Elder Brigham Blackhurst: A hail of a rainstorm

Hey everyone! It's been a busy week. Transfer weeks always are. We're excited for this new transfers and all the opportunities that come with it.

The weather this week was crazy. It's Winter down here, so everything is generally pretty cold. At the beginning of last week, we had a few days that ranged from hot to rainy to cold back to hot again. A few days later, foggy in the mornings and rainy in the evenings. One day - think it was Saturday? - a huge storm all day long. When the storm started pelting us with as much ice as rain, I asked Elder Wang how to say "hail" in Chinese. He told me it was 地狱. Glad to always be improving my vocabulary.

Anyway, we're hiding from the cold and wrapping up tight. I hope all you Arizonans are appreciating your sunshine.

Speaking of Elder Wang, he took off yesterday on a plane back to Shandong. Elder Bibb was stuck in a car and driven out to good old Heidelberg where he will serve with my previous companion and missionary son, Elder Liu. My new companion out here in Waverley is also Elder Liu - a different one, but the same name. That's not uncommon among the Chinese - there aren't a lot of surnames, so you'll often bump into people by the same name. Anyway, Elder Liu is from Sichuan, China and has been serving for a little over a year. I'm very excited to be working with him.

Zone P Day was last week - we had a cultural food celebration. Everyone was supposed to make a food native to their hometown and bring it to share. I threw some Chicago-style hot dogs together with what I could find and they turned out pretty alright. I expected the asian missionaries to avoid them, but to my surprise, it was the Chinese sisters that loved them the most. They called me last night for the ingredients and I think they're making them again today. Gave me a good laugh, thinking about two tiny asian sister missionaries making American hot dogs.

The highlight of last week was, of course, being a part of Jesse's baptism. Jesse Niu was baptized last Saturday and was confirmed on Sunday. It was a beautiful meeting, such a strong, peaceful spirit there. He bore a powerful testimony of the blessings he's felt - maybe not a knowledge yet, but of what he's found so far - and expressed his desire to keep learning and coming unto the Lord. For a student from China to find Christianity in Australia and to commit to follow the example of Christ (especially among test seasons like right now) is humbling to me. I am so very grateful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. The simple and sweet guidance that comes as we do the will of the Lord changes us. It helps us become more than we ever could do on our own. I know God answers our prayers, because He answered Jesse's and He answers mine and He promises to teach each of us who humbly comes unto Him. May we all continue to better seek His will and have the humility to accept what comes.

As far as news from home goes, best of luck two our newly-called Guatemala missionaries. I'm so proud of you both - best of luck out there. To all of you prepping for missions: the Lord has great things planned for you. Trust in Him and He will take you all the way.

It isn't Chinese, so sorry...but hey. Guatemala isn't bad.

Thank you for all of the constant love and support, I'm grateful for you all. Keep up the good work, I look forward to hearing from you next week!

Elder Blackhurst