylor and Kaitlyn Schroedter family (Boise, Idaho)... excited for number 3 in Dec/Jan
Grant and Kendall family (Prior Lake, MN) - fun Fair moment in Minnesota last week (Schroeder car!)
Caleb Schroedter and his niece Millie Kyla Schroedter
recreating pictures (2015-Texas to 2024-Utah) with Mimi and Papa
We appreciate the love and prayers of our friends and loved ones, may God bless and be with you all until we meet again.
Thanks for the updates.
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