I have been going to China for the past three years as a tour guide.
Each time that we are in Beijing on a Sunday we go to the International Branch. There are two International Branches in Beijing and several in other big cities such as Shanghai and Xi’on.
People who attend are from out of the country and hold an International passport. Currently the Chinese government does not allow Chinese nationals to attend the International Branch. The Church adheres to this policy by reading a prepared statement at the beginning of each meeting. Chinese nationals, who have joined the Church while out of the country, can attend a branch in the afternoon. The branch meets in a business building on the fourth floor.
One of the highlights for a recent tour group was meeting US Ambassador Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah. He and his family are members of the International Branch that we attend. He was kind enough to meet and greet the members of our tour. They took time to be in a photo with us.
The people who attend the International Branch often work for U.S. companies or for the U.S. government. The branch president, Ricki Johnson, was a pilot in the Air Force and now is a pilot for Boeing in China.
I have also met attorneys, university professors, exchange students and humanitarian workers. Our tour groups of 40 to 60 people usually double the number of people attending Church.
Sundays are days that we look forward to meeting our guide, Henry and his family. His son Dennis and wife Iris come to meet the group after church.
Started in September, there is also an International Virtual Branch. This is for international members of the Church who are in an area of China where there is not a Branch. While visiting the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’on, we met Elder Dallin H. Oaks who had just spoken to the International Virtual Branch. I was told that the broadcast went to over 139 locations.
Dian Thomas regularly takes people to China to help them enjoy the culture and sights of the country. To receive a copy of her Free Newsletters to to www.dianthomas.com For more information send her an email to contact@dianthomas.com
