Apartment Quarantine

June 8, 2020

Welcome to our apartment, all 600 square feet, where we spent 14 consecutive days in quarantine.

 The day begins with cardio and aerobic workouts.

 The living room currently serves as Rick’s office.  Notice the files stacked on the window ledge.  Our “Susie Bake Oven” can also be seen.  There is not enough counter space for it in the kitchen.  Enjoy our splendid view of the freeway.

 Aha!  The kitchen – small but quite efficient.

 Our ‘under the counter’ washer/dryer does not perform either task well.

 The clothes drying rack is a marvelous contraption.  We expect no visitors and we can't leave so the entry way is the perfect drying location.

 Puzzles provide a much needed diversion by mid-afternoon.

 The master bedroom is compact.  The space between the wall and the foot of the bed is approximately 10 ½ inches. 

 The bathroom is quite a nice size with mirrors everywhere.

 We enjoy the luxury or a 2^nd bedroom.  I feel like it’s my personal cubby-hole office.  The clothing bar is perfect for partially dry shirts awaiting the iron.

 Rick breaks the monotony with guitar music.

 The 2^nd puzzle is completed a day before quarantine ends.

 Yea!!  We spend our first free Friday night on the harbor promenade taking in the light show.

Our first P-Day provided an opportunity to visit the Brass Factory and the Jade Market.  They LOVE missionaries!  I can understand why when I see the purchases we made.  It feels good to be in Hong Kong again.

Hong Kong - Here we go again!!

May 31, 2020

We began our journey to Hong Kong with an early morning flight from St. George to Salt Lake.

 MaryAnne met us outside the SL airport and transported us to a local park for a lovely walk and visit on a beautiful day.  This was the best part of the entire journey.

 Our lay-over in LA was a mere 8 1/2 hours.

 The apparel of our fellow passengers entertained us during the waiting hours.

 Are these hazmat suits???

 We questioned, "Are we in the Twilight Zone??"

 Face mask extraordinaire.

 No germs permitted to enter here.

 The Hong Kong airport greeted us with lines, lines, lines.  There was no end to the number of lines.  Paperwork needed to be checked, checked, checked, and checked again.

 Downloading the “stayhomesafe” app was required for everyone, as was the wearing of a lovely monitoring bracelet.

 Finally, (2  1/2 hours later) our transport to the nearby convention center is arranged.  There we deposit our luggage and spit in a vile for the Covid-19 test.

 Aha!  The waiting room!  Picture 300 people appropriately distanced from each other and assigned a lovely desk with a hard plastic chair as we await test results.  During this 8 ½ hour process the monitors offered bottled water and plain, weak, tasteless sandwiches.  Thankfully we received a previous warning and packed edible snacks. 

 Traveling with this remarkable couple, Elder and Sister Latimer, kept us positive and focused on the end goal. 

 48 hours after closing the garage door at home we entered our Hong Kong apartment.  What a beautiful sight! The church office stocked the refrigerator and cleaned everything.  The OGC office provided a basket of treats, fresh flowers, a puzzle and so much more.

 The OGC office welcome included this poster complete with all the legal policies in tiny print, in case our quaratine becomes so boring we feel desparate enough to read anything.

These bracelets will adorn our wrists for 14 days, notifying the powers that be if we step foot outside our apartment. 

If this seems like a long, long post then you can truly relate to how we felt on our trip to Hong Kong.

Next week:  THESE FOUR WALLS – What can be done in 600 Sq. Ft. of space for several days, sure to be a riveting post.

May 2020 - Time to Return to Hong Kong

As we prepare to return to Hong Kong I recap a few of our needed adjustments

 while serving at home.  It has been an adventure balancing mission assignments 

with home tasks, especially during our quarantine.

 Zoom meetings were held four times each week with the staff in Hong Kong.
 Pictured in the office are Marty (ALC), Polly, Jennifer, and Steve (ALC).  Elder
and Sister Lemmon (large on the screen) bid "farewell" as their release is only
 days away.  The three couples displayed at the bottom of the screen are the
Hafens, Blackwells, and Latimers.  Lance (paralegal) is missing from the office staff.

 I'm working in my home office.  This is usually our dining table but for several
 hours each day it transforms into my work station.

 Rick returned to his office in the basement.

We enjoyed our time reuniting with family.  Paul and Ramona (Grandma Hafen)

 celebrated Mother's Day with us.

The grapevines needed to be pruned.

  Thinning grape bunches.  

 We'll miss the birth of our granddaughter.  Making this blessing dress was a

 welcome release from mission assignments and a labor of love.

 Social distancing was required for Lori Hafen's birthday lunch so we enjoyed

 "salads in a jar" on her cool and pleasant patio.

 We may be missionaries but the farm still needs discing.

Working on the tractor provides a much needed break from the office.

Santa Clara Mission

Home isolation continues in Southern Utah.  Covid 19 creates an unusual 

phase in our missionary service.  Life is practically normal yet we spend 

most of the day completing mission responsibilities and finding 

blessings in the small and simple things.

     Morning walks with these fine partners keeps me fit and moving my muscles.

     The mental benefits of walking surpass the physical thanks to Julie (Therapy) 
     and Angie (Sanity).  We maintain an appropriate social distance.

 Our beautiful daffodils

 The peach blossoms were stunning this year.

 We enjoyed our visit with Konrad in March – Paul especially had a good time 

with his older (not taller) brother.

 

Rick and his 91 year old mother, Ramona

 We united with these wonderful people for our General Conference dinner.  

Paul and Diana prepared home-made tamales!   Buon appetito!!

           Deviled eggs – It must be springtime in Dixie!

 Ryan (returning from the Kenya Nairobi mission), Lindsay, and Debbie Hafen 

made a safe distance visit to our front porch prior to their return to 

highly infected Detroit.

Visiting with Lyndsey Bringhurst, former piano student and future 

missionary, was a Relief Society highlight!

Big Buddha Mountain Hike

March 17, 2020

     As we continue our mission at home, due to coronavirus concerns, I want to recap a great day in Hong Kong.  On Saturday, January 25, 2020, we joined two other senior sisters for a substantial hike on Lantau Island to Tian Tan (commonly referred to as Big Buddha). 

Tian Tan is the world's largest seated, outdoor Buddha nestled high in the mountains of Lantau Island in Hong Kong.  The beautiful tram ride is most commonly used to visit this amazing site.  However, some of us opt to walk the uphill trail to reach Big Buddha.

Sister Gardner (in her 70's) always joins a physical activity.

Rick reaches the first tram station as the rest of the group slowly walks the uphill trail.

Sister Wiser (in her 70's) weighs 100 lbs. on her heaviest day.  No one out-runs this amazing athlete.  She has hiked every known trail in Hong Kong (at least once) and continually finds more "adventures" for us to try.  Mountainous terrain is her greatest joy.  No need to eat lunch if one hasn't walked at least 5 miles.  I forced her to drink water but her response to eating, "I've hardly done anything since breakfast."

     Some of us feel the altitude change more keenly than others.

     Tram station #2.   Note the Big Buddha in the distance.  We're getting closer.

                      The Buddha image appears larger with each passing mile.

                      Rick leads the way on the vertical stairs of wood  (some are stone).
                     The overhead tram insures we are on the right path.

                      Three hours later we arrive!!  How many more steps must we climb to reach
                       the top???

 
                      The Chinese New Year festivities are in full bloom.

We enjoyed watching this award winning group prepare for the dragon parade.  Unfortunately,

they took too much time stretching and talking and the rain began to fall and the crowd departed.

What an adventure!   Hong Kong provides endless opportunities for enjoyment!

Coronavirus

     The Asia Area Presidency, in partnership with the First Presidency, decided to temporarily close the China Hong Kong Mission.  We received the news February 5th and departed February 6th.  Our apartments remain on lease and we expect to return as soon as entrance is deemed safe.

     We immediately began our 14 days of isolation at home.  Thankfully, our tech miracle workers prepared our computers for this "adventure" and we can both work from home.  Our parting gift from the office was a package of masks.  When we are outside our home - which is seldom - we don one of these beauties to keep all of us safe.

     Our return date to Asia is unclear.  We are still set-apart missionaries and continue in our labors.  This too shall pass.  I'll keep you posted.  No pictures this week as we both look scary traveling when we find it impossible to sleep on a 13 hour flight.  Photos that frightening should only be displayed for Halloween.