蒙召喚去服務!

The call to serve often comes at a time when it is not convenient. When natural instincts direct you to turn inwards and just take care of yourself. When you are rushing to an appointment and an elderly Chinese lady is struggling to carry a large bag of rice. When you're having an especially rough day, but someone else's day has been equally difficult or even more discouraging, and all they need is your smile. When you have one last chance to hang out with your big sister but a single mother needs help moving all her and her children's belongings into a new home. When all your high school class are starting degrees and the prophet says go on a mission. It sounds like I'm echoing the sermon of a modern day apostle last general conference (President Eyring), but I'm finding this principle to be true. This week I was called to serve as a leader for several companionships in the Bethesda-Potomac-Southern Gaithersburg area, possibly one of the wealthiest communities in the United States. I didn't expect that at all, I feel like I'm barely figuring out how to lead the missionary work with all the Chinese people in Montgomery County/ DC. Regardless of my readiness, this is what The Lord wants me to do. Every single day we will encounter opportunities to turn outward, when it is easier to turn inwards and just "mind our own business." The truth of the matter is, "if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for ALL things must fail-- But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." (Moroni 7:46-47) Respond with faith to the call to serve! In our Sunday School class at church yesterday, we had 2 very special Chinese nonmember friends attend our lesson on service. They shared excellent input on the effects of service on the spirit and on society. Through service we increase our ability to love. We become less selfish. When I was growing up, my Dad's constant effort to teach my brothers AJ, Antonio and I to respond to the call to serve has had such an affect on us. Imagine how many problems in society we could solve with this simple principle. All forms of immorality and the destruction of the family would suffocate by charity. May it be our watchword and our guide! Serve. (服務）

下雪了太多！Face the storms of life with Faith.

By far the most intense winter that I have ever experienced! We got over a foot of snow overnight last Wednesday, and it just killed our week! We had to stay inside all day, and then couldn't use our car on Friday. In addition to that our much prepared for Lantern Festival activity got postponed! Only a few people didn't get the message and still showed up for the activity, one all the way from Virginia. In times of greatly unfavorable circumstances like these, I remember the example of our great ancestor Joseph who was sold into Egypt. He did everything right. He put God first in his life, he loved his brothers as his own flesh, he kept all the commandments. Yet the greatest misfortunes that could ever fall upon anyone all fell upon him! We read in Genesis 39 that he did not harden his heart, but he turned more fully to God. We all face circumstances that aren't fair. Even when we've done everything right and everything we're supposed to. Joseph overcame the greatest level of temptation day by day and it landed him in prison! But if we just trust in a Father in Heaven that loves us, and suffer injustice for a season, it will all work together for our good. Joseph gained "favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison" which eventually brought him to the court of pharoah and enabled him to bring about the salvation of both Egypt and the ancient world in the years of famine. Just like Christ suffered a completely illegal trial and condemnation at the hands of evil men and false witnesses, he overcame it all and then was able to offer forgiveness and resurrection to each one of them! Somehow these snow storms are working to help God's work. Somehow the difficulties of missionary work are preparing me to face greater trials ahead. May we have the strength to face the storms of life with faith!

松鼠的比喻

I had one of the greatest teaching experiences of my whole life this week. We met with this amazing lady who has known the church her entire life. Her father bought a Book of Mormon in Taiwan over 30 years ago when she was in middle school. He said that he liked how disciplined the Mormon missionaries were, and how they didn't teach that other churches are going to hell. This lady has led her life by faith, though she may not recognize it. She said that one day she will definitely be baptized, and that when she is baptized it will be into no other church than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But that for now she can't go against her husbands wishes and cannot give up coffee. I shared with her a scripture I've been thinking about a lot lately, Helamen 3：35 (I even saved a screenshot of it as my screensaver on my iPad to memorize it, so cool!). It teaches that if we pray and fast, we will grow stronger in our humility, and firmer in faith. That we will be purified because of our yielding our hearts to God. In the middle of our teaching, she stopped me and said, oh my friend is here! I thought we were going to have to leave! She opened the backdoor, knelt down, and fed this squirrel right out of her hand! I've never ever seen that before! She said she has a great love for animals, and that she has trained them to take from her very hands by gradually placing nuts closer and closer to her house. Perfect analogy! God is like the possessor of an endless supply of strength and nourishment. He reaches out and gives us blessings that we may not recognize as gifts from him. But as we pray to him and receive eyes to see, we learn to trust him. He makes requirements of us for our own good, like how sometimes she gives the squirrels medicine for their wounded bodies, but we learn to trust God even more if we just trust him and do it. I invited her to think to pray every time she feeds her friends. That is how faith grows, that is how we find lasting happiness. I'm tired of people's saying, I'm just too busy, or following Christ is too hard. It's the best choice you could ever make.

新年好!

The New Years celebration begins!!! Elder Wang says his family spends this time together eating,lighting fireworks, and eating! With the new year has come news that the Seattle Seahawks have their first Super Bowl victory! There are just so many causes to celebrate! Families are together, hearts are gladdened, and we find so many reasons to rejoice. This week our mission received iPad minis to use as tools in our missionary work. The speed of our planning has doubled, and the efficiency of our record keeping is just incomparable. We can easily share any gospel video and bring a powerful spirit that just could not be done in that way before. We have the entirety of church study materials at our fingertips with the new gospel library. I feel like I'm doing an advertisement, but it really has just blown my expectations! Our mission is focused on Doctrine and Covenants 88:73, "Behold I will hasten my work in its time." I testify that time is now. My companion had an interesting insight the other day. That doesn't necessarily mean that more people will choose to join the ranks. It does mean that those who do will be better equipped to work. Also that the harvest
will be swift. Christ teaches that there are tares sown in among the wheat. We have to get the wheat in! May this year of the horse bring in a good harvest and the will of God be done!