Last week in Hong Kong! - weeks 94-95

Hello everybody!

It is hard to believe that this is really the last time that I will be sending one of these emails, it still doesn't feel real.

These past few weeks have been wonderful I have felt so blessed. We have been visiting many families and good friends from the past two years these weeks, and my heart is just full of joy to see so many wonderful people progressing in the gospel. I have loved so many people here, they have all touched me and changed my heart. Just as an example, three weeks ago I got sick and couldn't talk at all in church and had to teach a lesson, so all the members knew I was sick. It was touching to see how many of them called me asking if I was ok, and how may people gave me so much medicine, herbs, and other Chinese concoctions. Despite the fact that they were some of the grossest things I have ever had to drink, I could feel the love from the members and am so grateful! The work is also going very, very well, I know Elder Zhou and his new companion will continue to do great things in the branch, and I will keep close tabs on how everything is going!

I had the opportunity to get lunch with a bunch of members from the Kowloon Branch when I went to Kowloon for my exit interview, and I was so happy to be with all of them! They have all continued to progress in the gospel, and two of them, Jason and Boris Guo dx have received the Melchizedek Priesthood. Amazing to see them so mature! Jason shared with me that he has been loving the Scriptures recently and learned so much from them. Makes me so happy! 

The last Sunday in church was wonderful, I am so grateful that the branch president invited me to speak on Sunday, about the blessings of serving a mission. I am grateful to have been able to sit in front of our great branch one more time and bear testimony of Jesus Christ, His love for us, and the power of His infinite sacrifice for us all. I love them! There was a great tender mercy that Sunday. My very first Sunday in Hong Kong, the first hymn I heard sung all the way back in the Tai Po ward was 'Secret Prayer.' I don't know why but at the moment at the beginning of my mission I remember so clearly feeling the Spirit, my heart filled with desire to serve, with hope and excitement for the next two years, and felt total trust in the Savior. Ever since then that song has had special significance to me. I sang it every week with Elder Sy before weekly planning while being trained. And to my great surprise and joy, that was the last hymn that we sung together in sacrament meeting on my last Sunday in hong kong. What a tender mercy and blessing, I am so grateful for that small blessing, I felt it was directly from God, I felt His love and approval of the work we have done for my time as a missionary.

I have learned so many things on my mission, and have absolutely no way of summing up all the lessons or of fully expressing my love and gratitude for the Lord, His work, and His children here in Hong Kong and in China. I will never forget what I have learned and felt here. My testimony has become a reality and a surety of knowledge. I am blessed to have had moments where I know how Jesus must see us and feel about us, and that love and charity has changed my life and how I will choose to live.

I know Jesus Christ came to this Earth 2000 years ago and showed us the way through his gospel and made everything possible through his infinite atoning sacrifice. I know that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith and that the following work they called him to do and this resulting church and gospel are the fullness of Christ's gospel on the earth today. Because of this we have understanding of the Plan of Salvation, what a wonderful gift that is! To know who we are, why we are here on this earth, and where we will go after we leave this mortal life. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and we can all become so much more with him. Being his representative has been the biggest blessing and an absolute privilege. I have a great desire to serve him for the rest of my life!

See you soon!