Because He Lives

     I've never really thought about what Christ did on Palm Sunday. It's not a holiday that we observe as latter-day saints, but that doesn't change the significance of what Jesus Christ did on that day. It wasn't like he had gone on a two year mission to Washington DC and was finally coming home. He was going to a city ripe with iniquity that lusted after his blood. He willingly entered into the mouth of the lion as it were and in the words of Joseph Smith going "like a lamb to the slaughter." The way that Christ faces opposition and a most fearful situation is well deserving of our admiration and attention. There are a lot of changes coming in my life in the days ahead, but I want to choose to respond with acts of faith rather than cower in fear. A few verses after entering Jerusalem the Savior teaches this; "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." John 12:25 We have nothing to fear when we are striving to do the will of Heavenly Father and face our trials with an eternal perspective. Jesus knew that following his entry into Jerusalem he would face anguish, betrayal, abandonment, ultimate suffering, but He also knew that at the end of the week there would be a resurrection and the fulfillment of all the prophecies that had been made of Him. I look to Him in my hours of fear and discomfort and hope that you can do the same, because He lives today.

     This past week I had the opportunity to go on exchange with my district leader from the Ivory Coast. I've spoken a few times of him throughout my entries, but something he shared with me changed my perspective on my entire mission. Once upon a time when I was still being trained in the DC 3rd Ward with Elder Synelnikov, I was really struggling to contact people and talk to people on the street. I went on exchange with my zone leader Elder Ferugen from Japan and he asked me what I wanted to work on. He told me how he finds joy in talking to people and told me to watch him and be fearless. He said that no matter what the world might try to tell me, Heavenly Father appreciates what we are doing more than we can imagine. We set out and I saw how he would just ask people about their day and take down their contact information. As we biked down Longfellow I noticed a lady approaching the crosswalk. I stopped and talked with her and set up a return appointment for the first time! She was from Cameroon and I remember teaching her a few times before I was transferred. Elder Monsia told me this week that after 2 years, they have started teaching her again! She says that she remembers the first Elder that talked to her was named Elder Lim. I looked back in my journal and matched up her name, isn't that amazing? When you think that what you do in the service of God is small and seemingly insignificant, reconsider that the Lord is in charge and will magnify your efforts.

      I want to especially devote this Easter week to studying the resurrection and better understanding what my Savior did to me. My challenge is to spend time watching the Bible Videos "Lazarus is Raised from the Dead" and "Because He Lives." Think about what role Jesus will play when you have the opportunity to one day live again, and be united with your family once again.

桃李不言 下自成蹊

     This past week was so stressful!!! We had tons of planning and preparing to do. We wanted to start teaching our Sunday School class in Chinese but that is still in the works, and I was asked to speak at the branch on Sunday! It's been so long since I've really spoken in Chinese that this was kind of a rude awakening. I made sure to type it out for the translator though. One miracle to share. So last week we invited an investigator to come watch Senator Orrin Hatch at the Visitor Center, and he ended up leaving halfway through because he didn't understand what was being said. I felt bad for inviting him. We met with him a few days later and he said that a miracle happened. The previous weeks he had been asking his boss for a few days of vacation and his boss continually said no. After the event his boss called and told him that he wanted to give him a few days of vacation! The investigator considered that to be a miracle. We taught him about faith and miracles and told him that as he continues to accept our invitations he will continue to experience miracles. The ultimate miracle is the opportunity to return to live with Heavenly Father with our eternal families.

Sacrament Meeting Talk 3/22/15 Montgomery Chinese Branch
Brothers and Sisters,
        It is a merciful blessing from the Lord that Elder Ng and I have the opportunity to return here to be in the branch with you. Missionary life is simple and fulfilling but there is one thing that makes it especially difficult, you have to move a lot! I've heard that there are just a few very traumatic experiences that people face - death, divorce, and moving. On a mission we have to move over and over again. Many missionaries have a difficult time when they leave home for the first time because they don't have any family to be with or support them. It was difficult for me to leave home, but I was able to find a family here in the branch. I am so grateful for the extraordinary examples of saints in this congregation, I would love to live my life here with you.
        I've spent most of the past year serving in English Wards in Maryland in DC. I’ve forgotten a lot of my Chinese, but I also had the opportunity to learn a lot about missionary work and experience different approaches. I hope that today I can share with you a few of the principles that I feel are very important to missionary work and can give you ideas and inspiration for your personal efforts to do missionary work. Did you know that our dispensation has a special mission? We call ourselves Latter-Day Saints and we have been called to do a special work. In the topical guide there is a large study section called, “Mission of Latter-Day Saints.” I invite you to look at that list of scriptures and I will share a few of them with you now. In the last verses of the gospel of Matthew we were given a special commandment. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The Lord repeats that invitation repeatedly. Another one is found in Doctrine and Covenants 29:7 “And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;”
        It isn’t easy to fulfill our mission to gather the elect and build up the church, but we are commanded to do so. There is a Chinese saying that beautiful trees don't need to talk, people will naturally form a path by them. (桃李不言 下自成蹊) Jesus Christ is our perfect example of living in a way that brought people to God. On some occasions He didn’t even need to invite people to come. He had a good reputation and people simply flocked to where He was. In John 6:2 it says that “a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did.” We can also help a great multitude come closer to Jesus as we become a people more like Jesus together. Moses 7:18 says, “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.”
I have three suggestion for ways that we can become a Zion like people that naturally attracts the Chinese elect of God to come join with us. First, we look for ways to help people spiritually. Something that my Dad would always do when I was growing up was come to church early and spend time going around to different families in the chapel and visiting with them. He would always do his home teaching and always take me with him even when I was little. On my mission I have had many opportunities to get to know people and their life concerns. One evening we felt that we needed to visit someone that was a new convert to the church. My companion had the idea to share a scripture about trials and how they make us stronger. In the closing prayer she said that she did not know how, but that we taught her exactly what she needed to hear. We later found out that she was being forced to leave her house. Every single person alive has a need and a concern today. God knows those concerns for every person, and we should seek out chances to help resolve concerns and strengthen others.
My second suggestion is to make new friends every day. My dad is also a great example of living this behavior. He writes me a letter every week and he always tells me of the experiences he has in sharing the gospel. At the gym he likes to talk to people and get to know them. Recently there was another man in the sauna with his eyes closed. My dad wasn’t sure if he was sleeping, but he felt that he should talk to him. They got to know each other and my dad asked him if he knew anything about the church. The man was interested to learn and said that he was closing his eyes because he was praying for guidance. My dad invited him to come to church and he accepted a pass-along card. At the beginning of my mission my trainer and I received a referral for a man in Rockville and he said we could come visit. We shared the Book of Mormon with him and he was a little interested. Over a year later I was able to visit him again, but this time I decided to try and get to know his mother. We stopped by during the early afternoon and offered to teach her English. If we didn’t make the effort to make a new friend we would never have been blessed to get to know her.
My final suggestion to help people come to church is to develop the behavior of never saying anything negative about anyone. James said, “For in many things we offend all. [But] if anyman offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” It is tempting to talk about others and to gossip about what we think of them. Satan wants to turn us against each other rather than allow us to become unified and powerful. We can counteract this by choosing to avoid saying anything negative about anyone.
These three behaviors to look for ways to spiritually help others, make new friends every day, and not say anything negative about anyone are a major way that we can build the church and receive the blessings of missionary work. President Uchtdorf said that one of the greatest sermons ever pronounced on missionary work is this simple thought attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”
God gives us this promise in D&C 84:88 and I have seen it to be true. “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” This is the Lord's work. As we work at it together we will change and experience the blessings of building the Lord's Kingdom.

Redeemer

Why I Believe

     Why I Believe is a special event held by our mission in the Temple Visitor Center. Every third Sunday we invite recent converts from the mission to come share their conversion story with members and investigators as well as a special key note speaker to address us. We are so lucky to have valiant saints that live in our area. From professional athletes to presidential hospital staff to US senators they all live here. Yesterday we had the privilege of hearing from the father of someone who has had a great influence on my life. Sister Catron was my seminary teacher my sophomore year of high school and taught me how to love the Book of Mormon. It was no surprise then that the main focus of her father Senator Orrin Hatch's address about why he believes was on the Book of Mormon. He shared his experience of how he gained a sure witness when he was 17 and how that has guided him the rest of his life. That made me reflect on my powerful experiences with the same book and I must agree with its significance. It has brought a powerful spirit into my life, it helped me understand repentance and the atonement so I could overcome my weaknesses and become a better person. It has brought me spiritual comfort in times of great distress. It has provided support to my testimony when others have rejected and despised it, I know it is a true record.

     On another note, our first Sunday working with the singles ward was a success! They were having ward conference so the schedule was different, but it couldn't have been a better meeting. The stake president spoke about the lessons he learned as a Chinese speaking missionary in Taiwan, very relevant right?? We had one nonmember there that has been having special spiritual experiences lately and he said he had some questions for us so we stayed a little after church. I also invited Ivan who was baptized not too long ago to come join the discussion, it was awesome! He inspires me and strengthens my testimony with how quickly his has grown. At the conclusion of the discussion I told them our plans to start a Chinese group in the ward and they were both very enthusiastic about supporting the idea and helping out. At that moment I felt like this effort was no longer just mine, it is God's and it is the effort of the Chinese saints that live here. Elder Fowler the director of the Visitor Center had a special meeting with us to share his feelings that he has about the work in China. He is a former mission president and general authority and said that when he came to the Chinese new year party he had a profound feeling of the future of the church involving the Chinese people.
     I was studying "Our Search for Happiness" by Elder M. Russell Ballard this week and I found some of the experiences he shared especially interesting. When he was on his mission in England at the age of 20 he was called as a leader of not only the mission but the church in that area as well. After a day of contacting in the street square he was walking home and he had this overwhelming feeling that Jesus Christ knew him and received revelation to strengthen his testimony. His grandfather obtained his witness on his mission in Northwestern US after much struggle in his area. He was praying and he envisioned the Savior coming to embrace him. I have this gospel art book that was given to me by Sister Matsumori at the beginning of my mission. She was involved in compiling the book when she was in the primary general presidency. She said that they obtained different pictures of Jesus Christ and submitted them to the first presidency and quorum of the twelve to choose one that most closely represented the Savior. They picked one by Heinrich Hoffman. I often look at that picture and wonder what it will be like to meet Him. I believe that there will be such a day because He lives. I hope by that day I will know Him so well that it will be more like a happy reunion than a first encounter.

A New Age

I'M BACK!!! I was so elated to find out that I would be transferring back to the Chinese program, what a journey it has been. One of the Elders told me that they were praying so hard that I could come back, that fills me with such great purpose. I have to say that this is not the same branch I met two and a half years ago. The people are different, the momentum is different, the level of faith feels different. Maybe it's just my change in perspective, but there is an entirely different leadership as well. One of the Elders described the lifestyle of the branch in terms of ages. There was a beginning age when they met in the basement of the Potomac chapel when they were just getting started. There was an age of re-establishment when the branch was moved to the Kentlands and there was an adjustment that had to be made. Now is the age of expansion. When members and missionaries work together in a powerful way to bring the gospel into the lives of Chinese families. The playing field is different, the tools that we use have changed, and the message that we share is more relevant to challenges and concerns of the Chinese community than ever. We have to do something big! My idea is to reach out to the Chinese students of the DC area by forming a small group in the building that I served in last transfer. We got approval from the Stake Presidency and get to start working to build that this week. I have so little time left, this will be a sprint effort to establish a critical mass to form a group that can service the Chinese demographic in the city. 

I can't say how grateful I am for the experience I've gained outside the branch this past year. On one hand I feel that I missed time that could have been used to start this effort a long time ago, but on the other hand I wouldn't know how to lead at all if I wasn't transferred out. I always need to remind myself that all I can do is the best I can with what the Lord has blessed me with. Luckily the weather is turning up, we have a great crew of Chinese speaking missionaries, and the Lord is on our side! This work would be an impossible one if it wasn't His. On Saturday we had an extra hour to fill, and so instead of going to our meeting early I decided we should go spend some time on the American University campus. We wandered for a while and found the student activities center, then as we were leaving I saw the back of someone that looked familiar, so we sped around the building to try and catch up with him. It turned out to be one of the Chinese investigators I worked with in my last area! It was such a miracle that we ran into him, I couldn't believe it. We had a great chat with him and he wants to come to church next week. We just need to show the Lord that we are willing to do hard things and he blesses us to be in the right place at the right time. This transfer is a special blessing to me. I could have gone home last week, but I'm grateful for the extra opportunity I have to give all that I've learned to the Chinese program. I'm excited to serve once again with Elder Spencer Ng from San Diego, we've been friends for such a long time now, and both have experienced going home and coming back. Stay tuned for the miracles to come!

The 18th Transfer

To say the very least, this week was an emotional roller coaster. Still recovering from the last snow storm, there were more snow days meaning our transportation was restricted again. Then my companion contracted strep throat! That means a few hours at a clinic and then many more hours of rest. Luckily I haven't gotten sick, we've been really careful to keep everything clean. Yesterday there was this freezing rain storm that covered everything including the roads with a quarter inch of ice. We were walking on the sidewalk on Connecticut and you have to walk over the snow banks on the side of the road. At one curb we discovered that it wasn't a snow bank but a six inch puddle so we got wet up to our ankles in freezing water! We learned that looks can be deceiving. Even something that looks ok to stand on could be a treacherous pool of freezing water! My most powerful experiences this week occurred on the weekend.

I've been waiting to hear back from BYU for several months now. Ever since I decided not to defer my enrollment I've regretted the decision. After going home, I felt that I had lost good chances of getting a good education. I trusted that God would help me to get to the best place that I could be, but I didn't know if that was where I hoped to be able to go to. When the admission decision came that I've been admitted to BYU, I was overcome with joy and gratitude. I don't feel like that's my accomplishment, but a tremendous blessing from Heavenly Father. I promised with Him that I would not let that blessing go in vain, I will do all that I can to do well in school and contribute back.

That evening President gave special permission to Elder Fuller and I to attend the Chinese Branch's New Year celebration! What a fantastic opportunity! I felt like I was going home to family. They had me lead the lion dance performance since this is my third year attending, and I felt like it was the best one yet! I got to see so many of the people that I have such great relationships with. I realized that at the beginning of my mission my vision for the branch was to help it increase in size. Instead of accomplishing that, by submitting to the will of the Lord I think I fulfilled an even greater mission. I became part of the branch family and served to the point that I can give my life and my heart to the members and to their cause.

Then the transfer call-out came. I expected to stay here in the  DC 2nd ward since I've only been here for six weeks, and I looked forward to the work that still needs to be done. I found out that I'm leaving! I can't express how confused and discouraged I was about that decision. How could I have accomplished or contributed anything substantial in such a short amount of time? I prayed for understanding and none came. The next day at Sacrament after telling one of the members the ruling, he immediately smiled and told me that I accomplished what I was supposed to here. I was filled with comfort as the spirit bore witness of that to me, I know that the Lord has a plan. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3)

My invitation this week is to trust that the Lord is preparing a path for each one of us to accomplish His purpose. As you go into this week and I go into this transfer, let's pray for understanding and seek to do His will!