LAST LETTER

6/11/2017

Family,

Its been a privilege to serve in Hong Kong. I think I have been blessed more than anyone. I am one of Heavenly Father's most spoiled children. Here are a few things that I have learned (when I say learned, I mean still learning, but have learned to a greater degree):

1. Heavenly Father loves His children.

2. You show love by following up.

3. Helping and serving others makes you happy.

4. Perspective calms us.

5. As we focus on helping others, we can not only be an answer to others prayers, but also in the process find answers to our own prayers. 

6. "If we let the Lord know in our morning prayers that we are ready, He will call on us to respond."

7. There is a power in the Book of Mormon.

8. Respect people's agency.

9. Work hard and be obedient brings blessings.

10. Be prepared.

11. How to be a member missionary.

12. Patience.

13. Ability to rejoice with others for their successes and being grateful to God for it. 

14. Humility.

15. Charity.

16. Listen diligently to my priesthood leaders.

17. How to exercise faith.

18. Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives.

19. How to listen and respond to the voice of the Spirit.

20. The gospel is a gospel of love.

21. There is so much to be hopeful about because of Jesus Christ.

22. God is long-suffering.

23. As oft as we repent, Heavenly Father will forgive our trespasses against Him.

24. The priesthood has been restored to the earth.

25. My duty in the Priesthood is much larger than I once thought.

26. It is a sweet experience to feel a prompting and act upon it and find out that it was the fulfillment of someones prayer or someone's need.

27. How to use time effectively and efficiently.

28. The Sabbath is a delight.

29. Mandarin is a beautiful incredible language.

30. Hong Kong is hot and humid.

31. How to drive on the wrong side of the road.

32. The temple is always set to 22 degrees C all year round.

33. Miracles happen every day.

34. Journaling is not a total waste of time.

35. I love my family.

36. We should do the Lord's work in the Lord way.

37. Preach My Gospel is a great tool.

38. We have a living prophet.

39. I love my Savior and Redeemer.

40. Jesus Christ lives!

I'll share more later.

Love,

Elder Josh Stratford （施長老）

Elder Ashton and I at Food Angel


Hiking in Sai Kung last week.​​​​​​​​

I ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE IN TUNE WITH THE SPIRIT

June, 4, 2017

Family,

It is a blessing to serve here in Hong Kong! So many great people. The last few weeks I am seeing how blessed I have been serving here. Many great friends. 

We are excited about this week having some good new potentials from english class and from the basketball activity. 

Xiao DX will be in Mainland visiting family for a little while so he plans on being baptized on July 2. He is looking quite solid at making that date. 

Shuie is doing great. She always has great questions.

Met some great new investigators from the Former section of the Area Book this past week..

Elder Garcia and I are practicing our teaching skills and reviewing scriptures for each Chapter 3 topic in Preach My Gospel to help us know what we can share when we are meeting with investigators and answering questions. 

Max was sustained last night to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. He is the wife of Livia, the sister who was baptized a few months ago. He is a great man.

Able to give a few Priesthood Blessings recently, one to a sister in Baptist Hospital in Kowloon Tong. She was baptized 10 years ago in Hong Kong as a visitor baptism. She is great. Mainlanders are so grateful. Her boyfriend was very very grateful that we had come by to give her a blessing. He is not a member so we were able to explain what a Priesthood Blessing is. I felt impressed to bless her that she would recover quickly. We came back the following afternoon to give her a copy of the Ensign and say hi and talk to the boyfriend, but we found out that she had already been discharged that morning and was back in Mainland.

Had interviews with President Lam this past week. Talked a lot about what we learned from Elder Cook a few weeks ago. My favorite part of every interview is the closing prayer. President is very in tune with the spirit. I always strive to be in tune with the spirit as well so I can help Him do His work.

Have a good week!

Elder Josh Stratford