The Mid-Autumn Festival begins today (Oct. 1).  Macau is FULL of plastic rabbits!  We can't figure out why rabbits would be a sign of anything festive, but...
We were able to see some of the Chinese Lion Dances at Tap Siac (the square near our apartment) last Saturday evening.  I forgot to take my camera!  We've heard that they take place quite often, so we'll get pictures another time. 
We had more adventures on the bus; we were trying to get home from Fisherman's Wharf, and caught a bus that we hadn't taken before.  We ended up at the Barrier Gate (the entrance to mainland China!)  It was an impressive sight - huge buildings and walls, so we couldn't actually see anything on the mainland from where we were.
Our other "misadventure" took place today when we tried to get to the Grand Lisboa Hotel from the Ruins of St. Paul (walking, of course).  We ended up about two blocks from our apartment, so we started out again and finally made it.  Macau is not really all that big area-wise, but there is so much packed into this small space and the buildings are so tall you can't tell where you are most of the time.
Still hot and humid here--rain the past two days.
Chihdi (Later!)


                         

The Ruins of St. Paul (Macau Landmark)

Getting Ready for the Mid-Autumn Festival

EVERYTHING is decorated.

We travelled to HK yesterday for a temple session with our zone; we had lunch with Bro. Wong - he took our whole group (12 of us!) to Dan Ryan's, an American steakhouse.  Later on we had dinner with the Kau's and they showed us how to get to our hotel and some other places in Hong Kong.
Today, we had a Multi-Zone Meeting in Ho Man Tin - that was a GREAT experience.  Also had an interview with our Mission President, Pres. Chan.  He is an awesome man, and we look forward to working with him and learning from him.
We made it back to Sheung Wan to the ferry terminal and then to Macau all by ourselves--we are feeling quite proud.  We also figured out which buses to take in Macau to get to the ferry terminal and then back home.  Sure beats walking!
 

                                      Us in front of the Hong Kong Temple.

Pedi-cabs at the Ferry Terminal

The Streets of Macau

We are here in Macau, and have been non-stop busy since we arrived. We are still very tired. You would not believe the temperatures and high humidity here - it is like NOTHING we have ever experienced - even in the worst Illinois summer we can remember. However, we are dealing with it, and will hopefully get used to it. Everyone tells us that the weather is "better" now; I can't imagine what it was like when it was "worse"!!!!!We survived our first typhoon Monday night. When they "hoist the #8" then you go home, and you don't come out until they say you can. We were inside until about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. When we went outside, it was a real mess--things blown all over the place, trees down, etc. Businesses didn't open that day until very late, if at all. We have walked, and walked, and walked, and walked. We feel like the little pioneer children. This too, we will get used to.The people here are awesome, particularly those in the Macau 2nd Branch. It is an International Branch, so we have people from all over the place here. Most are from the Philippines, and Indonesia, but we have them from many other places as well. I'd like to describe Macau, but can't really. We will post pictures to this blog when we get our internet connection next week, and you can see for yourselves. Macau is a very old city, and is still so obviously Portugese. Things are much like China, too, however. The streets and alleys are crooked and narrow, and dirty, and busy--and so much FUN. The buildings are all very tall - and when they run out of room, they haphazardly add on. And then there are shacks built on top of the roofs (they call them garden apartments)! Our apartment is amazing - we live at the Chun Kin Palace (or something like that); we are in a very large apartment on the 18th floor - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, nice hardwood floors, stone and tile bathrooms. It has missionary (read Salvation Army) furniture, but we can hang!The Branch feels like it is their home away from home, so is like Grand Central sometimes. I'm sure that will quiet down once the Lloyds leave (they are the couple we're replacing). They are dearly, dearly loved by the Branch members - and now by us also. What a wonderful work they have done here! We hope we can be just like them. Tomorrow we go to Hong Kong to get ID cards and receive orientation from our Mission leaders. It will be a very long day.
The Changs (that's our Chinese name!)

Sign at HK Airport

Going Away Party for Lloyd's at Apartment (Some of Macau 2nd Branch)

Our Adventure Begins!

On Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, we enter the MTC in Provo, Utah - the adventure begins!