Hello Hong Kong!!!: Suits are off!!

Well we had conference this weekend and it was SO good. After everyone was talking about it, i was so excited to watch. I loved how Elder Nelson spoke about who is your faith centered to? I enjoyed him talking about letting our faith show. Also all the other talks were so great, so i am looking forward to getting the Liahona!

Alright so I got some questions to answer and I will just include it all in here so i can send off an email.

So we have 4 elders living in our apartment, two companionships. We have enough bunks for another set, but its already pretty small. haha I am living on bottom bunk! I was so happy when I got bottom bunk because it is so much nicer, unless you have someone who moves at night so I don't have anyone sleep above me also my bunk in semi broken too.. haha

Our normal day is arise at 650 am, do some workout at a little park down the street. It is a soccer court. In the morning it is filled with pohpos (grandmas) and suk suks (uncles) doing thai chi and then swords. aka an army of old people. so great. and then some other joggers. Then we have getting ready and then personal study from 830 to 930. Since i am training elder ma, we have 2 hours of comp study, then at 1130 we eat lunch, then at 1230 to 130 we do language study, at 130 we hit the streets and go contacting until 6. then eat dinner. and then go contacting again until 9pm. then we come home call people til 930. then plan for 30 minutes. and then call people til 1020ish and then prepare to sleep.:) that is a normal day.

Occasionally we have a lesson or maybe go and help someone. or just something like a lesson in the morning. If i wasn't training then we would start finding at 1230 and until 9. :) we will usually hit up home for dinner because our area is expensive. but other areas we will eat dinner out becasue it is cheaper and more fongbihn.

I drink water. also i drink asian drinks that are good. (not as sweet) and also soy milk.

We wear suits between conferences. so suits off now!

Shoes, we tend to take them off when we go into a house and leave them outside. no one wears shoes inside. use inside slippers. Its very rare to see carpeted houses usually tile and also the streets are gnarly so it is smart to take off shoes.

We live in Mong Kok!! We live on the street with many shoes aka shopping central. its a very convenient place. between two MTR trains. also my building has 20 floors? not sure. we like on 13. back in Tai Po I lived on 26.

The weather is humid and lovely. I love the heat. I am so happy. You always feel a little damp nowish or very mosturized. haha I am so happy its getting hot. Most people like winter though.

The biggest influence on my testimony? shoot, my whole mission. haha But I think the day of Vox's baptism was. It strengthened it and also really let me come closer to God or understand Him better. Also just going out everyday is a testimony builder because you can really see the tender mercies of God.

Knowing that this is Jesus Christ's real work just is so special. It really changes perspectives and even when you get rejected non-stop you can still keep going because you know that you will find someone and if you don't, tomorrow does. and if it doesn't, well the next does. and when I go for awhile without finding someone, well I am just not working hard enough.

There are too many people in Hong Kong to have them all reject and I know that they need the gospel. Seeing the lifestyle here without living in it is really neat. We can really see how the gospel can strengthen them and how it will apply to them. So when we share, we can really speak to their heart. Also the Lord will open our hearts to really feel for them. I have felt so many times of just wanting to tell someone "I love you" and really mean it. Even someone we walk by and say hello too. When I look into their face and really just pray to Heavenly Father for guidance, sometimes I believe my heart is touched by the Holy Ghost to allow me to feel some of the love God has for them. It is a really a special thing, it hurts though at times. When you see them walk away, especially if they look sad, your heart aches. It is hard not to grab them and somehow just allow them to feel their Heavenly Father's love. Like hug them or something. or yell I LOVE YOU! haha nah, but seriously I wish I knew how.

I guess it makes so much more sense that when the Prophet says "tell them that I love them" that he is speaking truth. You just feel that love and want them to know. Sometimes I just smile real big and gently hit them on the arm and be like, hey your awesome because I don't know what else to say to get out my feeling.

Alright since we talk to a lot of people on the street and park, it is interesting. Not going to lie, sometimes I still feel scared. Street is easier because they're moving, but a park is interesting. When they are on benches (especially as a family) you're like "who do i look at? what do I say? do i sit down? or ask to?" but as long as you say a prayer as you walk up, you just know what to do. It can be awkward though especially when they are like what are you doing?? haha It feels i guess intimidating but also fun. I love what my trainer taught me: 90% awkward 10% miracle. so true.

We get to go to the temple about quarterly i guess. the assistants assign it out and i got to go last month I think. Time goes too fast anyways. I love the temple.

I have seen the Bruce Lee statue so much. It is in my area and so we see it quite a bit. always has so many tourists at it.

I have been to monkey mountain once. All the way back in my first move. They are crazy monkeys.

Well that is that. Also not much to report on this week. it was good, just busy with conference. Moves are this week so I will find out if i am moving or not. I have been here for 3 moves of 9 weeks so my chances are higher. But I love TST ward oh so much.

I am doing well.

Loves

Elder Townsend

english session!

Dinner with Yu Man Kit. He is my hero. The coolest member and also helped me out a ton!