Ko Family

The Ko Family is a great story. I am pictured with the three sons, but there are also three wives, numerous grandchildren, and a great set of grandparents. Grandma joined the Church about 25-30 years ago with the two oldest sons when they were 10 and 12. Grandma took the boys to Church herself and taught them the gospel. All three are active (rare in Hong Kong), married in the Temple (rarer in Hong Kong), university-educated (even rarer in Hong Kong), and now work in the Church offices. Each had great jobs in the private sector but decided to take less money to help build the kingdom and have be able to actually see their children grow up (people over here work insane hours). As a missionary Tino (far right) was my branch mission leader for five months in Shau Kei Wan and the other two were helpful members during my stay in Causeway Bay (Alec, far left and Floyd next to me). So finally after 20 or so years of Grandpa Ko holding out because he was too busy (he was really high in government) he got baptized a couple weeks after retiring. Within a few years he and his wife were called to serve as a counselor and assistant matron in the China Hong Kong Temple. It has to be one of the shortest stints from new member to sealing power in Church history! They are all wonderful people and exactly what the Church needs more of in Hong Kong and throughout the world. Generations of faithfulness and families sealed in the gospel.
The other picture is of me and Leo Marcello. I ran into him today at the Victoria II Branch and we caught up. He was a new member during my time in Discovery Bay and he has been fire ever since. Served a mission in his native Philippines and is now attending BYU-Idaho. Great guy and amazingly capable. He has already and will continue to help the Church marvelously.