MERRY CHRISTMAS, SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES & "UP IN THE BONES KIND OF COLD"

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are having a good time! It's actually been pretty cold here, and it's a wet cold from the ocean, so it's up in the bones kind of cold, haha. We've been doing well though, and I have had a lot of good service opportunities - it being Christmas and all. Last Saturday we were able to go to a home for people with special needs. The Spirit was really strong, they are the nicest people I've ever met in Hong Kong. I remember looking around and then telling Elder Martinez, "Do you realize that there are probably more people in this room going to the Celestial kingdom than in all of the rest of Hong Kong combined?!" Haha, but for real. 

We also had our ward Christmas party which was good, we had quite a few investigators show up which was awesome. The members gave us a ton of food which was nice. We also have the Mandarin sisters in our district now which is cool. Well, I hope you all have a good Christmas, go watch the Christmas Mormon message, it's pretty cool. Love you all. Keep the faith, never give up.

Love Elder Mikesell 

ENGLISH CLASS & EATING AT JUMBO

 

December 15, 2013

 

English class is doing ok. We haven't had a lot of people show up lately, but last week we did have quite a few, so it was good. We normally have about maybe 6-10 on a really good day. Right now it's only once a week. If we have more people come we might split to two days a week, but we don't right now. Most Chinese people speak a little bit of English, just cuz they take it in school like Americans take Spanish, but some are way better than others. So, that is kind of a challenge teaching such a wide range of people. We normally try and speak English the whole time, but sometimes I'll use Chinese to explain something for a little bit. 

Cha Sui (BBQ Pork)

Jumbo was really cool. I sent you a post card, hope you get it. The food was good, the cha siu faan was the best along with the flat noodles with beef. Those are my favorite. It was good, but overpriced, I'm glad I didn't have to pay, haha. Wow that is cold. It's been really cold and rainy here too. I busted out the sweater vest for the first time today, haha. Wow that's awesome Alec's an elder. I sent him a letter last week. It was really late coming. Hope you guys have a good time in Beaver! Is there snow up there? Is the resort open yet? Love you all, I pray for you everyday. Keep the faith. Never give up.

 

Love, Jay

Q&A WITH ELDER MIKESELL...

Question:
How is your new area? Anything cool or interesting about it? How is your companion? 

Answer:
My comp is cool. He's from TST, so not too far away from where we serve, but then again, nowhere is too far.

Question:
Can't believe you've been in China for 6 months! Does it feel like it?

Answer:
Yeah, 6 months, it's felt like 6 years! Haha!

Question:
Where did you go for lunch today?

Answer:
We haven't gone yet. P (this Welsh guy who is awesome) is taking us to a place called Jumbo. It's a floating restaurant between two islands. I've never been, but I see tourists go all the time.

Question:
Very cool! Take pictures, so we can put them on the blog. How are you?

Answer:
Okay, I will for sure! 

Question:
Do you and your companion cover more than one island? Is that why you take a boat every morning?

Answer:
Yeah, actually we live on a small island. We cover part of the southern part of Hong Kong island and Lama island, which we don't go to very often because it takes like 30 minutes to get out there. 

Question:
Do you have any solid investigators right now or potential investigators? 

Answer:
Yeah, we have a few good investigators. We found a guy named Mr. Law, he's great. Really humble mechanic. Been to church twice and brought his daughter to English class. Also working with a lady name HJ whose older sister just died on Thursday, so she's having a really hard time. Please pray for her if you can.

Question:
That sounds terrific that you have a couple good investigators. For the sister whose older sister has died, her heart will be open to the message of eternal families. Sometimes the Lord uses that window to get that message across. I can remember, I think it was your first letter about your new area where you had met someone and invited them and they came, is that the mechanic? Sounds like a great guy. We'll definitely pray for both of them. 


Answer:
Yeah, we are hoping to teach her the plan of salvation if we can see her again. Yeah that's the guy, he's way cool. Really hoping we can introduce the gospel to his family.

Question:
How do you feel about your ability to speak the language?

Answer: 
Yeah, the language... still really frustrating. I usually know what people are talking about but not the details. I, myself, can normally get across what I want to say, but it's slow and really jumbled. I know the grammar is wrong a lot of the time. My companion is really patient with me. The problem is, he wants to speak English to improve, but I don't want him to, haha. 


Question:
Are you allowed to tract in Hong Kong, or do you just mostly street contact people?

Answer:
In some places you can. The older chyuns or villages you can go door to door, but there isn't as much of that on the island as there was in the New Territories. People live in huge apartment buildings, and you can't go inside and go door to door, so we are on the street most of the time.

Question: 
How are you received in Aberdeen? Same as Kam Tin? Does everyone have ear phones in staring at an electronic device or laugh at you?

Answer:

Like while finding? No, it's not as bad. Sometimes we get yelled at and cussed at, but most of the time, we just get ignored. Sometimes we can talk with people. They don't laugh at my Chinese. Most of them don't believe I've been in Hong Kong for 6 months, but an hour of language study everyday and constantly speaking Chinese will do that. Obviously, most of all it's the Lord's blessing.

WE LOVE YOU! GOOD LUCK THIS WEEK AND HAVE FUN AT JUMBO KINGDOM AND TAKE LOTS OF PICS AND EAT LOTS OF WEIRD FOOD TO TELL US ABOUT NEXT WEEK!