June 30 - July 3: We visited Ling and Stan in Spokane. They have just finished their dream home on top of a mountain overlooking Newmanlake. What a beautiful place that is!
July 4-8: We learned from Nelson and Hilary that setting up to watch the July 4 parade was quite an art. We drove all day from Spokane to Provo on July 3, spent the night at Nelson's office on Center Street. We got up at 4:30 AM to start setting up our area for the family and friends. There were people everywhere camping out on Center Street where we were. The city ordinance does not allow people to start setting up until 5 AM, hence the situation. We had ample room for family and friends on the front lawn, and the sidewalk. The most important event was the 5K and 10K since Nelson, Hilary, Madisen, Ethan, I-Shuan and Ryan are all running in the event. Following is a slideshow of the fun run and the parade.
July 5: Visited Ron and Alice McGhie, our old friends from Taiwan. They are in Provo to refurbish their house for rental. It was so good to see them.
July 6: Elaine and her children, Nelson and his children and grandma went to visit Hogle Zoo, while grandpa went to the Family History Center. It was a fun place for all.
July 10: Visited Dr. Magnessen - Elwin had his foot trouble resolved!
July 11-12: Taiwan visa physicals (new requirements), visit Dr. Carter to get the lab work started for the visas
July 14-15: Sister Law (Hong Kong Temple worker and friends), her husband and their daughter and family came to visit us. We had dinner together.
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| Brother/Sister Law, Shirley, the Law's daughter, son-in-law and 2 boys |
July 15: Went to Las Vegas to pick up Henzer and Wendy Gao, our young friends from China for a week tour of Utah
July 15 at 7 pm: gave a fireside for the Single Adults
July 18: Visited Salt Lake, Temple Square, Beehive House, Conference Center, Park City - spent 3 nights with Nelson and Hilary
July 19: Visited Brigham Young University, the Dinosaurs Muesum, then headed for St. George
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July 20: Drove Henzer and Wendy to Los Angeles for them to spend 2 days at Disneyland, we stayed with Sue Chang, Alice's friend
July 22: Attended Hacienda Heights' Chinese Branch, met with some old friends from Taiwan
July 23: picked up Ling at the Burbank Airport, but had to go to LAX to pick up her luggage
July 24: Alice's son, Bruce and his family arrives in LA (Savina and Rachel)
July 25: Had lunch at the Korean BBQ at Gen's in Irvine, Ca with Ling, Sue and Lily. Wow, what a meal! All the Kobe beef you can ever wanted, all the prawns you can eat, all the fillet mignon...I think we wobbled out of there.
July 25: Elwin went to the Family History Center at the LA Temple in Santa Monica. There he met his cousin Scott (Aunt Fay and Uncle Verd Davis' grandson) for the first time. They worked on their family history from 11 AM to 9 PM, nonstop. It was so amazing what they learned from each other. It was a very fruitful day for both of them. He came back starved, so I made him a bowl of chicken noodle soup. I hope he doesn't see the posting on what we had for lunch that day. :-)
July 26-29: The Overseas Chinese/Taiwanese LDS Pioneers Reunion 2012: Every 2 years, we have a special reunion for the Taiwan LDS members and Return missionaries. This time, the organization has expanded to include all Overseas Chinese LDS members. Most of the participants are still the old Taiwan LDS pioneers though. We were so happy to see old friends that we thought looked familiar, but could not remember names. It was a very good reunion! Thanks to Yao Lien Hill and her committee members, including my sister Ling Winters, for their hard work to make this 3-day reunion a meaningful one. The Programs are as follows:
The programs were put together well with speakers from the "Daughters of Utah Pioneers", Utah Genealogical Society, talent shows, line-dance, and others. Two sisters from Las Vegas were in charge of the food. What a great job they did. One of the sisters is Joyce Dong, Maime Winters' aunt. It was so fun to see old friends. Alice and her friends, Sue and Lily also attended the Friday night program and enjoyed it. On Saturday night, Elwin and I were asked to be speakers before the testimony meeting. It was so good to share our Hong Kong mission experiences with the Taiwan members.
Below are some pictures to share:
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| Shirley, Ling and Joyce |
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| Reunion at the Hacienda Heights Stake Center |
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| Brother and Sister Chen (my RS president in Taiwan) |
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| Elwin/Shirlet at the LA Temple |
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| President Dennis Kim, Sister Kim and Elwin |
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| Elder Sheffer, Elwin and old companion |
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| Sister Luo, her mom and Shirley |
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| Yao Lien and Shirley |
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| Brother and Sister Stringham |
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| With Wong Lu Ping |
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| Elwin/Shirley and Sister Leonard |
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| during talent show doing a slap stick |
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| line dancing |
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| Shirley, Alice, Lily Sue and Ling |
