Happy Halloween!

Hey everyone! Hope you're all having a happy Halloween. Halloween isn't nearly as big here as it is in the states, so we just keep on plugging along. I for one am already for Christmas, but so it goes. We had a great, great week. Lots of good work, lots of dedicated hours just getting out and talking to people.

Transfers have come and gone, and Elder MacPherson and I are still together. Not a big surprise, but we're still both very happy about it. He's growing lots. He is a great example of trying to be led by the Spirit at all times and in all things. We do our best to seek the will of the Lord and then get to work. We miss Sister Wu and Elder Gao who just went home, but know that the Lord has great things planned for them back home, and we're excited for our new Sister McConkie who has just joined our Chinese program. We love our Chinese missionaries.

I'm a little short on stories this week - sometimes, you have a week of lessons and activities planned and they all fall through. On Saturday alone, three of the four people we committed to visit the branch fell through, and the fourth left right after to go on vacation. But sometimes, that's how it goes. The 2nd chapter of 2nd Nephi teaches that there has to be opposition in all things. There has to be slow days for there to be hard ones. Some days have to have no investigators, and some days get to have lots. But we keep on pressing on. The joy is there in the work, regardless of "successful" we are. The Lord blesses us with little miracles all over the place - little miracles you can't explain or tell stories about, but make a world of difference in the moment. Studying the right thing in comp study that makes your testimony that much stronger when you're GQing, or when your zone leaders come and share something with you that just makes your day - there are blessings all around.

Speaking of the Book of Mormon, I hope you've all been diligently reading, especially since the prophet invited to do so this last conference. I myself have started again and will read it from cover to cover in Mandarin. For any of you back home who think it is too difficult or too hard to find time to read, I'll gladly switch languages with you. I'll even wrap the book and send it back to you. 

Kidding aside, my Chinese has really improved so much. I can get through a chapter of characters and be able to read 85% of it. Slow and steady, we're definitely getting there. What a blessing it is to have been called to serve the people in this magnificent language and culture. I love it so. 

One story from this week - we set one new investigator on date this week for baptism - a man named Brother He. We have the same Chinese surname, which is kinda cool. He's got a big problem with the Word of Wisdom, but he's cut his drinking by half since our last meeting. Praying that he can find the strength to get off of it altogether. 

I hope you all have a great week! Miss you all tons. Send good pictures of Halloween costumes, and I hope to hear from you all soon!

Elder Blackhurst