Week 50 - Read The Book

Wow another great week in NTK!!! I can see some good things coming in this area in the near future. The other NTK Elders have a solid teaching pool with like 2 baptismal dates and another solid person who will be baptized soon. Ummm me and Elder stone are building up a pool of formers, and we are meeting with a guy tonight who I think who could have some good potential so good things are coming along. (The guy was named Ray. He would just read the book of mormon and google anti questions to ask us. We were able to answer all of his questions, but it was useless. We met with him probably for 2 months, but during that time he read a lot of the Book of Mormon, but refused to pray. He had 0 faith and didn't even want to try. He became more and more rude to us and some members in lessons. It got to the point where we called him out for being rude, lazy, and dropped him and all contact with him. Elder Stone kind of liked him because he (elder Stone) has a lot of knowledge of the scriptures, but after a discussion we both agreed to drop him.)

I also had the great opportunity to have our transfer interviews with President Lam, and even though it was short i did get some very good counsel from him, and just simple plain ideas on finding people that I never thought of. 

And then this weekend was what we call "The Super Bowl for Missionaries" AKA General Conference which was straight fire and I honestly learned so much. and it was kind of interesting because I sat right behind President and Sister Lam just seeing how they react to some of the talks, and something President Lam brought up was John 3:16 was quoted 4 or 5 times throughout the Conference, and he found that interesting and I might see a future Zone Conference theme in the near future. It is always great to hear from the Prophet himself when he share a short simple testimony of the Book of Mormon, so everyone who gets this email JUST READ THE BOOK!!! That's a regret I had growing up because you can honestly learn so much by just reading like 10 minutes a day!!! So that's my challenge to all of you read just 10 minutes a day!!!

Yeah that's all I got. Oh, if anyone hasn't seen the churches new Easter Mormon message I encourage you all to watch it on Mormon.org.

Love you all and talk to to next week!!!

Elder Eveson

Week 49 - New Area

Hey what's up everyone!!! Since I'm a little short on time I will quickly give a rundown of the highlights from this last week. Last Monday we hiked Lions Rock and it was a lot of fun and a great view of all of Kowloon. It was a lot easier this last time. It's probably because it isn't quite burning hot and humid yet.

On Tuesday of district meeting while walking out of the chapel we heard some people yelling at us. and when I heard that I looked out across the street and it was my grandma.... yeah didn't see that coming, and I didn't exactly know how to react, and walked over to talk to her. That was fun I also met her friend that I also knew back from the new T's. So yeah that was pretty cool.

Ummm we also had an investigator drop us on only our 2nd meeting, but we also met with a new guy, who I have been told used to be a big gangster back in the day, and ran like my entire area. Don't worry he's harmless he can barely walk now, and was also super nice to us, and the previous missionaries that taught him.

On Saturday there was a Primary Easter egg activity at a park and we helped run it. After the activity ended we played tag with them, and lets just say I'm on a new pair of shoes now haha, but now the Primary kids and the Primary Presidency love us, so we are building relationships within the ward, which is by far the most important thing to do in missionary work.

So those were the highlights of the week. me and Elder Stone are still trying to build up a teaching pool, but the ward is super awesome when it comes to missionary work. They are super willing to help and everytimes there is a activity they make sure we are there, and there are always non members/ less actives that come and we can meet. 

Hey love you ALL!!! and I'll talk to you all next week!!!

Elder Eveson

Ngau Tau Kok Elders at Lion Rock

With Elder Stone, my companion

Saw my grandma (PoPo) at Kowloon Tong Chapel

Week 48 - Starting from Nothing

So before I get into anything about my new area I'm gonna talk about my last couple of days in Tuen Mun. Let's just say I felt like Kobe Bryant during his last season and his "farewell tour". I called like every member in the ward to say bye and they all turned into conversations, which took valuable packing time in the afternoon. I met with so many members my last couple of days we barely had time to do some personal study. Then to cap off the "farewell tour" I ate dinner at the Yu's house (if i had to pick a favorite family it would be them) and had some pretty good pizza, which is too expensive for missionaries to buy. Then when I got home I honestly say I was holding in some pretty big tears, while calling the rest of the members. I was there for 9 months, and wanted to stay there my entire mission, and probably go to that ward for the rest of my life. Man I really miss that place.


But of course I gotta move on and now I'm in NTK (Ngau Tau Kok) and it's a completely different world. It's super hilly so I get tired walking around. There are like 20x more people here, and me and my comp have no idea how to get anywhere. Saturday morning we tried to get to the chapel and let's say we got lost. Also there's no light rail like in the New Territories but they got good mini bus system here. Here in Hong Kong there are 2 types of mini busses. One has a green roof, and one has a red. The green roofs are ok and run by like a public transit company, but in NTK area they are all red tops. These busses are ran by the Chinese triads (you know the gangs up here) and let's say every time we go to church we fund the triads haha)

Our first coupe of days we're a lot of just sitting around at our desks trying to figure it out what we are doing because me and Elder Stone are opening a new companionship. We had a area book some LA's, a member book and a German who is still being trained in the area (Elder Egen), and knows most of the area. It's almost like we are whitewashing haha. Yesterday at church it was good. The members really welcomed us and we had the chance to share our testimonies during sacrament meeting. The ward is pretty small, even smaller than Tuen Mun ward, which I already thought was pretty small.


We did meet with a former yesterday, and guess what???? He has a baptismal date!!! so good things are coming!!! (His name is Bro Wong and he ended up being nuts and we think he was bipolar or something)


Love ya all!!!


off to climb a rock!!! (Lions Rock)

Elder Eveson

Yu Family

Me and my buddy Lok Yuen

Last District Meeting

The gate broke in new Ngau Tau Kok Apartment, we have to figure it out how to open it.

Recent Convert Sister Chan

Fam

Week 47- End of an Era

Well it's sad to say, but my 9 months in Tuen Mun are up. About 5 minutes before I walked into the library to email, Elder Smith gets a call from the zone leaders, sits down in the MTR station and I just walked away in fear. After the call he covers up our companionship and tells the rest of our district, and then uncovers Tuen Mun, and I didn't see my name in the spot. So yeah I'm opening a second Elders companionship in Ngau Tau Gok. Umm I was pretty sad, actually I still am, but when I found out who else was moving to the area it was alot easier to take in because Elder Jensen (my trainer) is going to be in the other Ngau Tau Gok companionship!!! and my buddy Elder Hansen is moving to the office which is also in my zone, and if my MTC comp Elder Earls doesn't move he will also be, so it should be alot of fun! So yeah lets end that part.

2nd this week we had Zone Conference and President Lam said some really bold things during that meeting. He pretty much said don't ever go street finding, and to visit members and teach them to build up trust and eventually get their friends involved, and to do the street contacting between lessons. It was pretty bold, but he quoted prophets the entire time saying the members really need to step up their game when it comes to missionary work, So I guess I would encourage everyone to invite missionaries to their homes a little more, but also bring friends too!

Me and Elder Smith also had the opportunity to teach a couple new people this week that we have found through English class, and our English class went from pretty pathetic to super popular since I've been here, and actually the last 2 months or so. I'm very happy where Tuen Mun is and I know Elder Smith will take good care of it. He's a great missionary and it has been a pleasure serving with him the last 11 weeks.

Oh I guess I can talk a little about my last pday at monkey mountain. Ummm let's just say the group of Elders I was with we got chased 3 times by monkeys and the very last time a monkey looked me straight in the eyes hissed and chased after ME. I was scared for my life because some how I scared the monkeys baby, but I swear I didn't do anything, but don't worry I'm ok.

Today gonna chill with my MTC buds Elder Earls and Cobabe and are gonna have a nice Korean BBQ, the missionaries favorite expensive place to eat!! 

Love ya all, and im excited for a new change!!

Elder Eveson

Monkeys everywhere

The Mom monkey is the one attacked me

With my buddy Carson in English Class

We made pizza in English Class

Week 46

Hey another week down in the HK! It's been the same old same old that I usually say yeah. Actually Wednesday we had to go down to Kowloon Tong to for a self reliance training that is held every year. It was pretty good, and I guess I learned how I can improve a little bit, but it was also good to see some old friends that I haven't had the chance to see in a while, and even ran into my good friends/MTC comp/ roommate for 8 months down there as well, so it was good.

On Thursday we also had the chance to go to good old Crossroads for our weekly service, and actually last week I actually hit 100 hours of service there, so now I can get a nice shiny letter of recommendation from a world wide charity so YAY!! Also when I first got to Tuen Mun there were only 8 missionaries that volunteered there every week, and now its 22, so I think it's safe to say that the "Mormons" in 2 hours of service do more than than all the other volunteers do in an entire week haha! No wonder they keep asking for more of us! But anyways me and Elder Smith were assigned to fix up a water damaged bathroom in one of the apartments there, and you can always count on Crossroads to make work in the dirtiest of environments! But hey it's all good we can make the hardest things fun!

Then on Friday me and Elder Smith taught a BOMB English class we played the price is right and everyone loved it, and everyone thought our made up prices for items were fairly accurate except 1 member wasn't impressed with our prediction of the ping pong table. We guessed around $170 US, so what would you guys have guessed?

I guess our finding miracle of the week was we stopped this guy at the street, and the first thing he said was "I've seen you guys like 3 times this week, and I've said I was busy, so I'll give you a chance" so we talked and he went on a rant about medical stuff me and Elder Smith didn't understand, then when we asked to exchange numbers he was like na it's ok. We were pretty bummed then handed him a flier with our number. But the miracle was like 2 days later when he called us just to say "hey do you remember me??" and the end of the story is we scheduled him for later this week, so yay!

ummmm what else??? oh!! Yesterday we had Stake Conference, and it was super good. Saturday night and Priesthood session was all about missionary work, so we got to hear President and Sister Lam speak, and we were able to get our less active buddy Martin to come too! He had to leave about halfway through but he came and we were able to schedule him!!! He's the guy our bishop really wants to focus on when it comes to LA work, so I'm excited!

So yeah that was my week! sorry no pictures but I promise some will come next week! Off to Monkey Mountain to chill with my good old friend Elder Jensen, and to get attacked by some monkeys!! (I actually was attacked by one! It hissed at me and started to chase me!)

Love ya all!!!

Elder Eveson

彥長老

Week 45 - the Atonement is REAL!!

Hey what's up Everyone!!! All is well here in HK. The cold weather that never was actually cold is rolling away, and today I started to feel that humidity that killed me over the summer starting to come back, so wish me luck!

So, as far as news from this last week we have met with a couple of new people we have met along the street, and me and Elder Smith are trying to help them to know the things we teach are true because most of the people we have met with don't have alot of interest, but are white guys that know Chinese, so that's a reason to meet right?

And I guess any other news is that we got a new ward mission leader, who I think can really help us a lot, and we also met with the Bishop to discuss what's the best thing to help our ward. So I'm really hoping find some new solid people to teach to really help our ward. Also do you remember that LA Brother Yiu we found about 2 months ago and was inactive for 20+ years, and his life wasn't the best because he had a word of wisdom problem? Well he is doing great he is now clean from his problems and got a new job that he likes and doesn't have to work on Sundays, and he's super grateful that we found him and that God gave him another chance because if you remember we only talked to him on the street for about 30 seconds and somehow ended up with his number. Our Bishop said he is working on getting him a calling in the ward so yeah!! The atonement is REAL!! 

Top of Castle Peak with Elder Smith

Other than that we hiked a mountain in our area today (Castle Peak) and it had a super beautiful view. You could see the ocean and on the other side you could see like 3 different cities. We actually did personal study up there, and chilled for like another 1.5 hours or so! It was super hard to get up just think of a couple of miles of straight stairs!!! Yeah that's how hiking is here in Hong Kong! No wimpy switch backs and flat trails, they just got straight up!

So those are the highlights of my week

Love ya'll!!

Elder Eveson

Other side of Castle Peak

Another side of Castle Peak

English Class

Week 44 - 10 months

Hey everyone one another great week in Tuen Mun!!! and so today marks my 10 month mark on my mission!! (actually its tomorrow because Hong Kong is like 16 hours ahead but ehhh) but it also means I've been in Tuen Mun for almost 8 months as well! It's been a lot of fun and actually there is still a month left in the transfer, so I'll be 9 months by then!!!

This week was actually pretty slow. We are now just finding a lot to find a new set of investigators. Last week we also had our interviews with President Lam and something he really stressed is street finding is not the most effective ways of finding. He wants us to work with our bishops with part member families and getting referrals from members. We are meeting our new bishop who knows the members really well already and he probably has a good idea of the part member families in the ward. So we are excited to work with him.

Also do you remember the 2 people from Africa we taught last week?? Well we taught them again, and the lesson was really good. They had some really good questions and we plan on extending a baptismal invitation next week!

I guess the only other thing out of the ordinary this week is on Saturday morning I woke up with my left eye almost completely red, and me being my stubborn self refused to go to the doctor (because it would take like 4 hours for them to tell me to buy eye drops) and so I bought some eye drops at the store put on my glasses which are the most annoying thing in the world, and called it good. and you don't need to worry my eye is almost back to normal today, so yeah that was my week!

Love ya all!!

Elder Dylan Eveson

Oh yeah since my eye was a little on the red side, I didn't take any pictures this week, but they will come next week!