Greetings from a new "Faaathaaaa"

Dear Family and Friends,

View from the beautiful Victoria Peak

Kind of a whirlwind of a week. I honestly don't remember what happened last P-Day! On Tuesday we had our district meeting and said goodbye to 3 of the Elders who were going home and then an Elder and Sister who moved areas (including my companion). That opened 5 spots for new missionaries in our district. And 4 of those 5 spots are now taken by brand-new missionaries. It's amazing to me that in our Zone, which includes 14 companionships plus 2 new ones, 11 of them have a senior companion with a brand-new missionary. The next day, Wednesday was a pack day and last minute preparation as Elder W left and I took over the reins. Then Thursday morning came and about 70 missionaries were in the mission home to switch companions, pick up their new companions, or to get shuttled off to Victoria Peak and do all the mysterious things that "dying" missionaries do. It was a hodge podge of people from all over who were and still are united by the common desire to be Hong Kong missionaries.

This past Thursday morning we had 28 new missionaries come in and had 13 departing. Among the missionaries who departed was my trainer Elder B and my good friend Elder R. I'm sad to see them go since that group was such a big part of our mission but I'm excited to be able to work with my new companion, Elder B.

He's from Layton, Utah and just got out of his 9 week stay in the Provo MTC. Probably about 6'1" or 6'2" and red red hair. I am his trainer and mission "father" since I will be trying to show him the ropes and help him adjust to Hong Kong. It's a bit of a scary thought for me to realize that more than half the mission is younger than I am!

As soon as we got his bags we headed back to the apartment and then headed out for a mid-morning lesson with a guy named B. B is 30ish and he called the missionaries trying to get a tour of the church. Apparently he read about Mormons online and felt like he wanted to learn more. We met him, and then part-way through the 1st lesson he suddenly had to leave. He was willing to come back later that same night and finish up the first lesson though, so that evening as we finished up the first lesson, I felt the distinct impression that we needed to ask him how he thought this 'Restoration' lesson applied to him. We had a good conversation and it brought us to baptism, something we then commited him to right there on the spot. We saw him one more time this past week and read scriptures together and just tried to explain more to him. He would have been at church yesterday but said that he woke up sick. I hope I have more to report on him next week.

Friday we set aside a good chunk of time to go street finding in one of our areas and then rather suddenly we got a call from a less-active member who wanted a priesthood blessing. So we forewent finding at that moment and tried to schedule a member to go with us to that blessing. No one could so we then went ourselves and had a really good conversation with him about the priesthood and faith to be healed. The blessing went well and as of Saturday evening he said that he was feeling a little better then he had been the day before.

Saturday was hot hot hot. We were out in the sun almost all afternoon, did some finding and knocked on less-active doors. About mid-afternoon we went to the hospital and visited a less-active there. His name is Brother M, and he had been coming back to church for the last month or so but then mysteriously stopped answering his phone. I was able to contact his non-member mother and she gave me the address of the hospital. He's not in very good shape right now but we managed to share a few scriptures with him and just visit with him. He hopes that he'll be out of the hospital within the next month or so.

This week we also met with our 17 year old investigator W. He's doing really well! He really wants to learn and is willing to read and pray. He has such a good heart and good desires. We taught him the doctrine of Christ this past week and commited him to baptism in July! We're all excited for him because he seems really solid. We just need to continue to teach and support him.

I forsee a lot of finding for the next couple weeks because all the school students are testing and have very little time to do anything besides prepare for that. In fact, because of testing most of our investigators couldn't make it to church this past week which was too bad since we had a former Temple President and his wife speak to us. Not to mention that Sacrament meeting is just where people should be on Sunday mornings, even they don't know that yet. :)

Anyway, it's really just an exciting and stressful time to be a senior companion in KwaiChung. There is a lot of good work to do, and good people to do it with. I'm excited to be able to work with and learn with Elder B and all the missionaries in Hong Kong. It's hot, it's humid, but I love it.

I hope everyone had a good week this past week and congrats to Sterling who just graduated from school! 

Oh, by the way, Elder A is still in the same apartment with me and he is training an Elder P who just turned 18 this past February...  I believe he is the first 18 year old missionary in our mission. It's exciting stuff to be doing the work of the Lord!!! :)

Love,

Elder Siebach