It's not really that big of a deal, though. Just another day. Brother M's been throwing film references at me all week, and I realised a few days ago how very blessed I've been - God knows my passions, and blesses me in bridling them. For example, despite everyone around me knowing the ending to a certain book series about a teenage wizard, I've been mercifully protected from spoilers. The same goes for everything else. Brother M is reading a series of Star Wars books I was reading before I came out, and randomly spurted out the end of one of the books the other day - but it was the last one I read before I came out, so no harm done, even though another 3 have been released by this point. God is protecting me in my desire to avoid things I just want to put on hold for two years.
I'm sure that there are other uses for skills in a language that don't involve studying it at university. I do not think that I will enjoy that, and I saw too many of my friends at Herschel apply for university courses based on the prospect of a high paying job only to find they didn't like it and drop out. I want to enjoy what I do, even if it's not the most financially rewarding. Money's never been any of an incentive to me. I trust the Lord to be able to bless me in my endeavours to earn a living for my family, knowing that He can provide for me. And I'll find some way to keep my Chinese fresh without studying Mandarin. I've prayed long and hard about this, and feel that choosing a vocation I don't thoroughly enjoy is the wrong way to go.
It'd be great to perhaps recieve some "prospecti" for universities soon, so I can start narrowing down my options a little more.
Good news from our gambling addict, Mr S - he hasn't gambled at all since we met him, and he now has a baptismal date for mid-September. He has absolutely no issues with the Word of Wisdom, and has been reading avidly in the Book of Mormon every day. His daughter heard some bad things about our church from some friends and phoned him on Sunday, telling him she was worried he was going to an evil church, but he didn't seem too phased; he'd been to church, he'd seen that it was good, he recognized the fruits, so he had no problem. I'm not sure how solid his testimony is yet, but he certainly has faith and has changed even physically in the few weeks we've been meeting with him. So he figures the reports about our church are untrue, and is willing to keep learning and growing. This week he's going to come to a baptismal service for one of the Primary children, which should be good for him. It's unbelievably easy for him; he doesn't drink tea (which pretty much every HK person has a problem with), he works nights so he can come to church without a problem, and as his one day off a week is on Saturday night/Sunday Morning, having checked with President Van Dam, we have determined that he shouldn't have any problems with the Sabbath either. So basically, he just needs a strong testimony and a friend and he's ready to go.
He does need a friend, though. Last week at church, he sat in Investigator class with Brother M on one side, who just kept talking to Elder Sharp in English the whole time, even with encouragement to help Mr Sou, and with a 20 year old Ward Missionary on the other side, who wouldn't leave me alone even as I also encouraged him to help Mr S find scriptures and just be friendly with him.
I think the hardest times of a mission are spent trying to negotiate all of the investigators, recent converts and ward missionaries in our little group. Someone wants to go to the toilet, but someone else needs to go to class, and I'm trying desperately to get Brother M to stay still and not run off on us - plus trying to make sure the investigators are all comfortable and know what's going on.
At least the investigators are actually at church, though.
Well, everyone's waiting for me now. I'd better finish up. I love you all lots.
Elder Matthew Loffhagen
羅 長 老
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