August 25th letter from Elder Jeffrey Wright....

Family and Friends,
This week has been full of adventures and miracles. The miracles never seize to amaze me. Everyday we are given so many opportunties to bless the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters and what a great blessing that is. Elder Lee and I had a rocky last two weeks but we sat down talked everything out. He didnt have a desire to do the work any more and hasnt for the past year because he believes there is no success in missionary work in hong kong ( his naitive country ) i talked to him for a long time and really encouraged him and told him through faith in christ and heavenly father anything is possible. He has been in this area in which we are right now for 7 months with the same investiagators so i decided that we were going to drop all of them because i would consider them eternal investiagtors and we prayed that hf would bless us with new investiagators that were ready to hear the gospel. With in 6 hours of that prayer and developing more unity we had 6-10 brand new investigators all ready and willing to listen. What a miracle one simple thing can do. The food is the same better than ever haha! Lovin it everyday! The people are doing great more sassy and angry with the world than they ever have been and i love them so much. Really i do. I am doing great i love serving it is honestly the best decision that i have ever made in my life. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time. I have seen so many miracles from smiling and hope that you are all smiling as well!

Mathew 11:28
" Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and i will give you rest" its easy as that to come unto him in prayer to talk to him and he will give you the comfort and answers in which you desire. He loves you. He died for YOU never forget that.

"For it must needs that there is opposition in all things " 2 Nephi 2:11
In all things, you will have trials everyday EVERYONE will, get through them together thats the reason we have family and friends, thats why we are here on earth with them at this time.

* Remember never let any earthly circumstanes disable you spiritually!!!

How we disagree is a real measure of who we are and whether we truely follow the Savior.

St. Mathew 18:3-6
Look unto the children as an example and the attributes in which they all carry, which one can you improve on this week? Are you quick to forgive? Do you treasure the little things in life? Do you show your love towards everyone though matter what they look like or what they wear, or what religious beliefs or cultures they come from? Are you as charitable to give anything? Do you look unto others to learn and grow? First to say sorry? Christ loves children because they are the ones who show his attributes unto the world, if we want to enter " the kingdom of god " we need to be as humble and meek as the children we see in our daily lives.

Scriptures to Read:
3 Nephi 12:39-42 ( Give and do as christ would, are we not here to follow in his footsteps? )
2 Nephi 26:33
3 Nephi 12:44-45 ( But behold i say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you. That ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good )
3 Nephi 12:24 ( A lot of members fall away because of other members, do NOT let this affect you " spiritually or physically ". Be the first to apologize and move on. Life is to short for the small things, whether its done to you, your children, or a close friend. Let it go )
D&C 127:2


Love you all, Be safe, thanks for everything you do for me! haha Have fun at school everyone ! PHYSC!
love elder wright!

ps. who are we kidding its 90 degrees here and 100 percent humity, its awful and i love it. i wear 21304909 different white shirts a day. haha. bless my heart.

( this talk has impacted my life substanially and i hope it will do the same to you and you will learn and grow from it as i have. To be the bigger person, accept and love everyone and be as christ would be.....highlighted some of my favorite parts! )
As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn.

A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.
Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”
We Are the Hands of Christ

There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.
That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On this beautiful Easter morning, our thoughts and hearts are drawn to Him—the Hope of Israel and the Light of the World.
As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.
Our Hands Can Embrace

I am deeply impressed by the way our Church members extend themselves to others. As we hear of your selfless sacrifice and overwhelming compassion, our hearts swell with gratitude and happiness. You are a shining light to the world, and you are known for your goodness and compassion all around the globe.
Unfortunately, from time to time we also hear of Church members who become discouraged and subsequently quit coming to and participating in our Church meetings because they think they don’t fit in.
When I was a young boy, during the aftermath of World War II, Germany was broken and in ruins. Many people were hungry, sick, and dying. I remember well the humanitarian shipments of food and clothing that came from the Church in Salt Lake City. To this day, I can still remember the smell of the clothing, and I can still taste the sweetness of the canned peaches.
There were some who joined the Church because of the goods they received at that time. Some members looked down on these new converts. They even called them an offensive name: Büchsen Mormonen, or “Canned-Food Mormons.” They resented these new members because they believed that once their temporal needs had been met, they would fall away.
While some did leave, many stayed—they came to church, tasted the sweetness of the gospel, and felt the tender embrace of caring brothers and sisters. They discovered “home.” And now, three and four generations later, many families trace their Church membership back to these converts.
I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home.
When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who “loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. …
“[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, … [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”1
As I read the scriptures, it appears that those who receive the Savior’s strongest reproach are often those who hold themselves in high esteem because of their wealth, influence, or perceived righteousness.
On one occasion the Savior taught a parable of two men who went into the temple to pray. One man, a respected Pharisee, prayed: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”
The other man, a hated publican, stood “afar off, [and] would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
And Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.”2
In truth, we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”3 We are all in need of mercy. In that last day when we are called to the judgment bar of God, do we not hope that our many imperfections will be forgiven? Do we not yearn to feel the Savior’s embrace?
It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves.
I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”4 We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.
One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, “I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Even though I may not look like much and even though I have been battered and used, I am still worth the full 20 dollars.”
Our Hands Can Comfort

With this in mind, let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn. We are commanded “to mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort.”5
It is unworthy of us as Christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffering. Easter Sunday is a good day to remember that our Savior willingly took upon Himself the pain and sickness and suffering of us all—even those of us who appear to deserve our suffering.6
In the book of Proverbs we read that “a friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”7 Let us love at all times. And let us especially be there for our brothers and sisters during times of adversity.
Our Hands Can Serve

An old Jewish legend tells of two brothers, Abram and Zimri, who owned a field and worked it together. They agreed to divide both the labor and the harvest equally. One night as the harvest came to a close, Zimri could not sleep, for it didn’t seem right that Abram, who had a wife and seven sons to feed, should receive only half of the harvest, while he, with only himself to support, had so much.
So Zimri dressed and quietly went into the field, where he took a third of his harvest and put it in his brother’s pile. He then returned to his bed, satisfied that he had done the right thing.
Meanwhile, Abram could not sleep either. He thought of his poor brother, Zimri, who was all alone and had no sons to help him with the work. It did not seem right that Zimri, who worked so hard by himself, should get only half of the harvest. Surely this was not pleasing to God. And so Abram quietly went to the fields, where he took a third of his harvest and placed it in the pile of his beloved brother.
The next morning, the brothers went to the field and were both astonished that the piles still looked to be the same size. That night both brothers slipped out of their houses to repeat their efforts of the previous night. But this time they discovered each other, and when they did, they wept and embraced. Neither could speak, for their hearts were overcome with love and gratitude.8
This is the spirit of compassion: that we love others as ourselves,9 seek their happiness, and do unto them as we hope they would do unto us.10
True Love Requires Action

True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long—we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it—but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”11
Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”12
Christ knows how to minister to others perfectly. When the Savior stretches out His hands, those He touches are uplifted and become greater, stronger, and better people as a result.
If we are His hands, should we not do the same?
We Can Love as He Does

The Savior revealed the perfect priorities for our lives, our homes, our wards, our communities, and our nations when He spoke of love as the great commandment upon which “hang all the law and the prophets.”13 We can spend our days obsessing about the finest details of life, the law, and long lists of things to do; but should we neglect the great commandments, we are missing the point and we are clouds without water, drifting in the winds, and trees without fruit.14
Without this love for God the Father and our fellowmen we are only the form of His Church—without the substance. What good is our teaching without love? What good is missionary, temple, or welfare work without love?
Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope.
As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.
With all my heart and soul I give thanks to our Heavenly Father for His love for us, for the gift of His Son, for the life and example of Jesus the Christ, and for His sinless and selfless sacrifice. I rejoice in the fact that Christ is not dead but risen from the grave! He lives and has returned to the earth to restore His authority and gospel to man. He has given us the perfect example of the kind of men and women we should be.
On this Easter Sunday, and every day, as we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands, that others through us may feel His loving embrace. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Here is Jeffreys email for the week. Really missing that kid!

From: Jeffrey Romney Wright
Subject: Move #2!
To: "Jolene Wright"
Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 8:51 PM

Family and friends,

One night a man dreamed he was walking along the beach with the lord. As scenes of his life flashed before him, he noticed that there were two sets of footprints in the sand. He also noticed at his saddest, lowest times, there was but one set of footprints...

This bothered the man,

He asked the lord, " Did you not proimise that if I gave my heart to you that you'd be with me all the way? Then why is there but one set of footprints during my most troublesome times?"

The lord replied, " My precious child, I love you and I would never forsake you. During those times of trial and suffereing, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then I carried you."
( SO TRUE! I LOVE THIS, I READ IT ALL THE TIME )
D&C 24:8 be patienent in afflictions, for thou shalt have many, but endure them for lo I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.
One thing that is common throughout all races, languages, ethnicities, cultures, religious beliefs, ages, and skin color, is that we will all endure trials and afflictions, and thats why we have each other who ever it is, doesn't matter, we are here on earth to learn from these trials, so that Heavenly Father can shape us into the men and women He desires. Be of good cheer and make this trial into an opportunity!

Ether 12:27
D&C1:31-33 ,3:8, 6:36

St. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments!
How easy is that? Do you love him? are you showing him that you love him?

Last week of move, one OVER! and drummrolllll.....


Area 2: Yuen Long ( Same )
Companion 2: Elder Lee ( Same )
hahah

All is good here in Hong kong. I have had an amazing week. Always busy and loving each day I am given. The people are crazy and all so different from each other. The chinese culture has really grown on me, I love it so much. Lets be honest..... I never thought I would EVER say such a thing. But I love them and their culture, their language. Well, that will come sooner or later haha. Little difficult. No complaints about food this week, just the same as every other week. Learning to love it and eat everything I am given. I love serving a mission more than anything. It is honestly the best decision I have ever made in my life! Its the hardest thing I have also ever done. But such an amazing learning and growing expierence. I hope all is well back at home or where ever you are. I love you all so much. Love hearing from you and pray for you all constantly. As for baptisms we had one last week, the rest flaked out. haha. The lord has other plans for them. I am just so thankful that I was the one that got to plant the seed that one day will bloosom into a magnificent tree. Smilin everyday and changing lives. I encourage all today to talk to someone you don't know and smile to get to know them and bring them up, make their day, its easy as a smile!

love
elder wright

Week of August 14th letter.

Family and friends,

Joshua 1:9
Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid neither be though dismayed for the lord thy god is with thee wheresoever thou go est.
"courage" is defined in the Merriam Websters dictionary as mental or moral strength to persevere and with stand danger, fear, and difficulty.

No matter what you may face in your personal journey the first guide found in Joshua tells us to 1. pray 2. BE PATIENT 3. remember gods promise " i will not fail thee nor forsake thee" Joshua 1:5

D&C 50:40-45 we are all his children and none of them that my father hath given me shall be lost. That's a promise to us if we are doing whats right, we'll never be lost, through keeping the commandments, reading the scriptures, praying, going to church, clean thoughts and actions, with this promise it makes it so we can live in the celestial kingdom again with him and our families. so simple. so simple. why wouldn't you desire this?

st. mark 11:23-26
*26 it starts with you, it does not matter the circumstances of the situation, what happened, who said what, who offended who, whose kid did this or that. Be the first to forgive, be the bigger person, follow in Christs footsteps, " love and forgive all " then he'll forgive you. Its' all up to you, not anyone else. let the past be the past, look forward into the future. Learn from mistakes and make each day you are given better than the last. You never know what the last day will be. Serve everyone, live your life to its highest potential, so you can say I did all that i could. i gave it my best.

weekly scripture: d&c112:10 be thou humble and the lord thy god shall lead thee by thy hand and give answer to thy prayers.

another week has come and gone here in Hong Kong.
my first move is coming to an end. we have move calls this coming Tues. so next email i might have a new comp? new area? so exciting! cant wait to see what happens. what ever happens is what the lord desires and that's all that matters! ( TIME IS FLYING ) I HAVE HAD SOME INTERESTING MEALS THIS WEEK SUP RISE RIGHT? HAHA NO. BUT ILL TELL YOU OF ONE. I SUFFERED THROUGH THIS ONE I WILL BE HONEST. IT INVOLVED LIVE OCTOPUS AND IF YOU ATE THEM WRONG IT COULD KILL YOU SOME HOW. NO BIG RIGHT? THAT'S COMPLETELY NORMAL! AND SAFE! PHYSC! LETS JUST SAY WITH 90 DEGREES AND 100% HUMILITY THAT I WAS SWEATING JUST A LITTLE AT THIS DINNER TABLE. WE HAVE GOT TO TEACH A LOT OF LESS ACTIVES THIS WEEK IT HAS BEEN SO AMAZING IM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THEM AND ALL THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME. WE HAVE COMMITTED 5 TO BRING THEIR FAMILIES BACK TO CHURCH THIS WEEK AND PROMISED THEM IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT AND THE LORD WILL BLESS THEM. I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE THEM ALL ON SUNDAY. COKE IS STILL THE BEST DRINK THEY HAVE OUT HERE I DRINK IT ALL THE TIME IN CAN FORM AND SLURPEE FORM HAHA. PIZZA HUT AND KFC ARE NOT THE SAME HERE. THERE IS ALL SORTS OF FISH ON PIZZA NOT PEPPERONI. HAHA AND KFC IS LIKE REALLY KFF ( KENTUCY FRIED FISH ) AND DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE CHICKEN. BUDGETING IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE LEARNED VERY FAST HERE ON MY MISSION HAVING $7.00 A DAY FOR FOOD TRAVEL AND EVERYTHING HAS REALLY TAUGHT ME THE MEANING OF THE WORD BUDGETING HAHHA. ITS TOUGH REALLY SHOWS US HOW PRIVILEGED WE ARE COMPARED TO SO MANY. WELL THATS ALL FOR THIS WEEK. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BACK IN THE USA LOVE YOU ALL. HOPE YOU ARE HAVING AN AMAZING SUMMER. NEVER FORGET WHY YOU ARE HERE! WHAT YOUR PURPOSE IS AND HOW YOU CAN SERVE THOSE AROUND YOU. LOVE EVERYONE. BE THE FIRST TO FORGIVE. LOVE YOU ALL. STAY SAFE. AND NEVER STOP SMILING. I HAVE HAD SO MANY AMAZING MIRACLES THIS WEEK JUST BECAUSE OF MY SMILE. MAYBE ILL TELL YOU ABOUT THEM SOMEDAY. LOVE YOU ALL AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT LETTERS AND PRAYERS. BAPTISM THIS WEEK HOPEFULLY! AND NEXT WEEK. OH ONE MORE THIS. THEY HAVE THIS AMAZING PROGRAM OUT HERE I DON'T KNOW IF I TOLD YOU ABOUT IT. TEENAGERS FROM 16-21 HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY ALL SUMMER TO CHOOSE ONE WEEK OUT OF THE SUMMER AND COME LIVE WITH THE MISSIONARIES AND DO AS WE DO. ITS AMAZING THE YOUTH GROW SO MUCH FROM THIS. MY COMP AND I HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW. HES 17 AND SO COOL. THE YOUTH ARE GROWING SO MUCH FROM THIS EXPERIENCE JUST THOUGHT ID SHARE THAT WITH YOU. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT UNTIL NOW. ITS SO MUCH FUN TO HAVE THEM WITH US. SO NEAT. IT REALLY IS A MIRACLE AND HELPS THE YOUNG MEN TO REALLY SEE HOW BEING A MISSIONARY IS AND HELP THEM TO HAVE MORE OF A DESIRE TO GO ON A MISSION AND THE GIRLS LOVE IT TO. ESPECIALLY SINCE HONG KONG HAS THE MOST SISTER MISSIONARIES THAN MOST MISSIONS!. LOVE YOU ALL

LOVE
ELDER WRIGHT

NGOH NGOI LEIH!!!!

He is lucky this email has some length to it!!!!!

I have not gotten the box of pictures or letters Jeffrey refers to! As soon as I do, I promise to share!

" A Fathers Impact Can and Will Change Countries "

WHAT CAME TO ME THIS WEEK WAS THE DIVINE IMPACT FATHERS HAVE ON THEIR SONS. NO MATTER WHAT RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH YOUR SON, KNOW HE LOOKS UP TO YOU, HE WANTS TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS. HE LEARNS FROM YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. YOU ARE DEVELOPING YOUR FUTURE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. I WILL TELL YOU OF A STORY THAT CAME TO MY MIND THIS WEEK.

TO START,

THEIR RELATIONSHIP: ROCKY AND UNSTABLE

LOVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER: STRONG BUT NOT USED

STUPID ARGUMENTS: ALL THE TIME OVER STUPID LITTLE THINGS

STRIVING TO HAVE UNITY: SOMETIMES

WHILE GROWING UP THIS FATHER AND SON HAD A VERY ROCKY RELATIONSHIP. JUST COMPETING FOR THE BEST ANSWER, BEING THE MOST CORRECT IN EVERYTHING THEY DO, AND THEY WERE JUST TO MUCH ALIKE AND CLASHED 24-7. THEREFORE NEVER QUITE GETTING ALONG. GROWING UP THIS FATHER ALWAYS WANTED TO TEACH HIS SON HOW TO FISH. THE FATHER LOVED FISHING. HAD AN OCEAN BOAT WHILE THE BOY WAS YOUNGER, JUST FOR FISHING. THE SON LOVED TO HAVE SLEEPOVERS DOWN ON THE BOAT AND JUST BEING IN THE WATER, BUT DREADED WAKING UP AT 5:00 AM TO " PUT THE RODS IN." OVER THE YEARS THE FATHER CONTINUED THESE FISHING TRIPS FROM THE WATERS OF THE CARRIBBEAN AND MEXICO TO THE RIVERS AND LAKES OF UTAH. THE SON STARTED TO ENJOY FISHING MORE AND MORE EACH TIME, JUST BECAUSE HE GOT THE OPPORTUINTY TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS FATHER ONE ON ONE AND REALLY GOT TO KNOW HIM. AFTER 19 YEARS OF DREADING THESE FISHING TRIPS, THEY PAYED OFF. NOW WE LOOK 19 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD....AND AT THE IMPACT THE ONE ACTIVITY A FATHER HAD DONE AND CONTINUED DOING THROUGH OUT HIS SONS LIFE HAS IMPACTED A COUNTRY, A NATION THAT IS IN NEED. THE YOUNG MAN IS NOW SERVING A MISSION AND HAD AN OPPORUTNITY THIS WEEK AFTER SOME MAJOR STORMS TO TAKE A BOAT OUT IN THE OCEAN USING THE RESOURCES HE LEARNED FROM HIS FATHERS FISHING TRIPS, TO FISH. TO FISH FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LEFT HOMELESS, LEFT WITH OUT FOOD AND SHELTER, KIDS STARVING PARENTS STARVED, GRANDPARENTS GIVING THEIR ALL TO THEIR GRANDKIDS. THE SON WAS ABLE TO HELP THESE LESS FOURTANATE HAVE A REASON TO LIVE, TO BRING HOPE BACK IN THEIR EYES THAT THEY WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY, THAT THERE IS A TOMORROW. TO HELP THEM LIVE TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. DID THESE FISHING TRIPS IMPACT A FUTURE? DID THEY DO ANYTHING BUT MAKE THE SON MAD? WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS STORY. I TELL YOU AS THE SON, THAT THE IMPACT OF A FATHER IS HUGE. BY " SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS GREAT THINGS ARE BROUGHT TO PASS." BY GOING FISHING FOR AN HOUR ONCE A YEAR, SUCH A SMALL ACTIVITY WITH HIS SON, HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE BLESSING AND HAS IMPACTED NOT ONLY HIS LIFE BUT THE LIVES OF MANY. ALL BECAUSE THE FATHER TAUGHT THE BOY TO DO ONE OF HIS HOBBIES AND PASSIONS. THE BOY WILL FOREVER BE IN DEBT TO THE FATHER AND REALLY SHOWS THAT BY SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS ARE GREAT THINGS BROUGHT TO PASS. THANK YOU DAD! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO FOR ME. AND THANKS FOR TEACHING ME HOW TO FISH. IF YOU HADN'T TAUGHT ME, KIDS AND FAMILIES WOULD BE STARVING RIGHT NOW. LOVE YOU.

ANOTHER WEEK OF ADVENTURES, MIRACLES, FLITHY FOOD, AND DELICOUS FOOD, FRIENDSHIPS, NEW RULES, COMPANIONSHIP UNITY. TO START THE WEEK BACK ROUND I WILL SHARE A FUNNY STORY. "NEW RULES" YES, THIS NEW RULE ONLY PERTAINS TO ME AND JUST ME, NO ONE ELSE. i AM NO LONGER ALLOWED TO GIVE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER OUT TO ANY FEMALE GENDER. THEY ALL SEEM TO THINK THAT I AM HERE IN HONG KONG TO MARRY THEM AND THEY DECIDED THIS WEEK THEY WOULD SEND SOME FUN TEXTS AND PICTURES TO SHOW HOW READY THEY ARE FOR ME TO MARRY THEM. SO THERE FORE, I AM NO LONGER ALLOWED TO GIVE MY NUMBER OUT. HAHA!!! MY COMPAION THINKS THIS IS HILARIOUS. ALL THE LADIES HERE IN HONG KONG ARE A PIECE OF WORK. THEY TRY TO FOLLOW US HOME AND STALK US ALL THE TIME. CRAZY. SKETCHY. NEXT, I FOUND OUT THE MY AREA AND MORE THAN HALF OF HONG KONG MISSION AREAS HAVENT HAD A BAPTISM FOR OVER 2 YEARS! HOW CRAZY IS THAT. WELL I HAVE TWO BAPTISMAL DATES FOR NEXT SUNDAY. TAKING IT ONE STEP AT A TIME AND I WILL CHANGE HONG KONG AND HELP THEM REALIZE THEY NEED THIS GOSPEL AND THE GREAT IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON THEIR LIVES. THAT WORK AND MONEY ARE'NT EVERYTHING. WE HAVE ANNA WHO IS 17 AND FROM MAINLAND, AND WILSON WHO IS 18 AND FROM YUEN LONG. BOTH AMAZING KIDS. SO AMAZING. THIS WEEK WAS MY VERY FIRST TIME THAT I ACTUALLY THREW UP AT A DINNER TABLE EVERYWHERE!! THEY BRING OUT NOODLES AND A RED SOUP AND BIG BALLS OF MEAT SO I AM THINKING SWEET SPAGHETTI OS! YEAH, THAT WAS'NT THE CASE. AS I TAKE A RATHER LARGE BITE OF MY MEAT BALL, I ASK WHAT IT IS... AFTER CHEWING IT FOR 24 MINUTES MY COMP FINALLY RESPONDS, COW BALLS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT CAME UP A LOT FARTHER THAN IT WENT DOWN. HAHHA. THATS JUST A FEW OF THE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THIS WEEK. I AM ABSOLUTLY LOVING EVERY SECOND I AM GIVEN HERE IN HONG KONG. I LOVE SERVING. WOULD'NT ASK TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE RIGHT NOW. JUST SMILING 24-7 TRYING MY BEST TO SERVE THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. I SENT HOME FOUR ALBUMS OF PICTURES AND A BOX OF MIRACLE STORIES. YOU ARE ALL MORE THAN WELCOME TO READ AND LOOK THROUGH IT ALL! I HOPE YOU ARE ALL HAVING A GREAT SUMMER. MISS YOU ALL AND LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. I AM NOW GOING TO SHARE SOME PARTS OF LESSONS I HAVE GIVEN THIS WEEK AND SOME FAVORITE QUOTES.

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE: 1 SAM 16:7

DON'T JUDGE ON THE APPEARANCE BUT ON THEIR INNER COUNTANCE AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT YOU HAVE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW THE PERSON. SO IMPORTANT TO DO IN SUCH A CORRUPTED WORLD, SO MANY TRIALS AND CONCERNS, SO MANY DISASTERS. EVERYONE HAS TRIALS AND CONCERNS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHY A PERSON MIGHT DRESS DIFFERENT OR ACT DIFFERENT OR SAY THE THINGS HE/SHE DOES. BUT WE NEVER KNOW WHAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. THEREFORE, NEVER ARE WE IN THE JUDGING SEAT. WE NEED TO LOOK FOR THE BEST IN EVERYONE GIVING EVERYONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. LOVE ALL! LOVE AS CHRIST WOULD.

BE HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE, YOU HAVE THE AGENCY. BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN.

YOU OWN YOUR OWN HAPPINESS YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.

IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGED BY ANYONE- A FAMILY MEMBER A FRIEND ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CHURCH A CHURRCH MEMBER A BUISNESS ASSOCIATE, OR BY ANYTHING- A DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, HEALTH PROBLEMS, FINANCIAL REVERSALE, ABUSE, ADDICTIONS- DEAL WITH THE MATTER DIRECTLY AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE, " HOLD ON THE WAY " ( DNC 122:9 ) GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION AND WITH OUT DELAY TURN TO THE LORD. EXERCISE ALL OF THE FAITH YOU HAVE IN HIM. LET HIM SHARE YOUR BURDEN ALLOW HIS GRACE TO LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD. WE ARE PROMISED THAT WE WILL SUFFER NO MANNER OF AFFLICTIONS SAVE IT WERE SWALLOWED UP IN THE JOY OF CHRIST ( ALMA 31:38 ) NEVER LET EARTHLY CIRCUMSTANCES DISABLE YOU SPIRITUALLY!!! ( ONE OF MY FAVORITES )

EACH GENERAL CONFERENCE AND CHURCH MAGAZINE CONTAINS ADVICE FROM THE PROPHETS WHICH IS APPLIED WILL LEAD US TO GOOD JUDGEMENT WE ARE LEFT WITH OUT EXCUSE WHEN WE IGNORE THEM.

MY COUNSEL FOR ALL OF US IT TO LOOK TO THE LIGHTHOUSE OF THE LORD. THERE IS NO FOG SO DNSE, NO NIGHT SO DARK, NO GALE SO STRONG, NO MARINER SO LOST BUT WHAT ITS BEACON LIGHT CAN RESCUE. IT BECKONS THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE THE LIGHTHOUSE OF THE LORD SENDS FORTH SIGNALS READILY RECOGNIZED AND NEVER FAILING.

LOVE YOU HAVE A SAFE AND FUN WEEK!!!

REMEMBER: TWO MEN CAN DO ANYTHING AS LONG AS ONE OF THEM IS THE LORD!