Merry Christmas.
I forgot to bring my camera. I will definately get pictures of me as Santa with little chinese kids around me. I pretty much think that our branch's primary is the cutest in the whole entire world. They are also the most talented and naughty in the world.
Thanks for the package. I really liked all the treats and everybody was so jealous and wanted to help me eat them. I have gotten more generous.
I like all my companions that I have had. In fact, today I sat by all of them together. I realised that they are all Chinese. I like them all. I didn't bring my camera or I would have gotten a picture of them all together. Refresher: Elder Lee from Malaysia, Elder Bendall from Maryland and Elder Ngai from Canada (Calgary). An interesting fact for you all: My MTC companion, Elder Stewart, is on his mission in Calgary in the very same branch that Elder Ngai's dad is serving as branch president.
I want to come back and live in Hong Kong and attend the Victoria 3rd branch (my Mandarin second family). I have a secret desire to be a counselor(if that's how you spell it).
I also want to be mission President in Hei Long Jiang. Did I tell you this fantasy already?
I really need to write people snail mail letters, but I am so lazy. Jessica Li is coming to Hong Kong one day for her aunt's wedding in the temple. I still haven't written Daoqi Zhanglao back (Elder Dodge). I probably need to write Sonia back too (that Peruvian girl who played trumpet).
My companion's aunts and uncles and grandparents live in Hong Kong, so I get to hang there on Christmas. The only problem is that I think I might not earn their love because I can't do Cantonese and I'm a large white man.
Expect a call around seven pm on Christmas Eve. Thanks for providing that number. I remember how the MTC only had the Provo number and so when I got to Taiwan I could only remember Dad's cell phone and basically I just talked with dad only.
I don't really know what to say, but I get to call you so that will be make up for this bogus email that took an hour to write.
I love my mission.
Love,
Hua Zhanglao
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Two Letters at Once 12/7/09
Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:12:49 +0000
Subject:
Hello family,
I am gaining much experience and I am progressing. I had almost lost my wallet once this week and thought that I had lost it today. Turns out it was in my backpack.
To Laura: Congratulations! Thanks for writing me. I actually am fat. Chinese people are allowed to point this out. It actually is funny. Pretty soon I will inevitably get skinny and then not be funny anymore. I am the fattest missionary in the mission.
I see Elder Kershisnik about twice a week. This week we had companionship exchanges and I got to be with him. We went finding. We contacted this one guy together. We asked him why his church doesn't have prophets, but the church in the bible had them. He thought that was a really good question. We pretty much blew his mind. He started walking away and turned around to assure us that his mind had been blown. Then I threw in stuff about children not needing baptism. He was pretty stunned. I wish I could explain how incredibly flabbergasted he was. Kershisnik's Mandarin thrashes.
I am still terrified about when I become a senior companion. I will train pretty soon too. We have a mandarin coming in January and four in march. This is actually way too many mandarins. I think president Chan wants ten max. My second move there was only eight. When there is fifteen mandarins for almost a year straight I don't know what exactly will happen. I assume all of the experienced Mandarins and Hong Kong natives with mandarin calls will get sent to Cantonese or English work. Then I will have to train and probably die. I actually wish I could get sent to do international work and convert a lot of Philipinas and Thai ladies who are nannys. I don't want to be in a zone full of a whole lot of white guys who just barely arrived in Hong Kong who only "speak" Mandarin.
I am definitely having the time of my life. I am slowly improving my testimony and confidence in myself. I don't know about my language improvement thought. My English is definitely digressing (it took me like five minutes to recall that word). I guess I can say its because Chinese is replacing it.
Hong Kong has pretty much every kind of place you can imagine to purchase things. Seven eleven and circle K are here. They also have supermarkets and street markets. There are many Chinese medicine places. Turtle shells and antlers evidently have medicinal properties.
I will probably answer other questions once I have better experiences to answer them.
I love you all,
Hua Zhanglao (Elder Wall)
Letter that was sent to someone else:
I just moved to Mong Kok today. I am the zone leader minion. That means that Elder Ngai is my companion and that he is mandarin zone leader. He is from Canada and plays hockey. I like him. I just have to go on exchanges every time he has a zone leader meeting. I'm not invited. All the other zone leaders are in zone leader companionships. I told him that I am his flying monkey. His parents are both Hong Kong people. His mandarin is better than his Cantonese though.
Mong Kok is an immoral place. There are many pink lights (Chinese version of red light) everywhere. There is pretty good shopping for Chinese merchandise on lady street. My apartment has six people all of whom I am pretty familiar. I like them. There are a lot less roaches here than in Kwai Fong.
I will send more photos next time. Actually I didn't take a single picture last moves. I basically went on a strenuous hike to the top of lions rock and then realized I didn't bring my camera to take a picture of the view of all of Hong Kong.
I think I might not be scared of talking to random people anymore, whether on the train or on the phone. I have more confidence now. Elder Bendall really helped me. We did have our differences though.
I just really wish that that package had Maris yahoo in it; that was probably my only Christmas wish. Its cool though. Thanks for all the love and support. Sorry that my emails sometimes aren't emailed correctly. I think that my drivers license might be from when I lost my wallet and the lucky person who got all my money decided to mail my license out of mercy or something. I had a spare because I anticipated losing my wallet. I will never use it though; mandarins don't go AP anymore (APs drive cars).
I love my mission. I love you guys.
Elder Wall
Hua Zhanglao.
Subject:
Hello family,
I am gaining much experience and I am progressing. I had almost lost my wallet once this week and thought that I had lost it today. Turns out it was in my backpack.
To Laura: Congratulations! Thanks for writing me. I actually am fat. Chinese people are allowed to point this out. It actually is funny. Pretty soon I will inevitably get skinny and then not be funny anymore. I am the fattest missionary in the mission.
I see Elder Kershisnik about twice a week. This week we had companionship exchanges and I got to be with him. We went finding. We contacted this one guy together. We asked him why his church doesn't have prophets, but the church in the bible had them. He thought that was a really good question. We pretty much blew his mind. He started walking away and turned around to assure us that his mind had been blown. Then I threw in stuff about children not needing baptism. He was pretty stunned. I wish I could explain how incredibly flabbergasted he was. Kershisnik's Mandarin thrashes.
I am still terrified about when I become a senior companion. I will train pretty soon too. We have a mandarin coming in January and four in march. This is actually way too many mandarins. I think president Chan wants ten max. My second move there was only eight. When there is fifteen mandarins for almost a year straight I don't know what exactly will happen. I assume all of the experienced Mandarins and Hong Kong natives with mandarin calls will get sent to Cantonese or English work. Then I will have to train and probably die. I actually wish I could get sent to do international work and convert a lot of Philipinas and Thai ladies who are nannys. I don't want to be in a zone full of a whole lot of white guys who just barely arrived in Hong Kong who only "speak" Mandarin.
I am definitely having the time of my life. I am slowly improving my testimony and confidence in myself. I don't know about my language improvement thought. My English is definitely digressing (it took me like five minutes to recall that word). I guess I can say its because Chinese is replacing it.
Hong Kong has pretty much every kind of place you can imagine to purchase things. Seven eleven and circle K are here. They also have supermarkets and street markets. There are many Chinese medicine places. Turtle shells and antlers evidently have medicinal properties.
I will probably answer other questions once I have better experiences to answer them.
I love you all,
Hua Zhanglao (Elder Wall)
Letter that was sent to someone else:
I just moved to Mong Kok today. I am the zone leader minion. That means that Elder Ngai is my companion and that he is mandarin zone leader. He is from Canada and plays hockey. I like him. I just have to go on exchanges every time he has a zone leader meeting. I'm not invited. All the other zone leaders are in zone leader companionships. I told him that I am his flying monkey. His parents are both Hong Kong people. His mandarin is better than his Cantonese though.
Mong Kok is an immoral place. There are many pink lights (Chinese version of red light) everywhere. There is pretty good shopping for Chinese merchandise on lady street. My apartment has six people all of whom I am pretty familiar. I like them. There are a lot less roaches here than in Kwai Fong.
I will send more photos next time. Actually I didn't take a single picture last moves. I basically went on a strenuous hike to the top of lions rock and then realized I didn't bring my camera to take a picture of the view of all of Hong Kong.
I think I might not be scared of talking to random people anymore, whether on the train or on the phone. I have more confidence now. Elder Bendall really helped me. We did have our differences though.
I just really wish that that package had Maris yahoo in it; that was probably my only Christmas wish. Its cool though. Thanks for all the love and support. Sorry that my emails sometimes aren't emailed correctly. I think that my drivers license might be from when I lost my wallet and the lucky person who got all my money decided to mail my license out of mercy or something. I had a spare because I anticipated losing my wallet. I will never use it though; mandarins don't go AP anymore (APs drive cars).
I love my mission. I love you guys.
Elder Wall
Hua Zhanglao.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Lost Email from Nov 12 is Revealed - compare to the recreated version
My apartment is really small and has roaches. The view is great. Nobody uses bikes in this mission. Only the office elders and APs use cars. I haven't noticed any new talents that will aid in missionary work. My companion is Elder Bendall. Transfers are every six weeks and this transfer has about four more weeks. Unfortunately, Chinese girls are attractive, but my companion is helping me not to become a "Larry" when I get back home. Elder Dodge or Daoqi Zhanglao said happy birthday/encouraging things. I am planning on writing him today.
Madagascar! all right! My favorite manager at the MTC cafeteria was from Madagascar. His name escapes me but I bet he is still there and Kevin should practice Malagasy and French with him when he goes to the MTC. it bugs me that I forgot his name. There are a lot of Indonesians here in Hong Kong if that means anything.
For Christmas I want the Maris Yahoo (however you spell his name) CD. I know dad knows who the Jew who does reggae is. I am dying from all the Mo tab. Maybe send me Christian heavy metal or rap as well. I think I might be able to find that in Hong Kong though.
By the way, speaking of probably inappropriate requests. I think that my mother shouldn't have asked Seely to give me a picture [mother was only doing what her son asked her to]. I feel really awkward about that. Her picture was nice though. I don't think I will print it off, but maybe I will. I think worshiping idols is against one of the 10 commandments. Why do the letters that I send take so long?
I really miss Grandma Wall. Sometimes I get really afraid to do something bad because I swear grandma is watching me. Isn't the spirit world on earth? I don't know. I should probably be more afraid that God is certainly watching me.
My language is progressing I think. I am just frustrated a little because I am certain dad's Mandarin is still better than mine. Why couldn't I have a little more genes from him and a lot less genes from Grandpa Blanchard?
I like hearing about the family. I really like hearing about James pupating. How tall is that guy? How big is his mustache? Is he gonna get fat like me? Everybody tells me I'm going to get skinny and they tell me all the examples of previous missionaries who went home completely different. I just haven't seen any before and after pictures or heard testimonials. There is another Mandarin right now who was supposedly (that's not how you spell it) just as fat as me. but he denies ever losing any weight. I can't wait to be his companion and learn his secrets.
I love you all,
hua zhanglao
Madagascar! all right! My favorite manager at the MTC cafeteria was from Madagascar. His name escapes me but I bet he is still there and Kevin should practice Malagasy and French with him when he goes to the MTC. it bugs me that I forgot his name. There are a lot of Indonesians here in Hong Kong if that means anything.
For Christmas I want the Maris Yahoo (however you spell his name) CD. I know dad knows who the Jew who does reggae is. I am dying from all the Mo tab. Maybe send me Christian heavy metal or rap as well. I think I might be able to find that in Hong Kong though.
By the way, speaking of probably inappropriate requests. I think that my mother shouldn't have asked Seely to give me a picture [mother was only doing what her son asked her to]. I feel really awkward about that. Her picture was nice though. I don't think I will print it off, but maybe I will. I think worshiping idols is against one of the 10 commandments. Why do the letters that I send take so long?
I really miss Grandma Wall. Sometimes I get really afraid to do something bad because I swear grandma is watching me. Isn't the spirit world on earth? I don't know. I should probably be more afraid that God is certainly watching me.
My language is progressing I think. I am just frustrated a little because I am certain dad's Mandarin is still better than mine. Why couldn't I have a little more genes from him and a lot less genes from Grandpa Blanchard?
I like hearing about the family. I really like hearing about James pupating. How tall is that guy? How big is his mustache? Is he gonna get fat like me? Everybody tells me I'm going to get skinny and they tell me all the examples of previous missionaries who went home completely different. I just haven't seen any before and after pictures or heard testimonials. There is another Mandarin right now who was supposedly (that's not how you spell it) just as fat as me. but he denies ever losing any weight. I can't wait to be his companion and learn his secrets.
I love you all,
hua zhanglao
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Old Man Christmas
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Dear Family,
I am so excited about baby Ezra. I like that name. I also like how Gideon at 16 months can talk and tease his dad. Levi must talk now. Mikey must be in full sentences. How is Jordan's speech? Pretty much perfect by now huh?
I just wonder how I sound to Chinese people when I speak their language. I bet its pretty funny. I just about die every time I hear one of them speak English.
The ward decided that I am going to be "Shengdanjie lao gong gong" (a vocab word that I thought I would never use but still learned anyway). Which basically means that Santa isn't real and that I have to be the impostor who goes around claiming to be him.
I liked Thanksgiving, I had about three - so don't feel bad about me. Today we have another.
I am progressing as far as confidence goes. But the Lord has placed quite a few people in front of me who will engage me in conversation first so that I don't have to be too outgoing.
I liked the family pictures. I don't know about getting a photo of girls from efy. By the way I wonder if its possible to get that girl's address so I can write her back. Her name is Alison. Sonya also wrote me. The one who played the trumpet. She took world religions from Brother Choi because I recommend him. I'm so glad that Kevin suggest for me to take that class. I pretty much have more knowledge of people's own religions than they do themselves. You can pretty much know that they are a foolish tradition.
I know people named Yuki, CoCo, Angel and Candy. Actually I know a lot of people with these names. They are the most common ones. Very suspicious names if you ask me.
I know somebody named Ocean someone else name Star. Those are translations of their Chinese names.
There isn't much graffiti. Its in poor English and pretty funny. "Death: the ultimate high" and "Visit China before China visits you" I can't remember the really good stuff.
The school kids wear uniforms. I have no idea what their schedule is. Hong Kong is probably safer than Japan. Everybody here idolizes Japanese things. Hence the "Japanese" name Yuki that is so prevalent.
There are quite a bit of homeless people. What's funny is that a whole lot of them are Mandarin.
About two kids is the average per family.
Bird's nest soup is too expensive. So is the shark fin variety. I ate a duck head once. I didn't know it was a duck head until all the meat was off and I realized it looked like a skull. I thought it was funny. I guess brain pretty much tastes like everything else.
I love you all,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
--
Missionary Son
Elder Stephen Wall
Hong Kong Mission
#2 Cornwall Street
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Dear Family,
I am so excited about baby Ezra. I like that name. I also like how Gideon at 16 months can talk and tease his dad. Levi must talk now. Mikey must be in full sentences. How is Jordan's speech? Pretty much perfect by now huh?
I just wonder how I sound to Chinese people when I speak their language. I bet its pretty funny. I just about die every time I hear one of them speak English.
The ward decided that I am going to be "Shengdanjie lao gong gong" (a vocab word that I thought I would never use but still learned anyway). Which basically means that Santa isn't real and that I have to be the impostor who goes around claiming to be him.
I liked Thanksgiving, I had about three - so don't feel bad about me. Today we have another.
I am progressing as far as confidence goes. But the Lord has placed quite a few people in front of me who will engage me in conversation first so that I don't have to be too outgoing.
I liked the family pictures. I don't know about getting a photo of girls from efy. By the way I wonder if its possible to get that girl's address so I can write her back. Her name is Alison. Sonya also wrote me. The one who played the trumpet. She took world religions from Brother Choi because I recommend him. I'm so glad that Kevin suggest for me to take that class. I pretty much have more knowledge of people's own religions than they do themselves. You can pretty much know that they are a foolish tradition.
I know people named Yuki, CoCo, Angel and Candy. Actually I know a lot of people with these names. They are the most common ones. Very suspicious names if you ask me.
I know somebody named Ocean someone else name Star. Those are translations of their Chinese names.
There isn't much graffiti. Its in poor English and pretty funny. "Death: the ultimate high" and "Visit China before China visits you" I can't remember the really good stuff.
The school kids wear uniforms. I have no idea what their schedule is. Hong Kong is probably safer than Japan. Everybody here idolizes Japanese things. Hence the "Japanese" name Yuki that is so prevalent.
There are quite a bit of homeless people. What's funny is that a whole lot of them are Mandarin.
About two kids is the average per family.
Bird's nest soup is too expensive. So is the shark fin variety. I ate a duck head once. I didn't know it was a duck head until all the meat was off and I realized it looked like a skull. I thought it was funny. I guess brain pretty much tastes like everything else.
I love you all,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
--
Missionary Son
Elder Stephen Wall
Hong Kong Mission
#2 Cornwall Street
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Friday, November 20, 2009
Cold Snap
Nov. 19, 2009
Sounds like everything is going great over there! Right now its probably the coldest its ever going to get (in the 20's Celsius). I still sweat profusely. I think that I'm going to live in Hei Long Jiang when I grow up. Its really cold over there and there are Russian people and Mongolian people and Korean people.
I like being a missionary. I recently bought a 20 questions game in simplified characters. Its an amazing study resource; now I can ask people if things are bigger than a bread box using Mandarin. I still don't know how to be interesting when I write. My companion is really helpful and pretty loving actually, he seems to care about me and is really helping me conquer my problem with being shy and not having much confidence. I will probably be with him next transfer again.
I think I forgot to mention that my first companion that I had is about 26 years old. I put that in perspective; isn't that older than Peter? [no - Peter is 27] I have really grown to love him too. He got pulled from Mandarin work and will go home in Cantonese work. I will miss him.
Noah tears it up in mandarin. he also isn't too shy. I really do enjoy his sense of humor.
I have officially lost track of how many baptisms I have had.
We have one investigator who is really close to baptism. The 22nd of Nov is her goal. her name is Elsa. I think she's as old as Laura - but Laura has two babies now.
Dad is too busy. I don't think that I'm quite as busy as him and I'm a missionary. Aren't I supposed to be more busy than him?
I enjoy bragging about how smart my dad is and how loving my mom is for having nine children.
I love you all
hua zhanglao
Sounds like everything is going great over there! Right now its probably the coldest its ever going to get (in the 20's Celsius). I still sweat profusely. I think that I'm going to live in Hei Long Jiang when I grow up. Its really cold over there and there are Russian people and Mongolian people and Korean people.
I like being a missionary. I recently bought a 20 questions game in simplified characters. Its an amazing study resource; now I can ask people if things are bigger than a bread box using Mandarin. I still don't know how to be interesting when I write. My companion is really helpful and pretty loving actually, he seems to care about me and is really helping me conquer my problem with being shy and not having much confidence. I will probably be with him next transfer again.
I think I forgot to mention that my first companion that I had is about 26 years old. I put that in perspective; isn't that older than Peter? [no - Peter is 27] I have really grown to love him too. He got pulled from Mandarin work and will go home in Cantonese work. I will miss him.
Noah tears it up in mandarin. he also isn't too shy. I really do enjoy his sense of humor.
I have officially lost track of how many baptisms I have had.
We have one investigator who is really close to baptism. The 22nd of Nov is her goal. her name is Elsa. I think she's as old as Laura - but Laura has two babies now.
Dad is too busy. I don't think that I'm quite as busy as him and I'm a missionary. Aren't I supposed to be more busy than him?
I enjoy bragging about how smart my dad is and how loving my mom is for having nine children.
I love you all
hua zhanglao
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Mom Deleted Stephen's Latest Letter Home
Sorry,
I somehow deleted Stephen's letter home. I did read it to "the dad" and James. My plan is to recreate it. Stephen struggles with writing letters home each week. He asks for questions so that he will know what to write. Much of his letter was in reply to something someone had written or asked.
He said, no, he has not discovered any special talents that help him be a better missionary. His language skills are getting better. He wishes he got more of his genetics from his dad instead of from his Grandfather Blanchard.
Transfers are in 4 weeks.
Brannon wished him a happy birthday and encouraged him. He is going to write to him today.
He said his apartment is small and has roaches. Only the office elders and zone leaders get to drive, everyone else walks or bikes. Unfortunately Chinese girls are attractive. His companion is Elder Bendall and Elder Bendall is teaching him how not to notice the attractive girls and how to prevent him from turning into a "Larry" when he gets off of his mission.
He is glad James is passing all of his classes and wanted to know how tall James is now and how big his mustache is and if he will get sturdy like Stephen is. Stephen is told a lot that he will lose weight on his mission like the other missionaries. He has no proof of this but wants to be companions with this other large guy to find out his weight loss secrets.
Madagascar for Kevin Wall's mission - wow! His favorite supervisor at the MTC is from Madagascar. He couldn't remember his name but when Kevin is in the MTC, he can practice his French and Malagasy on him.
For Christmas he wants Christian heavy metal music or rap. He is not sure it that is kosher on missions though.
He misses his grandmother Wall and is afraid of doing anything wrong for fear his grandmother is watching him. He knows he should fear God more.
He loved the picture of Katy (having eaten all of the birthday cake) and he said he may not print it out because it might be similar to idol worship.
So, that's all I can think of.
Sorry
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Burst Worthday 11/5/09
Family. This has been the burst worthday I have ever had but I think baptizing people is probably the best birthday party you can have though. Yesterday I confirmed for the first time, which in case you didn't know includes a blessing that is dictated by the spirit. It was rough and I don't believe I was exactly saying what Heavenly Father wanted me to say. We had a Thanksgiving dinner yesterday too. Today we went to the DBC with all of the main-landers who got baptized and their friends, I bought myself white suspenders for my birthday.
Members over there are pretty hilarious. There was a branch president who came with the group of about sixteen. He was baptized about seven years ago in LA. He was a little misinformed and was telling the visitors that we worship Joseph Smith, and also asking if they had purchased their garments yet. Nice guy though.
We also have an investigator who is from the west part of China. His last name is Liang, he has mental problems and hangs in the park but his wife is very sane and loving. He kept showing us his card that said that he is mentally handicapped, evidently he wasn't handicapped when he first came to Hong Kong looking for a job. He kept saying what a hassle it was to be retarded. He seemed very with it to me. We asked him if he had prayed before, he said yes. Then we asked what praying did for him. He gave the best answer I had ever heard. I was stunned how he could be handicapped, so much that I was a little too shocked to talk. Then he asked if I knew how to speak mandarin and if I really understood his answer. So anyway he can't really come to church because its so far away and costs a lot of money because he can't work. This place is a buffet of languages. One time I was talking with a Pakistani child with the couple of Cantonese words that I knew.
In the course of looking at Liang xiansheng's disabilities card so much, I saw his name that wasn't Chinese. I tried to pronounce it. It turns out that it was Kazakstani - pretty rad.
I want to learn all the languages Tagalog, Cebuano, Thai, Arabic. Too bad I'm struggling with the easiest on of them all: Mandarin.
I enjoyed the packages. I like that I got sent pictures of me and girls. That truly shocked and amazed people. I was reminded of how I hadn't written back one of the girls in the picture. I tried to get mom to give me her address but I guess I had too many friends named Alison on Facebook. Maybe she could find the address to a girl named Alison who is in the picture she printed off for me, and then tell her my sincere apologies. I wrote Jessica and Katy. I hope they received the letters, it was about three or four weeks ago. I got a letter from Elder Dodge. And I get emails from Laura a whole lot. Maybe mom can send me pictures of Jessica and Katy next time :)
I need confidence. I am too scared to rap for people and to do my Bill Cosby impressions. But worst of all I am pretty scared to talk to people. My mission is a fourth of the way over now. Pretty soon I'm going to be home and regretting what a poor job I did.
I love you all, the church is true
hua zhanglao
Members over there are pretty hilarious. There was a branch president who came with the group of about sixteen. He was baptized about seven years ago in LA. He was a little misinformed and was telling the visitors that we worship Joseph Smith, and also asking if they had purchased their garments yet. Nice guy though.
We also have an investigator who is from the west part of China. His last name is Liang, he has mental problems and hangs in the park but his wife is very sane and loving. He kept showing us his card that said that he is mentally handicapped, evidently he wasn't handicapped when he first came to Hong Kong looking for a job. He kept saying what a hassle it was to be retarded. He seemed very with it to me. We asked him if he had prayed before, he said yes. Then we asked what praying did for him. He gave the best answer I had ever heard. I was stunned how he could be handicapped, so much that I was a little too shocked to talk. Then he asked if I knew how to speak mandarin and if I really understood his answer. So anyway he can't really come to church because its so far away and costs a lot of money because he can't work. This place is a buffet of languages. One time I was talking with a Pakistani child with the couple of Cantonese words that I knew.
In the course of looking at Liang xiansheng's disabilities card so much, I saw his name that wasn't Chinese. I tried to pronounce it. It turns out that it was Kazakstani - pretty rad.
I want to learn all the languages Tagalog, Cebuano, Thai, Arabic. Too bad I'm struggling with the easiest on of them all: Mandarin.
I enjoyed the packages. I like that I got sent pictures of me and girls. That truly shocked and amazed people. I was reminded of how I hadn't written back one of the girls in the picture. I tried to get mom to give me her address but I guess I had too many friends named Alison on Facebook. Maybe she could find the address to a girl named Alison who is in the picture she printed off for me, and then tell her my sincere apologies. I wrote Jessica and Katy. I hope they received the letters, it was about three or four weeks ago. I got a letter from Elder Dodge. And I get emails from Laura a whole lot. Maybe mom can send me pictures of Jessica and Katy next time :)
I need confidence. I am too scared to rap for people and to do my Bill Cosby impressions. But worst of all I am pretty scared to talk to people. My mission is a fourth of the way over now. Pretty soon I'm going to be home and regretting what a poor job I did.
I love you all, the church is true
hua zhanglao
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Mandarin Zone 28 Oct 2009
Thanks for your conversion story. At first I didn't notice that there was an attachment to your email (just comments on the family). I was very disappointed that that was your conversion story, but then I saw the attachment and was comforted.
Anyways, there is a Mandarin zone now. This is probably so we won't be able to interact with Cantonese missionaries and corrupt them or pollute their language. I am not really feeling the love. Zone activities and functions will be especially lame because all the Mandarins see each other about three times a week as it is.
I think we need a battle call like "Mandarins! Asseeeemmmbblllle!!!!!!". I really am dying about what to write. Actually I did turn my study journal into a rhyme book. Everybody says that my raps are good, I'm pretty sure that it is my favorite talent that God gave me. It makes journal writing much more interesting and bearable. I wanna buy a drum machine so that I don't have to wait for someone who can beatbox to practice. The only thing that makes me upset is that I can't really rap for zone or district activities because it would just be for the Mandarins now, and I’m pretty sure they will get sick of me. I hope President Chan doesn't cut Christmas. I mean he is Chinese and they don't really celebrate it.
Elder Kershisnik came yesterday. I bet his Chinese thrashes.
I love all of you and if my emails don't suffice, tell me what you want to hear.
Hua Zhanglao
Anyways, there is a Mandarin zone now. This is probably so we won't be able to interact with Cantonese missionaries and corrupt them or pollute their language. I am not really feeling the love. Zone activities and functions will be especially lame because all the Mandarins see each other about three times a week as it is.
I think we need a battle call like "Mandarins! Asseeeemmmbblllle!!!!!!". I really am dying about what to write. Actually I did turn my study journal into a rhyme book. Everybody says that my raps are good, I'm pretty sure that it is my favorite talent that God gave me. It makes journal writing much more interesting and bearable. I wanna buy a drum machine so that I don't have to wait for someone who can beatbox to practice. The only thing that makes me upset is that I can't really rap for zone or district activities because it would just be for the Mandarins now, and I’m pretty sure they will get sick of me. I hope President Chan doesn't cut Christmas. I mean he is Chinese and they don't really celebrate it.
Elder Kershisnik came yesterday. I bet his Chinese thrashes.
I love all of you and if my emails don't suffice, tell me what you want to hear.
Hua Zhanglao
Friday, October 23, 2009
Birthday November 5th
10/22/09
I bought the shaving cream because that's the only shaving cream they have in Hong Kong that isn't soap and shampoo as well. The truth is my electric razor got fried the first day I was in hong kong because I stuck it in an outlet that had too high of a voltage.
We pretty much eat out everyday because we are never close to home. It isn't as bad as it sounds because Chinese food is really healthy, also its only equivilent to like a dollar or so American. But the travel is always what kills me.
I would like more photos to show to my investigators and mainland visitors. Preferably ones that include me. But its not that necessary. I only really want deoderant for my birthday.
Mainland visitors come down and get taught all the lessons, then get an interview, then get baptised and then get confirmed. Previous to coming they need to be recomended by leaders that are in the mainland. A whole lot of the people we teach know the lessons backward and foreward, but also many don't hardly know anything. We just barely baptised a visitor a few days ago. Her brother was a member who lived here in Hong Kong so we got him to preform the baptism. Her baptism was in Cantonese and her confirmation was in Mandarin. The guy who did the confrimation was a leader from the mainland with a "president" title; he actually didn't quite know how to do it. I'm just glad that I didn't have to confirm her like we had planned.
I really like what my sister Tatiana wrote about the Russian elders. I enjoy hearing about all the kids in all the families. I do like to use English, but my companion tells me to speak Chinese when I talk English to people. I'm proud of everyone. Happy Birthday to Laura and Jerrica.
I don't know if I wrote enough. Let me know if my emails don't cut it.
Love,
Hua Zhanglao
I bought the shaving cream because that's the only shaving cream they have in Hong Kong that isn't soap and shampoo as well. The truth is my electric razor got fried the first day I was in hong kong because I stuck it in an outlet that had too high of a voltage.
We pretty much eat out everyday because we are never close to home. It isn't as bad as it sounds because Chinese food is really healthy, also its only equivilent to like a dollar or so American. But the travel is always what kills me.
I would like more photos to show to my investigators and mainland visitors. Preferably ones that include me. But its not that necessary. I only really want deoderant for my birthday.
Mainland visitors come down and get taught all the lessons, then get an interview, then get baptised and then get confirmed. Previous to coming they need to be recomended by leaders that are in the mainland. A whole lot of the people we teach know the lessons backward and foreward, but also many don't hardly know anything. We just barely baptised a visitor a few days ago. Her brother was a member who lived here in Hong Kong so we got him to preform the baptism. Her baptism was in Cantonese and her confirmation was in Mandarin. The guy who did the confrimation was a leader from the mainland with a "president" title; he actually didn't quite know how to do it. I'm just glad that I didn't have to confirm her like we had planned.
I really like what my sister Tatiana wrote about the Russian elders. I enjoy hearing about all the kids in all the families. I do like to use English, but my companion tells me to speak Chinese when I talk English to people. I'm proud of everyone. Happy Birthday to Laura and Jerrica.
I don't know if I wrote enough. Let me know if my emails don't cut it.
Love,
Hua Zhanglao
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Despised Language
10/15/09
I don't know if I said it already, but I think my mission could probably be compared to like a Russian elder in Ukraine or Lithuania. Everybody basically speaks Russian over there but they kind of despise it for communist reasons. Over here basically everybody knows Mandarin but despise it for communist reasons as well.
I want my sister Tatiana to tell me about the Russian elders (there were Russian elders right?) and to tell me about how rough they had it.
My father. I have only written in my journal four times since I have been in Hong Kong. I got inspired to turn it into a rhyme book to improve my rapping skills. I saw a Cantonese rap battle in the mall once. I pointed out that that wouldn't fly in America because it would be way to obscene for children to hear. Plus not even the natives we had with us at the time could understand what they were rapping about.
I just don't know what to say. I might be progressing. I still could use more confidence. I'm pretty sure that the level of fluency in a language exhibited by a person depends greatly on their confidence. Is this right dad? Was my grammar correct in that sentence? I don't think it matters if it wasn't because I totally typed it with confidence.
I just need to pray harder and study harder probably. I do have problems with sleeping. I totally sleep in sometimes and I am still sleepy throughout the day.
I think that I would like deodorant for my birthday. If at all possible I would like the "Aqua Reef" or "Old Spice Red Zone" or something like that but its not totally necessary.
Over all I feel my Savior's love and your love and the Spirit quite often so don't worry.
Continue to tell me what to write you and I will try to follow your commands. This time it's impossible to send pictures. I don't think a picture of the temple with me and my companion is really possible because of how close the temple is to the sidewalk.
I hope this letter isn't too lame. I spent a lot of time writing it. I did spend a lot of time reading all of the excellent emails that I received.
Wo ai nimen.
Hua Zhanglao
ps I think DD's name is Elain but maybe it has another "e" at the end
I don't know if I said it already, but I think my mission could probably be compared to like a Russian elder in Ukraine or Lithuania. Everybody basically speaks Russian over there but they kind of despise it for communist reasons. Over here basically everybody knows Mandarin but despise it for communist reasons as well.
I want my sister Tatiana to tell me about the Russian elders (there were Russian elders right?) and to tell me about how rough they had it.
My father. I have only written in my journal four times since I have been in Hong Kong. I got inspired to turn it into a rhyme book to improve my rapping skills. I saw a Cantonese rap battle in the mall once. I pointed out that that wouldn't fly in America because it would be way to obscene for children to hear. Plus not even the natives we had with us at the time could understand what they were rapping about.
I just don't know what to say. I might be progressing. I still could use more confidence. I'm pretty sure that the level of fluency in a language exhibited by a person depends greatly on their confidence. Is this right dad? Was my grammar correct in that sentence? I don't think it matters if it wasn't because I totally typed it with confidence.
I just need to pray harder and study harder probably. I do have problems with sleeping. I totally sleep in sometimes and I am still sleepy throughout the day.
I think that I would like deodorant for my birthday. If at all possible I would like the "Aqua Reef" or "Old Spice Red Zone" or something like that but its not totally necessary.
Over all I feel my Savior's love and your love and the Spirit quite often so don't worry.
Continue to tell me what to write you and I will try to follow your commands. This time it's impossible to send pictures. I don't think a picture of the temple with me and my companion is really possible because of how close the temple is to the sidewalk.
I hope this letter isn't too lame. I spent a lot of time writing it. I did spend a lot of time reading all of the excellent emails that I received.
Wo ai nimen.
Hua Zhanglao
ps I think DD's name is Elain but maybe it has another "e" at the end
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
What I Say to One, I Say to All
Hi Family,
Daphnie? HAHA I think if its a boy it should be Scooby or Shaggy. Tatiana and Laura want personalized letters? What I say to one I say to all. I feel left out with all the babies coming when I'm not there. I'm just the isolated manchild who lives in China. I dislike writing letters but if Tatiana and Laura want me to send them each emails I suppose I could (probably next p-day).
Work is alright. We are receiving more and more investigators. We are maintaining a few but mostly we just drop them. I found a guy from Shanghai who will come to general conference and his last name is Mao Zedong's Mao. I personally would prefer him to come to a sacrament meeting and priesthood meeting. It takes a lot of faith to endure a general conference, but if he can endure a two hour session of conference he can certainly endure three hours of normal church . Ours isn't until this Saturday (today it's Thursday). I assume it has already happened over there.
I don't really know what to say. I need more confidence, I just barely passed off the first lesson in mandarin for the language recognition program. Once I pass off the five lessons then they will "allow" me to study characters. I just study them anyway. The Gospel principle's book is very helpful as well as all of the lesson pamphlets. However they are only in characters. Once I get the lessons passed off, the character pass off will be a breeze. I mostly just want to teach well, I could care less if people think Im a Chinese genius. I do have a desire to do Cantonese pass offs once I'm a Mandarin Language Legend.
To answer Dad's questions. We live in Kwai Fong, our Area is Kowloon west, which includes Lantau Island and the area where the Temple is. Our mandarin branch meets in Wanchai in the Hong Kong island in the most expensive piece of property the Church owns, on the sixth floor. We have about five Melchizedek (if that's how you spell it) priesthood holders. So many members are just mainland ladies who married a Hong Kong guy. Its not true that ALL their husbands are dirt bags, some are very loving respectable people, they just speak Cantonese and probably can't learn the gospel in mandarin. We have a lot of white mandarin RMs who were asked to join our ward to help out. I can already imagine the Mao Zedong brother being a worthy priesthood holder.
I'm sorry but emailing photos is a huge hassle.
Anyways, I love you all.
Hua Zhanglao
Sunday, October 4, 2009
100109 MyFather
My Father, I wish I had your magical language powers. Cantonese really shouldn’t be this hard to pick up since it is a language almost entirely composed of cognates with Mandarin. I am pretty sure it is mostly the pronunciation that makes it nearly impossible.
We actually have a whole ton more investigators. Mandarin investigators only fall into a few categories. We have received one of each of the "Mandarin Tutor", "College Student" and “difficult married to Hong Kong resident-type marriages” varieties. Surprisingly, the "difficult marriage" type of investigator makes up the majority of our ward members. The College Students always leave after getting baptized it seems. All of the investigators we have are women excluding Tang JieMei's husband who fancies himself a strong Atheist.
Thanks for the great package. I wish I got warning so I could say that I already had four pairs of shoes. The clothes were great. I probably haven't been sharing the goodies that well. I actually did share the shoes with my companion. His right shoe had a hole worn into it and it rains a lot in Hong Kong. Since I probably don't need replacement shoes for about a year I lent them to him.
I haven't really gotten too much mail. I haven't written a single letter yet. I'll do my best to write one today.
I am getting less scared. I might start talking to people on the subway. I will probably go senior companion next move. I will struggle.
I love you all, I know you love me.
Hua Zhanglao
(Elder Wall)
We actually have a whole ton more investigators. Mandarin investigators only fall into a few categories. We have received one of each of the "Mandarin Tutor", "College Student" and “difficult married to Hong Kong resident-type marriages” varieties. Surprisingly, the "difficult marriage" type of investigator makes up the majority of our ward members. The College Students always leave after getting baptized it seems. All of the investigators we have are women excluding Tang JieMei's husband who fancies himself a strong Atheist.
Thanks for the great package. I wish I got warning so I could say that I already had four pairs of shoes. The clothes were great. I probably haven't been sharing the goodies that well. I actually did share the shoes with my companion. His right shoe had a hole worn into it and it rains a lot in Hong Kong. Since I probably don't need replacement shoes for about a year I lent them to him.
I haven't really gotten too much mail. I haven't written a single letter yet. I'll do my best to write one today.
I am getting less scared. I might start talking to people on the subway. I will probably go senior companion next move. I will struggle.
I love you all, I know you love me.
Hua Zhanglao
(Elder Wall)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
P-Day One Day Early
Pday was one day earlier this week.
I am not sure what to write. We found a Mandarin family consiting of three sisters and their individual families. They are the Tang family. The middle sister brought her husband and mentally handicapped 28 year old son. Her son's name is Zhang Li and his dad's last name is also Zhang. I really like Zhang Li, he really liked church and grinned at me a lot. I also like how he keeps saying that my Mandarin is good. The youngest sister brought her fifteen year old daughter and made me take take pictures with her alot. I"m sure it was inappropriate. But I am a Mandarin so rules don't really apply to me.
I am almost recoverd from my wallet mishap. My new companion makes me food a lot. He is very relaxed. I like him. We ate dinner with his uncle who came to Hong Kong on business. He is half Taiwanese. His mom came to America at age 2 so he is not really like Elder Dodge.
I can't wait till Chester (a recent convert) is ready to fellowship with us. He is so rad.
I am only staying here one more move. We have a goal for three baptisms (not including mainland visitors). I really like it here and wish that I could be the one to work with the Tangs. When they came to church, which was about an hour away from their house, the oldest sister wanted to purchase a Gospel principle's book. All three of the sisters are Christian, but the second sister's husband doesn't really even beleive in God. They pretty much want to continue coming to church and meeting with us. I felt really cool sitting next to seven investigators at church.
The reason I know that I won't be here is because it is very easy to predict Mandarin companionships with 100% accuracy. For instance I knew that Elder Bendall would be my second companion my first week in Hong Kong. Elder Bendall will pretty much train Elder Kershisnik. And whatever work I aid in over here in the West (New Territories as well now) will be completed by him.
It is slight extrapolation but is it possible that I will be Kershisnik's second companion.
we want to open the overflow. We have about four hundred people on our branch roster and only about sixty show up on Sunday's. It's actually not about reactivating less actives. Most of the people who join go back to the mainland and are never heard of again. The way to open the overflow is to find new people. I wish to find more permanent residents though. Preisthood holders as well.
I hope that's enough rambling. I am still pretty terrified to make phone calls in Mandarin. I have been out for four months, which means I only have like twenty more. I haven't even really done much. I don't even speak Mandarin yet. Two years is not long enough.
华长老
I am not sure what to write. We found a Mandarin family consiting of three sisters and their individual families. They are the Tang family. The middle sister brought her husband and mentally handicapped 28 year old son. Her son's name is Zhang Li and his dad's last name is also Zhang. I really like Zhang Li, he really liked church and grinned at me a lot. I also like how he keeps saying that my Mandarin is good. The youngest sister brought her fifteen year old daughter and made me take take pictures with her alot. I"m sure it was inappropriate. But I am a Mandarin so rules don't really apply to me.
I am almost recoverd from my wallet mishap. My new companion makes me food a lot. He is very relaxed. I like him. We ate dinner with his uncle who came to Hong Kong on business. He is half Taiwanese. His mom came to America at age 2 so he is not really like Elder Dodge.
I can't wait till Chester (a recent convert) is ready to fellowship with us. He is so rad.
I am only staying here one more move. We have a goal for three baptisms (not including mainland visitors). I really like it here and wish that I could be the one to work with the Tangs. When they came to church, which was about an hour away from their house, the oldest sister wanted to purchase a Gospel principle's book. All three of the sisters are Christian, but the second sister's husband doesn't really even beleive in God. They pretty much want to continue coming to church and meeting with us. I felt really cool sitting next to seven investigators at church.
The reason I know that I won't be here is because it is very easy to predict Mandarin companionships with 100% accuracy. For instance I knew that Elder Bendall would be my second companion my first week in Hong Kong. Elder Bendall will pretty much train Elder Kershisnik. And whatever work I aid in over here in the West (New Territories as well now) will be completed by him.
It is slight extrapolation but is it possible that I will be Kershisnik's second companion.
we want to open the overflow. We have about four hundred people on our branch roster and only about sixty show up on Sunday's. It's actually not about reactivating less actives. Most of the people who join go back to the mainland and are never heard of again. The way to open the overflow is to find new people. I wish to find more permanent residents though. Preisthood holders as well.
I hope that's enough rambling. I am still pretty terrified to make phone calls in Mandarin. I have been out for four months, which means I only have like twenty more. I haven't even really done much. I don't even speak Mandarin yet. Two years is not long enough.
华长老
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Elder Bendall and Question Answers
Can you tell me all about your transfer? I stayed in kwai fong but my trainer left. my area is still west kowloon. We have like twenty investigators. we have like seven recent converts. Elder Bendall is my new companion's name.
Thomas wants to know if you are being good. I am trying hard. my new companion is a night and day difference from my trainer elder lee.
Jerrica wants to know how many people you have taught? I have been in many lessons. I don't teach too much because Elder Lee talked alot. I want to change this move.
Alyssa wonders how many people have "you" baptized?I have only baptized one. My very first week. I think that Elder Lee had a personal thing about mainland visitors, so he refused to go to the temple and teach them several times.
Daniel askd how can you learn to speak Chinese?The only way is through the gift of tongues. Asking Dad would be better.
I want to know what your apartment is like? Roaches. I am the apartment leader. Which means I tell people to clean up and stuff.
How many rooms, bedroom rooms, is it a house or an apartment?1, apartment. Hong Kong is way small.
How many people live there?4
Do you have a speaker to open a gate or anything?no, we have a guard who sits at the bottom. The guard lets missionaries in with no hesitation.
What kind of a car do you drive?I have a car?
What do you eat when you get to pick at home?ramen. There is a whole two isles of ramen in the store.
What are your favorite foods there?McDonalds, KFC, ramen
Please don't send a pouch system. It will be of no use. I actually am going to probably die. My new companion is really generous though. I honestly have three white shirts. The washing machine puts rust on my clothes. For some reason nobody else has this occur. I have like no reserve funds either. I still feel the Spirit and have a love and desire to serve the mandarin speakers of Hong Kong.
I always have to say upsetting things and then leave with an overall tone of optimism.
I am pretty sure that we will get two convert baptisms this move reguardless of how bad my language is.
I really like my new investigators. We got about six at once. It was a rather large family. They are all coming to church. Then they will be progressing investigators.
There is one recent convert that I really enjoy. His name is chester. I can't wait to use him as a member present to bail us out when we can't speak Chinese. He probably needs some time though.
K I love you
Don't worry too much about me.
Thomas wants to know if you are being good. I am trying hard. my new companion is a night and day difference from my trainer elder lee.
Jerrica wants to know how many people you have taught? I have been in many lessons. I don't teach too much because Elder Lee talked alot. I want to change this move.
Alyssa wonders how many people have "you" baptized?I have only baptized one. My very first week. I think that Elder Lee had a personal thing about mainland visitors, so he refused to go to the temple and teach them several times.
Daniel askd how can you learn to speak Chinese?The only way is through the gift of tongues. Asking Dad would be better.
I want to know what your apartment is like? Roaches. I am the apartment leader. Which means I tell people to clean up and stuff.
How many rooms, bedroom rooms, is it a house or an apartment?1, apartment. Hong Kong is way small.
How many people live there?4
Do you have a speaker to open a gate or anything?no, we have a guard who sits at the bottom. The guard lets missionaries in with no hesitation.
What kind of a car do you drive?I have a car?
What do you eat when you get to pick at home?ramen. There is a whole two isles of ramen in the store.
What are your favorite foods there?McDonalds, KFC, ramen
Please don't send a pouch system. It will be of no use. I actually am going to probably die. My new companion is really generous though. I honestly have three white shirts. The washing machine puts rust on my clothes. For some reason nobody else has this occur. I have like no reserve funds either. I still feel the Spirit and have a love and desire to serve the mandarin speakers of Hong Kong.
I always have to say upsetting things and then leave with an overall tone of optimism.
I am pretty sure that we will get two convert baptisms this move reguardless of how bad my language is.
I really like my new investigators. We got about six at once. It was a rather large family. They are all coming to church. Then they will be progressing investigators.
There is one recent convert that I really enjoy. His name is chester. I can't wait to use him as a member present to bail us out when we can't speak Chinese. He probably needs some time though.
K I love you
Don't worry too much about me.
Temporal Struggles
8/19/09
Hello everybody,
So again I am having struggles temporally. All my clothes have rips and tears still. I don't remember my pin number for my credit card from the credit union. I think that I lost my camera, I have missed many awesome photo opportunities.
I still have no idea what is going on in Mandarin. My companion makes me do phone calls, but all I can really understand is "could you give the cell phone to Elder Lee?"
I seriously have heard way more Cantonese than Mandarin since I have been here. I am upset that I cannot order food, make purchases or get places. When I don’t have Elder Lee any more as a crutch I will surely perish.
I am way more uncomfortable than I have ever been in my whole life.
My companion is the only native Mandarin speaker in the mission. Therefore he teaches way more in depth than anybody else. He says that he "slams". He is pretty good at shutting people down and confounding them with the word of God.
There is a language program where you have to pass of lessons and then pass of characters. You attain levels of expertise depending on which lessons and characters you pass off. I have not passed anything off. My companion "the Malaysian tiger" is intimidating. He has quite an aura. He has made several people cry during pass offs (including the mission president's daughter most recently).
I want to be the very best . I am too scared to open my mouth though. When we do finding about 5% are Mandarin. The rest of the time I am being mocked, I bet they are all wondering what a big fat white guy is doing going around saying "ni hao" to everybody. It certainly stops people though, it seriously confuses them and they stop and shake my hand. My Mandarin and their mandarin cannot accomplish the task of spreading the gospel though.
I taught a crazy man who was singing to himself. I basically asked if he took requests. The guy turned out to be a mainlander who seemed to be pro communist. I only understood Mao Zedong and felt a very positive feeling coming from him. Actually at this point I am in a companionship exchange with a Cantonese elder. We both had no idea about this crazy man's ramblings. I taught and he understood, then I gave him a pamphlet.
We actually have legitimate investigators, and we have two who are really close to baptism.
I love you,
I hope this letter suffices.
8/12/09
Dear Family,
The Life of a Mandarin Missionary: We get cell phones, extra money
for traveling and eating out because our area is the entire zone and
its okay if we come back late, if we're dealing with mainland
visitors. We're the highest baptizing group in the world, in fact
last Friday (on my 3rd day here) I performed my first baptism. We
just teach people who come from the mainland who are almost perfect
with the gospel and once we teach them every lesson we baptize them at
the end of the day. The groups range from about four to about thirty.
This is a really good opportunity because they won’t go anywhere but
just listen to my broken Chinese until its time for them to get
baptized. My trainer has me talk and then he fills everything in.
At our baptisms a brother pulls out his cell phone to accompany our
hymns. No talks were planned out, no special musical numbers, no
white underwear - last minute. I realized that the greatest baptisms
ever were "thrown together". Everybody save me needed to repeat their
baptisms.
I will end up with over a hundred baptisms when I'm done. Actually
there are local investigators that are getting baptized as well. My
companion and I have several that just need concerns resolved before
baptism. After I baptized my mainland visitor, these twin boys who
are about ten years old got baptized (my companion did a lot of work
with them).
Also, our branch is from all over, so are our investigators, so I
can't understand some of their accents. It's probably a good thing
that I have this so that I can understand everyone and not just Taiwan
accents when I am older.
I wear a bright red badge that says that I speak Mandarin. I have
found out that I really don't speak mandarin, but it sure is a nice
excuse for me when I look stupid around everyone speaking Cantonese.
I have had some experiences where people were speaking Cantonese at
me, then they saw my badge and then switched into Mandarin. I am
having my pride chiseled at.
It is fulfilling. My companion is so rad. He knows so much slang in
English but adds his own twists. He says "basically" a lot.
"Basically there are a lot of stud that are Mandarin." I think it is
great that I have the companion who is most proficient in any
language. I hope I learn things from him.
Going out finding is ridiculous in Mandarin. "Basically you get a lot
more people when you speak Cantonese". I do a lot of standing in, in
an awkward creepy way, while my companion does all the speaking
(especially when he is speaking Cantonese).
Of course the weather is nasty. I don't know how it can be so hot
when there isn't a sun visible anywhere. It rains a lot and the rain
is warm too.
I love it. You won’t believe me, but it is everything I expected
before hand. I am surprised that I love it all the same. Everybody
tells me that I am fat but I will get skinny. They also tell me that
Mandarin will "man man lai" slowly come (Cantonese people tell me this
too).
I love you,
I hope I included everything
Hua Zhanglao , Wah Junglou
Hello everybody,
So again I am having struggles temporally. All my clothes have rips and tears still. I don't remember my pin number for my credit card from the credit union. I think that I lost my camera, I have missed many awesome photo opportunities.
I still have no idea what is going on in Mandarin. My companion makes me do phone calls, but all I can really understand is "could you give the cell phone to Elder Lee?"
I seriously have heard way more Cantonese than Mandarin since I have been here. I am upset that I cannot order food, make purchases or get places. When I don’t have Elder Lee any more as a crutch I will surely perish.
I am way more uncomfortable than I have ever been in my whole life.
My companion is the only native Mandarin speaker in the mission. Therefore he teaches way more in depth than anybody else. He says that he "slams". He is pretty good at shutting people down and confounding them with the word of God.
There is a language program where you have to pass of lessons and then pass of characters. You attain levels of expertise depending on which lessons and characters you pass off. I have not passed anything off. My companion "the Malaysian tiger" is intimidating. He has quite an aura. He has made several people cry during pass offs (including the mission president's daughter most recently).
I want to be the very best . I am too scared to open my mouth though. When we do finding about 5% are Mandarin. The rest of the time I am being mocked, I bet they are all wondering what a big fat white guy is doing going around saying "ni hao" to everybody. It certainly stops people though, it seriously confuses them and they stop and shake my hand. My Mandarin and their mandarin cannot accomplish the task of spreading the gospel though.
I taught a crazy man who was singing to himself. I basically asked if he took requests. The guy turned out to be a mainlander who seemed to be pro communist. I only understood Mao Zedong and felt a very positive feeling coming from him. Actually at this point I am in a companionship exchange with a Cantonese elder. We both had no idea about this crazy man's ramblings. I taught and he understood, then I gave him a pamphlet.
We actually have legitimate investigators, and we have two who are really close to baptism.
I love you,
I hope this letter suffices.
8/12/09
Dear Family,
The Life of a Mandarin Missionary: We get cell phones, extra money
for traveling and eating out because our area is the entire zone and
its okay if we come back late, if we're dealing with mainland
visitors. We're the highest baptizing group in the world, in fact
last Friday (on my 3rd day here) I performed my first baptism. We
just teach people who come from the mainland who are almost perfect
with the gospel and once we teach them every lesson we baptize them at
the end of the day. The groups range from about four to about thirty.
This is a really good opportunity because they won’t go anywhere but
just listen to my broken Chinese until its time for them to get
baptized. My trainer has me talk and then he fills everything in.
At our baptisms a brother pulls out his cell phone to accompany our
hymns. No talks were planned out, no special musical numbers, no
white underwear - last minute. I realized that the greatest baptisms
ever were "thrown together". Everybody save me needed to repeat their
baptisms.
I will end up with over a hundred baptisms when I'm done. Actually
there are local investigators that are getting baptized as well. My
companion and I have several that just need concerns resolved before
baptism. After I baptized my mainland visitor, these twin boys who
are about ten years old got baptized (my companion did a lot of work
with them).
Also, our branch is from all over, so are our investigators, so I
can't understand some of their accents. It's probably a good thing
that I have this so that I can understand everyone and not just Taiwan
accents when I am older.
I wear a bright red badge that says that I speak Mandarin. I have
found out that I really don't speak mandarin, but it sure is a nice
excuse for me when I look stupid around everyone speaking Cantonese.
I have had some experiences where people were speaking Cantonese at
me, then they saw my badge and then switched into Mandarin. I am
having my pride chiseled at.
It is fulfilling. My companion is so rad. He knows so much slang in
English but adds his own twists. He says "basically" a lot.
"Basically there are a lot of stud that are Mandarin." I think it is
great that I have the companion who is most proficient in any
language. I hope I learn things from him.
Going out finding is ridiculous in Mandarin. "Basically you get a lot
more people when you speak Cantonese". I do a lot of standing in, in
an awkward creepy way, while my companion does all the speaking
(especially when he is speaking Cantonese).
Of course the weather is nasty. I don't know how it can be so hot
when there isn't a sun visible anywhere. It rains a lot and the rain
is warm too.
I love it. You won’t believe me, but it is everything I expected
before hand. I am surprised that I love it all the same. Everybody
tells me that I am fat but I will get skinny. They also tell me that
Mandarin will "man man lai" slowly come (Cantonese people tell me this
too).
I love you,
I hope I included everything
Hua Zhanglao , Wah Junglou
Arrival in Hong Kong - Adjustments
date Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 1:10 AM
subject Im here
So I just now deleted my email that I spent a half hour writing. Its a good thing that I am no longer in the mtc or mom would call the mission president. We get an hour to write letters so no problem. my pday is thursday.
I am so sweaty all the time. soaking wet, and then it rains. I got hot water at the restaurant we ate at, I sweat all the hydration that It gave me while drinking it. As soon as the water went down my throat, an equal amount of water came out of my pours.
A task such as ordering food would not be too hard for me if I was using mandarin. But I have to sit with a stupid look on my face while cantonese is being spoken.
My trainer is good. He is looking over my shoulder right now, so I have to be honest. All the other missionaries speak highly of him. The call him the malaysian tiger. He speaks mandarin, cantonese, english and indonesian fluently.
I hope to learn a whole bunch from him, he seems every bit as good as everybody says he is.
I don't have a whole lot of motivation to keep writing since a whole half hour just went poof.
Hong Kong is gorgeous. The landscape is very lush and green. And then there is this huge concrete jungle accenting it. It is quite big. I don't understand how to get around yet, but I hope to soon. The roommates are cantonese so there is gonna be alot of cantonese being spoken.
Actually, elder Lee, my trainer was the office elder when I put my papers in. He chose most of the incoming missionaries names. He knew that I studied four years of mandarin in high school. he also knew my mothers name was rhonda.
He is pretty rad so far. I am really excited to see why they call him the tiger. I hope I can keep up and learn valuable awesome things from him.
my zone is kowloon west. The wild wild west. We have the largest area for two elders aside from the APs and the office elders (the entire zone).
k bye
I love you
hua zhanglao
8/4/09
The transcribed message Stephen left me on my cell phone. I have now learned that I have to answer "Blocked ID" phone calls while Stephen is on his mission.
Hey Mom!
This your son Stephen calling from Taiwan. I got a hold of dad so, he's just going to have to tell you and it is going to have to appeases your appetite to talk with me.
I am doing great!
We landed a Book of Mormon in San Francisco and we got his address and phone number in Taiwan. So that was pretty exciting.
I'm going to leave in about an hour to Hong Kong.
Yah, things are pretty good.
This is an expensive message that I am leaving on your phone. I hope it is good enough.
love you,
bye-bye
8/3/09
Today, I'm so scared. I should be happy that the work is moving forward, not upset that my mission isn't that unique. There actually isnt much culture shock over there from what I heard, there are tons of white people and everybody speaks english. Chicken feet and pig parts soup is nothing new, I bet I wont get anything that I haven't eaten before (I hope I get dog).
I think joining a moms egroup sounds dorky.
I still don't know what to say to you guys, Im nervous and terrified and excited.
I like all the stuff about babies. Pictures are fine. I took pictures but I can't send them to you on the computers over here.
Father, there is an Elder Bishop who is going to China with his wife along with us. He said that he supervised the Chinese translation. I asked if he knew you and then he answered "Dion?". I think that he was pretty cool.
My flights are lame times. I leave the MTC at 6:30 pm and depart SLC at 9:30. I dont know when we get to taiwan, but we leave 1:30 am. I really don't see me converting anyone at the airport. Skip tuesday and travel about 13 hours. I get there about 10 am, I bet the moment I get off the plane I hit the ground running and go out that day despite being way sleepy.
Im sorry that we're poor, but at least now you're compelled to be humble. Thanks for supporting my mission all the more. You won't regret it, Im gonna tear it up. And when I open up China the money will be worth it.
thats about it
love y'all
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
subject Im here
So I just now deleted my email that I spent a half hour writing. Its a good thing that I am no longer in the mtc or mom would call the mission president. We get an hour to write letters so no problem. my pday is thursday.
I am so sweaty all the time. soaking wet, and then it rains. I got hot water at the restaurant we ate at, I sweat all the hydration that It gave me while drinking it. As soon as the water went down my throat, an equal amount of water came out of my pours.
A task such as ordering food would not be too hard for me if I was using mandarin. But I have to sit with a stupid look on my face while cantonese is being spoken.
My trainer is good. He is looking over my shoulder right now, so I have to be honest. All the other missionaries speak highly of him. The call him the malaysian tiger. He speaks mandarin, cantonese, english and indonesian fluently.
I hope to learn a whole bunch from him, he seems every bit as good as everybody says he is.
I don't have a whole lot of motivation to keep writing since a whole half hour just went poof.
Hong Kong is gorgeous. The landscape is very lush and green. And then there is this huge concrete jungle accenting it. It is quite big. I don't understand how to get around yet, but I hope to soon. The roommates are cantonese so there is gonna be alot of cantonese being spoken.
Actually, elder Lee, my trainer was the office elder when I put my papers in. He chose most of the incoming missionaries names. He knew that I studied four years of mandarin in high school. he also knew my mothers name was rhonda.
He is pretty rad so far. I am really excited to see why they call him the tiger. I hope I can keep up and learn valuable awesome things from him.
my zone is kowloon west. The wild wild west. We have the largest area for two elders aside from the APs and the office elders (the entire zone).
k bye
I love you
hua zhanglao
8/4/09
The transcribed message Stephen left me on my cell phone. I have now learned that I have to answer "Blocked ID" phone calls while Stephen is on his mission.
Hey Mom!
This your son Stephen calling from Taiwan. I got a hold of dad so, he's just going to have to tell you and it is going to have to appeases your appetite to talk with me.
I am doing great!
We landed a Book of Mormon in San Francisco and we got his address and phone number in Taiwan. So that was pretty exciting.
I'm going to leave in about an hour to Hong Kong.
Yah, things are pretty good.
This is an expensive message that I am leaving on your phone. I hope it is good enough.
love you,
bye-bye
8/3/09
Today, I'm so scared. I should be happy that the work is moving forward, not upset that my mission isn't that unique. There actually isnt much culture shock over there from what I heard, there are tons of white people and everybody speaks english. Chicken feet and pig parts soup is nothing new, I bet I wont get anything that I haven't eaten before (I hope I get dog).
I think joining a moms egroup sounds dorky.
I still don't know what to say to you guys, Im nervous and terrified and excited.
I like all the stuff about babies. Pictures are fine. I took pictures but I can't send them to you on the computers over here.
Father, there is an Elder Bishop who is going to China with his wife along with us. He said that he supervised the Chinese translation. I asked if he knew you and then he answered "Dion?". I think that he was pretty cool.
My flights are lame times. I leave the MTC at 6:30 pm and depart SLC at 9:30. I dont know when we get to taiwan, but we leave 1:30 am. I really don't see me converting anyone at the airport. Skip tuesday and travel about 13 hours. I get there about 10 am, I bet the moment I get off the plane I hit the ground running and go out that day despite being way sleepy.
Im sorry that we're poor, but at least now you're compelled to be humble. Thanks for supporting my mission all the more. You won't regret it, Im gonna tear it up. And when I open up China the money will be worth it.
thats about it
love y'all
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
Getting Ready to Leave
July 27, 2009
Wooo! I'm leaving early. They're bunching us three with the Cantonese elders. We're gone on the third.
So don't send me any packages. I am not feeling ready. I have a mixture of terror, nervousness and excitement. I knew I would leave not feeling ready. The words of Come come ye saints come to my mind "why should we think to earn a great reward, when we now shun the fight? I want to have a movie mad of my mission like Groberg. But when I study it doesn't show.
I worry about the weight of my luggage. I have every chinese recource I could get ahold of here. They include, a white hand book, a missionary phrase book, a childrens song book, an illustrated book of mormon stories, gospel principles, two grammar books, 2 three column copies of the book of mormon, two oxford dictionaries and a traditional chinese-english dictionary, a bible and a book of mormon without pinyin. Oh yeah and Jesus the Christ.
I suppose I could have gotten all the resources in simplified too. I was really close to purchasing all the cantonese stuff (just a really fat hymn book). I think they're gonna give me a missionary phrase book for cantonese though.
I don't know what to say to you guys. I love you. Glad to get out of this happy prision, but also feeling a little unready. Next tuesday, this is my penultimate time to write you from the MTC
and a large hymnbook without pinyin and a small one with pinyin. Preach my gospel with characters and a preach my gospel without. I could be over in wight for my luggage perhaps.
I have english literature as well.
Love you still
Stephen Wall to me Jul 20, 2009
Really nothing is happening over here save some personal growth. I have no problem writing letters. I enjoy writing letters and am hurt you would ever think otherwise. I know my letters are often boring and quite dismal, the same old "Im lazy" deal every time.
I know I'm growing because I was really angry when I got called down to the presidents office because mom was just being a mom. I had to miss gym which is the only true and unlasting joy offered in the MTC (the meals definately last forever, I'm 253 lbs.). I then remembered a one pahoran and a one moroni. I promise I don't sit on my throne in a thoughtless stupor when I am writing you letters; I only do that when I need to be studying. I promise it wasn't my fault the two times you didn't get a letter. MY companion endured missing gym quite nicely, he's pretty cool. He also vouched for me to the president that I write letters every week.
I also realised what a ungrateful little worm I was for getting angry at someone who way paying for my mission. Who definately deserves to hear every last excruciatingly boring detail.
Really that was the highlight of my week, being chastised for a computer error that was out of my power to stop or realise that it happened.
I pray this one gets to you.
Im still pretty lazy. I learn more and more each day that Hong Kong was perfectly taylored by the Lord to test me. They won't lets us three who are going to hong kong sit in with the cantonese class. It makes sense and I'm not as upset as I thought I would be. I don't really study mandarin so why would I spend time studying cantonese? Also I'm sure I would forget it all by the time I got there since I'm not emersed in that language. I do remember the setting apart blessing I got that said I would learn all the cantonese that I would need to know. From what I gather, I won't need any :(
I love y'all,
华长老
Stephen Wall to me
Jul 18, 2009
I need to hurry up and get terrified that I'm going to China in like five weeks. I know the Lord will make up the difference once I do my best and extend my capabilities after all I can do. Only one problem, I have never "done my best" or "all I can do", no never in my whole life in any aspect.
It's sad when people who have never studied Chinese before are surpassing me because the rely on the Lord more and do their best. Maybe it's not sad.
The more I think about it, the more I know that Hong Kong is perfectly fitted to test me. I am going to sweat all day everyday, be too close to everybody else who is sweaty, get lost a city that doesn't have numbered streets like provo and is like fifty times bigger (at least), everybody speaks english except my investigators (so its essentially like a mission to Canada, Australia or the States, thus imparing my ability to learn my language), Noah will be my companion, no driving, and there happens to be several million Chinese girls there too.
At least it is safe to say that I won't have a leadership sentance asside from being a trainer or a senior companion. And at least I know that the Lord is mindful of me?
Im almost done with the Book of Mormon in English, I think Im going to go for it in Chinese afterward. There are several missionaries from Hong Kong who just arrived last wednesday, the white ones know absolutely no Chinese (either dialect) which reassures me that I wont have a good opportunity to learn the language as well. The Chinese one is confident that he doesn't speak mandarin although he is probably the best mandarin speaker here (teachers included) and should only stay for three weeks.
All in all, I am way excited to be physically worn down and uncomfortable, but I shrink to give my self mental strain.
I love you all,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
Wooo! I'm leaving early. They're bunching us three with the Cantonese elders. We're gone on the third.
So don't send me any packages. I am not feeling ready. I have a mixture of terror, nervousness and excitement. I knew I would leave not feeling ready. The words of Come come ye saints come to my mind "why should we think to earn a great reward, when we now shun the fight? I want to have a movie mad of my mission like Groberg. But when I study it doesn't show.
I worry about the weight of my luggage. I have every chinese recource I could get ahold of here. They include, a white hand book, a missionary phrase book, a childrens song book, an illustrated book of mormon stories, gospel principles, two grammar books, 2 three column copies of the book of mormon, two oxford dictionaries and a traditional chinese-english dictionary, a bible and a book of mormon without pinyin. Oh yeah and Jesus the Christ.
I suppose I could have gotten all the resources in simplified too. I was really close to purchasing all the cantonese stuff (just a really fat hymn book). I think they're gonna give me a missionary phrase book for cantonese though.
I don't know what to say to you guys. I love you. Glad to get out of this happy prision, but also feeling a little unready. Next tuesday, this is my penultimate time to write you from the MTC
and a large hymnbook without pinyin and a small one with pinyin. Preach my gospel with characters and a preach my gospel without. I could be over in wight for my luggage perhaps.
I have english literature as well.
Love you still
Stephen Wall to me Jul 20, 2009
Really nothing is happening over here save some personal growth. I have no problem writing letters. I enjoy writing letters and am hurt you would ever think otherwise. I know my letters are often boring and quite dismal, the same old "Im lazy" deal every time.
I know I'm growing because I was really angry when I got called down to the presidents office because mom was just being a mom. I had to miss gym which is the only true and unlasting joy offered in the MTC (the meals definately last forever, I'm 253 lbs.). I then remembered a one pahoran and a one moroni. I promise I don't sit on my throne in a thoughtless stupor when I am writing you letters; I only do that when I need to be studying. I promise it wasn't my fault the two times you didn't get a letter. MY companion endured missing gym quite nicely, he's pretty cool. He also vouched for me to the president that I write letters every week.
I also realised what a ungrateful little worm I was for getting angry at someone who way paying for my mission. Who definately deserves to hear every last excruciatingly boring detail.
Really that was the highlight of my week, being chastised for a computer error that was out of my power to stop or realise that it happened.
I pray this one gets to you.
Im still pretty lazy. I learn more and more each day that Hong Kong was perfectly taylored by the Lord to test me. They won't lets us three who are going to hong kong sit in with the cantonese class. It makes sense and I'm not as upset as I thought I would be. I don't really study mandarin so why would I spend time studying cantonese? Also I'm sure I would forget it all by the time I got there since I'm not emersed in that language. I do remember the setting apart blessing I got that said I would learn all the cantonese that I would need to know. From what I gather, I won't need any :(
I love y'all,
华长老
Stephen Wall to me
Jul 18, 2009
I need to hurry up and get terrified that I'm going to China in like five weeks. I know the Lord will make up the difference once I do my best and extend my capabilities after all I can do. Only one problem, I have never "done my best" or "all I can do", no never in my whole life in any aspect.
It's sad when people who have never studied Chinese before are surpassing me because the rely on the Lord more and do their best. Maybe it's not sad.
The more I think about it, the more I know that Hong Kong is perfectly fitted to test me. I am going to sweat all day everyday, be too close to everybody else who is sweaty, get lost a city that doesn't have numbered streets like provo and is like fifty times bigger (at least), everybody speaks english except my investigators (so its essentially like a mission to Canada, Australia or the States, thus imparing my ability to learn my language), Noah will be my companion, no driving, and there happens to be several million Chinese girls there too.
At least it is safe to say that I won't have a leadership sentance asside from being a trainer or a senior companion. And at least I know that the Lord is mindful of me?
Im almost done with the Book of Mormon in English, I think Im going to go for it in Chinese afterward. There are several missionaries from Hong Kong who just arrived last wednesday, the white ones know absolutely no Chinese (either dialect) which reassures me that I wont have a good opportunity to learn the language as well. The Chinese one is confident that he doesn't speak mandarin although he is probably the best mandarin speaker here (teachers included) and should only stay for three weeks.
All in all, I am way excited to be physically worn down and uncomfortable, but I shrink to give my self mental strain.
I love you all,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
Marching Orders
July 27, 2009
Wooo! I'm leaving early. They're bunching us three with the Cantonese elders. We're gone on the third.
So don't send me any packages. I am not feeling ready. I have a mixture of terror, nervousness and excitement. I knew I would leave not feeling ready. The words of Come come ye saints come to my mind "why should we think to earn a great reward, when we now shun the fight? I want to have a movie mad of my mission like Groberg. But when I study it doesn't show.
I worry about the weight of my luggage. I have every chinese recource I could get ahold of here. They include, a white hand book, a missionary phrase book, a childrens song book, an illustrated book of mormon stories, gospel principles, two grammar books, 2 three column copies of the book of mormon, two oxford dictionaries and a traditional chinese-english dictionary, a bible and a book of mormon without pinyin. Oh yeah and Jesus the Christ.
I suppose I could have gotten all the resources in simplified too. I was really close to purchasing all the cantonese stuff (just a really fat hymn book). I think they're gonna give me a missionary phrase book for cantonese though.
I don't know what to say to you guys. I love you. Glad to get out of this happy prision, but also feeling a little unready. Next tuesday, this is my penultimate time to write you from the MTC
and a large hymnbook without pinyin and a small one with pinyin. Preach my gospel with characters and a preach my gospel without. I could be over in wight for my luggage perhaps.
I have english literature as well.
Love you still
Stephen Wall to me Jul 20, 2009
Really nothing is happening over here save some personal growth. I have no problem writing letters. I enjoy writing letters and am hurt you would ever think otherwise. I know my letters are often boring and quite dismal, the same old "Im lazy" deal every time.
I know I'm growing because I was really angry when I got called down to the presidents office because mom was just being a mom. I had to miss gym which is the only true and unlasting joy offered in the MTC (the meals definately last forever, I'm 253 lbs.). I then remembered a one pahoran and a one moroni. I promise I don't sit on my throne in a thoughtless stupor when I am writing you letters; I only do that when I need to be studying. I promise it wasn't my fault the two times you didn't get a letter. MY companion endured missing gym quite nicely, he's pretty cool. He also vouched for me to the president that I write letters every week.
I also realised what a ungrateful little worm I was for getting angry at someone who way paying for my mission. Who definately deserves to hear every last excruciatingly boring detail.
Really that was the highlight of my week, being chastised for a computer error that was out of my power to stop or realise that it happened.
I pray this one gets to you.
Im still pretty lazy. I learn more and more each day that Hong Kong was perfectly taylored by the Lord to test me. They won't lets us three who are going to hong kong sit in with the cantonese class. It makes sense and I'm not as upset as I thought I would be. I don't really study mandarin so why would I spend time studying cantonese? Also I'm sure I would forget it all by the time I got there since I'm not emersed in that language. I do remember the setting apart blessing I got that said I would learn all the cantonese that I would need to know. From what I gather, I won't need any :(
I love y'all,
华长老
Stephen Wall to me
Jul 18, 2009
I need to hurry up and get terrified that I'm going to China in like five weeks. I know the Lord will make up the difference once I do my best and extend my capabilities after all I can do. Only one problem, I have never "done my best" or "all I can do", no never in my whole life in any aspect.
It's sad when people who have never studied Chinese before are surpassing me because the rely on the Lord more and do their best. Maybe it's not sad.
The more I think about it, the more I know that Hong Kong is perfectly fitted to test me. I am going to sweat all day everyday, be too close to everybody else who is sweaty, get lost a city that doesn't have numbered streets like provo and is like fifty times bigger (at least), everybody speaks english except my investigators (so its essentially like a mission to Canada, Australia or the States, thus imparing my ability to learn my language), Noah will be my companion, no driving, and there happens to be several million Chinese girls there too.
At least it is safe to say that I won't have a leadership sentance asside from being a trainer or a senior companion. And at least I know that the Lord is mindful of me?
Im almost done with the Book of Mormon in English, I think Im going to go for it in Chinese afterward. There are several missionaries from Hong Kong who just arrived last wednesday, the white ones know absolutely no Chinese (either dialect) which reassures me that I wont have a good opportunity to learn the language as well. The Chinese one is confident that he doesn't speak mandarin although he is probably the best mandarin speaker here (teachers included) and should only stay for three weeks.
All in all, I am way excited to be physically worn down and uncomfortable, but I shrink to give my self mental strain.
I love you all,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
Wooo! I'm leaving early. They're bunching us three with the Cantonese elders. We're gone on the third.
So don't send me any packages. I am not feeling ready. I have a mixture of terror, nervousness and excitement. I knew I would leave not feeling ready. The words of Come come ye saints come to my mind "why should we think to earn a great reward, when we now shun the fight? I want to have a movie mad of my mission like Groberg. But when I study it doesn't show.
I worry about the weight of my luggage. I have every chinese recource I could get ahold of here. They include, a white hand book, a missionary phrase book, a childrens song book, an illustrated book of mormon stories, gospel principles, two grammar books, 2 three column copies of the book of mormon, two oxford dictionaries and a traditional chinese-english dictionary, a bible and a book of mormon without pinyin. Oh yeah and Jesus the Christ.
I suppose I could have gotten all the resources in simplified too. I was really close to purchasing all the cantonese stuff (just a really fat hymn book). I think they're gonna give me a missionary phrase book for cantonese though.
I don't know what to say to you guys. I love you. Glad to get out of this happy prision, but also feeling a little unready. Next tuesday, this is my penultimate time to write you from the MTC
and a large hymnbook without pinyin and a small one with pinyin. Preach my gospel with characters and a preach my gospel without. I could be over in wight for my luggage perhaps.
I have english literature as well.
Love you still
Stephen Wall to me Jul 20, 2009
Really nothing is happening over here save some personal growth. I have no problem writing letters. I enjoy writing letters and am hurt you would ever think otherwise. I know my letters are often boring and quite dismal, the same old "Im lazy" deal every time.
I know I'm growing because I was really angry when I got called down to the presidents office because mom was just being a mom. I had to miss gym which is the only true and unlasting joy offered in the MTC (the meals definately last forever, I'm 253 lbs.). I then remembered a one pahoran and a one moroni. I promise I don't sit on my throne in a thoughtless stupor when I am writing you letters; I only do that when I need to be studying. I promise it wasn't my fault the two times you didn't get a letter. MY companion endured missing gym quite nicely, he's pretty cool. He also vouched for me to the president that I write letters every week.
I also realised what a ungrateful little worm I was for getting angry at someone who way paying for my mission. Who definately deserves to hear every last excruciatingly boring detail.
Really that was the highlight of my week, being chastised for a computer error that was out of my power to stop or realise that it happened.
I pray this one gets to you.
Im still pretty lazy. I learn more and more each day that Hong Kong was perfectly taylored by the Lord to test me. They won't lets us three who are going to hong kong sit in with the cantonese class. It makes sense and I'm not as upset as I thought I would be. I don't really study mandarin so why would I spend time studying cantonese? Also I'm sure I would forget it all by the time I got there since I'm not emersed in that language. I do remember the setting apart blessing I got that said I would learn all the cantonese that I would need to know. From what I gather, I won't need any :(
I love y'all,
华长老
Stephen Wall to me
Jul 18, 2009
I need to hurry up and get terrified that I'm going to China in like five weeks. I know the Lord will make up the difference once I do my best and extend my capabilities after all I can do. Only one problem, I have never "done my best" or "all I can do", no never in my whole life in any aspect.
It's sad when people who have never studied Chinese before are surpassing me because the rely on the Lord more and do their best. Maybe it's not sad.
The more I think about it, the more I know that Hong Kong is perfectly fitted to test me. I am going to sweat all day everyday, be too close to everybody else who is sweaty, get lost a city that doesn't have numbered streets like provo and is like fifty times bigger (at least), everybody speaks english except my investigators (so its essentially like a mission to Canada, Australia or the States, thus imparing my ability to learn my language), Noah will be my companion, no driving, and there happens to be several million Chinese girls there too.
At least it is safe to say that I won't have a leadership sentance asside from being a trainer or a senior companion. And at least I know that the Lord is mindful of me?
Im almost done with the Book of Mormon in English, I think Im going to go for it in Chinese afterward. There are several missionaries from Hong Kong who just arrived last wednesday, the white ones know absolutely no Chinese (either dialect) which reassures me that I wont have a good opportunity to learn the language as well. The Chinese one is confident that he doesn't speak mandarin although he is probably the best mandarin speaker here (teachers included) and should only stay for three weeks.
All in all, I am way excited to be physically worn down and uncomfortable, but I shrink to give my self mental strain.
I love you all,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
Computer Frustrations
Just to let you know I did write. The computers here are just satanic. They take like ten minutes to log in. I wrote my letter and then clicked send with many minutes to spare. It said that it had logged out and to log back in to start a new session. I did but the time ran out just from logging in.
I would rather die than hand write something after spending so many headaches on an email.
Laura, I do receive your letters, thanks for your support. I love you and you're great.
Tatiana thanks for writing me too. Also aunt Sue a while back.
Its a shame you didnt get to receive my email I labored over last week. Its way better than this weeks email is going to be.
I still don't feel like I have ever worked my hardest. I am really prideful and don't feel like I need it. I know this is sin. I am hoping for a devastating experience and that I am compelled to be humble like the poor Zoramites.
I want to be completely broken, and then, like muscle fiber or a bone, become stronger after the healing process. If you want to you, could probably pray for an angel to come and put the beat down on me.
I am reading the scriptures with more vigor (if that's how you spell it) than I ever have. I am getting the scripture mastery down, but only up to where I'm at in my reading. I am going to finish Alma today, I only have the war chapters to go so Im pretty happy about that.
I actually think the scripture mastery will help me. If I can't speak Chinese and can hand an investigator a scripture that is pretty simple, I don't have to know how to speak Chinese.
I still hate schedule, regiment and planning. I know if I do this, my ability to work my hardest will be greatly increased.
My companion and I are probably the most advanced in the zone besides Daoqi Zhang Lao (Elder Dodge). Of course this causes in me pride. I even get upest when my companion proves he is better than me. I mean jeez, he didn't even pass the AP test. Of course he didn't take it and if he had he would have received a 4 instead of a 3.
I am slowly approaching being able to read the Book of Mormon in Chinese. There really isnt much going on over here, a couple of Spiritual experiences every few seconds or so, but not much really going on.
I want to preform miracles. Not just sissy "I felt really nice" experiences, I want to perform actual legitamate miracles. I do know that it will take alot of doing all the simple and mundane things before I can. Also I should be content with the boring miracles that increase faith slowly and only add like a drop to my lamp.
So on my mission I had better be tired, hot, sweaty, hungry, sleepy, achy, embarassed, out-shined, broken down and breaking out.
I love you guys,
Hua Zhanglao (Elder Wall)
I would rather die than hand write something after spending so many headaches on an email.
Laura, I do receive your letters, thanks for your support. I love you and you're great.
Tatiana thanks for writing me too. Also aunt Sue a while back.
Its a shame you didnt get to receive my email I labored over last week. Its way better than this weeks email is going to be.
I still don't feel like I have ever worked my hardest. I am really prideful and don't feel like I need it. I know this is sin. I am hoping for a devastating experience and that I am compelled to be humble like the poor Zoramites.
I want to be completely broken, and then, like muscle fiber or a bone, become stronger after the healing process. If you want to you, could probably pray for an angel to come and put the beat down on me.
I am reading the scriptures with more vigor (if that's how you spell it) than I ever have. I am getting the scripture mastery down, but only up to where I'm at in my reading. I am going to finish Alma today, I only have the war chapters to go so Im pretty happy about that.
I actually think the scripture mastery will help me. If I can't speak Chinese and can hand an investigator a scripture that is pretty simple, I don't have to know how to speak Chinese.
I still hate schedule, regiment and planning. I know if I do this, my ability to work my hardest will be greatly increased.
My companion and I are probably the most advanced in the zone besides Daoqi Zhang Lao (Elder Dodge). Of course this causes in me pride. I even get upest when my companion proves he is better than me. I mean jeez, he didn't even pass the AP test. Of course he didn't take it and if he had he would have received a 4 instead of a 3.
I am slowly approaching being able to read the Book of Mormon in Chinese. There really isnt much going on over here, a couple of Spiritual experiences every few seconds or so, but not much really going on.
I want to preform miracles. Not just sissy "I felt really nice" experiences, I want to perform actual legitamate miracles. I do know that it will take alot of doing all the simple and mundane things before I can. Also I should be content with the boring miracles that increase faith slowly and only add like a drop to my lamp.
So on my mission I had better be tired, hot, sweaty, hungry, sleepy, achy, embarassed, out-shined, broken down and breaking out.
I love you guys,
Hua Zhanglao (Elder Wall)
Purchasing and Clothing Destruction
Dear family,
To sister Rodriguez: I think that's a bogus idea. Those babies are so cute!! I dunno about the naked pictures though, gave my companion a bit of a shock.
It really seems like someone attacked my clothes with a knife. They're all slashed up. My reboks and shirt and suit. very suspicious, it was probably me somehow. So nothing really exciting is happening here because its the mtc.
I enjoy how the mandarin lunch ladies who were my coworkers are also fake investigators in the TA place.
I cant stop myself from purchasing so many products at the book store. I have bought nearly every Mandarin book available and it was hard to stop myself from getting Cantonese things too. I really like my childrens Book of Mormon Stories. I can read it no problem, its just that the real BoM is hard.
We WILL be able to read the real thing by the time we're out of here. Especially with the Lord's help.
I am 240 pounds about 60 pounds more than last summer. Whatever, Hong Kong will make me sweat it all off in a disgusting uncomforable manner.
I really don't know what to say and I cant remember the fifty questions that Laura asked me. I'm not too faithful at journal writing, mostly because I'm sick of writing uninteresting things that occur in my life.
I love you bunches and can't wait till I have experiences that knock your socks off.
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
To sister Rodriguez: I think that's a bogus idea. Those babies are so cute!! I dunno about the naked pictures though, gave my companion a bit of a shock.
It really seems like someone attacked my clothes with a knife. They're all slashed up. My reboks and shirt and suit. very suspicious, it was probably me somehow. So nothing really exciting is happening here because its the mtc.
I enjoy how the mandarin lunch ladies who were my coworkers are also fake investigators in the TA place.
I cant stop myself from purchasing so many products at the book store. I have bought nearly every Mandarin book available and it was hard to stop myself from getting Cantonese things too. I really like my childrens Book of Mormon Stories. I can read it no problem, its just that the real BoM is hard.
We WILL be able to read the real thing by the time we're out of here. Especially with the Lord's help.
I am 240 pounds about 60 pounds more than last summer. Whatever, Hong Kong will make me sweat it all off in a disgusting uncomforable manner.
I really don't know what to say and I cant remember the fifty questions that Laura asked me. I'm not too faithful at journal writing, mostly because I'm sick of writing uninteresting things that occur in my life.
I love you bunches and can't wait till I have experiences that knock your socks off.
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
Old Letters Home
6/15/09
Dear family,
Our district has the only native speaker as one of our teachers. As it turns out she was baptized in Hong Kong so its no wonder she favors me. Also after seven weeks they're gonna experiment on the three of us going to Hong Kong and let us go to classes with the Cantonese elders to learn how to buy things and ask directions. I really hope I confuse the two languages together.
Temporally I am struggling. My gray suit has slash on the sleeve and a tear on the elbow on that same sleeve. A white shirt has a food stain on it. The officer shoes are ripped up. A par of paints has a hole in the butt and I smell bad all the time. My watch is miraculously (if that's how you spell it) unscathed.
Spiritually I am obese and my soul is delighting itself in fatness. For some reason my companion (Elder Stewart AKA Sun Zhanglao) and I cry during like every meeting, video and song. God made it so I cry when I feel the Spirit to humble me. I realize this while im crying and then I cry harder because I am not humble. I feel like I'm a sister missionary.
I have not worked as hard as I should have. If my companion and I had worked as hard as we could have since the first day, we would be able to read out of the book of Mormon and Bible in characters without the pinyin romanization help by now. We will be able to do this before we
leave the MTC for sure.
Love you guys, I wish I was doing interesting things, or that I could just remember them when I write letters or journal entries,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
P.S. Send me pictures of babies
On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 7:48 AM, Stephen Wall wrote:
Hello family,
I still don't know how or want to write. Letters or journals. I always leave out the good things. I think that I have too much fun over here. I really like all the war and violence things that we are taught over here. Too bad I cant fight with a sword. What seems harder and take more bravery is missionary work. I would rather train with a weapon than with flashcards and reading. Also it takes lots of bravery to tell people what they need to know. In the RC or referral center, all we had to do was call people up and see if they had received their complementary DVD. I was terrified. Most of the people we called seemed to have already been called previously that day and were annoyed. Most of them seemed like they were black people from the south "Hello may I speak with Tyraneka?"
"Who callin' ?!?" hangs up.
So I need to start studying and things. I need to work hard mentally not violently. I can be a solider who marches with scriptures and armor of God and such. Please don't be discouraged because of the length of my letters. Its just me being obedient to my commandments. I don't enjoy it yet, pretty soon I won't leave out the good stuff.
I keep the same companion the whole time, its a good thing that I love him. He enjoyed my fortune cookie. I talked somewhat to Elder dodge during my stay. I realised that pretty soon I will be home regretting wasting most of the two years that I was in China and wondering where all the time went.
love you,
Elder Wall
June 1
Dear family
I can't wait till writing a letter and writing in a journal is easy and no longer a pain for me. I think that 30 minutes is too much time for me. I only need like 5 minutes. I bought the large type of journal because I didn't bring the one that we bought from Walmart. I can't even fill up half of a page in my journal. I am humbled that I have to cry at every meeting, I wish I could just feel a burning in my bosom. I like my companion. His name is Elder Stewart. He is at the same level as me in Chinese. This allows our companion study, planning and language study to have the potential of being intense. Most other elders have not even learned any Chinese before, and here we are going through flashcard after flashcard of characters. Not only that, my companion has the Spirit radiate from him when he teaches. I can't wait till Saturday when we teach a lesson to "investigators", we are gonna tear it up, maybe better than the missionaries that have been here for six weeks. Actually, we will, but we lack some vocab to teach the entire lesson in Chinese, so we are just going to get to know our investigators first. Don't miss me, I have given up my old life and I have forgotten it, so much so that I haven't even talked to Daoqi Zhanglao, my former best friend back in my sinful time.
Love,
Elder Wall
Dear family,
Our district has the only native speaker as one of our teachers. As it turns out she was baptized in Hong Kong so its no wonder she favors me. Also after seven weeks they're gonna experiment on the three of us going to Hong Kong and let us go to classes with the Cantonese elders to learn how to buy things and ask directions. I really hope I confuse the two languages together.
Temporally I am struggling. My gray suit has slash on the sleeve and a tear on the elbow on that same sleeve. A white shirt has a food stain on it. The officer shoes are ripped up. A par of paints has a hole in the butt and I smell bad all the time. My watch is miraculously (if that's how you spell it) unscathed.
Spiritually I am obese and my soul is delighting itself in fatness. For some reason my companion (Elder Stewart AKA Sun Zhanglao) and I cry during like every meeting, video and song. God made it so I cry when I feel the Spirit to humble me. I realize this while im crying and then I cry harder because I am not humble. I feel like I'm a sister missionary.
I have not worked as hard as I should have. If my companion and I had worked as hard as we could have since the first day, we would be able to read out of the book of Mormon and Bible in characters without the pinyin romanization help by now. We will be able to do this before we
leave the MTC for sure.
Love you guys, I wish I was doing interesting things, or that I could just remember them when I write letters or journal entries,
Elder Wall (Hua Zhanglao)
P.S. Send me pictures of babies
On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 7:48 AM, Stephen Wall
Hello family,
I still don't know how or want to write. Letters or journals. I always leave out the good things. I think that I have too much fun over here. I really like all the war and violence things that we are taught over here. Too bad I cant fight with a sword. What seems harder and take more bravery is missionary work. I would rather train with a weapon than with flashcards and reading. Also it takes lots of bravery to tell people what they need to know. In the RC or referral center, all we had to do was call people up and see if they had received their complementary DVD. I was terrified. Most of the people we called seemed to have already been called previously that day and were annoyed. Most of them seemed like they were black people from the south "Hello may I speak with Tyraneka?"
"Who callin' ?!?" hangs up.
So I need to start studying and things. I need to work hard mentally not violently. I can be a solider who marches with scriptures and armor of God and such. Please don't be discouraged because of the length of my letters. Its just me being obedient to my commandments. I don't enjoy it yet, pretty soon I won't leave out the good stuff.
I keep the same companion the whole time, its a good thing that I love him. He enjoyed my fortune cookie. I talked somewhat to Elder dodge during my stay. I realised that pretty soon I will be home regretting wasting most of the two years that I was in China and wondering where all the time went.
love you,
Elder Wall
June 1
Dear family
I can't wait till writing a letter and writing in a journal is easy and no longer a pain for me. I think that 30 minutes is too much time for me. I only need like 5 minutes. I bought the large type of journal because I didn't bring the one that we bought from Walmart. I can't even fill up half of a page in my journal. I am humbled that I have to cry at every meeting, I wish I could just feel a burning in my bosom. I like my companion. His name is Elder Stewart. He is at the same level as me in Chinese. This allows our companion study, planning and language study to have the potential of being intense. Most other elders have not even learned any Chinese before, and here we are going through flashcard after flashcard of characters. Not only that, my companion has the Spirit radiate from him when he teaches. I can't wait till Saturday when we teach a lesson to "investigators", we are gonna tear it up, maybe better than the missionaries that have been here for six weeks. Actually, we will, but we lack some vocab to teach the entire lesson in Chinese, so we are just going to get to know our investigators first. Don't miss me, I have given up my old life and I have forgotten it, so much so that I haven't even talked to Daoqi Zhanglao, my former best friend back in my sinful time.
Love,
Elder Wall
Welcome to Stephen's Missionary Blog!
This blog for Elder Stephen Wall (Hua Zhanglao) was started on 17 Sept 2009. The pictures and letters come from the start of his mission which was 17 May, 2009 and I (his mother) will keep up his letters and pictures. I hope that this blog will be a source of inspiration and will help him to get the letters from those who love him and keep up with his letters home.
Thank you, let's pray and do nice things for "our missionary" and help him be as successful as he can be.
Much Love,
Stephen's Mom
Thank you, let's pray and do nice things for "our missionary" and help him be as successful as he can be.
Much Love,
Stephen's Mom
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