Today is the second baptism under pandemic conditions. Elder Lambert conducted the baptismal service at the Kentlands Chapel with 5 people present. After the opening song, "When I Am Baptized," Sister Dan-ping Wang offered the invocation. Sister Li-Fang Tsai shared the talk on baptism, followed by Sister Ella Chong giving the talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost. Elder Welton then performed the baptism for Sister Chang Feng. President Charles Huang then confirmed Sister Ella Chong with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then Sister Feng shared her testimony with us. Sister Abbey Zhao welcomed her into the Relief Society. The benediction was offered by Sister Megan Tsai.
Sister Feng has been attending our branch for about a year. We really appreciate her faithfulness in Jesus Christ. Congratulations, Sister Feng. You are our newest member today!
On Wednesday, October 14 at 8pm, Elder Richard Huang officially began his MTC training as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Huang will train until early November, when he is scheduled to fly to his mission field in Aracdia California. Officially, he becomes the 15th missionary sent out from the Montgomery Chinese Branch. Congratulations, Elder Huang, on beginning your missionary service, and thank you for your service.
With the COVID pandemic still rampant, the Montgomery Branch held its first ever Mid-Autumn Moon Festival activity.
At 7pm on October 10, Adam Fugal conducted the event on Zoom with 27 windows opened.
President Charles Huang gave an enthusiastic welcome to all in attendance.
After an invocation by Elder Lambert, one of our 5 full-time missionaries in our Branch, a video of previous Branch Moon Festival parties was shown, set to the music of two hymns and two popular Chinese Moon Festival songs.
The full-time missionaries conducted two rounds of scripture Bingo, using Book of Mormon scriptures and Old Testament scriptures.
Then President Charles Huang shared a family video, in which he shared a scripture from Moroni 6:2-6 and applied the principle of unity to our Branch family. Richard Huang recited a Tang poem by Li Bai (李白) entitled "Reflections on a Quite Evening" (靜夜思). This was followed by a video from the Fugal family who danced to the music of Macarena.
Sister Yangyang Deng shared an animated video of the process of drawing Chang E using PaintToolSAI software.
Sister Wang Danping explained story of Chang E in English.
Then Yangyang demonstrated how to create a "Chinese paper-cut flower" using origami. The Tsai family shared a video, featuring all of their children far and wide with their wishes to Branch members.
The benediction was given by Sister Gaoyang Yang, a former missionary in our Branch.
Although we were not allowed to gather physically and give handshakes and embraces, although we were not able to feast together and socialize in person, and although we were not privileged to enjoy the moon or moon cakes together, the Branch presidency created an excellent program which exceeded all expectations.
Several surprises delighted participants.
The personal family videos exuded a personal touch from the lives of Branch members and shared personal perspectives of eternal families.
We had a lot of fun participating in the missionary activity with the scripture Bingo.
Yangyang's two activities emphasized the deep cultural traditions of the moon festival and was also fun and engaging.
Above all, the most worthwhile part of this activity was the opportunity to see and hear each other, both current members and those members who were once part of our Branch years ago.
Happy Moon Festival to all.
"Chang E and the Moon" created by Yangyang Deng in PaintToolSAI
Because of COVID, we held a virtual moon making activity this year on Tuesday night September 29. Sister Betty Azucena was so kind to teach us how to make Suzhou mooncakes, the same type that we have been making in prior years for our Mid-Autumn Festival activities. She purchased all of the ingredients. Sister YangYang Deng and Brother Wesley Wei helped pack the ingredients in separate zip lock bags. Most of the sisters picked up the ingredients on Sunday, and some packages were dropped off to sisters' houses. We had twelve sisters joined us, two of them from our Stake Relief Society Presidency, Sisters Debra Munk and Diane Titensor. Children from Ly family, Fugal family, Zhao family and Tsai family also joined us in making mooncakes. Beside Suzhou mooncakes, some sisters also made Cantonese mooncakes and Snowskin mooncakes and shared with others. More than 200 mooncakes were made and over 100 mooncakes were delivered to other members and investigators by our missionaries and brothers and sister. Thank you all for participating and making this an unforgettable experience.
On Wednesday, September 2 at 8pm, Sister Megan Tsai officially began her MTC training as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It seems quite odd that this momentous event would begin at 8pm, but you might have guessed. Sister Tsai is the first missionary from our Branch to attend a virtual MTC experience after the COVID crisis began earlier this year. Parenthetically, Elder Kevin Wu is actually the first missionary from our Branch to attend a virtual MTC experience, but that was before the COVID crisis. So, since most of the missionaries in her MTC district live in Utah, the opening class was actually from 6pm to 9pm in Utah, thus resulting in a 8pm to 11pm class for Sister Tsai. She actually is not complaining, because her situation is not so bad compared to the missionary from Hawaii, who has to wake up at 4am for the morning class.
Sister Tsai will train until early November, when she is scheduled to fly to her mission field in Taichung, Taiwan. Officially, she becomes the 14th missionary sent out from the Montgomery Chinese Branch. Congratulations, Sister Tsai, on beginning your missionary service, and thank you for your service.
