Week 49.5 Transfer: Senior Companion in Tai Wo 6/12/2017

Ok I could tell you about this week but my thoughts are a lot more centered on what is happening on Thursday. I am being transferred to Tolo Harbor, Tai Wo ward. I will be with Elder Beeson. I have never really met him :| but it should be fun!

I do have to say [that] part of the streak was broken but some of it was still not. We had a really good ward council, we started to have pretty good relationships with the ward, and I have been here for 2 transfers. I heard that people stay in tai wo for a long time so that may beat my streak, but also people stay in tko for a long time and hsk so... I don't know haha :) . I know that my task in hsk is almost done for the time being,

I think it is interesting. last time I got transferred I said that it feels like whenever I leave, afterwards there is a lot more success. I have been thinking about that a lot, and I thought about how last night, I prayed that the lord would help hsk. not for my sake but because I thought Elder Chin deserves it. I realized that the Lord has been answering my prayers all along. when I really say something heartfelt and when I really mean it, it happens. It was just a great thing for me to notice. from little things to big things. sometimes I complain and I feel like god sometimes says to me "well is this not what you wanted?"

I am so happy that I could notice that, and that he does answer my prayers.

This week we started to really ask referrals from everyone and we have this bring your friend to church thing and all these things. It was great. It was hard, but nonetheless, it was great.

we also were invited by yoshi from ma on shan to lunch las preparation day. It was really good.

insights

"faith is a catalyst" meaning that it needs to have something before it can do its job, and that something is the works and actions we do.

week 48.5 Teaching & Prayers 6/5/2017

This week has kind of been uneventful... just kidding we had some good things happen. 

Tin Sau had a baptism, and they were doing a musical number? but they were not really that prepared so I just helped them wing it. It was good... to see someone get baptized. Music!

I also went on exchanges with Elder Brandse. It was good because we taught two lessons, which I have not taught two lessons in a day in a long time, but I realized that I can be having "success" but I was not really giving it my all that day. I felt kind of bad because my heart was not all in. So I had it reaffirmed to me that I am changing, and it is not what I did that makes me feel happy at the end of the day but it is if I did all I could.

We might start teaching Karmen now that she is on break, she might have a little more interest, but she just like English class and sports, but she is really nice to us and lets us share a message sometimes.

I just had an experience that really built my testimony of prayer this week. I prayed and I wont say what, but I prayed that something would happen that usually does not. Guess what! It happened!! and I just had the thought "I can do this all day, and I will if you sincerely ask and are specific." I immediately thanked my 

Father above for the blessings that I have received that day. It is so important to thank God and acknowledge Him because he is the father of all miracles. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Insights!!

"through that small sacrifice, my heart softened and I found peace in seeking heavenly father's will." (M Joseph Brough) Taht is why "sacrifice brings for the blessings of heaven" (hymn 27) because our hearts are softened and we can receive those blessings

-- 

D&C 50:24 that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

week 47.5 Visit by Elder Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve 5/30/2017

We had Elder Cook [from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles] come for Monday!! (as stated in my previous email) and it was great! We had a very spiritual meeting and I learned a lot about missionary work.

We had 2 big miracles this week. 

1. First we had 7 people show up to English class, and second we taught a lesson. This is a very big miracle for me personally because usually the class we teach in English class only have 2 people that show up 

2. and we taught a lesson was also a great miracle because we have not taught a lesson for at least 2 weeks. 

I know that amidst all of the things that I think go wrong, God still loves me, and some of those things that "go wrong" is actually God preparing something to go right

I think the lesson I have learned the most is when you have done your best, it is far from perfect. you may have reached your mental, physical, and emotional capacity, but it will not be perfect, because there is a capacity.  

[what] I learned from Elder Cook was that I am doing my best for the Lord. Hopefully this capacity is not my capacity forever and hopefully my capacity will increase, but I felt like I was doing my best, even if it may have felt unfruitful,I know that God saw it and was happy with it. I also realized that what I do will never really bring fruit. I think back to what Elder Bednar said back in the mission broadcast and he said "success is given" I think That that is definitely true and that if I am doing all i can, there may not be things I can see now, but things will happen, and God was happy that I am trying. I just need to have faith that these things that I am doing, are God's will. 

May we all have the courage to be faithful to God. may we live life to its fullest by living his commandments, and may we receive, with gladness, all the things that god wants us to do. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Sorry I don't have my camera, my fault.

week 46.5 Convert taught by my mother & Work with less active 5/22/2017

I think daily life right now is organization of records and the ward wants us to visit all the less active members in our ward list so that has been mainly what we have been doing. 

I got some brown shoes from 陳會長 (president Chen) the stake president in 新界 (Hsin Tien) so that was nice. I also went on exchanges with elder Smith and it was pretty fun, because he use to be my zone leader when I was a district leader and I guess just having that exchange again (this time he is my distric leader) helped me see how far I have come in the last months.

Below is a picture of a sister and her son in the ward I am serving in. She was a new convert many years ago, who was taught by my mother when she was a young sister missionary in Hong Kong almost 25 years ago. She currently serves in our ward relief society presidency!

Week 45.5 Happy Mother's day 5/15/2017

A wonderful mother's day!

Elder Joseph Chou in Hong Kong gets to go on google hangout for a video call with his family in Utah.
Missionaries get to exchange emails/letters with family every week during their 2 year missionary service. And twice a year, on Christmas and Mother's day, they also get to call their family!

Grateful for modern-day technology!



Hey everyone this will be short sorry but that's ok.

first item of business we were able to skype for mothers day!!! super fun and happy mothers day to you all who deal with us kids.

We taught nobody this week but that is ok! just means that we have to find people before summer comes :) finding is always interesting and definitely a growing experience. 

We also were able to have zone conference!! it was super good and we learned about miracles, and being a preach my gospel missionary. I am grateful for that opportunities of serving. We have seen many miracles, felt many miracles, and heard of many miracles. These things may be small and, as true to the faith says, may be defined as a "quiet miracle" but nonetheless they are from God and are miracles from him from on high. The scripture I have been relying on is Moroni 7:37

it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief , and all is vain. 

all I have to do is to do my part to listen to god when I get promptings and have faith enough to act on it.

So life is not necessarily easy but it is good if we trust God in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Insights

-D&C 60:7 holy when our sins are forgiven. Only Through god can we be holy

-There is freedom within structure

     -some random I am a mormon

-Changing is a miracle because sometimes we want to change, we have a goal, but we dont know how to get there. God can answer all questions, including those to help us know what we must do to change

-You can either be bitter or better through God

     -his grace: unplanned pregnancy

-it is not about how I feel or how others feel when doing the work. It is about what god wants that is the most important

Week 44.5 Anticipating many new arrivals and departures this summer 5/8/2017

This week has been good! I guess I always say that but I really feel like things are changing in hsk. I feel like it is getting better. I cannot say we did much this week that had success, but I definitely learned a lot. 

we did go less active finding though, but we were not able to find them because they were not home :/ 

MJ (a member) also came back from college to work in the summer. it was fun to see him :) YD did not come to church :( but we were able to talk to him, and tin sau had a baptism and I played for it. It was a good week as long as I say that t o myself :)

Sister Malone finish honorably so that is good :)

We are anticipating the arrivals of 70 missionaries (from what I hear but sis. Lam says its probably wrong) and the departure of more than 60 missionaries in the next 2 transfers (I think) there will be 40 missionaries left from before that (is what elder Mcgrath told me.) but I could be totally wrong from all of that.

Scriptures

D&C 68:6

The Lord will stand by you

2Nephi 32:5

the spirit says what we must do, but not always how we will execute it or what the exact desired outcome will be.

D&C 11:12-14

put your trust in the spirit and it will fill you with joy

D&C 39:5-6

These are the peaceable things of the kingdom

Insights

we respect people because they sacrifice for us, because we know they love us. This is the case with our earthly and eternal parents.

Week 43.5 Quiet Week 5/2/2017

Quiet Week
not much to report this week.

Elder Chou is working hard in Hung Shui Kiu with Elder Chin.
They had transfer calls this past week, but no changes for them. So they with keep the same companion and continue to labor in Hung Shui Kiu

Note on transfer calls. About every 5-6 weeks, the missionaries get "transfer calls." This call from the mission office is to inform them if they are moving to a new area or changing missionary companions. Although there are some changes throughout the mission, not everyone receives a change necessarily.