"Charlie Mike" = "Continue Mission"

It is a practice among military personnel to use the phonetic alphabet to send messages that are unmistakable by the unique words chosen to represent letters. The letters "CM" represent the message "Continue the Mission" and since the phonetic code for C is Charlie and for M is Mike, it can be communicated by saying the words "Charlie Mike." Since President Cooke has a military background, about a year ago he started using this slogan for our mission, and I think it has a profound meaning to recognizing the purpose of a full-time mission. The first message that it sends is that we truly are on a mission. We have been called and set apart by ordained servants of the Lord Jesus Christ and have been directed to spend every ounce of effort that we can muster to invite others to come unto Christ by receiving the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It is the most joyful, difficult, heartbreaking work that we can be engaged in, but we are called to do it nonetheless. The second message that Charlie Mike sends is to continue on. Two years might seem like such a long time to serve as a missionary all day every day, and so it requires daily insistence that we continue onward in a persistent and diligent effort to share the gospel. I've done all I can to Charlie Mike by leaving my home, returning to the mission field after returning home, giving up every personal affair possible, being obedient every day, giving all my strength and talents to help improve the lives of others, and accepting the tasks and trials with which the Lord has seen fit to grant to me. But I'm not done.

     To me the purpose of a mission is to take a Latter-day Saint and set them apart even farther from the world in order to help them become an instrument of the Lord. I am not retiring from that ideal. I haven't come so far to decide that I'm done serving the Lord through serving my brothers and sisters. I want to share my desires with whoever might read this because I want to be accountable and reminded of the lessons I learned as an ordained minister of Jesus Christ. I don't want to stop until every nation has had the gospel declared to them and had the opportunity to receive the fulness of the gospel. It has blessed my family so much, how could I not want that for everyone? It isn't time to take a break and slow down, today is a day for us to pick up our pace and speed up! I want to share with you my testimony of the blessings of missionary work. There is no wonder why there is so much preached and prophesied about the marvelous work and wonder that will take place in our day, it is amazing! It has been a great privilege of mine to meet some of the best people alive today, and to see them grow as  I grew as a disciple of Christ.
     This past week was not without tender mercies and miracles. We started our Chinese Sunday School class and although few came, I felt the spirit confirm to me that the direction we are headed is not just my will but it is His also so we don't need to fear. I got to teach an investigator that I have worked with for a long time now about fasting and felt the Lord's help in communicating my feelings in Chinese. I recognized divine help in performing the cello again for the first time in years at the visitor center. I got to help the Feng family prepare names for the temple which they were able to do on Tuesday. There is so much work to do on both sides of the veil, it is such an exciting prospect to me.

     I can't find the right words within me to express how I feel, but I hope that through this blog you have been able to feel the spirit, recognize the hand of the Lord working among us, and felt inspired to help others come to Christ. Let's join together and Charlie Mike!!!
Elder John Hosack Lim
September 26th, 2012 - April 15th, 2015

The Voice of God

     What would it be like to sit and listen to the voice of our Father in Heaven or our brother Jesus Christ? What would we want to ask them? What would they want to tell us? The amazing thing is that they love us so much that they want to send us messages and tell us what we can do to be happy. They speak to us through very special people called prophets and apostles. One of the general authorities this weekend quoted the scriptures by saying, "God said..." We can quote the words of God through the scriptures and conference talks because the Lord has declared, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all befulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I have found that to be the truth. The morning before conference I had a special study session where I searched my own thoughts and feelings for questions I had that needed answering, and I found a few. The first talk given spoke to a need that I didn't even realize that I had. I've become really casual about my fasting and often have skipped the duty to pay fast offerings. What a great reminder this was to show my love to the Lord through sacrifice. The next talk was a beautiful sermon from the senior apostle on his experience with marriage and counsel on righteous dating, I guess that is something I need to start thinking about soon! Then there was Elder Bednar's talk on facing fear with faith. I think that when facing uncertain events in the future it is always best to put all your trust in the Lord and expect his blessings as you decide to make Him your highest priority. That's my plan! I don't know what I will be doing next month or next  year, but I know that serving the Lord will be my next priority.
     On Sunday morning I heard one of the most touching talks I've ever listened to. The story of the brothers in Elder Holland's talk struck a special chord with me. An older brother was willing to give his life for the younger, and didn't want the younger brother to feel any blame for his fall. Miraculously, the younger brother stuck around to save his life. I think this story is so powerful because we can see ourselves on both sides of the situation. We, because of our mortal state, are fallen and in absolute need of saving. Like the younger brother, we were helpless to save Jesus Christ from the price he paid for our salvation. The tender feelings that I have for my brothers teaches me of the love that Jesus Christ has for me. It is the only reason that he underwent the agony that He did, because He loves who I am. I wish to offer my life to him, not because of an obligation or because anyone told me that is the right thing to do, but because I love Him and I love my brothers and sisters. He asks so little of us, and at the same time he asks for our all. President Monson said that the best decision that he made was to give something he loved to the God that he loved more, I want to make those kinds of decisions. I hope that we can all remember and honor Jesus Christ through our lives by hearkening to the words of the prophets and seeking to do God's will.
     This past week was a blur! I feel like time is going by so quickly. I got to work with Ivan again and explain some of the principles that he hasn't learned clearly yet. I guess he was interviewed for the priesthood without knowing what was going on, but he passed! He showed us around George Washington University where we plan to advertise an English class to service the Chinese students.  I also have gotten to know another graduate student that has been investigating for some time now. He is concerned that if he joins the church it might affect his chances of getting a job if he ends up in China. I shared with him the stories of faith from my family and my personal decision to put gymnastics aside to serve the Lord. It helped me to recognize that this is something that I believe is true. My affirmation of the truthfulness of the gospel grows ever stronger. I love the Lord and I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to serve every day. Here we go last week! In the words of Dersely, "Let's finish strong!"

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