April 6, 2014

We had another great week this week. It was a bit of a struggle for me though. We have had a lot of housing contracts end the past weeks and it we need to find new apartments. When a contract ends, the landlord can adjust the rent and it seems that each time a contract ends, they bump it up way too much. So we spent our entire week moving out of old apartments, finding new ones, signing new contracts, and moving in. The transfer is in a week and a half so we need to have 3 apartments open before then that we have yet to sign the contracts on. It is going to be a crazy week and a half.

The one day of the week that we really got to get out and be normal missionaries was on Sunday. We were able to get two less actives at church. Both seemed to have a great experience. It can be hard at times finding ways to motivate members and these less actives to build friendships, but i would say overall that our ward is really good at welcoming everyone. There were less people at church overall this week. Saturday was Ching Ming festival. It is a chinese holiday that I am struggling to find a way to explain so that it will make sense. So on Ching Ming, you usually go and visit your ancestors graves and burn them food and money in the afterlife. It is a common religion here in Hong Kong to do this normally, but this is a special public holiday. So a lot of the members of our ward went to their ancestors home towns in Mainland for the holiday.

Sunday night we were able to visit another less active at his home and share about the blessings of church. His brother was also there to hear the lesson. It went really well. We hope to see both Brother Lee's at church this upcoming week.

Since the time change, we didnt watch conference, so we will be watching it this next weekend. It is really awesome time as a missionary. You are doing all you can to help others while trying to stay strong yourself. Nothing helps more than hearing conference and working as hard as you can to apply all that was taught. I am learning to welcome chances to grow and learn.

Wish I had more to talk about, but that was the week.

Learning lots on the mission, maybe even some things most Elders dont get to learn. I am pretty sure that I could open up my own moving company here in Hong Kong. Or be a Realtor. Or a truck driver. I have also learned that moving in Hong Kong is 100x more frustrating than in the US. So I will happy to help anyone move when I go home. As long as there are no stairs or elevators involved, any dyou have a giant truck that can get everything in one trip, and you have a garage that we can easily store all the extra stuff in... haha the list goes on and on.

I am loving the time here, as well as this added assignement of the office.

Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Woodburn

March 31, 2014 - We saved the temple from flooding!

Ok so there has been so many awesome things about this week, so I am going to try and give an adequate update.

So everyone remembers Avis Loi? One of the converts that i taught back when I served Shatin? Well he got his mission call early this week. He has been called to serve in the China Hong Kong mission! Starts in June! Is this not the coolest thing that can happen to a missionary? i get to serve with one of my converts! It doesnt get better than that. Elder Kho and I called and talked to him. He is really excited, stoked really! So awesome.

Another huge miracle that we had this week was on Thursday we walked out the the temple and saw a foreigner sitting at the temple. We said hello, but he didnt say anything so we just continued on our way. He followed us a little ways and then asked us if we were missionaries. We said yes and he told us how he is a less active member of about 6 years and that he wants to come back to church. We were able to meet with him twice in the last two days. Those lessons with him were some of the most powerful teaching experiences I have had on my mission. He lives in China now and after talking with him, he is not sure he wants to go back. He went to an english branch yesterday and talked with the branch president. Im not sure what he is going to do, but i am so grateful I could teach him and help him start to rediscover that testimony that he had, and still does have.

Last story from the week is that yesterday HK got hit with black rain. that just means that it rained ridiculously hard that the city had to shut down basically. Subway stations were beginning to flood, the mall we live near by's roof broke and started to flood. It was crazy. So President Hawks had us go home early. We were a little worried that the temple might flood a bit as well, so we went down to the basement parking lot to see if it was ok. Turns out that there was water coming down into the temple basement parking lot and so we helped put up sandbags and sweep the water out. It was a little crazy! We managed to get everything sealed up and taken care of. The storm is still going, but it slowed down a lot. So everything it fine now, especially the temple basement parking lot. 

Such a great week this week. I cant wait to be telling these stories for the rest of my life.

love you all,

Elder Woodburn

March 3, 2014 - Another Great Week

This week really flew. Not sure what made it different, but it went by unusually fast. We had a lot of excitment with Elder Holland coming and having a mission meeting with him. We were able to visit a few part member families as well this week. It was really a full and productive week on all fronts.

So last Monday we were able to visit a recently returned missionaries family. His little brother is less active and the dad is not a member. We had a nice visit with them. It can be difficult at times, I mean evaluating different situations and not be too overbearing. But we shared a nice message about the importance of family and how we can strengthen families through reading the Book Of Mormon. It was a nice simple message that hopefully got them thinking. We will continue to keep up with them and be sure to help out where we can. It is all about making sure you have a good relationship.

Tuesday was the meeting with Elder Holland. It was a really awesome experience. The meeting was in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. We got there early and helped set up for the all mission picture. We got all set up and everyone slowly filled in. We were able to take a nice mission picture then shake hands with Elder Holland as we entered the chapel and took our seats. Elder Hallstrom of the seventy was also there and we got to meet him as well. Both gave talks along with their wives. It was a really awesome meeting. Elder Holland talked a lot about making sure we can establish true conversion not only for our investigators but for ourselves as well. Really powerful. He also helped us understand more about the Book Of Mormon and how we can better apply it to help those without a Christian background. He is a fantastic teacher. We were all afraid that he was going to come at us with lots of fire, since Elder Holland is so passionate about missionary work, but he complimented us on our obedience, diligence, and attitude of wanting to grow. I have never felt more love from a speaker.

Wednesday was a solid day as well. we had to go up to 上水, to figure out some apartment problems and renew the contract with the land lord. It is near the border into mainland so we had about a 45 minute train ride to get there. on the way I sat next to this really nice woman, Mrs. Lee. As I sat I could tell she was wondering what my name tag said so we started to talk. She was really interested in what missionaries do and why, but not so much about the message itself. She was really surprised that I could speak chinese. haha. she told me that I should go up into mainland, that there are more people there that would listen to us and join our church. haha. By the end of the train ride she said that she was happy to hear more about what we do. She complimented us on how nice and mannerly we were and that it changed her mind on how she looked at missionaries. We have a lot of conversations with strangers but this one stood out because I felt like we were successful even though she didnt want to hear the message. She changed her mind that we are good people and not all the bad things that people say we are. In my mind, missionaries are going to continue to have these conversations and then see the work start to role. I was glad that someone noticed a good example.

Friday we had an activity with the youth. I am optimistic about how it went, but in all honesty, it is hard to really capture the attention of a group of young men and young women from ages 12-17. We talked a lot about the importance of missionary work and how we can be missionaries now. We watched the little video about the family sharing the gospel to the song, "Ill go where you wantt me to go". I then shared about Alonzo and how he got me to come to church along with all the other friends that kept inviting me and encouraging me. It was a nice sharing because it helped the youth see that successes do happen. After that, the sisters helped them all do some practices in inviting friends or helping the missionaries teach. Overall, It was just sort of difficult to keep everyone involved, but we did our best. Hopefully the youth are excited to help us with the work in their ward!

Sunday we didnt have anyone at church, but we spent a lot of time talking with the leaders in our ward so that we can better cooperate. I ended up getting a migraine afterwards so I just had to stay in and sleep it off. I am pretty useless when they get that bad. I am feeling better today and am ready to get back to work. 

Today I am going to the doctor to get some shots for the pain in my knees. I have been there once before and so i am not too nervous. The doctor is never fun, but the shots will take some of the pain from my knees.

Hope everyone is doing well. Cool to hear that Ryan and Hadley got into BYU. That place is going to be popping for sure after the mission. haha. a lot of the missionaries here are excited hearing that their younger siblings got in as well.

Loving everyday. Learning everyday. the way that it should be. Know that all is well in Hong Kong!

加油！

胡基謙長老

Feb. 24, 2014

This week went by quick, really a lot like the other weeks lately. This week we spent a lot of time out of the office, trying to meet new people. We were able to have meaningful conversations, but no new investigators from our efforts. I think that it is just another good opportunity to see that hard work and persistence will pay off in the end.

We had a pretty special opportunity to go to a special fireside last night. Elder Holland of the Quorum of the 12 is in Hong Kong. He had a special conference that was in Wan Chai, but was then broadcast to each stake center. We watched in Kowloon Tong, our church building. It was an awesome conference. Elder Holland talked a lot about the importance that we play in this last and greatest dispensation. He said that we as saints will no longer flee like prophets and peoples of the past. It is the time to stand and confront worldly trials head on. He spoke with such power and passion, it really filled the room. gave me added fire to make this upcoming week a great one. 

We as a mission have a meeting with Elder Holland tomorrow, so we are all looking forward to that.

I wish i had more to say, but that really is all. We have been working hard and have faith that prayers, work, and consistancy will best help us do God's work.

Life as a missionary has its challenges, but its really not that different than regular life. We are all looking for balance. I promise that as you learn and follow the Savior and his example, you will find that balance.

I love and pray for everyone back home. Your thoughts and prayers are felt here in Hong Kong!

Elder Woodburn

Feb.17, 2014- Happy Valentines Day

Really quick week. Lots of change, but I feel like you learn to adjust pretty quickly. Elder Mak is learning all there is to do about housing and taking care of apartment stuff. He isn't too busy now, but in the next two months we have a few apartments that we need to renew or find new ones. Other than that, we have been able to really get out of the office and hit the streets!

On Friday, we had a call come from the temple saying that there were people there who wanted to learn the gospel, so we walked over there to meet them. It was a daughter and her mom. They saw the temple and thought it was really pretty and wanted to go inside. We took them over to the chapel and showed them around. The daughter is named Donna and she is actually born and raised in Canada. Her English was a lot better than her Cantonese, so I talked to her in English, while Elder Mak talked with the mom in Chinese. It was an interesting experience to get to teach in English. they were both really interested and so they said that they would be at church. They didn't make it though because they went to a different LDS church closer to their home, but walked into the wrong one. We scheduled them this week along with the missionaries that serve that area so we can show them the right one. It was cool to think that there are interested people out there and are more than willing to ask and seek out the answers to some of life's problems.

A-Ho had to work overtime this week at a new restaurant that his company opened up. So he has been really busy. We have talked with him over the phone a few times and he is doing well. Still praying and reading, so we are excited to turn him over to the missionaries that cover his are in Choi Hung.

Sunday was probably the busiest day of the week. We had a former investigator come to church, A-Seui. But he brought a friend to church, A-Fui. It was really surprising to see them there because we haven't been able to contact A-Seui for the last few months. His mom doesn't like him meeting with us, so he had to stop meeting with us. I don't know what was different this time, but it was great to see him and get to know his friend. We talked with them both after church and they are doing great. We talked about how everyone has challenges, but how Christ helps us overcome them. We read examples from the Book of Mormon so that they can see that it is true and the consequences of the truthfulness of that book. Went really great. Only problem is that A-Fui lives outside of our area as well, out in Tseun Wan. So we set a turnover for this week with him.

Lots of the people that we have met and taught this week live outside of our area, but they have real intent. I think that is what I have admired most about the people we have met this week, they have real intent. It is a good feeling being able to turnover great potentials to other missionaries too.

A Thai family came to church this week too, since they were in HK to come to the temple. We translated for them, which I don't know how much good that did, since their English wasn't super great. But they cooked a big lunch and had us eat with them. It was really fun because of the language barrier. We learned that they have a son in California on a mission. The funniest part was that the mom in her broken English kept saying that the girls in Thailand are very beautiful. It made for a really funny lunch. haha

As far as everything else goes, things are great! Time is really flying. Weird to think how that happens.

Until next week.

Love,

Elder Woodburn 

Feb. 10, 2014 - Lots of Changes

你好嗎？今個星期點啊? 我們在Office好忙喎！

So this week has been an interesting one. I think I mentioned last week that Elder Woo and I would be staying together in the office. Well, I was wrong. Tuesday Elder Woo got the call that he would be leaving and that he would need to train a new Housing elder before he goes back out this Thursday. So my new companion is Elder Mak, from the west point of HK island. He is a lot different than Elder Woo. His english isnt as good, so I hope that I can help him best I can while we are together. Im sure he will progress fast. I have had native speaking companions pretty much my whole mission so my chinese has improved a lot. I still feel like I dont know very much, but its just more opportunities to learn. But that is what is going on in the office. I will still be here, but just with a new companion.

We had a really great week. Most of it was spent in the office because Elder Mak has a lot to learn about the housing responsibilities, but we were still able to meet with A-Ho. He is doing great. We asked him why he is so diligent in finding out if our message was true, his reply was awesome. He said that he has seen his life begin to change as he has thought and acted upon the things we have shared. He said that he has faith in God that He will help him. Thats huge! When we first met, he didnt even think God existed, now he growing his faith by acting. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the change in peoples lives because of the gospel, but the fact that he recognizes it is even better. We set something up this week so he will get to know the missionaries in his area. I dont know if I mentioned it last week, but he lives in the neighboring area, not ours, so we need to pass him to the right elders. I am just happy that he is using faith to act and find out the truth for himself.

Last Monday we had the chance to go and visit Elder Kho's grandma in an old folks home. Oh yeah, I dont know if I mentioned that before, but I live with my trainer again! He got permission to go and visit his grandma, so we tagged along. It was really fun. All the old people loved having us there and talking with them. I attached a picture, check it out! It was so funny because Elder Kho's grandma took the picture with us and then was so surprised that we could immediately look at it. She was embarrassed she didnt comb her hair so she quickly ran her hand through her hair and made this cool Mohawk thing. haha It was so fun getting to know real family in Hong Kong. Made me appreciate the importance of family in the Chinese culture.

Time just keeps on going. Weird to think that we are into February already. Hope all is well back at home.

Love,

Elder Woodburn

 

愛，

胡基謙長老

Feb. 3, 2014 - Happy Lunar New Year

So it was suprisingly a slow week out this way. No one told me that Chinese new year makes it super tough to do missionary work. It is a really traditional holiday, so everyone is home and visiting family. Makes it tough to schedule people and meet new people. 

We did manage begin teaching a new investigator this week though! His name is Jeun Faat. He was met by the sisters and so they turned him over to us. He is 15 and a really cool kid. Has a ton of faith in Jesus Christ, so it has been an awesome experience teaching him. He started the BoM last week and we have him scheduled again this week. He is great!

We also met with A-Ho again and he is doing well as well. He has little knowledge of the Savior, so we read stories of miracles that he performed and more about his life. He seemed to really be soaking it up. He has the most sincere prayers I have heard, trying to figure out if God is real and if Jesus Christ is really someone he can rely on to overcome all things. 

There is a tradition in the Chinese new year that you take one day and you clean your apartment. Like really clean it. So Saturday was set apart as "deep clean day". We cleaned the entire day. A solid 15 hour block of cleaning. It was exhausting! But good to get our apartment in order and to throw away tons of junk.

Sunday was interesting. Church was just sacrament meeting because of the new year and we combined with the other ward that meets in our building. Attendance was scarce... Everyone went up to Mainland to visit their 家鄉, their home town sort of thing. Where their ancestors came from. Still fun. Wierd to think that a week ago our sacrament was bursting with mainlanders, then this week, we hardly have anyone because they all went to mainland.

I wish I had more to report, but the new year really put a damper on things. Still an awesome experience.

Excited for the holiday to end, so we can get back to work!

Elder woodburn