A Lost Sheep

From: Garrett Hazen 
Date: Sun, Oct 27, 2013 at 11:27 PM

Family, friends, and all,

 

This week has been wonderful. Finding for International up here is a little more akin to searching for a needle in the haystack because a lot of people come in and out of Hong Kong, and the ones who live here permanently conveniently sequester themselves in Chinese mountain villages in Pui O, Mui Wo and around Lantau Island. When we go door knocking, we pass by the doors with all the red Chinese décor and look for the places that seem less idolatrous. I wonder if it's coincidence that we "Passover" all the doors decorated in red. Yes, everything is suddenly symbolic to you when you're a missionary.

 

This week while were on a bus ride to Discovery Bay, a philippina walked up to us and asked us where the church was. As we began to talk with her, she told us how she hadn't been to church in 16 years because she had married to someone of another faith. She was a returned missionary. She told us that she had been abused by her husband and separated from him and has been working abroad ever since. Elder Chang and I were really saddened by her story, but we did our best to encourage her and invited her to church. She came the next day and brought with her a set of old scriptures that she had kept with her all those years. Last night she sent us a text which said, "Good evening my two angels elders! Thank you so much 4 making my sunday so complete im back 2 the fold! pls continue 2 pray 4 me 4 my recovery as a comeback." Then she said, "Thank you so much elders. Have a good nyt rest! Continue to work work work hard to find those lost sheep. They are waiting for you elders. Good night!"

 

Elder Chang and I were really moved by this experience. There are so many people out there like this wonderful sister who have lost their way. I think sometimes we get so caught up in the vision of things and so comfortable with our 99 that the one, very precious brother or sister falls away unnoticed. We have to place ourselves in positions, even if at times these positions are uncomfortable, to reach out to the one and follow the example of the Savior. That's what we came here to do, and that's the type of person Heavenly Father intends us to be.

 

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen," (Moroni 7:48).

 

Elder Hazen