Hong Kong: WANG LE DID IT!

July 10, 2016

Family,

Wang Le did it! What a stud. He is excited about next week and having the authorized opportunity to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. What an amazing blessing! He gave a wonderful testimony during the baptismal service.

Jia Jm is also doing amazing. She actually reminds me of Wangle a lot. She has the same concerns. She says she wants more time to understand because she feels she doesn't understand very much yet. She is studying from the BoM every night, prays with her son every night and come to church almost every week.

Opposition a lot lately. Last week and my companion and I have been praying on how to better find new investigators and help the zone and follow the lord will and the Book of Mormon has been sticking out. We read Ch 8-10 from Teachings: Pres Benson and that really fired us up even more. Anyway, right after we got all fired up, we went to the Butterfly ward's bishop for dinner with the butterfly missionaries. The message happened to be on the Book of Mormon. We invited them to write their testimony in the book and give it to a friend before the next Sunday. Immediately after I gave the invitation, the bishop's son, returned missionary, gave us some serious oppisition, we were all quite shocked. He says, "really!? We've tried that before, look...(points over to a pile of Book of Mormons on the counter) and says, lets try something else instead. lets be more creative." It was pretty interesting. Don't want to throw him under the bus or anything. He is a great guy, just had a weird reaction to our invitation. Especially considering that a focus for our zone training is on using the tools we have already been given, like the Book of Mormon.

Also yesterday on the light rail I walked up to a man and he turns around and starts to tell me about how we are a cult and that joseph smith was a liar, and we are brainwashed, and to throw that book of mormon away and so on... Then he turns around and tells everyone on the light rail that we are an evil church and then gets off...We'll have to pray for him hard, he clearly doesn't understand. Anyway, this just strengthens my testimony that the Book of Mormon should be the emphasis of the New Territories right now. Almost always, before a big event, there is increased opposition. Look at the first vision, ammon, before the savior appears in the america's, before the savior starts his ministry and many more. So we are excited about the future.

Also recently I have been shown many many things of which I am lacking, many weaknesses. This also is a testimony and comforting that I am growing closer to the Lord, "and if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness."

Met this guy on the way to MLC on the MTR that had some great thoughts. He told me this: It is all about love. If you really love somebody and they feel that love, they will come to you. They will never come if you try to force them.

We are trying to instead of being marketers and convincing them of our message, use the tools we have been given, like the Book of Mormon, to touch their hearts and change them.

I'll send a recording on thoughts from MLC and the BoM. Out of time now.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Josh Stratford