Sightseeing Town Central-Durbar Square

Durbar square is a tourist attraction with old buildings dating back to the 16th century. It is a poor country thou so it is really left in its old natural state, nothing really cleaned or maintained very well. In one picture you will notice all the pigeons, this is because they feed them because they believe then their babies will not cry.

Some of the great faces of Nepal

It is always fun to see the different happy faces where ever you go.

Kathmandu,Nepal

Kathmandu is a unique but poor city. The main religion is Hindu so cows are sacred and wander where they want.

Hong Kong Flower Show

When you live in a concrete jungle and love flowers you can find true joy at a flower show! The displays are all brought in and who knows what they do with it all after but it was fun to see. All the animals you see are made out of flowers. The flower stands along the sides had every imaginable flower and plant for sale. We were the happy purchasers of a few orchid plants, will see if we can keep them alive.

RS March Party

Island II Branch had an uplifting hour and a half long RS program in the chapel with testimonies, talks and music. Then they moved into the cultural hall for their dinner.The RS Presidency decided they were ordering McDonald's. You can not imagine the joy of a bunch of sisters (domestic help 6 days a week) sitting down to an unset table, no cloth, no centerpiece, no cooking, thus NO WORK to enjoy their food, laughing and visiting together. Ingenious.

A Different Adventure

Last week we were called into the Area President's office (you thought being called into the principles office was scarey)... just kidding, it really was not scarey at all. Elder Perkins is my age and a great guy. We kind of new what was coming when we got the phone call because our good friends the Normans had just been told that they should probably return home because of Sister Norman's health. Elder Norman was serving as the executive secretary to the Area Presidency and it is a position that really could not be vacant while they tried to replace them as this is at least a 3 month process. So they asked us to take a change of assignment and fill this position and try to help cover off our old position until they could replace us there. So although we will not be travelling anymore in our new assignment we will have the opportunity to work closely with the Area presidency. Although we are still trying to figure out exactly what we do one of our first assignments is to help organize Elder Nelson's and Elder Bednar's visits in May. We will make our last visit (Nepal) while they go to conference. Mission life is great and we are happy to be able to serve where ever needed.

Kung Hei Fat Choi

Chinese New Year is a much bigger deal here than Christmas.We thought when they said Kung Hei Fat Choi that it meant Happy New Year but interpreted correctly it mean "wish you prosperity". Everything about new year has to do with good luck and money. It is the year of the rabbit so I have seen more bunny stuff than I would see at Easter at home. Flowers, blooming trees. orange trees are a big part just like how we have Christmas trees and a tree lot they have orange trees and they sell them on a lot. Flower stands are everywhere and you see people buying all kinds of flowers. They even have a version of Santa who hands out red envelopes, they call them pockets, with money in them. How much money depends how well you know the person, how much you like them and how much you have to give. These pockets are generally given from the senior people to those younger than them.