Week 35: The Elders Quorum is at war

 大家好!


Probably had the most insane week of my mission this week. Just the most insanity ever. But it was super good!! So many cool miracles and awesome things, and some also less awesome things that will still at least interesting

Highlights:
- On Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder Bentley, the 23 year old British Elder in my district. It was LEGENDARY. We never even had time to plan our day because of how insane things got. We started off the morning with some really great conversations about some things I've been having a hard time with and he gave me some really helpful advice. Then while we're talking we get a call from the Sisters we serve with telling us to come to the chapel to give a guy a tour. He ends up being super lit. Then as we're leaving the chapel we run into a member from Sheung Shui, the old area I used to serve in. Crazily enough, Elder Bentley also served there in the past and also knew him. He was having a really really bad day, and we were able to talk him through some stuff and give him a priesthood blessing. Then we met up with this guy Damon who is a member who is trying to prepare to serve a mission but has a lot of challenges. So we hung out with him for lunch and then helped him work through some stuff. The rest of the day was also insane but this is already long enough so those are most of the awesome things
- Yesterday in Elders Quorum two dudes got into a crazy fight about something and then one of them sent a literal essay into the Elders Quorum group chat berating the other guy. Crazy drama
- We met an adorable kid named Chester who asked if he could keep a picture of Jesus we had
- I also gave baptismal interviews to this lady Christine and her two kids, which is crazy cause family baptisms are really rare in this mission. The two kids are adorable and the interview with Christine was amazing. She mentioned that she really hopes that the gospel will help her kids turn out well, and I was able to share one of the most powerful testimonies of my mission about how my life has been shaped and changed forever by the fact that my parents raised me in the gospel and raised me with this faith.

Spiritual Thought:
My friend Sister Pierce recommended reading the BYU devotional "Lessons on Endurance" this week and so I did. I actually was at BYU and watched this devotional live, and reading it reminded me of how amazing it is! J. Ty Hopkins shares about his experience of how intense physical and mental challenges that he experienced while competing in a challenging bike race opened his eyes to what enduring trials really means. He talks about appreciating the blessings that we do have around us, and how when we stop and "see the meadow," then we are better able to endure our challenges. Choosing to focus on the beauty and blessings we have can change our entire perspective on suffering, and I know that's true! 

Love you all!
Elder Blankenbiller

Google Photos

Pictures
1. Unlimited chicken wings restaurant we went to last P-Day
2. Giant carnival spinny ride we went on last P-Day. They claim it's the tallest one in the world
3. Cool park
4. Ward activity
5. Zone Leadership meeting






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