Elder Rasband, Chinese Opera, and Progressing Investigators - 36th email from Hong Kong

Hi all,

Some big things happened this week - but before I get to all of them, I must let you know that I've not received any shirts. So hopefully they'll come soon, but I haven't seen anything yet.

Yesterday was an exceptional day. We went to Wan Chai, the huge chapel on Hong Kong island, which is also the Asia Area Office, to a meeting with Elder Ronald A Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy. I've still not figured out if his correct title is "Elder" or "President", but everyone else was calling him "Elder".

I was there somewhat early, because of the choir - we practised a little, but not all that much because Elder Volk decided that we all sounded pretty much perfect anyway. I guess he couldn't hear me very clearly.

I therefore had time to go up a few floors to where all of the missionaries were eating lunch - including the new missionaries who had just got off the plane. They're going to have an interesting experience as trainees - all of the trainers this moves are either from my group or my older group: Elder Volk, Elder West, Elder Weagel and Elder Williams are all from my group, and Elder Hardy and Elder Pittman are my older group - I was thrilled for all of my friends having the big responsibility of training, and several of them are District Leaders as well. It's wonderful to see them grow and take on new responsibilities.

The meeting started, and Elder Rasband entered the room alongside our entire Area Presidency; Elder Garns, Elder Hallstrom and Elder Perkins, all of whom are members of the First and Second Quorum of the Seventy. As Elder Rasband began the meeting, he said that because of the large number of General Authorities in the room, he wanted to be able to get everyone involved, and had decided that we were going to have a Question and Answer session, and would give the Area Presidency there opportunities to answer questions as well.

Several other Elders pointed out to me afterwards that they were in no way surprised that I was the first Elder with his hand up to ask a question; before Elder Rasband had even finished speaking. :)

I stood and asked a question I'd been wondering about the night before, about K. He'd told me that a lot of his friends and family oppose him joining the Church - they tell him such typical misconceptions as "They're not Christian", bla bla bla. Kelvin told me he was a little confused, and that he didn't want to have to choose between his friends and family, and the Church. While I did the best I could to explain how we need to be strong and stand up to peer pressure, I wanted a General Authority's spin on the subject.

Elder Rasband spoke about how Missionaries are to find the elect, and to cut through layers of "blindness", quoting D&C 123:12 - many are kept from the truth "only because they know not where to find it" and are "blinded by the subtle craftiness of men". As missionaries, we need to "waste and wear out our lives" in bringing prepared souls unto Christ. He then had Elder Sharp and I stand up. He looked us both straight in the eyes and told us that there was a reason that we are Kelvin's missionaries. We are responsible to teach him and help him overcome his trials. It was an incredible experience that I don't think I'll easily forget.

He spoke on many other subjects as he and the others answered other Missionaries' questions, and finally in closing, he told us that he wanted to shake all of our hands. He told us that this showed just how close we were to the President of the Church - Elder Rasband had just shaken President Monson's hand a week ago, when he had told him specifically to give the people of Asia his love. Elders Rasband, Garns, Hallstrom and Perkins with their wives lined up in a row and we all, one by one, shook each of their hands. Elder Hallstrom said something interesting to me: "Good to see you again, Elder." I have no specific recollection of talking with him before, but considering my 6 months in West Point, going to Wan Chai pretty much every week, it's not surprising to assume that I had seen him there before and perhaps even briefly said "hello". Interesting.

There was a huge crowd of missionaries out in the hall, milling and talking. While I'd have liked to stay, President Van Dam's last words in the meeting rang in my ears; "visit for a while, but hurry back to your areas." Elder Sharp was feeling sick at this point anyway, and so I figured we'd better get back to Tai Po. So off we went back home.

Speaking of which - just to let you know, Tai Po is still home for the next 6 weeks. Neither Elder Sharp nor I are moving; and neither are Elder Gerrard and Bowen, the other Elders in the District. Our Sister companionship is dropping down from a threesome to two Sisters, so also not much change there either.

Just before emailing, we went to see a bit of a Chinese opera. It was a very interesting experience. This week has been Duen Ng Jit - or Dragonboat Festival in English. As such, they've created a huge theatre out of bamboo in an open square here, and had a free opera inside. It was a lot of fun; a lot of squeaking, shrieking women and thick red and white makeup and shining, jeweled dresses, a load of fake beards on the men, and various other traditional Chinese elements too. Between the four of us Elders there, we had very little to no idea what was going on. It was fun to watch, though, and between that and the traditional Chinese wedding that they had just outside our house this morning (a lot of drums and pretending to row boats, also in colourful costumes), I feel I've enjoyed a lot of the Chinese culture today.

Finally, a note on K. After a talk with him on the phone yesterday, I feel very certain that he's going to be fine. He's also been reading the blog recently, so hello K. I hope you're doing fine right now.

K's asked for a copy of the Articles of Faith on a card in English - he has one in Chinese, but as he's currently working as a volunteer with a large collection of people from all over the world who speak English together, he wants to be able to share the Articles with them. A Strength of Youth pamphlet that we gave him has already helped - someone asked why he doesn't ever drink tea or coffee, and out came the pamphlet, clearly explaining his standards.

K's great, and I'm thrilled to be able to stay here this Moves to see his baptism.

I love you all lots, and am very thankful for your prayers. I've really felt them.

Elder Matthew Loffhagen

羅 長 老