You may have heard of the starfish story. It's about an old man who is walking on the beach. A big storm has passed and the beach is full of starfish.
The old man notices a boy in the distance who repeatedly picks something up and throws it in the water. As the man approaches, he asks the boy what he's doing. The boy says he's throwing the starfish back into the ocean because if left on the beach under the hot sun, they would die.
The old man replies, "there are thousands of them! "You won't make much difference."
The boy picks up another starfish and throws it back into the water. Smiling, he turns to the old man and says, "I made a difference to that one!"
Incredible Senior Humanitarian Missionaries making a difference to the One.
We have the privilege of working with 7 senior missionary couples on scores of active and new Humanitarian Projects every week in 4 countries. One of the 3 retired doctors, serving their 2nd senior mission in Cambodia shared the seemingly endless need for increased medical equipment, facilities and training during our weekly call. The Church and its LDS-Charity NGO has already donated millions of dollars in healthcare (equipment, supplies, training and facilities) to Cambodia the past decade; we continue to fund projects to improve the healthcare for the gracious Cambodian citizens.
As we discussed the couple's latest project, they shared the overwhelming demands at a particular Pediatric Hospital they had visited the day before. They said it was heartbreaking to witness some infants and children, and their loving parents turned away for the lack of space or equipment. They said many gravely sick children in need will likely go home to die. As I pondered their statement, the above starfish story came to my mind--what we do each day: It Matters to the One.
The thought of the One in need drives Michele and me to support these amazing Humanitarian senior missionaries with energy each day. Our preference was to work directly in the field with those in need as we were able to do during our last mission. We now are motivated to find ways to work the project approval process hard every day, find ways to improve the processes, and ease the burdens of the Humanitarian missionaries we support in Cambodia, Indonesia, East Timor and Nepal. We hope our NGO humanitarian work will resume in India and Bangladesh soon.
The needs of nearly 2 billion people in our assigned areas is overwhelming to my mind; this population is six times the population of the U.S. (335 M). The city where we live, China Hong Kong, 7.4 million, is the combined population of Utah, Idaho, Oregon where we've traveled and lived the past year.
Each person in all these places are valued human beings, with infinite worth. This I know of myself by personal experience and revelation in 1981. Though the task to help those in needs far exceeds my capacity, I will strive to minister to the One just as Jesus Christ did. He touched and blessed each person in His path giving one on one care and love.
It truly does Matter to the One that we lift and help one another in this life:
Burdens and loads may be carried differently here in SE Asia--to ease them is a joy!We didn't ask for an office assignment, but we see the value of our work with every project we help the couples complete. There are many documents input into our global relational project database. Contracts that must be written and endorsed by general counsel (Law). Agreements translated and signed with NGOs, hospitals, schools after approvals by our Asia Area Welfare Committees, Area Presidency, and depending on the dollar value approval from headquarters in Salt Lake City. Finance managers and processes to make payments to vendors, NGOs, contractors, hospitals, communities and schools where work is done one project at a time.
When I retired 4 years ago from ExxonMobil Chemical, I thought I had left the Microsoft tools and databases we used behind me. Now, I'm trying to refresh the brain and bring the quality, process improvement mindset to our humanitarian work and tasks. We may pay our own mission expenses to be here; however, our compensation is great being a part of how other lives are lifted and improved:
One community, one family, one person blessed and benefitted -- one at a time.
So many people collectively working to render help to those in need. In our weekly calls to each couple and country, our energy and fire is fueled by the stories and projects they share.
These retirees, paying their own way as volunteer Humanitarian Mission Couples have left their homes, families (grandkids), and the pleasures and fruits of the working careers to work for Humanity
As mentioned in my last post, there are 14-18 senior missionary couples working in a variety of callings from Hong Kong to the Asia Area. One reported on their YSA conferences in Pakistan, Thailand, and Taiwan. Believers are strengthened when their growing embers of testimony are united. Where one or more are gathered in my name!
While many of the couples in the field are often by themselves (Nepal, Timor Leste), we gather often with the other couples here in Hong Kong. During the Thursday lunch hour, we have "lunch & learn" sessions. We've learned about: Gilroy, CA -- Garlic capital of the U.S.; how flat screen T.V.s were developed and constructed; church historical sites in Missouri etc. In a few weeks, we'll share our experiences from our last mission in the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria. Elder Dave Orgill, a MIT MBA who worked in Silicon Valley wants to learn about my years in Polypropylene... His brother Gary, (PhD from Duke, Dave and Gary both attended UC Berkely undergrad as engineers), who passed away too young, worked at ExxonMobil Upstream in offshore technology. Michele and I met Gary and his wife when we first moved to Houston in 1985. Interestingly, the Orgills were a family of 4 kids (I knew 3 of them, their sister Michelle Orgill and I worked on a few group projects during our business school days at BYU, '84--'85).
other fun connections these past few weeks:
Mark Pickerd, youngest son of Mike Pickerd--our first Stake President when we moved to Katy, Texas in Jan 2006. We enjoyed reflecting on the good people and shared friends we knew in Katy, Texas. He's single at 32+ and I told him I knew many eligible YSAs in Europe, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Texas! He chuckled, but I was serious, I said. He was in Hong Kong doing internal Audit reviews for the Church.
Eric Chen, who had been in our Humanitarian group. He is transitioning to a new job as the Area Planning manager. He served as young missionary in Tokyo Japan during the years Todd and Lori Budge were president. Michele and I have been friends with the Budge's since our N.S.A. work summers. Eric also knew many friends we have in Tokyo (Uchida family, Dorff family, Michele's nephew Colby Ross, our daughter Shelby's brother-in-law, Drake Loud). We enjoyed talking Japanese together. Of course, Eric can speak Mandarin (his native language), Cantonese and English very well. He took us and the Oelkers to dinner at a Mexican restaurant nearby the office a week ago.
Other Church Callings here in Hong Kong:
Ministering couple to the Liahona group in the Island Branch
a privilege to listen and learn together with these sisters who work so hard for their families back in the Philippines. We strive to minister in an uplifting way; we're thankful to get to know them. On fast Sunday, we have a shared meal after church together. Michele sings in the branch choir -- they sound like angels to me as I help do other preparations for our Sunday services: (video wouldn't load, sorry)
We both were called and set apart as ordinance workers in the Hong Kong Temple. We serve Wednesday evenings 4-9pm. This past Wednesday was our first week.
Wednesday mornings, the sisters enjoy an hour of scripture study together, Michele led the discussion this past Wednesday, she spends a lot of time studying, writing and preparing her presentation to lead the discussion. They're all so knowledgeable she tells me, I believe it.
Wednesday we had
lunch with 2 of the 3 Area Presidency members (Elder & Sister Tai and Elder & Sister Johnson) on the 12th floor--their apartment. It was a delicious soup and salad for 4 new senior missionary couples who arrived the last 4 months. What a great story and great family. Worth the read how the gospel of Jesus Christ crosses cultural barriers and love replaces bitter histories. [view out the window from their 12th floor flat at the CAB in Hong Kong:
New General Authority, Elder Tai, Builds on Legacy of Faith in Asia - Church News and Events (churchofjesuschrist.org)
This wonderful memory came from my One Drive (email notice this week). Michele and I taught early morning (6 a.m.) seminary in our Katy Texas home to these wonderful 17 youth, August 2012); this was our first class of the next 4 years. Our little cul-de-sac was filled with cars and these awesome teenagers who've become wonderful parents and people!
We love these young people for life!
Hong Kong Life and Local Activities (preparation day, p-day; Saturday activities) in my last post I mentioned our Macau visit...the second half of August were enjoyable going here and there with a few of the couples serving in Hong Kong too:
shari shari (しゃり、しゃり）with the Clarks before they left a week ago (shaved ice and cream)
I cooked a traditional American breakfast (bacon, eggs and pancakes) a few Saturdays back
then off on a morning trip to the Brass Factory with the Clarks:
Michele is not a fan of walking on grated walkways or bridges by sections--we miss the Clarks who went home (he was the Area Medical Advisor)...walking back to the Subway (MTR)
Unique Chinese bamboo scaffolding observed during a lunch walk:
Last Saturday 24-August-24 a few of us took a ferry across the Bay, visited the Maritime Musuem and rode the Hong Kong Observation Wheel and enjoyed a delicious lunch out:
Jurassic Park motif and monkeying around
It was very hot: the heat index was 114F (46 C) -- high humidity; ice cream would have been nice
31-August-24 Visit to the Tsz Shan Monastery ["White Lady'']. The Orgills (Lake Tahoe), The Oelkers (Dallas, TX) and the Schroedters (Katy, TX - via Ontario, OR) are up for Saturday adventures. This morning we traveled by MTR, small bus and walk to a Peaceful and Beautiful Buddhist Monastery! The other two couples are serving 23 month missions, so we'll all be in Hong Kong until December 2025... we enjoy our p-days. Tonight, the Oelkers bought tickets to the Opera (the Wizard of Oz), so we'll truly have a full day.
let's go!
A quiet place of beauty and reflection--introspection and inner awareness
Incredible Buddhism history from India to China and its positive influence on people for thousands of years:
Musuem below the Outdoor Buddha Statue
Michele's favorite flower - the Orchid
Bonzai Tree centered in the wall -- picture worthy!
[We enjoyed the morning and deep and long history associated with Buddhism; we had a nice Chinese lunch near the Tai Poh MTR stop]
Our walk from our Housing to the MTR (Hung Hom station) is about 0.5 miles, we then ride the subway (MTR) to Exhibition Center Station underneath the Bay, and the walk to the Church office building is another .25 miles. A few weeks back, they had
Anime weekend. Many enjoyed dressing up as their favorite characters....
To end this post, I'll say how blessed we are to serve here in China. We love working with so many fine senior missionaries in Hong Kong and throughout SE Asia.
I oft reflect about my 35 years working at ExxonMobil when I pass the Central Plaza Tower where I attended many meetings at our offices here. Now, I do plenty of office work in my AWS role at the Asia Area Church Office Building (COB) just across the street.
The evening walks home with the city skyline are beautiful too...it takes 20 minutes to our hotel lobby
Our 16th floor view, we've learned, is one of the best...we feel blessed every day,
in beautiful and busy China Hong Kong--where we are fortunate to serve God's children
May you have Peace and Joy each day, and always.
.HEIC)
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