Week 44: President and Sister Lam, The Prodigal Son Returns, Ward Party!, Investigators

Lieh Hou Muiyatgoyahn!!!!

Well I just got so much good stuff that happened to me this week that I am super excited for the coming months!!! Not to excited for the heat but that will not Phase me for what is about to come and make me work hard and have so much fun!!! Man I love this mission!!!! I am so excited for what is coming!

President and Sister Lam!:

Well it is indeed a sad time for the mission because we are losing our Parents!!!! They have done so well out here and they are the greatest people ever! I was able to have a interview with him and we talked for a long time and it was super fun! After the interview he chenged us to lunch and I had Curry Cow! I love curry!!!! It is probably one of my new favorite foods! It has to be the good kind or else ya might wreck ya self hahahah! Gross my bad! Then we had the opportunity last night to get to go to he Jeungs(Cheung) house yet again and it was with 3 other companionships. Elder Hughes and Gray, Siddoway and Newbold, and Riley and Me. Then President Lam and sister Lam were there and then our bishop came!!! We had so much food and also Christians older sister was the one who taught me at the MTC and she was here as well! I guess she wanted to see her district she taught at the MTC so she invited us over and it was the funnest thing ever! I love the people here and all the love they show for me! Bishops little boy also sneezed in a Friends magazine, closed it, put it on someone else's chair, and left!!! I was laughing so hard! Only 2 years old and he is the greatest thing in the world!

The Prodigal Son Returns:

SO as some of you know I have been with elder Riley for 4 months now and I have been in my baby area still my entire mission! So I have been here for almost 9 months and we just received our transfer calls. Looks like I will be here for 10-11 months now hahaha. I am still in my baby area and I get a new companion. My New companion isn't New at all. He is actually quite bold! Yup I am back with my best friend out here Elder Newbold! We are back together again and we are ready to go to work here in Tai Wo once again. The prodigal son returns!!!! I am looking forward for what is about to come and the fun that we are going to have serving the lord and trying out new things to make the work fun and effective!

Ward Party!:

There was a ward Party. ha lol. We had a Karaoke machine in one room, the World cup in another, Moana playing in another room, Board games upstairs, and then we had basketball outside!! This was the first time I have felt that the ward was having fun all around the church and was becoming more unified! It was so much fun I loved IT! This ward is the best thing ever for me and I talked to President why I have been here for so long and that is to get so close with them that I am like family to all of them!

Investigators:

As far as this week goes we have met with this week we have not been able to get with Mr. Jehng but we know where he lives and we will be going to meet with him more and to teach his family. His son is an investigator now and his daughter could be one soon. Then we have Matthew who we taught a while ago and he is now back from Japan so we will begin to teach him again. Our English class for kids is getting some new investigators for the others in the district and also our games night is the funnest thing every!

I love what I do out here and the friends I have made! I love to read the Book of Mormon not only because we are commanded to feast on the words of Christ, but because it answers the questions of my soul and makes me feel the spirit! Take President Monson's final advice to us and read it every day! I love it so much!

Thanks again for all your love and prayers! It means the world to me out here to know I have a team back home cheering me on!

Have a great week and pray for missionary opportunities and I promise you that the lord will give them to you and you will know what to do and say!

Yours in Fellowship and Love,󾓭🐲🐼✌🍜

鄧 長 老

Elder Connor R.Duersch

Dahng Jeunglouh

Stan Theman

Week 43: 3.2.1. Blast off!, Zone Conference, Fuhchan jit faailohk!!!

Lieh Hou Muiyatgoyahn!!!!

Well,  time just went by again and it is so good to hear from you all and to hear that you all are doing well!This week went by so quick and then when you aren't looking, bam! IT just sneaks up on you again! Not to much went down this week and I will make this one just a little shorter than usual but still a lot of fun that happened so..........LETS HIT IT!

On This weeks Episode of, Elder Connor R. Duersch: Hong Kong Mission Adventure!!!

3.2.1. BLAST OFF!!!:

This P-Day was so fun! We got a bunch of Elders and with Elder Beeson and Newbold! I love going with old Companions to do stuff! We went down to the southern part of the Island and went into the Space Museum and it was super cool! They had so many exhibits and things that we just had a blast playing with everything! There was so much fun with everyone and we went down to the harbor and got the cool pics of all the skyscrapers and famous buildings you see in movies! I love going and seeing that scene it is so cool! The museum was so much fun and it is always good to catch up with old companions and see how they are doing!

Zone Conference:

 This was President and Sister Lams last Zone Conference with us! It was so strong with president Lam talking to us about how are spirits, bodies, and weaknesses  are all by Divine design and how it is all meant for us as individuals! We are all made to be us! Our father in heaven has so much for all of us to accomplish and he makes our spirits and bodies the way they need to be in order to become great! There was a lot of talk about how obedience brings miracles and blessings. I was reading a lot in the war Chapters in the Book of Mormon this week and there is on every page a statement of how when they kept the commandments they were blessed in the land! It applies to us all in these times as missionaries and as Latter Day Saints! If we keep the commandments and are obedient, we will prosper in the land and have miracles in our lives! I am trying so hard to be obedient out here as a missionary because there is so many little rules that are in play and when we keep them, we get our rewards and when we don't we get another....ummmmm "reward" hahaha. They taught us so much about us being us and the things he also said was to love our weaknesses! Because they make us who we need to be. His final words were,"Be self reliant so that when the lord calls upon you to serve, you can drop everything and get to work! I love President and sister lam and look forward to staying in contact with them in the future! The Phillips are also gonna be really cool and I look forward to meeting with them!

FuhChanJit Faailohk!!!:

Well this is the last thing but it is fathers day!!! And it is so cool out here for it. They had all the members who were 18 and older stand and it was cool! I am not a father but I will be in the future! It was kinda funny when they all looked at me and Elder Riley and they said, "Soon!" It was really funny!

I am so grateful for my father in my life! He is the greatest roll model and my Hero! He has taught me so much and his testimony can't be comprehended because it is just that big. And because we are a short family, it is hard to hold all that power in us hahah! I love my dad and he is always there for me! I love him and can't wait to become a father! Shout out to all the fathers in the world and to all they sacrifice for us!

Also to our Father in Heaven who does so much for us because he is our father! Imagine how excited he is for us to learn and grow and become like him and return home!

I love you all and am so great full for all you do for me! If you all have questions and things to ask just send em my way and we can talk! Also my dad made a little blog thingy if you haven't been up to date so go check that out if you so desire!

Love ya all and have a spirit filled week!

Yours in Fellowship and Love,󾓭🐲🐼✌🍜

鄧 長 老

Elder Connor R.Duersch

Dahng Jeunglouh

Stan Theman

Week 42: A little room to breath with Ricky, Referral Family, Games Night, RC testimony Meeting!

Lieh Hou Muiyatgoyahn!

Wow this week really did go by fast! There was a level 1 Typhoon that came and also it went to level 3! That isn't bad hahahaha. It was just so much rain you walk out 1 step and you are just dripping wet! You are wet from the rain here or just your own sweat it is just etch hahaha. When a typhoon gets to level 8 then you have to go home or if you are in the church you have to stay in the building until The Black Rain is over! There was a lot this week that happened and I know you all are probably wondering about some stuff that I hopefully can answer today for you all!

So lets get on with it then shall we!

On This weeks episode of Elder Connor R. Duersch, Hong Kong Adventures!

Investigators: 

 So we met with Ricky this week and we talked about his situation at his home with his wife. Unfortunately he can't be baptized because his wife is not open to any religion or church. Even when we tried to see if we could come over and play some board games and not talk religion she still wouldn't let us in. Ricky is trying to talk to her and let her know how great baptism is going to be for him. When he tries to talk about religion or anything to her they get in a huge argument and things go bad. So we are going to let him be for a bit and see what happens in a bout a week or so. He has a testimony of this church and truly wants to follow christ! I love this man and his example and the light I have seen grow in him! We will text him frequently to see how he is and send helpful scriptures and videos! The ward is also coming up with ideas on how to help him out!

Mr. Jehng(Chang is how it is spelled with British pinyin) is also doing really good! We went over to his house this week and taught the book of mormon and he really liked it. His son, who we named Lion cause he doesn't have an English name and his Chinese name sounds a lot like Lion, read the Book of Mormon with us and he is now a new investigator. We talked a bout baptism with Mr. Jehng and he said it would be hard cause he loves his tea and has some questions about the baptism stuff. He came to church this week and we were really excited for him!

Referral Family: 

 There is a sister in another ward who works for the LIahona and came and heard elder Riley give a talk about member referrals and how they are the key to this work. She came up to us and told us about her older sister and her family who could use the gospel. So we scheduled the family and the family consists of the Granmda(Sister) her son and his son. Judy, Jimmy, and Kenney! They like the message we shared about the restoration and they listened really intently to what we had to say. They fed us some macaroni and hot dogs so good hahaha! In china right hahaha. We are going to schedule them for this week as well and continue to keep teaching them! Really glad that sister Wong who helped us out with a referral is wanting her family to come closer to Christ!

Games Night: 

 With our Friday night games night going on we are getting more and more people to come and make it a more cozy place for non members to come and to have some fun. We had about 30-40 people come this Friday and it was super fun to play some card games and ping pong with my bishop! I am getting better at spinning the ball and doing some tricks ahahah. IT will be fun to come back home and play with you all! We had our new ward mission leaders wife share the message ad it went really well. With all the people in attendance a couple have come new investigators for the sisters and the other elders in the other ward! The work is going on and it is going on in a fun way!

RC Testimony Meeting!:

 We had a meeting with all the stake this Sunday with all the RC's this year and the last year to go and bear their testimony. Our RC Edith was able to go up and share her powerful testimony and also how much she really loved the gospel and how grateful she was for her Boy friend to introduce her to missionaries 2 years ago. Even though I taught 1 lesson to her before she got baptized, I am truly honored to know her and to be her friend! I was also in charge of coming up with a musical number for the even because people in the zone know I can conduct music. So I put together a quick little arrangement this week of Come Come Ye Saints and with some tweaking and some acopela parts, it turns out really well and the spirit was so strong and all the members loved! We also had other missionaries from our zone that brought investigators and it was so good for them. I was able to talk to a couple and they are so fun and love this gospel!

Well that was pretty much it for this week. I also was able to experience a new food from the 711's here in Hong Kong! Strawberry Lays chips! I know what you are thinking and yes......they were amazing! The strawberry was really there and it was not salty at all. I also was able to read the story of Captain Moroni and how he made the title of Liberty! I love this scripture because he wanted all in the land to remember their god and there families and to fight for what they now to be true. I invite us all to stand tall where ever we are to defend the faith and to let all know we love this church and our savior!

Thanks again for all your love and emails! Have an uplifting week!

Yours in Fellowship and Love,󾓭🐲🐼✌🍜

鄧 長 老

Elder Connor R.Duersch

Dahng Jeunglouh

Stan Theman

Week 41:The Gathering fun, Investigators news, Make way for Moana!!!

Lieh Hou Muiyatgoyahn!!!

This week really did fly by fast and I can't believe that we are already in June!!! What happened to the time my goodness! The weather here was really intense this week with the hottest day of the year in Hong Kong at a whopping 38 Celsius with about 70% Humidity. All the natives here said that it was the strangest thing they had ever felt! They said that it shouldn't get to that type of heat until end of July and August time! I am so scared for what summer has to offer and it is really going to be a crazy! I hope that I will be able to survive the heat cause I sweat a lot. and I do mean A LOT! Every one here is baffled by how much I can sweat! It is kinda funny cause  I had no idea I could sweat that much as well hahaha.😅It is kinda gross but in the end I have already lost 10 lbs in 3 weeks form eating really healthy food and also sweating my guts out hahaha. It is really gonna help to be in the best physical shape I can be in order to serve the lord with every thing I got!

That was a long intro but I will not let that go on for any longer and get to the main meat of this weeks meal for you all!

On this weeks Episode of Elder Connor R. Duersch Hong Kong Adventure!

The Gathering Fun!:

 So for this weeks P-Day we went to Wong Kok to check out the Magic the Gathering Shop. Out here on this mission this game is huge and if you don't play it something is incorrect hahaha. My trainer Elder Besson got me into it when I was with him and it is just a blast to play with all the friends I have made here. We went to Kowloon and I was able to see Elder Beeson, Egen, and Newbold! We had a blast playing in the Church and also going to the shop and buying some cards and playing some more. SO much fun and laughs with all these guys out here on my mission! I will forever have eternal Friendships made with all of these wonderful people here and I will never forget them! I love all the Elders I have come in contact with and they make my day each time I see them! There are so many people out here I have come to love and can't wait to see what other fun adventures we have together!

Investigators: 

So we had some really good stuff happen this week with our investigators and some interesting things as well! We will start with my good pal, Ricky!

So I was on exchanges with Elder Paulsen when we met with Ricky cause it was our plan to have him do the Baptismal interview since Elder Paulsen is our DL. We finished teaching all of our lessons with him and he is now done with all of our lessons! I asked him, "DO you believe that Joseph smith was a true prophet of god?" and he looked me right in the eyes and said, "Oh YES!!!) This mans testimony has grown so big and I love teaching him! He had his interview and things went ok with him but it turns out that in PMG if a spouse doesn't give permission for their other to get baptized they have to figure somethings out. So Ricky is currently having some family matters with trying to help them understand how baptism is a good thing. We have invited his family to multiple events and they just don't want to come. We are looking into ways to help them and if all works out he will be baptized this Sunday the 10! We are working really hard to help his family and he said that he will always read and come to church and meet with us! I love this man with all my heart and he is so ready to follow our savior and he loves this gospel!

New up-swelling of our part member family we are working with! The wife is a member and her name is Bobo and she is the coolest! They all speak English and the husband is named Patrick! We went to their house a couple of weeks ago and we met with him this Sunday! We taught the Book of Mormon and I was able to share my personal experience with how I came to know the Book Of Mormon was true and how it felt like a truck on my chest when I felt the spirit. Bobo really liked that analogy and we also invited Patrick to get baptized when he knows these things are true. He said yes I will think about it and he will read and pray about it! Really excited for him!

The next one is Brother Jang(Tsang) who is the man who's wife passed away and he has come to church about 8 times! He loves the people and all the help he is getting from the ward! Bishop pulled us aside and had an idea to have the sisters come with us to his house so they could help the daughter feel happy and to bring a sister form the ward to help them out as well to have kinda a mother figure. We went to a members house this week with him and the member in the picture I will send is Brother Lauh and he helps us out a lot! But we went to his house and we went to talk to the kids and he has a 9 year old son and the daughter is 14. We talked to the kids for a while and made friends with them and then we taught the Plan of salvation! He was so relieved to know that his wife and the kids mother was in a great place and that the gospel will be brought to her and here Brother Jang can do things in the temple! I am so blessed to have these great people in my life to teach me and for me to help them. But it is never me doing the work, it is all the Lord!

Make Way for Moana!:

That is right we were able to watch a Disney movie in Cantonese and it was the best thing ever! It made me feel like i was right at home and it was so nice. We had a total of 51 people in attendance and also had 21 of them were not Members!! SO amazing! The culture here is very interesting when it comes to ward activities and such! But the ward here is great and I really don't want to leave here but I will go where you want me to go dear lord!

well that pretty much does it for this week and there is more good to come in this month of June! Still can't believe that it came this quick. 

I love the Lord and am grateful for all my blessings here and for all the trials I have gone through because if I didn't go through them I wouldn't become who I need to be and the Lord and our Heavenly Father know all of us and they will make us become the best we can be!

Thank you all again for your prayers and your love you send my way!

Have a great week and have fun!

Yours in Fellowship and Love,🐲🐼✌🍜

鄧 長 老

 Elder Connor R.Duersch

Elder Duersch

Dahng Jeunglouh

Stan Theman