Baptism! - 37th email from Hong kong

Today's headlines:

Hurray! K was baptized!

Interviews with President Van Dam, and a question about the Book of Mormon.

A new Bishopric for the Tai Po Ward.

The June Liahona and the very accurate account of Hong Kong within.

So, yes, K was baptized. It was a really wonderful service. Normally Hong Kong baptisms are a little chaotic, but this was very peaceful and special - although I felt somewhat run ragged. K, being an amazing not-yet-member missionary, had invited 12 or 13 friends to his baptism, including his little sister, his aunt and his cousin. So I tried desperately to keep them entertained as we arranged everything, at the same time as helping Elder Sharp and K change into white clothes and trying to negotiate with the Ward Mission leader and member of the Bishopric over DVDs to watch while they got changed afterwards, where everyone was and what the plan for the service was. But things worked out just fine, and the room was full to overflowing by the time we began. I gave the first talk, without actually having prepared anything - I knew I wanted to share 2 Nephi 31:20, but didn't have any other real plans. The Lord filled my mouth with words, and I told K and others in attendance of the importance of baptism and returning to God's presence, of the commitment he was making and how the Lord promised to keep and protect him, and about how after baptism he must endure to the end to receive these blessings.

Then it was time for the baptism. Elder Sharp helped K into the font and baptised him. It was that simple.

After some words from the member of the Bishopric presiding, K shared his testimony - he was a little nervous, so had made some notes! Ever the well prepared member. He shared a few scriptures about happiness and talked of how he wanted his family to have these same blessings - it was a wonderful testimony, full of the missionary spirit we've seen so much from him.

From pretty much the first moment we met him, I felt that he was a special soul. I could almost see his life unfolding before him, as he grows in the church. He's made his first few steps towards eternity.

Interviews with President Van Dam were on Tuesday, and we were asked to prepare to talk about a Book of Mormon character who has influenced us. I picked one of my favourite characters - Zeezrom. I love reading the story of how such a hardened, "knowledgeable" lawyer is confounded by the Spirit and brought to repentance. He may not be a particularly famous character, but Alma takes him with them to preach to the Zoramites in his team of big hitters, like Ammon and Aaron, and Amulek - I imagine he was a very persuasive teacher of the truth after his conversion.

The interview was actually the best I think I've ever had with President Van Dam. I really enjoyed it. He did confirm what I had expected though, I talked a little about the upcoming need to choose a University, and he told me he'd rather you all arrange things as best you can, and I only get involved if necessary - he's even not too thrilled at the idea of a phone call to talk to Leeds if it's necessary.

He said something very interesting by way of explanation - he told me, as I already knew, that he himself is a businessman. He owns his own company, but for the time he serves now, he's put these things as far out of his mind as possible and trusts others to take care of things, so that he can focus on serving the Lord. I know President Van Dam would never expect us to do anything that he himself would not do, and I agree that these two years should belong to God, with as few distractions as possible.

It's good to hear that things seem to be coming together at your end in that respect - thank you so much for doing all of this for me. And it's good to know that there are some good places to study things like Animation in England too. I shall have to look at prospectuses before I can make my mind up, though, of course. Thank you again for all of this.

The June Liahona is certainly a wonderful issue. I really enjoyed the article on finding time in Hong Kong - I actually know one of the people in the article, Dick. He's really good friends with Elder Walgren, so I saw him a fair bit when we served together. I like a quote in there that we wish we could stress to people here more - if you can find time to watch TV, you can find time to read your scriptures. Very, very true. The more time I spend out here away from such home comforts as televisions, the more I suspect that Dad may have been right all along after all - televisions are not all that necessary, and kind of get in the way.

My future wife's going to LOVE that... :P

The new bishopric in Tai Po is pretty astounding - we now have Bishop Kuen Tony Ling - if you relisten to the first session of General Conference, you will hear his name as one of the Elders recently released as an Area Seventy. It's amazing how well everything fits together - the Stake President here, Elder Wong, took his place as a Seventy, we got a new Stake President, and now the old Tai Po Bishop is moving to America, so Bishop Ling has been called in his place. It all fits perfectly.

A little random story for you - once in a Seminary Super Saturday, Murray asked a question of Mark Price - he asked "How many generations does the book of Matthew list of Christ's genealogy?" I was at that time in the habit of saying "42" for every question I didn't know the answer to. Imagine my surprise then, to discover I was right this time! So I already knew about that little piece of trivia - but considering Adam's strong atheist view point, any reference to Jesus was completely subconscious, and I just think it's a coincidence.

I'm sure it will be good for Beth to move on. I'd been expecting that for a while now, so it's not too big of a shock - the Celcius place is pretty nice, isn't it? I'm sure it'll be good for the two of them and the family in general - and I guess that means there will be a place for me to sleep when I come home - you could, though, consider moving to a smaller house now, though. Especially if you need to watch the food bill as it rises up and up... :P

I love you all and hope Jessica gets better and Tim keeps growing spiritually as well as vertically (and possibly horizontally...).

Love,

Elder Matthew Loffhagen

羅 長 老

PS Jess, please tell the Laurels thank you for the wonderful package I just got. It was very nice :)