In preparation for the Women's Broadcast tonight, the temple closed at noon today. But the temple presidency created a special Chinese session today at 12:15pm. About 18 attended the endowment session on this very chilly day.
3/28/2015
Branch Temple Activity
In preparation for the Women's Broadcast tonight, the temple closed at noon today. But the temple presidency created a special Chinese session today at 12:15pm. About 18 attended the endowment session on this very chilly day.
3/21/2015
New Baby for Bates
The Bates Family welcomed a new baby girl to their family on March 21. Weighing in at exactly 8 pounds and measuring 20 inches, she was born at 9:30pm. Her name is Francesca Drusilla Bates. Both Mom and baby are doing well.
Congratulations to the Bates on their new addition!
Congratulations to the Bates on their new addition!
2/28/2015
Chinese New Year Celebration
On a crisp cold wintry day, we met at the Washington DC Stake Center to begin preparation for the biggest celebration of Chinese culture, the Chinese New Year, to usher in the Year of the Goat. Two hours before starting time, volunteers busily set up twenty dinner tables and accompanying chairs, along with tables for food service, crafts and activities, and guest registration. Meanwhile, the decoration crew carefully hung up six large red lanterns, three above the stage and three matching ones at the back over the food. Imitation firecrackers with brilliant colors were strung on both sides of the stage along with authentic Chinese scrolls. Even the basketball rims were adorn with six paper lanterns, each composed of three three-dimensional representations of the Chinese word for spring time . Each dining table was covered with a white or red table cloth. Prominently set in the center of the tables was a good luck sign with a picture of a lucky person and four Chinese characters on the other (恭賀新禧) signifying "Good luck in the year ahead!"
The actual preparation began many days prior. A committee was formed with members from the two Chinese branches straddling the Potomac River, the Montgomery Chinese Branch in Maryland and the Twin Lakes Branch in Virginia. Indeed the celebration was a joint venture, with members of both branches staffing the subcommittees (food, setup/cleanup, decoration, and program) and participating in the program. On the evening before the event, a final dress rehearsal was held to run through the program on stage.
At 5pm, guests started to register at one of two registration tables and lined up around the eight crafts and activity tables: wrapping dumplings, kneading sticky rice balls, making Vietnamese spring rolls, chopsticks contest to pick the most rice, origami, Chinese knots, calligraphy, and a missionary booth. The dumplings and sticky rice balls were boiled in the kitchen and served as part of the dinner. The spring rolls were so delicious that they were eaten on the spot. Eager competitors skillfully picked up 40 grains of rice in the fastest time. Other participants enjoyed folding origami, cutting characters, tying Chinese knots, and writing Chinese characters with large brushes. The missionaries staffed a booth with posters and pamphlets and Books of Mormon in Chinese.
Promptly at 6pm, our two emcees, Thomas and Amber Jeng, introduced President Charles, president of the Montgomery Chinese Branch, who welcomed everyone to the celebration. After an invocation and blessing by Steven Cheng, we lined up in two lines at the serving tables and enjoyed the delicious cuisine.
Without warning, the beating of the drum (Richard Huang) and the clashing of the cymbals (Isaiah Shen) announced the entrance of the red and yellow lions (David Chang, Changle Nian, Elder Lim, Elder Gerber-Kai). Before ascending to the stage, the lions graced the presence of the audience by visiting the guests at their tables. Between each act, the emcees entertained the audience with a special Chinese riddle. The winner with the correct answer was invited to the stage to introduce himself, say a few words, and to accept a prize. The second act was performed by Joseph Cunningham on the Chinese flute and the gourd instrument. He was followed by an original skit performed by four missionaries (Elders Gerber-Kai, Ng, Liang, and Yang). The skit, entitled "Feed My Sheep," teaches shepherds the proper method of feeding their sheep with the special box from the Master. A special string orchestra quartet, composed of Michael Mallory, Jeremiah Mallory, Michelle Mallory, and 张丹, performed 茉莉花 and 夜来香 on three violins and one cello. Five young girls (Celeste Bates, Joanna Fugal, Amelia Ly, Cayleigh Zhao, Michelle Zhao) delighted the audience with the Spicy Girl Dance, 辣妹子. The emcees took advantage of the moment right after their performance before they exited the stage to provide special group interviews. Finally, the 雅音 (Ya-Yin) Choir under the direction of their chorister, 颜琦萍 (Christina Yen) and accompanied by their pianist 颜萱 (Tiffany Yen) sang three numbers: 爱的真谛， 静心等， 过年组曲 （小拜年，恭喜恭喜，恭喜发财）. The audience was invited to join in singing the third song. The closing remarks were given by Ta Cheng Hsu, president of the Twin Lakes Branch. After the benediction by Eva Chuang, the emcees invited the children to come to the stage to show respect to four elders (Andrew and Charlotte Shen, Hal and Kaye Jewel) before receiving red envelopes.
For the next ninety minutes, the massive job of cleanup commenced with everyone helping. With the hustle-bustle of putting up the tables and chairs, taking down decorations, and sweeping the floor, guests were also very busy with last minute hugs and photos, sharing addresses, and just catching up on old times. We are very grateful for the opportunity to share this important tradition with our families, friends, and community. We are thankful to the Twin Lakes Branch, President Hsu, and all of their members who helped this activity to be a very enjoyable and successful celebration. To all, we wish a very happy and prosperous Year of the Goat!
羊肥馬壯，國富民豐。
恭賀新禧!恭喜发财!
The actual preparation began many days prior. A committee was formed with members from the two Chinese branches straddling the Potomac River, the Montgomery Chinese Branch in Maryland and the Twin Lakes Branch in Virginia. Indeed the celebration was a joint venture, with members of both branches staffing the subcommittees (food, setup/cleanup, decoration, and program) and participating in the program. On the evening before the event, a final dress rehearsal was held to run through the program on stage.
At 5pm, guests started to register at one of two registration tables and lined up around the eight crafts and activity tables: wrapping dumplings, kneading sticky rice balls, making Vietnamese spring rolls, chopsticks contest to pick the most rice, origami, Chinese knots, calligraphy, and a missionary booth. The dumplings and sticky rice balls were boiled in the kitchen and served as part of the dinner. The spring rolls were so delicious that they were eaten on the spot. Eager competitors skillfully picked up 40 grains of rice in the fastest time. Other participants enjoyed folding origami, cutting characters, tying Chinese knots, and writing Chinese characters with large brushes. The missionaries staffed a booth with posters and pamphlets and Books of Mormon in Chinese.
Promptly at 6pm, our two emcees, Thomas and Amber Jeng, introduced President Charles, president of the Montgomery Chinese Branch, who welcomed everyone to the celebration. After an invocation and blessing by Steven Cheng, we lined up in two lines at the serving tables and enjoyed the delicious cuisine.
Without warning, the beating of the drum (Richard Huang) and the clashing of the cymbals (Isaiah Shen) announced the entrance of the red and yellow lions (David Chang, Changle Nian, Elder Lim, Elder Gerber-Kai). Before ascending to the stage, the lions graced the presence of the audience by visiting the guests at their tables. Between each act, the emcees entertained the audience with a special Chinese riddle. The winner with the correct answer was invited to the stage to introduce himself, say a few words, and to accept a prize. The second act was performed by Joseph Cunningham on the Chinese flute and the gourd instrument. He was followed by an original skit performed by four missionaries (Elders Gerber-Kai, Ng, Liang, and Yang). The skit, entitled "Feed My Sheep," teaches shepherds the proper method of feeding their sheep with the special box from the Master. A special string orchestra quartet, composed of Michael Mallory, Jeremiah Mallory, Michelle Mallory, and 张丹, performed 茉莉花 and 夜来香 on three violins and one cello. Five young girls (Celeste Bates, Joanna Fugal, Amelia Ly, Cayleigh Zhao, Michelle Zhao) delighted the audience with the Spicy Girl Dance, 辣妹子. The emcees took advantage of the moment right after their performance before they exited the stage to provide special group interviews. Finally, the 雅音 (Ya-Yin) Choir under the direction of their chorister, 颜琦萍 (Christina Yen) and accompanied by their pianist 颜萱 (Tiffany Yen) sang three numbers: 爱的真谛， 静心等， 过年组曲 （小拜年，恭喜恭喜，恭喜发财）. The audience was invited to join in singing the third song. The closing remarks were given by Ta Cheng Hsu, president of the Twin Lakes Branch. After the benediction by Eva Chuang, the emcees invited the children to come to the stage to show respect to four elders (Andrew and Charlotte Shen, Hal and Kaye Jewel) before receiving red envelopes.
For the next ninety minutes, the massive job of cleanup commenced with everyone helping. With the hustle-bustle of putting up the tables and chairs, taking down decorations, and sweeping the floor, guests were also very busy with last minute hugs and photos, sharing addresses, and just catching up on old times. We are very grateful for the opportunity to share this important tradition with our families, friends, and community. We are thankful to the Twin Lakes Branch, President Hsu, and all of their members who helped this activity to be a very enjoyable and successful celebration. To all, we wish a very happy and prosperous Year of the Goat!
羊肥馬壯，國富民豐。
恭賀新禧!恭喜发财!
2/17/2015
New Baby for Fox Family
A baby boy was born to Jameson and Xiaomei Fox today. George Parley Fox, 胡乔治， was born weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces and stretching 19.75 inches. Congratulations to the Fox family on their new addition.
2/08/2015
Relief Society Bacon Activity
當晚天氣寒冷, 在等待姊妹們到來之前, 大家先享用了沈王光蓉姊妹用此種臘肉熬煮而成的臘肉粥, 以及陳丰迪姊妹的烤年糕. 七點一刻, 在開會祈禱之後, 大家便把各自準備好的五花肉及雞大腿肉拿出, 灑上沈姊妹為大家準備好的調味料 ( 花椒, 粗鹽, 金門高梁酒 ), 用手塗抹均勻, 放在盒中, 待回到家中放到冰箱. 天晴時, 從盒中拿出, 用繩綁好後, 拿出戶外掛起風乾. 經過風乾 ( 及煙燻) 的肉即成臘肉, 烹煮前, 須先用清水洗淨. 烹煮的方式, 蒸, 炒, 煮湯皆可.
雖然現在的人少吃醃製肉品, 但了解並學習臘肉的製作程序, 姊妹們又可以一邊品嘗美味的臘肉粥, 一邊聊天交換生活心得, 相信參與的姊妹們都度過了一個開心愉快的晚上.
沈周玫琍
At 6:30pm on February 5, our branch Relief Society held a lesson on making Sichuan bacon, taught by Sister Charlotte Shen. The Sichuan bacon is a Chinese bacon, mainly popular in Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi and Guangdong. It is named after the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, the month in which it is typically cooked. This bacon has two thousand years of history. Due to wet weather in southern China, people are able to extend the shelf life of raw bacon.
On that cold evening, while waiting for the arrival of the sisters, we first enjoyed Sister Charlotte Shen's boiled bacon porridge and Sister Fengdi Chen's baked rice cakes. At 7:15pm after the opening prayer, we sprinkled evenly by hand Sister Shen's prepared seasoning (pepper, coarse salt, Kinmen sorghum liquor) onto the pork and chicken thigh meat. We placed the meat in a box, to be placed in our home refrigerators. When the weather clears, the meat can be removed from the box and tied with a string to be hanged outdoors to dry. After being dried (and smoked), the bacon must be first be washed with water before serving. Methods of cooking include steaming, frying, and cooking in soup.
Although people nowadays eat less pickled meat, but to understand and learn the bacon production process, the sisters were able to enjoy a delicious bacon soup, while chatting to exchange life experiences. I believe that the sisters who participated had a pleasant fun evening.
Meili Shen
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