I hope that your week has been fun. I know that mine has. The change from the rural to city life has made for a pretty fun adventure. I am still getting used to it, but it is not too bad. I am having a great time here in Dong Hai.
The weather up here is definitely cooler. While I can't say that it is cold by any means, there is a distinct difference in temperature. So that is kind of nice. And the area we live in is really pretty, (in my opinion, anyway). Our chapel is pretty close to our house and is on the 19th floor of a high rise. So that is definitely unique. And our apartment is on the 7th floor.
Anyways, down to the nitty-gritty. So, this week, we have been doing a lot of service. Like, A LOT. A sister in our ward,XXX . She has called us asking if we can go and help her move. So, we have gone every day this week to help her move. She is super kind to us, and I am glad that we could help her. And aside from that service, we had a less active family ask us if we could walk their dog for a couple days while they were out of town. Yup, missionaries walking dogs. Anyways, there is definitely no shortage of service available around here though.
Next up on the list, Rubik's Cube. (I know that right now my brother will be listening with even more interest than before.) So, my companion Elder Moore taught me how to solve a Rubik's Cube this week. It's something I've attempted to do in the past, but I never had the patience to finish it. Well, after a long, grueling week of headaches and practice, I finally got the hang of it. So, yeah, I can do a Rubik's Cube now. Yay! It is super fun though.
And lastly, the Dong Hai thighs. Let me explain. So, all of our area, Dong Hai, is on a hill. We live about halfway down the hill. So, there are times when we have to go downhill to proselyte, or we have to go uphill to proselyte. If we go down, we have to bike back up the hill to get to our house. If we go uphill, we just ride the hill back down. My point is is that we spend a lot of time biking uphill. So, many missionaries who have served here say that you will get the Dong Hai thighs from all of the biking. And since my last area was super flat, my thighs are definitely a place that need some TLC. So, time to keep exercising!
Well, that's about it for this week. I am loving it here. Elder Moore and I are getting along well. He is a super funny guy. He has a lot of personality, and I am learning a lot from him. I will send a couple of pictures. And the work keeps on going forward here in Dong Hai. I love all of you and I hope that you have a good week. Hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Elder Chase Joseph Millett
Hey Mom, I thought this was really neat. This is the weekly letter for this week from President Blickenstaff. I thought you would enjoy it too.
"Dear Elders and Sisters,
Over the past two months we have bid farewell to more than 50 experienced and capable missionaries. We have many companionships in various stages of the twelve week orientation and also many who have just completed training. Next month we will welcome 32 more new missionaries. Change and growth are inherent to a mission, however, due to visa issues and summer starting missionaries, we are a very young mission right now. We also have fewer missionaries than we have ever had over the past two years. What a great time, because young missionaries will be given more leadership responsibilities! This will necessitate each of us relying more fully on the Lord if we are to continue to faithfully and skillfully carry out our plans and responsibilities.
We should always remember that this is the Lord’s work and He is at the helm. In two consecutive verses in the Book of Mormon, the Lord has declared, “I am able to do mine own work” (2Ne. 27:20,21). The Lord’s pattern is somewhat counter-intuitive to the way we usually do things. He often does not call the eldest or the most experienced among us to do the most important work. Nephi was not the oldest of the sons of Lehi. The prophet Joseph was very young and inexperienced at the time of his call to be the instrument through which the gospel would be restored. President Monson was called to serve as bishop at 22 and as a mission president at 31. He was not even a returned missionary!
As we accept a call from the Lord for which we feel inadequate, we naturally turn to the scriptures and other inspired materials and humbly fall to our knees, pleading for help and direction. This is a wonderful process. It allows us to be taught by the One most qualified to teach us, “For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it” (2Ne. 9:20).
I love the account of Nephite armies as they were in a precarious situation as recorded in Alma chapter 58. The Nephite army was small and did not have enough provisions, while the Lamanite army was strong and constantly receiving supplies and reinforcements. “And it came to pass that we did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food” (Alma 58:7). Although they received a small company of additional soldiers and some food, they were facing “an enemy which was innumerable” (Alma 58:8). Their response to the situation was instructive, “Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies” (Alma 58:10). I imagine they assumed their prayers would be answered with additional soldiers and supplies. Instead, the account goes on to say, “The Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and grant unto us great faith” (Alma 58:11).
Although we have plenty of food and water, our situation is similar to these Nephite warriors in some respects. We are young and we need more missionaries. As we humble ourselves and seek the help of the Lord, He will show us how to be more prepared and qualified to carry out this sacred work. As we thrust in our sickles with our might, and do our best, He will “show unto [us our] weakness” and “make weak things become strong unto [us]” (Ether 12:27). In order to qualify for divine assistance in our work, we must: 1) pray in faith, 2) be exactly obedient, 3) set goals that reflect our commitment to achieve mission standards, 4) make a plan to achieve our goals, 5) work diligently all day every day. Then may we “stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (D&C 123:17).
President Blickenstaff
Mentor of Champions"
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| The view from our chapel |
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