Tuesday, December 5, 2017

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Hello, everybody! Hope you're having a fantastic week. Melbourne Mandarin is still keeping on. The work is still moving forward, step by step. We've had a lot of beautiful rain these last few weeks, which was a nice contrast to the sun we've been suffering through. Christmas and Summer are a weird combination, but hey. So it goes. Thank you much for all of the birthday wishes, I got twice as many emails this week as normal. Go figure. Love you all. 

The work has been a little slow, not going to lie. Our investigators are either at home or have some sort of trouble blocking their progression. We're doing our best to help them overcome and find new people to teach, but it certainly isn't coming quickly. That's alright, though. We keep on pressing on and trust that the Lord has prepared people for us to bless.

We got two new missionaries this week - Elder Zhao and Elder Bielher. Elder Zhao has more energy than the rest of the mission put together and probably handed out more LighttheWorld pamphlets than all of us too. Elder Bielher is from Bountiful Utah and reminds me to an absurd degree of Porter, from the height to the way he speaks to the awkward way he stands in front of people. I love them both dearly and am excited to see them grow. Also, you feel better about your Chinese when you aren't the newest one. No worries, to the goldens who ever see this: it will come.

Speaking of Light the World, you all failed this week because none of you told me about what you did to bless other people. C'mon. It's my birthday. Go and serve and then let me know how it went. There still is the promised reward from me and my companion to all who do. 

Last week at church, we had two investigators there, one of which was asleep for 80% of it. During Sunday school, we had a lesson on eternal families, what we look for in a spouse (the ward is mostly young singles, so that wasn't out of the ordinary) and the Law of Chastity. I was mildly confused why every seemed to readily agree that the ideal spouse was someone who was really rich. Turns out the word for "potential" and "money" are very similar. I'm glad that my ward understands that being able to grow is more important than income. 
I did understand completely, however, when our teacher very kindly told everyone that "if they didn't know what the law of Chastity is, they were more than welcome to ask the missionaries after the block". What a fun job it is I have. 

Elder Feng and I have been having a blast. We sing in the car and in the flat and while we're walking and we're off key and it's fantastic. He's an incredible teacher and I'm so blessed to be able to serve with him. He also decided that I would be assigned daily homework of Chinese study, so I've got a quiz to pass every night. Every phrase or word I don't have properly memorized, I have to rewrite ten times out in my journal. Last time, I think I had nearly 250 I had to fix (I'm really not selling him very well, am I? I say "he gives me homework" and most of you probably associate him with the devil). It's been good for my language and progression and I look forward to seeing where I stand at the end of this transfer, come the new year. The other night, I told him the whole plot of The Princess Bride, as I had done with Elder Hu. He too has been shouting "inconceivable" at everything he can and has been misusing words, with the hope that I will respond with the classic Montoya response that got most of your attentions in my email subject line.
If you don't know that reference, my family has failed you and will be treating you to dinner and a movie night whatever time works for you next week. My family isn't ever busy, so feel free to drop in.

Zone conference this week. President Vidmar led a powerful discussion on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. My personal study this week has also been focused on reading of the Savior. How blessed we are to have His perfect example. I don't think I can ever emphasize it enough: there is nothing more important than our relationship with Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer and it is through Him all becomes possible. That is the simple message we bring - that He lives and loves us and will take us all the way. 

I love you all. Have a fantastic week and keep those Light the World stories coming in. 

Elder Blackhurst

Please enjoy Elder Feng finding his name and me awkwardly driving. 



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