你妤 October 20,2014

Well this week went by fast and turned out a little different than expected where we weren't able to have so much time to go proselyting as we had wished. We ended up having the opportunity to do some baptismal interviews for other missionaries which was great.

Well to start off the week, the office elders had brought down a nice shipment of copies of the Book of Mormon for us and our zone. We had the goal of each district passing out 65 in this month and well the missionaries have really taken on the challenge. Having 3 districts of 8 missionaries in each, we had planned there to be 195 copies given out. Well as of today (not even done with the month) our zone has given out over 300 copies!! So great. 

Anyways we had to go pick up the boxes from another chapel and take them to ours. There was 3 boxes so the other elders came with us. As we were waiting for the light rail to come, we put down our boxes and sat on the bench. I wanted to save a little room so I sat on mine. Well after I sat down, across the track came another light rail. it stopped at the station to let people get on and off. Well at the window was this man. He looked at me and smiled. I smiled back. Then he started to chuckle a little. So I started to chuckle. Then he started to grin and laugh, so I gave him a thumbs up and laughed as well. Their train was having a lot of issues getting people on and off so it was their longer. Anyways eventually he was laughing so hard looking at me and we were all getting a good laugh too. This went on for about 2 minutes. We kept eye contact the entire time. It was pretty funny. For some reason, seeing me sit on the box was hysterical to him. Many of the people on the train around him were looking at him why he was laughing and then looked out to see us all smiling. They were probably confused.  It was a great way to start off a laugh for the week.

This last Saturday, between two of the wards was a sport's night for the youth. Since our ward is so small we were invited with Jason and one of our investigators Leonardo.  We had the baptismal interviews at that chapel so it worked out for us. Jason showed up with some other youth. Watching him play around with them was great. He just seemed like a priesthood holder. He is such an example. 

Well then that night the games went on. We came back and it seemed to be going well. When we came outside we noticed a new man who had joined in playing with all the boys. He was "like a NBA star! So strong and dark!" said all the young men. haha he was from Berma and saw everyone playing(court is outside) so he stopped by with his wife and started to play basketball. We talked with him and his wife, they were super nice and great. His wife was from HK. Well after the games we had ice cream and had everyone gather around. Not sure if they just felt out of place eating it or what but they went off to the side of the court where a ping pong table was set up and started to play. I invited them but they said it's alright. Well here is the cool part. Towards the end, while all the people were eating ice cream and talking, two young men that are brothers went and filled up two cups. Then they walked over to them, split at the same time and gave them ice cream. They wouldn't leave until they took it. 

I loved this story because how great of an example is that! Two young men just demonstrated noticing and loving others. They didn't just notice the people didn't come over, but they thought and acted in a way of involving them and feel loved. It was just such an example and reminder to me of the importance of striving to be like Christ in all ways and all time. I just loved that.

Cool News. not sure if I wrote about it or not. So the ward has a temple day on the November 8. They'll be heading down to do baptisms. Jason really wanted to go and take part, the only thing is that he needs to have the priesthood to go in the temple. Bishop Wong has arranged that Jason will have a temple recommend interview and also be able to receive the Aaronic priesthood the day he his confirmed and receives the Holy Ghost. Bishop has seen how Jason is and acts and says he is ready to hold the priesthood. He has also interviewed him before and thinks he is an incredible man. the Young Men's leader, Hyde Leung, is so excited. He will be baptizing Jason and we are beyond excited!! Brother Leung has been such a great support and help to Jason. He always is there for him and takes time to pull him aside and chat with him. Between conference sessions, he talked with him and is helping him with his Duty to God. So awesome. this just made me so  much more grateful for the young men's leaders I had. I don't think they will ever know or understand how much they mean and what an example they have set for me. I love them so much. 

Well this week was pretty good. Just really quick. So excited for this Sunday for Jason. Also moves calls are tomorrow so pray that I stay in Tuen Mun!! I have been here for 6 months already.. But I have faith I will stay! :)

愛,

唐長老

hello 大家 October 12, 2014

Well this week was a good one. 

As missionaries, we do something called weekly planning. It is good, sometimes it is pretty hard to stay actively awake. For some reason, every time it starts, instant fatigue hits me. So this past thursday, elder woo and I were sitting down discussing our plans. Well I was getting tired and I decided to think with my eyes closed. Elder Woo was talking about some stuff and what not. After a a minute or two, I shouted out "Hello" scared me to death. What happened was I went in to a day dream and a guy was walking up to us so I tried to contact him and spoke out loud. That experience just showed me how focused I am as a missionary, skipping the planning.. haha just kidding.

alright Miracle!!!

Well fasts and prayers were answered! Guess who's parent said he can be baptized...! Jason!!!!! Yeah it was so amazing. So he went to talk to his parents the night after everyone in the zone had prayed for him. That night he went and talked to his parents. Well when he brought it up to them, they said sure. Yeah seriously nothing like before, hearts were softened!! Such a miracle. Since jason wants to get baptized by himself, he will be getting baptized on the 26th of this month!! It was so great. since our phone is our alarm, I heard it go off the night he asked his parents and it had characters on it in a text from him. I thought it said baptism three times but wasn't sure. Then we got a text from him and I recognized a couple characters and thought it said his parents were no problem. Well Elder Woo confirmed it that morning and we all had a little celebration. SO great.

 Also Jason attended all sessions of General Conference and really enjoyed it. He is great. The other cool thing was the night we were meeting with Jason to give him a baptismal form for his parents to sign, Bishop Wong was at the church. He heard about Jason and congratulated him. Bishop a few days before was talking about how is a miracle in ward council and then he said that another miracle had happened for him in being allowed. It was so cool because Bishop told Jason, "you know missionaries may leave and times will be hard, but the most important thing is that you have faith in Christ. Then you must always endure to the end. That is a very important part. But just so you know, I will always be here to support you." My heart felt so much strength and happiness then. It was so great to hear Bishop tell him that and just see the love he showed for him. Bishop Wong is the best bishop ever.

This Friday we decided to do a Book of Mormon find/pass out. It was so excellent. There is obviously is a lot of opposition here, so we decided to fight it with the Book of Mormon. We set up a banner and passed out and shared about the Book of Mormon. In about an hour and a half, we had given out 52 copies of the Book of Mormon! It was so cool, people would walk up "I hear your church is evil and has that book, I have been curious why.." We then would tell them here is proof it isn't and share about the Book of Mormon, they'd walk away with a copy. It was so cool, we had people walking up and asking if they could have and read a copy. Of course we gladly gave them and they would walk away looking at the book.

Right at the end, there was one book we couldn't give out. No one seemed to stop and take it. We had been giving them out so quickly and frequently, it was weird that it wouldn't go out. Then all of a sudden a man was right in front of me looking at the book. He said, I have always been very curious about this book and church. Why it has this book and why people will say it is the truth or why others will avoid it like it is deadly poison. Can I please read this? I have always wanted to read a copy." It was so cool because I just knew that the Spirit had placed us both in each others paths and kept this copy for him. I am praying that he will find the truth and feel of the power of the truth!

Wow General Conference was so powerful. Our investigator Barry was able to come to Saturday night session before work and enjoyed it. Then he decided he would also come sunday morning because he enjoyed it so much. The coolest part is that he only got an hour of sleep that night because he works night shifts, but because of how powerful and much he enjoyed it, he skipped sleep to watch it again!

Well i can't think too much again

Loves

Elder Townsend 

This is our hike to Tsing Shan, 2nd highest place in HK and 1st highest in the New Territories. This over looks my area and other missionaries areas. 

Elder Woo and I on top of the world

 Throwing on Elder Tam's glasses. 

Looks like Harry Potter kind. 

He is super MK (Mong Kok) type of Hong kong style!

Conference

Us with Jason!

Hello there... October 5, 2014

Well this week I don't have too much to write about. I am stoked to watch General Conference though! I heard that they did sound overs rather than subtitles.. Aiya, that means we won't be able to hear Elder Wong speak in Cantonese! Super cool though!

Well Jason is doing super well. He is working on the Duty to God program. He said he really wants to be able to go to the temple. This past fast Sunday we with the youth and leaders and Jason fasted so he will be able to be baptized on the 19th of October! Jason was loving it and also even donated to Fast Offerings. He wants to have all the blessings and is doing great. He brought his friend to church this Sunday and was so stoked. After church he said, whenever you get a new investigator, call me. I will help you teach. I am pro. haha It was great. He is feeling the joy of bringing people to Christ and not afraid to share what he believes. He is great. He reads 3 chapters of the Book of Mormon every night as well. This was his own goal and he is on top of it! Go Jason!

Honestly, this week was so quick and I am not sure what happened. Just been busy with zone stuff and what not so nothing interesting to write about. We are doing some cool things these coming months though. To use the power of prayer, as missionaries we are each night kneeling down and praying for a specific investigator from a companionship from the zone. So we have all the nights broken out and then we send out a text for who we are all praying for. It is pretty awesome knowing that there are many missionaries praying for the person. We send a little bio of them so they also know what to pray for. 

Also in December we have the goal of 65 baptisms and 65 less actives coming back to church and receiving a call. This is our mission's "gift to Christ". To help keep up the excitement we are having each district pass out at 65 Book of Mormons this month. With the rate of some of the Districts this past week, they pass out much more! It is cool to see the excitement. Also we want people to feel the power of the Book of Mormon and President always reminds us that when an investigator reads the Book of Mormon, they will overcome problems with much more strength. 

Honestly I don't know what to write about today. Hopefully next week I will. 

I know that this is the Lord's work and that He strengthens us. I know the gopsel is true!

Loves

Elder Townsend

What a week September 28, 2014

Well today is a special day, we can't go out for Preparation day today. Even out here in the New Territories. Nothing too big at all, but President Hawks wants us to be safe. Since this week is when HK went back to China, there are a lot of protests and riots going on. More than last year. But hey, no worries because they are mainly just college students that are doing this and lets be honest, they had to study A LOT to get here. Nothing condescending, just meaning that hopefully they won't go too crazy. There are some pretty big crowds, but we will be fine. Also in the New T's we don't see anything. Looking out the window looks like another average day. ha!

Well what food do I like. I like it all. Chinese food and other foods. There are a lot of middle eastern people and Indian people that live here in New T's as well so we get killer curry. All missionaries love this place called Tam Jai Sam Gor. It is noodles. The first time you have it, not too good. Second time, decent. Third time you are addicted and get it once a week. It is a pretty good spice too. Numbs you right up!

Jason is doing super great! He brought one of his friends to meet with us and was a super great missionary! He would be like, "hey talk about this!" and what not. He also went and grabbed a Book of Mormon for his friend. The best part was when he said, "read this book. It is true. It is the best. I know the church is true because of the Book of Mormon. I know it is the word of God." That was so powerful coming out of his mouth. His friend has interest and is going to meet with us again. Jason loves to talk about the church to his friends and his older sister when he see her. She lives in mainland so when she comes down, she wants to learn. Jason friend wanted to learn because they grew up together for a long time and he saw Jason get a lot more mature and he also wakes up early every morning to go to seminary. He was wondering why on earth he would do that so that is why he came. Jason is such an example. 

We met with Anderson this week. We taught with Brother Yu. Anderson we have had some cool experiences in the past with, so I was excited. we had a lesson plan to share with him, but I just felt like I wasn't too sure on it. Well when we sat down to meet with him, he shared some things and then Brother Yu started sharing about the Plan of Salvation and how God has arranged things for him. It was so powerful. Brother Yu is an amazing teacher and just teaches from his heart. It was just such a reminder and testimony to me that when we share the truths we feel in our heart, the Spirit enters and then that is when the Spirit teaches. 

We got a call this week as we were about to start dinner from a member. She said she had a friend who was sick and needed a blessing. She was wondering if she could have one even though she wasn't a member. We said of course as long as she had faith. We showed up and seeing the lady, my heart hurt a little. She has had cancer for the past almost 2 years. She had some surgeries and from the medicine and surgery her entire arm was swollen up to where she couldn't use it and also her legs were. So we shared with her about the priesthood and Jesus Christ and His atonement. Afterwards, we gave her a blessing. After the blessing, she sat back on her couch and kept saying.. "I believe, I believe, i believe.." I believe the Power and Love of God had touched her for the first time. She is doing better, having more strength. She said when she gets well enough, she will come to church. She prays every night as well too.

 I am thankful for the Lord supporting us in times of trials. I know He supports each and everyone. It is an amazing work that we are doing out here. I just pray that I can be where the Lords wants me to be and that I will always keep myself ready for His work. It is real and I know it is true.

Also all members are a missionary! We had this old grandma member bring a friend she made at an old folks home to church! He was like 90 something and was as deaf as an old man. haha I don't know a comparision. It was awesome, he was just smiling big most of the time. haha

Loves 

Elder Townsend

I had one picture, but I forgot my attachment. Better luck next time.