I won't say too much, because we just talked and I spent more time than usual writing to others, (e.g. Matthew, Stan) but I want to say a bit more because that is just how I am.
David,
Yeah, Japanese has 3 alphabets, I believe, one phonetic, one that I don't know, and one that is basically simplified mandarin. So there are more similarities than you would think. I heard an old missionary from Hong Kong who said when he went to Japan he could get around fine because he could read the signs. All I know is that there are too many characters to learn. I actually have picked up quite a lot recently. Usually, I can at least find a few on any writing that I know. You so skinny man, you got no way you beat me up.
Abby Rebecca,
You two are pretty sweet. Just so you both know, I think it's super funny when you burst into tears. You two are emotional people, and I like bragging about how on the way to the MTC I could make Abby cry by just looking at her.
I miss you two a lot. I show people our family picture all the time because I want to show them how awesome a family can be when they have the gospel. But honestly, I don't think that these people's families will ever be as good as you guys. I am so glad that you two feel so much love. Becca, I understand a bit of what you feel. Sometimes we do things that we just wish we could undo. In time like that, you just need to remember that everyone makes mistakes, and if you choose you can make this a sweet experience. If you feel like you can't forgive, try to repent and say sorry first. God can help us have love and forgive others, and the best way to get that help is to repent and say sorry.
Mom,
I talked to you and Dad more than anyone else, so not a ton to say. Happy Mother's Day! Tell Joseph, I think he needs to pray about when he should go on mission, but I know that I myself would never want to do college first because I have learned so many essential things. But God knows best.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
May 6, 2014 - More pictures
 |
| Ida on her baptism day. |
 |
| Home Dinner with Ida and family. |
 |
| Elder Morrell & Elder Barker happy to be eating pizza. |
Monday, May 5, 2014
May 5, 2014 - Pictures
 |
| Park in Chai Wan with turtles on the rocks. |
 |
| Average day in my planner. |
 |
| Tthis is a huge statue back across the bay from Ma On Shan. |
 |
| Cool view on our hike and Elder Barker. |
 |
| Ffrom left to right, Joey, ?, Ida, and Elder Barker. Drinking melon milk. Pretty hou yam. |
 |
| This is my horribly swollen finger. I tried to play basketball with some old guys in a park. |
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| China, what else can I say. |
May 5, 2014 - God has a plan for things!
Rebecca,
I will not forget to email you again. Your letter is kind of interesting to me. One, I don't know who Morgan is so, so much for that.
Two, I think the idea you have of not having the right instincts or habits and not fitting into abnegation is an interesting parallel. You would think that Tris, who grew up in abnegation, would naturally have all the right habits. She'd been practicing being selfless all her life, but just didn't feel like she could do it. You have been in the church all your life but still feel like there are some things that just 'aren't wired right'.
I thought that the hardest thing of my mission would be that I would have to spend all my time discussing gospel things, because previously I had found that by the end of church I was tired of talking about gospel things, and I figured that if I couldn't do it for more than 3 hours, 2 years would be tough. But something that I have learned is that that wasn't a problem at all. As a missionary, you are sort of immersed in the gospel whereas before I was occasionally sprinkled by it (baptismal reference). Because I spent so much more time doing purely church things, I came to love them more. Maybe Tris's problem was that she tried to be selfless herself too much, instead of just really enjoying helping others. She was still thinking about herself. I think that anyone, member or convert, can come to be really well wired for church things by just immersing themselves in it, and doing it not out of duty but out of sincere desire to learn or grow. And if you do, you might accidentally figure out that that is what enduring to the end means.
Becca, I want you to tell Morris Matthews and Nick Harris that their letters are great. I really want to respond to them in person, and still hope to do so, but frankly I never have any time at all. It really is somewhat fantastic, in a sort of unbelievable sense, how little time I have. I try to set goals each week but have learned that I have so little extra time to work with that I am severely limited on what I can do, such as writing letters. Not my fault.
I will not forget to email you again. Your letter is kind of interesting to me. One, I don't know who Morgan is so, so much for that.
Two, I think the idea you have of not having the right instincts or habits and not fitting into abnegation is an interesting parallel. You would think that Tris, who grew up in abnegation, would naturally have all the right habits. She'd been practicing being selfless all her life, but just didn't feel like she could do it. You have been in the church all your life but still feel like there are some things that just 'aren't wired right'.
I thought that the hardest thing of my mission would be that I would have to spend all my time discussing gospel things, because previously I had found that by the end of church I was tired of talking about gospel things, and I figured that if I couldn't do it for more than 3 hours, 2 years would be tough. But something that I have learned is that that wasn't a problem at all. As a missionary, you are sort of immersed in the gospel whereas before I was occasionally sprinkled by it (baptismal reference). Because I spent so much more time doing purely church things, I came to love them more. Maybe Tris's problem was that she tried to be selfless herself too much, instead of just really enjoying helping others. She was still thinking about herself. I think that anyone, member or convert, can come to be really well wired for church things by just immersing themselves in it, and doing it not out of duty but out of sincere desire to learn or grow. And if you do, you might accidentally figure out that that is what enduring to the end means.
Becca, I want you to tell Morris Matthews and Nick Harris that their letters are great. I really want to respond to them in person, and still hope to do so, but frankly I never have any time at all. It really is somewhat fantastic, in a sort of unbelievable sense, how little time I have. I try to set goals each week but have learned that I have so little extra time to work with that I am severely limited on what I can do, such as writing letters. Not my fault.
This is the email of the recent convert in our ward, who is just so amazing that we don't really have to teach her anything. She said I could tell you, specifically Mom, and have you email her. Her English is not amazing, but okay. If you use big words or complex grammar she'll have to ask us. But she is super friendly. Don’t put the email on the blog.
Ida is amazing because 1) she loves the gospel and wants to share it, and 2) she is available and loves making friends. If you want to be a more effective member missionary, make some new friends, Becca. Then be super excited about the church. Joseph will be interested to know that Becca. is misspelled but if it is at the beginning of a sentence it is okay.
Well Rebecca, on Friday we had our Zone Training, and afterwards some miracles. Elder Barker and I went finding for about 2 hours, talked to several people, then ran into a lady named Berry, who was super nice and interested in families. So we re-scheduled her, then as we were walking to eat dinner we saw a lady who we had previously scheduled but thought that she canceled, because I called earlier and she said 'too busy, not available tomorrow". Turns out I called the wrong number, and she showed up. We taught her, she took a Book of Mormon, and said she'd read it. If we had known that she would come we wouldn't have met Berry. Because her lesson put us behind schedule we ran into a member from Canada who was in Hong Kong for just 2 days and was probably feeling pretty lonely, invited him to come to our English class on Saturday (because he teaches English in Mainland), which he really enjoyed. Then that night we taught 2 more people. So, Becca, God has a plan for things. You are just a dancer/flutist/can-do-blond right now, but pray to be in the right place in the right time to do miracles. The missionaries would love you.
Thanks a lot, Becca, now I have only 20 minutes for everyone else.
Mom,
It is a lot more humid here in Chai Wan, we have to have our air conditioning units blowing on fan mode all day long to prevent mold.
I can buy any Campbell's soup thing except the classic tomato soup, which is what all the ads show. I have been eating a lot of curry recently, specifically Japanese curry. Very tasty, and I hope healthy. But not as tasty as the fettuccini you sent! That has been really nice. I felt very proud of myself; I ate only one Reese’s a day. Stretched it out a while.
We are making bread pudding today.
I feel like you'd be a really easy missionary to work with, because you are very considerate about annoying or inconveniencing others. I think that I am pretty good at that. I try not to bother my companions sometimes. But I also try really hard to keep a high obedience standard, which is annoying sometimes, but what choice do we have? I think I'll enjoy being in charge too much, so I probably won't have to train.
Abby,
I think it's funny how all your letters deal with Saturday. You tend to forget the rest of the week. And I also think it's funny how your letter about Lagoon only says bad things about it, but ends with you saying it was awesome. There is a Disneyland here in Hong Kong. If I want to go totally crazy disobedient I'll just go there during my normal working days. Maybe when Rebecca convinces Mom and Dad to let us all go to Hong Kong we can try it.
Dad,
I wonder if it was different in your mission how they did training, because usually that is the best remembered missionary. The one who trained you or the one you train. There's an elder who used to serve in Chai Wan who trained a missionary every move after his first move until the 4th or so. I think that would be pretty horrible, but I can't wait till I get a chance to train someone.
I think that your idea about the hard work is definitely true. As it says in PMG, (I think Ezra Taft Benson) If you work, you get the spirit, if you get the spirit you will have success, and you will be happy. I have been trying to break through to that level of real hard work. I think that I'll be able to soon, because we started focusing on planning and goal setting more, and that is basically a way to focus your work.
Elder Barker really liked your water skiing analogy.
Our Zone leaders had us all pick some phrase that we would use to really make ourselves go the extra mile or be that little bit more obedient. I chose "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" because I really feel like you and Mom have given me an amazing example of how to live, and how to be a good missionary. I really wish I could see you two when you were on your missions.
David,
You make me quite jealous with all this talk of mountain biking. I hope you and Dad get really into it because if I was trunkie and thought about going home at all I would say that we would go Mountain biking a ton when I get back. But I'm not. Duh. Funny how bad conversations can get. And funny how food makes everything better.
Joseph,
There is something to essays. Obviously you can pick any answer you want, but the more you write the more you will come to learn that there is an art or skill to expressing how specific evidence supports your claim, why you are right, etc. And structure of essays takes a bit to get the hang of. You will not enjoy English class next year.
IT better be a good trailer. You have watched enough movies and read enough reviews that 'all my directorial powers' should be significant.
Just make sure you
<MyLDSMAil Mail regrets to inform you that this invaluable advice is not fit to be shared with anyone so preoccupied with worldly desires. If you wish to read, please serve a mission.>
Ida is amazing because 1) she loves the gospel and wants to share it, and 2) she is available and loves making friends. If you want to be a more effective member missionary, make some new friends, Becca. Then be super excited about the church. Joseph will be interested to know that Becca. is misspelled but if it is at the beginning of a sentence it is okay.
Well Rebecca, on Friday we had our Zone Training, and afterwards some miracles. Elder Barker and I went finding for about 2 hours, talked to several people, then ran into a lady named Berry, who was super nice and interested in families. So we re-scheduled her, then as we were walking to eat dinner we saw a lady who we had previously scheduled but thought that she canceled, because I called earlier and she said 'too busy, not available tomorrow". Turns out I called the wrong number, and she showed up. We taught her, she took a Book of Mormon, and said she'd read it. If we had known that she would come we wouldn't have met Berry. Because her lesson put us behind schedule we ran into a member from Canada who was in Hong Kong for just 2 days and was probably feeling pretty lonely, invited him to come to our English class on Saturday (because he teaches English in Mainland), which he really enjoyed. Then that night we taught 2 more people. So, Becca, God has a plan for things. You are just a dancer/flutist/can-do-blond right now, but pray to be in the right place in the right time to do miracles. The missionaries would love you.
Thanks a lot, Becca, now I have only 20 minutes for everyone else.
Mom,
It is a lot more humid here in Chai Wan, we have to have our air conditioning units blowing on fan mode all day long to prevent mold.
I can buy any Campbell's soup thing except the classic tomato soup, which is what all the ads show. I have been eating a lot of curry recently, specifically Japanese curry. Very tasty, and I hope healthy. But not as tasty as the fettuccini you sent! That has been really nice. I felt very proud of myself; I ate only one Reese’s a day. Stretched it out a while.
We are making bread pudding today.
I feel like you'd be a really easy missionary to work with, because you are very considerate about annoying or inconveniencing others. I think that I am pretty good at that. I try not to bother my companions sometimes. But I also try really hard to keep a high obedience standard, which is annoying sometimes, but what choice do we have? I think I'll enjoy being in charge too much, so I probably won't have to train.
Abby,
I think it's funny how all your letters deal with Saturday. You tend to forget the rest of the week. And I also think it's funny how your letter about Lagoon only says bad things about it, but ends with you saying it was awesome. There is a Disneyland here in Hong Kong. If I want to go totally crazy disobedient I'll just go there during my normal working days. Maybe when Rebecca convinces Mom and Dad to let us all go to Hong Kong we can try it.
Dad,
I wonder if it was different in your mission how they did training, because usually that is the best remembered missionary. The one who trained you or the one you train. There's an elder who used to serve in Chai Wan who trained a missionary every move after his first move until the 4th or so. I think that would be pretty horrible, but I can't wait till I get a chance to train someone.
I think that your idea about the hard work is definitely true. As it says in PMG, (I think Ezra Taft Benson) If you work, you get the spirit, if you get the spirit you will have success, and you will be happy. I have been trying to break through to that level of real hard work. I think that I'll be able to soon, because we started focusing on planning and goal setting more, and that is basically a way to focus your work.
Elder Barker really liked your water skiing analogy.
Our Zone leaders had us all pick some phrase that we would use to really make ourselves go the extra mile or be that little bit more obedient. I chose "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" because I really feel like you and Mom have given me an amazing example of how to live, and how to be a good missionary. I really wish I could see you two when you were on your missions.
David,
You make me quite jealous with all this talk of mountain biking. I hope you and Dad get really into it because if I was trunkie and thought about going home at all I would say that we would go Mountain biking a ton when I get back. But I'm not. Duh. Funny how bad conversations can get. And funny how food makes everything better.
Joseph,
There is something to essays. Obviously you can pick any answer you want, but the more you write the more you will come to learn that there is an art or skill to expressing how specific evidence supports your claim, why you are right, etc. And structure of essays takes a bit to get the hang of. You will not enjoy English class next year.
IT better be a good trailer. You have watched enough movies and read enough reviews that 'all my directorial powers' should be significant.
Just make sure you
<MyLDSMAil Mail regrets to inform you that this invaluable advice is not fit to be shared with anyone so preoccupied with worldly desires. If you wish to read, please serve a mission.>
Monday, April 28, 2014
April 28, 2014 - "Another week passes by as if it were a dream..."
Dear Rebecca,
I don't know why I always forget to write you, but there it is. I've got some cool stuff to tell you today, though. Apparently, my whole family has become more awesome since I left, especially you. Solo dances in front of the whole middle school, talks in church about sacrifice, flute playing with Canyons Youth Symphony and school band, something about glamour girl, which I don't know what the meaning is. I am afraid when I get back I won't be cool enough for you.
So, Becca, I will tell you about where I live. Right now I live in Shau Kei Wan, on the 7th floor of Ging Fai building. It is right next to the train station, a grocery store, a bread store, and a cha siu faan place (which is basically barbecue pork and rice, but better). It is pretty darn convenient, but the apartment itself could be better. The size is nice. There are 4 of us living here, Me, Elder Barker, Elder Wu (who is not a native, but has some of the best Chinese out of anyone I've met and is super rude and verbally abusive all the time) and Elder Yim (who is a native, but his English is terrible and he is really bad at defining words. Elder Wu is more useful, but he'll insult you viciously if you ask him). Our rooms are nice and big, the bed is nice, but our bathroom is a bit smaller. Our shower randomly has crazy powerful water pressure. I don't know how good the water heating is, because I made a goal to only take cold showers. Our kitchen is a bit of a joke, though Elder Barker tells me I've just been spoiled by Ma On Shan. There is one small sink, about 2 square feet of counter space, no where to put utensils or plates (we just leave them on the drying rack,) no burners, just one portable gas stove and an induction burner thingy. So it's a bit annoying to cook stuff. But fear not, Rebecca. I still manage to make a ton of Curry! And I ate a lot of noodles and tuna for a bit. So we shall overcome.
We had a lot of cool miracles this week, as well. There is a recent convert in our ward who, I think I mentioned last time. She has some crazy hard trials with family and stuff. She is still pretty rough to work with, honestly. She's like you, a small teenager, and gets really irrational. We want to get the ward teaching her but if we try to invite her to ward things she gets all pouty and won't go. Like you. But on Monday, after emailing, we had a lesson with her, asked her to pray and then ponder about what answer to fix some problem in her life. She had been pretty uncooperative in that lesson, and recently she really hadn't been interested in the gospel at all. But after thinking for a bit she remembered some missionary telling her “chi sau dou dai”, which means endure to the end. It was amazing. I know that the Holy Ghost answered her. This week she's been a bit better, came to church for the first time in a bit.
Tell Mom that this morning I went to the face doctor and he charged another ridiculous fee, which I will mail home for insurance to cover. My acne right now is okay.
We had a women get baptized on Sunday! Ida, who is the most well prepared investigator ever. She loves the scriptures, feels the spirit, and has seen tons of miracles already. And best of all, she is super out going, has a lot of friends, and shares the gospel like crazy. So we got to meet and teach 3 of her friends and her husband after her baptism, which was great. NEW INVESTIGATORS! Pray for her husband, he really feels like he won't be able to quit smoking. Becca, don't ever smoke. So many people in Hong Kong do it and it's pointless. And stinks.
I hope this was long enough for you, dancer.
Mom,
Elder Barker is from Mapleton Utah, has been out about 4 months longer than me, is our district leader, is 6' 4", ran track and did football in high school, went to BYU for a semester, has a brother in law whose last name is Morrell, is a super friendly and funny guy. We teach really differently, so it won't be all easy, but he is really really good at getting to what people care about, getting to know them, making people like him, and then using the gospel to help them. I am learning a ton from him.
Hong Kong is pretty small, so transfers are super easy. We all go to the mission office, meet up, and then go to your area. It takes about an hour. Underwhelming. If I wanted to, I could go over to Tai Wai pretty easily. Just no reason to right now.
The Chapel is in Wan Chai, so in the big building district. Right now we are emailing in Wan Chai, next to a convention center which is ridiculously expensive. There is a woman doing a tour behind me in Mandarin. Hong Kong has a lot of people from Mainland China in it. The chapel is really really nice. It is super comfortable, beautiful, always lots of members (some Chinese, some American, lots of Philipinos) hanging around. Cool place.
That is super cool about Nicole. Her French is probably pretty amazing already, given her dedication to school. I don't think I have her email. I like Dad's comment on the sons of Mosiah. Except I guess I'm Alma and the rest are all the daughters of Mosiah? I assume he had daughters, we just never hear about them. Russia, France, Argentina, and Hong Kong. Pretty good spread.
I got the package, and it has been pretty nice. I loved the music. One of the things that I've been thinking of recently is how having good music playing can really improve your attitude, your mood, spirituality, etc. The BYU Men's Chorus one has a song that I mentioned before, “I love the Lord”, pretty awesome. And “Heavensong” is really nice.
Love you Mom, I will ask soon about the Mother's Day call. I think I can get it changed to call on your Friday night before Dad leaves for Italy.
Dad,
I think the reason that I sometimes feel self doubt is the big gap that comes from knowing information and teaching it, and the real difficulty to getting people on the street to talk to you. I feel like I knew a lot of things, but I definitely could have had more productive habits and gotten more practice sharing the gospel than I did. The toughest thing recently has been that I changed companions dramatically. Elder Tong is not at all like Elder Barker, they teach totally different. So a lot of times, I feel unconfident because I'm trying to follow Elder Barker's lead and I don't know where he is going. That was tough for a while, and still is sometimes. But it's made me think a lot more about what teaching skills are effective, how to improve, etc. I also think that the stress made me rely more on the Lord, think more about the basic principles behind teaching and being an effective missionary. Love the people. Gain the power of the spirit. Follow the spirit. I think this has helped.
Maybe I should be more confident in myself, but missions have a way of making your weaknesses abundantly clear. Which is good, I think. I didn't realize how many opportunities I had to grow before.
I wanted to ask you and mom, who were your trainers, and did you ever train new missionaries? I know that most missions are different, but President Hawks likes to give everyone at least one chance to train.
I live with a native now, so I am trying to SYL more with him. No better way to learn. Oh, I'm actually really sad I don't get to do jury duty. That would be really interesting. Man...
Abby,
I am afraid I'll forget you. I totally beleived you about Ginger. Why you do this to me? (Abby told John a long story about how we got a new cat named Ginger and then at the end announced that she was kidding.)
I like Dad's description that you play the violin very nicely even when angry. I can very easily picture you playing angrily. Last week I had a chance to do some mini MTC in our stake, and I did a role play with 2 young women, one 12 the other 10, about how to share the gospel. They did pretty well. You could too. Hint hint. Find some activity and invite a friend. And remember to read with Becca. Tell me if Dad ever went on a ride with you. That lazy chunk of lard...
Joseph,
I feel like I watched the movie, “Captain America, Winter Soldier”, just by seeing the ads over here. Pretty pathetic. Looks like you got to get both ends of the spectrum as far as artistic ability goes. Flying carriers. Honestly. 3 of them? Where did the metal come from? Where is the heat vent? How are they cooling the reactors? Plus if never mind. Too many things. Space is quiet. This is a good thing.
Memorize scriptures. Also, I never heard anything about the book this week...Don't give up on things. I have learned that. Great things can be done.
David,
Power outage my foot. You just get your lazy self to work, and use the bike upstairs to power the house. I like the idea of you making a computer game. I'll come home and beat it for you. Sorry. To you and Joseph, I don't really know what else to say. Sounds like things are pretty cool. Tell me more about the new kid in the neighborhood. Priests are hard to find here too.
I can't send any pictures. Tell Dad I've been thinking about his grants.
I don't know why I always forget to write you, but there it is. I've got some cool stuff to tell you today, though. Apparently, my whole family has become more awesome since I left, especially you. Solo dances in front of the whole middle school, talks in church about sacrifice, flute playing with Canyons Youth Symphony and school band, something about glamour girl, which I don't know what the meaning is. I am afraid when I get back I won't be cool enough for you.
So, Becca, I will tell you about where I live. Right now I live in Shau Kei Wan, on the 7th floor of Ging Fai building. It is right next to the train station, a grocery store, a bread store, and a cha siu faan place (which is basically barbecue pork and rice, but better). It is pretty darn convenient, but the apartment itself could be better. The size is nice. There are 4 of us living here, Me, Elder Barker, Elder Wu (who is not a native, but has some of the best Chinese out of anyone I've met and is super rude and verbally abusive all the time) and Elder Yim (who is a native, but his English is terrible and he is really bad at defining words. Elder Wu is more useful, but he'll insult you viciously if you ask him). Our rooms are nice and big, the bed is nice, but our bathroom is a bit smaller. Our shower randomly has crazy powerful water pressure. I don't know how good the water heating is, because I made a goal to only take cold showers. Our kitchen is a bit of a joke, though Elder Barker tells me I've just been spoiled by Ma On Shan. There is one small sink, about 2 square feet of counter space, no where to put utensils or plates (we just leave them on the drying rack,) no burners, just one portable gas stove and an induction burner thingy. So it's a bit annoying to cook stuff. But fear not, Rebecca. I still manage to make a ton of Curry! And I ate a lot of noodles and tuna for a bit. So we shall overcome.
We had a lot of cool miracles this week, as well. There is a recent convert in our ward who, I think I mentioned last time. She has some crazy hard trials with family and stuff. She is still pretty rough to work with, honestly. She's like you, a small teenager, and gets really irrational. We want to get the ward teaching her but if we try to invite her to ward things she gets all pouty and won't go. Like you. But on Monday, after emailing, we had a lesson with her, asked her to pray and then ponder about what answer to fix some problem in her life. She had been pretty uncooperative in that lesson, and recently she really hadn't been interested in the gospel at all. But after thinking for a bit she remembered some missionary telling her “chi sau dou dai”, which means endure to the end. It was amazing. I know that the Holy Ghost answered her. This week she's been a bit better, came to church for the first time in a bit.
Tell Mom that this morning I went to the face doctor and he charged another ridiculous fee, which I will mail home for insurance to cover. My acne right now is okay.
We had a women get baptized on Sunday! Ida, who is the most well prepared investigator ever. She loves the scriptures, feels the spirit, and has seen tons of miracles already. And best of all, she is super out going, has a lot of friends, and shares the gospel like crazy. So we got to meet and teach 3 of her friends and her husband after her baptism, which was great. NEW INVESTIGATORS! Pray for her husband, he really feels like he won't be able to quit smoking. Becca, don't ever smoke. So many people in Hong Kong do it and it's pointless. And stinks.
I hope this was long enough for you, dancer.
Mom,
Elder Barker is from Mapleton Utah, has been out about 4 months longer than me, is our district leader, is 6' 4", ran track and did football in high school, went to BYU for a semester, has a brother in law whose last name is Morrell, is a super friendly and funny guy. We teach really differently, so it won't be all easy, but he is really really good at getting to what people care about, getting to know them, making people like him, and then using the gospel to help them. I am learning a ton from him.
Hong Kong is pretty small, so transfers are super easy. We all go to the mission office, meet up, and then go to your area. It takes about an hour. Underwhelming. If I wanted to, I could go over to Tai Wai pretty easily. Just no reason to right now.
The Chapel is in Wan Chai, so in the big building district. Right now we are emailing in Wan Chai, next to a convention center which is ridiculously expensive. There is a woman doing a tour behind me in Mandarin. Hong Kong has a lot of people from Mainland China in it. The chapel is really really nice. It is super comfortable, beautiful, always lots of members (some Chinese, some American, lots of Philipinos) hanging around. Cool place.
That is super cool about Nicole. Her French is probably pretty amazing already, given her dedication to school. I don't think I have her email. I like Dad's comment on the sons of Mosiah. Except I guess I'm Alma and the rest are all the daughters of Mosiah? I assume he had daughters, we just never hear about them. Russia, France, Argentina, and Hong Kong. Pretty good spread.
I got the package, and it has been pretty nice. I loved the music. One of the things that I've been thinking of recently is how having good music playing can really improve your attitude, your mood, spirituality, etc. The BYU Men's Chorus one has a song that I mentioned before, “I love the Lord”, pretty awesome. And “Heavensong” is really nice.
Love you Mom, I will ask soon about the Mother's Day call. I think I can get it changed to call on your Friday night before Dad leaves for Italy.
Dad,
I think the reason that I sometimes feel self doubt is the big gap that comes from knowing information and teaching it, and the real difficulty to getting people on the street to talk to you. I feel like I knew a lot of things, but I definitely could have had more productive habits and gotten more practice sharing the gospel than I did. The toughest thing recently has been that I changed companions dramatically. Elder Tong is not at all like Elder Barker, they teach totally different. So a lot of times, I feel unconfident because I'm trying to follow Elder Barker's lead and I don't know where he is going. That was tough for a while, and still is sometimes. But it's made me think a lot more about what teaching skills are effective, how to improve, etc. I also think that the stress made me rely more on the Lord, think more about the basic principles behind teaching and being an effective missionary. Love the people. Gain the power of the spirit. Follow the spirit. I think this has helped.
Maybe I should be more confident in myself, but missions have a way of making your weaknesses abundantly clear. Which is good, I think. I didn't realize how many opportunities I had to grow before.
I wanted to ask you and mom, who were your trainers, and did you ever train new missionaries? I know that most missions are different, but President Hawks likes to give everyone at least one chance to train.
I live with a native now, so I am trying to SYL more with him. No better way to learn. Oh, I'm actually really sad I don't get to do jury duty. That would be really interesting. Man...
Abby,
I am afraid I'll forget you. I totally beleived you about Ginger. Why you do this to me? (Abby told John a long story about how we got a new cat named Ginger and then at the end announced that she was kidding.)
I like Dad's description that you play the violin very nicely even when angry. I can very easily picture you playing angrily. Last week I had a chance to do some mini MTC in our stake, and I did a role play with 2 young women, one 12 the other 10, about how to share the gospel. They did pretty well. You could too. Hint hint. Find some activity and invite a friend. And remember to read with Becca. Tell me if Dad ever went on a ride with you. That lazy chunk of lard...
Joseph,
I feel like I watched the movie, “Captain America, Winter Soldier”, just by seeing the ads over here. Pretty pathetic. Looks like you got to get both ends of the spectrum as far as artistic ability goes. Flying carriers. Honestly. 3 of them? Where did the metal come from? Where is the heat vent? How are they cooling the reactors? Plus if never mind. Too many things. Space is quiet. This is a good thing.
Memorize scriptures. Also, I never heard anything about the book this week...Don't give up on things. I have learned that. Great things can be done.
David,
Power outage my foot. You just get your lazy self to work, and use the bike upstairs to power the house. I like the idea of you making a computer game. I'll come home and beat it for you. Sorry. To you and Joseph, I don't really know what else to say. Sounds like things are pretty cool. Tell me more about the new kid in the neighborhood. Priests are hard to find here too.
I can't send any pictures. Tell Dad I've been thinking about his grants.
Monday, April 21, 2014
April 21, 2014 - Transferred to Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island
Hello my family. I have to be really fast today because of some weird things that happened. But more important than what happened is where it happened, where being...
Chai Wan!
Which is the sort of eastern third of HONG KONG ISLAND! My knew companion is Elder Barker, who I lived with in Ma On Shan for almost 4 months. We are already pretty tight so that saves a lot of useless get to know you time. I have used most of that time to learn my new area instead. It is really interesting to move your first area. I have changed companions once before, which was pretty weird, but here is kind of like starting over for a second. I have to learn where everything is, where the MTR stops are, where to eat, where to go during church, learn the ward, who is a good fellowshipper, which people are crazy on the streets and should be avoided, which streets are sketchy and shouldn't be walked on, which refrigerator is ours, etc. But I love it. Chai Wan covers from Tai Koo to Chai Wan, and is really different from Tai Wai. Though it is a lot more crowded and rich than Tai Wai, it is not at all like Central or Wan Chai. The area is almost entirely residential, with a lot of parks and ocean promenades. Finding my first few days was almost comically lucky, we taught 4 street lessons and got 3 new investigators (though it looks like most of them are not going to become progressing). I really love our ward, too. And we get to go to church in what I think is the church's 2nd most expensive building in the entire world. If you look at the buildings around it you will see why. I know these things are not the most important, but it is pretty nice to have such a comfy building. And everyone knows where it is.
A few notes I took down.
1. There are a lot of people who know Grandpa Carmack (surprise surprise). Luciele Mok is in our ward and was his secretary when he was in the Area Presidency. And there is a family named the Lau family who say that they know him as well, the parents were missionaries when he was here. So Grandpa, you made a big impression. Also, I wanted to throw in that I still have that short story, "The Go-Getter" about Bill Peck, I read it again a bit ago. It really is inspiring. Thank you. Everyone wants to read the books you sent me.
2. Elder Barker has a relative named Morrell, Austin Morrell, lives in Pleasant Grove, married Elder Barker's sister. ?
3. I need pens. I can buy them here, so don't worry about it, but next time you send a package send a lot of high quality pens (seriously, don't send a package just for pens. Just make a note to put them with the next package.). I just go through a lot of them.
It is really weird adjusting to a new area, and Elder Barker's techniques are totally different from mine or Elder Tong's, so it's been pretty hard. It kind of hit my pride and confidence a bit, because with things so different I didn't really know where to go in street lessons or teaching, didn't know where Elder Barker wanted to head. But he's really great. I asked for a lot of evaluation and feedback after lessons, and though it was hard, I feel like I have a ton of potential to grow here.
Dad,
Only 15 minutes for whole family, so forgive the brevity. I appreciate your sacrifice for the world. I know that you hate seeing yearling lambs in pain, but sometimes it just has to be like this.
I hate to say it, but despite your sacrificial zeal, you are no Prophet. I am still junior companion. I think it is a good thing.
I have really developed a love of music on my mission. I am even beginning to soften towards operatic voices and what not. I hope when I get home we can go to some music things together in between our mountain biking. Get in shape for me.
What was it like for you to move areas on your mission?
Mom,
That question above applies to you as well. I eagerly await the day when I use our tiny toaster ovens to bake CHICKEN BROCCOLI CASSAROLE. I am eating much better than Elder Bennett.
The package you sent is probably here but today we went hiking with the ward and an investigator (who will be baptized on this Sunday!) and a recent convert, who has been struggling. So we had no time at all to go to Kowloon Tong.
I really am so happy to hear about you and the kids going to the Draper Temple to do baptisms for the dead during Spring Break. Really. I am definitely more happy than you expect. That was my favorite part of the email. I also think it's so interesting to think of my parents as the people the missionaries go to if they have young women investigators or need to get the Elder's Quorum. Really interesting. You are doing an important thing.
I had an additional idea for FHE, to add on to the General Conference Talk. Elder Barker and Elder Carrasquillo (who I replaced) made these awesome family mission plans with goals that help introduce friends to the gospel, and we've been sharing them a ton. I encourage you guys to do that as a family.
You outclassed Dad in guessing my move. My mother is a prophetess, my father is no prophet.
David,
I don't know what to say back to you, not a ton of specific things for you, but frankly your emails are always hilarious. I would say keep it up but that would imply some sort of conscious effort to do things different from what you would normally do, and I happen to know that you couldn't be less and more normal if you tried. So don't suddenly become normal. Keep up the biking. We shall go together.
Abby,
Ice girl. Mom is happy that you are normal. I know the truth. I look forward to hearing it when I get back. In Hong Kong they have these one string violin things, really cool. Look them up.
Joseph,
Don't buy it. It's the Sabbath.
Also when you get back from your mission it will be outdated.
Micah also loved Firefly, he said it was amazing.
I was in a ridiculously expensive place today. Wan Chai Expo Center. I could see the tower Batman jumped off of.
This is an email from the investigator Vincent that I just left in Tai Wai. He is too cool, thought you guys should see this.
How are you getting on? Are you used to life in Chai Wan?
I miss you so much. Although we didn't spend much time together.
Even if we don't know how many days later it would be when we can see each other again.
But we have something in common, which is we both have our own goals to achieve.
I will work hard.I will try to make my English and about Book of Mormon become very good.
I think in this photo, I'm not so stud. Next time we take a new photo.
If you want to meet me, you can date me on your Pre day.
Hope everything works out smoothly for you.
Love your brother,
Vincent Ma
Chai Wan!
Which is the sort of eastern third of HONG KONG ISLAND! My knew companion is Elder Barker, who I lived with in Ma On Shan for almost 4 months. We are already pretty tight so that saves a lot of useless get to know you time. I have used most of that time to learn my new area instead. It is really interesting to move your first area. I have changed companions once before, which was pretty weird, but here is kind of like starting over for a second. I have to learn where everything is, where the MTR stops are, where to eat, where to go during church, learn the ward, who is a good fellowshipper, which people are crazy on the streets and should be avoided, which streets are sketchy and shouldn't be walked on, which refrigerator is ours, etc. But I love it. Chai Wan covers from Tai Koo to Chai Wan, and is really different from Tai Wai. Though it is a lot more crowded and rich than Tai Wai, it is not at all like Central or Wan Chai. The area is almost entirely residential, with a lot of parks and ocean promenades. Finding my first few days was almost comically lucky, we taught 4 street lessons and got 3 new investigators (though it looks like most of them are not going to become progressing). I really love our ward, too. And we get to go to church in what I think is the church's 2nd most expensive building in the entire world. If you look at the buildings around it you will see why. I know these things are not the most important, but it is pretty nice to have such a comfy building. And everyone knows where it is.
A few notes I took down.
1. There are a lot of people who know Grandpa Carmack (surprise surprise). Luciele Mok is in our ward and was his secretary when he was in the Area Presidency. And there is a family named the Lau family who say that they know him as well, the parents were missionaries when he was here. So Grandpa, you made a big impression. Also, I wanted to throw in that I still have that short story, "The Go-Getter" about Bill Peck, I read it again a bit ago. It really is inspiring. Thank you. Everyone wants to read the books you sent me.
2. Elder Barker has a relative named Morrell, Austin Morrell, lives in Pleasant Grove, married Elder Barker's sister. ?
3. I need pens. I can buy them here, so don't worry about it, but next time you send a package send a lot of high quality pens (seriously, don't send a package just for pens. Just make a note to put them with the next package.). I just go through a lot of them.
It is really weird adjusting to a new area, and Elder Barker's techniques are totally different from mine or Elder Tong's, so it's been pretty hard. It kind of hit my pride and confidence a bit, because with things so different I didn't really know where to go in street lessons or teaching, didn't know where Elder Barker wanted to head. But he's really great. I asked for a lot of evaluation and feedback after lessons, and though it was hard, I feel like I have a ton of potential to grow here.
Dad,
Only 15 minutes for whole family, so forgive the brevity. I appreciate your sacrifice for the world. I know that you hate seeing yearling lambs in pain, but sometimes it just has to be like this.
I hate to say it, but despite your sacrificial zeal, you are no Prophet. I am still junior companion. I think it is a good thing.
I have really developed a love of music on my mission. I am even beginning to soften towards operatic voices and what not. I hope when I get home we can go to some music things together in between our mountain biking. Get in shape for me.
What was it like for you to move areas on your mission?
Mom,
That question above applies to you as well. I eagerly await the day when I use our tiny toaster ovens to bake CHICKEN BROCCOLI CASSAROLE. I am eating much better than Elder Bennett.
The package you sent is probably here but today we went hiking with the ward and an investigator (who will be baptized on this Sunday!) and a recent convert, who has been struggling. So we had no time at all to go to Kowloon Tong.
I really am so happy to hear about you and the kids going to the Draper Temple to do baptisms for the dead during Spring Break. Really. I am definitely more happy than you expect. That was my favorite part of the email. I also think it's so interesting to think of my parents as the people the missionaries go to if they have young women investigators or need to get the Elder's Quorum. Really interesting. You are doing an important thing.
I had an additional idea for FHE, to add on to the General Conference Talk. Elder Barker and Elder Carrasquillo (who I replaced) made these awesome family mission plans with goals that help introduce friends to the gospel, and we've been sharing them a ton. I encourage you guys to do that as a family.
You outclassed Dad in guessing my move. My mother is a prophetess, my father is no prophet.
David,
I don't know what to say back to you, not a ton of specific things for you, but frankly your emails are always hilarious. I would say keep it up but that would imply some sort of conscious effort to do things different from what you would normally do, and I happen to know that you couldn't be less and more normal if you tried. So don't suddenly become normal. Keep up the biking. We shall go together.
Abby,
Ice girl. Mom is happy that you are normal. I know the truth. I look forward to hearing it when I get back. In Hong Kong they have these one string violin things, really cool. Look them up.
Joseph,
Don't buy it. It's the Sabbath.
Also when you get back from your mission it will be outdated.
Micah also loved Firefly, he said it was amazing.
I was in a ridiculously expensive place today. Wan Chai Expo Center. I could see the tower Batman jumped off of.
This is an email from the investigator Vincent that I just left in Tai Wai. He is too cool, thought you guys should see this.
How are you getting on? Are you used to life in Chai Wan?
I miss you so much. Although we didn't spend much time together.
Even if we don't know how many days later it would be when we can see each other again.
But we have something in common, which is we both have our own goals to achieve.
I will work hard.I will try to make my English and about Book of Mormon become very good.
I think in this photo, I'm not so stud. Next time we take a new photo.
If you want to meet me, you can date me on your Pre day.
Hope everything works out smoothly for you.
Love your brother,
Vincent Ma
Sunday, April 20, 2014
April 20, 2014 - Email from the 2nd Counselor in the Mission Presidency
Dear Brother and Sister Morrell,
This is Brother Kwok from Hong Kong. You do not know me but I thought I would send just you a short message to let you know about my visit with your son. I was visiting the Chai Wan ward yesterday and I met Elder Morrell and his companion Elder Barker. They are wonderful and happy missionaries. They are eager to work and are loved by the members. I can feel of their excitement in the work and I think you should be proud of your son!
Elder Morrell is speaking wonderful Cantonese. I feel that Elder Morrell is doing well with his language skills.
We want to thank you for raising such a righteous son to come and serve here in Hong Kong. We know it is a sacrifice for him as well as for the family! Thank you for your great example and we are grateful for all that you do to support Elder Morrell!
Attached is picture of Elder Morrell and his companion - I think you will enjoy it!
Sincerely,
Kam Tim Kwok
Second Councilor
Mission Presidency
Hong Kong Mission
This is Brother Kwok from Hong Kong. You do not know me but I thought I would send just you a short message to let you know about my visit with your son. I was visiting the Chai Wan ward yesterday and I met Elder Morrell and his companion Elder Barker. They are wonderful and happy missionaries. They are eager to work and are loved by the members. I can feel of their excitement in the work and I think you should be proud of your son!
Elder Morrell is speaking wonderful Cantonese. I feel that Elder Morrell is doing well with his language skills.
We want to thank you for raising such a righteous son to come and serve here in Hong Kong. We know it is a sacrifice for him as well as for the family! Thank you for your great example and we are grateful for all that you do to support Elder Morrell!
Attached is picture of Elder Morrell and his companion - I think you will enjoy it!
Sincerely,
Kam Tim Kwok
Second Councilor
Mission Presidency
Hong Kong Mission
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| John's new comp. - Elder Barker |
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