Hong Kong: BLACK RAIN

5/28/17

Family,

I have found myself reflecting quite a bit on Elder Cook's testimony of the Savior this past week. It was very powerful and changed how I listen to Conference Talks and how I read the scriptures. The spirit I felt as he bore his witness reminded me of last year when Elder Stevensen bore his testimony. It is really powerful to hear his special witness of the Savior.

We have had some wonderful spirit filled lessons this past week. Shuie is actually investigating and has real questions. It is a great privilege to meet with her. A lot of moments of realization and softening hearts. They are some of the most powerful lessons I have taught here in Hong Kong as we learn together from the scriptures in answer to her questions.

This week I have been filled with a greater desire to learn Chinese and a great desire to study the Book of Mormon. I don't know why, but I feel a greater desire than before.

We are constantly cycling through our potential pool, bringing in new ones and getting rid of ones that have not been able to meet or didn't have interest. The cycle is still moving and we are hopeful and confident that some of this cycle will pop out and into the new investigator pool this week.

Dominic He, our ward mission leader, brought some seaweed, thin crunchy dried pork floss, some yogurt flavored almonds and some dried squid for snacks at Correlation.

Had black rain and a high wind warning and a landslide warning and a thunderstorm warning one day this past week and I have managed to lose my umbrella. Luckily, there was a piece of cardboard in the apartment so my head stayed dry.

Mini MTC was this past week. It was awesome. The Stake did a good job preparing for the activity for the youth 14-18 in Hong Kong. They came and learned different languages, had 4 trainings presented, went out teaching and proselyting with the missionaries for a few hours and other things. They are great. I think the Hong Kong new missionaries are some of the most prepared. They grow up helping the missionaries teach and having a lot of experiences doing missionary work before they are called to full time service. Hong Kong also has a summer missionary program where youth spend 2 weeks with the missionaries doing everything a missionary does.

We had the opportunity to do a training on Teaching Skills from Chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel for the Mini MTC. For any teacher, that is a good chapter. After all Preach My Gospel says, "Teaching is central to everything you do."

I also know, with Elder Cook, that Jesus Christ lives! I love listening to his prophets teach and testify, not just in person, but all the time through the last General Conference.

Elder Josh Stratford 施長老

Exchanges with Elder Johnson

Black rain this week. It was wet.. it goes amber, red, and black. black means there is more than 70 millimeters of water coming down in an hour. At one point they sent out a warning for the New T's which has 110 milllimeters coming down. Pretty intense.

Mini MTC

Dinner at Triple O's after Elder Cook.