Showing gratitude with Thanksgiving service
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HONG KONG
Bright and early on Nov. 26, the 129 elders and sisters of the China Hong Kong Mission met in the Wai Tau Tsuen village, in the New Territories area of Hong Kong. They were there to provide a labor of love to the elderly farmers and residents of this remote area by spending the entire morning working on the land.
The background story started several months ago when an investigator, David Lau, was contacted by the elders as they were working in the Tai Wo area of the New Territories/Hong Kong. Mr. Lau has been meeting with the missionaries regularly since then.
At the time of their initial contact, however, he was in the process of rebuilding his home and clearing his lot and was often unable to spend much time listening to the missionary discussions. Responding to his immediate needs, the missionaries taught him that in addition to talking about true gospel principles, they would show him gospel principles in action by offering their time in laboring with those who are in need of help. After several months of labor assistance from the local missionaries, Mr. Lau was able to make major progress on his home-building project.
To the leaders of the China Hong Kong Mission, including Mission President Yue-Sang Chan and his counselor, Chi Man Leung, Nov. 26, observed by missionaries from the United States as Thanksgiving Day this year, seemed to be an ideal time for a major service project in this area of the mission. By utilizing the entire missionary force, they were able to assist in completing Mr. Lau's house project and to thoroughly clear, clean and cultivate the small farm and adjoining property of several of Mr. Lau's neighbors, in particular an aged widow, Shum Lau, who lives next door.
Starting in the early morning hours, the missionaries dug and cultivated 10 wide rows of crop-ready land and cleared a large field for future crop cultivation for Mrs. Lau. In addition, they cleaned up accumulated debris and repaired several fences and sheds for her, and also cleared walkways of several neighbors.
Earlier, Mr. Lau had asked to have his fence painted, and all of the missionaries worked together at the end of the day to carry out that task.
For many of the elders and sisters who are accustomed to laboring amid the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island, the busy Victoria Harbor waterfront and crowded Kowloon, spending the day in the countryside and away from the city, serving a few of their fellowmen was a memorable experience.
