In August of 1852 the first missionaries were sent to Asia. They arrived in Hong Kong on April 27, 1853. The best known was Hosea Stout who kept a journal and has been published a few times. Another mention was in the Millennial Star which can be read here: http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/MStar,17044 and here: http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/MStar&CISOPTR=5993&filename=5994.pdf