Week 104.5 Return with Honor - Elder Chou returns from his 2 year mission 6/29/2018

Return with Honor

Mission Accomplished
Elder Chou completes his 2 year mission (6/2016-6/2018).






Departing missionaries at Hong Kong airport & return missionary at Salt Lake airport with family

Week 103.5 Words of Wisdom & Last Interview 6/26/2018

Well this week has been good. We were able to teach some people. Not much really to say, its all the pretty good! been saying goodbye to everyone :( Sad stuff. 

I guess there isn't much to report on this week but I was just thinking what "wisdom" I might be able to share with all of you maybe?? I don't know I'm young, but I will try.

1. We all have plans and expectations for people, but we should remember to love them more than that. If they fail we should love them, if they rebel we should love them.

2. I also now understand that the easiest way to live life is living God's commandments to our best ability and never looking back. Since we now know its right, if we deviate from it, we will feel guilt and then that action will no longer help us be happy

3. repentance is changing ourselves into what God wants us to be. It is not necessarily about the actions, or what we do, but about our intent and what we want to do.

4. because I have covenanted, anything that God asks me to do through the prophet, mission president, zone leader, district leader, senior companion or whoever have been asked to minister to me I need to do because God has asked them to help me. Obviously within reason, but especially the things I don't think I need to do.

5. Faith is action and how miracles happen. That means belief+action= miracle not belief = miracle.  we will all wonder if the promises that God gives to us is true. I know that they are, but you may not so you have to put forth some action, then you will get an answer.

I was talking with my mission president today for my last interview and he was like "well elder chou what have you learned"

I have learned that a lot of churches believe that God loves us, and that Jesus Christ is the center of many many churches, but we believe in one more thing. Since God still loves us, he has given us another prophet Joseph Smith to help us again. He literally did see God and Jesus Christ. So many will say "but did it happen?" we can consult religious professors, missionaries, and a number of many other people. I can throw scriptures around and so can the opposing side, but it is only through God that you will know the answer. If we only rely on the knowledge of men then we will always wonder, always question if our answer we came up with is right, whether we think it is right or wrong, but the answers from God are undeniable, simple and powerful. I know that to be true. I thank God for trusting me enough as an 18 year old boy to come do something much more grand than I myself could ever do. See you all soon! :)

Week 102.5 Zone Meeting & Zone Conference 6/17/2018

Well this week has been pretty good. We had a lot of things just pop up, and a lot of investigators and potentials that are testing or traveling because they are done testing, but we have been able to keep in contact with them through whatsapp which is so nice!!!

So on Tuesday we had our zone meeting to give everyone their sim cards and we just had what I would say a zone "council." We talked about a lot of things and, for me at least, it was really faith building. We also used the whatsapp group for zone find because "success breeds success," and everyone could see everyone else succeeding in Kwun Tong. It really motivated me haha.

I was also thinking a lot about how President Lam has said that we should "treat others as they can be and not as we see them as." This week I wrote down the vision I have for other people as well as myself, and it has really help maybe my relationship with them, or really their progression.

zone conference was great! we got Area book planner which was super nice to have.

Finally we found 2 new investigators (thats good for hong kong)! Renee and Kary are 2 friends found at the zone find last week, and they are finished testing now so they said they would come to church and they did! They are form 3 going into 4 and they also may have another friend that might also meet with us. It was super good because at stake conference we originally thought that they were 20 so we were like ok, and we got a few older people to help us, but they weren't so then at stake conference we realized that the YW leader had a daughter that was their age, so we taught a lesson afterwards and it was like perfect. The whole member family came to help with the lesson too which was funny. I feel like they really connected. It was great! A really big miracle how well everything actually worked out. It just shows me how God really is in the details especially in our work.

yea I only have videos of myself this week. pictures of elder adams though, my camera was "borrowed" for a little bit.

Week 101.5 Teach Austin & MLC 6/12/2018

So this week has been pretty good we were able to teach Austin and that went well. He is took the IELTS so hopefully it went well. We also had missionary leadership council which was good. We talked a lot about obedience. That's really about it for this week. 

I also went on exchanges to Po Lam with Elder Devries. The man is a legend!! love the guy. We also got our sim cards at MLC!!! but its kinda 唔關我事 because I don't have a smart phone... so yea!!! We also got a lot of rain this week... so it was cooler! Also bought some Pizza and thats expensive here... but you know its all good, glad the boys enjoyed it.

Week 100.5 Whatsapp 6/4/2018

Well this week was good!!! we were able to do a lot of whatsapp stuff!! trying to use it to its full extent and its been great so far!! A -Hei was able to come to church this week!! That was great!! We went finding... a lot, but I am definitely going to miss finding. You meet the coolest people. as my trainer said they disappointments outnumber the great moments but the great moments will always outweigh the disappointments. I love it. You should all do it!!! it will change your life. The church is true. 耶穌基督係我哋嘅救主同咪我哋大家可以同佢一齊返到去。

My pride is my Pain, My prayer is my peace, my humility is my hope, my savior is my salvation.

Week 99.5 Tsz Shan Temple 5/29/2018

Crazy that its the 99th week of my mission... um... I don't know how I feel about that. 

Anyway we went to tsz shan temple on monday. That was pretty cool! It was a giant white buddhist statue. Pictures in the drive. We took a taxi because I'm dying and I can use my money for travel and food... so yea Taxi it was. We were also waiting for the bus for like ever. It was good though. Definitely worth it. The pictures don't do it justice.

This week was good. We were finally able to meet with more people!!! YAY!!! 

The rest of my pictures is from English class this week. How the adventures and joy of children.

Week 98.5 Busy Week 5/22/2018

Well this week was pretty interesting. We originally were going to go to lion rock but Nathan got kinda woozy so we came home and yea. We got home on time though which we wouldn't have if we had hiked the whole thing. 

This week we had a phone training on tuesday and that took longer than expected so we had district meeting after that and that was about it for tuesday. 

Wednesday we had English class. (bear with me I am trying to remember what happened this week.) Oh! we also met a girl named Kathryn. She is super cool, last minute she cancelled on us but later is fine!! super excited for her. 

Friday we ate with a family, and saturday we met with ji kiu who was pretty cool and wants to learn more. We met with President Lau as well and he wants us to get A-shan and Nathan back to Po Lam. So that will be a process. Thats about it for today though! till next week. Sorry I literally forgot to take pictures. but I have like 3

Week 97.5 Mother's Day & Pray/Listen/Write/Act 5/14/2018

There has been a lot of finding this week. We are trying our best, I think it is interesting that when you are working your hardest, you have the most amount of miracles but also I feel like I experience the most amount of discouragement and just feeling lost I guess. It is interesting, the harder we are working how Satan will try to match that to make us fall.

We have a new potential, Jacob, who has potential to become a new investigator. I guess the hardest part for us right now is to try to turn potential investigators into actual investigators. Other than that everything is great! the ward is really supportive

I also feel like I am growing a lot more. I did something that our leaders have said and that is to pray, listen, write down, and act on those promptings. I heard that from somewhere and it is really working! Its interesting how much I can still learn haha, I know I'm only 20. I think it is really cool that I am able to receive inspiration for how I can do better, or what to do in this specific situation and all that. So that is great! I will try to keep it up. You should all do it too!! I know it will bless your life.

Till next week!!

Got to call home for Mother's Day!

Week 96.5 Finding & Listening More 5/6/2018

This week has been pretty good. I think Elder Johnson is really helping us have more faith when finding. I feel like this week was very good, even if we didn't really meet with a lot of investigators. 

Ken hasn't been answering our phone so we don't know but hopefully he will answer one day. We had Hudson and A-Ting that became new investigators this week. I would give them like 60-70% potential. Hudson was the one from English Class that I talked about last week. A-Ting has a brother in Tuen Mun ward and she is pretty good. I think that she has heard about church stuff for so long that I think she has kind of lost what is most basic, so we are going to try to help her understand what is the most important things to focus on which is the core principles and doctrines of the Gospel. We found a lot more this week, and found a lot more people this week. We are hoping to have a lot more new investigators this coming week. Things are working which is great! Even with MLC we were able to find a lot it feels like.

I guess I was pondering my mission, and as I have listened after my prayers especially at night, I have been able to get answers when I listen more which I was just so surprised by, only because it never really happened before. I learned that we should be happy for "the good that has been accomplished." I feel like I have been receiving a lot of "inspiration" recently, and some I would even call revelation. I am really happy that God has been able to help me realize and receive those things.

Week 95.5 A-Shan's Baptism 4/29/2018

This week was pretty good! A Shan was baptized and her brother was able to come to church (he hasn't been for a while because of work :( ). 

for exchanges exercise one day we ran to a waterfall. Elder Johnson is super solid :) I like him a lot. Elder Adams and I are doing well as well. With A-shan getting baptized, we will need some new investigators, so if you have friends in hong kong, you should send them our way (also our mission is going to get whatsapp soon so that will be really exciting). 

We also had Hudson and Judy randomly showed up to english class. a random person in a restaurant gave them a flyer who they say is their friend, but don't know what their name is... so I don't know, but Elder Adams and I have attributed it to the 3 nephites. Hopefully it is, because that would be kinda cool.

Thats about it for this week, good luck you all!!!

Week 94.5 Pres. Nelson's Visit 4/23/2018

Hi everyone this week has been pretty good. Sorry I don't have that much time. 

2 things we were able to go to the temple which was great! got revelation that I needed. 
Also went to President Nelson and that was great! That's about it. 

Have lots of things that I would love to share but no time :( but also little things that one may think is not important but they are very important to me because it is the time I have with God. So if I could say anything today it would be receive your own revelation like President Nelson said. It will bless you more and more as you look for it. and you can receive revelation daily.

week 93.5 Zone Conference & Teaching A-shan 4/17/2018

In an effort to write more detailed emails, the following resulted ;)

We had zone conference this week which was great! The thing that had the most impact on me was Elder Bednar about teaching with the spirit and how I should really just get out of the way. I am excited for smartphones. I think it will do a lot of good things for the mission, but we just have to learn how to really use it.

Its getting toasty out here only like 25 cel (no idea what the translation is for that). but also like 3 bajillion percent humitity. Gotta love it

A shan is doing well. She is progressing well which is good. Our ward mission leader also scheduled 2 lessons for us which was good. They are 2 former investigators, but the way he scheduled was kind of weird. I don't think that the two of them knew we were coming, but one of them has good potential. Gotta love Bro. Leung :) such a great guy :)

We helped Andrew with English because he has a test this week, so I hope he does well! Ramond is also fun, there is a video somewhere of Elder Devries and I (exchanges) talking about missionary stuff.

We also taught Nathan but he still has to work :( hopefully he can come to A-shan's baptism

Lastly we watched priesthood session in chinese, but a member had the english that we could read which was good. My favorite quote was "the priesthood is more important than any of its offices."  Thats all for this week. God loves us, and He love all of us.

Pictures!! I know I am not the best

Week 92.5 General Conference 4/9/2018

I know that I made a goal to take more pictures... but it didnt happen. any suggestions on how to be better?

We had conference and it was great!! It was great to sustain a new prophet. I really liked how he talked about how to receive revelation. I feel like even though I have been on a mission, I am still not good at that. So I will keep working on it.

A-shan is working  towards baptism still and attended all 4 sessions of conference. I was very happy that she did.

Thats about it for this week.

Week 91.1 Disneyland, Easter, and teaching A-Shan 4/1/2018

Well we went to disneyland this week so that was really fun! We stayed until like 4:30 it was really great!! lots of fun stuff. The one thing we did multiple time was the iron man thing. It is basically like star tours but with iron man.

Funny thing about china, they get easter holiday, its like a 4 day holiday. I wonder why we don't have that in America (we are more christian). Really wierd to think about but thats really funny.

Also another exciting thing, A-Shan has a baptismal date for the 29th of april. Super exciting!! (She is the sister of Nathan our recent convert). We were also able to meet with Collin and he was to change its just hard, so we don't spend that much time on him but hopefully he will progress.

Last thing. Transfer Calls :) I am staying with elder adams but Elder Condie is leaving :( os that is sad. Thats about it for this week!

Week 90.1 Pacific Rim & Zone Leadership Meeting 3/26/2018

This week has been pretty good! So last week we were able to go to Shum Shui Po and we found some Pacific Rim figures. If you don't know, its basically my inspiration for doing what I am pursuing in my future life. Also got a nice jacket B) 

We also had a zone leadership meeting this week and we are excited for this next month!!!!! Its going to be awesome!!!!! I then went to Kwun Tong and it was good!!! Elder Allen is very solid. Tried to take some pictures but it was blurry some times haha. That's about it!!! 

Going to Disneyland today!!! (that's why its so early) Also really weird that its week 90. Well have fun friends transfer calls next week :| so we will see what happens.

Love you all lots!!

Week 89.5 Elder Stevenson's visit, pies, and more 3/19/2018

This week has been pretty good. We did a lot of things. 
I went on an exchange with Elder Devries because Sister Webb  suggested it. We have Wong JM this week.
We found her in the zone find which was good. She came to church but after sacrament. She has 3 kids and they are pretty naughty but our ward was really good in helping her out and stuff. 

A Shan, Nathan's sister is doing well. That is about it for this week. 

Elder Adams is doing well. 

Elder Stevenson this last week was so good!!!! We learned a lot about how to be a better missionary. I was very happy to see an apostle of the Lord and that meeting was able to answer a lot of my questions. It was great!! definitely built my faith a lot. 


We went on a hike I think its called duck something and it was super good! loved it got a few investigators to come too! 


It was stinking pie day this week and you know what that means! 3.1 for pie at mcdonalds!! (thats 40 cents a pie). 


We also went to Gin Curry this week and Elder Condie and I ate it all!!!!!! 


We took pictures with Kot family for our records

Week 88.5 Teaching Nathan's friend & visit by Elder Gary Stephenson 3/11/2018

Well this week will probably be short and simple we went to the hong kong history museum and it was fun! 

we... did a lot of finding! and it went a lot better than before so that was good. 

Nathan is doing well, we were able to meet with his friend. Be like him and help you friends meet the missionaries!! 

yep thats about it have fun keep reading your scriptures!!!

also we get to meet with Elder Stevenson this week so I am very hyped!!

Week 87.5 Exchanges & Zone Finding 3/4/2018

Well friends this week was pretty good :) 

I went on exchanges with Elder Wong. He is also an abc so it was good! We had some lessons schedule but they didn't show up. Its all good!! 

We then had zone finding in Kwun Tong. It was pretty good. Got a good amount of potentials this week for them. Hope they are greatful ;) 

We then ate with the Wong family. They are a wonderful family who have gone through so much. I am extremely humbled by people who will give their best "to the Lord" I don't necessarily deserve their kindness, but I know that they are blessed for the services that they offer. I also know that there are a lot of silent and faithful people who's story many will never know, but they keep doing it regardless because they have a perfect understanding of God. 

We then had bishop take us to kbq it was super good! and enos (a friend) is in the liahona!!! picture on google drive. It was super funny to see him haha. I thank you all for your prayers. Love you all!

Week 86.5 Nathan's confirmation 2/26/2018

I feel like this week was normal for the most part. 

Nathan was confirmed so that was exciting! It was kind of funny but may have also been kind of overwhelming. But it went well.

Funny story of the week, we were in the wet market 街市 and this guy has a cart and is rolling 2 gutted pigs down this walkway, and right above this place is a super westernize nice clean mall. The things you see in hong kong haha :)

Well till next week friends!!!!

Week 85.5 Nathan's Baptism 2/18/2018

This week was good! nathan was baptized and it went pretty smoothly. We were able to meet with A Shan, Nathan's sister, and that lesson went really well. We talked about the restoration and we all cried at some point. We were able to understand her needs a little bit more. 

a lot of people invited us over for dinner this week. It went well and we were able to get to know the members more. 

We were also able to visit my family. My aunt was very focused when we shared our message so that was good! 

we also had a roasted pig for dinner at the Lam's house, and hiked dragons back with our ward. It was quite adventurouse :) I'll just explain all the pictures

mos burgers - Japanese burger place (JCW's is better)

Turtles on a log when finding in kowloon park

KFC with Elder Adams

Elder Condie and I on the MTR

Zone conference and Elder Tsang who is now brother Tsang being held by us

My family

Arizona

Hike - dragon back

Nathan's baptism

Week 84.5 Mission Leader Conference 2/13/2018

Well this week has been good! First off, Nathan told us that he had a client yesterday so he was not able to make it to the baptism. so we talked and changed it to next week. It was kind of sad, and we tried to convince him to try to change it, but in the end it didn't work so we changed it to next week. I think that is really it for the people we are working with this week.

We also had MLC this week and we decided to double out baptismal goal to 400, we have gotten 190ish this year. so I am very excited even though I won't be here to see it, I can prepare the way of those who will come after me. Till next week!

week 83.5 Teaching & Preparing Nathan 2/5/2018

This week has been fun... to say the least. I went on exchanges and went to the temple!!! I love the temple actually. Really fun! 

We taught Nathan about Temples and Family history and church auxiliaries and it was good! He is preparing to be baptized on the 11th. We are going to keep praying for him. We also hope that his sister starts having more interest. She just comes to church with him now but we can hopefully get her to pick up a little more.

Week 82.5 Give it all because you love God 1/30/2018

So this week was fun! we did a lot of things... pretty normal actually. We met with Nathan and A-Shan and we taught Nathan [about] Tithing and he was super accepting. We are trying to be the missionaries that we are suppose to be... I guess so that we can be worthy to receive the blessings that God wants to give us. 

Elder Adams and I are doing well. We work together well which is good.

I guess this week I came to know Jesus Christ and God more by  kind of posing the question "what if you did not receive all the blessings that you wanted and your life was just hard. would you still be faithful?" I had to say yes because I obviously hope that I get the blessings I look forward to and want, but if I don't I still know the church is true, I still know that he sent his son, and the eternities are worth suffering for in this life. 

The way that this experience came to be was that we were eating with a family. Pretty average family. They have had some trials in their lives, yet they are happy, but my heart just mourned because I knew that they just deserved so much more. I knew that their faith may not have been rewarded in the way I thought it would, but they still did it because they knew it was true. That was a powerful moment to me because I know that I take things for granted. I have a great family, a pretty comfortable, but still hard mission, and all these things. I just asked my self "are you willing to give it all because you love God, and not because of the blessings?" It just really helped me understand what This is all about... helped me see the bigger picture. I thank God for that moment.

Week 81.5 Zone Conference & Working Hard 1/22/2018

Haha this week was pretty fun! lots of things happened kind of. 
We had zone conference and that was pretty fun to see some other zones. 
We then met with people, and worked our hardest!! It was good! saw some results which was good! 

We are going to have to change Nathan's date, but not because he has any problems, but because there is something going on that day for our ward... so yea. It will e ok though.

Signing out broskies! Love you all!

Week 80.5 Move to TKO New Apartment 1/15/2018

Well... This week.

It has been good! We first went to a taiwanese restaurant and I ate some oajien!!!! from Taiwan. Love that stuff. 

Then on Tuesday we went and moved the TKO new apartment. It is a lot nicer than the old one but a little less convenient. I moved a bunch of stuff into that apartment haha. 

Then I trained Elder Beeson the closest thing I have to a son. Elder Harding finished training him and then I came in and was his companion and now he is taking my spot!!! super good. Going to miss it though. 

I moved in and a lot of people remember me and our electricity broke yesterday haha so we went down to management. It is fixed now so you need not wory haha. other than that it was good!!!!

Week 79.5 Transfer call, moving to TKO to be ZL1/8/2018

Transfer call, moving to TKO (Tsueng Kwan O) to be ZL (Zone Leader)
TKO back to area where Elder Chou's aunt & cousins live!

Last week here boys :) Transfer calls were yesterday and I am going to TSEUNG KWAN O AGAIN!!!!!! Boom get ready for the thunder ;) haha JK it should be good!! I am excited to see everyone again. See how that ward has progressed too.  Lots of things to do this week for the new Transfer haha!! yay but my last one to deal with!

MLC was also this week so I tailored Elder Garcia's pants haha that is why there are pants in the pictures.

We also went to food angel then got lunch at Sham Shui Po and hence the curry

Leung-Ho also got his mission call to CANADA!!!! so that should be sweet

Till next time ;)

Insights (yes it has been a while)

we give the LORD our best but it can only every be compared to what Joseph and Mary was able to provide. God accepts the "mangers" in our lives because he knows we are trying

It is easier for us to care about those you understand, the struggle is with those you do not.

What you give is worth more than what you can achieve

Do not tell someone what to do. teach them what they need to know. Then people will be more receptive because you are not trying to take away their agency.

week 78.5 Christmas shopping 1/2/2018

Hi everyone This week has been pretty good!

Nothing too exiting, probably spent more money than I should have for Christmas ;) and nothing too special, getting ready for transfers and sent a dryer somewhere 

thats about it.

The Gospel is True!!!!