The Legend Dinner

Dear Mum and Dad,

First things first, about accomodation - go for it. It it's good enough for a Jest, it's good enough for me. Of course, I know that normally a tent is good enough for a Jest, but that's fine too. One thing I've learned here in Hong Kong is how to live in awkward places - I've had some certainly very "cosy" homes. Jamie and Harry sound like some fun people to room with (not least because I can glean some Mandarin off of Jamie) and as far as the kitchen goes, I've been living without an oven for the past two years, so if it has one it'll be a trade-up, if not - I've learnt to make some good meals in a pot and in the microwave - no doubt the same cooking style as most other missionaries, but probably with a lot more rice.

Which reminds me of something - for university, I want a rice cooker. A little pot that cooks rice to the perfect temperature automatically. I've figured I'll just live off home-made Chinese food for my stay at Uni, but to make it convenient, I need a rice cooker. Maybe you could look around at prices on your end? I can get one for around $300HK (£30) here.

Getting hold of a little Buddha statue will be no problem whatsoever. They are everywhere - in fact, I've visited one of the Buddhas whose picture you sent - it is the Big Buddha (well named - you can walk around inside it). I'll probably be able to find a statue without a problem. The only thing is it might be an authentic golden idol, ready to be worshipped - so be careful. I've heard some interesting first-hand stories from the kinds of spiritual company that follow these things.

So last Monday was my dinner with President and Sister Van Dam. It wasn't the steak I was hoping for, but it was a lot of fun. They took myself and the other four Legends to the R66 restaurant in Wan Chai - so named because it Rotates as you eat, taking 66 minutes to make one revolution. As you spin around, you get a birdseye 360 degree view of Hong Kong island, much like the Macau Tower which I went to when I first arrived there. It was a nice buffet dinner, and President Van Dam summed it up nicely by saying that "The kind of choices you have are, 'do I want the lobster or the prime rib first?'"

I sat next to President Van Dam, and when I found out that they'd just been in Macau the day before (As the Macau branches aren't within a stake, they're under the Mission and President Van Dam often goes out there for temple recommend interviews and callings) I was eager to know how everything was going over there. President and Sister Van Dam told me that as a result of a Temple Preparation class they've been running recently, there are several members of the International branch who are preparing for their endowments and to be sealed as families (President Van Dam interviewed six people for their own endowment). Also, in the Chinese branch, where I served, there were two Seminary graduates this year (a big feat for such a small branch) and three of the Young Men are planning on serving as Summer Missionaries this year. This thrilled me because most of the Macau Young Men were baptized while I was there! I asked President Van Dam if I could put in a request for a certain Summer Missionary to come work with me, and he asked which one I wanted before Sister Van Dam reminded us that it wasn't President Van Dam's choice to make - so I need to be especially nice to President Chan when he comes in next month.

Which reminds me - I don't think I'd mentioned that one of our investigators from Macau, A-F, was baptized a few weeks ago. He is really amazing - he's seventeen, and was fellowshipped wonderfully by the branch. He was the Seminary class President for a long time while he was an investigator before getting baptized!

Things are going well for Elder Marshall and I. Last week, I felt like we really got somewhere as we found a new family to teach, the N family, and began teaching a part-member family. The N family is wonderful - so far we've met the Dad, the Grandad and the four year old daughter. We saw them on Saturday for our little kids English class we teach and afterwards shared the Family Proclamation with them and taught them to pray. The father, without being asked, got his little girl to fold her arms and bow her head, and he said a prayer that God would bless their family. Afterwards, they bought us ice-cream from MacDonalds and we talked about their family. The Grandad had a big interest in why our church is different and what the Book of Mormon is about.

We also began teaching a member's father. Brother T has a big problem with his leg and so can't come to church, so we've started seeing him to give him some encouragement. Every time we went over, he said how his father, who is elderly and bed-ridden but joins in our conversations, really wants to learn about the gospel and the Plan of Salvation. Last week we decided that even though he's a little more aged than most investigators, and can't come to church, we should teach him anyway. So we started slowly with the First Vision and encouraged him to pray.

I'm happy here in Kwai Fong. The work is not always easy, but my back has been strengthened that my burdens feel light (Mosiah 24:15 - I shared this scripture with Brother T as it's one that's helped me through times of trial) and I am submitting cheerfully to the will of the Lord.

I love you all lots and pray for your happiness.

Love,

Elder Matthew Loffhagen