Leatham Family: Taiwan

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Up and going early this morning. Needed to get to the Taipei Temple for the sealing of Casper and Emma. We found a little breakfast shop and had what was similar to an Egg Mcmuffin, but different. We ate as we walked to the metro station. It was a beautiful hot humid day but not as bad as some of them. Travis felt pretty confident on how to get there so we followed. Basically that is what we had been doing the whole trip, following someone.

The temple, we were told, was a short walk from the metro. That turned out to be the case. On one street when we turned the corner there it was. Most of the members who had been invited to the ceremony and/or the reception had come by bus that morning. One bus coming from the brides town and another coming from the grooms town. The bride and groom had come on Friday to start preparing. They had stayed in the church housing across the street.

The familiarity of the temple and the surroundings was a welcome feeling after being in Taiwan for a week. The sealing ceremony, even though it was in Chinese, was familiar. After the sealing the sealer told them they could kiss over the alter. Casper said; "In front of everyone". Yes was the response. One older gentleman in the room said that if we could not hear the kiss it would not count and they would have to do it over again. The spirit was very strong in that sealing room.


Wedding Invitation

Bride and Groom

Bride and Groom with her parents

Old mission companion, Trevor, Travis

Waiting

Mission companion Travis trained, Elder Powell, goes home in December

Decorated for reception

After the sealing there was about an hour wait until the reception was to start. We found a corner restaurant that was packed (good sign), and the couple missionaries had suggested it, that was like a mini Chuck-A-Rama. They had a very good variety of food and it was very tasty. Then we headed back for the reception. The reception had a program which consisted of Hymns and other songs. A small ring ceremony which Travis was the ring bearer. Speakers; Sealer, Brides Bishop, Grooms Bishop, Brides father and mother, Grooms father and a musical number. It was narrated as if we were on an airplane with those friends helping with everything dressed like flight attendants. After the program there was food to eat, dancing and just mingling. The priesthood leaders and wives had special seats on the right side of the cultural hall with the row behind for special guests. We were seated there and had to stand to be recognized. On the left side of the cultural hall were seats for immediate family.

Bride and Groom waiting for program to start

Sealer and his wife

Ya Ting, Casper, Emma and Travis

Trevor and Travis

Trevor, Travis and Henry

Huang family after the reception

After the reception the ward members boarded the buses to head back home. Casper and Emma also boarded the bus with the others to return to his parents home. We changed our clothes to head out for more adventures. Trevor and Henry were joining us for the day.

After the reception we headed over just a few blocks to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial. The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China.

Two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang's age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance.

Guards stand on both sides of Statue

Ceiling

Each young man after he finishes college must do a year of military duty. The men are just assigned and have not real say in how they serve. These young men had been chosen as guards for the memorial and were practicing. This would be their years service.