Moves this week! My new companion is Elder Gillis! It's been super good being companions with Elder Gillis. We've actually crossed paths a little bit before so we at least knew who each other was before the switch. He is a super solid Elder and is a great Zone Leader. I'm super excited for this opportunity to be able to learn from him and to work together in helping the Tolo Harbour zone!

This past week we have had most of our investigators leave to travel. A couple went up to mainland and one to Japan so it was a great way to start the move. We had a couple days of almost all finding. I feel like that is a really effective way to start off the companionship. We got to start out on the right foot, in the sun and learn how each other finds and teaches. Before one investigator went over to Japan we got to meet with him and followed up with him on the plan of salvation!! What an awesome lesson! He remembered so much and it seemed to just really click with him! We invited him to take his Book of Mormon on his trip and continue to read it everyday. We get along really well and Elder Gillis is a really humble open person. We also met with the Sister Training Leaders to talk about the overall situation with the zone and Elder Gillis and Sister Jackson had some really good ideas! This next Zone training we are thinking of sharing and discussing a lot about accountability, acceptance of responsibility, and attitude. 

 

I also want to thank you for your "faithen your finding" paper. Through numbers we have found that a lot of companionships are struggling with maintaining faith in their finding and so we are going to be re-inviting everyone to continue that activity.

 

I am grateful to be a representative of our Savior, Jesus Christ and serving him in Sheung Shui!

'Til next week,

Love, Elder Cederlof 

I went with Elder Liew in MOS. It was a super good exchange. Elder Liew is a super solid missionary. He is doing a fantastic job as District Leader. He is super responsive to counsel and has so much energy!!  We taught an investigator they have named a-wing. it was a super good lesson on the 2nd half of the Plan of Salvation. She asked some really good questions such as why is it in and only through Jesus Christ's atonement/death, why not just anyone else's death. Those are the types of questions I love to hear! It lead to a good discussion on his life and importance thereof.  

 

Eric also has been improving quite a bit! Just these last 2 or so weeks his desire has grown a ton. He is now reading everyday and praying and comes to church. His family is having some issues which has led him to have such a strong desire. It was awesome! This past week we met him at a area near their home. Originally we scheduled to meet with Eric, but shortly after he came, his wife came over as well. We focused most of our message on families. Talking about how they can strengthen theirs. Through things like family prayer and scripture study they will be able to have a stronger family! They were both willing to start reading and praying together. I also had a specific prompting as we invited them to also invite them to not just pray WITH each other, but to pray FOR each other. This week Eric goes up to Mongolia for a couple weeks so we will be unable to meet with him. 

   

I love having this opportunity to work with the entire zone. One thing I am especially grateful for is the language pass-offs. It is a great opportunity to help each individual missionary in the zone improve their language, teaching skills, and more! The members of this zone are awesome!!  I'm excited to see who the new members will be later this week!!

 

'Til next week,

Love, Elder Zach Cederlof

 

As you may know, Nick went up to mainland the last couple weeks and returned just this past week. Before he went to mainland we committed him to keep the word of wisdom. Unfortunately, he was not able to keep that committment while in China. Fortunately, it was a good learning experience to show why we need to read the scriptures everyday; to maintain the strength to resist temptation! It has been a little bit of a step back but the most important thing is to learn from the experience.
 
Now that we have the Liahona I have been reading and re-reading those talks! One that has stuck out to me ever since first hearing it is the one about learning to listen to the music. It's such a simple example of a powerful principle. No matter what phase we are in life are we dancing only to dance? Does it feel awkward or weird to us, but we continue due to outside pressures? Do we really hear the music?  In the talk he asks if we have ever seen someone in another car dancing to music and singing out loud? Doesn't it look strange? Maybe.  Flipping the picture, have we ever been in a car singing and dancing, not caring what the outside world thinks? Maybe not all of us, but I sure have! Am I living the Gospel in such a way that no matter what people on the "outside" think, I continue joyfully singing and dancing? I love this talk! It is a great reminder to look at the reason behind the things we do and to look at the sincerity of it as well!

Love, Elder Zach Cederlof

While finding out in the rain last week we had some cool experiences! We decided to go knock doors because not many people were out on the street. However, even knocking on doors, we weren't seeing much success. While we were walking out of a tsuen we had just finished in, we ran into a man on the street and started talking with him! He went to school over in the UK so he mostly used English. At first, he didn't seem to have much interest but that doesn't stop us! We shared some points on the restoration and he felt something in his heart and admitted he actually was starting to have some interest! Power of the Restoration!!  Another example.  A couple days prior to the experience mentioned above, we were walking and saw a father pushing a stroller with a little kid. We went over and talked to him.  Again, like the other man, he didn't have much interest and he said he needed to go. I had the distinct feeling to share Joseph Smith's own words.  In the short time we had, the spirit was felt and we were then able to exchange numbers. Last example.  Last night we met with a man named A Wah. He has no background whatsoever. Sharing the Restoration with him seemed to spark something within. He didn't mention anything particular but I could see it in his eyes.  There is definitely a reason that Preach my Gospel teaches to tie things back to the Restoration!
'Til next week!
 Love, Elder Cederlof

We definitely had some cool experiences this past week. Particularly on the day of Zone Conference. As you know, a little bit of a surprise that morning. (news of grandma Pearson passing) But through that experience I have come to learn and appreciate more about the Plan of Salvation. That has kind of seemed to be the theme of my mission. Although I've had some hard times, I am definitely grateful for the opportunity to strengthen my testimony about the Plan of Salvation.

I really enjoyed our Zone Training meeting. From the focus on improving our teaching skills to President and Sister Hawks testimonies of the importance and sacredness of the family. I'm thankful they, along with my parents, are such powerful examples of what an eternal family should be like. This is something I will always remember. I pray that through the things I learn here and continue to learn after my mission I will be able to fulfill that sacred duty.

 

I am very grateful for the opportunity to go to the temple today. My mom had a wonderful temple experience after my grandmother passed away.  I feel that today at the temple I will be able to find even more peace and strengthen my testimony even more.

 

Just like an example President Hawks shared at the beginning of my mission, when he was young, he learned to enjoy "taking your chainsaw to the mountains and working hard". I have definitely felt that type of change in myself!! I have learned to love the work!!  It really is the best 2 years!!!

 

Just as Thomas S. Monson talks about in "On the Lord's Errand," I want the Lord to know that when He has an errand, Elder Cederlof will be there!

 

'Til next week,

 Love, Elder Zach Cederlof

Mother's Day

Dear Mom -

Most of the stuff I already told you on the phone, but the coolest thing we are seeing now is that even though Elder Smith and I aren't having has much finding time, we are seeing huge miracles on the street everytime we go out! So awesome! Through this I have defniitely learned the valuable lesson that as we put the Lord first, he will fulfill the rest!! So always put the Lord first!! Things really couldn't be better right now. I love the ward, I love the area, I love my companion! It definitely is a great time to be a missionary!

I love you mom! Happy Mother's Day!

Love, Elder Zach Cederlof

 

Me talking to you on Mother's Day



The view looking out our window

 



Last move.  Me, Elder Tseng and the Sheung Shui Sisters
 

The Six Elders in our old apartment
 

Elder Klein (to my right) is from England and is one of my best friends out here