Elder Nip King Lun (Wilson)

This morning I received notice that a mission companion of mine had passed away from liver cancer on October 28th 2008. He had been fighting it for a while. About a year ago I lost contact with him. He had apparently moved from Seattle back to Hong Kong for medical care and to be with family around that time.

He was very intelligent, and idealistic. He finished law school and was practicing in Seattle. He considered himself a nationalist (small "N") Chinese, but supported the Communist party as the legitimate government of China. Of the many companions I had, he was one of the few with whom I connected personally. When we would see each other he would quote the opening lines of the "Sounds of Silence" as a way of greeting "Hello, darkness, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again." It was his way of making fun of me because sometimes he caught me with my eyes open during a prayer. Think about it. We served in Macau together for three months and later spent time in the Mission Office together.

When I last spoke with him he was nervous about introducing his wife and daughter to his family in Hong Kong. They did not even know he was married.

He will be missed.

Saturday Activities

Jennifer went to a Christmas fair today. She has started selling spice mixes and hot chocolate mixes at fairs and craft shows. Today's was in Springfield, outside on the town square.

Alyssa went to a stake youth activity. There were lots of people there. They played capture the flag in 30 degree weather, had a huge bonfire and there were two boys dressed up as turkeys. It was kind of funny because to make them look more like turkeys they had stuff, stuffed up in their shirts.

Andrew spent the night at a friends house. Mom brought him back when she returned from the Christmas fair. Afterwards we watched Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Austin spent most of the day playing on the computer, though he watched the movie with us when we turned it on.

And Bruce ran some errands for Jennifer, and installed a dishwasher Jennifer won in a raffle two weeks ago. It is stainless steel, just the way Jennifer likes it.

Christmas Wish list 2008

So we have some time before Christmas. We aren't sure what we are doing yet, but We have been thinking about something Jeff & Sandy did. Instead of spending money on a lot of small presents, they bought fewer but nicer gifts.

We may do something similar. We may even get the same thing they did. But aside from that Christmas wish lists tell you a Little about what a person is doing or is interested in at any one time. So with that in mind...

Bruce

• Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants: A Guided Tour Through Modern Revelations by Steven C Harper;
• When Push Came to Shove: Mormon Martyrs in an Unrelenting Bible Belt, 1831-1923 by William Whitridge Hatch
• Joseph Smith Papers, Volume 1. Just came out.
• 500 Little Known Facts in Mormon History by George W Givens;
• Sojourner in the Promised Land By Jan Shipps;
• Great Basin Kingdom By Leonard J. Arrington, Ronald W. Walker;
• Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints By B. H. Roberts;
• Rugged digital camera. One that can get wet, dirty and dropped but still work.
• Working on 72 hour kits. Still need an Andrew sized sleeping bag, a pack and sleeping bag for Jennifer, a hatchet,
• Black Dress Socks

Jennifer

• Wii
• Wii fit (game)
• Kitchen Aid stand mixer (Copper would be really nice, or Cinnimon Red)

Alyssa

• My Sims (DS Games): Kingdom, Pets, etc.
• Cooking Mama (DS Game
• Digital Camera (Hot pink)
• Elastic hair bands (without metal)
• Sims (Computer game)
• Nail polish/manicure set
• Taylor Swift CD "Fearless"
• Books (fiction, science fiction)
• Yarn
• Hair Brush
• Bobby pins
• Socks, warm & fuzzy
• Nice watch, waterproof
• Board/Card games (Sorry, Uno)
• Chicken soup for the teenage soul

Austin

• Duel Hydronoid (Bakugan)
• Delta Dragonoid (Bakugan)
• Spore "Creepy and Cute" (computer game add on)
• Big Lego set (like Indian Jones or Star Wars)
• Pokemon Pearl (DS Game)
• Pokemon Emerald (DS Game)
• Spy Gear
• Army Lego Set

Andrew

• MarioKart (DS Game)
• Pets (DS Game)
• Legos set (Star wars)
• Nerf Gun (long)
• Fun Shark pool toy
• Rollerblades
• Star wars toy
• Storm trooper helmet
• Guitar
• Indiana Jones Toy
• Indiana Jones Lego set
• Anti gravity car - sticks on walls and ceilings
• Fathead wall stickers (spiderman)
• Robot that comes with the shirt at Walmart
• Wall-E action figure
• Bakugan
• Wii Indiana Jones
• Army Lego Set

Evening of Excellence

Wednesday night the young women in the Ward had an Evening of Excellence, wherein each young woman, presented on how they were doing for the personal progress award. They got to show off their talents, skills, and things that just interests them. Alyssa's presentation included her softball memorabilia as well as photos of her teaching Andrew how to use skates. She included a few photos of various things she had taken herself

The evening included a video collage of photos taken throughout the year. Set to music it was nicely done. Most of the pictures were from girls camp with a handful from other activities thrown in.