Hong Kong: MIRACLES WORKING WITH MEMBERS

October 9, 2016

Family,

Li JM is doing great. Passed her baptismal interview last week. She is set for Sunday.

I don't know if I have told you, but President Lam gave every missionary a personal invitation to ask referrals from everybody we have a conversation with. Then to text how many referrals we have received every day to him. It has been good. We are getting more names and numbers then before and getting the ward involved in inviting people to come unto Christ. I don't what we have been thinking before by not asking everyone for referrals. PMG does tell us to ask for referrals from everybody. In the words of my District Leader, Elder Jensen, 'There is power in doing what Preach my Gospel tells us to do.'

Lot of miracles with working with members this week. Members are helping do missionary work more than I realize. 1. As a Ward Counsel, a member reported on her outreach to a few less-actives we are working with and what she is trying to do to help them. We had no idea. 2. We couldn't find a member to help us teach a lesson on Friday. We called a sister named Feng JM on Wednesday and she said she was busy. On Friday, the day of the lesson, we called her about a different matter and she asked us, 'Have you found a member to help you teach that lesson tonight?' We mentioned we had not. She said, "I was planning on heading out tonight with friends, but didn't feel like it, so I'll come help you guys.' Wow. 3. We called a member and asked her to invite an investigator to Conference this Sunday. She told us she had been texting back and forth with this investigator about a ward activity and was already on top of it. Actually, she was already planning that night to invite the investigator to church. 4. A sister came up to us after Conference and asked if we could come over to her house and meet with her LA husband. He can speak Mandarin. We had no idea. 5. I called a member to wish them happy birthday, but it turns our I was wrong, the day was 4 days later. It was a 11 year old. Before he hung up, he handed the phone to his mom. She asked why we were calling. I told her I was calling to wish her son a happy birthday. She then talked for like 2 min straight saying thanks. She then invited us over for dinner next week. It was crazy, especially considering that I have been trying to meet with their family and have never visited been able to visit them once in 1 year of time here in the New T's.

Conference is amazing. It seems to get better every year. In part, I believe, is because as we get closer to our Heavenly Father, the stronger our desire to follow Christ and the word of God becomes more delicious to us. I think that is true as well.

Really, all we need to do now is print a copy of Elder Oaks talk and give it to everyone. If everyone would follow the counsel in that talk, boy, things would explode. Just, "Go to it!"

When Elder Oaks quoted Elder Ballard saying, "A most significant evidence of our conversion and of how we fell about the gospel in our own lives is our willingness to share it with others." I thought of you mom. Thanks for your amazing example of sharing the gospel with others.

Every time I come out of a Conference Session, I always have a very peaceful, calm determined resolution to do better and to be better. One thing I am continually learning lately is that perspective calms us. These Conference Sessions always give us such good perspective.

Tons of speakers mentioned following God's will. I noticed at least McConkie, Uceda, Christofferson, Basset, Yamashita, Eyring, Bednar,and Renlund talk about this topic.

I especially liked Basset and Cook talks. They were all good really. I am anxious for the ensign, especially cause I can't access the talks besides a few min today.

Put 1st things 1st. That was really good counsel for me from Elder Oaks. For me, it is easy to get caught up in all the million things I could do and forget the most important thing I should be doing, which is invite others to come unto Christ.

One thought, of many, to be a better leader came from Elder Hales when he said, 'Let us remember that [others] measure our love by how much devoted time we give them.' The White Handbook reminded me this morning that leaders help others most when they fell the leader's love. I think I need to give others more time, specifically during my pondering and praying times of the day. They should be a focus.

Out of time. Have a good week!

Elder Josh Stratford 施長老