Merry Christmas!

Hai! Merry Christmas one and all!

So yeah. Last week was pretty tough. But this week was wayyyyy better. We ran into loads of pretty golden investigators. And of course, golden investigators is really just anyone who is actually willing to meet with us haha. But pretty good. We had 4 whole investigators come to church on Sunday! Which is basically a record for this area.

No idea what was different about this week from last week but we kept running into interested people. On Tuesday we ran into this super golden investigator (actually golden not just willing to listen to us haha) from a place near Shenyang (didn't really catch the name). Anyways, he said that he didn't know much about religion but when I shared the first vision with him on the street he recognized it since he had just moved from near richmond, VA where he had a mormon friend who had helped him and his family a lot when he had first moved there and had shared a little bit about the church with them. Anyways, so we went to the nearby park and taught a lesson which went really well. When he said the closing prayer he was like "and I hope this will be something I can pursue my whole life." Elder Luo and I were like "Yay!" and then found out he actually lives in the Daley City area haha so we just referred him over to the new sister missionaries who are serving there. But still cool.

Actually we had like 6 referrals that we sent over to Daley City this week. Helped improve our guanxi with the new sisters though so it's cool. We also met a guy who we started teaching and were like "Yeah this could work" and then it came out that his career basically consists of going to the casino every day. Elder Luo and I were like "wat?!" So we don't really know what we're gonna do with him. Plus we invited him to church and he was like, "Nope, sorry, the casinos give out even more money on Sundays..." I don't really know how he makes money but he must have some kind of system since he says he's never lost before. Pretty hilarious though.

We also met a woman (Sister Yu) who we started teaching and looked pretty promising. She was really interested in getting us to teach her son who's 26 years old, dropped out of college, and basically stays at home playing computer games all day (pretty much what i'm planning on doing after the mission). So pretty much super pathetic. We arranged to meet with her and her son and it pretty much turned into the most awkward lesson ever. We started teaching by watching "our search for happiness" which went ok and then we started talking about the plan of salvation and like what the purpose of life is and stuff. In the middle of the lesson he stood up and was like "Wo bu dong zhege" [I don't understand this.] and went back to his room. We were like... "ummm...." So we started to continue teaching Sister Yu but she like shook her head and pointed to the door. I was like "oh... I guess we'll leave then" haha. She came down with us though and we finished our lesson with her down by the entrance of the apartment. Ended up that her husband opposed her continuing to meet with us and so we had to drop her as an investigator, but yeah... pretty awkward lesson. And a pretty pathetic situation overall to be honest. I can't believe their son man. Such a waste of a life, honestly.

Anyways, we also added two investigators from Vietnam and are continuing to meet with the OuYang family which is cool. However, one our investigators from Vietnam (Brother Liu) has had like one of the roughest lives ever. First, he's got all these like wounds and scars and stuff since he served as a soldier in the Vietnam War that he goes to the doctor for 3 days a week. Also, he was telling us about his life in Vietnam after the war where I guess he got sent to some kind of re-education camp once the Americans left and he was caught trying to escape Vietnam which was pretty dismal from his description. He's now living with his nephew and his nephew's family and kind of looks after their kids in return for them allowing him to stay with them, but for some reason neither Elder Luo nor I are entirely clear on, he can only live with them through the 23rd of December, after which he'll have to move out. Basically, he has no idea where he's going to go and at the moment looks like he might end up without anywhere to live. Elder Luo and I are fasting for him today and we have faith that the Lord will prepare a way for him to avoid being homeless. At least we hope so since at the moment we really can't tell what will happen.

On a bit of a lighter note, the other guy from Vietnam (Tony Liu) is pretty funny. He speaks like 7 languages and just joined another Christian church. As we were on the train back from the church into downtown, Elder Luo was chatting with him and was like "So do you think what we talked about in our lesson is true? (we taught the restoration). And he was like "yeah I guess I do" And then Elder Luo basically committed him to be baptized right there for Jan. 23rd haha. Don't know how solid that is but I guess we'll find out. He was also telling us about everyone who comes into association with him either dies or stops associating with him. So I guess we'd better be extra careful from now on... haha.

Wow, 96 is pretty old! [Our former neighbor just passed away.] That's neat you guys got to attend his memorial service but yeah I guess a bit of a bummer you didn't get around to seeing him before he passed away. That is way older than what I would've thought. If I ever get that old i'd definitely be telling everyone. Pretty big accomplishment.

I'm in the library today sending emails and I only have 11 minutes left to go email Joel and Michelle so I'd better wrap this up. Sounds like your holiday season's going pretty well. I hope you get lots and lots of super interesting emails on your blackberry dad! And don't worry I won't tell Elder Luo about the submarines. I'm kind of interested as to why Taiwan even bothers. Wouldn't they just get wiped out if China actually every decided to attack them anyway?

Anyways, Merry Christmas mom and dad! I love you! Thanks so much for your love and support! I will call grandma and grandpa's phone probably around noon your time if that's ok. And if it's not then... well... too bad!

Love you!

-Ian

P.S. Don't have too many xmas plans to be honest. Our district is getting treated to lunch by a member though... which I just remembered is at 12... so maybe I'll be calling a little earlier... but either way, pretty good! K Love you bai!