Hong Kong: NEW TERRITORIES WITH ELDER DARRINGTON

10/18/15

Family,

Dad - Elder Liew left, so Elder Darrington and I are together. He is senior companion. We are both Mandarin's. Only mandarines serve together. It's pretty funny, we are still pretty clueless, but figuring things out together. We definitely are learning the importance of members in our lessons.

Bummer about the Dodgers. I'm excited to see Magnum play when I get back, sounds like some amazing games this season. That golf round sounds sweet. Those scores are amazing. That will be one of the first things I do when I get home.

Mom - I have been off the windowsill since thursday, when Elder Liew left. I am not on the couch anymore. Language is slowly coming. Hopefully it comes a little quicker, because Elder Darrington and I have nobody to fall back on now in our lessons. Weather is pretty hot, rarely rains. Especially since we have to wear suitcoats everyday (from Conference to conference) until april. We take the MTR and light rail for transportation, rarely buses, light rail is basically a smaller version of the MTR just in New T's that have shorter and more frequent stops. thanks for sending the package.

We had a swap of areas. There are 4 mandarin missionaries in the New T's and they got the southern half and we have the northern half. Since we live in Tuen Muen and that is their area, we will probably move. plus our apartment is too crowded, and the other missionaries are probably getting a new apartment since they can't make calls out of it and it is really old. We have Elder Branse and Elder White who are cantonese elders living with us. same Elder Brandse as in macau. he just got transferred here on Wednesday. Elder Gerlach and Elder Chan, Gerlach is from Florida and Elder Chan is a native, can speak a little english. Elder Ashton and Elder Ng who are mandarin. Ashton is a month behind us but took chinese for 6 years so his mandarin is a little better than ours, from Ohio. Ng is zone leader and has been out a year from provo. I'll try to get a picture of them all next week.

Investigators - We have been teaching this amazing investigator, zero. He came to conference, comes to church every week and has read through 2 Nephi already in a few weeks. We are going to move his baptismal date up a few weeks. I came in with him having been taught first 3 lessons, Elder Darrington and I have taught him all of the commandments in lesson 4, we are turning him over to the other mandarin's now though because he lives in their area now.

the Chen Family - they are amazing. Met them from english class. We have taught them once and they came to church sunday. The ward is great. bishop and wife came and talked to them after sacrament and a sister came and sat by us to help us entertain their 4 year old son, sam.

Sam - teenager who isn't open to sharing and hard to help him, but we tried to build unity and trust and friendship this week by doing a Tim Tam Slam with him and using it as an analogy as we watched a mormon mesage. He seemed to enjoy it.

We just found out that President Nelson is coming down to visit next monday. stoked for that. Also, sister Robinson is in the New T's. Apparently she used to tend blake with the Rawson's some times. She is good friends with Kaylee.

That scripture for your ward members is a scripture I have been thinking about a good amount the last week. Me and my comp decided to do a 40 day fast. We prayerfully wrote down things we need to stop doing or start doing and starting today, promised the Lord that we would fast from those things for 40 days. We hope we can better purify ourselves to have the spirit more with us and earn the trust of the Lord. We are trying to better yield our hearts unto God. and to sanctify and purify our hearts.

I had an amazing experience during the closing hymn of general conference last week. The choir sang 'Love One Another' As they started to sing 'as i have loved you... i had memories start flashing through my mind one after another of all the ways the Lord has showed his love to me on the mission and before. It was an amazing experience and I realized more deeply then, how much he really loves us and is watching over us. We need to show that kind of love to others. It filled me with new determination to try the best I can to better love one another. that was my ponderize for the week.

usually will email starting at noon instead of 11. Sorry if I didn't answer all your questions.

Thank you for your prayers. I know the Lord is looking out for us and watching over us.

Elder Stratford