2026-07-26 Michelle Zheng's mission call announcment

 Michelle Zheng was baptized on February 11, 2017, with her brothers Steven and William. She then received own temple endowment on July 3rd, 2026. 

On Thursday July 23rd she received her mission call. (Typical day to receive mission calls are on Tuesday). She requested to announce her mission call on Sunday 7/26/26 right after Sacrament in the Kentland's culture hall in front of more than 70 members from both Montgomery Branch and Kentland's Ward along with Jason Liu, Liz Huffaker, Bro and Sis Tsai, Chelsea Allen, and Elder Clayton Zhao on zoom! 

She is called to the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, Mandarin speaking.

Everyone cheered!

It was as a very very special day for Michelle!

From her very own words:

Heyyyyy guys!!! Sister Michelle Zheng here!

I cannot believe that the little girl who has grown up in the Chinese Branch watching her peers and friends serve a mission is now receiving her own call to serve. I want to first thank Montgomery Chinese Branch's very own beloved President Da for helping me coordinate this exciting moment, and secondly thank everyone who came to my mission call reveal mini-gathering! I remember getting so excited and shaky as everyone gathered in the gym and online; I could feel the spirit among us and the beautiful love shared within that room.

Getting called to serve in Honolulu has been one of the most spiritual and motivating moments of my life; for those who don't know, I was accepted into Brigham Young University Hawai'i and chose to go there. I've never traveled to Hawai'i, let alone lived so far from home for an extended period, which makes me excited yet anxious and nervous about that future decision. I prayed consistently to Heavenly Father that I would be comforted and persistent in the places I choose to go and am called to; He answered my deepest prayers with this mission call.

Now I have the chance to get to know the place I will be studying in by serving my mission exactly there! Choosing to serve God will provide you many blessings that we might not expect or see; I know I will be blessed further throughout my mission and am excited to start preparing to become a messenger of Christ.

Lots of love,

Michelle Zheng

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2026-07-19 Baptism of Tony Hong and Emay Ren

Today after church at 11:30am was the baptismal service for Tony Hong and his wife, Emay Ren. This was the first branch baptismal service with more than one person being baptized in 9 years. It was also the first branch baptismal service with a husband and wife being baptized together in 12 years.

Brother Benjamin Tsai conducted the baptism.  Sister Suzie Hu shared a talk on baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Elder Evans baptized Tony and Emay, and President Da Zhao confirmed both of them.  Tony was welcomed to the Elders Quorum by Brother Huang Lizhong, while Emay was welcomed to the Relief Society by Sister Ella Chong.  Then Brother Jason Liu welcomed them to the branch.  The prayers were offered by Sister Gower and Elder Abbott.  Attending in person was Elder Banks, and attending online was Sister Allen, both of whom previously taught Tony and Emay.  Congratulations and welcome, Tony and Emay, on becoming the newest members of the church today.

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2026-07-19 New Young Women Presidency

Liz Huffaker was released today as the branch Young Women's President.  She and her family will be moving to Nigeria for the next 2 or 3 years.  Her counselors, Sisters Yangyang Deng and Lynn Xu were also released today.  The new young women presidency was called today.  They are Sisters Catherine Frewin, president; Sophy Fugal, 1st counselor; and Margery Anderson, 2nd counselor.  Congratulations to the new young women presidency.  In the history of the branch, they now compose the 13th branch Young Women Presidency.

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2026-07-14 Branch Sports Night

Every Tuesday evening the full-time missionaries host a branch sports night, in which members come to play pickleball, ping pong, or even mahjong or chess.  Or they come just to socialize.  Tonight we took a group photo, just to show a snapshot in time.

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2026-07-11 Temple Experience

Today marks a special milestone in our branch and in the lives of two of our wonderful sisters in the branch. Sisters He Zhusheng and Jin Yi-Qun went to the temple for the first time to receive their own endowment ordinances. Their achievements were several months in the making. To accommodate the special for Sister He, we requested a special Mandarin endowment session, which the temple presidency were gracious enough to approve and set up.

So, at 12:30pm 10 sisters and 1 brother from our branch, 3 other sisters and 1 other brother, and Elder Mecham and his companion participated in the endowment ordinance and supported Sisters He and Jin in their living endowments. It was inspirational to see these two sisters prepare themselves for the temple and to receive this special ordinance. Furthermore, they are planning on doing sealings for and with their deceased ancestors. We are extremely grateful to the temple presidency and staff for providing this Mandarin session for our branch and others. It was a day that will always be etched in our memories.

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2026-07/10 to 07/11 Youth Conference to Palmyra New York

 This year the Seneca Stake Youth Conference took the youth to Palmyra New York. We started early at 4:45am at the Stake Center. The youth were assigned into groups and gathered in the culture hall. Then the groups were driven in charter buses for the six hour ride to Palmyra. 

The two day trip took the youth to the Sacred Grove, Palmyra Temple, Grandin Printshop, Joseph Smith Family Farm, Hill Cumorah & Visitors’ Center, and Peter Whitmer Farm. The youth were able to perform proxy baptisms at the Palmyra Temple and spent time in the Sacred Grove.

Checking in at 4:45am at the Stake Center.

All of MCB youth (except for Carder & Haley Anderson)

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