Week 27: I found all the Buddhists

 大家好!


Well we found out transfer news on Saturday night and... I'm leaving my baby area! So crazy, I'm heading all the way down to Hong Kong Island! I've been kinda out in the boonies here in Sheung Shui, but now I'm heading to THE downtown spot which is crazy. In even crazier news I'm going to be training there, so we'll see how that goes haha. I'm a little nervous but also really excited for the new opportunity!

Highlights:
- On Tuesday I went on exchanges with Elder Roberts again and all the old Chinese men in his ward taught me more ping pong at their ward ping pong activity. Everyone better watch out when I get home cause I'm learning from the best of the best: old retired Chinese men
- We had interviews with President on Wednesday, which were so fire! I love having interviews. We had some really good discussions, and he asked me a question on a topic I'd been thinking about a lot recently, but hadn't mentioned to anyone. It was so cool and strengthened my testimony that leaders in the church really do receive revelation to guide us!
- We had another rehearsal for that musical number I'm doing, and they're having me do a solo for one of the lines. I'm so freaking cooked, please send help
- I went door knocking for the first time ever in these neighborhoods called chyuns. They're basically these super packed together mini houses and small two story apartments. They're really vibey though. Also I found where all the Buddhists and Taoists live, cause every single person who answered the door told us that's what they believed and then politely declined a message. They were also the nicest non-members I've met in Hong Kong
- At church today I had to say bye to all the friends I've made in the ward, which actually made me so sad, I'm gonna miss all of them so much!

Spiritual thought:
This week I read the talk One Percent Better by Elder Michael A. Dunn after my mission president gave me some advice on improving. I love the concept of just trying to focus on little ways to improve. I know that for me I sometimes want to see big changes ASAP, but Elder Dunn shares that that's not even how the Savior grew: 
   12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;
   13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness;  (D&C 93:12-13)
The Savior will help us as we consistently try every day to improve little by little. And those efforts over time will build up until we become the person that Heavenly Father and the Savior know we have the potential to be.

Love you all!
Elder Blankenbiller

Google Photos:

Pictures:
1. Ward FHE activity
2. We had chicken wing night where each Elder in the apartment consumed a pound of chicken wings
3. Last Pic with 李兄弟
4. Last pic with 卓兄弟
5. Last pic with 羅兄弟 and 羅姊妹









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