Our family woke up very early today because today is the departure day of our Hong Kong Temple trip. We were so excited about it. Alvin was back to Kuala Lumpur yesterday and we were slept early last night because we have to wake up at 3.00am. We will be meeting at the PJ Chapel at 4.30am today to take a bus to KLIA2.
Alvin had booked the Public Cab but till the certain time the cab did not turn up and we were worrying for a while. Immediately we downloaded the Grab Car App, and luckily for us there is a Grab Car for us and took us to PJ Chapel and we reached around 4.00am. It cost us around RM22.10 including the toll fees at this odd hour, considered worth it. There were already youths and parents at the PJ Chapel.
We were joining the Kuala Lumpur District Youth Hong Kong Temple Trip which is organised by the District Young Men and Young Women Presidencies from 28th – 30th March. We were blessed that this is our family second time going to temple and Alvin and I able to witness for our son and daughter doing the proxy baptism for the dead ordinances for my grandparents.
There were total around 34 youths joined the temple trip this time. All of us were feeling so excited for the trip. We took the bus which had been arranged to KLIA2. We were taking the Airasia flight AK134 KUL – HKG 8.40am – 12.40pm. Initially we were supposed to meet at 5.00am but due to school holiday and high travellers at the airport, we were requested to arrive early for the booking process.
After the checking process at the counter, we were having our breakfast at Burger King, McDonald’s or Chicken Rice Shop at the departure hall. All of the youths were having their breakfast joyfully. Everyone was so high spiritually at the boarding room and during boarding to the air plane. All of us were getting some sleep on the four hour flight to Hong Kong.
When we touched down at the Hong Kong International Airport it was around 12.40pm. After going through the immigrance and taking our luggage it was already 1.45pm. There was a bus which had been arranged and arrived at 2.00pm. We saw beautiful scenery around Hong Kong when the bus acrossed the Tsing Ma Bridge.
We were reaching the patron housing which is just right across the street from the temple around 2.45pm. After getting settled, about 3.15pm we were walking over to the Festival Walk which is a shopping mall nearby for our late lunch.
Once we entered to the Festival Walk, it give me a feeling no other than it is just another shopping malls that we have back in Kuala Lumpur. We went to the food court, and hunted for our food. All of us including all the youths were so hungry!
We were getting our food at the mall food court. There are varieties such as Cafe de oral, Chee Kei, Pepper Lunch, Tai Hing, TamJai Sam Gor, and McDonald’s. We just getting some Braised Minced Pork Rice for Alvin and Issac, Wonton Mee for myself and Pepper Lunch fried rice for Annabelle.
Around 5.00pm, Brother Van Cott lead the youth to see the Hong Kong Temple outside and the lobby area on our way back to the patron housing. After which all of us took turn to take our bath. The men and women are in separate sleeping rooms whereby a room can fit in up to 6 – 8 beds. Annabelle and I shared the room with 5 others young women and Sister Van Cott. Alvin and Issac were sharing the room with others young men and Brother Van Cott as well.
At the patron housing, we met with saints from Chengdu, China. They came here on Monday to attend to the temple as well. They are really a good cook. They invited us and shared with us some of their dishes as they cooked too much. It was really delicious.
All the youths were having fun time mingling and play games while some of them were taking their time doing the temple history work, printing the ordinances cards for tomorrow. Almost 9.00pm, we were busy cooking instant noodles the dinner for the youths.
After the dinner, we had a short 5 – 10 minute devotional. Brother Van Cott was teaching the youths about temple works and we were discussing about Doctrine and Covenants Section 138. It is about a vision given to President Joseph F. Smith about the spirit world. Brother Van Cott invited the youths to ponder and get themselves ready to enter to the temple tomorrow.
We went to bed around midnight and tomorrow we need woke up early for the our schedule at the temple. I am really happy and indeed grateful to the Lord as He have prepared a way for our family to be here in His temple again.
