2/13 Transfers...and a very prepared ward

Last night with Elder E and Elder W

First mandarin lesson with Bro. C

The traditional stop at the Melody Thai with Elder S and Elder W

What a busy week!! I had no idea until I got here. With transfers this week, we have been busy. I only saw my real companion for around 50% of the time, if that! We are getting the quadpanionship figured out, it is pretty interesting, but hopefully it will get a little easier now that there isn't as much stuff this week. Elder Ea and Elder L do well together, both are good workers and try to stay active when we switch. Just need to keep working on planning. 

The area is doing well, we managed to stay above water this busy week, and saw so much! J was confirmed yesterday.  He is doing great, no concerns, we hope to start working with his mom soon. So we will see how that goes. V is solid.  His job is going to slow him down just a bump, but he is solid for March. We found a new family this week: the L's! The mother is very fast paced and wants her son's to learn and have good morals, she came to church a few years ago, but her sons have a lot of potential (9, 11 yrs).  As well another miracle, little K and his mom and sister have kept coming to church for these past 6 months!! Amazing. Never been able to understand why, just because Sister Y doesn't talk a lot. Anyways, he is turning 8 and wants to be baptized and our Primary President talked to her, and she said it's her husband that gives the push, and he doesn't work on Sunday's! (Perfect!) So they are wanting us to teach Lil' K in their home, and hopefully get the dad involved. Lil' K's birthday is in the middle of March as well. Same time as V's baptism... maybe together? Good potential. Lots of potential still, so much! Elder Ea's and I were discussing during weekly planning, there is just so much we need to tap into. I feel overly blessed as well, the ward is absolutely amazing. Working with the people and just pushing the work along. I believe the Lord has big blessing's in store for this ward. They want to do the work and the Lord is sending His work here. To a prepared ward. Nothing us missionaries are doing. Elder Ea and Sister Y (both new to the area) just commented after church (walking away with bags of food as well...), "You have served here for a year?! I have never seen a ward like this in my life!" Too blessed. We are coordinating well with ward leaders, Young Men and hope to see the Primary President this week, and will see the Relief Society President on Tuesday. I love this work so much, this ward. I just feel like a member here. It really seems to be a blessing as well, how it can really work with the ward and know how things flow. I just can't express how great things are right now!

The office is well, as mentioned, hopefully should slow down this week. I got my drivers license, and look forward to driving again! We picked up new missionaries from and took old missionaries to the airport this week. Again, too blessed. Beautiful drive from here to the airport, so relaxing, discussing the mission and things. I am a little terrified to be at the wheel on the wrong side, but hey it should be an adventure. This week was so much fun being with new missionaries, sad to take the departing missionaries home, but will see them later. I am looking forward to this week to settle down, hopefully we can stay out of the office as much as possible. It's just the small things that really make it interesting. We can figure it out though.

I am doing great. Happy as a lark. Pumping on all cylinders, sometimes I forget and need to slow down to catch Elder Ea up, so that is what I am working on this week. Sometimes I forget he has actually only been in the field for 7 months, his Chinese needs help, and he is in a new area. He is older (21) so I just forget! He is amazing though, he will do well in this area, I have no doubts. He is from San Diego, and half Korean!

Notes for upcoming training so far, what is success?

Alma 26:22 “Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works (action, such as baptism and receiving Holy Ghost), and prayeth continually without ceasing (enduring to the end)—(one who lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ-) unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.”

·         Does not mention anything about going on a mission, teaching lessons, or even about good member relationships, let alone referrals.

o   Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

·         He who lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a walking example of our Savior, will bring thousands of souls unto repentance.

o   “The gospel of Jesus Christ defines both your message and your purpose; that is, it provides both the “what” and the “why” of missionary work.” PMG pg. 5.

·         Hebrews 10:36 “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

·         How?

Alma 26:27 “Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back (hearts failing), behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

·         2 Corinthians 2:4 “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

·         “Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.” PMG pg.10.

o   Success is given to those who sanctify themselves and their life the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and, isn’t that success in the first place?

We are in Hong Kong to continue, or to start long time conversion, and success. The rest of life is a mere continuation of the mission, there are still commandments, and there are still rules that surrounding things we do in the church.

·         This life is like a 400m race. Must be paced, you can’t give it all out in the first 50m or you will lose it in the last 100m. Success is about the end result, not the beginning.

o   Heb 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

o   Mos 4:27 “And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.”

“If you don’t raise the bar, how will you ever know your potential?” Elder L. Tom Perry

Brothers and Sisters, we have being doing in these things a good work, but now is a time that needs more. The Lord lives and needs His servants to give more of themselves. It is my testimony and invitation that there is more, and we must give it now. 

We can determine success in our conversion, the rest is given, as Elder B illustrated in the broadcast.

Love Elder Sargent

Ever Stalwart

2/6 Chinese New Years finally over. Come back investigators. Big changes! Lots to say.

J's baptism - he's on the left

J's baptism

J's baptism, and last week with Elder E, my favorite Brit

Dinner with the L's

Mission conferences - good to see old friends

Throwback to meeting Pres. L in the MTC

What a great week! Even the New Year couldn't slow us down. Well, it sent everyone out of town, but the progressing people and others that really needed to be seen were still here. Most of the other potentials were gone, but it worked out with so much to do in the office this week and Mission Conference. 

J was baptized this week! It was absolutely amazing. The Young Men were all there around him, his mother came and was also enveloped by our Relief Society. It made me so proud of our ward. They are so good at being living followers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not just in word, but in deed. His actual baptism was one of the most smooth and perfect of any I have seen on my mission. The Spirit was so strong, especially after we as missionaries sang "The Spirit of God" to the piano. It was so strong it was almost tangible.  He is doing well and making good ground with testimony and relationships with the members. V is solid for March, testimony is doing so well, he in general is prepared if we could do it this week, but with the New Year his job needs him in on Sundays for the next 2 weeks which put things off. I love working with them and they are so prepared. I started meeting him a year ago and to see the changes he has made is amazing. On that note, so is K! Sometimes I feel I came to HK just to find him. He is amazing for a 13 year old and has grown up so much. He tried to convert all of his family in Mainland during the break, and seems like he was successful.  We will be getting their info soon, and they can start attending and then in a few months come down and hear the lessons and be baptized! That's the vision. Everyone is doing well honestly. There is so much potential right now in our area. Now that the New Years celebration is over, hopefully we can really get to work with it. I am excited to work with Elder Earls and feel like he has the right skill set to really help and do what he can while we tackle the area and what needs to be done in the office. 

It has been a great week with the mission for Mission Conferences this week. Really good to get to see everyone and get to know many that I previously didn't know very well (and watch the broadcast multiple times!). As for things in the office, it seems as though we were able to take down most of the problems that have come up with all three of us together in helping me get used to the office still (after 2 weeks you think I would be familiar with a computer again). That should get us onto the right step going into the new transfer in keeping office time down. It was amazing to see how transfers work and get to be a part of that. I am really grateful for this opportunity to serve and work here. Elder S is amazing, a real example to me, as well as being hilarious in his own funny way. We are going to have to figure out how to work the time schedule, but it shouldn't be too hard, just scheduling. The other random things that pop up are going to be where the problems lie.  Elder Ea will be my new companion.  That will be great.  I will be sad leaving Elder E, he is a good Elder with lots of potential. He will do great things. I hope to learn to be more confident in my ways here in the office, I feel a little like a small guy and inadequate, but, no problem, I can do it.

The new changes included less Key Indicators, but President decided to keep Member Presents and Full lessons just for us to see how things are going, as well, P-day is almost no studies now and planning is in the morning. Lots of good changes that I think will have a good effect on the mission and the members here. Focusing on what matters most. Seeking and doing what we have to for real progression. 

It was a reminder and a testimony that we have the priesthood on the earth today, that we are lead by prophets and apostles that see and work through the Spirit to guide and direct us. I know He lives and that He is in charge of this work. 

I love you all! Add oil!

Ever Stalwart

Love Elder Sargent

1/30 Happy Chinese New Year!

New Year's meal at the Y's

apartment elders

ward bbq

more ward bbq

Bro T dressed all nice

It has been a great week! The New Year has made it especially difficult this week to get things done with everyone being out and about in Mainland and elsewhere, but that's ok! We figured it out. J is doing great! He passed his baptismal interview this week, and it was announced on Sunday at church. It will be a big time for him as well as the Young Men who he has come to develop a good relationship with. V is doing well also, we hope to possibly move his date up as well, considering we have completed almost all the lessons and he is doing so great. Brother L couldn't come down this week because of the new year, but will see him next week. We also got to help serve Brother T move to a new house this week,  and he will also need a little more help next week. It is amazing to see our ward just gather around and help in the drop of a hat. Priesthood keys and power. Great men and examples in our ward. The area is doing good, but we are lacking time in finding new investigators. We have been seeking referrals and contacting on the street. I would like to focus more on part-member families in the coming weeks as well, which is something that we have been discussing as a ward and area. Had such a fun ward activity today to go BBQ. So much success! I love it. I love it here so much. 

Last Monday we also got to eat lunch with the first stake president of Hong Kong, President P, at the YMCA building in Tsim Sha Tsui. It was all-you-can-eat buffet, nicest meal I have had in HK. So nice. There were some other senior missionaries there as well, such a nice place, such amazing food, as well, it was good to talk to them. Great experience.

It has been fun starting into working with Elder S as an Assistant. He is actually a Mandarin missionary and we came out together. He is so funny in his own way, reminds me of my Uncle Mike Jr. in his dedication to BYU haha. He is an amazing missionary that I look forward to serving with. It will be sad sending Elder W out. We have come to be great friends and I always wanted to serve with him. He is helping me get things figured out for the next week and a half. I felt like Mr. Incredible at the keyboard at first. It has been a while since I have really used a computer. It's true you think you know how busy people are until you step in their shoes. There is so much to do! Updating and lots of number stuff right now. Hopefully we can slim down some more after we get this new schedule figured out after Mission Conference. I have felt bad for Elder E, we have tried to find stuff for him to do, but it is still quite a bit of time by himself. He is practically training himself now. He is a pretty hard worker, I look up to his dedication and desire. He seeks to always be doing something. He tends to be a little more quiet, and I am trying to help him to speak more, but he carries his message across. 

The district is doing well, lots of down time this week to try everything we can do to stay busy. Working with less actives, members, and then turning to the street. We are seeing lots of success in seeking for truly progressing areas. It has been fun to see what has happened, but also is making it tough, but in wise words, "If one door doesn't close, another can't open." President L is right! That is what we are seeking for.

My thoughts today are on vision. What is our vision? Do you have one? If you do, are you doing everything we can do to achieve it? Go forward with faith and do the things the Lord has commanded us to do.

-- 

Love,

   Elder Sargent

Ever Stalwart

1/23 Best Week Ever

My posterity: Elder Da and his companion he is training

What an amazing week. Very possibly the best week of my mission. I don't really know where to start. Well, the area is doing great! A lot of people were busy this last week and looks like this week, as well, because of Chinese New Year. Everyone is busy with family or going out of own. J is looking very solid and we planned everything out up to his baptism on the 5th. He is reading and keeping his commitments, his only hold up is he doesn't want to invite anyone to his baptism... We talked about that and about how it can be such a great thing to share this gospel with his family. He came in a suit on Sunday and definitely turned some heads. V as well is doing great! We had a good discussion this last week about chastity. He has been coming to church consecutively for the past month, which before was his only hold up. He is doing well, and we are excited to see him keep progressing. Brother L, from Mainland, got a baptismal date on Sunday. We had a member actually give it to him after he said he wants to be baptized as soon as possible. The date is for February and considering we can only see him in the mornings on Sunday, it will be a little difficult to teach. In the end, he will need to be turned over to Mandarin missionaries though, due to his mother tongue being mandarin. Things are doing extremely well here! Elder E and I are loving the area. 

This week, we also got the opportunity to teach Visitors! What an opportunity, wish I could share more details, but there are quite a few restrictions. I have been waiting for so long to teach them. I participated in the baptism of one from this same branch a couple months ago, and it was so amazing to see them again and some of the ones that were able to come down again. It was a long day and L was very patient, though very shy at first. The grandmother was very helpful and has a burning testimony. She is such an example to me. It was nice to have her and a member for a couple of the lessons. Elder E didn't know a lot of the vocab for the latter lessons, so he helped where he could, but it was kind of just one sided with the grandmother. I love teaching visitors so much! They are so amazing, their strength. 

Elder E is a great strength to me. He does well, his Chinese is doing great. The district is doing well, seeking progress in our areas no matter what it takes. These are good days to be a missionary in Hong Kong and in the world. Absolutely amazing.

Happy Chinese New Years!! The year of the Rooster!

"I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

I could not be happier to be a tool in Gods hands. I am grateful now and, and so grateful I decided to do so for time and eternity at baptism, as well as renew that covenant every week. He is my all. My Savior and Redeemer.

-- 

Love,

   Elder Sargent

EVER STALWART

last zone conference last transfer

1/16 Feeling the progress

"And it came to pass, that the Elder's Cheung Sha Wan did continue to progress the work. Insomuch, they worked hard, and the love of the people did abide in them, to the point that their joy did exceed that of all understanding." Elder Sargent's Journal 1:15. I love the work!

The work here is doing very well, PL, an investigator that was supposed to be baptized this Sunday, completely dropped. We haven't seen him since he saw Elder R and E the last day of last transfer, but have maintained contact. He experienced some setbacks with the Law of Tithing, and would like to hold off for now. Our ward mission leader is in good contact with him and is trying to get him back as well as the member who referred him. J is doing very well, and the ward loves him, he fits in with our YSA as well as our Young Mens quorum. They all really like him, and have been part of his conversion these past weeks and months. He is looking solid for February. V is so great! This is probably one of my favorite situations of my mission, just because it's another forever family in the making!  I already knew, but broke the news to me that he is engaged to JL (member) this week. I also may have accidentally broke the news to J that V has a baptismal date he set himself for March... They are doing so well, goal is to have him and Johnson in church attire on Sundays now. We also had SW at church, as well as Brother L. I don't know why Brother L hasn't been taught, he has been coming to church all the way from Mainland every Sunday for 4 months now. So we talked to him and are going to start meeting in the mornings before church, and he would like to be baptized! More on that next week. It has been awesome to see the ward really taking care of the Y family, I don't know if you remember the small family of the mother with her 7 year old son K and 4 year old daughter Y that we found through English class. Well the ward has done so well with them! The mother doesn't have much interest, and they don't come to English anymore, but they do come to scouts and church. So amazing. K is a future 70. Anyways, he will be 8 in March, and the ward would like us to teach him (no problem! He is like my adopted Chinese little brother) and help him get baptized. So we got a plan worked out with some of the members and are excited to see where that goes. So much going on, hope to have a couple reactivations soon as well, Brother T and an RMLA E, I saw him come home last year, now we are helping him come back to church. He is doing well and finding his desire again. 

As a companionship, things are great! Lots of love and jokes and smiles in the companionship. So happy I finally get to serve with an Englishman, a dream come true. The only problem, my accent isn't improving. He said it's now more a mix of South African, Australian, and a little British. Jokes aside, he is a hard worker. Always doing something proactive. Still being in the young stages as a missionary, he doesn't really know where to funnel his desire or really how to go about improving and learning. So we have spent some time this week planning, and guiding him to build a plan fit for him that will help him grow the most. Training is catching up and we are really coming to enjoy our roleplays during studies. 

The district is doing well, it is kind of weird not having as much to do. Kind of relaxing though. More time for the area. Cheung Sha Wan sisters are doing well, seem to be having a hard time finding new and progressing investigators, as is the Sisters Sham Shui Po. We are seeking to have true progressing areas. If they aren't progressing, let them go, and keep contact until they are ready. This the work of salvation and we are sent to find the prepared. I feel like I have learned that more and more on my mission. 

The weather is nice, I love living at the temple, I love my roommates and my area and my companion. 

I love the work of the Lord. I wish that I could shout with the trump of angels that Christ is risen. He lives, God lives and I am here to help this people come to a greater understanding of their capacity as individuals on this earth.

Love Elder Sargent

Always Ever Stalwart

Hoorah!

-- 

Love,

   Elder Sargent

1/9 The beautiful smell of temple flowers

What a week! It has been such a rollercoaster. It has really been a great time in Kwai Chung.  The time went by so fast there. I can't believe I was there for such a short time, but such a long time in that apartment. Lots of cherished memories there. So grateful for the friends I made there and the work I got to do in Kwai Chung. I will be honest, I don't think we were able to accomplish a ton as far as the ward went and the work. We had two baptismal dates there at the end which was pretty exciting, but I unfortunately couldn't seem to get a grip on where to keep moving. It was, however, a great transfer in learning. I learned so much in such a short transfer that I am very excited to bring it to Cheung Sha Wan and carry into the work. The work here seems to be doing really well, Elder R handled it well, and I am glad to take his spot back here. I am looking forward to training and serving in the capacity of District Leader once again. Those are definitely the two best assignments as a missionary. It will be the first time elders have been outnumbered by sisters in my mission, but it will be fun, it brings maturity. Elder E is such a diligent hard worker. I can tell he has been preparing to come out. We have a good time with accents, sometimes I don't understand him, sometimes he doesn't understand me. I love him so much already and we are looking forward to working together. 

There are several people with dates now! It was fun to come back and see V has a date he set himself, and he proposed to J! He is doing well, still struggling with coming to church, but everything else is great. J, a new investigator that got turned over from TST, now has a date we set this week, he is 16 and a sprinter in HK. He and Elder E plan on racing sometime. He is doing well also, but as well needs to work on his church attendance. He has great member relations. The other is P L, another referral from our recent reactivation. He is very solid, but his worry is in tithing, whether or not he can do it, be where he is moneywise. Our ward mission leader is seeing him this morning for lunch and hopefully they can work it out. The work other than that is doing well, lots of potentials and part member families we would like to work with. Bishop L has put a large emphasis on missionary work. It is really exciting to see and I can't wait to see what work we can do. The ward welcomed me back with open arms, lots of warm embraces and hand shakes from the sisters. Felt like I was going home. So much fun, and it feels like I am on vacation living in the temple, coming out every morning to the smell of flowers in the temple garden. Life couldn't be better.

The district is looking good, excited to work with Sister V and Sister S, as well as the Sham Shui Pou sisters. Solid district. One thing I would like to focus on is finding new investigators and keeping a healthy inflow of people, be it new investigators or LAs. Elder E's training will be another focus.  He is actually from England and got here last transfer. He is 18, enjoys parkour, and holds the world record for amount of front flips in a minute (45? or something? crazy). He is awesome, language is coming.  He is amazing and a great example to me.

Work hard, play hard! Need to get myself repositioned here, but I am so happy! Just passed the two year anniversary of losing my Nana Rosy as well. I am grateful for the great plan our loving Heavenly Father has prepared for us, to see our family again. It really is what this is all about. Perpetuating this great family beyond the grave, not just our blood brothers and sisters, but our spiritual ones as well. Seek out the weary and the weak hearted. That's one thing Nana taught me. Have the spiritual maturity to seek out those in need, because everyone has a need. We just have to find it. Everyone can be supported. Lift those around us.

I love you! Merry January. I sure love being a missionary. ;)

Love Elder Sargent-