24th email from Macau

Dear all,

Sometimes the weeks go by so fast that I think all I do is email home. This week is probably one of my last in Macau - Moves is next week. So this probably being my last Preparation Day in Macau, it's too bad that I'm feeling a little under the weather. It's just a simple cold - don't blow it out of proportion. It just means that I won't be going to play ultimate frisbee with the rest of the Elders.

Speaking of Chris, I got a letter from him the other day. He sounded very happy - although I did notice that he didn't mention coming home. Like you said, he's probably dreading the adjustment just as much as I am. It's interesting that he needs a van to take home his stuff - considering that I have to pay to take my luggage back to Hong Kong when I leave Macau and then again when I come home, I think I'm going to cut down to the bare essentials like my toothbrush, my scriptures and my testimony.

This week we went on exchanges with the Assistants to the President. It was interesting - the current APs are Elder Gregory and Elder Weagel, both of whom were in the MTC with me. I went finding with Elder Weagel which was fun. It occured to me that I haven't spent much time with my own MTC group while in the field.

You can tell David Jones that I have met Elder Eagle Lau (that's the typical spelling of that name - it means "to kill" in Chinese which is interesting) but he probably won't remember me - it was just quick. His name has made it into my book of funny English names - everyone here in China as well as having a traditional Chinese name has an English name. Sometimes they are completely average English names like Jason or Henry, but other times they are pretty random. Some of my favourites have included Apple, Milk, Canyon and Zero. It makes me glad that somebody native picked my name for me because otherwise I'd probably be called Dragon or something - actually, that's a common name. Bruce Lee's real Chinese name means Little Dragon.

As far as my language legend award goes, I'm getting close. The goal is in sight, but not quite within reach. It turns out that there are a LOT of Chinese characters. Huh. There are also a lot which look almost the same, but not quite. When I last tried to pass off, Elder Carter (who is the only current male living Legend, and just happens to be here in Macau) failed me on reading the Book of Mormon, because I wasn't fluent enough. So I've been working on that and as a result, my reading speed has improved and I don't miss nearly as many characters when I read. I feel pretty fluent reading the Book of Mormon now, which is nice. Now it's just the characters and the brand new MVP book. There is a stack of about 400 character cards that desperately need reviewing, currently sitting on my desk. Once they are learnt, I'll be ready to pass all 3,000 off. The MVP book also needs reviewing pretty well - there are about 100 words I don't know that I need to pass off from that book - that is a slightly harder challenge because I find characters a lot easier than vocab words. Elder Carter has been kind and says he won't test me on anything a native won't know that's in the book - for example, the word for my father's older brother's wife, which is different to the word for my father's younger brother's wife. It's all very complex and apparently, the natives themselves don't know all of these complicated words.

Anyway, time is running out slowly. I'm sorry I haven't given any kind of important or relevant updates in this email - not much has happened this week. The most interesting news is that our recent convert's husband passed away last Saturday. Sister W was feeling rather poor spirited at first, but I ultimately think that this was the best thing for everyone, because Brother W was 70 years old and suffered a stroke a while ago, so his quality of life was seriously lacking. Now all three of the children can come to church together (whether they like it or not), because nobody has to stay at home to look after dad. Plus, Sister W is suddenly a lot more popular - the Relief Society have unceasingly served her, giving her food and emotional support, while the Young Women have arranged to visit her every day this week. It's great to see the branch really coming to the aid of a new member in need.

Anyway, time's up. Love,

Elder Loffhagen