I Will Not Be Still

Marks of a Man

2011-03-05T03:13:00.005+08:00

My friend, Sister Mikelle Norton, entered the MTC on Wednesday. She's headed to Singapore and way excited about it. On her last blog post, she posted a story that I felt needed to be shared.

It melted my heart and memories and feelings from the mission flooded right back. I really hope each and every day that I did worked hard and did well enough so that my Heavenly Father is proud of me.

For those of us who have served missions, isn't it amazing?

For those yet to go, how lucky and blessed you are!

I'm still growing, but I hope that in some way, I've filled up my shoes enough to, in some way, become the measure of a man of God.

Marks Of A Man

As I jumped on board my flight from Miami to Salt Lake City, I paused for a moment to catch my breath. Seated near the front of the plane was an excited young man, probably 19, sitting with his parents. His hair was short and his clothes new and sharp. His suit was fitted perfectly and his black shoes still retained that store bought shine. His body was in good shape, his face clear, and his hands clean. In his eyes I could see a nervous look, and his movements were that of an actor on opening night.

He was obviously flying to Utah to become a missionary for the Mormon Church. I smiled as I walked by and took pride in belonging to this same Church where these young men and women voluntarily serve the Savior for two years. With this special feeling, I continued to the back where my seat was located.

As I sat in my seat, I looked to the right and to my surprise, saw another missionary sleeping in the window seat. His hair was also short, but that was the only similarity between the two. This one was obviously returning home, and I could tell at a glance what type of missionary he had been.

The fact that he was already asleep told me a lot. His entire body seemed to let out a big sigh. It looked as if this was the first time in two years he had even slept, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was. As I looked at his face, I could see the heavy bags under his eyes, the chapped lips, and the scarred and sunburned face caused by the fierce Florida sun.

His suit was tattered and worn. A few of the seams were coming apart, and I noticed that there were a couple of tears that had been hand-sewn with a very sloppy stitch.

I saw the name tag, crooked, scratched and bearing the name of the Church he represented, the engraving of which was almost all worn away. I saw the knee of his pants, worn and white, the result of many hours of humble prayer.

A tear came to my eye as I saw the things that really told me what kind of missionary he had been. I saw the marks that made this boy, a man. His feet - the two that had carried him from house to house, now lay there swollen and tired. They were covered by a pair of worn-out shoes. Many of the large scrapes and gouges had been filled in by the countless number of polishings.

His books - laying across his lap were his scriptures, the word of God. Once new, these books which testify of Jesus Christ and His mission, were now torn, bent, and ragged from use.
His hands - those big, strong hands, which had been used to bless and teach, were now scarred and cut from knocking at doors.

Those were indeed the marks of that man. And as I looked at him, I saw the marks of another man, the Savior, as he was hanging on the cross for the sins of the world.

His feet - those that had once carried him throughout the land during his ministry, were now nailed to the cross.
His side - now pierced with a spear. Sealing his gospel, his testimony with his life.
His hands - the hands that had been used to ordain his servants and bless the sick were also scarred with the nails that were pounded to hang him on the cross.

Those were the marks of that great man.

As my mind returned to the missionary, my whole body seemed to swell with pride and joy, because I knew, by looking at him, that he had served his Master well.

My joy was so great, I felt like running to the front of the plane, grabbing that new, young missionary, and bringing him back to see what he can become, what he can do.

But would he see the things that I saw, could anyone see the things I saw? Or would he just see the outward appearance of that mighty elder, tired and worn out, almost dead.

As we landed, I reached over and tapped him to wake him up. As he awoke, it seemed like new life was entering his body. His whole frame just seemed to fill as he stood up, tall and proud. As he turned his face towards mine, I saw a light about his face that I had never seen before. I looked into his eyes. Those eyes, I will never forget those eyes. They were the eyes of a prophet, a leader, a follower, and a servant. They were the eyes of the Savior. No words were spoken. No words were needed.

As we unloaded, I stepped aside to let him go first. I watched as he walked, slow but steady, tired but strong. I followed him and found myself walking the way that he did. When I came through the doors, I saw this young man in the arms of his parents, and I couldn't hold it any longer.

With tears streaming down my face, I watched these loving parents greet their son who had been away for a short time. And I wondered if our parents in Heaven would greet us the same way. Will they wrap their arms around us and welcome us home from our journey on earth? I believe they will. I just hope that I can be worthy enough to receive such praise, as I'm sure this missionary will.

I said a silent prayer, thanking the Lord for missionaries like this young man. I don't think I will ever forget the joy and happiness he brought me that day.

David Bryan Wiser

-Ee Chien (Elder Chua)

http://ee-chie.blogspot.com/

2010-12-09T04:11:00.001+08:00

I have a new, post-mission blog. Feel free to check it out!

http://ee-chie.blogspot.com/

"I Will Not Be Still"

2010-11-23T05:36:00.019+08:00

In a recent award ceremony, wherein Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor, this is what President Barack Obama said of the men and women who serve in the military.

"Each with specialized roles and responsibilities, but all with one thing in common -- they volunteered. In an era when it’s never been more tempting to chase personal ambition or narrow self-interest, they chose the opposite. They felt a tug; they answered a call; they said, “I’ll go."

It is in that spirit that each missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints goes out into the world to preach the gospel to each son and daughter of Heavenly Father. In a world besought with selfishness and greed, a select few young men and women choose to serve their fellow-men. It is a remarkable thing to see and to witness, that some so young are willing to sacrifice part of their lives - or all of it, in the service of their God, that they "perhaps... may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is their joy" (Alma 29:9).

In the Singapore Mission right now, there is an Elder, Elder Schone, who lies in a critical state in Penang, Malaysia, far from home, fighting for his life after being hit by a car on his bicycle. 19 years old, thousands of miles away from home and family, so that some soul, some child of God might find joy in the gospel and be happy. What motivates someone so young to do something so selfless? President Henry B. Eyring, summed it up perfectly as he described the sons of Mosiah, and pleaded for us to be just like them, saying:

I pray that you will develop the bravery and love for Heavenly Father’s children that led the sons of Mosiah to plead for the chance to face death and danger to take the gospel to a... people. Their desire and their bravery came from feeling responsible for the eternal happiness of strangers in danger of eternal misery.

That's what a missionary wants, happiness for each child of God. Sure, sometimes it's easy to forget, sometimes we fail to look beyond the mark, but it's always there and always comes back, because God is leading the way.

It's been just over six months since I returned from serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The time has gone by so fast, I don't know where it's gone. There have been days that I am relieved that I am not on my mission anymore, but there days that I miss it so much that I just want to be there again, trying to teach anyone and everyone about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have had the opportunity to spend time with my former mission companions and friends. How wonderful it is and how happy I am when I around them, because we have built such strong bonds of love and camaraderie. Even those whom I didn't get along as well with, I count my brothers because of what we went through together. I will probably never, we will probably never go through the horrors of war and be bound by a battle-hardened bond, but in our own way, we are bound by something better, that of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I've thought a lot about my mission these past few months. It's sometimes a little hard to automatically move on when you have spent two years focusing on one thing! About a month ago, I was thinking quite a bit about my mission, and felt very inadequate, because I was reflecting on each of the baptisms that I had, and how I had felt at each one of them. So many missionaries talk about the absolute happiness and euphoria that they feel at a baptismal service, because they're filled with the spirit and all that great stuff. For me though, it wasn't exactly the same. Sure, I was happy that that person was getting baptized, but I was exhausted, tired, and not terribly excited. It was something that really scared me because my thoughts were that perhaps I wasn't working hard enough or worthy to have the Spirit's confirmation. It was pretty much that way throughout my mission, and something that I thought about from time to time after my mission. It wasn't till about two months ago that I was taught by the Spirit and was able to understand why that happened.

It was one of those days, when I was thinking about my mission and missing it more than anything, when I felt this overwhelming sense of peace and love, and at that point, I knew without a doubt that I had a Heavenly Father who loved me, and who was happy with me. As I felt that, the spirit taught me a wonderful lesson, that helped me to truly understand what Heavenly Father had wanted me to learn. He taught me that day that I didn't need to feel those feelings and learn those things then because I was already doing everything that He wanted me to do. It was NOW, after all those months that gone by, that He was in a sense rewarding me, but also strengthening my testimony with the work that I had done in the past, because it was at that point that I felt joy, not just happiness or euphoria, but true joy that can only come from the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was so so happy, I was glad that I had served a mission, I was filled with a joy that peace that really, in a sense, surpassed all understand, and that I still feel from time to time, more especially at the times when I need to feel His love.

Brother Robert E. Millet, a professor of religion at BYU, recently presented a fireside to my Stake, where he spoke about the Holy Ghost, and how it perhaps is not with us always, because the "Spirit listeth to and fro." Sometimes we wonder why we don't feel the spirit though we're doing everything right. He made the point that sometimes Heavenly Father wants us to learn to make decisions by ourselves, but also to build a kind of faith that cannot waver. He said, regarding his own experiences, "in my mind, I knew that Heavenly Father loved me, but I couldn't feel it." A complete opposite of what we normally think. An intellectual confirmation from within might not even come, but, as he said, it is in "knowing that obedience is more important than emotional satisfaction" that we eventually learn that Heavenly Father is ALWAYS watching out for us. Faith will always triumph fear.

I have felt my Heavenly Father's love so much these past few months, especially during the times when I think I'm alone and have had no one to rely on. I love my Heavenly Father for all that He has given me, and for His Son, Jesus Christ, who gives me life and hope through His Atonement. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have served a mission, to have the experiences that I have had. I love the people who I was able to teach and help convert. It was in that moment of feeling God's love, and at various times after, that I have felt an overwhelming sense of love for those who I have taught, children of God who have so much to offer Him, and who are each so special to me in my life. I just chatted with the fiance of my one my recent converts. They are planning and preparing to be married in the temple, and I can't think of any greater joy than to see them make the covenants that will allow them to be a forever family, that I too hope to have one day.

I never got to post the last couple of baptisms that I had on my mission, so here they are!

Frank was baptized Saturday, May 8, two days before I finished my mission. He is active and continues to grow and learn more about who He is as a son of God.

Zong Lu was baptized the weekend after, and I am so glad that I got to attend her baptism! Zong Lu brought a friend to Church who also took the lessons and was baptized a few weeks later!

Time continues to fly by, and the common stresses and activities of life tend to distract and detract me, sometimes, away from that which matters most. But, I always end up remembering, in one way or another, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ means EVERYTHING to me, that a loving Heavenly Father and Brother have provided me with a plan that allows me to understand why I am here on this life, and what I can and must do so that I can be happy. I am grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel, that all because a boy went into the woods to pray, I too, can know for myself that God is there, and that He loves me, without a shadow of a doubt.

The full-time missionaries visited our ward a couple Sundays ago and spoke. They are so lucky! They get fed and have member help and referrals all the time! :) But, they reminded me of one thing, to do my best to serve my fellow-men, and in so doing, serve my Father and Savior.

I'll finish with some of the lyrics that inspired the title for my blog, and that will remind always of why we do this work.

How can I keep this gift to myself, When I can lift somebody else?

I'll be a witness of his miracles and his mercy.

I'll put my future in his hand, Knowing he's made me all I am.

I put my faith in him and truth begins to speak.

His power is real,it moves me until,
I will not be still.

-Ee Chien

"Let Us Cheerfully Do All Things"

2010-05-05T15:59:00.009+08:00

Well, this is my last email/blog out as a single full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Time goes by, as usual. This past week has gone well. Jun Xiu was baptized. It was a peaceful and spiritual baptismal service. Jun Xiu had been afraid and apprehensive the week before. But, after she was baptized, she sent us a text message thanking us and saying that she was looking forward to learning more. We've been able to see her a couple times since then, and she is doing wonderfully well.

Frank will be baptized on Saturday. It took us four nerve wrecking interviews with him, but everything is resolved. He is such a great guy, and his desire to learn more about the Church and the gospel is a great example to us. We love his sincerity.

Things continue to go on. We're working on getting more people to progress on to baptism date. We have some great new people whom we're working with. Jessica, who we tried to put on baptism date, is going back to China on Monday, and will only be back in July. But, she'll be baptized. She asked if she could get baptized after she gets back!

Thinking about and reflecting on this journey that started almost three years ago has been.... well, it's rather indescribable. I love my my mission. I have loved serving and teaching and growing. It's still hard for me to see all the change that I think and hope has taken place. But, I have learned from the many experiences I've had. It's been easy, it's been unbearable, it's been the best and the worst days in my life. But, I have learned the things which I have needed to, that the gospel is true, that my family is the most important thing to me, that happiness comes in obeying the gospel. I know that Jesus Christ lives, that he is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that the church of Jesus Christ is on this earth again today, with all the power and authority of God. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the words of God, that through the words of the prophets of old and of the present day will bring us joy, joy that can and will surpass all understanding as we strive to follow what we know to be true.

I'm a little afraid to go back to the world, but I'm also excited to see what Heavenly Father has planned for me as I start school again, and learn to be who I can and must become.

I find comfort in a wonderful talk given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He said,

"And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."

Faith is what I take with me, to know that with it, I have the power to do all that Heavenly Father has in store for me. I know that as I continue to obey His commandments and keep the covenants that I have made with Him, that all things will work out, and give me the experiences I need to allow me to return to live with my earthly and family again one day.

We gave a zone training yesterday. As I was searching for a scripture to close with, I came across this, from the Doctrine and Covenants, 123rd section, verses 11 to 17.

And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart—For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it— Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven— These should then be attended to with great earnestness. Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things. You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

These things are true. I am full of good cheer because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all your love and support these past two years. I'll post more later on next week. Have a great week!

-Elder Chua

Why Charity?

2010-04-28T10:23:00.006+08:00

This week was rather normal for us, but we still did decently well and had a great time nonetheless.

Jun Xiu should be baptized Saturday, so that will be great. She's a little nervous, but she'll be fine. Unfortunately, Helen, who is supposed to be baptized on the same date as her, is really afraid and feels that she can't keep the covenants and commandments, so we're trying to help her to see that she will receive so much joy as she gets baptized, and that it really isn't a huge step. Really hope that she can come to understand that. She really does have a testimony. Just not a hundred percent sure as to what is holding her back.

We met with a few new investigators. Some are good, some not so good.

We did well in our area this week, but we had to work with the other missionaries in our zone who are having some issues. We had to talk to one of our district leaders who was unhappy with the way we have our areas, so we had to explain to him that it was a Stake directive. Also working with obedience issues in the Zone. Need to help the missionaries understand that obedience to the commandments and mission rules is the only way that they can find true success and happiness. As I think about the times that I have been happy as a missionary, it has always been when I worked hard and was obedient, because the Spirit is with you!

I'm still working on my charity with some of the missionaries and investigators. This quote by C.S. Lewis really got me thinking.

"When I come to my evening prayers and try to reckon up the sins of the day, nine times out of ten the most obvious one is some sin against charity; I have sulked or snapped or sneered or snubbed or stormed. And the excuse that immediately springs to my mind is that the provocation was so sudden and unexpected; I was caught off my guard, I had not time to collect myself. Now that may be an extenuating circumstance as regards those particular acts: they would obviously be worse if they had been deliberate and premeditated. On the other hand, surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light."

Frank is doing well. He should be baptized the week after. Teaching English class a few times a week now, and teaching the investigators after the English lessons. We'll see how that goes. Have a great week!

-Elder Chua

The Spirit Converts

2010-04-21T11:02:00.009+08:00

This has been yet another great week for Elder Rothwell and I. Being able to work hard and be happy is such a wonderful feeling. To be satisfied, to feel of your Heavenly Father love and joy is so peace-giving. We broke another record of ours with investigators on baptism date, which is slowly but surely translating over into baptisms! Leo Kong was baptized on Saturday. It was a great baptism, though we had to talk to a couple sets of missionaries who were there but weren't supposed to be, since it was in Chinese and they didn't have investigators there. Elder Rothwell and I are learning to be better leaders, trying to teach and inspire with love. It's a challenge!

Our investigators are moving along well, and the Zone has been doing great! We actually lead the mission in baptisms last week. But, lest I sound too prideful, we definitely could not have done it by ourselves. When we have great lessons, we know that it's because of the Spirit, because that's the feeling we have when we teach in unity, when the investigator is receptive, when the member testifies. The Spirit is the key to conversion.

Elder Holland has said,

"...the Spirit must be with you and you must teach by it when you teach because that is the way the lesson ceases to be your lesson and becomes His, becomes under the power of the Spirit a vehicle for lifting your investigators out of the temporal world. We are charged with the responsibility of getting people out of their ruts and routines, out of their problems and their pain, out of their earthly little arguments and ignorance and sins, and take them to the Gods — to the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost — ultimately we are to take them toward their own Godhood. In short, we are to take them to the divine. And the Holy Ghost is the connecting link which the Godhead has agreed to give us here in mortality for that heavenly connection."

These last few weeks are going to be great! Going to endure to the end! I just hope that I can do all I can to be happy, to touch the lives of Heavenly Father's children.

I was reading in Mormon this week, and the 38th verse of chapter 8 caught my attention.

O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

It was a personal reminder of the attitude and life that I need to live, to be humble and Christlike, to seek for the eternal, not the things of the world.

Well, I hope you all have a great week, as we are having.

-Elder Chua

"My Duty to God"

2010-04-14T10:58:00.006+08:00

This has been another record breaking week. I am so grateful for the hard work that we have been able to do and the blessings that Heavenly Father has provided to us. We continued to get a good number of investigators and Church, and had a full week with lessons. We came home each day, exhausted but happy. We hope to be able to keep it up this week.

Well, Elders Stone, Mattox, Morgan and Sister Richey headed home today, so I am now the oldest (longest serving) missionary in the mission! It is unbelievable how fast time has gone by. From being a greenie, till now, I have learned so much, and am continuing to learn a lot each day.

I have had a problem with getting along with one of the Elders in my Zone, and I thought that it was all his fault. But, after another disagreement and a heart to heart talk with him, I came to understand his point of view, along with his feelings. It's something really important to learn as a leader, that listening is a lot more important than just telling.

Leo Kong is scheduled to be baptized this Saturday, which is exciting as usual. The other Mandarin Elders have three, which will be great! Along with that, Helen is progressing along well. We first met up with Helen last week. She loves Church and has already made some good friends. We have high hopes for her (better not jinx it though). I am glad that there are people are truly are ready to hear the gospel. It reminds us that there really are people out there who are searching for the truth. Sometimes, they just don't know that they are!

We got to watch General Conference this weekend, though we didn't get to watch all because I had to go to the doctors, then had to run between the English and Mandarin sessions because we wanted to watch it in English, but had to take care of our investigators in the Mandarin session. Tried to watch a session in Mandarin, but it was really hard to understand. Most of the talks flew right over my head. Shows that I have a long way to go with the language.

I especially enjoyed and was moved by the talk "The Divine Call of A Missionary" by Elder Ronald A. Rasband. He said:

Elder Eyring bore his witness to me of the love of the Savior, which He has for each missionary assigned to go out into the world and preach the restored gospel. He said that it is by the great love of the Savior that His servants know where these wonderful young men and women, senior missionaries, and senior couple missionaries are to serve. In the preface to section 14 of the Doctrine and Covenants, it states, “Three of the Whitmer sons, each having received a testimony as to the genuineness of the work, became deeply concerned over the matter of their individual duty." To John and Peter Whitmer Jr. the Lord said this: “For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.” I suppose many of you young men have asked yourselves that same question. Here is the Lord’s answer: “And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.

It is a wonderful privilege and duty to be able to serve the Lord. My duty to God is also my duty to myself. I hope that you all have a great week!

-Elder Chua

"A Ministering Angel"

2010-04-05T12:40:00.009+08:00

The blessings that Heavenly Father provides to his children truly do come at the times when they need it. Our past few weeks, as I have mentioned have not been the best, but, this past week has been wonderful. The hard work that we put in has really paid off. This week was record-breaking week for Elder Rothwell and I, with 14 people at Church and 29 new investigators. They came as a result of the people who we've talked to, but also referrals from members. I think that Heavenly Father wanted me to remember that missionary work is not easy, because, as Elder Holland has said, "salvation is not a cheap experience." But, as we have worked hard, I have come to appreciate more what it really takes to be able to find those who are prepared to find the joy that "surpasses all understanding."

We have a investigator, Lansi, who we were able to teach yesterday. She had canceled a few appointments with us, and we had almost given up hope, but she agreed to come to Church. We found out that she didn't really believe in God because her Dad had been killed in a car accident a couple years before, even though he was a really good person, so she was trying to reconcile the concept of a loving and caring God with that. We talked to her about the plan that the Lord has for each one of us, and though we might not fully understand His ways, He has assured us that if we obey His commandments, we can find eternal life and happiness with our loved ones one day. She still seemed a little skeptical, but very sincere in her desire to find out. She asked us why we were giving our hearts and lives to this cause, so we shared with her Alma 31:32-35, and another one of my favorite scriptures, 2 Nephi 1:15. When she asked why I believed, it was a moving experience to be able to share with her why I love to serve the Lord. She going to read and pray, so we'll see how that goes! People like her keep us going!

Leo Kong is on track to being baptized! She has a great desire and understanding of the gospel, and she should be baptized in a couple of weeks. We also have a member referral named May who we accepted on date, and we plan to put quite a few more on date this week, including May's daughters. We received a referral from Taiwan, three girls who are studying here. Things are starting to look up. I am grateful for the blessings that Heavenly Father has showered on us this past week. The lessons that we have taught have been alright, but not particularly spectacular, mostly because of our limited Chinese vocabulary. But, the Spirit has taught with us and borne testimony of what we have taught, and that has made all the difference.

From all that contacting that we have done, a couple of girls who we had met called and asked to meet up. It hardly ever happens, and was another sweet blessing that lifted our spirits.

I was reading from the Doctrine & Covenants today and came across Doctrine & Covenants 7, where the Lord is talking about John the Beloved. The Lord said, "my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater work yet among men than what he has before done. Yea, he has undertaken a greater work; therefore I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth."

I hope that I can do my best these last few weeks and have that authority and power to accomplish that which the Lord has asked me to do.

Have a great week! Here's a wonderful Easter Video!

-Elder Chua

What Is Happiness?

2010-03-31T10:45:00.007+08:00

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.... it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness..." This has probably been one of my hardest weeks in the mission field, but it has also been one of the more spiritual weeks of my life. Funny how trials often draw you closer to Heavenly Father.

We had to drop a lot of our investigators, and almost EVERY appointment that we set up canceled. People weren't answering our calls and members couldn't. So, we spent most of the week contacting. Normally, contacting goes alright and people stop to listen. But, over the course of last week, no one would listen! No one wanted to stop, no one wanted to sit by us, no one even flashed a smile. It got worse when people started getting rude. One man whom I sat by said that he couldn't talk because he was waiting for a friend. Another two girls waved their hands in my face. Another guy gave me a dirty look, and tons of people just completely ignored me and Elder Rothwell. It got to a stage on Friday night When I was utterly discouraged. I had probably gone through twenty rejections, and it was hurting me. I thought, "Why won't people just stop and listen to me?" As I thought about that and wallowed in self pity, I thought about the theme of my blog, you know, the song, I Will Not Be Still. As I reflected on the words, it gave me a sense of peace and calm, to know that I am called of the Lord, and that though I can't do it by myself, He's there every step of the way. The first couple verses go like this,

I've never been the kind to testify,

I don't have the words his truth deserves.

But it's a simple thing he asks,

A worthy heart and willing hands.

He says if I'll make the choice,

He'll help me find my voice.

He calls me to serve and I cannot fail him,

The one who has given me all that I have.

I place my trust in him alone,

He knows the yearnings of my soul.

Because he believes in me,

I will go willingly.

It was then that I knew that my Heavenly Father loved me, yet another witness that I was doing his work.

I continued to sing the song softly, till it got to these lines,

Reaching the hopeless hearts who do not know his love,

Seeing their lives begin to change,

I know I'll never be the same.

For a moment, that caught me off guard, and got me back in my little rut. I reasoned with myself that none of these people wanted to change, they did not want to know His love. It was something that I thought the rest of the week.

We had some visa runners from Indonesia come in because there was a mess up with their visas in the States. But, they stayed for the week and got it all worked out. One of those visa runners, Sister Okamoto, wrote in my BR as she left, which I read later on. She said that the work that we do is the most important work, and that The Book of Mormon is true and changes lives! That hit me, along with the song, that there are lives to be changed. Many people might and will reject the message that we have to share, but we have to work our hardest to spread this message because of what the Savior has done for us and the world!

I'll admit,one of my faults this week has been that of being a little too trunky, which I can't be! I had two little boosts to keep me on the straight and narrow. One of them was from my friends who reminded me that I shouldn't be counting the days, but letting the days count! The second was from Sister Okamoto, who paraphrased a scripture saying that "TRUNKINESS NEVER WAS HAPPINESS!" Tis true.

Elder Rothwell and I did our weekly planning and resolved to do all we could to make sure that we can get as many people as we could to hear about this gospel, and these past couple of days have been great. Things are going better, people are listening more, we've had a couple good appointments. But, w still have the rest of the week, so we'll be working hard!

I love the mission. There have been days that I have wondered what I am doing doing this, but then always, and mostly realizing and knowing that this is how we, and everyone can find the happiness that our loving Father in Heaven wants for each of His children.

I hope that you all have a great week. Please keep Elder Rothwell and I in your prayers, we need it.

O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people. O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me.... yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ. Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.
Alma 31:32-35

A photo for ya'll, The Elders in the Singapore (2nd) Mandarin Ward
Elders Raja, Rothwell, Chua and Teng

-Elder Chua

Fast!

2010-03-24T15:10:00.006+08:00

I think my long email/blog days are over! Do read the older ones when you can for longer ones! :)

Elder Rothwell and I gave our Zone Training yesterday, which was great fun to prepare and also to give. We focused on President Clark's training for the Zone Leaders, where we talked about being substitute teachers. We focused on:

1. Teaching by the Spirit
2. Preparation
3. Personal Worthiness
4. Quality
5. Focusing on the Investigator

We learned a lot as we prepared for the lesson by drawing from scriptures and Preach My Gospel, knowing what we can and should do to be better missionaries, and how to motivate our Zone to be the best that they can be. It really is in the teaching that you really learn. As we gave the training, there were all these thoughts coming into my head to talk about! It was a great experience!

We're still working on getting new investigators. We have a few that we thought would progress fast, but they are going a little slower than we thought. Bit by bit though. We're slowly getting our number of investigators at Church back up. It's a struggle, but it's the challenge that we are going to overcome!

The Stake put up a musical. Did a great job, though it was very Mormon cheesy, but that's why it was good! We brought two investigators that commented, while the prelude music was playing, that they didn't like that kind of music but preferred Lady Gaga. Somehow, one sat through all of it, and the other, most of it. I love the feelings that come from the Spirit. It is unlike any other, and it's hard to get investigators to understand sometimes that it is such an individual feeling.

Time goes so fast! We have to rush off again! The work continues to go on, and my Mandarin is slowly improving. I hope that everyone is doing well. Do let me know how you are all doing!

-Elder Chua

The Week...

2010-03-17T10:53:00.006+08:00

Baptisms are always wonderful, and Li Tong was baptized on Saturday!

She had never been swimming before, and she was rather afraid of the water, so it took her a few times to go all the way under. She bore a wonderful testimony after that. It's going to be great to be able to hang out with her in Utah! We met with her yesterday and had a great after baptism lesson with her.

This past week didn't go so well, we dropped a lot of investigators (or were dropped by them). But, the start of this week has been great. Elder Rothwell and I have been working hard and well together, and we should get people back on track to baptism in the next few weeks. We have a bunch of new investigators, so we'll see how they do. We met with a new girl named Jun Xiu. She's a student here. Asked great questions during her lesson. She'll progress.

Just continuing to learn and grow each week. Preach My Gospel is amazing. Read it!

-Elder Chua

"Willing"

2010-03-10T12:33:00.006+08:00

This week has been good! Isabel was baptized on Saturday, and she'll receive the gift of the Holy Ghost this Sunday! We met up with her yesterday and she's doing good. We reviewed with her what the Holy Ghost is and what it can do to help us. She remembered it all.

Doing well with Elder Rothwell, my new companion! Elder Sederholm has been transferred out to be the new Assistant! Reported with him on Monday. It was a little weird! But, we're still in the same house! That means we still get to play Settlers of Catan at night. Finally won my first game this morning! Anyhow, Elder Rothwell is from Rexburg, ID. He's been out for about sixteen months now. Great guy.

Li Tong is on date to get baptized this Saturday, we just have to have her interview done, then all should be well!

A few investigators....
1. Mrs. Woo - May's mom. May is a recent convert. She said that she wasn't sure how interested her Mom would be, but she had us over anyway. When I first started talking to her Mom, she said that she didn't want to discuss religion, so I started a conversation with her (was in splits with Elder Sugiyanto, and he doesn't speak Mandarin). She was eating and was trying to fan herself at the same time because it was hot, so I took the fan from her and fanned her as I talked to her. Slowly, the conversation turned towards God and her view of that, and ended being a great discussion. She said that the reason why she didn't follow any religion was because she has seen so many people who claim to be religious, but who are still very "bad people." Talked about not worrying about what other people do, but just about what she does. Talked about coming to know that she has a Father in Heaven who loves her. She agreed to read a chapter in The Book of Mormon at the end! It was another little blessing from Heavenly Father because I didn't mess up while speaking to her!

2. Eva - She's slowly progressing. She said that she'll be baptized if she has her visa to England approved, and she won't if she doesn't get the visa. Got me really frustrated, and told her that it doesn't work that way. Trying to help her get her priorities straight and understand what it means when you covenant with the Lord to be baptized.

3. An Xiang and Jian Long - An Xiang called and said she wanted to meet. I had no idea who she was. Finally met with her after a couple of weeks. Found out that she worked in the same place as a girl who we had contacted while buying some food, and that girl had given her a card. She's really busy with work, but we'll see how it goes. No effort is wasted!

I've been studying about baptism this week, and focused particularly on Doctrine & Covenants 20:37, which focuses on the qualifications needed for baptism. I was thinking especially of Eva, and the changes that need to happen for someone to be able to really make covenants with Heavenly Father. It reads:

And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.

Humility, desire, broken hearts, contrite spirits, truly repented, willing to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, determination to serve to the end, by works, these things are what are needed, and I am coming to really understand what needs to be seen and reflected in a person, the true conversion that takes place. I really hope Eva cones to understand that. It is such a sacred thing, to make promises to God. It's nothing simple or casual. With that understanding has come more meaning to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Sacrament.

I want to be willing to do all that the Lord wants me to do. I did the Christlike attributes activity in Preach My Gospel this morning, and one of the questions was whether or not you have enough faith to do all that the Lord wants you to do. Try it!

Well, almost time to go! Have a great week! Hope to hear from ya'll!

-Elder Chua

"The Souls of Men"

2010-03-03T10:56:00.005+08:00

This week has been wonderfully amazing. I just want to mention two things today, though there were many things that I could also mention, but, no time as usual :)

Anyhow, we had Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve visit us! We had a great mission tour with him, then had a wonderful member meeting too. Elder Perkins of the Seventy was also there. We had a small missionary meeting with him and his wife for a few hours. President and Sister Clark spoke, along with Sister Perkins, then Elder Perkins gave us a wonderful training. Hr talked to us about our purpose, our purpose to save souls. In Doctrine & Covenants 138: 56, it reads: Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.

It refers to all of us who do the work that Heavenly Father wants us to do. We are here to labor in His vineyard. I have so little time left. Laboring as hard as I can.

Elder Nelson had a question and answer session, so I asked him how we could help people who knew about the Church and liked it, but who didn't want to really change because they were comfortable with life. He spoke of patience and of love, on how we help people along, but the best that we should do is to be an example. He talked about how his Dad was only baptized when he was 80. But, he said that miracles will happen as we set the right example. I'm keeping that in mind.

Isabel will be baptized on Friday.

Li Tong is doing amazing! We saw her again last night. We brought another member, Brother Shieh, who did amazing with her. We taught her the ten commandments, which she readily agreed to, because, as she said, "I follow them all already anyway." She really opened up this time, and talked about how when she first got married, she had no inkling that she would join the Church, because she had no belief in Jesus Christ or anything like that. But, he sister-in-law set a great example of service even though she's older. She also said that as she saw the example of the missionaries, she was moved by that, giving time to serve the Lord and suffering (meaning that we had to travel out to visit her and not eat dinner sometimes). It was a sweet experience and humbling. She is so prepared!

I love serving the Lord and preaching the gospel. People like her are the reason why we serve.

Well, take care and have a great week!

-Elder Chua

"Peace I Give Unto You"

2010-02-23T11:24:00.004+08:00

Another week of growing, another week of doing and becoming. I'm definitely getting a lot more reflective, and I suppose that it's because time has just gone by so fast. Elder Sederholm was reading his previous journal entries. As I thought about when I started my mission, I was amazed that all that time has gone by. In the wink of an eye indeed.

Our next baptism is set for March 6th. Isabel is a great investigator who has overcome some setbacks, and is well on her way o being baptized.

As Zone Leaders, we have to go on exchanges with the District Leaders. Elder Sederholm went out into the other missionaries' areas both times, so I was left to keep our area going. It was rather nerve wrecking, because we had multiple appointments, and I had to teach in Chinese without my companion's help. Thankfully, we had members to help us, except for one appointment that really tested my ability and stretched me out!

Li Tong is doing great. She accepted a baptism date for March 13th. It was a wonderful couple of lessons that we had with her, because she is set on it! Teaching her alone with a member was hard at first, but she was really patient and understood what I was saying. It was great to be able to find the words to teach her about the Plan of Salvation. We had originally decided not to set a baptism date till she had spoken to her husband. But, as we got to the end of the lesson, I had an overpowering feeling to ask her about it. I should have been more bold, but we asked her what she thought about it, and she said that she had actually talked to her husband about it, and wanted to be baptized. Later on, we received an email from her husband saying that she was really strong-willed, and he wanted her to make the decision for herself, which she did. She feels so comfortable in Church and talks about the peace that she feels when she comes to Church. Joy! When we brought baptism up again during her next lesson, she stated it like it was a fact that she was going to be baptized! When we taught her about the Word of Wisdom, she felt bad that she had been drinking coffee! The best part is that she'll be back to Ephraim, UT in a few months, and we can visit with her.

Jenny is Isabel's Mom. When we taught her yesterday, it was once again without my companion. She had been taught before by the other Elders but she forgot it all. I was really struggling with my Chinese because it was a lesson that I hadn't really taught before. When we asked her about baptism, she said she wasn't ready because she didn't know enough. Took awhile to formulate the words in my mind, but I eventually was able to bear my testimony and teach her about the true joy that she could have in the Church of Jesus Christ, with the authority from God. She had some great questions which were answered, with the help of a couple of members. One in particular helped really well. Jenny told us that she had stopped going to her Church and would now only come to ours when she was free because of the peaceful an calm feeling that she felt at Church. It was something to think about, two people talking about the peace that they feel in Church. The Spirit is a marvelous thing. The peace that the Savior promised is tangible.

As usual, time goes by fast. Have a great week!

-Elder Chua

"The Only Thing"

2010-02-17T11:43:00.005+08:00

The weeks always go by so fast. This week was especially interesting for me, and one with more pondering and reflecting about where I am and my purpose at the moment.

I had my first full week as a Mandarin Elder. While I have seen my inadequacies in Mandarin, I have studied hard and learned a lot in the past week already. This week has been pretty slow because it's Chinese New Year, and a lot of our investigators returned to China for the holiday. However, we still managed to pull of a decent week.

These past couple of days have been especially trying on me, because we've spent most of the day just contacting, instead of having appointments like we usually do. Monday was pretty hard, because there were not too many people out, and people weren't listening to us. More of the problem though, was the fact that I was actually afraid to talk to people! I talked to a few people but... I've never really had a huge problem with it, but I was having a really hard time, and I was letting people walk by. In one instance, I said hi to a group of three people who were walking past who paused and smiled, but I didn't say anything else, so they walked away, and I didn't go after them. It was a defining moment for me, because I realized that I was not motivated, I was not doing what I was supposed to be doing. Honestly, I'm not describing it too well, I guess I was consumed more by fear then by faith, I was more concerned with what people thought of me, instead of what the Lord knew I could do.

Yesterday though, something changed. We went out again in the evening, and I was starting off a little slow. Elder Raja and Elder Teng, the other Mandarin Elders, gave me a boost and shoved me towards people, which got me started, and I started talking to people. I didn't really care! It was hard work, but it was so fulfilling, because each time I opened my mouth, I remembered my purpose and the things that I know to be true as I shared with them and bore my testimony about a loving Heavenly Father, and about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I talked to more non-Christians, which proved to be a great experience. Towards the end of the night, I sat down next to a couple of guys who were staring at me and started a conversation with them. They were relatively friendly. But, when I told them that I was a missionary for my Church, they told me that they weren't interested because they didn't believe in God, so it was ok that I didn't talk to them. I persisted a little by talking to them about how we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and who really wants us to be happy. As I talked about it and expounded on it, I had a wonderful feeling come to me, a knowledge that it was true, and I really cared for those two guys! They started to soften up, and it got to the point where I pulled out a copy of The Book of Mormon and started teaching about it! At the end of the lesson, they accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and said that they would pray about it. They were visibly moved , which surprised me. One of the little miracles that happened was that I didn't stumble while I was speaking! Those Chinese words just flew out of my mouth!

It was a great day! Ended up with five new investigators, one being a group of three who I stumbled though with in Chinese, so I was amazed that I got through that night so well. As we wandered home, I was exhausted, but I was SO HAPPY! When you are in the service of God, it is a wonderful feeling.

We had a training by the Assistants this morning that is going mission-wide. They talked, with President Clark initiating it, about how we need to focus. We've done spectacular the past three months, but people are getting complacent, and thinking more about home and things of the world. It was a great training, and a great reminder of my purpose, especially during these next few months as a missionary. Elder Troxel made a great comment when he said that "the only thing between you and success is you."

The only thing that really matters is being able to help others find happiness, and, in the process, you find what true happiness is also. To be able to live with friends and family forever.... I'm working hard!

I am grateful to be able to serve and to teach Heavenly Father's children. As always, thank you for your support and love.

-Elder Chua

In The Zone

2010-02-09T09:57:00.004+08:00

So.... I've been transferred!!!!! I knew last Tuesday but I couldn't say anything yet. After serving for over 13 months, 503 days in the mission office, I am now back to being full-time in the field. I am now serving with Elder Sederholm as a Zone Leader over the Singapore Zone and also as a Mandarin Elder. I now have the opportunity to brush up on my Mandarin skills so that I can teach effectively in the language. We have a Zone Leader Council tomorrow, which is why we're emailing today. I've been trying to load up a photo of my last day in the office, but it won't load on this computer, so I'll try next week.

It's pretty surreal, being out of the office. We went in yesterday to report with the Assistants, and it was weird being just a visitor. When I first got into the field, working in the mission office seemed like such an alien experience, working with the mission president and what not. Now, thirteen months have gone by in the office. Where has that time gone? I very much appreciated the time that I had there, the lessons that I learned and the experiences gained. It is something that will definitely help me through the rest of my life.

On one of my last days in the office, President Clark pulled Elder Sederholm and I into the office to talk about the Zone. He meandered off a little, and started talking about how the things we learn and do in the mission are things that we should NEVER give up. He talked about the planning that we do, the scheduling, the teaching, finding people to teach, being an example, continuing to have a clean cut appearance, to be well spoken, to be a missionary in every way for the rest of our lives. It makes perfect sense, at least to me. What a treat a mission is!

During personal study this morning, I came across Matthew 9:36-38, which reads,

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

It was good to think about, about how the labourers are few. There used to be over 60,000 missionaries around the world, and now we're down to 52,000 because the bar was raised. How much there is to do, and the responsibility we carry, but also the joy that comes from that.

Well, have to run off. Have a great week!

-Elder Chua

"And Who Is My Neighbor?"

2010-02-03T15:57:00.002+08:00

Well, we’ve had yet another crazy week. Things are going well, but they are definitely interesting at the same time. We lost the 1^st Ward in an effort to ensure that there are missionaries in each ward every Sunday, so we are down to Ang Mo Kio and Bedok, which we are doing our best to build up.

On Thursday, we met up with a new investigator named James. He lives in welfare flats, and I’ve only been to them one other time before with Elder Palfreyman. It was at night this time, so it was definitely a different experience. The member who came with us had a fright when it looked like his car was about to be towed away. We had a good lesson with him, and also had a good lesson with a friend he introduced. He definitely has some radical ideas, but we continue on in helping all to learn about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Friday was really busy! We had four appointments after our day in the office in different locations, so we had to rush around. Our first appointment was with a kid who I had contacted on the bus. He wouldn’t give me his number, but called later that day to ask if we could meet up. Well, the lesson started off well enough, but it quickly went into him just talking to us, and telling us that he was a messenger from God. We talked about needing the authority to teach and to perform ordinances, at which point he asked if we could give it to him. We had to explain why we couldn’t, where he then continued to push his own agenda. Now don’t get me wrong. Sometimes people would probably think that of us too. Anyhow, we gave him a copy of The Book of Mormon. Later that night, he sent us a number of texts telling us that he was called of God and that we were going to hell. The only problem was that while he told us that the Bible was the only word from God, he himself admitted during our lesson, well, boldly declared that he did not read the Bible.

Had a lesson after that with Cheryl, another person who I contacted, but was very much willing to learn. She has been studying with a Jehovah’s Witness teacher for the past three years, so she feels close to her. We talked about the restoration and let her know that she could find out for herself what was true, that she didn’t need to listen to us or to her teacher, but rather to the Lord. Our appointments were stuck too close together, so Elder Rajah-Kanagasabai and Elder Klemm had to leave first, while Elder Stone sat in. Elder Klemm and Elder Rajah K. set a baptism date with one of the men they met that night!

I went on exchanges with President Clark Friday evening to teach a new investigator. It turned out being a very powerfully spiritual lesson. Leonard, the young man I contacted, brought a friend along. Leonard isn’t Christian, but his friend, Wei Chin is. We started to talk about God being our loving Heavenly Father, but Leonard immediately expressed his belief of being semi-Atheist, so we talked to him about it all. He felt that religion restricted your freedom and ability to choose and have fun. Wei Chin was pretty frustrated with that, and was actually a good help. Leonard did have a desire to learn, but as a teenager, had his own views. It was fun to be able to go back and forth with President talking about God, strengthening my own testimony. President continued talking to Leonard, and I started up a conversation with Wei Chin because he seemed to have a good understanding of the gospel. Taught him the lesson covering the restoration. He started off with the concern of not needing to go to any particular Church, but as I explained our view to him, he came to understand it. And, as he learned about a living Prophet and Apostles today, he got way excited! We asked him to pray at the end of the lesson, and his prayer included this phrase, “Thank you for sending us living prophets and apostles today to lead us out of darkness.” It was great! Leonard pulled President aside later and thanked him for talking to him, really seeing President as a father figure.

Still working with Wilson. Brandon is struggling with some family issues, but he finally met with us, and we got to talk to him a little more about the relationship with his parents, meanwhile reminding me how much I love my parents!

Gave another talk on Sunday in Bedok Ward. I hope that it inspires you! Have a great week! Oh! Thirteen months in the office four days ago!

And Who Is My Neighbor? By Elder Ee Chien Chua

My companion in the MTC, Elder Shwe, was from Burma. He was a recent convert and had only been a member of the Church for a little more than a year. He had a limited command of the English language and not so great of an understanding of the gospel either. He was nice enough, and we started off well. But, as the days went on and we started to teach together, it was frustrating for me, because we weren’t able to teach well, and it got annoying that I had to explain things over and over again. The teachers noticed my frustration, prompting one of them to pull me aside, and had me read the section on Charity and Love in Chapter Six of Preach My Gospel. I read it, but it didn’t really sink in. We continued to have challenges in our companionship. About two weeks into training, the MTC President, President Smith announced the speakers for sacrament meeting that Sunday. Among them was my companion, which surprised me, since he still had really bad English. After that meeting, President Smith pulled me aside and told me specifically that he wanted me to help my companion prepare his talk. He told me that he knew that I could have given the talk a lot easier, but it was something that my companion needed to learn. On Saturday evening, Elder Shwe worked on his talk, and I helped him out a little. We didn’t make too much progress before we turned in for the night. He said that he was going to wake up early to finish it up, to which I told him that I would get up too to help him. He told me I didn’t need to, and I don’t think either of us expected me to get up early that next morning. Somehow, I got up that next morning, and starting dictating to him his talk. As I did so, and as he attentively listened and wrote down what I was saying, I realized how much my companion loved me. He had never once showed his frustration at the way I had been treating him. I had been short tempered and had shown my displeasure many times, but all he had ever said was “sorry,” and always told me that he loved me. I had looked down on him, thinking I was better. His response had been Christ like in every way, and he was definitely the more “educated” of us two, because he had learned what was most important. We had a great end to our companionship as I showed him the love that he deserved. Charity was a lesson I learned well from one who I least expected to be taught by.

In the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, the author of the topic sums up charity well by stating that: As the love of Christ, charity is characterized as selfless and self-sacrificing (1 Cor. 13:5), emanating from a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned (1 Tim. 1:5). Thus, more than an act, charity is an attitude, a state of heart and mind (1 Cor. 13:4-7) that accompanies one's works and is proffered unconditionally (D&C 121:45). It follows, but surpasses in importance, faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:13).

This may have been what Jesus was trying to teach Peter in John 21:15-17,wherein he asks Peter three times if he "loves" him, and, to Peter's affirmative answers, responds, "Feed my sheep" and "Feed my lambs," teaching that the true love of Christ always goes out to others. Loving all of God's children and being willing to sacrifice for them are the depth and breadth of the pure love of Christ. This "bond of perfectness and peace" (D&C 88:125; Col. 3:14) becomes the foundation of all human relationships (cf. 1 Cor. 13). The everlasting love of charity is intended to be an integral part of one's nature: one is to cleave unto it (Moro. 7:46) and be clothed in it (D&C 88:125). In fact, all things are to be done in charity. Charity is everlasting; it covers sins (1 Pet. 4:8), it casts out all fears (Moro. 8:17), and it is a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of Heaven (Ether 12:34; Moro. 10:21).

Charity is an attitude. But, in order for us to have that attitude, in order for us to be able to have that charity within us, we first need to learn what charity really is, we need to learn how charity relates to our personal relationship with the Savior before we can extend it to our fellow men. With that, we remember the Savior’s and command to love our fellow men. In the 10th chapter of Luke, we read of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The preface, however, gives us great insight into the concept of loving our neighbor, of having charity and love for all men.

As the Lord taught his gospel in the temple, there was a certain lawyer “who stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?(Luke 10:25)” This particular lawyer was trying to trap the Savior into saying something that he could condemn him for. The Savior’s response was a question in itself, replying, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?(Luke 10:26)” The lawyer, well-versed and read in the scriptures answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself(Luke 10:27).” The Savior’s next response was a wonderful lesson, and, with these next few words, taught the lawyer, and us, that words without action mean nothing. Empty vessels really do make the most noise. He said, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live(Luke 10:28).” We do live when we obey the great commandment in the law, along with the second. Charity and love are attributes that truly become a part of us, charity is an attitude that is both felt and seen. Some would have been satisfied with that answer, but, to paraphrase Elder James E. Talmage, the lawyer in question must have felt that he had taken a hit to his ego because of his inability to deceive the Master. So, he asked “And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29)” With that question as his base, the Savior taught us a wonderful sermon.

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise (Luke 10:30-37).

The Samaritan understood what charity was. We know through history the bad blood that existed between the Jews and the Samaritans. It was purely out of his love for his brother that the Samaritan was able to accomplish this task. No doubt it was a hard thing to do, because he had the chance of facing ridicule or abuse for helping an enemy. But, it was his understanding of love and charity that allowed him to do this. The Samaritan showed though action the values that he lived his life by, perhaps an ancient day example of what us modern Christians are supposed to be like. The advantage we have though, is our know ledge of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That will be talked about more later. Perhaps the other point that I want to focus on before I close up is the understanding too that the Samaritan had about forgiveness. He held neither grudge nor hatred for the Jew he was helping, but forgave his brother and his race for whatever suffering he might have experienced at their hands. It is on that note that I want to touch a little on the subject of forgiveness.

In Preach My Gospel, the section discussing Charity and Love states: You will avoid negative feelings such as anger, envy, lust, or covetousness. You will avoid judging others, criticizing them, or saying negative things about them. You will try to understand them and their points of view.

Charity does indeed teach us that forgiveness is not an option. C.S. Lewis said,

To excuse, what can really produce good excuses is not Christian charity; it is only fairness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single great injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life - to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son - How can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night "Forgive our trespasses* as we forgive those that trespass against us." We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it is to refuse God's mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.

As we come to understand this and apply it in our lives, then we will get to a stage in our lives where we will be able to treat each person with respect and kindness, and look past their faults, because of the faults within us too. Of course, it is easier said than done. My personal struggle with it is part of the reason for the topic of my talk today. But, as I so my best to apply the principles I am studying, then I come to see the majestic and all-compassing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We know of this single most important act that the Savior performed on this Earth. Out of His pure love for each of us, the Savior of the world suffered and died that we, and all might live again.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated,

Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is it charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. When something is over and done with, when it has been repented of as fully as it can be repented of, when life has moved on as it should and a lot of other wonderfully good things have happened since then, it is not right to go back and open up some ancient wound that the Son of God Himself died trying to heal.

Let us remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Bishop talked about the sacredness of the sacrament last Sunday, which was wonderful, because we truly are remembering the Savior by partaking of the physical emblems of His suffering. If we can come to Church each Sunday, and remember what we really are supposed to remember, then we will leave stronger, having allowed the Savior to personally touch us with His sacrifice, and be who he wants us to be. The Atonement will be our guide through life, to know what we should do, say and be. As we remember that every person around us is our neighbor, and apply the teachings of the Savior to that, then perhaps we will be able to obey the great commandments in the law, and feel our Savior’s love and approval for that.

I Can't Think of a Title

2010-01-27T12:19:00.004+08:00

Got a new companion yesterday, Elder Rajah-Kanagasabai. Elder Klemm is still here, so we're currently serving as a threesome. We haven't had much time in the office together but it'll definitely be weird for awhile, seeing that we only have one computer with three people all needing to do work on it. I'm sure we'll find a way though.

It has been a relatively interesting week. On Saturday night, we were walking home, and said hi to a couple that we were walking by (we always say hi to people as they walk past us). As we walked away, the lady called out to us. We turned back to them and started up a conversation with her. She asked where we were from, so we explained to her that we were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She figured out that we were Mormon quick, explaining that it was a feeling she had. She was from North Carolina, and her husband was from Lichtenstein. They had a rather weird view of what we believed in. She didn't know that we believed in Jesus Christ, so we talked a little more about the Church, but got them a little weirded out when we told them that we believed that there were living prophets and apostles on the Earth today. She really wanted to talk to us more, but her husband started to get rather edgy. We were about to give her our name card, but her husband said that they didn't need it. She tried to take it from us, but her husband said that he had had bad experiences from Mormons, and, while he respected us, really didn't want the card. We really hope that we will be able to meet them again someday and help to gain a better understanding of the Church.

We're working with Brandon closely because he's not doing so well with coming to Church anymore. He's really being influenced by his friends and giving in to them.

I'm still working on my patience, and trying to be more accepting of people and their quirks. I get so easily stressed out by what people do and say, especially if it is not something I am used to. A mission really does teach you a lot, but sometimes it is so hard working with people who are rude, who have no manners, and who don't treat you with respect! But, I guess we can't be their judge. We just have to live life the best way that we can. I was once again The Root of Christian Doctrine yesterday, and once again thought more about the Atonement and what it does for us. I am still learning to apply it daily in my life, but I did gain a deeper sense of appreciation for the sacrament, and I hope to be able to be more thoughtful each time I take it, and to be more Christ-like in my thoughts, words, and deeds.

President wanted us to go over to the Bible college across the street to see if we could teach there. Unfortunately, they didn't even want to entertain us.

The members have been giving us quite a few referrals, and we're teaching them bit by bit, we have a couple of promising ones, so we'll see how it goes!

-Elder Chua

"The Lessons of Life"

2010-01-20T15:19:00.003+08:00

It has been a rather eventful week. Unfortunately, we had an expat family return home because they were having a hard time adjusting here. However, we did have a wonderful time visiting with them the day before they returned home to the States. Over the past six months, they had had a hard time adjusting, and hadn’t been active for awhile. We had a good with discussion with them about how Heavenly Father knows the trials and tribulations that we go through, and that he is always there for us. Bishop Nef came with us, and we talked with and counseled them about what they could do and how to overcome it. Mostly though, it was just good to listen to them and to let them know that we loved them. The mother had wanted us to come over with to give her a priesthood blessing. We ended up providing each member with a blessing. It was a good experience, being able to use the priesthood in the service of others. Everything, I believe, happens for a reason, and my feeling is that this family came over to experience this so that they would be able to see the blessings that Heavenly Father and His Son afford, and to return to full activity in the Church.

Our Bangladeshi men story gets a little more interesting, I won’t go into the full details at all, but the next group of men that came in were swindled by the man who brought them over. He had apparently promised them visas to other countries after the baptism and said that he would hand the money to the Church 9which obviously didn’t happen). So, one of the four men who we baptized and three new ones lost a huge sum of money, which has really crippled them financially. They are now going home with nothing, one who has a family with a wife and young daughter. It really breaks my heart, and I hope and pray that justice and mercy will prevail. This reminds me of the beginning of the revelation on the Word of Wisdom, which read:

Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

While this applies to the Word of Wisdom, it also applies to the things that go on in the world today.

Visited Leah later on last week, and had a good meeting with her. Her employer won’t let her go to Church, and she’s been trying to keep her salary from her, along with taking way her off days. As we sat talking to her, a few other maids came around, and talked about that too. It is sad that human beings can treat others so badly, taking away their salaries and giving them no breaks. It is so disgusting and hurtful to see people who have to deal with those situations. The only comfort really comes from knowing that they are all children of our Father in Heaven and that things will work out.

All of the above mentioned events and situations are good reminders of how much I am blessed, and a reminder of the gratitude that I need to have. That reminder helps me to take each day well, and to look at life with a different perspective. Heavenly Father has given me much, and much is expected of me, I think.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) said of our pre-mortal life:

All the spirits of men, while yet in the Eternal Presence, developed aptitudes, talents, capacities, and abilities of every sort, kind, and degree. During the long expanse of life which then was, an infinite variety of talents and abilities came into being. As the ages rolled, no two spirits remained alike. Mozart became a musician; Einstein centered his interest in mathematics; Michelangelo turned his attention to painting. Cain was a liar, a schemer, a rebel. … Mary and Eve were two of the greatest of all the spirit daughters of the Father. … And so it went through all the hosts of heaven, each individual developing such talents and abilities as his soul desired.

We too developed talents and abilities there, which are to do here now, and to help mankind grow in a way that they can return to God.

Jeremy continues to progress and is overcoming his personal challenges and struggles to become who he will be someday.

Salam heads back to Bangladesh for a few months.

Family Home Evening with the Young Single Adults was great, especially with a couple of investigators there. We played Spoons, and also had a great spiritual thought about studying the scriptures and how it helps in our daily lives. That was perfect for our investigators!

I guess we continue to learn the lessons of life each day, although some are harder than others. But, faith is pointed towards the future, so that’s where I’m headed! As Robert Browning wrote,

The Best Is Yet To Be!

Well, yet another week has gone by! Have a great one!

Testify

2010-01-13T14:48:00.006+08:00

Mission tour was great! We had Elder Kent D. Watson, a member of the Seventy and first counselor in the Asia Area Presidency over here. We had a wonderful time with him as he was extremely personable and loving. We started off with having an office meeting with him, where he counseled us to listen to all that our Mission President says, and to also do our best to support him in every way we can because he has been called of God and has the keys to lead the mission. His second piece of advice was for us to be professional in what we do. He likened working in the office to being in a fishbowl, and how we do have to be examples to the other missionaries. We had dinner and a good fireside, where he answered some questions that some YSA had asked. The next day, we had a good training session with him, where he gave us some great pointers on how to truly be missionaries. He focused on The Book of Mormon and how it is a powerful converting tool, because it is the word of God! President Clark gave a training on hope, which was also a great motivator. I also had the opportunity to have an interview with him, which was a privilege! Oh, he also knows the family of one of my good friends, so we got to chat about them!

The Bangladeshi men returned home, which was sad, but it's great because they can now build up the Church in Bangladesh! We had a new group come in yesterday, and we'll have a few more tomorrow! There is joy in teaching the prepared children of Heavenly Father!

Nana is a girl that we had been teaching, but ended up having the Zone Leaders teach. But we still participated in fellow shipping her and working with her member friend to help her progress. Her baptism was a very spiritual experience, and it was moving to be able to see how she has come to find so much joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the love that she feels from her Heavenly Father, which really is reflected in her countenance. Her testimony was beautiful, as she talked about the faith and security that she has found in learning about the gospel. I had the opportunity to give a talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost. I had some notes, but I mostly just spoke what I was thinking and feeling. It was reassuring to be guided by the Spirit, because whatever I said just made sense, and I myself received a firm witness that Heavenly Father loves me. I love to testify.

However, with these testimony strengthening experiences also come trials and opposition that we have to face as missionaries. While we were riding home on the MRT a few nights ago, Elder Klemm started talking to a man while I was contacting a couple of really great people. As I was talking, I overhead the man saying "F.A.K.E., FAKE!" As I turned my attention to the conversation and the man started to speak louder, I realized that he was being yelled at by an anti. As the man continued progressing, he got progressively abusive with his words, and started telling everyone about him that we were a cult, that we were not Christians, and on and on. It took all I had to not say much, even though my blood was boiling. I had Elder Klemm get off with me at the next stop, even though it wasn't ours. It was disheartening for a moment, but then I suddenly had this great desire to talk to everyone, to be able to share our point of view, so I just started talking to everyone! It was a great feeling, once again, to testify.

Wilson is one of our new investigators who is hilarious! He talks our ear off, but has a good heart and is open to what we share, though he has a slightly different view on certain things.

Jeremy is progressing bit by bit, and it is great to be able to see the little changes in him each time we meet, and he really does think and ponder the things that we teach him. We challenged him to set a baptism date, to which he said no, then he thought about it and said that he would let us know on Sunday. We had Elder Pulver with us, and taught a powerfully scriptural lesson.

It was a good week.

-Elder Chua

"The Office Elder"

2010-01-06T12:25:00.004+08:00

As of the 29^th of December 2009, I have been an Office Elder for a year! I started my office duties in 2008, and now it’s 2010. Crazy huh? It has been a great experience working with two Mission Presidents, and helping to keep the mission running on its administrative side, while covering three different areas at the same time. When I first got into the field, the office was such a foreign place that we only went into occasionally. But, I’ve been here for more than half my mission now! It's crazy being The Office Elder.

Our four Bengali men were baptized on Saturday! It was a wonderful service! We had members of the ward participate in their baptisms and confirmations, which was a great thing because everyone seems to be really excited about missionary work now!

This past week has been rewarding but also extremely exhausting. We’ve had so much to do in the office and in the field. Things are starting to move again, but it is getting pretty rushed, and I’m learning to mange my time and stress level. I never imagined what a challenge leadership could be, but I guess it is helping me to grow and be better, to make decisions and guide my district where it should. In addition, my organizational skills have somewhat improved with the office. It doesn’t seem to me that I’ve really improved at all, but President Clark and I talked a little about how we can’t see the changes in ourselves sometimes. But others can see them in us. The more I learn in the gospel, the more I seem to see my weaknesses. But, it’s something to just keep focusing on and trying to change, so that I can become strong unto the Lord.

I’ve been having some challenges with certain people and situations. In regards to that, I have been trying my best to overcome those challenges. Over the past few months, I have been and am slowly coming to understand what it means to rely on the Lord. Over the past few months, I have too often tried to rely on my own ability and strengths to do what I am supposed to do, which has not been the smartest thing, because the only way that I can do Heavenly Father’s work is to have His Spirit to guide me in all that I do.

In sacrament meeting on Sunday, we were singing In Humility, Our Savior in sacrament meeting. As I sang it and reflected on the words, it gave me a clearer understanding of what it takes to be able to be with Heavenly Father. We need to be able to develop that kind of charity.

The second verse of the hymn goes:

Fill our hearts with sweet forgiving;
Teach us tolerance and love.
Let our prayers find access to thee
In thy holy courts above.
Then, when we have proven worthy
Of thy sacrifice divine,
Lord, let us regain they presence;
Let thy glory round us shine.

As I was looking up quotes for a training that I’ll be giving on charity, I came across a wonderful quote that I am trying to apply in my own life now. C.S. Lewis said:

To excuse, what can really produce good excuses is not Christian charity; it is only fairness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single great injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life - to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son - How can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night "Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us." We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it is to refuse God's mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.

Sister Clark was talking to me about working with people. As an only child, it might be hard, she said. But, it’s a great time to learn. A mission teaches you what you need to learn to grow and develop attributes to draw you closer to the Savior.

Talked to a man yesterday who had learned from the missionaries, who disagreed with a judging God, so I explained to him that it wasn’t so much judgment as they were consequences and reactions to certain actions. It was a good lesson to remind and teach myself too.

Funny how that happens sometimes.

Well, have a great week! Thank you for your love and support!

"I Have Learned...."

2009-12-30T11:18:00.006+08:00

So I have about a day and a half to the new year.

I guess I'll start off with a quick Christmas update. We had a wonderful time at my house for Christmas Eve. The whole Zone came over. It was a real treat to be home, to be able to meet up with some non-member friends. We got to share a little more about what we believe in. As we were leaving, President got us do sing some carols, which really brought the Christmas spirit.

We spent the next day at President's house, starting with a sleepover that night, then having an awesome breakfast and reading of Luke 2. We emailed, made calls home, watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, walked at the Botanical Gardens, had a great dinner, oh, and played Mafia multiple times! It was a good day, though I ended up getting sick after that.

The Bangladeshi men are doing great!

I had the privilege to be asked to perform the confirmation for a sweet little girl, who happens to be the daughter of a lady who was in Young Woman's when my Mom was the Young Women President.

So, I decided that my new year's eve spill could be a little about what I have learned this year.

As a missionary, you learn much. Talking to different people everyday, spending 24/7 with your companion, studying the gospel, looking at the world through a different set of eyes. It really is a learning experience. Once again, it has been a time of ups and downs, but something that I wouldn't trade for anything. When the gospel changes someone's life, and you have been an instrument in the hands of God to help with that, "how great is your joy!"

Over the course of this year as a missionary, I have learned, in no particular order (because they are of equal importance... that....

1. Family Matters Most
My family meas more to me than I can say. I just received a letter from a friend yesterday who said that the more times she spends in college, the more time she wishes she could spend with her family. How interesting and rather sad it is to only be able to understand what matters most when it's not right there anymore. I love my parents so much. Now, I love the nagging and whatnot. I know that that is part of my parents expressing their love for me, because I can see the care in their eyes as they "nag." It is not nagging at all, but rather, a parent dispensing all the advice and information that they can out of pure love. I am going to do all I can to spend time with my family after my mission. I wish I had spent more time with my parents when I was younger. But, I will not regret. Instead, I will do all I can to make up for it, and, hopefully into the eternities! Challenges and obstacles some along the way, but family is always there.

2. The Lessons Taught By The Spirit Are The Best
There are times on my mission where I've said to myself "That was a great lesson. I taught really well!" Wrong. I was an instrument in the hands of the Lord. The Lord spoke through me to those people, and the Spirit touched and moved them. My patriarchal blessing talks about the need for me to come to understand and remember that, and I have. For that I am grateful.

3. Seeing People Struggle and Change and Become Better is Priceless
With a few of our investigators who were baptized, some had to go through enormous personal challenges to become members of the Church. As I saw them grow and change, as I saw them cry and feel the Atonement in their lives, I gained a better understanding and feeling of the Atonement in my own life. I t truly is being in the service of others that makes our own lives better. I'm still learning that, one day at a time.

4. God Loves Me
Knowing that I am a son of God, and that He loves me. To know that he is watching out for me, knowing everything I go through, knowing that I can turn to him.... enough said.

5. True Friends Are Like the Wheat and the Tares
You learn on your mission how to differentiate between a real friend, and a not so real one. I won't go into how, but there are certain things, missionaries and non-missionaries say and do, that tell you all you need to know. Sometimes it takes awhile, but when the "harvest" is ripe, you know.

6. Diets Don't Work
I've tried to diet so many times and in so many ways. They don't work. At least for me they don't. It's ridiculous! :) Moderation seems to be the key. When you're on a mission, people feed, splurging and binging on chips and big meals from time to time is part of the whole game.

7. The Future Is Bright
The future holds much in store, both for the rest of the mission and after the mission. A positive attitude is key. The trick is to be able to keep that positiveness around you all the time. I can only hope that I can continue to do that. There are days when the world, and other circumstances get you down. But, we hope, we hope for the future that brings much, we focus on that oft cliched light at the end of the tunnel, because it really is there. As we do so, as I do so, I know that things will work out, that trials and adversities are for only a small moment. The Lord will bless us as we have that eye towards that light.

8. You Can't Receive Revelation On Who You're Going To Marry While You're on Your Mission
President Clark talked to everyone about that during Zone Conference :D

9. Budgets Are Great
I'm learning to budget. It helps so much, and it'll help after my mission too!

9 1/2. Planning Is Great
I've been working on that too. Helps a lot, especially with goal-setting.

10. The Gospel Is True
As we have talked and taught people throughout the year, we have been rejected many times. Some nice, some not. It is interesting to see how people react to us and our message, whether it's during a contact on the MRT, or a lesson at the Church. As these people have come by, in and out of out lives, it has been an experience in itself, learning what people are looking for in life, what priorities certain people have. Along with they, we've learned about new belief systems, about what people really think about us, and how to act with certain people. Working with different companions is interesting. You get along with some better than others, but you still have a common cause (most of the time). You love some people easily, and some takes a biy more time. But, all in all, I have learned that no matter the circumstance, lesson, or experience, the thing that I have a testimony of is that the Church is the Church that Jesus Christ restored to the Earth. I love the Church and what it has taught me, about how to be more like the Savior and the joy that comes from that. There is much to hope for.

To end off, the three stanza in the hymn, How Firm A Foundation has found its way to being my motto and motivator for the year ahead:

Fear not I am with thee, oh be not dismayed.
For I am the God and will still give the aid.
I will strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand.
Up held by my righteousness, omnipotent hand.

I am grateful to be alive in this world at this time, to be a missionary and a member of the Church. I am grateful for my family and friends, and for the love and care that they provide. Have a wonderful new year's eve. I'll write again next year!

-Elder Chua

A Gift To The Savior

2009-12-25T10:31:00.004+08:00

This has been a wonderful week, not only because it's Christmas week, but also because of the experiences that I have learned and the experiences gained. I'll share three of them this week.

First off, we met up with Jeremy, Sister Maureen's nephew on Monday. Jeremy had promised us that he would come to Church on Sunday, but he didn't make it, so we set up an appointment for Monday and went over. We were on exchanges so I was with Elder Stone. The lesson started off relatively normal. He's been doing good. We read through some of the scriptures that he had been reading, and things were going well. But, as we talked about why he didn't come to Church, he said that he wasn't ready yet. He said he wasn't able to explain it. But, as we continued to talk to him, the Spirit became the teacher and the Spirit prompted him to tell us what his concern really was. He told us that he hadn't been to his Church for three years, and when he went a few weeks ago for his family members' baptisms, he felt rotten about it. He had been dressed and ready to come to Church on Sunday, but felt that he couldn't come. It was wonderful to teach him about the Atonement o the Savior, and remind him of what it does for all of us. He was rather emotional about it all. It was really a good thing to see that mighty change working within his heart.

Met with Rick and Jean Howe again after a few months. I was on exchanges with the Assistants again, but this time with Elder Troxel. It was another great lesson. Brother Howe has a bad leg and suffers because of it. We talked about the need for him to come to Church and to bring his wife, who does want to come, and who isn't yet a member. We shared Alma 7:11-12, which, with the Spirit, gave me a greater insight and more especially a greater appreciation of the Atonement that I have yet had. Elder Troxel and I recited a couple of our favorite verses from How Firm A Foundation that taught me more again. Funny that you really learn with you teach people in service.

A member from Bangladesh has brought four friends here for us to teach. There is a huge language barrier, but through love, and the Spirit, we are now teaching them. The first lesson was amazing. We had an amazing time with them, and I love them. It is so intensely powerful when you are able to love someone almost immediately when you see them, or feel them for who they really are.

I gave a talk last Sunday (again), and I was asked to speak on gifts that we can give the Savior at Christmastime. I hope you enjoy it, it's my Christmas message to you all also for this year.

A Gift to the Savior

Giving is such a wonderful thing, because the feelings that we feel and the blessings that we receive surpass the supposed sacrifice of the gift. During this Christmas season, we focus much on the presents that we receive from loved ones and friends, and also find joy in seeing the excited and satisfied faces of the recipients of our gifts. While that might be good, what more can we do to give to the one who has given us all? We too often focus on the physical act of giving and receiving. But, true giving prevents us from needing that reciprocation. Instead, we give out of love. And, as we reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, then we know what we must do to truly give. This season is the time for us to reflect on the gifts that we have received from the Savior, but more than that, to proactively do our best to repay the Savior in the very best way we can.

The Savior taught His apostles a powerful lesson that very much applies to us as disciples of Jesus Christ. In the 21st chapter of John, we read of the Lord having a meal with His disciples. Verses 15-17 read,

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

My personal feeling is that the Savior's most wanted gift from his children is that of personal ministry, of ministering one by one to His children who need His love the most. We are to feed His sheep with the living waters of His gospel. In our world today, there are many who need to comfort and love of another human being, and we are those who are charged to serve Heavenly Father's children. In our day, it isn't so common to see angels ministering to the people of the Earth, but rather, it is the Saints who are given the charge to be, as the Savior said, "even as I am(3 Nephi 27:27)." As we do so, we will see the relief and comfort they feel, and in our very own way, receive of that peace and comfort that comes from a grateful Father and Son in Heaven.

The act of ministering is to literally act in behalf of the Savior to perform His work among His children.

Ministering to Heavenly Father's children is an expectation. Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ are expected to not only provide physical support to our fellow brothers and sisters, but also to be a guide with emotional and spiritual challenges. Heavenly Father wants us to minister to each of His children, one by one. As we do so, we will be able to draw closer to the Savior, because we will feel His love and approval for what we are doing. As we keep an eternal perspective, we will see that we are but helping each child of God return to Him, as we participate in that work of ministering in our own little way.

Amulek's great discourse on prayer reads: "But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto Him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. (Alma 34:26-27)."

"For the welfare of those around you." We are to be mindful in our prayers especially for those around us. Personal ministry through prayer is a powerful tool.

Sister Bonnie D. Parkin, former Relief Society General President spoke of prayer in relation to personal ministry. She said, "We can become better acquainted with Heavenly Father through prayer. Personal ministry can answer prayers. We can offer a daily prayer that enlists the help of the Lord Jesus Christ as we ask: "Help me to be the answer to someone's prayer today." The Lord consistently answers this prayer as we tune our eyes and ears to discerning the needs of those around us…. Asking to be an answer to someone's prayer has a powerful impact. We become the hands of our Savior as we do His work. There are sacred, quiet experiences for those who participate with the Lord in answering prayers. As we go about listening, watching, and feeling for the answer to those prayers—even in the midst of our busy schedules—I testify that our earthly ministry unfolds by revelation and divine empowerment. Our testimonies, faith, and feelings of connectedness to the Lord expand in amazing, unexpected ways.

My challenge for you today, for the upcoming year, and for the rest of your lives, is to ask the Lord each day to be the answer to someone's prayer. As you (and I), live worthy of the Spirit, we will receive the inspiration necessary to be the answer to someone's prayer each day.

As a new year comes about, let us remember the words of Will L. Thompson which read,

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone's burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, "Sometime I'll try,"
But go and do something today.
'Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love's labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

I know that as we follow the counsel of this hymn, as we do our best to minister personally to each of Heavenly Father's children, to "feed His sheep", that we will "help others to live" the true gospel of Jesus Christ. As we give of ourselves to serve and minister to our fellow men, we will be giving the Savior the best gift that we could possibly give Him, because we will be remembering and applying the great commandment that states, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." As we do so, we will truly become the instruments of God in His hands, serving His children, and becoming the people whom He so wants us to be.

I know that as we focus on what really matters, and what gives us true happiness, that we will be HAPPY! The new year is coming along! I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity to be a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior has given us all, and I am grateful for it.

Be your own gift to the Savior.

Merry Christmas.

-Elder Chua

Knowing

2009-12-16T10:52:00.008+08:00

Rhea was baptized on Saturday! It was a great baptism, and she sent a text after that that made my day!

We had a couple of teaching experiences this week that left me to think about the things that we teach to people as missionaries.

Oh, we had the yearly live Christmas nativity at the Stake Center, which worked out really well. We had a great time meeting members and non-members alike, who enjoyed going through the different stages leading up to the birth of the Savior. Elder Klemm acted as the scholar reading and studying the prophecies of Christ's birth, and he did a great job! It was rather hectic trying to man the missionary booth, and to talk to people at the same time, running around to get supplies and to do some caroling by the entrance. I'm just glad that I didn't have to act again this year. It all worked out though. Now we just have to sort through the referrals.

We met up with Shu Yang and Angel yesterday. It's the first appointment we've had with them in a month, so we went straight into the lesson, starting off on the plan of salvation. When we got to Earth life, I decided to start teaching them lesson three so that we could set a baptism date with them. But, when we started talking about that foundation step, faith in Jesus Christ, we found out that they were just beginning to work on developing that faith, so we talked to them about that, and helped them to understand the steps they needed to take if they really wanted to find out that Jesus Christ was more than just mortal. Inspiration comes during the times you need it most, especially when you are prepared. As we talked about church, prayer, and reading, it came into my mind how that could relate to them in school, needing to attend classes, ask questions, and to study! It was a simple thought, but one that I was grateful to use as I received it. As the lesson continued, we were able to promise blessings. As I promised them that they would receive certain things as they heeded the things that we taught, I once again received a confirming witness that those things would come to pass if they were obedient to that which we had asked them to do. It is a humble but motivating feeling, to know that you are acting in behalf of Heavenly Father and His Son to teach these people. To be an instrument in the hands of God!

Shu Yan met up with us in the evening, after a bunch of scheduling conflicts. She's such a good person and willing to learn, but I've never really come across her concern before, and I don't really know how to help her! Well, Elder Klemm and I are truing to figure that out. The thing is, she's trying to figure out what she believes in right now. She believes that there is a God, but she says that it is not necessary that God is a being, that He has to be a who, but rather, God can be a what. It is perplexing, because we do not know what angle to take, or how to even begin to answer her, or guide her through the steps that will get her to believe that Heavenly Father is a tangible being who loves us. It is interesting to see someone who is having a hard time reconciling the concept of God with an actual being. We're going to have to really pray and rack our brains on this one. The Holy Ghost, as always, but especially in these lessons, is going to have to play the main part in teaching Shu Yan.

Well, preparation day is on Christmas Day next week. Hopefully we do have some time to email. It's going to be busy. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas, whether you're with family and/or friends. I know that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are very mindful of each one of you, because we are all His children. Thank you for your encouragement and support. I always appreciate it. I hope that we will all remember what truly matters during this time of the year, and know, really, the reason for the season.

The Christmas Spirit is always there!

-Elder Chua

Angels & Discussions

2009-12-09T12:42:00.003+08:00

On the train home yesterday, I struck up a conversation with the lady next to me. We had a good little discussion. She was going over to visit a relative who is dying, which she said was why she was not in a good mood. It was rather awkward, so I tried to talk a little about the plan of salvation. But, she said that as a Buddhist, she took things more one day at a time. As I talked a little about hope, she said that it wasn't in her belief, but more of a fix the problem when it happens. I realized then that I wasn't supposed to be really telling her what I believed, but rather that I had to just listen to her. She talked most of the way to the stop, and she accepted my name card as she got off the train. The conversation got me thinking a little more about what I believe in, about what it means to me. It was interesting, feeling what I felt. I won't describe it, but it was reassuring.

Had another meaningful discussion with a Filipina lady as we were contacting. She was a retired professor of English and was here because her daughter married a Singaporean. However, she expressed her disapproval that her daughter had married a Muslim and given up her Catholic faith. It was interesting to listen to her talk about her upbringing, and her view of learning about other religions. There are a lot of members and missionaries where she lives in the Philippines, but she had never talked to them. I loved that I was able to bear a simple testimony about The Book of Mormon and some of the truths of the restored gospel.

We were walking in a mall a couple of days ago, and had some American yell, right after he walked past us…"Mormons…. Oh my gosh!!!" Just walked on, but it got on my nerves a little. I am learning bit by bit to love ALL men.

Went to the Daynes' for dinner (I home taught them for two years). Had a great meal with them, then shared a message that we came up with on the spot. It was actually interesting to really think about. We talked about how angels heralded the birth of the Savior. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and to Zacharias, an angel appeared to Joseph, as did a host of angels to the shepherds watching their flocks. Angels are those who announced the birth of our Savior, who taught of His coming and the wonderful gift that he would provide.

Right now, as members and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we too have the divine commission to herald the birth of Jesus Christ, to spread that message of love, peace, joy and hope. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland recently gave an address that I mentioned a few weeks ago entitled "The Divine Companionship." He ended his talk, saying, "Welcome to the work of divinity, welcome to the work of angels." We play our part in teaching the world about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that in the hierarchy of the Church, each person is in a sense helping each other, in whatever capacity that they might serve, teach the gospel, especially as missionaries.

Rhea is scheduled to be baptized this Saturday! We are so excited for her!

Well, I hope that you are all having an exciting lead up to Christmas this holiday season. Thank you for your support and your love.

-Elder Chua

What Are You Thankful For?

2009-12-09T12:06:00.002+08:00

The question I have for you today is this: What are you thankful for? In the news today, we see the stories of suffering and pain, of turmoil and death, of failed businesses in an ever seemingly corrupt world that is slowly degenerating into chaos. And, with school, work, and mounting bills to pay, where do we find peace in our lives?

As this holiday season comes around the corner, perhaps we find some of that peace, of hope and joy that can only come from something better than us. Perhaps it’s because we remember Christmases past, where we’ve had fun, where we’ve had our traditions each year that sears into our minds and hearts a feeling of security, because within that is a sense of constancy.

It’s that remembering, that foundation of good times past, that from time to time give us a better hope for the future. Because, when we remember what is good in our lives, then we are grateful, grateful for the things we have had and now have, and which we will have. It is a magical time of the year that allows us to forget our own problems, because we are remembering and focusing on something more.

What do we remember though? Do we remember (as my parents would say) the five stones that they got for presents, or the earrings that your husband bought for you? As we have often heard during this season, we are to especially remember the Savior, for His example and life of service and sacrifice. The purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the Savior. But unfortunately, people quickly forget the true purpose of Christmas. People spend too much time celebrating ‘Claus’ instead of ‘Christ.’

The Savior should be the center of our everyday lives, but more especially at this time, because we are celebrating the birth of Him who gave us life. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have made a covenant that we “will always remember Him” (Moroni 4:3), “and keep His commandments”, that “we may always have His spirit to be with [us].” As we come to Church each week and partake of the Sacrament, we are supposed to reflect on our week, on our lives, and consciously renew the promises that we have made with Him.

The promise we make is “to always remember Him.” What are we consciously doing in our lives to show ourselves and others that we are remembering Him?

Gratitude comes in many forms, but they mostly come as gifts. The Savior’s gift to us is one of eternal life. So, what are we going to give the Lord to thank Him for that gift?

The golden rule is to “do unto others what you would have done unto yourself.” So, the Savior has given us that gift of eternal life. What do we want others to have and experience then? Joy through eternal life too right? We are so afraid to talk to people about this marvelous present we have received, while it is easy to us to show off those new earrings or shoes that we have been given! Why?

Yes, it is hard to do missionary work, it is hard for us to talk to our friends and family because we’ve already tried it, and we’ve been shut down and rejected again and again. But, here’s the thing. We might be rejected twenty or thirty times, but it only takes that one golden person or family to change that all. We need to believe that the next person whom we decide to share the gospel with is someone whom the Lord has prepared for us. If we will do so, if we will prayerfully counsel with the Lord, we will know who we must share this priceless message with.

We might not be the most eloquent or the most impressive people. But the Lord’s promise to us is that if we do what he asks, he will provide the way, show us the love, and extend His comforting hand. In John 16:33, the Savior says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” To his disciples before He ascends to His father, he states: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”(Matthew 28:20). As it states in the sacrament prayer, we [will] always have His Spirit to be with us”, if we will but remember Him and keep His commandments. With those promises in mind, let us be as Nephi of old, courageously stating that “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7).

As the new year comes along, let us make a conscious effort to be better, to do better, to show gratitude to the Lord by truly remembering Him. Gratitude indeed does work both ways. We are grateful for what we have received by doing our best in all that we do, and Heavenly Father shows us His gratitude by showering us with blessings that can only come to those who are truly thankful. With all of us in mind, Doctrine & Covenants 62:6-7 reminds us of a promise that the Lord gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Behold, I, the Lord, have brought you together that the promise might be fulfilled, that the faithful among you should be preserved and rejoice together…. with a thankful heart in all things.”

It’s still an open-ended question that I’m asking. We are thankful for the Savior and His Atonement, but what else are we thankful for? There is so much to be thankful for. This season will give us that needed time to ponder.

These lyrics sung by Josh Groban touches much on the message I am trying to share today. It reads,

Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue
Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each others' light
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for

So, take the time to reflect on this question for a little while this month. What are you thankful for? As Christmas rounds the corner, and we receive Christmas gifts from our loved ones, we’ll open them with surprise and joy, because those gifts remind us of the love that our families and friends have for us. But truly, after all the hustle and bustle of this season draws to a close, what will we truly be thankful for?

Little Blessings

2009-12-02T12:09:00.002+08:00

Elder Lamat gets transferred on Friday. My new companion will be Elder Klemm, fresh out of training! Should be good. Elder Stone, one of my former companions, is the new Assistant! I'm excited for that!

We've had a decent week. Our investigators are slowly starting to progress. We have had two great weeks with a total of nineteen investigators at Church the past two weeks. We're working on getting them on baptism date. Slowly but surely.

Rhea's back on track for baptism next week. We had a wonderful lesson with her. We haven't been able to get to the root of the concern. But, as Elder Hall(we were on exchanges) and I talked to her, and the member bore her testimony, Rhea started to cry, and told the member that she was holding out because she felt that she wasn't worthy. It was an amazing experience when we then bore our testimonies about the Atonement and how much that really meant and can help us in our lives. It was a good lesson for me to remember, that the central focus of our doctrine is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know how much it can help us.

My Dad responded to the missionaries invitation to listen to their talks in sacrament meeting!
Been getting quite a few referrals from members and missionaries, which has been a little blessing for us this past week.

Teaching an investigator who used to learn from the Sisters. She's really good. Just helping her to see who she is as a daughter of God, and how she should not meddle with things of the occult. She has some items that are rather scary, and we're talking to her about that. The power of the adversary is real.

But, I learned something this past Sunday. Brother Jay and his family are moving. In his testimony, and then his lesson in Sunday, he talked about how, through the years, he has come to know that no man or spirit can have power over us, because as we put our faith and belief in God, we can and will be protected and guided. He bore a wonderful testimony of how the Savior has always helped his family. I can't really express it as well as he did, but it was moving. One great thing that he said was that he's learned that sometimes Heavenly Father counsels and teaches him through his wife. Good lesson to learn.

Found out that a girl I contacted a while ago got baptized. Passed her on to the Mandarin Elders and thought nothing of it. It was just a short contact, but she's now a member of the Church! No effort is wasted! Heavenly Father really does work miracles in our lives. I love these little blessings.

Gave a talk on Sunday. Wrote one originally that the Assistants and President though would get the whole congregation walking out on me. So, I changed it. I'll send it out/put it up soon. I talked about what we are thankful for in our lives. Well, Happy December. Do keep in touch, especially during this amazing season!

I love Christmas!

-Elder Chua

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T12:24:00.001+08:00

Another Week

2009-11-26T13:12:00.002+08:00

Not enough time!!!!

We've had yet another decent week. Nothing too spectacular.

Elder Teng ended up spending the weekend with us because he had his hand slammed in the door, so they kept him here for a few days to make sure that it was alright.

Met a few new investigators, which has actually worked out pretty well, especially since a few have been member referrals. Sister Regina is a really awesome member who helps us with finding those referrals. She is really humble and talks to everyone about the gospel. Unfortunately not all the members are like her. I guess humility really is key to missionary work.

We had ten at Church, so that was awesome, but we are struggling a little to set people on baptism date. Have to get them to meet up with us first. Got to go to a few members' houses, so that was nice.

Received another hate letter, this time two churches had their names listed on it though. It's rough sometimes, but what to do? Just do your best to spread the gospel the way you can, and with all your might! Haha, I sound like a religious zealot sometimes, but I have less than six months left! Have to go at it.

Sister Maureen, a member, had us meet with her nephew. He's really nice and I think will take the time to see whether we teach something that makes sense to him.

Learning day by day how to be more humble and patient, especially with people. Those really are my weak points. So how is everyone doing anyhow? Oh, right. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! We're going for dinner at the Clark's in a short while.

-Elder Chua

"Ideal Mormons" and "Desire"

2009-11-18T13:35:00.001+08:00

This week has gone by really fast. With this one hour limit now, I keep forgetting to write out this weekly email, so it's going to be pretty short too!

Well, the week actually went by really fast. Since the other area in my district got whitewashed, I went to Church with them on Sunday, and I'll be going one more time this week. It's fun because I have worked in two of the three areas. It's been good to visit them. Monday and Tuesday, I went on exchanges with Elder Sederholm, my Zone Leader. It went really well, and we really do teach well together! We are still working on rebuilding our teaching pool. We have a couple of promising investigators, but we'll have to see how that goes.

Ethel got anti-ed again. She really must be someone that the adversary wants to bother. It really is annoying, well, more frustrating sometimes when things like this happen. I don't understand why people hate us so much. I guess I understand it, since it was all predicted in the scriptures, but sometimes, it would be nice if it were just a little easier. Heavenly Father will prepare a way for His children to return to live with Him if they want to though.

Shu Yang and Angel are two member referrals that we taught that are doing alright.

Met an Indian man who wants to learn, though I think it's more intellectual than Spiritual at the moment. Still open though.

Feline is a former that was taught in 2003 and 2006. We're now teaching her in 2009. Funny. She was Taoist when they first taught her, but now she's Christian. Go figure.

Robbie is another former we're working on. He's got good questions, but not the desire yet.

Speaking of desire, we met a man named AJ on Monday from the potential list. He was really friendly, but just said he had no desire to really learn about religious or spiritual things. He said that he had a lot of things happen to him. When we asked him if he was happy, he replied that he was content, then added that he was happy. But, it was painfully obvious to see the hurt in his eyes. Some things that have happened that have numbed him to the point where I think he just is thinking that "if there is a God, I don't want to know about Him because He doesn't love me." That really saddens me.

Did district training on "Ideal Mormons." It was a good reminder to myself that EVERY child of God has the right to learn, and then to accept or reject the gospel. No judgements on our part to decide if someone needs it. Zone Conference last week was good. Received training on teaching by the Spirit, planning, and remembering the Lord. Uplifting, really.

Working to help Elder Lamat with English and teaching. Rather frustrating sometimes, but he is trying. Good Elder. On my part, I need more humility and patience.

Well, not too much time. Got to go. Have a wonderful week. Thanksgiving next week!

-Elder Chua

A Spiritual Impression

2009-11-09T13:11:00.002+08:00

We've had a pretty decent week, though I have yet another new companion, Elder Lamat. Elder Lamat is from Kuching, East Malaysia. He's a good kid.

My district's been going through so many changes lately. Elder Bukchuluun is going back to Mongolia because the government is not allowing anymore foreign missionaries to go into the country, so they are trying to get the locals back in. It's going to be sad. Oh well. He's excited for it. Hopefully things settle down soon. I'm going to stress out a little, trying to handle this companionship that consists of a new missionary and his companion who has never been a trainer, senior companion, and who has never served in Singapore. I'm sure that it will be fun.

Well, I don't have much time today since I forgot that I was supposed to write this. But, I will talk about one wonderful spiritual experience that we had yesterday.

Ethel finally was able to meet up with us after a couple of weeks. We had our appointment with President and Sister Clark in his office. Anyhow, we started off by answering a couple of questions that her anti friend had posed to her. It was good to be able to answer those questions for her. What it came down to was us testifying to her that we have living prophets and apostles once again on this earth. We explained to her that the only reason why we were teaching her, why we were doing this was because we knew that it would provide her the way for her to return to her Father in Heaven. It was while we were testifying of living prophets that I bore my own testimony. As I said the words I said, there came into my heart a conviction that what I was saying was fact. It wasn't even a warm feeling or anything, but rather something that told me that what I was saying was completely true. It was an experience that I have never had before, and it really left an impression on me.

This Church has the full gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is coming up, I'm so excited!

-Elder Chua

Onward!

2009-11-04T12:40:00.001+08:00

We had a wonderful weekend! Two baptisms are always wonderful! Brandon was baptized first, with me then baptizing Yuni! The really sweet thing was that I got to say the baptismal prayer in Indonesian, though it did take some practice to get that done. Brandon and Yuni were so happy when they were baptized, and the confirmations went wonderfully too! Thankfully, I confirmed Brandon, so I got to do that in English. They are so excited to be members of the Church. What a wonderful blessing.

Sister Catherine passed away on Thursday, so we went to her wake on Sunday. It's the third one I''ve been to in the last few months. It was especially hard to see Brother Woo and Shu Yan break down. It hurts when you see people whom you care for hurting so badly. I can only hope that the gospel which Brother Woo has so recently accepted will help him, and that Shu Yan will find peace as we teach her about the plan of salvation, and what it has done and can do for each one of us. These experiences have only helped me to appreciate my parents more. I'm glad that I've been able to recognize that they love me so much, and I only hope that I can reciprocate that love. It's definitely a far cry from high school when I thought the nagging and lectures were random bouts of frustration. Now I know that they were wonderful expressions of my mother's and father's love for me. After mission time is parent time!

We got to see Rhea earlier this week. She is doing well and is really excited with what we are teaching her. She is asking questions about some of our beliefs in relation to her Catholic upbringing, but we have been able to clarify and answer her concerns. She excited for her upcoming baptism, and we're excited for her too! Her employers, who are members too, are a great help. It's also good that her sister is a member of the Church.

Been on exchanges these past couple of days. A companionship in my district has been having some issues, so I counseled with them, and took them on splits to separate them for awhile. Throughout the two days, as I was figuring out what to do, I asked for advice from the Zone Leaders, the Assistants, and President. They gave some advice, but mostly, they left the decision up to me. It was a relatively new experience, but a good one, because it helped me to make decisions on the spot, and also to rely very much on the Spirit as I tried to figure out what the best decisions to make were.

As we were walking to the bus stop from our appointment with Rhea, we walked past a guy who was sitting at a table and waiting. Something told me to turn around, which turned into a good little lesson on the plan of salvation. As we sat at the bus stop across the street afterward, I watched as the man read the pamphlet rather thoroughly. It was, as always, a good reminder that everyone should have the opportunity to listen to the message that we share, and that there are people who are waiting to hear it. I only hope that I will not lose that zeal after my mission.

I think Pamela got anti-ed.

Patricia is doing alright. She has her priorities focused somewhere else ow, but we're still holding her interest, and has some really good questions, so we're praying that things will continue to progress.

Marna Lee is the helper for the Daynes'. I home taught them for two years while I was still in high school, so I got to know her pretty well. It took a couple calls to persuade her, but she agreed. We had a relatively good discussion, but we'll have to go slowly with her. Slow but steady wins the race!

Cisca is progressing slowly. We hit a road block with coffee, so we're working on helping her overcome that. We're going to get her to switch over to Mountain Dew and wean her off from that! She was actually fed coffee when she was a baby! No wonder she is having such a hard time getting off it!

Well, Elder Ng-Woon is training again so he gets transferred on Thursday. I'm getting my second non-American companion in a row, Elder Lamat from Kuching Malaysia. He's an Iban! (one of the tribes in East Malaysia). It should be fun!

Still working on trying to develop quiet dignity and a spiritual maturity. It's a constant upward struggle, but we go onward!

-Elder Chua

The Work Goes On

2009-10-28T13:29:00.003+08:00

We had a great week, except for one particular incident. But, as always, the work goes on.

Unfortunately, we have to pass Rita to the Mandarin Elders. Hopefully she makes some progress. She's great but just stuck on a couple of the commandments.

Brandon is amazing! He is going to be baptized on Saturday! It is so wonderful to have someone so excited and ready to join the Church. We're going to be seeing him tonight, so we'll be able to keep that up. He actually went from smoking a pack of cigarettes a day to quitting cold turkey. It shows what the gospel can do with someone who really has faith in it.

Yuni is ALSO getting baptized on Saturday. We finished up teaching the commandments with her, and we were going to schedule it for next week, but she asked if she could just be baptized on Saturday. So, we had her baptismal interview and it all worked out! It is going to be a blast!
We set quite a few baptism dates! Elder Ng-Woon was gone for a couple of days, so President Clark went with me for our appointment with Ethel. We taught her from lesson three, answered her questions, and committed her to be baptized! It was a little surprising that she accepted! I did not have enough faith, but the Lord does work miracles in the hearts of His children as they search sincerely. We had her over at the Clark's after Church on Sunday and helped resolve her concerns. Unfortunately, she's been anti-ed pretty badly over the past few days, so we're working on picking up on it. It should be good. She's still willing to meet.

Church was great because we had a whole bunch of member referrals and surprise investigators turn up! It is good to have the members helping. That is the ONLY way that the work can truly go forth. It was a nice end to the week.

Rhea is a member's helper who has a sister who is also LDS. We met with her on Monday and had a wonderful lesson with her, where she also accepted a baptism date. It has been a blessing to meet some prepared people. Well be able to make the baptism goal for the mission two months on a row! And in Singapore! Well, no credit to us. Heavenly Father was kind enough to place His prepared children in our path.

On the way to Rhea's appointment, we were talking to people on the MRT. Along the way, I noticed staring at us. She got off at the same stop, so I started talking to her as we were going down the escalator. During that short conversation, she talked about how she really wanted to understand Christianity more. She noted that she was a flight attendant, and would be flying off soon, so I suggested that we meet her when she got back. She gave her contact information, and then asked "Can we meet tomorrow?" Was I shocked! I couldn't find any time in our schedule, so I asked if we could just meet her then, to which she said yes! We pushed our appointment to a later time, then sat down, and taught her the first lesson. She absorbed it, stating that she had been having a hard time the last few days, and she felt that we were an answer to her prayers. We set up a time to meet again the next day after rearranging her schedule.

And then it happened. We met with her and a member at the MRT stop by her house, and found a place nearby to sit down. Had all the niceties, then said a prayer. As we were about to say the prayer, I saw a woman walking by staring at us, thought nothing about it. As we finished the prayer, the same woman came up and grabbed our investigators drink, flinging it to the ground. She walked away. It was a pretty big shock. But then, she came back a few seconds later and started screaming at us to leave, that The Book of Mormon was goodness knows what, that we better not utter the name of Christ, and that we should leave. It scared me, well, all of us really bad. We walked away, with her still screaming that we better not smiling or anything. It was a scary experience. We went up to the food court to continue, though I think it was awhile before we could calm down.

The rest of the lesson went amazing still though. She accepted a baptism date, the rest of what we taught, committed to doing her best to follow the Word of Wisdom, and to read and pray. She'll be in London this weekend, so we got her to commit to meeting with the missionaries there, and set up an appointment for her. She is golden, in every sense of the word.

I was talking to some other people about what had happened later on, and two thoughts occurred to me. One, that the adversary was working very hard to shake Pamela, and two, that the Savior really suffered throughout the whole course of the Atonement. She is a great investigator, and I guess the adversary was doing his best to scare her. It was not a pleasant experience. That woman did not have good in her eyes.

The good that came out from it was the lesson that I learned about the Savior's Atonement. For once, I understood in a sense how it must have felt for Him when He walked down the via dolorosa, along with His trial and the accusations yelled at Him. Those people hated Him, and yet He pressed on. I in no way went through anything close to what He had to, but it was a shocking reminder that the Savior died for me, and He had to suffer in a way that we cannot comprehend. I don't think I can fully express in words how I felt, but I am grateful that I am more mindful of it now.

All is well now. As I said at the beginning, the work goes on, and it will.

-Elder Chua

Just a Good week!

2009-10-21T11:40:00.002+08:00

We've had quite an amazing week!

Well, Elder Pulver was transferred to Kuching, so my current companion id Elder Ng-Woon from New Zealand, my first non-American companion. He's way hard working, and also plays the guitar and sings amazingly well. I'll miss Elder Pulver, he was a great Elder.

Elder Ng-Woon and I are now absorbing the teaching responsibilities for the 1st Ward, my old home ward, so that's been both interesting, but also really fun.

We met up with a "new" investigator, Brandon from Korea. He was learning from the missionaries, but moved here, so the Elders there told him to look us up. We've met with him three times now, and he is set to be baptized next Saturday! Brandon's English teacher happens to be a member in one of the wards I'm serving in, so that will be a great help.

Jen is doing great! She said that she would continue to read from the Book of Mormon, and that she would pray about it. She wants her daughter in the Philippines to learn too! Along with that, she also invited a friend, so we had a new investigator from that!

Ethel has met with us twice now! It's good! She came to Church once a few months ago with her member friend, but we're now making progress!

Another of our investigators that was progressing has had a little bit of a setback, because of problems with the Sabbath day and the law of chastity. Unfortunately, the investigator feels that she is somewhat obliged to her partner because they have been together for eight years, and that they will get married, maybe. She said that her boyfriend said that they would get married if she got pregnant, which shocked us, so the member who was with us tried to help out with explaining the virtue that has to be protected, and how she can't let herself be taken advantage of. It's disgusting to see how the world has casualized sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage, and how to often, people fall into that trap of carnal security, especially when they do not know how to get out with it. She also has problems with not shopping on Sunday. It's weird that she's perfectly fine with tithing and fasting though. I guess we each have our weaknesses, but through the Lord we can become strong (Ether 12:27).

Cisca had some of her concerns resolved, and we reset her baptism date: good.

On Saturday, we had the evening session of Stake Conference, where I was asked to bear my testimony/give a talk on how serving a mission has blessed my family and my own life. As I was reflecting upon it, it was good to see the blessings come from a mission, and the things that I have learned, but also how fallible I am at time. I practiced my talk with Elder Pulver a few times, but of course it came of rather different when I was on the stand, because I don't write out my talks anymore, but just have a few points written down (I like having a bit more of that confidence now). My parents were there, (which is always a treat). It was good to be able to bear my testimony of missionary work and of the gospel to them also. As I talked about the Atonement, I learned some things about the Atonement, and understood more about it than ever before. The Spirit teaches. It was a marvelous experience.

The rest of Saturday Conference was wonderful. There were talks on relationships between family members, on how we can all listen more than ever to the counsel of the living prophets and apostles. President Lai gave a wonderful talk on how that will bless us, how reading conference talks and applying them will bless us. All too often, people just pick what they like, but I am learning day by day that we have to listen to EVERYTHING they say. President and Sister Clark were also inspiring on single and couple missionaries. Stake Conference on Sunday was great. It was a multi-stake satellite broadcast, and we had some great talks on forgiveness, virtue, endurance, faithfulness, being member-missionaries, and finding hope in the future, and in the Savior. Sister Dalton especially talked about our Stake President, about his willingness to obey the commandments of the Lord. Conferences are always so good.

Well, we'll see what this week brings. Take care.

Letters please! Encouragement! There's been a seven week dearth!

Love you all!

-Elder Chua

"Christ is the Reason"

2009-10-14T11:24:00.002+08:00

General Conference was amazing. Sister Anderson called to remind/let us know that we could have a question to take to the Lord, to have it answered in General Conference. At first, it didn't seem that there was anything particularly special. But, soon, there was talk after talk that gave me wonderful counsel and direction that I can now ponder and apply in my life, and especially in my missionary work. More than that, though, was the face that a question that had been nagging at me at the back of my mind was answered, and really brought peace to me, to know that Heavenly Father was mindful of that concern even when I didn't bring it up. I now know more than ever that Heavenly Father has his restored Church on this Earth today, that the fullness of doctrine has been restored. It is a comfort to have that knowledge.

Two investigators who I want to highlight this week are Rita and Thiam Heng.

Rita has been continuing to learn, and has been progressing well. She asks really introspective questions, and those that a true investigator asks, one who really wants to understand the restored gospel, and the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. She has a cheerful countenance, and came for a couple of Conference sessions, so that was great!

Thiam Heng brought a friend named Fuji to our appointment. We went over to President O'Grady's (1st counselor in the Stake Presidency) home since he works at the school that Thiam Heng attends. We taught them the message of the Restoration of the Gospel, which was a wonderful experience with the Spirit. They committed to praying and reading to know if what we taught was true, and had a good dinner after that. Aside from the food though, it was good to have two people who were really pondering on the things that we taught them.

We're meeting with a couple of new investigators this evening, one of them a friend from high school so that will be interesting. Her boyfriend is on a mission, so we're helping her to learn more. The other appointment is also with a girl whose boyfriend is on a mission. Both in Australia. It'll be good.

District Meeting was titled "Christ is the Reason." It was good to be able to focus on the Savior and remember that we are doing what we are doing only because of Him.

We truly do testify of Christ. (http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,90-1-10-1,00.html)

-Elder Chua

The Divine Companionship

2009-10-07T11:59:00.002+08:00

This week has been relatively normal. Relative because the last few weeks have been crazy, as you can pretty much tell.

We had quite a few appointments cancelled this week, so that was a bummer, but we still met with a few people and had some very spiritual appointments.

Samantha is the less-active who we're still meeting up with. She's doing pretty alright. Still struggling to read the Book of Mormon every day, but she did come to Church on Sunday! When we met with her last week, we read a couple of chapters, and answered a few of her questions. She's a happy girl. As we were leaving the appointment, I thought of the scripture in Doctrine 7 Covenants 18: 15-16, about the joy in bringing souls to the Lord. Besides baptizing people, there is much joy in bringing lost sheep back to the fold, people who have known the truth but who have lost their way for awhile. The sweet joy in seeing them make their journey back is exciting, seeing that flame rekindled is such a wonderful feeling.

On Friday, we had an appointment with Jen, our wonderful Filipina investigator. Unfortunately, our member who was supposed to meet us at the MRT wasn't there. Waited for him, but ended up having to go because we were already late. We weren't sure what bus to take, so we hopped on one that seemed to be going in the right direction. That was a mistake. We got completely lost. We then got in a cab, but the cab driver didn't know where to go either! Ended up just getting out and called to apologize. Thankfully, she was good about it.

Went over the Brother and Sister How's place with Bishop after that. Had a good Family Home Evening with them. They asked some great questions about families. Bishop Choo was great at answering their questions.

Yuni and Cisca are progressing well. Andrew, the guy we taught a week ago is doing amazing! He'll get baptized, but unfortunately, we have to pass him to the Filipino Elders. Oh well, it'll still be wonderful to us when he gets baptized.

Joanne dropped us. Still too attached to her boyfriend, and not to God.

Church was great! Some members brought friends, and some of our investigators came. Not the turnout we wanted, but still not too bad.

Went to the hospital to visit a member in the ICU who is fighting cancer. It was a sobering moment as we stood there and just watched the machine help her breathe. Life is so fragile, the body is so amazing, but also so susceptible. Her family was there, and it was good to be able to talk to them. We got to talking with her non-member daughter, chatted with her, and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon. She was really thinking as we taught her a little about it, about the plan for the eternities. It's good to know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us.

District training was "The Spirit is the Key." The only way to really teach that is really to read through what Preach My Gospel says about it, so we did just that. We then listened to an amazing talk by Elder Holland entitled The Divine Companionship. It was an amazing lesson on how the Spirit works, how we are to use it. He said, ""The Godhead will bear testimony of you and your companion — frail, little uncelestial souls that you are — when you have earnestly tried to become part of the Divine Order. You have prayed and studied and fasted appropriately, and have always exerted great faith. You have been obedient to the commandments, to the rules of the mission, and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You have kept yourself morally clean in thought, in word, in deed, and have helped your companion do the same. You have tried to develop Christlike attributes, have worked diligent hours and have tried to be a witness of God 'at all times and in all things and in all places' (Mosiah 18:9). "If you try to live this way — try with all the best that is within you — the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost above you will smile and say, 'It is enough. We will let these missionaries and their investigators feel a portion of the power of heaven. We will let them feel the touch of our unity and our divinity. …"

I know that it is the Holy Ghost that teaches, it has to b Heavenly Father lesson, not ours. It is such a marvelous gift, that of the Holy Ghost.

Finally, we've met with a new investigator named Irish a couple of times. We contacted her while we were going to the How's. She's been rather scantily –clad these past couple of times, so we taught her about modesty last night.

Funny story. We met up with Irish at the Orchard MRT. When we saw her, we weren't sure what to do, because she was wearing a see-through blouse and really short shorts. Elder Pulver refused ton walk by her and talk to her (I think he was freaked out). While we were walking to Macdonald's to have our appointment, we walked past a store where she motioned for me to look and said "nice lingerie." I think Elder Pulver walked even further behind. Awkward. It got even more weird when she tried to sit by us and, well, touch us. The lesson was ok.

But....

The thing with Irish is that she seems to be rather insecure, but she shows it by trying to be as physically attractive as possible. We taught her about the plan of salvation on Sunday, emphasizing the point that she is a daughter of God. I think that as she comes to know who she is as a child of God, that she will change. We were rather apprehensive as we started teaching her (some comments and moves that she had made). But, as we taught her, it was apparent that she really did have a desire to know. She asked some great questions about the plan. When we called to confirm last night's appointment, she was so excited; she was confused as to why there were so many churches, so we taught her that. She's coming to watch General Conference this Sunday!

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the mighty change of heart that it brings to the children of God.

-Elder Chua

"Love Is The Motive"

2009-09-30T12:12:00.002+08:00

A summary of the week:

We've had a few wonderful appointments this week! We met a few new investigators, both formers and people who we had contacted previously. Luis, one of Elder Longmore's former investigators, met up to have a lesson, but also to show us a bunch of certificates he had won as a hotel doorman. He's a really nice man, and we enjoyed talking to him. Hopefully it moves on to spiritual awards. Brother Ng, who helped us with the lesson, was really good in motivating Luis to come to Church. Unfortunately, Luis wasn't well on Sunday. There's always next week.

Met with a Myanmar investigator who was more interested in comparing religions. Fortunately, his wife was very friendly and had an interest in the Plan of Salvation. She is expecting, and the message about eternal families definitely held her interest.

Two new Mandarin Elders came in this past week, Elder Ngo and Elder Nightingale. They seem to be great Elders, and really excited for the work. I was able to go with Elder Ngo for a day. Smart kid! He went to Harvard for a year. Had fun teaching him to contact, and a good dinner appointment.

Joanne is an investigator who has been learning for a long time, but has not been able to get baptized because her parents want her to wait till she's 21. Unfortunately, she hasn't come to Church for a long time or met with the missionaries, but we were finally able to last week. We had a wonderful lesson with her as we read the story of Esther, and helped her to understand her position and destiny as a daughter of God. It was a beautiful lesson, whereby the Spirit taught, and we were instruments in the Lord's hands. We're working on getting her back! She knows it's true, and it really is promising.

Brother Jay, a member in Bedok, has been doing a great job talking to his friends about the Church, one of whom was willing to meet with us. We had a great discussion with him. He really was willing to listen. What this friend, Ganesh, said was that he really admired and respected Brother Jay for the values that he lived. It was a good example of how our examples are teachers of the gospel, in and of themselves. More often that we realize, people are looking to us to be a beacon in a sea of shifting values. I hope to follow that example.

Shu Ching is a former who is still not willing to commit. Bah.

Leah is doing good. Still coming to Church and excited. Working on keeping Alvin active. Good guy.

Met up with an inactive and his wife. Talked to them about families and actually set up a return appointment to have family home evening with them! It was great because the member didn't really want the appointment, but the non-member wife set it up. Talk about a change of heart.

Cisca has really been thinking about what we've taught her. She's praying and progressing.

Yuni, one of our investigators on baptism date, is progressing really well and excited with all that we are teaching her. Heavenly Father has really blessed us with one of his prepared children, which really is a blessing . We were able to set another baptism date with Andrew, a referral from a member in the Philippines. He really wants to find the truth, and already has a budding testimony, because he has a desire to learn, that is growing fast into a mighty faith.

Gave an area book training to the Stake Presidency and Bishoprics, because we're implementing a new program where the missionaries will work a lot more closely with the ward to endure that no one is left behind.

Good week! Still really tired though.

Well, gave this week's training on how love is our motive for doing the work. As I taught the training, I realized how true it was, especially after I met a Baptist on the train later on in the afternoon who already "knew" all about the Mormons. As we come to really love, then we will become true disciples of Christ.

In closing, I can testify along with Sister Marilyn Bateman that "Love is itself a gift. It is difficult for us to love others if we are not loved. Sometimes we don't feel loved or at all lovable. At these times it may be difficult for us to feel motivated to exercise faith or to show love. But God loves us. He loves us more than we can comprehend at this time. We need to come to understand how great His love is: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Many converts to the Church report the overwhelming joy they feel in being converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They feel God's love for them, and it is this love that entices them to be baptized and follow Him. John reminded us, "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). I, too, have felt this love, a burning love that encompasses my whole soul. When it is in you, it lights you, all of you, and transforms you. Our obedience takes on new meaning as we cross over from keeping the letter of the law and begin to keep the spirit of the law. Obedience, faith, and love are not easily separated out from each other. The source of our faith comes from understanding the nature of God--that He is a good and loving God who has the power to save us. The source of our obedience rests in a love for God and in the faith that by keeping the commandments we will partake more fully of God's love."

-Elder Chua

Flooding the Church

2009-09-23T10:59:00.002+08:00

Elder Pulver and I have had many adventures since the start of our companionship, and it continues on!

We've been teaching Cisca, and she's making good progress. The only concern we're trying to resolve is to help her understand the concept, or the reality of one true Church on this Earth today. Other than that, everything is going well with her. We have a bit of a language barrier, since I don't speak Malay. Elder Pulver is doing well with that, though the dictionary is needed sometime.

Yuni is another member's helper whom we've started teaching. She's been coming to Church for the past six months to help take care of their kids in primary, but only recently have they asked her if she wanted to learn. She told us that she had just been waiting for them to ask! Our first lesson with her was amazing. Elder Pulver was teaching in Malay again, and I picked up some snippets. She's really excited about all of this and accepted a date for baptism in early October!

Church was good. We had five investigators there. We had a couple last minute surprises, where some who we expected to turn up didn't, and those whom we weren't expecting came! We have had a good week with finding new investigators, so that has been wonderful.

Samantha, a less-active who we've been working with, is progressing so well! She came to Church last Sunday, and has been reading from The Book of Mormon. It's often easy to forget our duty, understanding that bringing back lost sheep to the fold includes inactive members, not just non-members.

We contacted a referral from a mission in Chile. When we got to the house, only the Mom of the referral was there, but she was really excited to see us, so we hope to work with those two new referrals!

On the way home on Saturday, we met two Nigerians who are studying here. They didn't make it to Church, but we met with one of them, Frank, yesterday. He was really friendly and had questions about baptism by immersion, and said that he'd read. Hopefully it all works out.
Two new Mandarin missionaries came in yesterday. They know Elder Nef, one of my good friends! It was a hectic day.

Had District Training on Faith, taught them about the power that we can receive from active faith, and it was good to see them a little more lively than normal.

We had Leah's baptism, but not before the adventure of the week… took place. We had switched on the tap for the font and had our appointment with Frank. When we got back up, we found the corridor flooded with water. We unlocked the door to the font, only to find a cascading waterfall down the stairs. What a mess! We spent the next half an hour trying to push the water towards the bathroom. It was carpet by the way, and the water had soaked it. The Bishop came and cracked a few jokes about Noah and the flood and whatnot. Unfortunately, the service center manger, who I don't think likes me very much, happened to come for a meeing and saw the mess. He definitely was not a happy camper. "Hello... Norman!"We had the baptism (a little late, Leah got lost), then had the facilities manager come. We spent the rest of the evening trying to get water out from the carpet. Tiring!

Good week though! It's going to get better! We're going to flood the Earth (and the Church) with the gospel!

-Elder Chua

Faith and Funnies

2009-09-16T11:05:00.002+08:00

We've had a lot of crazy things happen to us this week, so I'll just go through the highlights.

Zone Conference was great as usual. President gave a wonderful training on revelation, about the ways that we can receive it, and how we can distinguish revelation from God. He emphasized the fact that we would not receive revelation on who we are going to marry on our missions. It was good to help us understand also how we are to receive revelation for our investigators, and what we can do to be more receptive to those spiritual prompts, that, can only make us stronger anyway.

The Assistants taught about the journey of conversion, how to teach and commit more effectively. Most trainings on this particular topic could very much end up long and boring, but the Assistants did a great job. A key point of their training was the need for the Spirit in all our lessons. It is up to the Spirit to convert, and so, we need to learn how to always have it with us, in our lessons. They talked to us about teaching for understanding, committing investigators to Church ALWAYS, because an investigators attendance at Church is a key indicator of their level of conversion. They talked about asking proper and direct questions that would prompt an investigator's sincere study of the gospel, of knowing that miracles occur as we plan well, teach well, and thereby have those miracles come to pass as part of that process.

We met with a member referral, who thought very deeply as we taught her about the Plan of Salvation. It was very invigorating. Everyone has those questions come to mind at some point in their lives.

Saturday started off normal, but then everything went crazy! We went over to the office to get some baptism clothing for a child of record baptism, and found out that we didn't have a suit! As we were in the car park figuring out whether or not we had to go by some white clothes, the catering van took out a chunk of the ceiling. The member whose son was being baptized didn't have a memory card in her camera, and the TV that we were pushing on a trolley across the compound had its wheels caught in the drain grill and flew off. We caught it in the nick of time. The DVD player dropped off, then flew off again when the wheels of the trolley hit one of the pieces of the ceiling on the ground. Daniel, the kid, ended up being baptized in an adult's suit that was way too big on him, and had its sleeves and pant legs rolled up. Hilarious.

Leah's baptism was next, but she had not arrived at the stated time, so we were rather worried. We had to call Julian because we were working on her baptism program, and we didn't know who was doing what. When we asked him if he knew her full name, his reply was "Shouldn't you already know that?" Good point. We realized that the font had probably been emptied, only to have our fears confirmed. I had left my keys at the office, so I had to hoist Elder Pulver over the glass pane and into the font to unlock the door. We didn't have Leah's full name, so we couldn't finish the program sheet. She finally arrived, got her name, and finished the program. When we got back over, they told us that the dress we had given her was "inconvenient," a.ka. see through, so we had to run back and get the suit that we were going to use for Alvin. Thankfully the rest of the baptism went off without a hitch. Well, I left my pants at the office so Elder Pulver had to run over and grab it right after Leah was baptized.

Alvin's baptism was good. No glitches.

Sunday morning, Leah was confirmed, except it was different from the name that I had said when I baptized her. We found out that she hadn't given her full name. So, we're back to square one. She was going to be re-baptized yesterday, but her monthly cycle is in effect, so we'll wait for a week.

We had Alvin's name right.

We went on splits in the afternoon, because the Tay's helper, Cisca, is from Indonesia, and Elder Pulver and Elder Tuckfield could do a much better job with the language. Elder Gulbrandsen and I had the opportunity to teach Gospel Principles in Ang Mo Kio because the Ward Mission Leader was sick. We went for an Expat dinner after that. I finally got to meet my BYU professor's sister in-law, whose family is living here. The food was great and the conversation was fun. Burritos!

After an appointment last night, we went back to the Church to grab some stuff, and ended up being locked in behind the big gate. We didn't have a key, so I tried to climb over first and got caught on the spokes, which hurt pretty bad. With that plan aborted, we went around and eventually found a ladder, put it against the fence, and jumped down. Miraculously, I rolled and didn't sprain or break anything!

Well, that sums up this week!

Read/listened to Elder Holland's address to BYU students entitled "Remember Lot's Wife", which is absolutely amazing. One part that stuck out to me was when he said, "I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."

We must always be looking forward in faith. Then only will we be able to conquer all that life throws at us. It is a journey to believe in.

-Elder Chua

Happy

2009-09-10T11:57:00.002+08:00

This week has been rather crazy. But, it has been a bundle of fun. We had sixteen missionaries come in this past week. We had a really fun time with that. I gave the training on Singapore, then also gave them a workshop on time management and organizational skills (not that I'm particularly good at that). It was really fun though. We had a great time getting to know them, and taking them to eat some Indian food for their first meal here.

We just had our email time restricted to one hour so I'm trying to type this as fast as possible. Anyhow, Elder Pulver has been great. He's really excited about the work, and so we've been playing off one another. Also, we have been doing well in the office. Having new policies and whatnot implemented, along with new forms.

Some of our appointments were good, and one in particular left a rather bad taste in our mouth. We met with a former investigator named John, who we met at a hawker center while he was drinking his beer. It started off well enough, but what ended up happening was him telling us how smart he was for reading the Koran, and Buddha's teachings, the Bible and other writings. It didn't seem to do much good though, he still had an apathetic view towards religion. He ended up telling us that we were close minded and rather arrogant, so we decided to bear our testimonies, but he started swearing at us, so we ditched the appointment. Sometimes that's just how it goes.

We had a setback with Alvin. He didn't come to Church, and had texted a member saying he had doubts, and wasn't sure if he could obey all the commandments. But then, he suddenly appeared at the end of the three hours and said he was good. Unfortunately, that obviously wasn't something that could happen. We sat down with him on Tuesday, his actual baptism date, and also was interviewed by President Clark because a member who knew him felt that he ought too. He got the all clear, so we're back on track!

Leah is doing amazing. She'll be baptized this Saturday! We had five investigators and Church, and we have investigators that are really starting to get excited and progress. Also, we have had a great few days contacting, finding some really wonderful people who are willing to learn about the gospel. Our appointments have been good and the members are helping us! It truly has been a joyous week. I am happy! :)

-Elder Chua

"Who I Am"

2009-09-02T13:25:00.002+08:00

It has been an interesting few days, just taking some time to think and reflect. These past few days have been rather hectic, to say the least. Being a missionary truly has been the best of times and the hardest of times.

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, we have attended the wakes of a few of our members' parents, and recently, just heard of yet another one. A day ago, I received news of a family friend also passing through the veil. Death is a very interesting concept. We are very much subject to it, in every possible way, and, to be honest, it has always frightened me. There is something about seeing a lifeless body that strikes at the heart of someone who wants to live, to see that there is nothing there. The person's spirit is gone. I suppose that I am afraid because I don't want it to happen to me, or to anyone I love anytime soon.

But, it is the message and knowledge of the gospel that brings peace to my heart, though that fear still lingers from time to time. Knowing that this life isn't all there is, is comforting in itself. To know that a loving Heavenly Father has a plan whereby families can be together forever is especially wonderful. I know that families can be together forever.

We've had a pretty decent week actually. Alvin passed his baptismal interview, so he'll be baptized next week! We're excited about that! We're still working on Leah. Unfortunately, she is having some employment issues, so we're working it out with the Bishop. She's supposed to be baptized next week, so we really hope that it works out.

Right, another bit of news. Elder Austin is being transferred to serve in Kota Kinabalu. My new companion, Elder Pulver, from Taylorsville, UT, will come in today.

Elder Austin and I gave talks in both of our wards last Sunday. I've been happy that my speech skills are getting better! Don't need to read from a paper, and no more shaking! I talked about the destiny of each of Heavenly Father's children, and likened it to each of the members, how they have to choose whether or not they want to fulfill their own destiny, since they have already chosen to come down to this Earth, and then to be members of the Church. As I was writing my talk, it really dawned on me that there is no middle ground, no "grey area", no "Sunday Christians." We have to do our best to be as the Savior each and every day of the week, to emulate His example. We also conducted a missionary workshop in Bedok Ward, showing them materials that they could use, showed them a video and a role play, which was really fun, and which I believe they very much enjoyed (judging from their laughs). It was fun.

We were watching a DVD this morning, which is put out by the Church. It helps missionaries to understand Preach My Gospel better and has good examples. What it is about are missionaries who were followed around as they did their work, and who exemplified Preach My Gospel missionaries. They were teaching a lady who was having doubts and who wasn't comfortable with being baptized just then, but as they worked together, she really has a mighty change of heart. It made me want so much to be a better missionary, to really be focusing always on teaching to help Heavenly Father's children return to him. As they proceeded on with her baptismal service, and the baptismal prayer was uttered, the words "commissioned of Jesus Christ" really stuck out in my mind. I thought deeply about that. I am "commissioned of Jesus Christ." It was a feeling that I really can't put down in words, but it made me want to be better, to be the best I can be.

Studying Preach My Gospel has been wonderful. I read and working on Chapter 8 today, "Using Time Wisely." It talked about planning well, being accountable to the Lord.

It went on to talk about really understanding our purpose as missionaries, only then will be have the desire and Spirit to know how to make effective use of our time to fulfill that purpose. It truly is measured, as is said, by an investigator's growing faith in the Savior, repenting, and "earnestly preparing' for baptism and confirmation." There is so much to learn, and as I grow in faith and testimony, I know that I will be able to feel of my Heavenly Father's love more and more.

Elder Tuckfield and I were talking about whether or not whether we should let what people think of us (as individuals) affect our emotions. I think I'm a little more sensitive, so, we talked about learning to be really emotionally independent. He too talked about his shortcomings in relation to that. Our conclusion was that we should really list down and come to know our strengths and weaknesses, know who we are, then just build from there. As such, I'm working on knowing that I truly am a I am a Son of God, and each day, I'm learning more and more about who I am.

-Elder Chua

Families

2009-08-26T12:29:00.002+08:00

So when I talk about weeks, it normally goes from Wednesday to Wednesday, since preparation days are on Wednesday. Well, the "week" didn't start of too well. We were dropped by an investigator who we met with for the first time. He had met other Elders before, but he said that he didn't want his family to be upset, so he returned the pamphlets and Book of Mormon which he said was hard to read, even though it was in Vietnamese. Slightly frustrating. Had to go to our ward mission leader's home after that without the investigator.

We had a great rest of the week though! We met up with Ahmed, our Malay investigator who is rather interested. He's a freethinker, so that's good. It's been fun teaching him because he has been exploring and studying many different religions. We met up with Leah again and had another wonderful appointment with her. She really is excited to be baptized, and so we're excited too!

Alvin is still doing good, and is set! He came to Church this past Sunday and loved it, as with Leah. We had four at Church, which was wonderful, and the Zone is at its best since last year, even with the withdrawal of missionaries.

We helped with teaching one of our member's children. She's a single Mom and wanted us to review some gospel teachings with her before her baptism in a couple of weeks. who is getting baptized in a couple of weeks. It's always sad to see that, where there isn't a complete family. The family as an institution really is under attack. Just the other day, I was contacting a man at the MRT while waiting for an investigator. The conversation was going good till I asked him if he wanted to learn more, then he went of our Church's Prop 8 stance! Was I surprised! He knew a lot about the Church, and wasn't too opposed to it. He was just rather offended since he himself had those same-gender attraction tendencies. He did give me his email, so we'll see how that goes. But, it really is sad to see the world really twisting the view of family. The First Presidency stated that "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners." We each have individual responsibilities as men and women.
Met a wonderful girl that I contacted, but unfortunately, she lives in the other Elder's area! She was very much willing to listen though. As I said before, it is amazing and a joy to find those who are sincerely seeking for happiness and truth.
Getting to know the members well, had a couple of good dinner appointments. I really like the members, they are really friendly, and some of them have really been starting to help us, so that's been great.

We've had quite a few appointments these couple of days, so we're off to a good start.

Been studying the Old Testament. Finally got through Leviticus and now in numbers. To be honest, it's been terribly boring, but I'm pushing through. I've been trying to take a break from that and reading from The Book of Mormon. Been blessed to gain so many meaningful insights.

Well, have a great week!

-Elder Chua

A Little Thinking

2009-08-19T15:04:00.004+08:00

Pretty busy week, but busy is good! This upcoming week though.. we have so much to do! Appointments… office work… planning…. Anyhow, it's been a decent week. We worked hard in the office. The Clark's were in, so that was good. But, they're off again in Hong Kong for a mission president's seminar, so we're alone here again. Still, there's no end to the work we do in the office, and I love it! The days have been going by rather fast, what with that and having all the appointments that we're finally setting up with the two areas that we are covering.

We're getting used to sitting through about 5-6 hours of Church each Sunday now. It's good in the sense that we can get investigators to two wards, and we're having a good time getting to know the members. They're friendly, so that's always good. We've been doing much better this week, as we've finally been able to settle in, but it's still a struggle to prioritize between appointments. Really working on planning well now. Since we're living right by the office now, we actually get to study at home, which means we get to focus, and we're ready and energized for the day!

We set a wonderful man named Alvin on baptism date last week, and he's really ready! He learned from the missionaries a few years ago, but got cold feet. Now, he's right on track because he's come to realize that the fullness of the gospel is found in this Church! He really is embracing the doctrine well. It is always a marvel when you find those who really are searching for the truth and recognize it. In fact, it was him who contacted us!

Leah is another investigator who is really ready for baptism. She is the helper of a member, and has been really excited for her baptism. She can't wait to be with her family forever! Her mother is already a member in the Philippines, so that is great. We're really excited for the both of them, and will continue to find those who have been prepared, as we too prepare ourselves each day to have the Spirit guiding us.

I've been studying from the Old Testament this past couple of weeks. Just finished up with Genesis and Exodus, which really have been amazing, really coming to understand the covenants that they made with the Lord in those days, and now, the covenants that we make as we become members of the Church, and, of course, the covenant that we renew each Sunday. We were talking about gifts of the Spirit in Gospel Principles. Part of that lesson entailed a short discussion of the concept of "always having His Spirit to be with us." It really gave me the opportunity to think about the sacrament. It's just been too trivial from me from time to time. But, I guess I'm learning bit by bit to link the Atonement with the Sacrament in a very real sense, knowing that it is something that we really are supposed to be thinking about, and remembering that it was something very real and sacred, that remembering it helps us to understand how the Lord "makes weak things become strong." I've really been impressed by the women of the Old Testament, namely Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel . Their obedience to the Lord was so admired, that the Lord commanded Abraham that "in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice."

Well, we're going to continue on in all that we do. Some days, it really is hard, but we continue to do our best.

"The Best is Yet to Be!"

Abraham's Blessings

2009-08-12T12:19:00.003+08:00

I was just thinking about how yesterday was supposed to have been my two year mark. I was supposed to have been home now, and getting ready to go to school. But, life always is unexpected, isn't it? I have thought a few times as to whether or not I would have preferred ending now, or whether that year at BYU was well worth it. Though my grades definitely don't show it, I am very grateful for the opporunities afforded to me these past few years, especially those months at the Y. I loved it. I really do think that everything has happened for a reason, and that Heavenly Father had a hand in that.

We've had a pretty normal week, to be honest, it was rather hard and uneventful. We've been working to make sure we're keeping everything up to date in the office, and also trying to cover two wards/areas at the same time. It hasn't helped that I came down with bronchitis.

We went to a Bedok Ward activity on Saturday, which was really fun! The members are great and really like the missionaries. Hopefully we stay there for awhile. Their ward had been white-washed so many times, and they don't really know what's going on. We have a good ward mission leader, Brother Sakamoto, and he really does his best to help us out. It was fun to get to meet the members because some of them know my Mom – she was in that ward years ago, and they remember her well.

Sunday was rather crazy because we had to go to Bedok in the morning, then had to rush over to Ang Mo Kio in the afternoon. There's a half hour gap between the ward's meeting times, so it's definitely a rush, and we have to try and figure out lunch too. One of the members brought a colleague, so that was great! After that, we went back to the office to do some work, then headed over to a member's home for dinner.

We've been setting quite a few appointments, but no one has actually been meeting with us! They either have been canceling or not turning up, so it has been rather discouraging. We're really trying to work on building our areas up. The office has been really busy, what with missionaries going home, and some new policies and paperwork that had been implemented. We also have seventeen missionaries coming in this month, so we're working on the orientation for them. I'm really learning to be a better organizer and planner now. Messes are not good in any work place! I really wish that I was a better planner. Oh well, we improve as we go along huh? Poor Elder Austin isn't the biggest fan of the office. He's a great missionary, and very smart too, so the paper work in the office isn't his favorite thing in the world. Trying to figure out what to do/say.

I was having a rather hard day yesterday. Too much to do, and the Elders just weren't participating or listening in District Meeting. I was training on obedience, and they weren't excited at all. I thought it was alright. At least I learned for myself how I can, should, and must be more obedient to receive the blessings of the seed of Abraham. Took a great section out of Elder Bednar's talk "Becoming A Missionary" that really discussed that responsibility, and the blessings associated with it. Anyhow, the meeting ended, and I was just really blue. Went through the mail, not expecting anything (since no one has written in three or four months), and had the surprise of my life. One of my friends who's doing a term in Mexico had sent a postcard, and the missionary who baptized me, and his wife, had sent a package. It really made my day, just knowing that someone actually cared. I really am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who watches out and cares for his children.

Hopefully our appointments work out the rest of the week. It really is that hope we have to cling on to. It's hard, but we'll pull through.

I've been studying the Old Testament this past week, and of course read through the story of Abraham's sacrifice of Issac. It really gave me a boost to see the level of obedience that Abraham operated at, the sacrifice he was willing to make, and what it represented. I really haven't been focused enough on the Savior this past week. I've been studying, but not remembering the Savior's life at all. I guess I've been looking at all the small parts, but not the big picture. Well, that's going to change! The blessings promised to Abraham are promised to us also. We have to work for it and be worthy, but it's well worth it!

Hope that you are all having a great end to your summer!

-Elder Chua

Anew

2009-08-05T15:11:00.002+08:00

It has been a hectic week, what with switching wards, apartments, and absorbing a new area. But, it has been fun. We ended up having a few appointments towards the end of the week, where we said goodbye to ourinvestigators. We also went on exchanges with the Elders taking over our area, and went to the Sisters area so that we could have a smooth transition. Taking Bedok Ward has been good because the missionaries left us a solid area. We will also have Ang Mo Kio under our charge. The problem is that we have to manage the office too, and so we're working on juggling all three. It is a challenge, but I must admit, it's tremendously fun! We're busy, and I like that! It will be really fun to kick start everything!

We met up with Velmurugan Friday night, just to see how he was doing and to say goodbye. Had a really good meeting with him. I've said before but I'll say it again. We had a wonderful discussion and Book of Mormon reading. He'll be alright. Saw Phoenix and Pan also. I hope she gets baptized.

Packing and unpacking has been rather busy. We had to clean the Pasir Panjang house which is really big. There was dirt in places where we didn't expect it.

Met a couple ward members this week, we'll be meeting more as the week goes on. Starting to get sick, so I'll be watching out for my health!

Hope that ya'll have a great week!

-Elder Chua

"For Such A Time As This"

2009-07-29T13:46:00.003+08:00

We received some hate mail yesterday. We’re popular.

So I was going through the mail that had come for the day, and saw a letter addressed to the Church. I opened in, and was rather appalled by what I read. Apparently, we are “devils in disguise”, that we are allowed in Singapore because the government here are “lackeys” to western countries, and to the Babylon of the world, America. Also, worship a false Jesus Christ.

To be honest, I was rather upset about it, but as we walked back from buying lunch, Elder Austin and I just talked about how we just can’t let it get to us. The thing is, we know that we’re right (please forgive what might seem to be pride or arrogance), but everyone else thinks they’re right, and we’re dead WRONG. So, how is it that all of us “know” that what we believe is true?

Later on in the evening, we were teaching one of my high school acquaintances. She asked how we could know that it was true just by praying, since everyone prayed too. We explained to her that our claim really is unique, that we believe in the Restoration of the gospel, and really explained that concept of priesthood authority. She accepted the answer, and pondered on it a bit. I went on to say to her” What we’re sharing is either a 100% true or a 100% false. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. If it is, Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God called to restore Jesus Christ’s Church on this Earth today. If it is false, then me, and Elder Austin, and a lot more people are really being mislead. But, if it is true, then the message we are sharing tonight is the greatest message that all should hear.”

As I said those words to her, I felt a calm feeling come over me. It wasn’t anything overwhelming, but rather a sense of peace of knowing that what I was doing and saying was alright. It was a very light but solid assurance from a loving Heavenly Father.

Life goes on.

We had a few surprises this past week. For one thing, L.G. , our wonderful investigator who we set a baptism date with, didn’t come to Church! When we called him, he didn’t sound too penitent about it either. On another note, we found out that Steven, our other investigator on baptism date, is being held in remand by the police for fighting. The thing is, he’s got to be in his 60s. What a world. We love him still, and we’re trying to figure out how we can just say hello to him. The others, as I mentioned last week, continue to take those little steps of progression or regression, depending on their level of interest and love for the gospel.

Raja! Remember him? He was an investigator Elder Palfreyman and I had about six months ago who seemed to be right on track for baptism, but who then disappeared off the face of the… Clementi area. We got a hold of him and had the opportunity to meet him again. He seemed genuinely happy to see us. He asked us about reconciling his long-held belief in the Catholic Church with what we’re teaching him now. We explained that what we were doing was to add on to the good that he already had, not to take away from it at all.

Elder Neil went home this week. Boy, I am getting older in the mission! All these missionaries whom I know really well are heading home!

I’ll be returning to BYU Summer 2010! Go Cougars!

So, big news! I’m being transferred! Well, Elder Austin and I are being transferred to cover Ang Mo Kio and Bedok Ward, while still staying in the office. We’ll be moving houses, to an apartment much closer to the office, so that’ll be good. The sisters are being moved out to East Malaysia, along with a couple other transfers. Just not enough missionaries right now. Just waiting for the eighteen missionaries coming in August! Seven months in the ward! I sure will miss it. Six months and twenty-eight days in my first area. Yet another adventure!

District Training went well. My lesson was based on Esther 4:11-14, and entitled, "For Such A Time As This." Essentially, I talked about how we had been prepared for so long, and how we needed to fulfill our destiny. If you ever want to look at any of the trainings, let me know. He's a part of a talk that I used by President Benson, titled "In His Steps."

For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not. True, there will be some individuals who will fall away; but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its head--even Jesus Christ. While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God.

Have a wonderful week!

-Elder Chua

"Imagine What God Can Do With You"

2009-07-22T12:04:00.003+08:00

We had Zone Conference this past week, so that is always good! President Clark gave a wonderful training. He talked about the understanding we need to have that God has a purpose for each of us. The slides that he showed us had single sheets of paper used to create marvelous things. It was really interesting and inspiring. He talked about the simple things that we see in life, of what humans can do, and then posed the question, "Can you imagine what God can do with you?" He read John 6:9-13 where the Savior turned five loaves of bread and two small fishes into food that fed five thousand, and again asked, "Imagine what God can do with you?" All things are possible with God, he expounded, talking about how we are here to change lives one at a time, to really see them as people, and not as numbers. It is true that sometimes we are too focused on numbers, and I try each day to really focus more on the people themselves. Along with that, he spoke of the trials that we will face, but, if we endure, we will be able to be the best we can be. As he quoted the maxim, "The roughest seas make the greatest captains."

Our investigators continue to progress in their own ways and in their own realms. They have their setbacks, but so do we. In the end, all we're doing is trying our best, isn't it? We try our best to work past our imperfections, refining ourselves through our trials and shortcomings. I suppose that when it all boils down to a truth, we are who we make ourselves to be, our attitudes, our thoughts, our actions.

We had a good weekly planning session on Saturday. We needed it. Life really doesn't go without a good plan on the outset. I've learned that well.

To be honest, it's been a hard couple of weeks. Not so much that the week has been hard, but rather, I've just been physically exhausted. I just have to take it a little slower and relax just a bit more, I suppose. My district's been commenting about how tense I am. Ah, it'll work out. Just need to take a breather, I suppose.

We did meet up with a really great university student named L.G. He's studying life sciences at NUS, and he really listened to the message of the Restoration. It's a joy when you find those people who want to listen. No matter how hard it is, each ounce of effort that I pit in, I know, is an investment in the true joy of life, even Jesus Christ.

-Elder Chua

Bah!

2009-07-16T13:39:00.003+08:00

Well, I have a new companion, Elder Austin from all over Utah County, Utah. He's a way cool guy, and has alredy graduated from college witrh a degree in history. Here's the kicker, he's only 20.

It's been pretty noisy in the office this week, what with five Elders going home, including Elder Palfreyman, my former companion. When we first became companions, he still had more than six months, which seemed like a forever away. But, he's home now! Last week was pretty quiet, because the Clark's and the Assistants were away, so we got quite a lot of work done. These past few days really have been rather hectic, so our areas going crazy too. It's all day preparation day today, since we have Zone Conference tomorrow.

They re-districtized the Zone, so now I have the Bedok Ward Sisters in my district. It's funny reporting with them.

President Clark is really great. He's a nice man, and he'll continue doing a great job, I'm sure of it. These past few weeks have really just gone by in a flash. I don't really know where it has gone. We're teaching a couple of good investigators, but we really have to work on rebuilding our teaching pool again.

We've been teaching Maria, an Indonesian lady whom Elder Wheelwright contacted on his first day here. She's absolutely amazing. She really loves the gospel. She's been Roman Catholic and Anglican before, and she really liked them, but she says that what we have been teaching really conforms with the Bible, and she really loves the doctrines which we teach, because they make so much sense. Talk about someone who has been absolutely prepared for the gospel She even came out with us on Sunday to do some finding! The only problem she has is that she thinks her boss will fire her if she goes to our Church because he is from another denomination and wouldn't approve. It is so sad that people can be controlled like that in today's world. Wealth disparity does not equate to virtual slavery.

We met up with Theodore, working with him, helping him to understand the pre-Earth life.

Met a few other people.

My studies have been going downhill because we have had so much to do, and it is rather frustrating, so we're really going to have to plan better. I have really come to understand how essential planning is to all that we do, both in missionary work, and in life itself.

-Elder Chua