Nov. 24,2013 - Hey!

So another solid week out in SSP and the office. Crazy how fast the week goes when your pday is on Thursday and then again on Monday. Even without that, time straight flies. That's for sure. Sounds like all is well back in the States! Congrats to the mighty mighty Greenwave making it to state! I'm sure the whole town was stoked on that. I have the same expectations for the basketball team. So get to work!

I feel like we had a really successful week. We don't have much when it comes to investigators right now, but we are really helping some Less Actives make it out to church. One is named Tom and he is 17. he was baptized at the beginning of the year, but went la pretty quickly after. So we have been meeting with him and really helping him to get him involved in the ward. I know if it wasn't for Fallon 4th Ward, it would have been hard to be as involved as I was. So we are doing the same with him. Getting him to activities, FHE, everything so he can realize that this stuff is really going to change his course, but he has to let it.

Another Less Active we have been working with is named Penny. This kid is like 6'4" and is straight baller! He is on this All Hong Kong Junior team and has been winning tons of tournaments and stuff. The problem is that the games are all weekend things and so he never goes to church. But we made a break through! Yesterday he was at church before his game started. He decided that he could make it to Sacrament, and there he was! There is still work to do, but this was a huge deal. The ward thought we were miracle workers because they never thought we could get him to church, but there he was! He is a really awesome kid, I look forward to keep helping him realize that church is going to help him in all aspects, he just has to chose to let it. I have really developed a love for less active members and what value they are to the ward and to God. I haven't had a ton of success bringing new people to the knowledge of the gospel, but we have been able to help and remind lots of Less actives the importance of the gospel. god loves us all so much. I have a testimony of that for sure.

A lot of time this week was still working on opening the new apartment that we bought and closing the old one. It is a lot of work! I have really liked working on it though. I am really learning to find the joy in helping other missionaries fulfill their purpose. Even if it is small stuff. 

I wish I had more to report on, but it was a short week! Everyone in the zone is really excited about our Thanksgiving activity this Thursday. We all were assigned a food item to prepare and bring and have a nice thanksgiving with our zone. Our companionship was assigned turkey, so we will see how that goes. We bought one this morning and so it should be good. I wish I had paid more attention all those Thanksgivings. haha. I'm just going to put it in the oven and cross my fingers. haha.

We have had a lot of just little random things come up this week that have taken some time. Elders getting locked out of apartments and needing keys, or other stuff breaking. We have to take care of that stuff. I don't know how other missions take care of stuff like that. One that you cant drive across in an hour or two. But we also had a bible group from mainland come down wanting to know more about our church, so we put together a presentation for them. I thought it went really well. We also had a mainland guy just show up the other day saying he wanted to hear about our church. So we taught him and he will be back to hear more later! Cool, huh? The church situation in China is a little complicated, but I can just say that work there is blowing up, even without full time missionaries there. The work is true!

All in all, just another solid week and I'm looking forward to the one that we have ahead! Lots of opportunities. Lots to learn and apply!

I love you guys. remember to have an attitude of gratitude, not just this week but every week of the year!

胡基謙長老

Elder Woodburn

Nov. 21, 2013

Another week come and gone! This one felt a little longer because we switched our P-Day to thursday instead of the usual Monday. But no complaints! It makes for a short week this week.

So how goes it back in the states? Im sure you are busy with school and sports and the daily rigors of life! That has how it has been for us here. We have been really busy getting new elders in, buying apartments, moving, and finding.

So this last week we got one new elder in. He is a mandarin speaker, but we were really stoked to have him come and stay with us for a night before he went out to his area. It was so nice to just be getting one elder in stead of 12 or 13 like we usually do. It is a lot less to get ready for. I like seeing the new missionaries come in becuase they are soooooooo jet lagged and culutre shocked, but they are also just stoked to be missionaries and get to talk to everyone in Chinese. He wanted to hear stories from our missions so far and so it was fun telling some good stories and getting him that much more excited to get out there and do what he was sent here to do. I love new missionaries!

We also have a few apartment contracts ending at the end of the year, so we are getting closer to having to renew or find new ones. The Hong Kong housing market is insane, so the prices are pretty high, so it is a lot to think about as we try and find new places. It is kind of fun going around and looking at potential places. We bought a new apartment down on the island at the beginning of last week and spent a lot of money. A LOT of money... haha but it is a nice place and put us to work the rest of the week. 

Since we got that new place down on the island, we spent a whole day just moving apartments. Moving in the states is pretty inconvenient, but try doing it here in Hong Kong. The streets are two small and crowded that we cant use the van to move, so we have this little platform on wheels that we used to move everything. It wasnt to far to move, the new apartment was about 6 or 7 blocks from the old one. It was a long day when wwe moved everything. I love my companion elder Woo, but he is about 5'2" and hardly weighs 100 pounds. So not a ton of man power to get the job done, but we did it and had some fun in the process.

Christmas time is just around the corner and so we are helping Sister Hawks plan the big party and activity. I am really excited for that. I am in charge of putting together a slideshow of pictures of the year, so that has been really fun starting to make.

Here is a funny story you also might enjoy. Just when I thought I was getting a hold of this office thing, something came up. I got a call from President Hawks at 7 in the morning asking me why 16 boxes of chinese BOM are at his house in Orem Ut..... That was a surprise! So I called Salt Lake and had to figure out how in the world our order got sent to his address back in Utah. Something with the computer goofed and they sent it to the wrong place. We were able to get it all figured out, but I dont think I am going to live that down for the rest of my time in the office. I had my fingers crossed that maybe a bus full of chinese people would break down in front of Presidents house, but it never happened. haha

The days really seem to fly. Crazy how that starts to happen. I pray for you and hope that all is well back on the homefront! tommy gets home in 3 weeks?!?! What the?!? He is the man, that will be an awesome day! 

Well, I love you guys, until next week

Elder Woodburn

胡基謙長老

November 11, 2013

How is everyone??? I'm sure all is well. It was another great week here!

So it was an exciting week for sure. Lots going on, which is always fun. I have a few good stories from this week, so I am hoping that I can do them justice via email.

First, we have been visiting the home of a recent convert in the ward and teaching her son more about the church. He is only 7 so it can be hard to help him stay focused, but I think he has been learning a lot. The real miracle is that her husband hasn't really wanted to hear the lessons or see us at all. Before he would leave once we came, but this week he stayed and heard our message. He said that he wants to know more. So we gave him a book of Mormon and challenged him to read a specific chapter with his wife. It was a huge deal. People really do change, and it is so awesome to have a family to teach the gospel. This is the first full family I have got to visit and share the gospel with. 

Second, in HK we occasionally have people from mainland come to hear the gospel and be baptized. This last week we had a family from Beijing come and hear the lessons. some circumstances arose that we had to teach them for a part, but since I hardly know mandarin, I kept their 6 yr old son occupied. It was so fun playing with him. I didn't have to say a word to him, but I feel like I have an awesome 6 yr old friend who lives in Beijing now.

Another story kinda revolves around Mandarin missionary work. The Mandarins accidentally had two investigators scheduled at the same time, so we went on splits with them so that way we could cover both lessons. It wasn't that bad because they understood Cantonese, but spoke in Mandarin. So it was kinda fun trying to understand what was said in mandarin. They are close, but still totally different languages. 

Finding was also really fun this week. Our wards young men went with us and it was a good experience. We met a guy from the Congo who was really tall and was married to a Chinese lady here in HK. It was fun talking with him. He spoke french, so I asked him if i could go to the bathroom. That's all I really remember from high school. haha. I talked with his wife a bit and he was so suprised we spoke Chinese. Then he spoke some African Chinese that was hilarious and awesome. I love my mission because you never know who you are going to meet.

Things are well. Really well. I love you guys and hope that the Lord keeps you safe. 

Love,

Elder Woodburn

Nov. 4, 2013 - Sorry about no letter last week

你地好嗎? 

So all is well in Hong Kong! the weather is cooling down, think the high today is 85 or something so that is really welcome. Things here are going really well, these last two weeks we have kinda slowed down in the office, so we have had more time to go finding and teaching. Well more finding than anything. Sham Shui Po is an awesome area and has an awesome ward. Missionaries here have been doing great, but since the housing elders before us were so busy doing apartment stuff for all the incoming missionaries, our investigator pool is pretty small. So it has been kind of a challenge to try and build it back up again. Starting almost from scratch can be pretty tough, but I like the hard work. So lots of time on the streets this week and had lots of good experiences.

One problem that seems more prevalent in this area though is anti. We had a few times this week where we would be talking with people and others would come up and tell the person we were "che gaau" or a cult. If I have learned anything this week is that you just got to keep smiling and trying. Thats the key. Since Sham Shui Po is a little more on the beaten path than Butterfly was, I dont get as many people amazed that a white guy speaks chinese. Even the old ladies here dont love me like they did out in Butterfly! Jokes, jokes. Its funny, I feel like I have learned a lot on my mission so far, but some lessons I keep on learning. Attitude and that its something that you control is a lesson I am still learning. 

Cool experiences from the week. We have a brother in the ward who is from Nigeria and he is married to a nice lady from our ward. His name is Michael and he was baptized a few months ago. Micheal is awesome! But the only problem is that he doesn't know chinese, but likes to go to church with his family. His english is good, he just speaks with the thickest African accent. So I got to translate church for him yesterday. humbling would be the word I would use to describe it. That experience was good for me though. I have picked up a lot of Chinese, but I dont think i will ever be able to say that I know Chinese, rather I will always say I am learning chinese. Michael was grateful for the help and it was pretty fun. Translating probably wont be a future career of mine though, thats for sure. haha

Nothing really to report about driving, which I guess is a good thing. I drive a toyota Hiace, which I dont think they even have in the US. If I had to describe it, it is kinda like a creeper van. It doesnt have back windows which stinks because it has huge blind spots and turns like a boat. driving is stressful, not fun. But it is kinda fun getting to drive all around HK. 

Like I said, still learning that you can chose to be happy. It really is a choice. circumstances are only as big a part as you let them be. So chose to live above your circumstances. Be happy. There is always something good about the day and there will always be something you want to do better tomorrow. So do it! Recognize those things. Be a better person, because thats why we are here, to all become better. And I promise you that Christ is the best way you are going to do that.

Love you and have a great week!

我關心你地！加油！

Elder Woodburn 胡基謙長老 

Oct. 21, 2013 - Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

Another week in the office has come and gone. Time really does fly. This will be short, but just know that everything is going really well! I wont bore you with the details of everyday life. But I will share a few stories from the week.

So we finally had some time this week to do some real missionary work. So we got out on the streets and met and talked with people. Our area has a huge university campus so we meet a lot of students. Many of the students are from Mainland who don't speak Cantonese so we do our contacting in broken English or my companion talks to them in Mandarin. I usually just smile and nod. 80% of communication is body language, right? haha. But it was fun just being back out there doing what missionaries do. Talking to anyone who wants to listen, knowing our message will change everything for them. We do have one investigator who we were able to meet with this week and his name is A-Seui. He is a 17 year old kid who had a friend in another ward. He has been coming to seminary every morning and has tons of questions. We were able to meet and teach him. He is great, but just has a lot of challenges to overcome. His family is really opposed to him coming to our church, and has some other complicated family problems. But he wants to learn and keeps coming to church and seminary. He has a lot of faith and he doesn't even know it.

The other story is of little importance really, but is just sort of funny. I needed a haircut and I didnt want to spend the money to go get one. So I tried giving myself a haircut. I did not work. I ended up just having to buzz it all pretty short. Bootcamp style... haha All the missionaries here have walked in and just laughed. haha the Cowleys, the senior office couple, have just laughed and laughed. My companion says I look like Buddha, belly and all. haha. Last time I try and give myself a haircut...

The office is great. Really rewarding having this opportunity to help the misisonaries here fulfill their purpose! The work is true. Nourish your testimony. It is everything.

Love, 

Elder Woodburn

胡基謙長老

Oct. 14, 2013 - The Office

Things are going really well. The week really flew by. Crazy how that seems to happen week in and week out.

The office is a little different of a life than the one I have been living for the past nine months. We are swamped right now with trying to find new places to live for all the missionaries. Our mission is really growing. My responsibilities aren't really that bad, but my companion is the housing coordinator, so he is really busy! 

I wish I had more to report on but there isn't a ton to tell. We got a big batch of new missionaries from the MTC this last week and so we had to do a lot to get them into their areas and starting to share the gospel. I never realized all the behind the scenes stuff that it takes for our mission to run smoothly. A lot of little things that got to get done. Like going to the bakery, pharmacy, and missionaries apartments. That does remind me of a good story...

So we got a call from some missionaries on the island that they locked themselves out of their bedroom and couldnt get back in. So we went there with the biggest set of keys I have ever seen. Took a while but we tried every single key and not a single one worked. So we called the landlord and got permission to break the doorknob off... Problem was that we didnt have a hammer so we took the weights off a barbell and went to town to get the knob off. It was pretty fun... haha But we got it all figured out and a new doorknob. So all is well.

There was also a little bit of stress this week because of BOM order didnt come in on time so our mission went this week without any Books of Mormon to hand out. Luckily they came in this morning and all is well again. I felt like a customer service worker at the lost luggage department. Which brings me to another story...  

So some of the new missionaries luggage was lost and the airline couldnt find it. that caused a headache for everyone! Turns out their luggage went to Japan instead of HK. They got it all figured out and the bags finally got here, but not before everyone went out to their areas. So we spent a whole day delivering luggage all over HK. It was pretty cool actually. HK is pretty small, but it is just so crowded. Especially the roads!

I haven't driven yet. Last week I went and applied for my Chinese liscence and it takes a week to process it. So I go tomorrow and pick it up. Driving is pretty crazy, but most of it is just bumper to bumper stuff so thats not so bad. The worst is parking. There is nowhere to park ever. And when you do find a place the spot is really tiny and hard to get into. We drive a giant van so it can be pretty tough. It turns like a boat. So pray that I dont get any parking tickets... haha

This week seems to be equally as busy. A realtor is taking us around Hong Kong island tomorrow looking for new apartments. Never thought I would be going house shopping on a mission. Just one more thing you would never expect.

Since we have been so busy, we only have a little time to teach and proselyte. I am hoping that changes because I am already missing the normal work of missionary work. 

Overall, things are going great. Since we work in the office I have been thinking a lot about the Office lately. No one really fits the personalities from the show except for me. I would say that I am definatley Ryan, but in saying that I make myself Michael Scott. haha

Conference was awesome! Waiting an extra week to watch it was killer, but it was worth the wait. If you didnt watch it, repent and go watch it. My favorite quote comes from Elder Dube. he said something to this effect, "Its not about where we have already been, but about where we are willing to go." Align your will with His and I promise you will find happiness. Real happiness.

Love you guys,

Elder Woodburn

October 7, 2013 - Lots of Change

Well it has been a great week, probably one of the busiest on my mission so far. I got a call from President this last week and told me he had a new assignment for me. So I am officially the China Hong Kong Mission Distribution Manager and Referral Secretary. So what does that mean exactly? I am in charge of a lot of different stuff. I make sure that we have enough Books of Mormon for the mission in what seems like a billion different languages. Along with other materials the missionaries use to help people get to know more about the church, also in a billion weird languages. Need a Book of Mormon in Swahili? I'm your man! Another big responsibility is helping my companion, the housing Elder, get around Hong Kong. So that means I have to drive everywhere. So I went to the Island today to apply for my drivers licence. It is pretty crazy on the roads here, that's for sure. But by next week I will be hitting the road. My companion, Elder Woo, is a native and so he doesn't know how to drive. that's another thing, My companion and I have the same last name in Chinese, so it has been a little confusing. haha. There are some perks to the job besides driving though. Our apartment is actually inside the China Hong Kong Temple. Pretty sweet, huh? Going to the temple is so awesome, so living in one has been that much greater. We also have an IPhone. It is kinda weird. So things here in the office are a lot different. We have a lot of responsibilities. We do the regular missionary work, but we have a lot of extra responsibilities. So we do as much as we can, but there is never a dull moment. Mondays are usually our P-days, but we usually don't have a ton of time to really do much. Just to much to do.

So this week we opened up a new apartment in Tuen Mun so we had to drive out there a few times and set things up. Went to IKEA and bought everything a missionary apartment needs, and then it took practically the whole day to set it up. IKEA isn't as user friendly as you might think.

The rest of the time, I have been here in the office learning how to do my new responsibilities. Its been a crazy week for sure.

I was sad to say goodbye to Butterfly for sure, but that's the nature of things as a missionary. You do all you can. You serve them, you love them, you do all you can. Then you leave. I really did put my heart into that area. I know things are going to continue to grow.

I guess that would be my message for the week. Life goes on. Things change. But you got to have confidence that good things are going to continue to come. I was said to leave so many great friends behind, but I have the confidence that good will come. Just keep doing what you can, all that you can. Hope that is inspiring, maybe just a little bit. If not, go watch conference. That wont let you down. We don't get to watch it until next week. Just because the time change and needing to make sure it is fully translated. So I am pretty stoked to see it next week.

Pray for me that I don't ruin the entire mission because I can't get enough Books of Mormon or something.

Love you guys,

Elder Woodburn