Seeing is Believing?

Dear Friends and Family,

Wonderful week this past week. Wonderful because this weekend we had Stake Conference. It was a real treat and missionaries were invited to all three sessions (Adult Evening, Priesthood Leadership, and the General Session). All three sessions were presided by Elder Randy Funk of the Area Seventy and President Hawks was there too. 

During the Evening session they invited YM/YW to come participate because it was a meeting all about hastening the work. I was struck but some of the impromptu testimonies that were borne by members who were asked to share missionary experiences. Stories of teachers giving a Book of Mormon to a 10 year old boy who then gave it to his grandmother who embraced the gospel before she passed away. Or of a lady in my ward whose co-worker told her that she had joined a cult. The member then gave a Book Of Mormon to this lady who later read it, gained a testimony of it, was baptized, and has since helped her sister, mother, and husband. These are just such great stories for me! I can just imagine Leo or A-Fung being missionaries one day or Anne and Alex sharing with family and friends who then embrace the gospel!

The Stake Center was packed with people on Sunday and the Spirit was really poured out upon us as we learned more about how we can become converted and then "strengthen our brethren." I loved the talks.

I pin-pointed why my feelings for Hong Kong members are so poignant. It stems from the idea that they are good, busy, people who are in tune with the spirit and overcome cultural barriers to embrace a somewhat foreign gospel message. Imagine if you walked into a Buddhist temple in Dallas but all the people in attendance were American converts. It would never happen. But just imagine. Not to mention, people in America largely respect Mormons and know for the most part that we are faithful Christians. However, in a land where the direct translation of "Mormon" is "Mo-muhn" or "Devil's Gate" and churches and schools fling all kinds of negative stuff, it just is a battle of endurance and faith. I don't know if I could stay strong if I had grown up in that kind of environment. But I am learning that God really is mindful of His children. 

I think it was Elder Oaks that cracked a joke 2 years ago along the lines of, "Heavenly Father loves His Asian children. I mean just look how many he made of them!"

This week we had ample time to go tracting. We spent one evening knocking doors and found a family that might have some good potential. The mother told us to come back half an hour later, we came and she said that her family members still weren't home and to wait 15 more minutes. We waited and knocked a 3rd time but no one came. We're planning on going back this next week to see if we can get their number. We have the address which is a blessing. We don't really get addresses here in Hong Kong. Everyone lives in apartment buildings and you just don't go up to someone and ask for their address.

French toast for the Apartment

All the other contacting time we had was spent on the streets. We did have a few street lessons. We bumped into people who were more receptive, and I think we were also a little more courageous this past week than previous weeks. Good potential. Hoping to reschedule these contacts.

We have two investigators who have baptismal dates for the next 2-3 weeks and so this week we will really be in 'crunch time' to make sure they feel prepared and are ready to make this wonderful covenant with God. It's an exciting time! It also means that our teaching pool will drop down to almost zero... Pray for us to find some new people to teach! ;)

Last thing, as I was reading in Alma today I was impressed by the encounter that Ammon and Lamoni have with Lamoni's father. We know that Lamoni's father was a little rash and commanded Lamoni to kill Ammon. However, what was interesting was that Lamoni's father's heart wasn't softened by the blow that Ammon delivered to his arm, it was from what he SAW. It mentions twice in the following verses that he SAW the love that Ammon had for his son, and SAW that it wasn't Ammon's desire to destroy him. What the king saw got him interested in the gospel.

So what can we do to SHOW to others our testimonies and our intentions? It's simple but I think it stems from hard work, service, and smiles. When we show these things the Spirit can more easily testify to those around us. Of course please open your mouths and share too. The spirit will stir in their hearts.

Love, 

Elder Siebach