I'M SORRY!...week 77

Notes from Mom:  I wrote Ian and got a variety of information this week.  Here is what he wrote regarding the Worldwide Mission Training when I asked if it changed his day to day work/mission. "Yes. Everything. I do planning the day of instead of the day before (weirdest feeling ever to wake up and not be sure of what you're doing that day...). We also only have to do 30 minutes of Companionship study. Only have 30 minutes for lunch (unless it's with a member, then it's 1 hour).

The training was amazing. I'll be emailing some stuff home next week about what I learned.

Also, I got moves calls. I will be here as zone leader. My new companion is Elder Johnson (he originally was a Mandarin speaking missionary and has been out a month longer than I have). He will be district leader. I'm senior companion. Elder Wolley (formerly the assistant to the president) will be my co-zone leader. Going to be a VERY good transfer. We're gonna get some WORK done!"  

Notes from Mom regarding other big and small things:  

I got the bag from a grocery store called Wellcome. I got it for free because I saved up about 200 stickers over 6 months of shopping there every p-day. Aren't you so proud of me! It's otherwise a really expensive bag and I could get you something almost as good for 10 percent of the cost here, no doubt in my mind. Elder Chen is going to BYU this fall. Yeah, a LOT of people are leaving soon...it's insane to think about, so I won't. Enrique actually asked me this week what my plans were for housing. I told him that I am going on campus housing, but I wanted to ask you if there are any specifics yet so that I can try to room with him, cuz that would be my preference.

As far as what helped me change my mind, it definitely wasn't you. If anything, I was wanting to not listen to you and push it more towards the unsuccessful side. It was after seminary that I chatted with my teacher about it, and he just told me to look up D&C 6:36 when I got home. I did, and that's what helped me make up my mind. I also Like Philippians 4:13. The language will be one of the first stumbling blocks to be removed, or rather used as a stepping stone (I loved that conference talk by Elder Cook!).

When we focus on the love of our Savior, and daily beg on our knees for the gift of charity to soak into the fibers of our souls, we are empowered beyond all temptation or trial. I have seen this realized in my life.

Mom, I was reading the talk from General Conference "No Greater Joy than to know that they know." Even though I have never seen the savior in person, I know who He is. Even though I don't know everything about Him, I know that He loves me. Even though I don't love Him perfectly yet, I KNOW that I can repent and be better. I have had the beautiful experience of not only putting it into my own life for my own sake, but to strive to exemplify the Doctrine of Christ in my own life. We all come like a broken vessel to Him, and he heals us. Mom, I have seen so many gifts given to me by the power of the Holy Ghost. My eyes have been blinded by tears and opened by the light of the Gospel as I continually ask the question of WHY the gospel is so important in my life. Why do we need to be baptized? Why do we need the priesthood? Why must we obey ALL the commandments? Even if we don't have that understanding, I know this: Some questions are answered by answers, but many can and will only be answered by our own faith. That is enough. I have felt the love of God and trust Him. I falter sometimes, but like you said, we should be quick to observe all things, be they strengths or weaknesses, and seek to provide comfort, support, and yes, even healing. I am learning the healers art. I am taking His yoke upon me. His burden truly is light because it's not meant to be equal or easy. It's only meant to be sincere. We only need a Full purpose of heart (D&C 18:28). I love you, Mom. Tell Dad I love him. Tell Simon that if he has desires to serve God, he is called to the work. Tell Ana that she is an amazing example to me of patience. Adam is a miracle worker. Owen has been a tool in the hands of God to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men. We should always remember two things. God's purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. OUR purpose on the other hand, is simply to Keep the Commandments (See Moses1:39 and D&C 11:20).

Notes from Mom:  I guess he spent most of his time writing to me so here was his weekly letter.  No pictures this time:

I almost have to leave now. Sorry, I spent too much time emailing my mom. Love you all. Work is good. Should have two baptisms this week, but we'll se how it goes! The church is true!

Bonus post...week 76!

I received a text last night with pictures from Sister Annie Fong!  She ran into Ian and Elder Aldridge in Kowloon Tong and sent them to me.   She said, "Just see Elder Taylor in Kowloon Tong.  Happy to see him again!"  She is an angel.

It's coming faster than you think...week 76!

My companion, whom I have been with for only three weeks, leaves in 10 days. I've never had the opportunity to be companions with someone who's prepping to go home, but it's definitely interesting.

I don't have any new pictures today, but I did some tracking today myself (not gorillas). We had to get some cows away without getting within their reach. So we cut up some apples and started a little trail. Most irritating thing was that monkeys came out of nowhere and started taking the apples. The cow didn't seem very happy about it either.

Something that came to me this week was during Sunday's sacrament. I was doing just fine. Nothing to crazy happened to cause this reaction. We sang Hymn 220, Lord I would Follow Thee. The words of verse three for example: I would be my brothers keeper. I would learn the Healer's art. To the wounded and the weary, I would show a gentle heart. I would be my brother's keeper. Lord I would follow Thee.

It seems so impossible to Love God with all of our heart might mind and strength at times, but can we try a little harder to be our brothers keeper. To heal broken hearts.

Not much time this week. Maybe I will finish my comments next week.

Keep the Faith!

A few additional notes from Mom:  I brought up a few questions to Ian about church, a message from Rosalind about Ian singing, and the language.  

"I was sitting nearby. I had forgotten that you mentioned that their family is all really talented vocally. Quite a surprise to hear some vibrato that wasn't my own. President Lam said that the endorsement is done and that I don't need an interview now because he interviews us at least every six months. I am actually starting to pick up a lot of Indonesian and Tagalog, but I'm not going to be putting any language study in for it (like I have that kind of time anymore...) This is all that President Lam told me to do.

I hope that Adam is doing better now. I'm not fully up the list of emails right now, but hopefully good news is to come."  Adam's surgery went great and he is quickly mending.  

He sent more pictures from the temple this week:  

This is me with Elder McGrath and his other past companions. Such a powerful missionary!

Me, Elder Love, and Elder Guinn (I lived with him back in the day).

Bonus post...week 75

Another member of Victoria 1st ward sent a picture of Ian!  Jeff Johnson took Ian and his companion out to eat and he sent a photo and a test.  Ian learned that they had some common friends from Mapleton.  I really appreciate that the members are so kind and generous to Ian, as well as to us in that they send us a photo.

Miracles at the temple... The 上水 empire strikes back...week75

So an update came out of the blue from the Bishop of my last area, 上水支會. I was not initially scheduled on Wednesday to go to the temple, but because Elder Aldridge had to speak on Thursday at church, we were permitted to go on Wednesday. This happened to be the same day that both Elder Love AND Elder McGrath were attending, two of my companions from the past year and six months. That was a good reunion and many pictures taken (which may have to be sent later because I only have a few and my camera's not the best in the world (but it get's the job done:)). THEN (it gets better) as Elder Love and I were walking into the temple, the Bishop that we served under together in 上水, Bishop Choi, shows up (because he works there...). He proceeded to hug us and tell us about all the investigators that we taught that are still coming to church. One of them who's grandpa is a recent convert that just got the melchizedek priesthood brought his grandpa to church and stayed for all three hours plus a lesson with the missionaries, and has been doing this for the past three weeks. That's probably the best preparation for a temple session that anyone could ask for! I also got to see a bunch of missionaries from my previous zone! Elder Gibson, Sister Kessen, Sister Cote, the list goes on. It's fun to just be able to walk into a different area in the mission because we were asked to speak somewhere or were invited to an investigator's baptismal service (because we are everywhere) and scare the missionaries that are in that area, wondering what on earth I'm doing on their turf. Sister Kessen and Cote especially freaked out because they thought that I was out of their hair for good (they are both almost done with their missions), but NOPE! Sadly, I forgot my camera yesterday, so no pictures with them, but oh well.

One other interesting story. In the same day, we had a less active walk into the chapel on a weekday with his non-member wife and told us his entire life story and how he was having some health challenges that are not yet diagnosed. His family counseled him to get a priesthood blessing. Then a man with VERY good english came saying that he didn't have much time, but he needed as much reading material that we had available and as much information that we could cram into his head a bout baptism. We took about fifteen minutes to do so, and then he left as quickly as he came with a promise to come back when he was done reading.

Then we went and taught a teacher of the Islamic religion. I learned a lot, and found out that they have MANY similarities to our religion, but you see also the many breakout points in the doctrine. They believe that Muhammed is the seal of the Prophets. They believe that God doesn't have children because he doesn't need them. He only has creations. There are a lot more points, and DON'T base any judgement of religion upon what I just shared because it's neither thorough nor complete. Just some interesting points.

Busy for sure, but happy. I love being a missionary. I always have. I always will! Have a wonderful week!

A couple of pictures: 1) Elder Aldridge (my companion with 18 days left) 2) with me, Elder Love, and Elder Guinn (used to live with him in Fanling) and 3) Elder McGrath and I chilling at the temple entrance!

Notes from Mom: Sundy night was busy and we were not home when Ian emailed.  We were at the Young Women New Beginnings program.  We got home in time to get a few notes referencing the ecclesiastical endorsement and the potential for buying suits.  "Yeah, sorry for the tone of impatience. Elder Aldridge pointed it out too late that it was 1 in the morning when I was sending them. My bad...As far as the suits, I left out a couple of details: Cheung Hong's has THOUSANDS OF OPTIONS! They inscribe your name in the suit and have some more options for what you can do with the suit (additions or types of coat-tails or changes in the lapels etc...) but their stitching quality at times is questionable. If you give it enough time (no longer than 2 months) I could make them do a better job so that it has better stitch quality. Erics has maybe 3 or 4 hundred options, works a little slower, but is more reliable to do a good job on the stitching. They don't let you do as much with changing the style of suit, and I haven't experimented as much there with what they can do with the suit (her cantonese is a little rough). You can choose a flap or slit style coattail though. Eric's is 700 HKD. Cheung Hing's is 1100 HKD (normally 1000, but because simon is bigger than normal, they require more fabric, so the price goes up. That was a surprise for me too...)"

Notes from Mom:  One of the missionaries from Ian's mission lives in Lehi.  I attended her homecoming last year. "I heard that Sister Escher got married. Random, but I wanted to see if you had heard about that."

Notes from Mom:  Ian ate last week with Ruth's sister and Ian wondered if we got pictures. "Did you see the pictures from the Burns'?"  We did and love that people do that for us!  

Bonus post week 74

Notes from Mom:  Our wonderful neighbors are the Platers across the street.  I've mentioned her before. Ruth has a lovely family, and also comes from a family of 5 girls.    Ruth was in Hong Kong and dropped off a package to Ian for us.  Her sister, Rosalind Burns, lives in Hong Kong since last summer with her husband Chris and daughter Addie. They are a precious family and have enjoyed living there.  Ian's transfer to the island has made it so that he sees them probably weekly.  This week I got a message from Chris asking what Ian would enjoy eating when he had dinner with their family on Tuesday night.  I'm not sure what they ate, but they sent a picture of Ian and Elder Aldridge and their family.  I love that Ian has this link to home.  I am so grateful for Ian's mission, and I am especially grateful for the kindness of people all over the world. Ian has been very blessed through the generosity of others!

Out of the pan and into the fire...the value of the Holy Ghost...week 74

There's a man who just got baptized last year at Christmas, and Christmas still isn't stopping for him. When he was young, he was not a faithful husband, and was abusive as a father. However, after years of regret followed by just as many years of searching for healing, he found this church. Though the repentance was long, he was faithful all the way through. He had the opportunity just last night to have all of his children and his wife come to the church. He had a marriage counseling appointment set with one of the Branch Presidents and his kids had fun with the sister missionaries and members. Though Elder Aldridge and I had other appointments to be to, we returned to excited stories about how his wife and children were wanting to come back next week to attend church.

Another story about an investigator who will be baptized next month: His boss has been very good to him and helped him pay off a few debts  with advance payments, so he feels a need to be loyal to his boss. However, he feels uncomfortable in the middle of an affair that is going on with his boss, the wife, and another woman. He is told to drive all over Hong Kong and even to take his family to other countries on "surprise vacations" to give him time. We told him to talk to the branch president about what to do (because I cannot believe how many reminders I have had in the past few days about how I'm still just a 19 year old boy from Springville, Utah who thought these kinds of situations were fake horror stories about third world workers to help me be more grateful for my job). He wants to talk to his boss about his discomfort, but doesn't know what to do and is very fearful for the debts that might be brought up if he tries anything along these lines. Elder Aldridge and I took the opportunity to teach about the Holy Ghost and how if he has it's guidance, he has no need to be worried, because his employer's heart would be softened. There was a good feeling that came when we shared it, and I actually began to tear up a little. I felt Heavenly Father's worry and concern as well as his love for this man. I felt portions of what this investigator felt and I wanted to help him...so I bore my testimony. I know that God loves us. He has sent His Son as our teacher, savior, and brother to break the chains of death and sin. God has blessed His elect, covenant people with the Gift of His Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead and a testator of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a guide for the lost, a comforter for the disheartened. A teacher that knows how you learn even better than YOU do. He speaks to you through feelings, memories, desires, and even through visions. He carries the blessings of God's love to the broken hearts of God's children. He helps us feel the true character of Christ, and motivates us to change in harmony with it. I have felt the Spirit so strongly so many times in my life. I cannot deny it's power. I cannot label it's value, only testify of it.

Otherwise, I can finally send pictures this week. I ate dinner 3 times last night, so I'm feeling a little bloated right now. Filipino and Indonesian food is really, REALLY good...I'll have to take pictures next time I'm not having food shoved down my throat.

Elder Lee and I at the last Zone Training I had in Tolo Harbor.

I got it for free, so...not sure what to do with 800+ pages of apostasy, but it'll be a good read for later.

3+4 some pretty cool suit fabrics, but not necessarily ones that I'll buy.

These are people that I will miss, at least for the time being (until next transfer happens and we all get moved around again...) Elder Darrington, Elder Samuel Taylor (from England), Elder Walker, and Elder Harding.