Week 5: I Might Be Famous

Helloooo everyobody!

This week was pretty crazy, we've been picking up speed in our Cantonese classes and learning how to teach more of the gospel, teach object lessons, and explain how to pray. It's been pretty difficult so far but I can definitely see myself improving a ton! The gift of tongues is absolutely real. 

Some highlights:
- We learned the Cantonese birthday song and sent a video of our district singing it to one of the Sister's grandpa's who had a birthday that day (he's Chinese and grew up speaking Cantonese.) 
- I had my favorite reaction anyone has ever given to my last name: President Newman from the MTC Presidency came to our Branch meeting on Sunday and was teaching our Elder's Quorum lesson. I raised my hand to make a comment and he said "Yeah, Elder... (squints at my tag) Blankenbiller?? Wow that's a long name, that must be a pain to write out every time, bless your soul."
- President Newman actually gets a double feature for this email, as he gave one of the most entertaining devotionals I have ever attended last night. He did a kind of open forum thing where he got people from the audience to comment and share, and at one point one of the Elders made a kinda sassy joke towards President Newman and everyone laughed a little, and the President Newman goes "Does your mother have this problem with you at home too?" Which is crazy šŸ˜‚ And for the whole devotional he just kept roasting people, it was wild. 
- We worked on recording short videos to post on the Hong Kong Mission Facebook page so that will be popping up soon for the whole of Hong Kong to see, so you know, I'll be a little famous maybe. 
- This morning my district went to go play some field games and stuff at the MTC field, and we ended up playing KanJam, which is the game where you try and throw the frisbee and get it in the little bucket thingy. I was on a team with Elder Vega in my district and we were down by like 13 points and they were at 20 so all they needed was one more point to win. We were playing where if you get it in the slot you instantly win so that was our only hope, I missed my first shot and then Elder Vega, who'd been kinda whiffing his throws the entire game, throws the frisbee STRAIGHT INTO THE SLOT, it was INSANE!!! Moral of the story, miracles are real. Go on a mission and you will win at KanJam. Amen.
- This week my DL Elder Christman received like 3 or 4 packages from someone but we have no idea who because the name on the return address only says rocket man

Spiritual thought:
This week I was reading in Alma 26:25-26 and it's when Ammon and his brothers just finished their mission to teach the Lamanites. Ammon is talking about how when they started their mission most of the Nephites just wanted to kill of all the Lamanites and get rid of their wickedness and iniquity, but the sons of Mosiah saw the potential that the Lamanites had and went to teach them. And the results? The conversion of so many of the Lamanites. And they became some of the most righteous people in the entire Book of Mormon! But most people couldn't see that potential. A lot of the time we can't see people's potential and what they can do. But the Lord can, and that's why we have to see people through the Lord's eyes. If we make judgements right away, we could be missing out on so much!

Love you all!
Elder Blankenbiller

Pictures: 
1. My companion fell asleep in language study
2. Somehow this is still within the maximum capacity for the elevator, we're not sure how
3. District temple pic







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