I LOVE LIVING IN THE TEMPLE

January 1, 2017

Family,

Great week! Busy week.

President Lam mentioned at one meeting with a Elder Wong of the Seventy that complacency was one of the missionaries biggest struggles, I have been thinking about it a lot and trying to make sure I am not being complacent in any area of the work. In a talk I recently read, Neal A Maxwell said, "A new assignment can beckon us away from comfortable routine." I am grateful for the change up to make sure I am not getting complacent. I am liking serving in Kowloon. It is much different than Macau and the New Territories.

I love living in the temple. One of the blessings is the always cold water and the opportunity to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir more.

I love being with Elder Sy and Elder Woolley. Elder Woolley was my MTC companion. I am learning a lot from them. They have very good teaching skills and teach in great unity. They are efficient with their time. 

We are teaching a lot of old men, but all are great. I am still familiarizing myself with the area and the investigators/members. I am happy that with my new assignment there is still a lot of time to teach.

I am trying to learn my duty. Often when I am not sure what to do, I find myself thinking about what my duty is so I can know how to do it. I find myself thinking about D&C 107:99. Actually this week I restudied what my duty as an Elder holding the Melchizedek Priesthood is. This reminded me that some of my duties are to Baptize and Confirm members, to teach expound and exhort, to conduct meetings by the Holy Ghost, and to magnify my calling. I want to make sure I take opportunities to teach. I notice that the Apostles and President Lam always take opportunities to teach. I am trying to watch my leaders closely and follow them and what they do. 

I had the opportunity to go to church in Mandarin for the first time in my service here in Hong Kong. It was pretty awesome. It is also great to be able to communicate with all the members cause they speak the same language you do. It is really awesome. At church I was thinking about what I could do better, what I could sacrifice as part of repenting and becoming more like the Savior. 2 thoughts came to mind. One was Go to Work! I think work is powerful spiritual medicine. The other was Excite those you meet and interact with! 

The main thought I had from Mission Leadership Council last week was to make sure I always express my love. I have been studying and seeing what I can do to follow up on that prompting from the Holy Ghost. Specifically I am trying to make sure I go out of my way more to compliment others and express my gratitude and appreciation.

 One line President Lam said has been running through my mind lately. "If you teach by the Spirit, you will know exactly what to say." That is very comforting and reassuring and quite an amazing promise. 

Elder Stratford


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