Wow is it the 19th already? It wasn’t until we were sitting in our first school visit for the day that I saw the date and realized I hadn’t thought about what day it was for a long time. They all just seem to blur together so that it seems like us leaving Laie before sunrise on May 8th was not 11 days ago, but really just a long LONG day ago. Nevertheless, May 19th it is.
It began with a visit to a school for disabled children. The children were so special and though they could not always express what they were feeling with words, their spirits and smiles said more than words ever could. We began by singing to them and then each went out and spent time with just a few of the kids, teaching them “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” I got to spend time with three of the most wonderful children. I was surprised when one of the girls immediately began singing the words in English with me. She was very smart and I soon found out that her most common response was, “No way!” After a few times of hearing it, I just started saying “Yes way!” back and soon enough she liked that a lot better and wanted to do everything. As I was teaching them “Do As I’m Doing,” I’d ask her to lead it or pick an action and this was always her response!
The other girl with me was shy and sweet as can be. She had the face of an angel and everything she was—all the goodness, happiness and love—I could see in her eyes and feel in her little hand in mine. The other child with me was a boy who had the best smile I’ve ever seen. He was so full of life and his happiness was contagious. The most precious moment with those three was when, after the games, we sang “I Am a Child of God” to them as we knelt or sat by their sides. After singing this song to audiences so many times from a distance, being down among those three dear spirits I came to love and singing directly to them was incredibly touching and extremely powerful. As I knelt before them and tried to sing in their own language that they are children of God, I felt the truth of it fill me. But even more I felt that they knew it too.
The dear boy sang along with me and though he could not get all the words out, he was singing the melody as clearly as any primary kid. He knew the song and I know he knew his Heavenly Father. I was humbled to have that experience.
The next school we went to was a catholic girls’ school and we were all amazed to see how disciplined they were. They filled an auditorium the size of the CAC gym floor—800 girls—and all were in strict lines. It was quite a sight, especially as they started to do the actions with us to “Pearly Shells.” The best thing to see was how they responded to Sone [Naunau’s] interaction with the audience. Their “tiger!” was by far the best one we’ve had. You could just see they had so much happiness and excitement to unleash but their teachers were always quick to shush them. Even when we went down to talk with them afterwards they weren’t breaking their lines, though you could see how much they wanted to. Oh, but as soon as we got out our cameras, any order or lines were history. They were like moths to the flame. I loved giving them high-fives (which they couldn’t get enough of), and they loved touching my blonde hair and giving me hugs. The difference between their attitudes as we go there and as we left was remarkable. Indeed, it was as if they had been freed and they (and me) absolutely loved it, it was so hard to leave them.
And last but not least, the temple! To say it was amazing as always would not be doing it justice at all. But one of my favorite things about being in the Hong Kong Temple was that I forgot I was in Hong Kong. I forgot that I was far away from home because I felt so safe, comfortable and full of joy that the temple became home. This is one of the greatest joys of the gospel to me, that I can feel loved and at home anywhere in the world as long as the spirit is there with me.
Following the temple work, we had probably the best meal of the trip—thanks to the kind local sisters and BYUH alumni (especially President and Sister Goo!). And if anything can make a near perfect day in Asia even better it’s food—good, home cooked, familiar food. And I can honestly say I thanked Heavenly Father sincerely for the meal. Hallelujah!
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