WEEK 40 RICHMOND: Why did the Sun go to School?

To get brighter

Wassgood' Ladies and Gents. I have yet 通过ed another. Crazy how life works like that. But it was super chill.

Wednesday was lit. Final full day for BanBan. We got to hangout with Peter. He's a much goated member from Burnaby. So we played badminton with him (I need to start hitting those badminton training routines and workouts), and then got drinks with him. He also called up Mr. Hu! Me and Elder Meyer taught him in Vancouver for a lil, but bro dipped to China. He was goated, and is much missed. But it was fun to talk with him. Celebrated bros final day with Mickeydeez!! So fire.

Shoutout Roman!

Thanks for the ice cream!

Still breaks a brothers heart though, and a tear to an eye 

Thursday was transfers.

Farewell my friend. 

 

Chilled at the mission office waiting for me new companairo. Lowkey a party hanging out with all the goats though. Elder Thompson arrived and we got to work. Had English class, then 4 hours of service which was insane. But got fried chicken out of it, and met Le'奶奶 Le'Goat! She was so cool. Then Englished it up again at the class.

Met a dope dude on Friday. Who was like, "I'll pull up to English class, and I'll bring my fam to church soon." So he was cool. Almost fell asleep during language study. Rip energy as a missionary. Then met another dope dude. We got 老刘 then 超 (Owen). ((makes total sense)) Then had a lesson with Han 弟兄 which was actually super, super good.

Taught Li the priesthood on Saturday. It was fire. Met this epic 太太 who I saw not once...but twice on the bus the same day. SOOOOO many 叔叔 and 太太‘s in Richmond. They swarm when they hear white boy speaking the Chinese..  But glory to God though, cus gift of tongues is real and clutch and hype. Much grateful! Finally got my suits cleaned!! Fire!! Then pickled the ball in the evening.

Sunday was great. Such a fire two hours. With a total of 0 friends at church  But hey it's chill. Good way to minister to members though. But testimony meeting was actually so good. The branch is blessed. We Chen 妈妈ed in the evening this time, and bro was zonked when we pulled up. We had to wake her up and she was like so so so sorry. Annd I'm like, bro, you are 104 years old, it's chill. She's so cool though. Then buttered some chicken. It was fire!

Monday was good. Lots of planning. Happy meals. Math. And another insane 2.5 hour lesson with Robbie. But we learning and balling. Bro has got some crazy cool potential as a leader in the church. He just needs to understand. "Doctrine Understood changes actions and behaviors". Type beat. But it's good, it's good.

Today was top 1 chillest p-days. We just chilled at the church. Grocery shopped. And family talked. Love em'. Then had English class, and 老刘 and 超 both pulled up. And they are flippin dope.

Man I love being a missionary!

My spiritual thought though is based on the service project we did...

If you look at this picture, you see there is a lot...and I mean A LOT of stuff. The pic doesn't do it justice. And that was taken before we were even finished.

Long story short, this lady was moving to the mini house suite, so she had to get everything from the house and garage outside, so the new people could move in. We helped with that moving process.

Let's just say the lady was a little bit of a hoarder.

While we were doing service, the owner of the house and Le'奶奶 Le'Goat was trying to give us missionaries stuff, and one of our members was taking stuff to donate it. Because 95% of the stuff you see in the picture is brand new and has never been open or used. Just random new stuff.

But at one point, the lady walked out, and saw the stuff being taken away. And she lost it. She was yelling at her mom (her moms Le'奶奶) and yelling at the member. Saying you can't just take it, it's my money. You can't just give it away. 

To make things worse, it was going to rain that night (which it did) and everything was going to get ruined. But the lady just couldn't part with these worldly things. Things she has and will never use.

So I got to thinking. What things in life do we hold so dear, things that make us feel worth, but things that take us away from God. Where does our worth come from? Is it money, material possessions? Fame? Success? Popularity?

Or does it come from the knowledge that we are children of God?

If your answer is yes to that one, that's all that matters. Nothing in this life, or things of the world, will give us really anything in the long term run. But once you come to truly know your true identity, your divine potential, then nothing else matters. We can give up everything we have, to follow God. To lean on the atonement of Jesus Christ. And when we do that, we have Joy! We have Peace! We have Hope! We have Life!

Find what's important. 

And if you want a suggestion

Find the One who gave up everything. Because He knows who you are.

What kind of music do planets sing?

Neptunes 

你是我的小鸭小苹果 (You are my little duck and little apple)

Number 5 of the furious 

WEEK 39 RICHMOND: Some Call Me a D1 Moocher (almost)

Ladies and Gents, Boys and Girls. Your favorite person in the world is back! This week was pretty epic and almost perfect.

Unfortunately BanBan got the bad end of the stick, but more on that later.

Lets just say though, my stomach was very full this week, and all the Chinese people, nevertheless, very persistently keep saying I am too skinny, and that I need to get more fat. So that and chapter 8 have been good friends. We workin' on it though!

(Gang don't worry, I'm coming back shredded.)

((Shoutout Bishop, I'm still expecting 13 pushups when I get home))

Wednesday was great, the senior couple from Burnaby, the Hunts, took us out to Taiwanese food. Got some scrumptious 牛肉面, and it was super fun to hangout and talk with them. They're the goats. Once again, had another baller lesson with Li. This waiting game is testing my patience though. No worries, he'll be in the water sooner than later. Then finished off with some Come Follow Me.

Today was when everything did take an unfortunate turn though. The golden week that was planned out was foiled. Many bye bye parties canceled . Elder Barnes woke up to a much unexpected case of much 拉肚子. Was able to get Anne's interview in though which was great. And was able to make it to English class. After English class too, we had a super cool miracle. All three sets of us missionaries randomly gave almost every English class member a chapel tour. It was super cool. Spirit was way strong.

Friday was still unfortunate. Elder Barnes was best friends with the bathroom. But we walked like 2 miles to a member's house. Which was nice for being cooped up in the house all day. Was a marathon for him, but a noice lil stroll.

Saturday was BLESSED! It was actually so amazing! In the morning we had a lesson with James, ugh, bro, why do some people just looooovveee cheap grace... But hey, what can ya do. One day his heart will be un硬ed. Then we were able to go to the temple with our Elders Quorum. We were able to get two of our recent converts there for the first time, and it was so amazing. Got to do baptisms too which was a nice change. Love the temple! Then came home and started filling the font. Got to play the piano for like an hour and a half which was very nice indeed. Then the time came!!! Anne got Baptized!!! It was literally so perfect. The only mishap was that we forgot to unlock the door from the girl's bathroom to the font. Kinda funny ngl. But it was just so good. I got to do my first confirmation. Then she gave her testimony at the end and it was straight Fuego!! Happy Birthday my friend!!!

Church was goated. Our friend we had met on Monday 顾先生 came, loved it. Also turns out he is old friends with one of the members. Then one of our yellow dots pulled up with her whole family, so that was flippin' epic! And me and Elder Barnes got to give talks. My 10 minute talk turned into a 20+ minute talk.. Whoops... Who knew I could be such a yapper. We also got a non-active member there, and she was fellowshipped and swarmed which was super cool to see. Ran into the goat Huang Qing Fa randomly. Then had dinner with 叶姐妹 and her family. It was so much fun. That family is so great! BanBan gave his departing testimony on the mission call, farewell type beat.

Monday was good good good. The day consisted of a lot of weekly planning whilst 晒黑ing. Lovely. Huang Qing Fa took us out to the same restaurant he did on Monday, and it was still just as bomb. Bro bought Elder Barnes this random pill for his stomach, then proceeded to give me a bottle. So whenever I have a moment of disaster I've got the ancient medicine to help protect me. He's such an angle though! Did math with Annie and Caroline, but they actually did math this time, who knew incentives worked so much... Then finished the night with planning. We lowkey watched a whole soccer practice (miss the boys) and just talked. BanBan will be missed.

Today was great. Had temple p-day which was great. Got faded up. And hooped up. BALL4LIFE. Don't worry Seth, we ballin'. Then had such a wonderful picnic with Vivi and her family. She also had us bring our friends, so we brought Li and Han弟兄 it was so much fun. Haven't had a picnic in like 9 months, so it was nice. 

All around life is just going great. Even though not everything worked out just as planned this week, my stomach was just as happy. Being an assassin is lowkey kinda fun. So blessed.

Also transfer news dropped. I'm staying and 小汤長老 is pulling up. Elder Thompson. In Chinese work we've got what we call the furious 5. Elder Barnes, Elder Flake, Elder On, Elder Fankhauser, and Elder Thompson. They all go home this and next transfer. After Elder Tompy, I'll have much wisdom 

But ya

Coodoes

In my talk I focused it on sacrament and why it's the most important thing we can do in any given week 没有之一

"Behold the Lamb of God" Elder Holland-

Brothers and sisters, this hour ordained of the Lord is the most sacred hour of our week. By commandment, we gather for the most universally received ordinance in the Church. It is in memory of Him who asked if the cup He was about to drink could pass, only to press on because He knew that for our sake it could not pass. It will help us if we remember that a symbol of that cup is slowly making its way down the row toward us at the hand of an 11- or 12-year-old deacon.

Yuuuusssss!!!

王国铭！！！

Anything for the math!!!

Putting these long arms to good use

WEEK 38 RICHMOND: In The Realm Of Lacrosse Warriors 😎🥍

I think you know the rest.

Just a little shoutout to them! 

Let's Goooooo! There's a new champ in town! I'm so pumped and hyped for them. Congrats to my boys! Best news ever!

Besides the fact that Skyridge lacrosse is the goat. This week was equally as amazing. Blessing, miracles, lots of work, just straight epicness.

Wednesday we went out to eat with a member Yao, and a non-active member Meimiao. It was such a good time. I really hope we can keep helping Meimiao come back to church, shes so amazing.

Also great news!! PeiJia is getting baptized! I'm actually so hyped about this. Me and Elder On started re-teaching him when we got to white rock forever ago. And all the lesson were so awesome. But he went to China at the end of the transfer, and dind't get back until I left white rock. Then when he got back, he was miraculously able to get a part-time job, which allowed him to finally feel like he could pay tithing. And he gets baptized on Sunday! It's so cool.

Thursday we had mission tour. We had Elder and Sister Goury of the 70 visiting us. All the talks were straight heat. And what was even better, is that Sister Goury had the voice of an old english grandma which was incredibly soothing. I want her to start reading me bedtime stories. But lots of ball knowldge learned, and revelation recieved, so it was super hype. We also had a cool miracle after, where the Lord switched up our planes so that we drove past one of our friends named 4. We texted him and were able to just got to the mall with him, and have a lesson and gave him a B.O.M. We've been trying to meet with him forever, so that was pretty epic.

Hit a cheeky Caesars run

Friday woke up with some morning ball. Straight ballin. Then met a super cool couple. But lowkey also crazy. The wife was from Taiwan, and the husband from BeiJIng. Like bro, I've never seen em' mixed. Crazy. But they 'insisted' on buying us boba. Couldn't say no. Also 感谢主, got a new MSF card. #Notbrokenomore.  Blessed.  Finished the night with a Han Wei Hua lesson. We locked down on bro, and brought TWO members. He ain't escaping us.

Saturday. Such a happy day. The moment I saw the first picture of the boys and the trophy, brought a smile to my face . And it was nice to dawg on one of my roomies who's from Corner Canyon .  We showed up to the mall Saturday morning even though we couldn't get in contact with James, but he was there and we taught him. Miracle. Got back and had a lesson with Tian. It was actually super fire. Talked to him all about faith and why we need it. Not just philosophy... 慢慢来. He's super cool though. Had a lesson with Li, and got to talk to him about the importance of the sacrament. Then went and grabbed food with Anne, came back and had a lesson with her. She's locked in. Passed tithing without a question. So prayers up for Saturday, cus that's when she's getting baptized, I'm so hyped. She's so cool.

Then Pinged the Pong

Sunday was epic. Chen 妈妈ed it up. The went to church. It was great. We did the mock interview with Anne first hour. Then finished up with sacrament. But Tian came which was great. AND HAN CAME!! That was the biggest miracle. We've been trying so hard, and finally he came and loved it. Had an insane 2.5 hour lesson with Robbie. It was partially just so much yap, but also super good, because we finally found out exactly where he's at on his spiritual journey. So that was helpful. Our member was such a saint for sitting through all of it. Blessed members fr. 

Then Monday. Crazy Good. Weekly planned a bunch. And guess what

Huang Qing Fa is back baby!!!

So he took us out to eat. The food was amazing, and we even got to have a really good convo with the waitress. She's finna pull up to English class. That that was a cool lil miracle. Huang Qing Fa is a king though. Then he took us to his apartment he has here in Richmond, which both of us had no idea about. Bro even bought Elder Barnes a top tier Chinese phone. What a guy. Then hit the weekly math sesh. And finished the night of with weekly planning and language study.

But cool thing that happened. Things didn't go to 'plan'. Which really just means everything went according to 'the plan'. We got to the library and I notice a Chinese guy talking through Google translate to the worker. So I turn to Elder Barnes and am like, bro, go help him. (His Chinese is way better than mine. So obv I ain't bought to go embarrass myself) jk. But he went over there and I grinded out my Chinese talk. But after I went and joined them. And apparently bro is super duper cool. Like super Elect. He's also a professional private chef, and wants to cook for us. But he's super interested in learning, and it was just such a cool miracle.

It was a great week

Always is

Mission Tour, there was some fire lines

One I want to share is this.

We are all promised to be ressurected. We are all promised to be resurectted with a perfect body. All of us. All of us broken and unperfect people. Are given the chance to be made whole.

But one person doesn't get that blessing.

The only perfect person ever to live on this earth, is the only person that will never have a perfect body.

And that person is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ has scars. Forever will He have those scars. Because of this, He will do whatever He can to help us. He knows that all of us have our own personnel scars. But the Savior knows that. He forever will know that. And has the reminder of Love always engraven upon His palms and feet. The love of the fact He did everything for each one of us. His atonement is infinite, so is the reminder, but His atonment is individual. Those eternal scars are for your sake, for my sake. We can reach out and grab His scar hand, and realize we are never. Ever. Alone.

Jesus Is King!

The man himself 

WEEK 37 RICHMOND: Dim Sum..More Like... So Much Fun

Welp, I'm officially gonna get fat. It's the Richmond curse. 

Also got chastised for being a slow eater

What has this world turned too?

The ice cream I eat, will never be as good as the one on that special day. In the Happiest Place on Earth 

I digress though...

Wednesday was lowkey pretty great. We had district council in the high council room, big chairs, cool white board. Felt pretty important myself. Then had a lesson with Li, and lemme tell ya...it was fire. We played Jeopardy. So we do questions from all lessons. It's great, and it gives them the opportunity to bear their testimony. And it was just amazing. Li's testimony is so amazingly strong and powerful. Like bro, this dude is just the best. He's completely changed his life to follow God. And he's changed so much, he's just happy. 

And I'm happy

And Jesus is happy

There's just so much happiness everywhere. It's pretty great.

 

Then had a lesson with 范弟兄 which was great. And taught come follow me. It was so good. Even though Old Testament be weird sometimes, you can always tie it to gospel principles.

Bye-Bye Ban-Ban. Thursday morning was epic. Aloysious Ho took us and Uncle to Dim Sum. It was so fire. Even though he's leaving for 5 months, I'm hyped to teach him again. He's flippin epic. Then taught English class, and our only student in advanced was a member. But it led to a really awesome convo. Our members are so cool. Got given 2 $10 certificate to a cake shop. Bro just whipped em out of the pocket and said nothing. Goated. Blessed. I love Chinese people. Finished the night with a cheeky Caeser's run.

Pizza Pizza 

Apparently Fridays at a community center is like for people who've had strokes, and are getting back to moving. But like, a bunch of them just started talking to us cus we speak the 中文. They flocked to us, and gave us doughnuts too. How kind :) Again, I love Chinese people. Then we hit up Dim Sum pt. 2, with another friend. Like bro. We are getting more friend meals than member meals. Idk why, but our friends love feeding us. It's actually so blessed. Had a lesson with Tian, who may or may not have gotten humbled by our member. It was up there to the most craziest lessons I've ever been apart of. But he came to church and loved it. sooooo, 成功！Then finished the night off with a lesson with Han. Bruh pulled up drunk. So obviously, we taught him Word of Wisdom. Brotha was shocked. He started asking for our forgiveness, and we were like bro it's chill, you didn't know, but uhhh, go repent to God. We getting him locked though, he should be coming to church for the first time here soon. I still can't believe bro made it home on his bike. 

Got home and de-chickened 3 rotisserie chickens. Richmond is the land of just food and missionaries. 

(Just in case you wanted to know)

Saturday had our weekly cheeky James lesson. Bro is semi bashing us with the philosophies of men. Like come on. Only scripture. But it's chill, 慢慢来. Had a lesson with Li. Blessed up. Finished the night with Pickleball night. 

Sunday was amazing as always. Chen媽媽️. Fire Sunday school and sacrament️ gave a fire mini talk  ok, well then, gave a mini talk️ but then they said I have to give like a 15 minute talk in two weeks cooked. My Chinese apparently wasn't bad enough to escape it. Rip. Annes back, and had a fire lesson with her️ she gets baptized on the 30th, so it's soooo hype.

Monday. Found an awesome new friend named Lily. She wants to come to church. *hooray* Bought a cake for a birthday. Then planned on the 'beach' front. I say 'beach' cus the beaches here are straight buns. But hey, it was still nice. For the beauty of the earth. Then had dinner at 易会长's house. It was detectible , and his two sons Bobby and Bebe who are my age are straight rotted. Ohh the days. (take me back)

Then today. Chill. Fun. Ate cake. . Played Hooser Ball. English Class. Walmart. Li. Elder Goury. Watermelon. Happy 白.

Also, next Monday is a special event. If everything goes right, Li can get baptized. So throw up a prayer. 

Preesh

"The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ—faith that They exist; faith in the Father’s plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent"

You heard the man, Read yo Scriptures.

Please

It's good for the soul 

Breakfast Dim Sum!!!

This has got to be just...fire 

So cutesie

Happy Burfday Da