The Zhao Family

This week was temple week!! For the first time on the mission I was able to visit the Hong Kong temple on Tuesday. It is small for a temple but still so beautiful. There I was able to meet Brad, my friend from home and his friend Chungze from China! Brad was even able to go through the temple with us, and we were able to have lunch together afterwards (of course with permission from president) 

Later that day Hong Kong was hit with a storm that raised an amber alert! We didn't bring umbrellas and were stuck in an isolated park with a walkway that extended only a couple hundred feet. Luckily, there were covered benches and we were able to do some of our studies. 

We also had two exchanges this week! Exchanges are where we change companions with another pair of missionaries for the day. I was able to be with Elder Jerdon for a day and Elder Tolbert for a day, which were both awesome. 

My first exchange of the week with Elder Jerdon was the first time that I had to lead the area! Since he came to my area (rather than me go to his) I knew directions to places, so I planned our day. Elder Smith as my trainer usually does this and it was a bit difficult at first to take the lead but I got the hang of it throughout the day. 

I named this email "faith in every footstep" because one of our most progressing friends from volleyball talked with his parents about coming to church and was told that he would not be able to go. He comes from a Hindu background but he has so much desire to learn more about Christ! It is so hard to see our friend, who was so enthusiastic before, not be able to even visit our church, but I know that I must have faith and just continue to support him as a friend. God knows better than I ever will and I hope that he someday will be able to have the opportunity to look for his own beliefs, maybe even if it is not our church. 

On another note, I was so blessed to be able to be visited by the Huangs yesterday, my family friends from my home branch! They surprised visited our ward, and it was such a full circle moment to see them as I had visited Rich when he had been on his mission! 

It has overall been, as I have said, a blessing to serve here and I know as I continue on putting forth faith in every footstep, I will see the Lord's hand in my life! 

Thank you so much for your support and I promise I will get back to your emails if I haven't! Pdays seem so fast but I am sure grateful for them. 

As always, join the photos! 

Love you all, 

Elder Zhao