This week we had a crazy change in the mission. On Thursday, we had Zone conference and we got Facebook. I have never had a Facebook before so I honestly don't know what to expect, but I do know that the Lord is hastening his work through the use of smartphones, which we got earlier, and now Facebook. Facebook will be an extra tool that I have to share the gospel so I am excited for that. We will be using Facebook for missionary purposes so please don't tag me in any videos or anything like that, but feel free to add me. If anyone has any questions related to missionary work, I can message you throughout the week, but friends and family, I can reply to other messages just like with email on Mondays.
Also, some other exciting news - one of my fellow Hmong brothers has returned back to the mission after having to go home for surgery. Welcome back Elder Seims! Even got to talk to him and see him at Zone conference which was awesome.
Also, we had a lesson with one of our Investigators named Leng Lee. He has had a super rough life. He is pretty depressed and honestly, has no happiness in his life. We taught him the Restoration and promised him the blessings of following the gospel. We invited him to pray and read the Book of Mormon so we will see if he does. I hope he does because I know the gospel can bless him so much and bring him that happiness in his life that he doesn't have.
Also this week we had a lesson with one of the English families of the ward, the Mortensens. Super awesome family. Brother Mortensen was pretty fascinated in the Hmong language so we taught him a few words. For the dinner message, he asked us to teach his family the Restoration in Hmong. So I taught a brief Restoration to them while Elder Parker translated to them what I said. It was fun and my first time doing that. The coolest part was after the lesson, his little son prayed and he is still little so his dad helped him, but Brother Mortensen told him to ask if the things we taught were true. Really cool experience to see a member teaching his kids the importance of having a testimony of the gospel even if they are still little.
Probably the coolest thing this week is that I gave my first priesthood blessing in Hmong! That was really cool. Honestly, before I didn’t know if I was capable of doing it, but I tried anyway, and with Heavenly Father's help, it actually went really well. It is cool to see the progression and growth in the language, even if it is just small things like that.
I know that Heavenly Father hasn't made the language easy for me so that I will continue to rely on him. The longer that I am out on my mission, the more I learn that I can't do this by myself. Some days I think I can, but I always get humbled really fast. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in the book of Mormon. Ether 12:27
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
This is one of the things that I have learned the most on my mission. God gives us weaknesses so that we stay humble and rely on him, but as we stay humble and rely on him, our weaknesses can become strengths. I think that is so powerful and is something that I have really learned on my mission.
Love you all and hope you have a great week,
Elder Rich
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| Random picture |
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| Zone conference with 4 of my 6 Hmong brothers that came out with me. And Elder Seims! It was really fun to see him again |
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Hmong food with Elder Humphries.
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