Hello everybody!!!! and Happy Holidays!!!
Thank you for those that have written me these past couple of months. it's been amazing that i've been away for several months now! i would have never imagined i would go anywhere this far for a long time! So for those who have forgotten about me already... I'm in Hong Kong and will be here for another 2 years for Church missionary work.
Soooo, last night was awesome. Today is Christmas Day and right now im at an internet cafe writing this email and all the little kids that dont have school right now are playing a whole bunch of noisy computer games. but its all good. ok so last night our church ward had a Christmas party last night. there was dinner and then there was a performance afterwards with various singers. we missionaries also sang for them. it was so nice though because it really felt like christmas back at home, just without family. thats the only part i actually miss. but at least i get to call home today!
two nights ago we went caroling in one of the touristy areas of hong kong, Tsim Sha Tsui. it was so nice. it was really really nice. for me, i was thinking its the first time that people are actually stopping to listen to the missionaries! yeah it was so nice. our books are in english and chiense pingyam so then we were able t osing english and chinese christmas songs. it was so nice. thats was also one of the highlights to our christmas holiday as missionaries in hong kong.
it's kind of interesting how there are a lot of christmas decorations in hong kong, but nobody realyl celebrates it, just because it originated as the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth and people in Hon gKong aren't really christian. but its also interesting to see the decorations, but nobody really cares about the holiday. the kids just like it because they get a day off of school.
soi just want to leave a quick message about christmas! im so glad to celebrate Christmas because it makes us think more about why we celebrate it in the first place. It's about Jesus Christ's birth. He was an extraordinary person and it's no wonder why there are holidays for this amazing person. He suffered for our sins so that we could return to our God in heaven. He also became our ultimate example of charity and love, humility and meekness, which makes it more of a reason we need to remember Him so we could be more like Him. So take time out of your Christmas to remember our Savior and share that message to your family and friends! Merry Christmas! and if you don't get this until after Christmas, Happy New Year 2009!
Best wishes,
Elder Stanley Cheng
PS. Dont forget to write or send email!
