Coming to Christ for Christmas!

This has to be extremely short, we weren't really given a P-day this week.

 

I'm so happy I got to talk to you all on Christmas! I'm so sorry that it seemed so short, I felt like I blabbered on about things that didn't matter. There's so many stories to tell and feelings to share that it's nigh impossible to really get anything out at all in 30-40 minutes. So for Mother's Day let's just have a normal chat like you probably all wanted to and I think it will be better. So good to hear all your voices.

Zach! YOU BEAST. That's the most legit cowboy stache I've ever seen. I don't know what the heck it's doing on your face, and I about popped out of my seat when I saw that little video clip Brian sent. So hilarious.

 

S was baptized on Sunday. He spoke for 8 and a half minutes at his baptism because he assumed he had to prepare a talk for it. His life is completely turned around. In describing the way he felt about his whole experience he told everyone in his testimony that he wasn't sure if he was breaking the 10 Commandments because he "coveted" Heavenly Father's love. He's so happy.

 

We just finished having the Open House. It was the craziest activity ever -- SO many people have come in contact with the church in the past few days. Sorry for the negative sound on the phone call -- I LOVED the Open House. It just beat me up with exhaustion. And today we had the most intense lesson of our lives because of it. A man who lives nearby came to the Open House and met with us today, telling us that his wife and kids went missing in Mainland 10 years ago and he has been looking for them ever since, with no job and no purpose other than finding them again. Assuming that they're dead, he came to the Open House wanting to know more about Jesus Christ before commiting suicide so that he could go to Heaven and see them again. It was intense and very serious, but he is a willing man and hopefully we'll be able to help him turn his life around and find the truth.

 

So many more things to say. Know that I'm well, that God is with us, and the work is progressing. God's truth rolls on.

 

Love, Elder Hazen

Merry Christmas!

Sister Y's Baptism, Miracles, and the Eternal Love of Heavenly Father

All I really have to say to anybody right now is Merry Christmas.

 

Heavenly Father is giving us the most amazing Christmas gifts right now. I've never had so many people to teach my entire mission. In fact, I've actually been praying harder recently hoping that we won't let any people slip through the cracks -- it's not even Open House yet and our load is as big or bigger than most in Hong Kong right now. Hung Shui Kiu is miracle town; something miraculous happens every day. We used to complain trying to find every possible way of escaping finding on the streets all day, and now finding time is precious with all the records to keep, people to teach, and members and leaders to follow-up with. It's incredible. President Hawks has sent out a call for all missionaries to pray for 8 specific things in order to "draw on the powers of heaven" in our work. As our faith has increased, our prayers more humble, and our righteous desires magnified, almost immediately the Lord has poured multitudes of both blessings and miracles on us.

 

Sister Y got baptized yesterday. It was the first time I'd ever baptized anyone, and the water was pretty yellow for some reason so it may or may not have been biproduct from the neighboring bathrooms, but she came out of that water beaming.

A few days ago we became a little worried because Sister Y still hadn't answered her phone after leaving on her trip to Mainland. It was already Friday and we had a baptism to schedule, so on a whim we looked at the vague address she filled on her baptismal form and set out to find her at about 8pm. Because we weren't familiar with the area and Chinese addresses aren't particularly clear, we spent a while knocking random doors in a concrete village at our best-guessed location. Just as we'd about given up and walked back onto the street, Elder Farnsworth saw her riding her back and stopped her. She had just come back from Mainland and had no minutes on her phone, so she was unable to contact us. With the very unlikely circumstances in which we ran into her friday night, I am convinced that the divine hand of providence was with us. Turns out she was planning on extending the baptism to a later date.  She got baptized on Sunday. She told me right before that she was so excited she couldn't sleep all night before, and she looked so happy afterwards.

 

S. will be getting baptized next week. He's such a stud; he showed up to his baptismal interview in a full suit! I wish you all could have seen what he looked like when we first met him, always wearing T-shirts 35 sizes too big. His testimony is so strong. I about jumped out of my seat when he told us the goals that he had written up on the wall in his bedroom: get baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, receive the priesthood, go to the Temple, go on a mission, and endure to the end. All of these are complete with an empty space at the side for check marks.

 

We have a lot of other miracles coming in for our ward. Hung Shui Kiu will actually be having two baptisms next week, because the Sisters taught an investigator who lives in our area who will also be getting baptized. The baptism will count for us because we no longer have sisters in Hung Shui Kiu -- and what's more, the neighboring area had a husband and wife who were so golden that they received all the lessons in just a couple of weeks, but they had two houses, and they chose to fill in their address that is actually in our area, so the following week we'll have a couple also baptized into our Ward. This couple, by the way, is so on fire that they constantly bring new referrals to the missionaries. So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, along with the two that Elder Farnsworth and I found, we have 3 extra free baptisms!

 

Pray for us that we'll be able to successfully work with our ward members to ensure that all of these miracles are managed. With great blessings come great responsibility; now more than every we can't be lax in our efforts. I feel the pressure to be more focused than I ever have as a missionary. I think the answer to why I care so much about these things and all these people can be summed up in the following experience with a less-active member we've been meeting:

Recently Brother Leung has been coming to church, but he's been having a lot of deep questions about the Plan of Salvation, ultimately saying that he wants to progress but doesn't feel like he has the potential. After spending a good time delving through the scriptures, he seemed to be more satisfied, and I decided to tell him that I knew that God loved him. He said, "Really? ... I'm not so sure." I don't think I'll ever be able to describe the feeling that came over me at that moment when I looked into that man's eyes and felt the indescribable love that Heavenly Father had for him, and I told him never to believe that God didn't love him, and as His witness I testified right there to him of that love. I nearly cried at that moment, realizing that the most profound moments for a missionary are the times that he or she witnesses of the simple and eternal love that Heavenly Father has for His children.

 

Please, never forget that you are children of the Almighty God, the Eternal Father in Heaven. Your potential is eternal. I know that He lives, and that Jesus is the Christ. Expect miracles in your life. Remember the Savior this Christmas.

 

Love,

Elder Hazen

Mom's and Tattoos, These are a Few of my Favorite Things

First off, to all those who write me letters -- I DO write you back. Sounds like a couple have been lost. Don't worry, I'm alive and in China. I guess I'll write you again.

 

This week has been full of surprises. I guess I'll start with S, he's the big news lately. I've never seen a man change his life around so quickly. Elder Farnsworth and I checked our planners and saw that we met him on the 1st of November. Here we are in early December, he's abandoned (by himself) his baggy overly large clothing and long hair and earring in his left ear for a clean cut head, glasses? and clothes that fit. He comes to church and prays to himself in every hour of the meetings, participates in each class, answers questions and prays some more. Last night I asked him what he learned from church, and he told me about how in Elder's Quorum some of the men were arguing about how to judge people righteously. He said he could see that one particular brother was having a big question in his mind, so he immediately started to pray for him. Then he spoke up and said, "Well the most important thing is, if you don't know what to do, you can just pray or fast."

 

Now for the surprises. Because S is such a sincere guy, he went ahead and did a very sincere thing. He has this tatoo on the back of his right hand in between the knuckle of his first finger and thumb of a clover. He has indicated time and time again of his loathing for it, and we've assumed that it must have some meaning that brings him thoughts of the bad things he did in his past. This wednesday we scheduled him for a lesson about Thomas S. Monson to help him gain a more solidified testimony of the modern prophet. He was waiting for us in the hallway of the chapel as we finished a lesson with someone else. Elder Farnsworth greeted him as I went into the library to grab the TV, and as I was pushing it into the classroom he came up to me and said, "Have you seen S's tatoo?" Rather elated by my sudden and erroneous assumption that he must have removed the clover I said, "What? Did he remove it?" Then Elder Farnsworth made a particularly interesting face and said, "Not quite." My interest peaked, I walked out to greet him and reached out to shake his hand. He clasped my hand.

 

I didn't know whether to be delighted or horrified by what I saw next. I was right about one thing. The clover was gone. But I choked on my "hello" as I examined the new and bigger tattoo that covered it. A cross engulfed in flames and the word "Pray" etched beautifully and permanently right there for all to see. S, you see, he's a great guy. As we sat down for the lesson, I really didn't know how to respond, so I just said it straight. "S, because our bodies are sacred and are from God, we as members of his church don't get tattoos." He looked at me and said, "Oh." Then he told us that the reason he put "Pray" on his hand was because he always forgot to pray over his food, so every time he lifted the chopsticks to his mouth he'd see the word on his hand and offer a word of prayer. Yes, again, he really is that awesome.

Yesterday at church we saw the sides of the tattoo missing, replaced by raw skin and traces of dried blood. We didn't really say much about it, because we didn't want to make a big deal about it. I have not met a more faithful man in my life. The things that S has shared with us and the sincere desire he has to be worthy to receive all the blessings of the Lord is so incredible. I've sent two pictures of him today for you to see, the one of the Temple in the background of us just last night. That he would have the faith to so immediately change and do all that the Lord wills of him is a testimony to me of the power that God has to forgive us and to build us.

 

As for another surprise, we had a ward activity on Saturday, and inviting two mom's on the street about 15 minutes before it started turned into about 6-7 mom's with all of their kids, totalling over 20 people there that were not members of the church. "Eat food and play games!" we said. The Lord did the rest.

 

I'm so blessed to be out here serving the Lord. All we have to do is be willing, and the Lord will shape us and build us and help us change. I myself have so many things I need to change. But I know that with a willing heart and an obedient spirit, the Lord will shape us and change us, and help us become who we were always meant to be. God bless you all and may he help you all to continue repenting and growing throughout your lives.

 

Love, Elder Hazen

 

Letter from the Mission President's Wife

Dear Sister Hazen,

President Hawks and I just returned from a Mission Fireside where Elder Hazen sang a solo.  He sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" in Cantonese (except for the last verse in English).  It was beautiful and I'm certain touched the heart and soul of the investigators that were present.  He is truly using his God given gifts and talents to bless the lives of the people in Hong Kong, and that includes me!

He is obedient, hard working and contributing much to the Mission.

Thank you for sharing your son with us.

Sincerely,
Sister  Julie Hawks
HK Mission

Clear ups, Baptisms Next Week, Food Poisoning, Reflections, and Testimony

Turns out that last week I played 2 Truths and a Lie with you all. I swear I didn't mean it.

Ironically enough, missionaries are probably the best at gossip and spreading half-truths like wildfire -- among themselves. Of course we spread full truths, yea, even the fulness of truth like wildfire on the streets, but you gotta love how one person gets some fake news about Taiwanese missionaries getting called to mainland and every missionary in Hong Kong knows about it by the end of the night. Everything I shared about the crazy technological advancements, QR Codes, special online secret missionary companionship, possibility of smart phones, and all that? True. Noob Taiwan-Mainland missionary call? False. My bad.

If I were to give commentary from my personal opinion, I'd say China has a while yet. But I sincerely believe that it will open to missionary work within my lifetime, and sometimes I get the weird feeling inside that tells me when it does, I'm going to be a part of it. I've seen Mainland several times because our area is right along the border -- you just have to look over the harbor and there it is, just looking like a dream in it's cloud of misty pollution. Because we're so close, we run into Mainland people daily, and the difference between them and your typical Hong Konger is like night and day. They're usually more humble, receptive, and willing to listen and hear you out. I'm a firsthand witness that China is ready for us, but we aren't ready for China. Why, you might ask? Because my first baptism next week is going to be a Chinese woman named Sister Yip who still frequents her home across the border.

Sister Yip has been among our most progressing investigators during November. Due to time limits on the computer, I haven't made much mention of her until now -- she's originally from Mainland and lives a mile or two down the road from the new church. Elder Farnsworth found her during a Zone Find in late October as she was walking around looking for her son. He has a mental illness that makes him "especially naughty." He likes to hit us, kiss us, hit us again, bang on things and scream. We love it. Anyway, she ended up coming to church nearly every sunday after she was found, and has met with us during the week to hear the lessons. Like I mentioned before, we are allowed to teach female investigators now on certain conditions -- so we always had at least 2 Relief Society members helping us fellowship her lessons. She passed her baptismal interview this Saturday and asked that I baptize her. She's really been great; one time she snuck a pack of noodles in my backpack, and for my birthday she made some weird chinese cheesy dish. It wasn't that good, but Elder Farnsworth loved it, and the point is, Sister Yip is great. Interesting thing is after the interview we were told that she was married; we had assumed the whole time that she was divorced because she never mentioned her husband... Oops. Apparently he's Buddhist and isn't opposed to her learning and being baptized, but wants nothing to do with us himself. She has had to read the Book of Mormon behind closed doors away in a room by herself. Many of her friends told her that our church is a cult, but she said she always felt so good at church and the members were so nice that she never listened to them. If it hadn't been for the willing and welcoming members or the comforting of the Spirit, I guarantee Sister Yip would have ended up like all the rest who hear one person anti the church and consequently never answer the phone again. It happens way too much out here. She's currently up in Mainland this week, and she says she might not be able to get back in time for her Sunday baptism, but I have faith that she will. If not, next week.

As far as my birthday is concerned, Mom, I woke up that day with food poisoning. Both ends were on fire most of the day, which really added nice touches to the lessons we had scheduled. I thought I'd gotten over it by about noon, so I decided to bring some of the protein shake stuff that you sent with me for lunch as I figured it would go down easy. O fool that I am to think that added amounts of protein sits well with an upset stomach. Soso was blessed to practice answering the baptismal interview questions with Elder Farnsworth as he listened to moanings and flushings from the nearby bathroom. He's doing great by the way -- he has a powerful testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. 9 months ago he was under the pressure of drugs, and a previously much different lifestyle is apparent from the tattoos on his back and hand, and the fist-prints on his bedroom door. Yesterday he filled out and paid a fast-offering to the Bishop, and then picked up several flyers for the Christmas Open-House and waved them saying "Mouh hei!" which means, "weapon". Yeah, while I have anything to say about it, he'll be on a mission soon. Haha!

My Zone Leader and I were talking last night. The MTC is changing a lot now to accomodate the huge waves of missionaries coming in. Apparently the weekly missionary application rate has increased from 700 to 4000. (See if maybe that doesn't contribute to the future of China). The MTC is shortening its time to take in more people, so Chinese missionaries are only going to be in for 9 weeks. That, in turn, is going to be affecting transfers, which indicates two things: 1) We're going to have a TON of white people coming in while all the native missionaries go home within the next few moves. I'm grateful to know that a lot of us have been so blessed with our capabilities in the language, because I get the feeling that I'm going to be teaching a white kid or two how to speak Chinese in the near future. 2) My going home date may change, possibly earlier by a few weeks. As my Zone Leader put it, "You're just about hitting your peak. As far as time is concerned, you're about to head on the downward sloap." I layed in bed and worried about it for a while. I can't believe it's almost been a year. I don't want to leave this place. It just feels like it's not enough time. Part of being patient is learning to control anxiety -- I live under constant pressure wondering if I've been doing enough, finding the right people, doing the right thing, blessing enough people's lives. One day I'll wake up and this experience will be over. I never realized I'd find comfort knowing that a mission is just an orientation for the rest of my life, a stepping stone that prepares me to bless others throughout my entire life. I never want to stop blessing people. There is just too much good to be done, and so many people need it.

I know and testify with all energy of heart that the greatest good you can ever do is to align your will with your Creator, and through so doing learn to continually and tirelessly bless His children throughout the earth. This is the work of God, and it will never cease. We are doing a great work, and we cannot come down. We are always in the middle, because everything we do is a part of something eternal. God Himself answers our prayers. We have what we need given to us, our purpose is to learn how to use it. I stand as another witness with all the prophets and apostles and disciples of old and in the modern day, that Christ lives, the Atonement is real, and that the Gospel that He founded nearly 2000 years ago has been restored in it's fulness. I am here to share it.

May God bless you all with the knowledge of that truth,

Elder Hazen

Whisperings, Changes, and the Book of Mormon

The New Territories is on fire, like usual.

 

We've heard through the grapevine that Mainland might be opening up soon. Another missionary told us that his friend got his mission call to Taiwan and to serve there until he is sent up to Mainland. If it's true, it seems pretty natural they would start with the Taiwanese missionaries who all speak Mandarin. There are a lot of whispered preparations happening all over the mission here as well. Word has it that certain missionaries in Hong Kong are going high-tech -- on the back of missionary tags they are stamping QR Codes for people to quickly scan with their Smart Phones. Apparently some missionaries will possibly be using Smart Phones. There is a missionary companionship currently cooped up in the upper (the kind you have to use scanner codes to get in) floors of the main 13-story Wan Chai building, doing what all the other missionaries call "top secret missionary work." We aren't really sure what's going on, but apparently the companionship is helping to develop some sort of website thing that is directly geared to investigators of the church, that can be easily accessed, is full of special messages, etc. With that and how big the New Territories Zone has gotten in the last move, the huge chapel in Hung Shui Kiu finally opening up after 10 years, the huge and rapid technological advancements, and whisperings of Mainland, we're given in speculation that huge things are going to start happening in Asia. That's all I know. Take it for prophecy or just for feeling, but I feel like whether in this mission or later in my life, God is preparing me for a great work on the other side of the border.

 

Soso, our best investigator, is currently experiencing a lot of changes in his life. We found him wandering about a mile down the road from the chapel lost in thought. He said that an old friend had offered him a job in office work, and he wasn't sure what to do. He currently works as a delivery boy in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant pretty close to the church. We even made him deliver to us a couple days ago. It's funny, because he's always so close, we see him on his bike almost every day, so "daily contact" is made pretty easy. He didn't come to church yesterday, so Elder Farnsworth and I, a little worried, decided to go visit his house. Turns out he had just gone to bed an hour before after being on a phone call nearly the whole night. Whatever had been bugging him seemed to be fixed, and he just needed to sleep. Looks like he's going to take the new job, too. We'll see him less, but I'm pretty sure he'll be baptized before he even starts it next month. He has a lot of faith, and I think God is preparing him for a lot of the joy that the gospel will bring him and his prospective family.

Our other investigators are doing well also. Sister Yip will have to get a special interview for baptism due to some past issues, but she is so prepared and humble and receptive. She is already an active member practically. Our friend Andrew is looking for a new job; when he finally gets accepted into a new work he'll be able to come to church. The only thing that is holding him back from baptism has been his inability to attend church. We're hoping for 3 baptisms in December.

 

I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is the answer to questions. We met with a less active member on Saturday who had a lot of deep questions about the Plan of Salvation. We sat for a good while disputing certain issues back and forth, but he kept letting his confusion get the best of him. I told him right then that I thought continuing in conversation would do us no good, and that instead we should turn to the scriptures. Elder Farnsworth and I found wonderful passages in 2 Nephi 9 and Doctrine and Covenants that spoke to him and eased his mind.

God answers questions, we don't. The difference is clearly visible and noticable when you open the scriptures together instead of having some philosophical conversation. Faces soften from the furrowed questioning brow to the focused and peaceful countenance of self-introspection. It becomes a conversation with God, where He Himself instructs, guides, answers and uplifts you. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that we have an inspired prophet in these latter-days, and that God will never cease speaking to us.

 

Love,

Elder Hazen

People in Need, Miracles, and Prayer

Hello all,

 

It's been another great week up in Hung Shui Kiu. The Spirit is really brooding over this land; people have been walking in on church, accepting chapel tours, self-referring themselves to our free English Class, and several people are progressing towards baptism. Our first English Class up here, only about 4 weeks ago, had a total of 5 people attend, which in some places in the mission, is considered a success. I remember when I was in Aberdeen, sometimes for 2-3 weeks in a row nobody would show up. Last friday, we had 29 people attend English Class, and only about 2-4 of those people were members. We had to split classrooms and have all the missionaries in our district working together to make sure that everybody had a quality, satisfying experience.

 

Last week we found an old woman on a roof on a patch of farmland in the village that neighbors the church. I was afraid to call out to her at first for fear of scaring her and causing her to fall off, but with a little faith I opened my mouth and called out to her. She turned out to be the most hilarious and sweet little lady we've ever met. Her back was acutely hunched over, I swear like an 80 degree angle, and she daily engages in physical labor by herself. I couldn't help but thinking she looked like a muppet, by both her appearance and her cheery personality, and she loved us from the start. We offered to come serve her and help her out with the work, and she invited us back a few days later. We came with our whole district wearing "Mormon Helping Hands" jerseys and I tell you, I don't think I've ever been as elated about doing physical labor as I was for that first hour. But our joys were cut short -- a man came in and told us that it was his land and without even asking us what we were doing or why we were there he called the police on us. The woman ran up to me, grabbed my hands and looked into my eyes while she described to me that this man ruined this little farm and would frequently beat her. I looked at her helplessly. The native missionaries talked to him and explained that we were here to help the old woman, and he said that she was senile and always intruded on his property. We said we were sorry, and not wanting to get ourselves or the Church involved, we quickly left after the man cancelled his call to the police. It was a really sad experience, knowing that there was nothing we could do. There is a great need for more love in this world, and there were more talks in General Conference this year that talked about service than anything else. The call of the prophets is to find those in need, because there are too many who need it.

 

Soso is progressing towards baptism. Yesterday he came to church humbly praying and intently listening all through Sacrament Meeting. I was impressed at his comment after both the opening and the closing prayer when he said, "Wow, they prayed... fast." He has so quickly understood the nature of our communication with Heavenly Father that it seemed odd to him that at church the members would offer such a quick and ritualistic prayer up to Heaven. We must always remember that in all things we do, especially at church, represent both our individual spirituality and the church itself. People watch, and they notice. We should all take time to sincerely reflect the way that we communicate with Heavenly Father, in public and in private. One thing I've really learned in my service is how to pray. Odd to say, I've done it my entire life. When we learn to pray sincerely, always, we are given the added blessings of heaven. Miracles have begun to happen here, and I know it's a product of our prayers -- prayers that have been offered because we truly wanted them to be answered, and had faith that they would, not because we were told that prayer would help.

 

I know that this is God's work. God bless you all in your individual pursuits to come closer to our Father in Heaven, and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Love,

Elder Hazen

"I've Heard It Before

The miracles that we've been taught to expect are now beginning to roll in.

 

One of the amazing things about Hung Shui Kiu is that it is right in the heart of the New Territories, and the huge chapel that has just been built there is a beacon to everything around it. We learned recently that this chapel has been in construction for 10-13 years, and people have known about it for a long time. For whatever reason, it's construction process was drawn out for a very long time. Needless to say, people know about the Mormon chapel. President Hawks has increased the New Territories Zone by two companionships, and this new chapel has finally opened. Why did the church invest so much money in a chapel right in the middle of the New Territories, and why is our mission president concentrating his forces here? Because miracles are going to happen. Hung Shui Kiu, it's time to explode.

 

There is a huge main road that runs through the New Territories, and the chapel happens to be built alongside it. So Elder Farnsworth and I have spent some time walking up and down it asking people if they've seen the new chapel and if they'd like a tour. As we were walking down the road last week, I saw a guy passing us on his bike so I thought I'd have a whirl and yelling and waving him down. It was a miracle in and of itself that he stopped his bike and said, "what?" We shared with him a minute message about the purpose of life and then invited him to our next English Class. He gave us his number, and then showed up. Shortly after we visited him in his home to teach him the Restoration, and he accepted a baptismal date without question. He is 22 years old, and his name is Soso. He's from mainland. The following English Class we had two men who called us and referred themselves to come learn english, and afterwards we gave them a tour of the chapel, and Soso tagged along. As Elder Farnsworth was explaining something about the Atonement, Soso edged closer to me and said, "Hey I have good news, my boss said I now have all Sundays off work. I don't even know why, I didn't even ask him. I can come to church." I started getting all excited with him, but I was quickly shut down by a glare from my companion, who couldn't fathom why I'd be making a fuss while he was trying to have a spiritual experience sharing our most sacred doctrine. My bad.

After that, we sat down with the men and taught them seperately a short lesson about prayer. Soso sat with me, and much to my surprise hestarted answering the man's questions, explaining clearly and correctly that prayer is a way that we communicate with God, and that He answers us through our feelings, helping us to know what choices we should make. I sat there a little awestruck that our new investigator was now helping us fellowship and doing it right, when he has absolutely no Christian background and has only heard one lesson.

Encouraged, we rescheduled him to teach him the Plan of Salvation. It was the first time I've taught the Plan of Salvation in months because we've been spending so much time starting people off with the Restoration. Needless to say, my mind spaced out for most of the lesson, and for a long time I felt like I'd forgotten all the principles we were supposed to teach. Thanks to my companion and the member who was there to help us, it ended alright. At the end of the lesson, I felt like I needed to ask Soso if he believed what we had taught. He indicated that he did. I asked, "Why do you believe it?" He thought for a moment and then responded, "Because when I pray I can feel that it's all true.... and also, when you guys started teaching me the Plan of Salvation, I could have sworn I'd heard it before. I know for a fact that nobody has ever taught it to me, but I know I've heard it before." We sat there in silence and the Spirit seemed to thicken the air about us, and I felt for a moment that I'd burst with joy. I then said to him, "You have heard it before, in the pre-earth life. The Spirit just confirmed that to you, and your spirit recognized it."

 

That's our miracle story of the week, and please know that there have been many more. We currently have 4 investigators with baptismal dates, two of whom I'm positive will make them. Elder Farnsworth and I have labored diligently here in Hung Shui Kiu, and we have searched for those prepared souls even when we would have prefered to go home. We have prayed for miracles, we have promised the members they'd see miracles, and we have begun to see miracles. God has prepared us all to fulfil a magnificent purpose and calling in our lives, and if we are humble and willing enough, our spirits will recognize that plan. We must always remember that we have heard it before. God is telling us every day. Eternity hangs in the balance. This is the work of the Lord.

 

Love, Elder Hazen

 

P.S. To top it all off, I got to sing in Sacrament meeting this week. It may be your cliche arrangement of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," but it may not be sung in your cliche language. May it uplift your spirits.

Investigators, prayers answered, brought low to be lifted up

Hay errbody,

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE! I can't believe you're in Primary now! You're so huuuge. I'm going to write you a letter today. I miss you!

 

I've reported on working with members in my past few emails and talked about our Preach My Gospel "One Heart One Mind" plan. This week we've begun to see the fruits of our labors. Early this week we visited a couple members, shared with them about opening our mouths and sharing simple and direct testimonies about the Book of Mormon, and then invited one of them to help us fellowship one of our investigators the following morning. Since President Hawks came, we've been allowed to teach female investigators, (it's been kind of awkward having women help us fellowship and then trying to answer them when they ask why we aren't passing the investigator over to the Sisters). Our investigator, Sister Yip, is very receptive to the message but has ZERO Christian background. Anyway, after the member we invited and the Relief Society President helped us fellowship her and had a wonderful lesson, on saturday night we received a call from our member saying that she took the initiative and called Sister Yip on her own to invite her to church. And Sister Yip came. Dressed up.

Another fruit has been talking with the active members who have a lot of fear about sharing the gospel, and are very timid (even with themselves) about their testimony of Jesus Christ. A few days ago we practiced with one such investigator, inviting him to teach me as if I were his friend. When I asked him how he knew Christ was his Savior, he turned to my companion and said, "I can't do it." We just stared at him and told him to try. It was tense for a few moments, but we watched as he engaged himself in introspection, looked at me straight in the eye and told me his testimony of how simply going to church strengthens his knowledge of the truth. It was simple, and it pushed him, but he said at the end of the lesson that he learns a lot from us every time he meets us. It was a testimony to me of the contant need for us as members to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom," to strengthen one another, and to mutually perfect each other in this mortal journey to eternal life.

 

I know that God answers prayers. One of our investigators, Andrew, last week texted us saying that "God couldn't redeem him." Every night after that I called him, and for a few days he didn't answer. So last Monday, Elder Farnsworth and I fasted and prayed for him to give us another chance to meet with him, and help him come closer to his Savior. He answered his phone that night, and we rescheduled him, and on wednesday we taught him, resolved his concerns with a member, and gave him a card that we made for him that was based on Alma 36, with a picture of us with him on the back. He told us that he had been in contact with another church, but we were the ones who called him back and actually showed that we cared. I felt so much love for him as I fasted and prayed for him, and God answered our prayers.

 

Recently we've had a ton of success in finding a lot of prepared people, with humble and receptive hearts. It's been a blessing, but it's also very interesting to note that all the investigators or potential investigators we have that seem to be progressing or will progress have a very close relationship with Mainland China. They are either from there, born there, or go there frequently. It's interesting to look back on the words of Elder (Bednar?) in an address to (Mission presidents?) a few years ago when he said (paraphrased), "China is ready for the Gospel, but we aren't ready for China." Get those 18 and 19 year old missionaries out now, I am a witness to the truth that people in China are ready to hear the Good News. Double, nay, sextouple the army of the Lord!

 

My testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ was strengthened this week as I was brought down with a cold. Being sick, even a little bit sick, as a missionary is the worst. You can't just stop working. But that's what actually made the past few days some of the best few days. Sometimes we are brought to low points, or brought down to a lower plane in order to clearly see the blessings wie've been given. I found that as I forced myself to keep going at a lower level, I was able to see several of the blessings that attend my "normal" functioning mode.

Our low points in life can be anywhere from something as scary and severe as cancer or the death of a loved one to something as temporary and trivial as catching a minor cold. Whatever is included in life's current hindrance, it's purpose is to help us understand our own circumstances from a lower level, and see the blessings we've been given when life is easier, supported by the comforts of health and financial security. We learn at our lower points that we are never ready to receive more blessings until we've learned to appreciate and cherish the ones we've already been given.

God breaks us down to lift us up. It is by this principle that we are enabled to recognize and understand the merits of Christ's atoning sacrifice; just as we are lifted up and built stronger by our own experiences and trials, He who descended below us all has been lifted the highest to guide us back to Heavenly Father. As we see the blessings and the goodness of life from a lower plane, so has Christ seen us from the lowest of all planes. Only through Him, by Him, and with Him can we ever expect to reach the highest of all planes, even in celestial glory with our Father in Heaven. We must be brought down, even as our Savior was, in order to be lifted up.

 

I know that this work is God's work. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is more real than I ever knew before. We can feel the prints in His hands and feet as we partake of the emblems of His holy sacrifice every Sunday morning.

 

Add oil,

Elder Hazen

A Week of Service

You gotta love those weeks when everybody you've scheduled doesn't show up, all the kids are testing in school, and your only instict is to find a comfortable gutter nearby, nestle yourself therein, and sleep.

 

But you know what we did? Not that! We spent a few hours on the street nearly every day and picked up trash. My senior companion decided that this week it was the best thing for us to find opportunities to serve people. Chinese people don't like to depend on other people; after we found one man willing to let us carry a few heavy things for him to a dumpster, Elder Farnsworth reported to me that this was the first time anybody had ever let him serve them his entire mission. There is a lot of anti-mormon churches up here in the New T's, and we figured that the best way to improve our image and soften hearts was a little extra effort in voluntary service.

I know that what the prophets and apostles have been telling us about service is true. Something I've prayed often about lately is how I can better show God that I love Him, and how I can really develop the Christlike attribute of charity. I recite 1 Corinthians 13 to my companion every day. I always start out making him worry that I have something important to say, and then begin my refined presentation of "Though I speak with the tongue of men and of angels..." He'll miss it one day. There is a very recognizable difference in the way I feel after I've done something good for another person, no matter how simple it is. This transfer will end this week, and there have been lots of growing moments for me on several levels -- from my companion, to members, to investigators, to building the new area. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that I of myself really am nothing. My opinions, my abilities to speak the language, my desires, my way of doing things, they're all about as powerful to make a difference as a feather can withstand the wind.

It is necessary to serve others to the greatest extent that we are able, because it is the only way that we can really learn who our Savior really is. I know that as far our numbers this week are concerned, well, they tanked. But my love has increased, my faith has strengthened, and a more refined definition of "the pure love of Christ" has been engraven upon my heart by the angelic scribes that surround us daily. There really is a gift and and ounce of growth in every day. I know God is with us, and I know that when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are in the service of our God. I promise that if you find even the simplest opportunity to serve, help, or uplift somebody every day, you will better understand and more greatly appreciate the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, and you will become more aware of His presence in your life.

I know that this is God's work. This is His restored Gospel. We are here to learn to love.

Love,

Elder Hazen

Thinking Is Praying

Well how about it.

 

This week has been gold. It's the kind that every missionary loves -- General Conference (who knew that what was once a cherished nap time now gets me on the edge of my seat), the majority of all our contacts actually following through with us, 5 new investigators, miracles in street finding, and way too much curry. Mom, that wasn't an invitation for another package of probiotics. Love you.

 

Happy birthday to you again, Trevor. Shin splints, eh? Those are my favorite birthday presents. Have you gotten your package?

 

General Conference slammed me. I felt like Elder Holland was looking straight at me with that age-old penetrating question, "Do you love me?" I cannot accurately describe the feeling it was from the perspective of a missionary to really dig down into my soul and ask, "Do I do what I do because I love God or do I do it simply because I expect to get something out of it for myself?" Without going into too much detail on the situations I've faced recently and the burdens that I carry within myself, it suffices to say that Christ Himself may as well have been asking me the question directly through the mouth of His servant. It's easy to think sometimes that the question, "How am I supposed to love God?" is a difficult one to answer. I've found that I can't revile against one of God's children, whether in word or in my heart, and then go pray and tell God that I love Him. "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me," (Matthew 25:40). Loving God means you love all of His children, that you see them all for who they can become; and "perfect love casteth out all fear" (Moroni 8:16). I can't tell you how many times I've feared opening my mouth to a stranger because I did not love them.

 

I had the recurring thought through all the speakers that we all need to be more immediate and prompt in exactly obeying the promptings of the Spirit. In order to progress spiritually, we must have a sense of urgency in fulfilling the whispered commands of our Master. We must never forget that the words of the Holy Ghost, those gentle feelings that we must make a better choice, are the "words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32:3). How many times must the Holy Ghost tell us to do the same thing before we actually do it? When we wonder why our lives aren't moving forward and we're on our knees begging for further direction, do we ever take time to evaluate if we've done the things that God has already inspired us to do? Our prompt obedience to the divinely given feelings in our hearts to do the right thing even if it's inconvenient is the quickest way to invite God's further guidance.

 

As for our area -- there has been a lot of success lately. It seems that even when Elder Farnsworth and I are sitting down to rest or make a call, God finds for us and makes a simple wave at a passerby turn into a message on the Restoration, complete with a closing prayer and a free Book of Mormon, eternal life included. Hung Shui Kiu is a lot different than the Island though -- not nearly as concentrated with people. We've come up with a better way of finding, and I put it to my companion this way: when you play a good old-fashioned game of Hide and Seek, you make yourslef a much more difficult person to find if you're constantly changing hiding spots. Many people are searching for the truth, but know not where to find it. If the truth keeps aimlessly wandering around, prepared people to hear it are going to have a harder time finding it. So in an area with comparitively less people, we need to secure our hiding spots in one area that is the most concentrated and start playing "Hide and Get Sought." It's my favorite game, and we've been finding so many people to teach.

 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week, and I started in the MTC. It was slow, but very satisfying. God confirmed many times throughout the read that the Book was in fact His word and contained His absolute and everlasting truth. I know that it is the word of God, and I know it because my testimony came from Heavenly Father Himself, and not through any clever man or cunning persuasion. I cannot deny that it is of Him. Please read it and ask Him yourself. Ask Him many times, even after you know. God will never stop confirming what is true. His peace be upon you all, now and forever, is my prayer. I love you all, and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Love, Elder Hazen

Hide and Get Sought. GC Reflections

Well how about it.

 

This week has been gold. It's the kind that every missionary loves -- General Conference (who knew that what was once a cherished nap time now gets me on the edge of my seat), the majority of all our contacts actually following through with us, 5 new investigators, miracles in street finding, and way too much curry. Mom, that wasn't an invitation for another package of probiotics. Love you.

 

Happy birthday to you again, Trevor. Shin splints, eh? Those are my favorite birthday presents. Have you gotten your package?

 

General Conference slammed me. I felt like Elder Holland was looking straight at me with that age-old penetrating question, "Do you love me?" I cannot accurately describe the feeling it was from the perspective of a missionary to really dig down into my soul and ask, "Do I do what I do because I love God or do I do it simply because I expect to get something out of it for myself?" Without going into too much detail on the situations I've faced recently and the burdens that I carry within myself, it suffices to say that Christ Himself may as well have been asking me the question directly through the mouth of His servant. It's easy to think sometimes that the question, "How am I supposed to love God?" is a difficult one to answer. I've found that I can't revile against one of God's children, whether in word or in my heart, and then go pray and tell God that I love Him. "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me," (Matthew 25:40). Loving God means you love all of His children, that you see them all for who they can become; and "perfect love casteth out all fear" (Moroni 8:16). I can't tell you how many times I've feared opening my mouth to a stranger because I did not love them.

 

I had the recurring thought through all the speakers that we all need to be more immediate and prompt in exactly obeying the promptings of the Spirit. In order to progress spiritually, we must have a sense of urgency in fulfilling the whispered commands of our Master. We must never forget that the words of the Holy Ghost, those gentle feelings that we must make a better choice, are the "words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32:3). How many times must the Holy Ghost tell us to do the same thing before we actually do it? When we wonder why our lives aren't moving forward and we're on our knees begging for further direction, do we ever take time to evaluate if we've done the things that God has already inspired us to do? Our prompt obedience to the divinely given feelings in our hearts to do the right thing even if it's inconvenient is the quickest way to invite God's further guidance.

 

As for our area -- there has been a lot of success lately. It seems that even when Elder Farnsworth and I are sitting down to rest or make a call, God finds for us and makes a simple wave at a passerby turn into a message on the Restoration, complete with a closing prayer and a free Book of Mormon, eternal life included. Hung Shui Kiu is a lot different than the Island though -- not nearly as concentrated with people. We've come up with a better way of finding, and I put it to my companion this way: when you play a good old-fashioned game of Hide and Seek, you make yourslef a much more difficult person to find if you're constantly changing hiding spots. Many people are searching for the truth, but know not where to find it. If the truth keeps aimlessly wandering around, prepared people to hear it are going to have a harder time finding it. So in an area with comparitively less people, we need to secure our hiding spots in one area that is the most concentrated and start playing "Hide and Get Sought." It's my favorite game, and we've been finding so many people to teach.

 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week, and I started in the MTC. It was slow, but very satisfying. God confirmed many times throughout the read that the Book was in fact His word and contained His absolute and everlasting truth. I know that it is the word of God, and I know it because my testimony came from Heavenly Father Himself, and not through any clever man or cunning persuasion. I cannot deny that it is of Him. Please read it and ask Him yourself. Ask Him many times, even after you know. God will never stop confirming what is true. His peace be upon you all, now and forever, is my prayer. I love you all, and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Love, Elder Hazen

Change. Obedience. Becoming Perfect.

Whoa.

 

First of all, I'd like to make it clear that I have NOT seen Conference yet -- we Asians get it a week later than everybody else. But the Elder in International work took it upon himself to text the whole mission last Sunday and announce the earlier departure permission for prospective missionaries. I was thinking about it over and over, thinking what a change it will bring to missions all over the world. Elder Farnsworth and I have speculated that there will be an immediate initial wave of new missionaries, and then when summertime comes a second and larger wave of new missionaries will enter into their best two years. I can't deny that my first thought when I read the text was "Trevor Hazen." Dude, pick up them trousers and fasten them suspenders, ya'll got some work ahead a ya. Oh, and I'd also like to wish you a happy birthday, which I am completely aware is nigh on the horizon. You may or may not need to expect a package coming your way from the Orient.

 

I've been hit in the face with a lot of changes this past week to be sure. That announcement from the First Presidency only just followed some big changes to our mission under the direction of President Hawks. He is a very, very visionary man. Last friday our whole mission had special Zone Meetings where we discussed new rules and new changes to the China Hong Kong Mission. The week after next, P-days will be on Mondays. All except for the 30minutes of morning exercise, if we must wear other attire other than proselyting clothing, we MUST where jeans. No shorts allowed. We can only go to the Temple every quarter instead of every move. We need to emphasize teaching in people's homes rather than at church. We can no longer congregate into large groups of missionaries unless it is inside a church building. And starting November 1st, regardless of the weather, we have to wear suits everywhere we go until April General Conference. Mom, I think I'm going to be buying a new suit pretty soon.

 

President Hawks is a man who is very quick to observe. He really believes in us and believes that even the small things matter and make a difference. I honor and respect that man and have a lot of faith that he was sent to help this mission in this time to progress and to help Zion be established among the Chinese people. Rules are easy. Yeah, I'm going to sweat a lot more in the coming months and my suit is going to start smelling pretty rancid, but in light of our vision to increase our faith and see miracles begin to happen, even the small things will make a difference. Naaman thought it was nitpicky to wash seven times in the dirtiest river in Israel, but in the end his trust in the Lord and the words of the prophet saw him cleansed of his leprosy. Let's be honest with ourselves, who isn't a leper?

Obedience is a law of independence. When we comply with the rules and the laws which are set for us, we relieve ourselves from constant supervision and are allowed to grow. When we break laws, we're always on the run. Law must exist; without them, God Himself cannot exist (2 Nephi 2:13). Some laws are laws simply because they are true, and God provides law and the requirement of obedience for our own safety and progression.

 

Perfection is not necessarily omniscience. As I've studied Christ's life and His growth from the young Boy in Nazareth to the Man that suffered in Gethsemane, I've come to think perfection must be the ability to observe exactly and completely what is either said or done, understand it, and then apply it. Of course, being mortal and limited in our finite perception, exact observation and application is impossible for us. However, it does not mean that perfection for us can't be practiced and improved upon. We must learn to be quick to observe, to progress, and become like our Savior. Change, if done right, just means we have a clearer path ahead of us. Change is just practicing to be perfect. The First Presidency is changing things to help perfect the Saints and prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior. President Hawks is changing things to help perfect the missionaries in Hong Kong in their pursuits to bring people to Christ. And I, as faithless and weak as I feel so often, am doing all that I can to remain exactly obedient to fulfil Christ's command to become perfect, even as He and the Father are perfect. In this life, I will never fully achieve, but I treasure the eternal life that awaits us all, His willing servants.

 

There is nothing we cannot do, if we are just faithful enough to be obedient to the Lord. If we are faithful enough to do the hard things, and to change, the blessings will come. I have been reduced to tears several times as I've tried to summon this kind of faith; it's hard, and I'm weak. I love this work, because it is true. Whatever it is that you need to change, even if you aren't sure why you are doing it or even the seemingly foolish things you feel you have to do in order to change, trust in the promise that Christ will lift you up at the last day, even as He was lifted up that we all might have eternal life.

 

I know that Christ lives. I know that God is our Father. I know that quick observance and willingness to change and remain exactly obedient to the Lawgiver will bring us more happiness and peace than we can ever bring to ourselves. I pray that everyone can open their hearts to this infinite truth, and come unto their Savior. He loves us all and beckons us all the day long. I know it.

 

All my love,

Elder Hazen

Establishing Zion

Mom, Family, Friends

 

Dad. Some Chinese guy told me he thought you looked like Steve Jobs. Don't worry, I look like Jim Carrey, Zach is the most handsome of us all, and a few weeks ago some investigator told me that the only difference between me in my family picture from 2010 and now is that I have more wrinkles. Thought you'd all like to be updated on our aesthetic improvements and celebrity comparisons.

 

Wow. I'm really sorry. Looks like last week my email never went through because I had attached too many things. I just spent over half my email time trying to attach pictures and stuff and it kept rejecting me. It's extremely frustrating -- I hope my recordings (both of my testifying and teaching in Cantonese and of the song Come Thou Fount) and at least SOME pictures went through.

 

We've been working hard in Hung Shui Kiu. Finding people on the street here is really difficult because compared to Aberdeen there just aren't nearly as many people, and tracting isn't of much use because Hong Kong is really good at gating up their houses and estates. However, I did have my first whirl at knocking doors in Hong Kong a few days ago. Some of these places are really creepy. Sometimes you look in the window of a house and it's pitch black except for these dark red light bulbs lighting up pictures of their ancestors. I'm not going to pretend like I didn't feel fear. Knocking doors out here isn't very welcoming.

 

Elder Farnsworth and I are really focused on the members in our area. We've been constantly visiting them and sharing messages with them and strengthening them as the new ward begins to open. We have been getting really excited lately as we've spent extra time formulating a plan for the new ward. We've been praying and seeking a lot of inspiration, and we've felt that the Spirit has really been working in us and helping us find direction in the new area.

Here's the plan that we are preparing to present to the new ward: Once a week the missionaries visit every willing family in the ward for 20-30 minutes to teach them the principles in Preach My Gospel. That's it. We're preparing to leave with them a promise that if we can unite as "one heart and one mind", missionaries and members, they will witness many of their friends and family enter the waters of baptism. And we're going to have the members baptize them. Something Elder Farnsworth told me I thought was incredibly profound -- he said that when he went into the MTC he made a goal never to enter the waters, but to always have the members do it. He's failed twice, he says. But the point is very clear -- we're all in this together.

 

So that's it. Elder Farnsworth and I have a very big vision for the establishment of Zion in Hung Shui Kiu. We're not just out here to find people on the street, bring them in and baptize them. We can't overlook the responsibility we have to the members -- to help perfect the Saints and to unify them in this glorious work. When this is accomplished, the collective effort of both the members and the missionaries will bring way more people to the waters of baptism than a group of kids in suits and dresses running around in a foreign country. Of course, that isn't said to degrade our calling. As much power and authority we are endowned with to preach the glad tidings of our Savior, we can't and shouldn't do it on our own. A vital part of our calling is to do all that we can to unite with the members. We missionaries shouldn't be afraid to pull straigt zeroes in our Key Indicators for a few weeks if that's what it takes to focus on unifying, exciting, and blessing the members in our area. The Spirit has confirmed this truth in my heart over and over this week. Zion can be everywhere.

 

I know that you all have General Conference this week -- I don't get it until next week. I invite all of you to pray and to ponder what message is being prepared for you. I know that the Prophet and the Apostles pray daily for you and for what message this world needs right now in October of 2012. I know that they are prophets, seers, and revelators. I know that their words will be evidence of the restored Gospel, of the living Christ, and of our Father in Heaven. They are prepared for you, are you prepared for them? Think of any question you want God to answer that you need in your life, pray about it, and seek it this conference. If you do so, I promise that through the words of one of God's servants, you will receive your answer.

 

I know it's all true.

 

Love, Elder Hazen

Exploring Hung Shui Kiu. Declaring repentance. Pictures and a recording.

Hay'all.

 

First attached file is of me and a sister missionary performing a folksy rendition of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" that we prepared for a stake talent show a few weeks ago. She's on guitar, I'm on violin, and we sing some stuff. Sorry it took so long, Mom.

 

I think yesterday was possibly the longest day of my entire life. Moving to our new area and then walking around semi-aimlessly all day for a week took it's toll. I nearly fell asleep walking about 50 times. Good news is, Hung Shui Kiu is an awesome area. It's basically a split-up of two other areas that already exist, due to the building of a new beautiful chapel. It has been erected to accomodate members in the area, so the HSK boundaries were added and they threw Elder Farnsworth and I into it. Technically, missionaries are already plenty familiar with this area, but because we currently have no Area Book, just barely threw together an incomplete Member book, only one investigator we managed to find yesterday, no investigator/potential records, and the ward itself won't be opening until the 3rd week in October, you may as well say it's like opening a completely new area. I love it though; it's been quite the adventure exploring everywhere we can, finding member's homes, and trying to keep from looking like a tourist.

 

Needless to say, my companion and I bought a couple of map books and have had our noses buried in them more hours of the day than not. At least it feels that way. I don't think I've looked at a map more in my whole life than my first day in Hung Shui Kiu. We've focused a lot on finding and developing relationships with the prospective members in our area. That includes attending two wards, and you guessed it -- we had a wonderful 6 hours of church last sunday, and we'll probably be doing it again this week. The majority of our days are looking through the member records that we have, finding their estate or village area on the map, and going there and trying to visit them. A lot of members keep telling us next week, but we've had a few really good visits. The members are SO awesome and are so willing to help us do missionary work. Several have told us the names of less-active members in the area, and one told us she wanted to bring a mother and her two sons to church. We'll see how it all works out, but we have a feeling this area is going to have the majority of it's progression through the members. It's really inspiring to see how willing and loving these people are, and it makes me think of what a lazy member I was! I hope that I'll be able to make as much time as possible to help the missionaries when I return home. Missionary work is something that is constantly intriguing, always moving and progressing, and more satisfying than any other work. Everyone who puts their heart into it will testify of the same.

 

It's Mid-Autumn Festival this Sunday, and all the Chinese people are getting ready. I'm not clear on the point of the festival. All I know is that everybody eats these over-expensive moon cakes, and almost every member who has invited us in this week has given us one. They... aren't that good. The lotus paste inside is alright, but the reason they are called moon cakes is because they have this nasty orange preserved egg yolk in the middle to represent a moon. The more yolks, the more expensive. And more nasty. I just love the sneaky smile that forms on the members faces just before they ask you if you've ever tried moon cake. You always know it's coming. And when you say yes, they think it's an invitation to give you one because you must like it. I honestly don't think anyone really even likes them.

 

That pretty much sums up my week. I had one interesting experience on the street the other day where a teenager was willing to talk with us but kept telling us that these things were impossible, he didn't believe, and didn't think it'd be important even if God existed. I started to get kindof frustrated with him after I pulled out a Book of Mormon to answer his question and he wouldn't read it. He waved his hands at it and said, "Msai, msai" (don't need, don't need). I didn't understand why he'd bother asking a question and sharing an opinion and then stubbornly refuse to read a scripture. I pulled out our phone and told him to pretend he was in ancient times. I asked him where the phone came from, and he replied, "Modern times." I said, "Well, how do you know that? You're ancient, you don't have a clue what this thing is. You'd probably break it or get rid of it because you wouldn't understand it's value or it's capability to help one communicate with another person from an incredibly long distance." I told him that the reason that we have such things now is because people were open-minded enough to believe in something that seemed impossible, and because people believed they were able to accomplish their goals, and over time we have these incredible things that seem normal. I told him that people are enabled to accomplish things because they believe, and they are hindered when they doubt. The same is with God -- Heavenly Father has commanded us through Christ to be believing. When we open our minds to God and believe in Him, we enable ourselves to feel His power.

The kid said it was all impossible. I pointed to the phone and said, "Ancient people would think this is impossible." He paused, and then simply said that these things didn't matter and he could do everything by himself. Then without really thinking about it, I looked at him straight in the eye and told him he was prideful. I then said, "If you don't open your mind to spiritual things, I promise you that you'll never be able to overcome your own shame and guilt."

 

I walked away and wondered what the heck I had just said, but I didn't feel like I had done something wrong. I felt my calling to declare repentance among the unbelievers, and that was as bold as I'd ever been. But I know it's true. Sin cannot be overcome ourselves. It cannot. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It enables us to achieve Christ's command of perfection, through the power of repentance and forgiveness. I've felt it in my life, and every day as I've come here to serve the Lord. Open your hearts! It's just too good.

 

Love, Elder Hazen

Out in the Boonies

Welcome to the New Territories.

I've spent all day moving out of my apartment in West Point (Aberdeen area's apt.) and taking a rather long train ride up north off the Island, away from the huge city. We still live on the 23rd floor of an estate as most buildings in Hong Kong are built vertically, but I am shocked at the difference in space around these parts. It's quieter, more peaceful, people seem less uptight, and the escalators have flowerbeds in between them. That's straight up luxury if you ask me, regardless of whether or not the flowers are real.

My new companion is Elder Farnsworth. He's from Amarillo, Texas. He has no Chinese blood in him. I hear he's a hard worker, which is always good news to me. I asked him if he ever went boar hunting, and he replied he almost did once. I told him when we get home we can fix that. 
I guess the biggest news is that we're opening up a new area together. Hung Shui Kiu (Huhng Seui Kiuh), close to Yuen Long in the New Territories. You can look those up, Mom. Apparently they just built a new chapel in Hung Shui Kiu and are splitting up the wards in two other areas and creating a new area, to which E. Farnsworth and I have been assigned. I hear the chapel is just like an American chapel, except two stories high and nicer than any other chapel in Hong Kong. Elder Farnsworth is my senior companion, and he and I are ready to build good relationships with the members up here and start fresh in our new area. It's exciting and a little overwhelming, but I feel God has put a lot of trust in both of us to open up more doorways for church progression in Hong Kong. 

I used my audio recorder a ton this week. I decided to go around to every member or investigator that I'd developed a relationship with over the past 5 and a half months and ask them if they would leave me a message on my recorder. I told them I'd listen to it in ten years, and promised I'd still understand Cantonese. It's a good way to force yourself to remember the language God's prepared you to speak -- there's a lot of promises to keep! I have with me the voices of the lives and the people that I've worked with, and I will cherish that forever. 
It was really sad to leave Aberdeen. Honestly, it's all I really know out here. I've been there for 4 moves, about 5 and 1/2 months, and it's the place that I learned to understand and speak Cantonese, the place that I was welcomed into the mission, the place that I faced my first very trying moments in the field, and the place that I really began to understand what it meant to rely on the Lord in all I do. Just before personal study I knelt to pray for inspiration, and as I began to say that I was thankful to serve in Aberdeen I started to feel pretty emotional. Of course in a manly way, but I realized then that this place has really changed me and moved me in so many ways. 
I feel as if I've started my mission over. I worked as hard as I could til the last moment in Aberdeen, and now I'm in a new place, I know no-one, and everything is different. It's an adventure, and I'm ready to take it on. I know in Whom I have trusted. In Whom I've been taught to trust, one step at a time.

There's so much work to do. Pray for my companion and I to find families to teach. That is a very big focus of our mission right now. Just like every new phase of my mission seems like a new phase of learning, so is life. I feel like I'm living a whole life in these two years, and preparing myself to face any challenge that I'm to face in the future. Something that I've taken to asking on the streets is "What has greater worth than gold?" Everyone knows immediately that it is family. That it is life. That it is choice. It really is. God bless you all!
Love, 
Elder Hazen