大家好！
This week started my fourth transfer on the mission, moving from Tai Po to Yuen Long. Because of such, I am also moving from the Tolo Harbor Zone to the New Territories! With exchanges on Tuesday and Wednesday and transfers on Thursday, Sunday was my last full day with Elder Chen. Even until today, it has been a crazy crazy busy week.
Moving from Tai Po to Yuen Long was like coming to Hong Kong all over again; the two look nothing alike. While Tai Po is very city like, with no treez, Yuen Long is much greener with a mix between very very old chyuns (small houses) and huge, modern architecture including a famous Yo-Ho supermall.
I also live in a six-man apartment in Tin Shui Wai now, which has been pretty awesome. The apartment is a little bit bigger but it's been fun trying to balance the one kitchen and shower between the six of us. The nice thing is that there is a 'Light Rail' (輕鐵）station right below our apartment, which is a train system that runs above ground, different than the main MTR trains. The downside of this system is that it takes a lot longer because it is slower and stops for pedestrians.
This first week in Yuen Long has been nothing short of busy. Here, we cover two wards, the Cantonese Yuen Long Ward and the New Territories English Branch. Due to this, I had the opportunity to schedule and meet so many people from church! Our work normally should be 50/50 Canto/English work, but since our teaching pool is currently almost all English, I have used English a lot more, which is nice, but also caps my Cantonese learning. It's been tricky though, because this teaching pool meant that my companion, Elder Vega, has had a lot less Cantonese practice before I came. He is also leading the area right out of training for the first time, so it's definitely been a little chaotic and has tested my Cantonese for sure, haha.
In addition, as we serve the English Branch in the New T's, we are in charge of all of the zone's English friends, which is essentially all of North-Eastern Hong Kong. Since some of the friends cannot come to Yuen Long as easily, a lot of our time is taken traveling to them, which has been a big adjustment compared to Tai Po, where we rarely, if ever, travel out.
//
Because of the fact that we cover New Territories' English, we have the amazing opportunity to help teach a certain English family in Tuen Mun.
The mom of this family, Maria, has investigated the gospel for many years and has just started to commit to take lessons with us. Even more special, the rest of her family, including her two sons, are similarly interested in learning.
I had the special opportunity on the night that I moved to Yuen Long to have dinner with them at their house. Throughout this visit, something was just so special about their family. Both of the sons, whom are 17 and 5, were so willing and happy to talk with us. The five year old son, who's name is Marvin, was a ball of energy, so outgoing and loving. The whole family shared jokes and laughed a lot, and it felt so complete.
However, throughout the dinner, I learned of their family's story of hardship and struggle in moving and living in Hong Kong. It was not an easy decision to move nor adjust to such a bustling and busy lifestyle which relies on a language foreign to them.
As we taught our lesson on the Restoration, Maria mentioned something I won't forget in a long time. She said that following the gospel's family proclamation and learning about Christ together had made what their family is now—one of care, one of trust, and most importantly, peacemaking. Their family has pressed forward steadfastly together, and it is truly, truly, such a humbling and blessed opportunity to teach them.
This week during a special District Conference in Wan Chai I was reminded of a scripture, one that comes to mind as I think of this family, and even the mission as a whole. It is in 3 Nephi 24, which reads,
24 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.
Just like Maria's family we each have a light, no matter if we believe in Christ, God, other religions, or just ourselves. This light is our inherent sense of love; our care and charity for one another. This light is what inspires me every day to not just teach others, but learn from others as well.
//
I had other amazing experiences this week but I have written a lot already. I take a bit of pictures so I hope that partially shared the rest! Thank you for all of your emails as well. I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the winter weather! Sorry for the longer email :)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkaoEe965etiYQuj7
下個星期再見，
趙長老
Read More About This Post
This week started my fourth transfer on the mission, moving from Tai Po to Yuen Long. Because of such, I am also moving from the Tolo Harbor Zone to the New Territories! With exchanges on Tuesday and Wednesday and transfers on Thursday, Sunday was my last full day with Elder Chen. Even until today, it has been a crazy crazy busy week.
Moving from Tai Po to Yuen Long was like coming to Hong Kong all over again; the two look nothing alike. While Tai Po is very city like, with no treez, Yuen Long is much greener with a mix between very very old chyuns (small houses) and huge, modern architecture including a famous Yo-Ho supermall.
I also live in a six-man apartment in Tin Shui Wai now, which has been pretty awesome. The apartment is a little bit bigger but it's been fun trying to balance the one kitchen and shower between the six of us. The nice thing is that there is a 'Light Rail' (輕鐵）station right below our apartment, which is a train system that runs above ground, different than the main MTR trains. The downside of this system is that it takes a lot longer because it is slower and stops for pedestrians.
This first week in Yuen Long has been nothing short of busy. Here, we cover two wards, the Cantonese Yuen Long Ward and the New Territories English Branch. Due to this, I had the opportunity to schedule and meet so many people from church! Our work normally should be 50/50 Canto/English work, but since our teaching pool is currently almost all English, I have used English a lot more, which is nice, but also caps my Cantonese learning. It's been tricky though, because this teaching pool meant that my companion, Elder Vega, has had a lot less Cantonese practice before I came. He is also leading the area right out of training for the first time, so it's definitely been a little chaotic and has tested my Cantonese for sure, haha.
In addition, as we serve the English Branch in the New T's, we are in charge of all of the zone's English friends, which is essentially all of North-Eastern Hong Kong. Since some of the friends cannot come to Yuen Long as easily, a lot of our time is taken traveling to them, which has been a big adjustment compared to Tai Po, where we rarely, if ever, travel out.
//
Because of the fact that we cover New Territories' English, we have the amazing opportunity to help teach a certain English family in Tuen Mun.
The mom of this family, Maria, has investigated the gospel for many years and has just started to commit to take lessons with us. Even more special, the rest of her family, including her two sons, are similarly interested in learning.
I had the special opportunity on the night that I moved to Yuen Long to have dinner with them at their house. Throughout this visit, something was just so special about their family. Both of the sons, whom are 17 and 5, were so willing and happy to talk with us. The five year old son, who's name is Marvin, was a ball of energy, so outgoing and loving. The whole family shared jokes and laughed a lot, and it felt so complete.
However, throughout the dinner, I learned of their family's story of hardship and struggle in moving and living in Hong Kong. It was not an easy decision to move nor adjust to such a bustling and busy lifestyle which relies on a language foreign to them.
As we taught our lesson on the Restoration, Maria mentioned something I won't forget in a long time. She said that following the gospel's family proclamation and learning about Christ together had made what their family is now—one of care, one of trust, and most importantly, peacemaking. Their family has pressed forward steadfastly together, and it is truly, truly, such a humbling and blessed opportunity to teach them.
This week during a special District Conference in Wan Chai I was reminded of a scripture, one that comes to mind as I think of this family, and even the mission as a whole. It is in 3 Nephi 24, which reads,
24 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.
Just like Maria's family we each have a light, no matter if we believe in Christ, God, other religions, or just ourselves. This light is our inherent sense of love; our care and charity for one another. This light is what inspires me every day to not just teach others, but learn from others as well.
//
I had other amazing experiences this week but I have written a lot already. I take a bit of pictures so I hope that partially shared the rest! Thank you for all of your emails as well. I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the winter weather! Sorry for the longer email :)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkaoEe965etiYQuj7
下個星期再見，
趙長老
👯
Elder Chen's tennis shoes since the beginning of his mission VS new shoes
The one Popeyes in HK!
So many versions of 三國殺!
Goodbye Elder Pillion 🥹
Goodbye meal with 啊展 🥹
Exchanges with Elder Rooks!
Exchanges with 萬長老 Elder Freeman!
Visiting Koby with 呂兄弟 😊
He treated us some American food 🥹
Sheung Shui 上水
With Elder Chuyy
Leaving Fanling together 🫶 Goodbye Tai Po!
My morning spent cleaning the apartment ✨✨
Last district photo!
First day in 元朗 Yuen Long (North West Hong Kong)
Meet: 韋長老 Elder Vega
Meeting Maria and the family!!
Meeting Lawrence 😁 the kindest and most amazing fellowshipper
The dedication plate!
Walk from the chapel - - > Light Rail System 輕鐵
The Light Rail! 輕鐵 only in the New Territories
洪水橋教堂，the Hung Shui Kiu stake center/ chapel
Sports night!!
First time meeting 吳先生 😁
Where could we be
First time meeting Edgar! 一起飲茶
The Wan Chai Chapel 🤑
First time at church 😁😁 it was District Conference at Wan Chai!!
From Left: Marvin little, Elder Vega, Me, Vino, Maria, Marvin!
