FOR THOSE WHO ONLY GET THAT A COUPLE TIMES THEIR WHOLE MISSION, IT WAS PRETTY SPECIAL TO ME.

Hey, so we've been progressing with our deaf investigator, Sister C., and we had an awesome lesson with her last Saturday. We had been looking, for over a month, to find a restoration movie with Chinese subtitles, but they don't exist... The church already translated the restoration movie into Chinese, so there are no subtitles... kind of a problem if your investigator is deaf. So, we got together with Brother Tang, who is awesome. We asked him if he could translate the whole movie, while it was playing, for her into sign language... he said it would be really hard, but he would try. The reason we've wanted to do it so badly is cuz she works really well with visual aids (which isn't surprising) and we just weren't sure how solid her testimony or even knowledge of the restoration really was, cuz it's the first lesson so we taught it a long time ago and were just getting to know her, how to teach her, translation and all that stuff. We knew she had a strong testimony in Christ but we were pretty sure if we were missionaries from any other Christian church who had members that could translate into sign language she would come.. so we really wanted to have her watch the restoration DVD cuz it's awesome. So, anyways, he said he would do his best. We started out kind of rough and throughout the movie we had to pause, so he could catch up. She seemed really interested and was paying attention. At the end we felt a prompting to watch a short Mormon message, (this one did have subtitles luckily) it was the Elder Holland testimony of the Book of Mormon, one of the most powerful testimonies ever recorded, in my opinion, and a great Mormon message. I invite all to watch it and every other Mormon message, they are awesome! Anyways, we watched that because the Restoration DVD doesn't really explain the Book of Mormon in detail, and it doesn't say what happened to Joseph Smith. We watched that and afterwards bore a simple sign language testimony. Then she started to try and explain what she felt in sign language, but she couldn't really express it all. She started to cry and then told us that she understands more now about the importance of the Book of Mormon. She has been reading it and has told us she feels good when she reads it, but now she understands why. It was the first time that has ever happened on my mission. Though it may not seem like a big deal to some, for those who only get that a couple times their whole mission, it was pretty special to me. Anyways, it was a good lesson.

We are going to teach a lesson today, on p-day, because an investigator is leaving town for the New year and will be in China until the 8th of February. We want to see her before she leaves. She's come a long way, before she was a strong Buddhist, but she believes in Christ now, we are just working a baptismal date... she says she wants to learn more fist before committing to anything. We haven't taught the Word of Wisdom yet, which can kill investigators.. not drinking tea here is like not eating rice.. every restaurant instead of bringing out water first like they do in America, they bring out tea... so pray for her please, her name is Sister H. We also are going to a new years festival thing in Victoria park with another investigator. Chinese New Year is in full swing, it's pretty cool to see.

  

 

 

 

Last Monday we were also able to go on a hike which was really fun and also really hard. I'll send some pics, I sent some to Chase, too. It kicked my butt man.. I'm so out of shape, haha. There was one section that was 1,000 step stairs. We definitely underestimated what that entailed, haha Anyways, keep the faith, never quit, and just keep swimming.

Love you,
 

Elder Jay
麥長老

Victoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of the Hong Kong island.

 



 

I SUBMIT THAT HONG KONG, BECAUSE OF ALL THE POLLUTION, HAS SOME OF THE PRETTIEST SUNSETS OVER THE OCEAN

If nothing else I submit that Hong Kong, because of all the pollution, has some of the prettiest sunsets over the ocean.

My comp eating the neck of some kind of bird, I forgot which kind, but i think it's goose, or turkey...

Hey! So, I'm doing ok. Christmas was good. Yeah, the members gave us a lot of food on the Sunday before Christmas, so that was cool. Ummm, yeah they celebrate it [Christmas], but it's not as big as Chinese New Years (Feb 1). It's kind of like Thanksgiving and Christmas in the states. In China, Christmas is like how we celebrate Thanksgiving here, and their Chinese New Year is how big Christmas is in the states... I don't know if that made sense.. Most people don't know the reason for Christmas, but it's a good opportunity to bring it up; nice conversation starter. They do have some beautiful lights, though. Down in TST they have a light show on all the skyscrapers, it's cool. 

My investigators are doing well. Some are progressing better than others. We found a new investigator who had met with missionaries a long time ago and was willing to come to church, so we're hoping he will continue to progress. A-wayne still hasn't accepted a baptismal date but is coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon. Finding here in Aberdeen is better than in Kam Tin. We normally at the least can talk to people, even if they aren't interested. We normally walk up and down the prominon, just along the coast of this park by our house. People are more free and relaxed, more willing to talk. We have good days and bad days. We went for 6 hours the other day and didn't get anything but yelled at a couple times which isn't super fun. But other times we've found new investigators. 

Haha my apartment... it's a little smaller than the one in Kam Tin, but there are only 4 of us instead of 6. It's about the size of the living room at home, not including the kitchen or anything, just the room where the TV is, haha. I see pictures of my house back home and wonder how I ever had so much room... We could have a whole zone live in our house! The cool part is we live right on top of a grocery store and everything is way closer on the island than in the new t's. Before, we had to go to two different areas outside our own area to buy groceries and email, which took forever. 

The weather is good, hasn't really been raining but cloudy most of the time. Not super cold, but for some reason, I think cuz it's a wet cold, my bones are just always cold, haha. But I like it better than the summer. I remember the summer weather and am not looking forward to it... my language is improving.. still frustratingly slow. I don't know if I'll ever be really comfortable with it. There are few missionaries who actually go home who are completely comfortable in any situation with their Chinese. This isn't like a Spanish mission where after 6 months you're good to go.. but I plan on being one of those missionaries who has "waht gei" (dominating) Chinese by the time I get back. 

English class is ok. Sometimes we get up to like 7-8 people and other weeks it's like 2.. other areas in the mission are pulling like 20 people a week, so we gotta step it up.. Our Asia area presidency's wife, Sister Wong, has been working on a new curriculum that should be released in the next little bit, so we're excited. We also just found out that we are going to the duel language name badges. The only mission in the world with two languages on the badge. It will have both English and Chinese, so that will be cool. Well, that's awesome Brandon is a Deacon! Sounds like everything is going ok. Thank you for keeping me posted and sending pictures, it means a lot. Love you guys, keep the faith, never quit.

Love, Elder Mahk.

CHINESE SIGN LANGUAGE, SACRAMENT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK & WAKING UP ONE MORNING...BOOM...POPO!

Cool skyscraper in Central

Wow, that's a lot going on, but it sounds like the same stuff that was going on before I left, haha. I've been praying for Kelly. We went to the temple today, and I put her name on the prayer roll, too, so hopefully those prayers reach it to the other side of the world. That stinks you couldn't ski. The Hobbit looks good, though. I live with a kid who loves all the Lord of the Rings stuff. We saw an ad for it on a bus, and he got a little trunky, haha. The temple was cool, though. The session this time was in English, but we had people from Mongolia and Thailand there. They get translations though, so they were fine. I did a name for the Thai guy. It was pretty cool. I saw the greenhouse, that looks pretty cool, and now a chicken coop, wow! You'll have a farm by the time I get back. Yeah, sorry I didn't write much last week. I'm sorry I don't have super cool crazy deep amazon conversion stories... Most of my days are spent walking around trying to find people to teach. I don't know why so many people are reading the blog. Kelly must be adding some cool stuff after I write, haha. 

One of our investigators, though, who we're hoping will get baptized on the 16th of February is doing really well. She's the one I was telling you about who is deaf. It's been hard to teach her, but she is awesome. Really suuuuper smart. She knows sign language in like 4 different countries. She's been teaching us Chinese sign language which I'm sure will be super useful when I get back, haha. I can say a prayer though, and teach most of a lesson in sign language, it's not too bad. 

She said last week that when she reads the Book of Mormon she gets a really good feeling which was awesome. That's the first time I've heard that from an investigator. Most people are either too lazy to read the Book of Mormon or afraid cuz they think it's the devils door book. (bad translation..) She is always super happy which inspires me. She told us that she could hear fine up until she turned 3 years old, then she had some kind of bad fever and could never hear again. She's been divorced and has been left to raise two kids by herself.. she told us that at one point she was thinking of suicide, which I would have never thought coming from her cuz she's so happy. It's pretty awesome to be involved in the conversion. Well, not really her conversion, she was already converted. Super prepared. And the way that we found her was completely the Lord's work. We got fonged (like stiffed, or dropped or canceled on, I can't remember what you call it) one day and decided to just try and find in the area, and we ran into her but couldn't communicate, so we just gave her a flyer and forgot about it. Then three weeks later she showed up to a missionary fireside that a member, who was her kids teacher, invited her to and we met her again. Since then she's been golden. Even bringing one of her friends to meet with us on Saturday, who is also deaf. We're working with a deaf less active too, so we've decided to just be sign language missionaries from now on, haha. Anyways, it's been a miracle. 

Wanchai LDS Chapel

Oh, so before I forget, I want to thank all those who sent me a card or gift on Christmas. It means a lot thank you. Kelly, I got your package today thanks, haha, it's awesome. We also went on district leader, zone leader exchanges a couple weeks ago, and I was able to work with Elder Grosbeck from Orem, Utah. He's way big into skiing, so we got along really well. But we also were able to do something pretty cool. We have an International branch in Wanchai where a lot of the Filipinos go, but they are mostly all maids, and a lot of them don't have Sunday off. So, in that branch they have sacrament every day of the week. We were able to bless and pass the sacrament on Saturday which I thought was cool. 

We also tracted into an awesome little Buddha shrine the other day. We were walking in this park that follows the coast, watching the huge shipping liners pass, and I saw a couple Buddha statues which I thought were cool, then a little further some more and a little further, and I realized there had to be thousands of them. It was pretty cool. They have temples all over that are always burning stuff, so I recognized the smell before I saw the temple, but this one was different. It was cool. I took pictures I can try and send them. Then right afterwards, we were in the exercise place of the park, and there were a bunch of old people just kinda sitting around (which is basically EVERYWHERE in Hong Kong)... I'm convinced there are more people over the age of 80 in Hong Kong per square foot than on any other place on the planet! They are super healthy. It's hard to tell their age cuz Asians look like they're 12 years old even when they're

like 40 until one morning they wake up and BOOOM. PoPo.. (grandma) haha, and they look 143 years old. It's funny cuz to call an old lady a PoPo is a sign of respect.. and they love it when you try and guess their age, and then they tell you.. I'm not sure why, but they are really proud of how old they are, haha. Anyways, we were in the exercise section of this park and this old Gung Gung (grandpa) limps up to the pull up bar and just stares at it for a second... and I'm like.. ok. gotta see what's going on here.. so then he busts out like 12 solid real pullups, gets down, and limps away... Hahaha I thought it was pretty awesome. Reminded me of Grandpa Mikesell. He wasn't interested, but a nice guy. Well, I hope that everything stays good at home. I love you all. Keep the faith. Never give up. 

Love,

Elder Mahk

麥長老

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!

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, PROGRESSING INVESTIGATORS & MORE DINNER APPOINTMENTS!

Happy Thanksgiving!! This week was good. We had some success in the progress of our investigators which I'm really excited about. We get a lot more dinner appointments here than in Yeun Long, that's for sure. My new companion is from TST, in Kowloon. He's really cool and a really good basketball player. We play every morning. He's funny cuz he's a little younger than me, about 4 months out, and says he doesn't like serving in Hong Kong. He wanted to go somewhere new. I kind of feel for him. We went to the mission office the other day and the bus drove right by his house... that has to be really weird. 


My new apartment is super small! But there are only 4 elders instead of 6. I'm living with an elder that I came with, Elder Martinez, who is awesome, I love the kid. His companion, Elder Au, who is also from Hong Kong, is a good friend of mine too cuz we lived together up in the New Territories. Sometimes I miss the bikes, but taking the boat is really fun, and the view from some of the places we walk around is absolutely beautiful, the ocean with all the islands. There are a ton of small islands that surround Hong Kong island itself, but they are all super hilly, basically huge mountains that spring up out of the ocean. Hong Kong island is like that too, so they drilled a tunnel underneath the middle to get from one side to the other. Most all of the city is on the outer edges. 

Snow sounds awesome!! Hope you get a ton this year. I want to try and get my job back at Eagle Point when I get home, so it can't close down while I'm away!! Haha. Most everyone here has never seen snow... weird thought. It's really really nice weather right now. Probably in the low 70's, I don't know for sure cuz everything is in Celsius, haha. I'm thinking about sending a box home of some stuff I don't need. If I put it on a boat it will get there in 3 months, but I don't care, haha. I'll have to see how much it costs. I need to slim down. 

 

Wanchai Meetinghouse LDS Chapel

Today we helped an awesome member move. He is going back to Wales.  came into contact with the church here in Hong Kong, actually. He walked into the Wanchai chapel cuz he thought it was a museum and was taught his first discussion there! Super golden. That building, the Wanchai chapel is massive, and the second most expensive building the church owns, right after the conference center, haha. Well I'll keep you posted on how things are going here, sorry I got on so late, we were helping Peter move, and he lives on Lamma Island, so it was quite an ordeal, haha. Well, hope to talk to you next week! He is actually taking us out for lunch next Monday. Love you all! Keep the faith. Never quit.

Love, 麥長老