Temple this week...week 62

Sunday evening we didn't hear from Ian.  When we don't hear from him it means that he has gone to the temple or had a special event on his p day.  We did end up hearing from him on Tuesday, but he didn't send a group email.  These are his messages cut and pasted from previous emails he was responding to.

I didn't realize that Ian had written back about Matthew Bingham's mission call.  He was thrilled and added this:

"I kind of broke down when the fact first hit me. I actually feel like this is the only situation that might even be challenging for him. He is immensely patient and so upbeat about everything that he would have no problem if he was having some struggling investigator. I would be scared too though if I had only one phone call that the person on the other end could cut at any time to share my testimony of the restored gospel of the savior, the plan of salvation, and not to mention all of the commandments. WHERE WOULD I START! He will learn, and I am positive that he will grow, probably faster than any other missionary would."

We are all thrilled for Matthew.  He has such a pure testimony and declares it with boldness.  He will be a fantastic missionary!

I asked Ian about the family that was baptized last week.  Are they from across the border in Guangdong?  His response:  "They are in Lo Wu. That is on the border, but they are on the side that is mainland."

That is incredible.

Notes from Mom:  We received an email from Bishop Choi, who is the bishop of the Sheung Shui ward where Ian is happily serving.  He was going to be coming to the United States for training and we were hoping to meet with him as well as Elder Love's parents.  He wrote this and sent a picture:

Dear Sister Taylor,

This is Brother Choi of Sheung Shui Ward. I suppose to come to Salt Lake City to attend training this coming week, but I have some health problems and medication, the doctor suggest me not to have long travel alone, therefore, I will postponed my training to next year. I feel so sorry to miss the opportunity to meet you and Elder Love’s parents. 

Thank you for raising such a fine son (both of Elder Taylor and Elder Love) who has learned the value of obedience, charity and hard work. You can be very pleased at the worthiness of your son. We love them and are so glad to have them in our ward.

All the best,

Brother Choi

Bonus post for week 61

Elder Love's mom Kim sent a couple of pictures Ian didn't have.  I love getting these!

This is Peter Chu. He lived with us for two weeks as a summer missionary.

Family baptism...week 61

This week the Li Family from the borders of mainland were baptized. Brother Li, Sister Ban, and their daughter Vivian are amazing. I was privileged to conduct their baptismal interviews and you wouldn't believe just how prepared this family is. A very simple, but powerful baptism performed by the Elder's Quorum President. The ward has now had at least one family baptism for the past three years now. It's amazing.

We also were privileged to participate in the true form of missionary work this sunday. A young man has been coming to church for the past few weeks but due to circumstances was not able to meet with Elder Love and I. However, we had a 25 minute lesson with him and his friend who is the one that has been bringing him for the past few weeks. He is now committed to baptism! We are so grateful for the blessings that just are monsooning over our area right now. 

We also have flu shots and Mission Tour this week. Elder Wong will be addressing us. He is the member of the seventy who gave the first talk ever in General Conference that wasn't in English. #Cantonese! Yes...i just used a hashtag in my email. Otherwise, I don't have much to talk about. Blessings are fulfilled as we are obedient. I'm grateful for Elder Love's example to me of this. I have an amazing companion. We have SINGING FINDING tonight. That's always a fun experience. Have a good week y'all!

Notes from Mom: a young man in Ian's ward went into the MTC last week.  He will be serving in Seoul, Korea.  From Ian:  

So there is a young man who just got to the mtc last week. Could you send him something nice for all the lessons that he taught with us these past months that I've been here?

His MTC address is:

Elder Tin Long Angus Lam

DEC13 KOR-SEOS

2005 N 900 E Unit 104

Provo, UT 84602

This Elder truly is a saint from China. He's an amazing young man.

When I asked Ian what this Elder might like, he had a few ideas:

He likes sweets, but just ask me first. There are specific things that they WILL NOT DO. For example, cinnamon rolls are a NO GO! However, the blueberry rolls would work VERY well from Shirley's bakery (I think that's the name of the bakery right?)

Send him something that you can only get in America. He's going to Seoul on his mission. Be creative!

I asked, "How about trail mix?"

He responded:  "I have not forgotten Dad's bread of life...He'd like that. Doesn't necessarily need to be consumable either. you could send him an XXXL shirt and he would LOVE it."

I responded back:  "As a gag because who is HK wears an XXXL shirt?!"

Ian:  "Definitely not him. He would get a kick out of it though."

This reminded me of Ian receiving a shirt from a bishop who was shocked that Ian needed an XXXL shirt.  

General Conference and ward travel activity...week 60

Note from Mom:  Ian's letter was a day late because he had a ward activity.  It sounds very successful!  Sister Poon posted some pictures on Facebook.  They are added later.

General Conference was amazing! I think some of my favorites were by Elders Cornish and Elder Nattress. I hope my parents know that, like Elder Natress said, "It's Him." I know it is. I know that it's truly Christ our Savior who leads us in this gospel of truth and light and love.

This week's ward activity was spectacular. Overall, a range of 15-18 Less actives, investigators, and referrals came to it, and EVERY SINGLE ONE HAD A BALL! We played soccer and basketball with all the youth that were there (sore from that) ate with the adult group (sore from that) and took pictures with Angus Lam and his family because Angus will be leaving for his mission to the Korea Seoul South mission. He will be in the MTC for 9 weeks becoming better at English and learning Korean! He's been such a powerful ward missionary and we're proud of him for his decision to serve.

1-Less active A Ming. First time I have ever seen him wearing a white shirt and tie.

2-some of the young men. Our investigator Ken is standing next to Elder Love.

 3-Elder Guinn and I having a fun split second moment together.

4-The Tolo Harbor zone leaders...two transfers in a row! That's four months all serving together as zone leaders!

Sheung Shui Ward travel from Sister Poon!

On my right is a less active named Koon Chi Ming. On Elder Love's left is our investigator Ken Leung Man His.  

Ward Council...week 59

Thought I would tell you a little bit about how it's gonna be working up in 上水 for the next couple of months. This ward council the bishop got up and seemed very excited. He had all the missionary companionships list off the names, ages, genders, and if they had a baptismal date goal for all of the investigators we are teaching. We ended up focusing on 10 names. The Sheung Shui (上水) ward already has 4/10 this year for their baptismal goal, and we all discussed how we can help these ten people progress within the next month, two months, or three in order to have ALL of them baptized by the end of the year. He was very determined. He had a plan, and the spirit was there. Even the members of the council who are usually asleep in the corner by the end of the council were on the edge of their seats and participating in the discussion of supporting these investigators.

Otherwise, I am kind of ignoring all comments about the conference until after I see it. I don't want it spoiled:) Hopefully that's not a bad thing. It's still amazing that we only have to wait a week until almost 12 hours of speaking is translated into more than 100 different languages! You know though. Just another evidence that this isn't just a man's work. Romans 8:16-18, 31-39 are just a few verses that are under the topic of "trust me when I say that it will all be worth it." No challenge even comes close to comparing to the glory that awaits us. We just need to really understand that and apply ourselves (easier said than done right). I know He is real though. He loves us. I love Him, and I will continue to learn of Him until I am unshakable! I invite you all to make the decision as well to obey because of your love for your Father in Heaven. In the name of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes from Mom:  Ian sent a photo that we enjoyed!  His description:  "Elder love and I thought this was hilarious."  They were right.

I sent Ian a picture of a periodic table printed on shower tiles.  He enjoyed it and we had a familiar exchange. "Ah...the chemistry jokes. That's only one of the many reasons that I love you and how I know that its really my mom emailing me right now."  This made my day. It reminded me of the back and forth we have had about "who are you and what have you done with my (fill in the blank)."

I also sent him a picture of Simon getting asked to the Sadie Hawkins dance.  Simon was asked on Sunday night by one girl and then the next night by another girl.  2 other people were asking if he was available as well.  It got sorted out, but was funny at the time.  When I described the situation to Ian he had this to say:  "There is a saying: Do leuih yat heui. It means a lot of women but only one market. People here say that to us all the time when asking us if the girls in America think were just super good looking. It's very hilarious and awkward, but Simon's definitely got the tougher deal. 加油!"

Speaking of the market, there was a great video posted by the Sheung Shui ward.  It had Ian and Elder Love announcing the English class that they teach on Wednesday at 6:00pm for the children and 7:00 for adults.  The sisters also recorded a video, and the other set of missionaries in the ward that speak Mandarin also recorded a video.  It is a great way of getting people to meet the missionaries and such an effective tool.  This ward and this mission is remarkably good at utilizing social media, as well as involving members in the work.  I was scrolling through Facebook after conference enjoying what people were saying when Ian's video popped into my feed.  I listened to it several times and shared it on Facebook myself, happy to share him translating what Elder Love is saying about the class.  It was amazing.  So many people commented on his fluency.  He looked great and he and Elder Love do so well together.  As of today, this video has 3100 views on Facebook.  I'll try to post the link if I can.

Voting is irritating...week 58

I hope that I don't offend any patriots with that topic of my email. Just a story to tell that gives me reason for why I'm irritated.

So we have a lot of alcohol here in China. Beer is cheaper than water bottles here most of the time, so that's just a natural struggle for people here. There is also a lot of superficial news shared by the government via MTR. The televisions are always just blaring something about America's political standing and missionaries just have to ignore it. With this combination, you get a lot of drunk old men that see a couple of young looking american guys and they just get really angry. Nothing hinders them. We were teaching a lesson a couple days ago. This kid was really feeling the spirit and our amazing Elders Quorum president was describing Nephi's experience in an Angel answering his prayer about his father's vision. We were just about to close very powerfully when a drunk man stands up from his table and begins to storm over to us, almost lozing his pants and running into a waitress on the way. I closed with testimony just before he go there thankfully (because I get very irritated if a lesson is interrupted when there's no closure. It's like a concerto that ends on a half cadence. THAT'S NOT COOL! He came over and I became somewhat frightened when he reached for my Book of Mormon. I didn't want to make any sudden movements so he got to it before I did and kind of waved it in my face and slapped it back on the table. I immediately reached for it and put it in my lap. He went off about every president from Bill Clinton to the Elections soon to be happening. We tried to explain that it's got nothing to do with us, but he couldn't hear. Then we both looked at the Elders Quorum President. He was smiling, and we kind of got a message that he sent to us through his look. We applied what we had just discussed and decided to do our closing prayer right then. The investigator looked a little surprised, but he too bowed his head and the Elders Quorum president offered the prayer. Nothing crazy. He didn't talk to the drunk man or anything. When we lifted our heads though, the man was gone. The investigator then said "well, now I know that it works too!" Brothers and Sisters, God works in mysterious ways.

I cannot tell you the buzz among the missionaries here with conference coming up. I've already been getting ready for a month. Some missionaries have been even longer. Be ready everybody. You never know when china's gonna open, and General Conference is the place for it to happen...

Chinese characters are the worst and best things ever. I'm finally beginning to understand what stuff says! Then I realize that other than the scriptures, I wasn't really missing out on much. Just a bunch of useless advertisements.

神是你們天父.祂愛我們.加油!-戴長老

Pictures of the bike crew:

Notes from mom:  In my email to Ian for this week I asked him about the missionaries from Korea teaching Korean class, in addition to the English classes the other missionaries teach.  I don't know if these people going to the class like the culture or if it's because they idolize them because they are considered the "pretty-Chinese people". Whatever gets 'em to come though right?:)"

I also told him that we gave the local missionaries a ride home last week.  They were great.  The trainer, Elder Moore, was from Missouri, and his companion he is now training is from North Carolina.  His name is actually Ian Taylor too!  Elder Moore cited a quote from Rex C. Reeve:  

"These are days of great missionary service. Over thirty thousand young men and women, together with faithful, devoted couples, are carrying this message to many nations and lands. [HA!  This number is now over 85,000].  Never before in this dispensation has such a worldwide effort been made to reach every soul in the earth. It is great, and we are mindful of the time and means which you and many others have so willingly given to this purpose.

But as great as our effort has been, it is still far, far from being enough. If we are going to carry this message to every land, every nation, every people, every soul as our great missionary prophet-leader has directed us, there is still one part of this vital missionary force that has not been awakened. It is like a sleeping giant waiting to be aroused. When this sleeping giant is fully awakened, the day of the sickle will have come to an end, and the day of the combine will come in. The harvest will be in millions in place of thousands, as it is today.

The great need today in missionary work is to have all the members, every member—those who bear His name, those who have had a witness—pull aside the curtains of fear and reach out in love to our friends and relatives and neighbors and let them know that we really care about them and warm them with our love, that they may know that we really do care for them as our brothers and sisters, that they too might enjoy these great blessings.” 

Here was Ian's response:  

The Utah missionaries probably understand the same truthfulness of the message that they shared with you as I do. I have used a sickle here. It is NOT effective. It's fun, and you feel like you are some cool guy taking it back to the 19th century and old schooling the field. It's not useful though. The organization of the church is literally a well oiled reaping machine that for the time being is being primed for the starting of it's engine. A sleeping giant...I like that. Have you ever thought that our family is part of that sleeping giant?"

I also asked him about sweet Sister Yeung.  She is doing so well, and he related a story from that Sunday:  

"Funny thing about sister Yeung, she called us on Sunday and said the biggest miracle happened. She prayed the night before that everyone would be nice and that she would be accepted into the ward. What she described seemed nothing out of the ordinary. The Bishop asked her to stand and recognized her recent start on the Lord's path and the other teachers in the classes did likewise. She took this seemingly commonplace occurrence and magnified it though. She was so grateful for the leaders of the church and her testimony of prayer was strengthened. I think that she is an example of a principle of gratitude that I am in dire need of learning. D&C 78:19!"

Confirmation and commandments...week 57

I have two people to share about today. One is our newest convert Sister Yeung, who just yesterday was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. Even in the time between the baptism and yesterday, she became much more relaxed and steady. She was much less nervous, but we all knew that the Spirit testified more powerfully than ever before when we had taught her. The bishop's blessing was beautiful, and she remembers every single detail. She is moving this tuesday to Tuen Mun, where we realized that this miracle home that she found in her poverty is also only a couple minutes walk from the chapel there! She was so happy when she found out this much needed blessing due to her need to repeatedly rest after a short time of walking VERY slowly. This truly is a blessing from God, and there are just more and more being poured out on her daily. We can tell from this that she is keeping the commandments and that she needs the support of her Father in Heaven. The power of the covenants and ordinances that have been performed are unmatched and undeniable.

Another person I would like to mention is Ken. He is a high school student and very talented soccer player who also balances a part time job and meeting with the missionaries 3 or 4 times a week. We were worrying recently about his seeming lack of willingness to attend church. Then, in a lesson just two days ago, a member asked him a question that opened MANY doors. "Why can't you come to church, and how can we use the Gospel to help you?" He opened up explaining that his parents jobs are not enough to pay the expensive rent of their small home and so they need him to have the part time job on sundays as well. We then moved on to talking about the miracles that come from keeping the commandments of God. Experiences were shared and I was almost brought to tears when Ken determinedly requested that we teach him the commandments faster so that he can work towards receiving the promised blessings that his family desperately needs. The look in his eye was unshaken and the light that seemed to be surrounding us was glorious. We testified, and promised in the name of Jesus Christ that if he did according to the will of God, he would be enabled to work miracles.

That promise was powerful. I felt the power of the name of my Savior flow through me, and that power opened our eyes to the truthfulness of those words. I felt the spirit. I hope that you all know that Jesus truly is the Messiah, the undisputed savior and redeemer of our souls. I know He lives. I love Him.

Also, a tid bit of inspiration: Look up on LDS.org "Lessons from a Milk Jug." This message had a very important effect on me that changed my life. I hope that you enjoy it and feel the spirit even a fraction as strongly as I did when it was read to me by one of my best and longest friends that I have ever known and loved.