So, this week. Where to begin?
The bulk of what I do out here is what we call GQing. I talk to every Asian who passes me on the street and seek out those who have interest to learn about how Christ's gospel will bless their lives. About 50% don't even turn their heads or walk faster when I say hello. Another 20% look over, make a face, and keep going. Maybe a solid 15% will tell me why they can't / won't stop. That's 85% of the people who don't even stop. Of the other 15% who do, most aren't interested at all either. Still, if it was easy, the work certainly wouldn't be working. We just keep looking, talking, sharing what light we have with whoever will listen. I had the pleasant opportunity yesterday to GQ in the City Center, where, along with the Asians who wouldn't listen, I had people who told that I had too much faith, too little faith, I was wasting my time, I was "desecrating her holy ground" (whatever that meant), that my church was vile, and that there was no God in heaven watching out for me. So, you can imagine there's a little pressure out there on the streets. I certainly can't answer every question that arises. But this much I know. I know God lives and He loves me and He'll help me all the way as long as I'm doing His work. There is power in my calling. And until I'm physically unable or until my two years are up, I'll continue to praise and proclaim his name to the Aussies. I'm proud to wear his name on my chest, whatever language that name may be in.
Our investigators are pretty incredible. Liu is still progressing and learning and getting ready for his baptism. Chelsea and Leo are learning, slow but sure. Man man lai. We got dropped by Helen and Kong and Shan officially, so that was sad. But we found Sammy, who if nothing else, is interested in learning about the activities the church offers. Hopefully that turns into something good.
My companion rocks. Love him tons. It's been such an adventure to get to know someone with completely different culture. Elder Hu is great and I'm honored to have him. Also, his name lends for lots of great humor. Ask my father for good Hu puns, he's got plenty.
The food. Brothers and sisters, please go find yourself a real Chinese restaurant or cook (no, Panda Express does not count) and eat something. Anything. I'm yet to have something I didn't love. They cook often and they cook well. A few pictures attached below - a member took us out for jiaozi last night, oh my goodness. I'm very happy with how I'm eating. No Australian food yet, so I'll keep you all updated when that time comes.
Stake Conference for the Heidelberg stake was this week. You know it's real when the area seventy makes rugby jokes on the pulpit to the stake. The Australians...they're all such real people. They look at you and tell you what they think and they laugh loud and hard and I love being among them, even if your typical Aussies aren't the ones I'm here to teach. It's such a blessing to be in a cultural bubble within a different world. There is so much to see and feel and learn and I love being around them all.
This week was truly trying for my patience - mostly with myself. I want to share and teach and express the love I have for my Savior and my teaching skills and language skills inhibit me from doing so. It's really a struggle that I can't already be the missionary I want to be. However, there was a thought I heard at stake conference. One of the speakers quoted a poem, that spoke of a tapestry, line upon line. Progress in life is slow. We all know that. We often get upset when it seems that the threads of our life for periods of time seem black or grey, in opposed to the golds and silvers and vibrant colors we wish they were. In this life, it might seem difficult to understand why we have those dark moments. It's only when we step back and look at the whole that we realize how important those different experiences are. Someday, when we look back at the whole tapestry God has been stitching for us, we might realize that the dark stitches in the big picture are as important for the design as the gold ones. I hope we all can better approach our trials and burdens this week with a brighter desire to work and a more willing heart to accept whatever comes. Count your blessings, name them one by one. You'll be surprised all that the Lord has done.
Few other fun stories. One of the members brought some ridiculously spicy wings to the branch and convinced a few of us suckers to try a taste. I thought I was going to die. We proceeded to convince our APs they were traditional Korean food, and got one of them to pop a whole one into his mouth. He also thought he was going to die. Great fun.
The musical Aladdin is showing in a theater about three minutes walking from the branch. I cry a little inside every time we walk past. My choir friends, I'm sure you all understand.
Because Elder Hu doesn't speak perfect English, we help each other with the language a lot. Sometimes, though, he doesn't believe me. When I told him the other day that the shoes we slip on when we go to the beach are called flip-flops, he thought I was kidding. I think he still does. Doing my best, people.
I love you all. Keep the emails and memories coming. I miss everyone lots, but I know the Lord has you under his wing. Keep it up, my friends.
Elder Blackhurst
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