From the Land of Durian and non-sticky sticky notes

something food:

last Thursday was our missionary zone conference and for the first time here in Hong Kong i was exposed to the amazingness of durian. if any of you are familiar with this food, you know what i mean when i say that it was quite the experience. i have smelt it in the grocery stores, but never tasted it and i don't think i ever will after watching several missionaries eat loads of it in an attempt to win a game and get very sick afterwards. it is pretty nasty stuff and i'm sure i will be forced to try it eventually just to say i've had some, but it is the worst food i've seen so far here in Hong Kong. poor elder christianson...he will never be the same again....

something exciting!

this last Saturday, 2 of our investigators were baptized and will be confirmed as members this coming sunday! It is a mother and her son, and they have been learning about the church for over a year now. to keep it short, i will just say that many miracles happened to get them to this point and sister vance and i feel like we didn't do anything, it was all the Lord helping them along and in the end, the support of ward members. it makes all the difference! so many blessings!

something for my Dadio:

this sunday is father's day, so i have to do a shout out to my DADIO, who is pretty much the most amazing father i've ever had...uh, well, yes. you know what i mean. hou gwaa jyu leih! (i miss you!) and if i were there i would give you a big hug! thanks for all you do dad...ps: did you get my package yet?

something spiritual:

so, this week i read the conference ensign issue on "selfless service" by elder oaks and it hit me so hard how much members of the church give of their time and efforts without anything in return. it hit me so hard how millions of members around the world and thousands of missionaries also give of their time and money to serve the Lord and make a difference wherever they are living or serving. so what motivates us? what motivates anyone who so selflessly serves and sacrifices so much? i wil tell you - there is nothing like the joy you feel from truly serving others. once you start, you can't stop. at least that is how i feel right now as a missionary. the joy you can bring to others in return blesses you far more than trying to satisfy your own desires and wants and wishes. President Hinckley said, "He who lives only unto himself withers and dies, while he who forgets himself in the service of others grows and blossoms in this life and in eternity."

something humid:

the temperature and humidity continue to rise here in Hong Kong, making daily life very interesting. for example, after showering, there is no point in trying to dry off, because you will be just as wet after drying off as you were getting out of the shower. yea! i am a big sticky-note person because they keep me organized. well, all my sticky notes don't stick now! it's too moist and humid in the air! all my books have started to warp and my companion told me that i need to watch my things and clothes carefully because everything starts to mold in the summer. oh goodie! why do people live here again? ....just kidding. at least my skin is feeling good these days!

something grateful:

i just want to say thanks to those of you who have written me letters! needless to say, they make me very happy and it's very kind of you to think of me here in the far reaches of asia. every letter is a cherished gift from heaven that brightens any rainy day!