Thursday, December 8, 2016

12/5 Chicken Poop vs. Street Market #stillagreenie


dinner at a members
fishing on P day

Elder P


Such a fun week! I absolutely loved having interviews with President Lam and then talking to Sister Lam. I am always so much more driven and pushed and spiritually excited! It is an emotional pump up as well. The Lord supports me so much in my day-to-day failures and trials, and it is always so good to talk to President Lam about it, as well, and discuss improvement. This was also another week of miracles. So much going on and I am so glad for everything that's happening here. Saw lots of miracles at getting people to church, got a whole family there, and some other investigators. Quite amazing. S didn't come again which was a let-down, but he has been doing super well with everything else and has been keeping all other commandments. Time to concern dive. Find out what's up. We are hoping to have some more new investigators this week, coming from referrals and a couple from the street. Hitting the streets looking for LA's has been fun, not just because the of the good times and success's, but because Elder P knows the area so much better than me, already, from the finding he does around with Elder F when Elder O and I are doing ZL stuff. Things are moving along well, we are working on being pro-active. That is our goal. I love my companion and we are growing so much together!!!
The Zone is well, and we are excited about Zone Training next week, to do some training on obedience and the Book of Mormon. Getting everything ready has been a major hassle because everyone lives SO far away. So we resorted to me just calling in, which works to a point, but everything is seeming to work out. 
Funny things.. I forgot to mention.. at our Thanksgiving party last week, we made two turkey pinata's and then did a play. During the play I yelled "Chicken poop" instead of "Street market" on accident... haha the words are so similar with just a difference of tones haha Gaisi and Gaaisih. haha got some good flack from the members for it... #stillagreenie
Our guard for our building speaks some weird village language and her Canto is hilarious, so we have been teaching her random things in english, but the funniest thing is when she says leng Leuih!!! But not leuih... lewie... it is hilarious. (means pretty girl (referring to other ama)) haha hope you can relate. Congrats to my sister on getting baptized!!! So awesome! Merry Christmas!! 
The work is great! I love it and I love the Christmas season!

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

Friday, December 2, 2016

11/28 Thanksgiving in Hong Kong!

ward activity


The members are SOOOO GOOD to us!
Fishing last P Day

Elder P caught a turtle!  He took it back and gave it to a member.

monkeys!


It's been a great week! The Zone Thanksgiving party was a hit, so much good food, and so much of it. I was surprised at how good of cooks we have! Elder P and I did the turkey and a boat load of mashed potatoes... (thanks Grandma Becky!!) They were so good and a hit. It was really good to give everyone in the Zone a good chance to get to know each other, seeing as we have such a new zone. I am so grateful for each one of their good examples. Our ward activity was also a hit, we had several investigators there that all seemed to enjoy the night, as well as it was a great chance to really get to know the members more. I love the Kwai Chung ward and we we are spoiled rotten here. Already looking good with lots of the members, now just to really delve in and work with the part member families or part less active families. There are a lot of husbands in the area with that situation, considering our Elders Quorum normally has 3-4 people compared to our bulging Relief Society. Lots of work to do. S is progressing well, unfortunately it seems as though people stayed up to late on Saturday because numbers were pretty low on Sunday, also including that it was freezing. So he fell under that category, as well. It was good for several of the members to get to know him so that was good. He is on date, but we might move him back a week to be baptized with the sisters investigator on Christmas Eve. As well, Brother W is doing very well also. We had a very solid lesson last time, in which he came to a better understanding of the difference in the Trinity and the Godhead, he was literally shaking when he realized that we are and have all the things that Christ's church had in those days, and eventually just said, " So I just need to pray to know if it's true?" Yes, that's what he has been working on, but hasn't really got an answer. Hopefully, this week, we are praying.
I love this gospel! The Church is true and I love it so much. I love you all, and hope everyone stays safe!!
Ever Stalwart

Love Elder Sargent

Thursday, November 24, 2016

11/21 A good week!




A good week! We were able to accomplish so much! We started our children's English class this Saturday. We went finding as a District on Friday and were able to have 6 kids at our first class! Success. Hopefully we can keep it growing. There was quite a bit we did this week, including planning for the Thanksgiving activity this week. Wow, we went out to Castlepeak Bay to plan as a Zone leadership, and we consequentially rode through Yuen Long. It was quite nostalgic and took me back to those days over a year ago in my first transfer there. I haven't come back for that long! A year! That is amazing to me. I love the New Territories. So beautiful. Elder P enjoyed his first ride on the light rail as well, even though we accidentally put $50 on the lady in front of us's Octopus card. 

S asked this week to be baptized. We had asked before and he said he would when he prayed, and then this week we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he asked! He said he wanted to be baptized in December! So he set a date. He is quite solid at church. Does well. Brother W is doing well, hasn't had a super solid answer, but he said he has been having peace, and so we hope to finalize some things with him and find out what he is looking for as an answer to prayers. Also talked to a couple new less active members this week that we hope to start working with. Lots of potentials, we are looking forward to our ward activity this Saturday, and hope to have quite a few people there. The work is coming. Our ward relationship is coming, I hope to work with the Bishopric a little more and get to know them better.  As well the activity in Tsing Yi was a hit this week! And we had a ton of investigators there, I, as well, helped a brother from the other ward pull a ton of people in off the street to the activity. Elder C is by far one of the best actors I have ever seen.

The Zone is well, still seeing good progressing in both missionaries and investigators. The younger missionaries are coming out of their shells, and the others are growing in themselves. Another baptism this week in Sing Mun and then another the week after in Butterfly and after that is us! Lots of great things happening all around. We are quite excited.

This is the work of the Lord, His hand is in it, as are the hands of his ministering angels that I do believe are firmly around us buoying us up. I am grateful this Thanksgiving for my opportunity to be a missionary and to serve. To be the best I can be, in and through the Lords hands. I am grateful for my loving family that are such great examples to me. I love them!

It is interesting celebrating an American holiday in China.

Quick shout out to my Cutest Sister! (sorry Whit and Brooke!) Kate is the cutest best person I could have ever picked to sleep in the room next to me. She always sang the most beautiful Tangled songs till 2 in the morning just to help me sleep. I love her so much. Kate is my Baby sister now and forever! I love my talented, smart, and fast sister so much! You are the best Kate!  Happy Birthday!

Oh and just got chenged out so Dim Sum again... SO good. ate till I couldn't eat any more.
-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent
EVER STALWART

11/14 We must overcome ourselves


He sang at his baptism!

I love the members!


The field is white and we plan on harvesting it. Been a great week, potentially one of the greatest Sundays on my mission, so much fun. Had to spend some time in Wan Chai and then the hospital for Elder P, and then a couple other random things I had to cover, but all in all, we accomplished the work we have to do here. Found a new investigator S who is awesome! He is actually a former from a while ago, but doesn't remember much. We met him twice this week and he even asked to come to church (in his suit!) and then came with us to the baptism for A in Tsing Yi after. Very solid. As well, Mr. W continues to surprise me as one of the most prepared people I have ever met. So willing to learn, ask's the perfect questions, and has been led right to the restored gospel here on the earth. We taught the Godhead last time, to explain the difference in the Trinity and the Godhead, how similar and how different. I don't think I have ever prepared that much for a lesson. He is such an amazing man, he couldn't come to church because he goes with his family to a different congregation, but said he is wishes to have an answer to his prayers by this week and will bring is 19 year old son, 16 year old daughter and wife next week if he gets his answer. Needless to say, I have been praying quite hard. Other investigators are progressing... slowly. They need some help and we are trying to seek for more investigators. Ward relationships are picking up quite well and I love the ward. We had an FHE at a members house last night that included about 15 people that made me feel like I was at my Grandma's house back home, the most rowdy evening of my mission. So much fun, followed by three messages from three of the young men there that are preparing to go on missions (2 play american football and rugby and the rest of the family is pretty big too... big folks). So fun! Come to find out, I know pretty much all of one of the families relatives in HK and have served in their wards! The work is progressing.

As well, got to see A get baptized!! I was able to help the Tsuen Wan sisters find a member friend to baptize him at the last second which was good, and the whole thing was amazing. He was beaming, and even sang his testimony at the end. I can't wait to see them get sealed. :)

As a companionship we are doing amazing. I love Elder P so much and we have pretty good unity which keeps things flowing. Building each other up. As well his hip/back, I believe we are past it now, during the problem it was pretty off and on, and after the Z-ray.

I am realizing, more and more, how many missionaries don't actually come home cured or having quit bad habits, it's just like holding on or stopping for just long enough to get on a mission. This kind of thing is different for anyone, could be drugs, or for a lot it is pornography or a plethora of things. Just hold off just long enough, thinking it will go away on a mission, but it doesn't. It has caused a lot of pondering as to what I am still holding on to, rationalizing it will be ok, or not fulling giving. We as missionaries are in the perfect situation to really get that change, if we so desire. We can't smoke, drink, or look at pornography as missionaries (because we still on top wish to be obedient) but it doesn't change what's deep down, unless we give it up, all of it. Can't even really hold on to a piece of it, or it will nag us right back. We must overcome ourselves.

The Zone is doing well. Got everything settled in it seems like, and I am starting to get a feel more of where the separate areas are. Lots of work to do, we need to keep finding more NI and I feel like people are starting to go back to the street finding mindset, but hopefully we can continue to seek for more referrals from people. 

I sure do love this work, I am happy and complete. I am boosted every week by doing this work, and then hearing of my stalwart family working so hard back home. I am a blessed man. God lives, and loves us. His hand is in the work, and I and grateful beyond measure to be a piece and a Shepard in this great work.
Thank the Lord for loving me enough to cut me down :)
Love Elder Sargent
Ever Stalwart

Monday, November 7, 2016

11/7 Big Change



Last zone conference
goodbye Elder C
my friend C

Last zone conference

saying goodbye to good friends going home - Ever Stalwart my friends!

temple day
lunch with Elder P, my new companion
It's been an interesting week! Well, it was tough to say goodbye to Cheung Sha Wan, but they are in the loving hands of Elder R and his new trainee. Going to miss them. Picked up Elder P on Thursday, as well as had to say goodbye to some of my best friends on the mission! I am going to miss several of the Elders from this group, I was good friends with Elder S and P, now Elder G off too. Shed a few tears that day. Even sent Elder C off. I am pretty excited to go to work with Elder P. Elder P is a solid hardworking missionary from Arizona, also a convert, and has been out for 6 months. As well got a new trainee in the apartment with Elder T! And they will be having a baptism this Sunday for a Part member family (I did his interview Saturday!). It is going to be fun. This week, unfortunately, meeting with the Stake High Councilman and training new District leaders and doing language evaluations took up most of our time, but we were able to get a little done. Sunday was good as well, Kwai Chung is a lot smaller than my last area and there will be a lot to get used to. As far as the work, met with a member referral from C's mom that happened to be from Kwai Fong, and he is awesome. Asks all the right questions, and is definitely a prepared soul. As well we have a couple other part member families we might have the opportunity to start working with. So not much, but are working on getting some ideas ready for activities and other ways to get people to church. We plan on starting a children's English class, and also a music activity every week, and until we start picking these people up, there will be lots of street finding. We were able to schedule quite a few members on Sunday and they seemed to be pretty excited to have Elders, so hopefully we can pick this up and send it!
Sisters Tsuen Wan called and asked if I could baptize an investigator, asked who, and it turned out to be A! My favorite Asian Canadian cowboy that we turned over to them a few months ago! They couldn't get anyone in the ward to do it, and he requested me, so we will be at that baptism this Sunday. I am pretty excited about that!!
As a Zone, it seems like things are coming. Also seems as though the areas here all seem to be at different places in the work, at varying levels. Some doing extremely well, others just opened, and others, not so well. Finding investigators seems to be a problem, but they are still managing to find people to baptize. It is fun to come back to kind of an old area and see how things are and already have some kind of base. We have some work to do to double the baptisms!
As for my companion and I, we will serve the Lord. Haha, but in all reality, it's going to be a good, tough, and hard working transfer. Opening an area, Zone Leader responsibilities and just keeping things running is going to be fun. Looking forward to it.
Love Elder Sargent

Ever Stalwart my friends!!!

Friday, November 4, 2016

10/31 D-day

Brother T who had the miracle with his information drive

The three stooges and their friend and A-F
This last week has been so much fun! Thoroughly enjoyed my last week in Cheung Sha Wan. The Stooges F and S have been making leaps and bounds of progress this week, seeing them a couple times ending this Sunday with our YM dinner. They are awesome and I can't wait to see pictures of them getting baptized. A-F as well is doing very good and now that we have a firm basis on which we can teach the lessons we plan on getting started in on them. He also should be good for the Christmas Miracle stake baptism. I love our Young Men, seeing them grow so much since I have been here under our YM Leader A-Y's constant care. He defines one who exemplifies their calling. I wish to be more like him some day. Seeing C come back to church and should be on a mission by New Years and bringing his girlfriend to the gospel, K baptized, CL strengthened to bringing friends to the gospel who now are planning on baptism and bringing more friends, I can't believe it. I will miss them like my brothers. V couldn't come this week, but we will be seeing him Wednesday, he is also progressing well. It has been so fun to start seeing S W and her kids again. Such good potential. It was fun to see Brother T again, he mentioned he didn't feel the Spirit in mainland, and while I was in the middle of bearing testimony, Elder R very seriously said he had the scripture to answer his question why, and asked him to read Alma 37:11, for those who know that scripture, it is 100x better in Chinese. Needless to say, he was near tears he was laughing so hard. It worked out. Then he also mentioned a huge miracle on Sunday about how he had an information drive that connects to his computer that has all his information on it, that fell into water for a few days. He found it last week when he came back from mainland. He said he literally dumped water out of it, and it didn't work for two weeks, when all the sudden, Saturday, he felt like he should pray and ask God to make it work. He did, and it worked! He was laughing hysterically after sacrament telling us. He just said, "It worked!!! It really worked!!" So funny, he is a man of immense faith. It was such a good week, but it will be hard leaving.

I am going to miss the ward. Cried when I found out I wasn't going to be there next Sunday. I always knew it would have to happen, but never wanted it so soon. I think I have been nearly too blessed. To be in an area looking forward to so many baptisms this Christmas with such amazing investigators and members I love so much. In the most beautiful chapel where I see the temple ever morning. I see angel Moroni peaking up over the trees as I walk to the church nearly every day. Those days will be missed. I will miss the great friends I have made in the Zone, and some of my best friends that have finished their time here. I feel like it is all being ripped out from underneath me; but that's what will make me grow. I am not a fan of change, but if it be the Lords will, it's my will. I am excited to take what I have learned here and implement it into my new area where ever it may be.
It might be fate I have the quote "It is following the lines of least resistance that makes rivers and men crooked," on the front of my planner. This won't be an easy one.
As a companionship, we have been on all 5 cylinders (if that's the saying, I can't remember). Got over a little hump, and have been really working hard together. I sure love Elder Rawlings and have faith knowing he will take care of the flock in this area.
As a Zone, things seem to be going well, I am so excited about doubling baptisms and will take that to my next area.
It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. "We do not say why and how, we say WHY NOT?" That's the attitude I want to take where ever I am going.
A little frustrated I had to move, but more than grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve in such a blessed area. They will always be part of my heart. The Lord can count on me to do the work anywhere He needs me to.
Love Elder Sargent
Ever Stalwart

Sunday, October 30, 2016

10/26 Of Mission Tour, Miracles and a BIG Typhoon

Zone Conference

member visits

member visits

Mission Tour lunch 

Biking on PDay


Hiking Lion's Rock


Wow!
Where to start? So good! The area is doing great. We got stuck inside for two days because of the typhoon, but that didn't slow us down! Elder R and I have been getting around to so many members homes to visit, share message and continue to stir the pot of missionary enthusiasm. We have been staking around our Member missionary book and it has been seeing great success. Pretty excited. The members are just thriving and doing the work themselves, I feel like many of the members are seeing the work in the youth right now, and because it's not as involved with them, they are more ready and want to put work into their areas of service. V is doing well, still only comes every other week, but we asked him about a baptismal date this week, and I think he is going to take it a little more serious. With the stake wide baptismal goal and date on the 17th we hope to be able to get a few people prepared for it. As well with Elder Wong's counsel from this week, I do believe with all my heart we can double the baptisms. We just have to see the vision and grab it. There is no time to waste. It is the counsel from the servant with the keys. "We do not say How, or What, or Why, we say Why not?" I love those words from President Kimball. It's the time to do more. Hopefully, not just the Zone, but the mission, and the church in Hong Kong will catch the vision. Then next year we can double it again. I heard word of my dad and little brother working with a couple Korean families back home, and the miracles they are seeing, even though they are dedicated Baptist's the miracles of conference softened hearts and they are hearing lessons. The work will go forth, whether or not we are on the ship. 
We saw miracles amidst the typhoon, being able to see F and S twice. The first time being able to see them with the Bishop. F taught the whole Plan of Salvation to Samuel with CL (member) after hearing it once, because of an analogy we taught with. He taught it so well I was so surprised and I think Bishop was too, haha. They are learning so fast. As well, really loved church on Sunday. To the point that they are bringing another friend that wants to come this next week. As well, A-F is coming along, it is really different teaching someone who knows nothing about Christ or God. Coming slow, but he likes it and is willing. With another YM investigator we found, we will probably have 5 YM investigators at church. It is amazing. Hopefully we can prepare a few of them for the Christmas Baptismal service. Keep them active and at church and then ship them off on missions, get them strong to be future pillars in the church here in Hong Kong. 
So all in all, we are loving it here. I love my Cheung Sha Wan family, never want to leave. Developing lifelong friendships. 
As a companionship, things are going well. Really learned a lot serving with Elder R. Our unity is great and teaching is fun. We seek for the Spirit and are always seeking to do better. I sure do love it. I hope we can continue to strive for excellence and push for more. Both in the area and in ourselves. 
I as well hope the Zone can catch Elder Wongs vision from this week. Teach better, find smarter, baptize more.
I loved Mission Tour and learned so much! It got delayed 3 days and we almost didn't have it because of the typhoon, but Elder Wong came back to do it with the last three Zones and to have MLC. Taught so much, and I have never seen someone open up the scriptures like that. Lots of revelation. Time to apply.
Love Elder Sargent

Ever Stalwart 

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

10/16 Sunburned neck and Mexican food in Hong Kong


ward activity
sunburned neck

Mexican dinner with the Y family

Family people!
Been a fun week!! This week has been great and have seen so many miracles. Our Young Men's crew of investigators is doing well, progress is coming. Haven't been able to get any of them but one into real progression mode, but after a really humble prayer this week, came up with we need more spiritual lessons with them to help them really feel it. Feel it in their heart, and not just knowledge in their head. It will be a little more difficult, but we can do it. V is also doing great! He is pretty close with J at church and we are going to try to get them to branch out a little bit more. Progressing well. We had our big ward activity on Monday, huge success, and then this weekend had a fun activity with our YM, where we had 3 of our own investigators there. Felt like it was pretty good to show them we are bringing the people to. Two way effort to bring people into the church. That night was so cool! Everyone was denying coming to church, kind of bummed, then lead to a prayer. Afterwards felt prompted to call two formers, the one turned out really good, but not much out of it, the second, is a mother of 2 young boys. Her sister is a member in the Tsim Sha Tsui ward named V.  They came for a while at the beginning of the year, but had some problems and it was too hard, so they stopped. Well, felt like I should ask V to invite her sister to church, then V called back and asked who should call, then she decided she would, then she called back 10 minutes later that they were coming and would be there the next day!! I was so excited. God hears prayers, and answers them. Listen to the small promptings. S showed up the next morning with such a big change. The boys are capable of going to class by themselves now, she now has a car (a tesla I might add) and just so prepared. The ward enveloped them and a member (Sister Y) scheduled them to make Mexican food at her house with us this weekend. Great miracles all over. The area is coming. I never want to leave here. I love this ward.
Exchanges with Elder G this week were fun, good to be with my "Pops." I look like some kind of lizard with all the skin peeling off my neck from the sun.  Got a cool referral from Sister T from HW!  Mission tour this week with Elder Wong! Me and Elder P will get to meet him 4 on 1 for a half hour Friday. Pretty excited.The church is true, does everyone know it? If not, ask now.  Don't kill all the big deer, I don't want to have to put them to shame next year.
I love my mission so much!!! Best time of my life.

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

Friday, October 14, 2016

10/10 Take and Apply

We are getting back in the saddle! It's been a little slow these past few weeks, but we are getting ourselves off the ground and back into the saddle. Picked up a couple new investigators this past week and hope to continue to work with the several member referral investigators we have right now. We are on a really good level with the ward, and Elder R is really getting to know them better which is good, it has been pretty slow that way. I think things are going in a good direction and we just need to keep pushing it along. Still a lot of work with the young men. We love that and all of them are catching the vision. The YM President is working with them and planning even more activities and the Bishop as well even told us he was considering another calling with the YM. We have discussed and really, for the most part, all the active people in our ward were baptized in their youth up to 25 years old. Lots of potential there. So we are excited working there, as well will pick up a few new LA members to work with here soon. 
Today we went on our ward travel to Kam Tin, very good opportunity to work with the members, and even though I got absolutely fried, we were able to walk (or crawl) away with success. It was a good time for the CSW team. 
The Zone is coming along! Pretty bummed, but it will work out. Trying to cram and get this ZTM ready for tomorrow, with all of the great things said in Conference I don't know what more we could add. It's just time to put our shoulder to the plow, with more force than ever. Forget it all and go to work. Like the time my dad and I rode into Wyoming at 1 in the morning by just the light of the moon on horse back. Nose down, focus on what matters and let everything else go, to be worried about when it's light. 
Myself doing beyond well with the recent General Conference, learned so much, wish I could just memorize it all and apply. So much about missionary work and even a lot about the missionary lessons.
Lots coming and miracles to come.
I am fried. haha

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

Monday, October 3, 2016

10/3 Mission Calls!

Where to start? Well things are chugging along. We are still working a lot with the young men, and a couple of their friends. Seeing good progress and improvement. Lots of good potential, the only hard part has been scheduling them. Tends to be pretty hit and miss. There are some other good people coming, the Hwa family came yesterday, and we had no idea they arrived! They even went to Primary, the ward just took care of them. So that was a miracle and definitely something to be grateful for out here. As well Brother W was there, and we were able to schedule him for this weekend! Seeing some more good ground.
Had a good exchange with Elder W this week. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I went to their area, and Elder G went to mine. We had some good discussion time, and teaching time, I learned a lot. I came away with the fact that I need to minister more to not only the Zone, but to my companion and those around me. I love people, taking that passion and lifting more. That's the idea.
Fun note, N from Tung Chung almost has his papers in, and we had three calls in our ward this week! (Hawaii, Australia, and D Y got called to England!).
It's been a good week. More than excited for conference this weekend, pretty jealous of everyone who has already seen it. I hear the cold is coming in, everyone start chopping the wood and get ready!! Winter fires are the best!
Oh ya and super fun Birthday this week. I don't feel much older.. I don't think time has effect anymore... Love you all!!

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

9/26 There is your treasure

Sister Y made a birthday cake for Daniel and me.  It was SO GOOD!



It has been a good week. As far as the area, things are a little slow, we have a ton of people just right on the edge of progressing at church, just need to get them there, and honestly, meet them a little more. We have quite a few referrals that haven't started taking it seriously, which could very well be our fault. We are repenting of our scheduling skills most recently.
It was super fun yesterday to have Sis. Y (the ones that visited our family) have a cake for D and I after church. Real thick cake. Oh man it was good. Fun day at church. 
Had interviews with President L this week.  It was an amazing 20 minutes with him. It always comforts me to know that a man who holds keys runs this place. I didn't even really have to say my questions for him to answer me. I walked away feeling so much better, humbled, and with a list of things I want to do better. I have a long way to go and a short time to get there. Life is short.
I just want to say again how much I love this work. "Where our treasure is, there will our heart be also." (Matthew?) I love my mission and this gospel. I loved hearing about others missions, and such, back home, as well. If we as individuals treasure this gospel as much as we say we do, there will our heart be also. Preaching the love of God. I am grateful to have heard that testimony from my mother and my father and those who surrounded me, I know where their treasure is. There are a lot of people around us who need to hear our testimonies. RM's, potential missionaries surround you. We hear about how much missions changed us, but don't often hear the how. "A candle that is lit on a hill cannot be hid." It is my invitation to share that treasure with others. It is of the fountain that floweth freely that all men shall partake. I love this Gospel. Christ lives and he IS my Redeemer. I love Him with all my heart. I am so grateful for this experience.
Love you all! Thanks so many for the birthday wishes!


-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

Sunday, September 25, 2016

9/17 Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

 Ate more Mooncakes than I can count this week. If you don't know what that is google it. This week and this holiday is pretty much Christmas in China, it is a big holiday rich with tradition and cool things. Unfortunate part is mooncakes are super unhealthy. Oh well. :) 
We witnessed so many miracles this week! The Lord was testing us. This week we were able to see V at church again! He is an Atheist who told me he has been feeling God's love as he has been reading the scriptures and praying! We got him all by himself after church to see how he was doing. Now that his hob has slowed down with elections being over, he can come to church more and hopefully we can get a little more serious. As well Brother L from mainland also showed up, and he said the same thing Victor said! A testament that God lives and the Book of Mormon is true? That was also very encouraging. Two people making their progression. Them and the Lord. God is real and He is looking out for every one of His children. We also met with several new investigators and potentials this week, we have a lot of younger YSA, YM potentials and new investigators right now, and hopefully we can keep working with them and get them to their respective areas. So it was a slower week, but we are looking up to this coming week with a lot scheduled already. High hopes!! Seeking for referrals (Bro C brought his girlfriend to church!) and to assist the ward leadership in carrying out the work. 
Miracle and awesome General Conference level story: Brother T hasn't had a steady job since he has come to Hong Kong, but two weeks ago he had a long time school mate give him a job just over the border in Mainland. Well it includes a place to stay, and a month of free time before he really starts. Awesome, right? Gets better. During the Mid Autumn festival this week, his friend invites him to a big celebration with all these business people, and there is a lot of tea and alcohol, traditional to Mainland Chinese culture. Well he denies the tea and alcohol at the beginning when they are just chatting, to which he said his boss friend wasn't too pleased, but then came the real challenge. After dinner they pass around a cup (or bottle?) of wine and everyone drinks. This is after he has caught some flack for being a "Mormon." Bottle comes to him and he denies it! And they tell him to drink and he said he passed it on again!!! He is such a good example to me of humility and faith. He is amazing and I love him so much. A gave a great talk yesterday at sacrament and K got the priesthood, as well. Things are doing well, even C is finishing his papers here soon. I love this ward! 
Oh and a note, the missionary book was a hit at Ward Council, they loved it and we have it all done now. Excited to start visiting families and help them with home teaching and sharing the gospel. 
I love this work with all my heart! I love this area and the amazing faithful members and lifelong friends I have made here. I under appreciate them some times, just a I did many of you probably. The Church is true, it is the boat, the organization in which God has given us to return to Him one day. He is in charge. I love the truth and am glad for the parents I have the the family I have to raise me in it.  
Shout out to the best mother in the world! Last year I think I said she is turning 25, but I had a math error and she is actually turning 25 this year! So tell her congrats on the 21st! She makes 25 look young! I love my mom and am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ I learned at her feet. The things she taught me through not only word, but also action. Her deeds and her example lead me through so much. I love  you mom!!
have a great week!

Love, Elder Sargent

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

9/12 Faith unto Repentance



Good week, not much time to write sorry! This week we missed out on just about everyone because they were all out of town for some reason. So lots more time for Elder R and I to find more investigators, who all happened to live outside our area... haha but hey its good to support the work! It's all the same work right? My thought from MLC the kind of revelation I got was relative to Alma 34, faith unto repentance, and 2 Nephi 4. We read from Alma, that as we have faith we will repent, therefore, the more faith the more repentance, however at first this doesn't make sense to me. The most faithful should have the least to repent about. Kind of contradicting right? Then reading in Nephi, this man of so much faith, proceeds to write a whole chapter that outlines the real meaning of Alma's words. Seeking to be better, righting wrongs and constantly looking for the higher road. I took this as a good check for myself, when I feel like my faith is well, how is my repentance? Does it sow the same thing? Pretty cool thought and teaching from the prophets of old. Love you all! Sorry for the short thought!!

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

9/5 A family!

zone conference
B's Birthday



The work is Cheung Sha Wan has been good. This week was busy, with Zone Conference, Transfers and all that went on this week was a blur. We have noticed in the area, we feel like what we have is moving very well, and that we have some great potential for the upcoming months, but also want to keep moving some more through. Several investigators that weren't really progressing these past two weeks, due to how busy we have been, have kind of just dropped off, which might be ok, let them use their agency. So meanwhile, we are working to find some more new faces and find the elect. And we did that this week!! Picked up a new family, which is difficult in Hong Kong. They are formers from several years ago. The husband actually passed his interview, but things came up and he wasn't baptized. They say they feel a lot more prepared this time, their son is much older and they said they are here to stay. They live in Sham Shui Po, drive, and even mentioned they would like to move to Utah when D, the son, goes to High School. They still have several connections in the church and many of the members still remembered them. Answer to prayers? Yes. I love teaching families more that just about anything in the world. So we are excited for F, D, and P! We also were able to see a member referral again this week, Felix, one of the YM's friend. We are working well with the YM and have been seeing good progress there. Growing well. Should have 4 more missionaries go out from our ward in the next 6 months. That's pretty good for a ward of 80. I am so happy that while it might be a little slow sometimes, everyone is progressing. Doing so well.
We had Zone Conference, and I did get quite a bit of revelation pertaining to how I need to do better in my teaching, and tapping into the Spirit. Sometimes I feel like I try to tell the Spirit what to testify of to the investigator, when I should be doing a better job of testifying of what the Spirit wants me to testify of. I came away edified. Felt like it was good, I feel like we as missionaries need to be better at always bearing testimony of Christ though. We can testify at any time. Never forget.
I am pretty excited to see what this new turn up in the areas and leadership can do. I know all of them actually pretty well, so that will be a great experience. I am excited to keep serving as Zone Leader. Hope to continue to set a higher standard. Raise the Bar. That's what I would like to do: Sacrifice, utilize the atonement to power us, push harder and do more. I love this work. I am grateful for the priesthood and the keys on earth. I know the Savior lives. He loves me, He knows my struggles and my weakness's. He is the Light and the Life of the World. I am one of the most blessed people to be able to do this work. 

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent

P.S.  My personal miracle, I was 100% sure I had a decent sized cavity in my tooth for the past two months, and I have been pretty nervous about it. I hate the dentist office like nothing else. Just saying, nothing personal to dentists, but I fear them. So I have been praying for a miracle. We finally go to the dentist, and.... I don't have anything! (and Elder R did!) The hole I had felt was gone when we left. Wow.

Pictures are of B's birthday and Pday fun.  Also, Zone Conference training. 

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

8/29 Moves Calls: My Chinese Family

Dim Sum birthday lunch for C

13 year old K

baptism day

K and his mother

soap cycling


YES! I am staying!! I am going on 10 months in this area, and I couldn't be more excited. These people are my Chinese family, and they treat me well. I love them so much. Elder R is also staying, so it should be another fun transfer. This week has been great! Fun week to see K get baptized and see his mother. He is surprisingly strong for a 13 year old. It has been so much fun to see how far he has come, which I wholly attribute to puberty. Since I have arrived in this area, he has gotten several inches taller, and much, much more heavy. On top of that, he has gotten so much more mature, but he is still a 13 year old. :) He wishes to go on a mission and so does his mother.  An committed to a baptismal date on the 1st of October which is awesome, his Bishop invited him to play the piano at church and he is hooked! He loves it. We finished teaching all the lessons last week, and he has continued to see the sisters in Tsuen Wan, so we should just be here to assist from now on. A-Y is the big news, he finished the Book of Mormon! In 8 months, started when I got here and finished last week. He admitted it was slow and hard at first, but that he enjoyed it more and more as it progressed. The work is progressing. We are working on moving some more investigators into the pool, and it is coming. We have a ton of potentials from the MTR (our finding there has been very successful) and we have seen several once and are waiting to see again. So it has been a good work.

As a companionship, we are working well together. I love Elder R so much! He is amazing. We are both learning a lot and progressing in Christ-like attributes. He, as well, seems to have sworn off English. Been pretty fun. He has always talked about how he feels like his Chinese is terrible when people ask if he understands, so he is just going off. He is a good example. I myself feel like things are going well. I am SO excited to stay and keep working here, help Elder R continue to get to know the ward better, and myself continue to progress those relationships. 

The Zone is going to be experiencing a lot of big changes! It should be good to get some new blood in some of those areas, and I think everyone seems pretty excited to keep working. The zone as a whole seems to be working hard for new investigators and with school starting up, it should be a different ball game. The faith is high and we are going to do it!! I love the faith and the love of these missionaries and their desire for the work. I love them all so much. I love the ward! I love this work! I just never want to lose the feeling I have now. The gospel is true, no matter how many times people try to tell me no, I will keep pushing! We WILL bring the world His truth. My grandpa always told me to not fight it, so I won't. Just give it all.

-- 
Love,
   Elder Sargent