We have continued to see some huge miracles. On the street we had a lot of time to talk to people about their culture and learn about Chinese New Year’s. The biggest miracle was that Tyler (hsk ward) finally got baptized! Elder Black and I found him back when we were serving in Tuen Mun. Fortunately, living with the Hsk elders, we could continuously get updates on how he was doing! Throughout all the problems and trials he has had to go through in order to be baptized he has finally made it! He put his trust in the Lord's promise as contained in 1 Nephi 3, and received the answers he needed. The next big miracle is with Kelvin. He has committed to quit smoking! It's definitely going to be a challenge for him but he can do it! We set a plan with him a couple weeks ago, but he still has been struggling, so we went over with him what worked and what didn't and we came to realize very quickly that when he actually did what the Lord, through us, invited him to do-read the scriptures/pray when he had the feeling to smoke- he didn't smoke. However, he didn't do that every time, therefore hasn't quit smoking. We talked about the reasons behind the things we were sharing and he committed to pray and/or read when he feels like he needs to smoke. A-yung was confirmed this past Sunday! So awesome! The correlation throughout the leaders is impressive! Before, she and Nicole were confirmed; they already had home and visiting teachers! Bro. Tsang is playing a huge role in pushing this work forward! So grateful for him! The past week's "deep clean" definitely brought an inviting spirit! It seriously was a good feeling to clean the entire apartment from the ceiling down. When thinking back about the things I've learned about cleanliness and the fact that the home can be as sacred as the temple, but it needs to be as CLEAN as the temple as well. I've set some goals for my home now, as well as future home, to be able to maintain that level of cleanliness in order to have my home feel as sacred as the temple. Tung Family, the family that came to the church by themselves, seemed to have vanished. We called and texted them to no response, until Sunday! Bro. Tung texted us back and said he had some medical issues so he won't be able to meet for a couple weeks. Not being able to meet for a couple weeks is the bad news, but the good news is that they still have strong desire to learn more about these things! It is all in God's hands. His timing is perfect! Til Next Week, Love, Elder Zachary Cederlof

 

 

This week we have continued to see big miracles! The first one is with Sister Chan (RC)'s husband. He originally was pretty against anything about the church. We have fasted and been praying that he will change and able to accept the gospel. We have now started seeing the results of those prayers and fasting. He isn't quite there yet, but he has been changing.  He now supports Sister Chan even more in going to church. It definitely is a process but I know the Lord will continue to answer our prayers one step at a time! Throughout helping their family I have really come to understand more about my purpose in Hong Kong. I feel that I have found one of the reasons why I was sent to Hong Kong. I'm bringing back my lost family to God's Kingdom! It is such a privilege!

 
 A-yung was able to be baptized this past week! Her journey to baptism has been incredible! She first met the missionaries 6 months ago, and the effort she has put in to be able to get baptized last week is awesome!! She has gone through so much but has relied on the Lord and thus able to progress to baptism! It is awesome to see how much she has changed throughout this process, especially since we set this baptismal date. Her heart truly has changed. She has the desire to do good and shows it through her actions.

This week leading up to Nicole's confirmation has been crazy for Nicole! She is facing some pretty hard anti from her sister. We tried at least make contact with her every single day! Despite the trials she has been facing, she has put her trust in the Lord. We shared a lesson with her about Amulon persecuting Alma at that time, how they relied on the Lord. She really took the lesson to heart and later that day sent us a text telling us how grateful she was to hear the gospel and how it applies to her situation. She is such an awesome example of putting her Trust in God!!

 Til next week,
 Love, Elder Cederlof

Baptism!

This past week was crazy! This week we were meeting with Nicole just about every day to help her continue to prepare for baptism! All of the preparation was worthwhile! She got baptized yesterday!! It was definitely a special moment! There was great ward and friend support at the baptismal service! It has been an amazing experience to be able to help Nicole prepare for baptism. Before she learned about the church she wasn't a bad person by any means. She had already set good standards for herself. However, she was still missing that piece! (the gospel) It's amazing to see how the gospel can take an already "good" person and transform them into that much better! It strengthened my testimony that no matter what stage of life we are in, to what degree we've applied the Atonement; we can all become even better through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
Zone Conference was awesome! I really liked the focus on purpose. My testimony was definitely strengthened from Zone conference. Also, the surprise of watching "Meet the Mormons" was also super cool! It has some very powerful examples and stories. I especially liked the missionary mom segment because it is even another example of how the gospel can turn someone's life around!

Although Nicole got baptized yesterday, Sunday attendance dropped a ton from the previous weeks! The family that came last two weeks went out of town this past weekend. We originally had them scheduled Saturday but they didn't come and then didn't answer the phone. We were a little bit worried because out the blue no contact, but then we got a hold of them Sunday night and then found out that they ended up going out of Hong Kong and forgot to tell us; so we rescheduled them on Wednesday! The ward fast has brought such huge miracles! I truly believe the ward is coming together more and more every week! We have been seeing so many miracles! I read this morning in personal study about the 2,000 stripling warriors. I like how Helaman calls them his sons. They were truly a family, united in God's cause, and were given success. Castle Peak Bay is becoming like Helaman's army! I am so blessed to be able to be side by side with my brothers and sisters, united in God's cause! Obviously there are still plenty of challenges, and there will continue to be so; just as all of the stripling warriors were wounded. But I love the words of Joseph Smith "shall we not go on in such great a cause?" I love being here and being able to go on in such great a cause!
 
Til next week,
Love, Elder Cederlof

The work is continuing to progress every single week here!! I'm so grateful to be serving here at this time! Nicole is doing awesome!! She is so humble and her desire to learn is very strong! A-yung is still looking good for her baptismal date! 

 
Throughout this ward 40 day fast we have seen so many miracles!! From single people walking into the church to now, an entire family walking in! A family walked into the Butterfly ward last week. However, they lived in our area and they didn't get a chance to get their contact information. Fortunately, they came back yesterday! The mom didn't come this time, but we were able to teach the dad and two kids after church. They don't have any Christian background but have a strong desire to come and learn about these things. Such a huge blessing!! 
 

The ward is doing so awesome! Yesterday in testimony meeting members bore powerful testimonies of the ward fast and missionary work. It is such a blessing to be able to see the ward and missionary work coming together. The leaders are active in their callings and we are always talking of new ways or ideas in order to help the ward continue to grow. 

The past little bit studying about My purpose has continued to help my testimony grow so much! The thing that has stuck the most out to me is the fact that this really is God's work. If we will do it His way, we will get the results He wants us to. The journey of it all is simply aligning our will with his. The more aligned we can be, the more we can follow His plan for us. Through counsel from prophets, leaders, and personal revelation we can align ourselves. Giving God and His commandments priorities is most important. I really liked reading about that from last General Conference. We need to make the time for God. He isn't just an afterthought, or an "if I have time" type of a thing. But as us missionaries, members, and investigators work together to do that we have been able to see a lot of success. 

 
 Til Next week!
 Love, Elder Cederlof