The long awaited Montgomery Chinese Branch 25th Anniversary Reunion had finally arrived. The main purpose of this reunion was to celebrate the great blessings and miracles in the Montgomery Chinese Branch over the past 25 years by remembering the people and events through carefully planned activities. The degree that this goal was achieved over and over again during the past 25 years and during the reunion weekend demonstrated the success of the reunion and manifestations of the blessings received over the 25 years. Indeed, the reunion itself was a tremendous miracle or set of miracles. So many details came to fruition at the last moment to produce the desired effects. So many people (over 300 in total) came to attend the reunion events and helped in carrying out the logistical efforts. So many little miracles happened during the reunion itself, reminding us that God continues to watch over this Branch.
A year before, the planning had already commenced. The actual work of planning originated within the Reunion Planning Committee. Special thanks and mention for all those who served on the committee:
Guillermo & Betty Azucena, Barbecue Picnic Committee
Vince Breglio, Reunion Committee
Fengdi Chen, Food Committee
Frank Chow, Reunion Committee
Kevin Mallory, Hospitality Committee, liaison to Twin Lakes Branch
Andrew Shen, Reunion Committee
Charlotte Shen, Social Event Committee
Tyler Thorsted, Advertising Committee
Ben Tsai, Fireside Committee
Da Zhao, Audio Visual Committee, liaison to Montgomery Branch
Bowei Zhu, Reunion Committee
Each committee contributed both in thoughts and efforts. Special thanks to those who are not currently in our branch, especially to our Utah alumni on the committee. Truly the success of this wonderful reunion was derived mainly through the brainstorming and efforts of the committee.
With three reunions behind us (10th, 15th, and 20th anniversary celebrations), this silver anniversary reunion was modeled after the previous reunions and featured seven distinct events:
Saturday, May 27, 2017, 11:30am to 3:30pm: Primary activity
Saturday, May 27, 2017, 11:30am: Mandarin sealing session
Saturday, May 27, 2017, 1pm: Mandarin endowment session
Saturday, May 27, 2017, 5pm: Social event at Stake Center
Sunday, May 28, 2017, 10:20am: Sunday meetings at Kentlands Chapel
Sunday, May 28, 2017, 5pm: Fireside at Kentlands Chapel
Monday, May 29, 2017, 11am: Picnic at Foulger-Pratt Farm
Each event was designed to help achieve the overall reunion goal, to bring members and alumni together, and to provide a forum for fun and spiritual uplift. Unique to this reunion was the Mandarin sealing session. The idea came from Brother Steve Hilton to allow Chinese members to participate in a sealing session in Mandarin. Immediately afterwards, the Mandarin endowment session accommodated over 50 participants with the assistance of Bowei Zhu and his wife Wei Yuan. During the temple sessions, the Primary activity carefully designed by Sister Abbey Zhao gave the children opportunities to learn about the temple and to have some fun, while waiting for their parents. Then to allow more opportunity for social interaction with members past and present, the Saturday night social in the stake center gave us just the right atmosphere and occasion. We enjoyed a nice potluck dinner and a cultural program. Although it was a lot of work to put the program together, it was well worth every minute. On Sunday, the Sacrament Meeting was mainly supported by branch alumni from out of town. They gave talks, translated, played the piano, conducted, and sang a musical number. Even though it went over time, the meeting was a one-of-a-kind with super talks from returned missionaries. The fireside on Sunday evening featured talks from the four attending past and present branch presidents. They recounted the history, miracles, and memorable events of the branch through their own perspectives. In addition, the musical numbers, slide show, and special video presentation were intended to remind everyone in attendance about the great blessings enjoyed in the branch over the last 25 years. Finally, the barbecue event at the Foulger-Pratt Farm was a smashing finale to the three days of reunion festivities. The farm was a perfect venue to enjoy the beautiful weather, a picnic environment, some dancing fun, and even some water splashing.
All in all, thousands of photos and many videos were taken, including one from a drone. Hundreds of members, past and present, along with families and friends attended the events and contributed to the family feeling of the reunion. All in all, it was like coming home and having family members coming home. It was amazing to see members from 25 years ago, such as President and Sister Breglio and the Choi's, missionaries who recently returned home, and all of the members and missionaries in between. Members enjoyed meeting the spouses of returned missionaries. The feeling of our branch family being reunited was unforgettable. 'Til the next reunion.
