大家好！
I hope everything is going well at home! So many things happened this week that made it feel so slow and so fast at the same time. We are somehow nearly done with September although it feels like the month has just started!
As I mentioned in my last email, this week we were hit by Typhoon Ragasa, a super typhoon which has been the biggest typhoon in Hong Kong for seven years. Although the typhoon only escalated on Wednesday, we missionaries were to be in our apartments by 1PM on Tuesday! The vibe of the city was very weird and quiet since everyone was slowly trickling indoors. I am super grateful for the time indoors though as I was under the weather for a bit.
The actual typhoon was pretty wild. It started overnight and continued into the next day, and the rain/wind was hitting the windows so strong that the rattling woke us up. The storm atmospheric pressure was severe enough that it nearly sealed our apartment door from opening in the morning, and it made our ears pop when we did. Some windows were leaking but it was honestly super chill for the most part. We obviously weren't able to go out the whole day, which was a bummer, but we were able to schedule two lessons during this time because everyone was free! We were losing our minds so much that I think we played Catan 3.5 times that day; we finished the game from the previous day, played one before hours, for lunch, and one after hours haha.
Since this is a new transfer, we also had 15 new missionaries come to the mission! They originally were going to come on the following Thursday after the typhoon. However, because of Ragasa, their flight was canceled and we had to wait for Friday to finally exchange. It was a sad day to say goodbye to Elder Smith, but I was able to meet Elder Chen, my next comp! Elder Chen is super cool; he speaks Mandarin and loves to play volleyball and violin as well. It has been weird leading the area, but in reality Elder Chen has actually served in Tai Po for 9 months before, so he has made it super easy and even shown me some things I had never tried B)
Throughout this week I was also kind of stressing because I was assigned to talk in sacrament meeting! Bishop had assigned us many weeks back, but since Elder Smith and I didn't know who would be transferring out, we waited for one of us to leave before the other took on the talk. Due to that, and then my own procrastination, I put together a talk in a short 2 days... cramming as usual. In terms of how it went, out of the whole 120+ member congregation, 1 person said "good talk" :') soo yeah. We will def continue working on the Canto.
For a spiritual thought I wanted to share a scripture from my talk. It was one which I had memorized last transfer as a companionship goal with Elder Smith. It is a message from the ancient prophet Alma to Helaman, his son, and describes his role as a prophet of God, and what his purpose has been.
Alma 37:24
Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
The joy of the work is so genuinely important. We are doing this to give others a taste of the joy we each have gotten from learning of Christ's love and eternal plan :)
Mark will be getting baptized in a couple of weeks. He came to church for the first time, the first week I was here in Tai Po. I am so grateful for His promised hand in the work as I put forth all I can. Please pray for him, that he may learn well and stay strong against opposition.
相冊! https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkaoEe965etiYQuj7
I hope everything is going well and you are all safe and healthy! I'll get this out a bit early to reply to some emails, and I'll see you in the next one
Ciaoo,
趙長老
Our sister's Facebook ad 🙌
Welcome to the Tai Po chapel!
Read More About This Post
I hope everything is going well at home! So many things happened this week that made it feel so slow and so fast at the same time. We are somehow nearly done with September although it feels like the month has just started!
As I mentioned in my last email, this week we were hit by Typhoon Ragasa, a super typhoon which has been the biggest typhoon in Hong Kong for seven years. Although the typhoon only escalated on Wednesday, we missionaries were to be in our apartments by 1PM on Tuesday! The vibe of the city was very weird and quiet since everyone was slowly trickling indoors. I am super grateful for the time indoors though as I was under the weather for a bit.
The actual typhoon was pretty wild. It started overnight and continued into the next day, and the rain/wind was hitting the windows so strong that the rattling woke us up. The storm atmospheric pressure was severe enough that it nearly sealed our apartment door from opening in the morning, and it made our ears pop when we did. Some windows were leaking but it was honestly super chill for the most part. We obviously weren't able to go out the whole day, which was a bummer, but we were able to schedule two lessons during this time because everyone was free! We were losing our minds so much that I think we played Catan 3.5 times that day; we finished the game from the previous day, played one before hours, for lunch, and one after hours haha.
Since this is a new transfer, we also had 15 new missionaries come to the mission! They originally were going to come on the following Thursday after the typhoon. However, because of Ragasa, their flight was canceled and we had to wait for Friday to finally exchange. It was a sad day to say goodbye to Elder Smith, but I was able to meet Elder Chen, my next comp! Elder Chen is super cool; he speaks Mandarin and loves to play volleyball and violin as well. It has been weird leading the area, but in reality Elder Chen has actually served in Tai Po for 9 months before, so he has made it super easy and even shown me some things I had never tried B)
Throughout this week I was also kind of stressing because I was assigned to talk in sacrament meeting! Bishop had assigned us many weeks back, but since Elder Smith and I didn't know who would be transferring out, we waited for one of us to leave before the other took on the talk. Due to that, and then my own procrastination, I put together a talk in a short 2 days... cramming as usual. In terms of how it went, out of the whole 120+ member congregation, 1 person said "good talk" :') soo yeah. We will def continue working on the Canto.
For a spiritual thought I wanted to share a scripture from my talk. It was one which I had memorized last transfer as a companionship goal with Elder Smith. It is a message from the ancient prophet Alma to Helaman, his son, and describes his role as a prophet of God, and what his purpose has been.
Alma 37:24
Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
The joy of the work is so genuinely important. We are doing this to give others a taste of the joy we each have gotten from learning of Christ's love and eternal plan :)
Mark will be getting baptized in a couple of weeks. He came to church for the first time, the first week I was here in Tai Po. I am so grateful for His promised hand in the work as I put forth all I can. Please pray for him, that he may learn well and stay strong against opposition.
相冊! https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkaoEe965etiYQuj7
I hope everything is going well and you are all safe and healthy! I'll get this out a bit early to reply to some emails, and I'll see you in the next one
Ciaoo,
趙長老
It was a long day
Sunday dinner 😋
Someone tell me what 67 is
Disney!
胡兄弟和胡姊妹 🫶🫶
Everyone x'ed off their windows with tape to prevent the typhoon from breaking the glass
Stocking up for the typhoon
E. Smith made us peanut butter cookies 🥹🫶🫶
Our windows leaked so much
Curry night 🙌
E. Chuy on the peanut butter protein balls
Dad emailed me about the chopsticks 😔
********** Dad's email **********
********** End of dad's email **********
with 呂兄弟 ✌️😊
加油，麥長老 🥹
[upset stomach]
Our YSA Karaoke night :)
Both Henry and Mark were able to come
2nd transfer zone picture at Disney!
