Week 50: June 22, 2020

Hey! 你好！

Good week! In terms of random events, I finally got my hair cut! Its basically a bowl cut but once I do my hair it looks ok haha. Also I'm trying to eat healthier cause every week I buy wayyyy too much junk food haha. So this week for snacks I got myself some apples, carrots, peppers, and hummus. Pretty excited haha, too bad I'm already missing chocolate 

Our mission president as well as our bishop finally said we can go to the chapel now! So I'm pretty excited about that, now we can go download a million things using the church wifi haha. The only problem is that there can only be 1 companionship in the building at a time (cause government guidelines), and fortunately the Manchester YSA ward has 5 companionships covering it, the most missionaries in one area in the whole mission haha. So we split up the chapel so everyone gets a couple hours there every other day. Which is better than nothing! We're currently working on some videos at the chapel including possibly ping-pong and also a piano duet haha. Also its like a mile walk to the chapel and also back to our flat as well which has seriously been like my favourite part of the day. So fun, such a blessing!

Funny story! So we've been messaging a bunch of people on Facebook and stuff, but somehow I ended up friending a man from india. And right off the start it became clear he wants to be my friend haha. He doesn't text me, he just sends voice memos all the time, and wants me to do the same thing. His English is surprisingly good, I found that out when he sang some american folk songs to me. Let me quote what he said in his voice recording, “And Mark! Have you any interest about traditional american folk songs? There is a famous one from 19th century. Which I am singing, so please listen to it. 'And I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee...'” He sang a couple songs to me and I was literally dying the whole time it was so funny haha. Him singing is now one of my alarms to wake up in the morning haha. Also I'm gonna make him a friend this upcoming week so watch out for that

Miracle! So one of our most progressing friends right now is Siyao. He's literally amazing, he LOVES reading the Book of Mormon. To test that out we invited him to read Jacob 5, which he did and really enjoyed haha. Hes a legend, he'll probably be on date for baptism soon! Well like 2 weeks ago he told us he would be going home to china by the end of the month, and wasnt sure if he would come back. So we were super sad cause we weren't sure if he'd have another chance to hear the Gospel. Well this week he told us that unexpected problems randomly came up with his Visa and also the virus back in china, and hes actually gonna have to stay in Manchester!! For at least the summer and probably for this next year of school! Ahhhhhh such a huge miracle!! God answers prayers! 

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester M22 4BJ 

England 

I will never tire of walking across this bridge and looking at the manchester skyline 

Oxford road in the rainnnn. First time walking on my favourite road for a while haha

Haircuttttt

 

Haircuttttt

Week 49: June 15, 2020

Hey yall!

Nothing much to report on this week. Well I guess some shops are opening today! So now we can buy stuff other than food haha. Barbershops are still closed though. I've said this over and over again the past like 2 months haha, but I think I'm finally gonna have elder cheang cut my hair this week. I know I say this like every week but it's been a solid 3 months now haha so it's about time 

Most of our friends are going home to China in the next couple weeks so our teaching pool is going to be very bare pretty soon. It's been kinda sad! We're trying to meet with them as much as possible before they go back, and hopefully theyll have another opportunity to hear and accept the Gospel.

Elder Cheang is literally addicted to ramen.  Every week he buys like 10 packets of ramen and will just eat it whenever, usually he eats it for breakfast and sometimes he'll eat it other times. But this past week he didnt buy any ramen and the whole week he just talked about how much he was craving ramen haha. On a sidenote I'm starting to get addicted too. Like all the ramen in the UK is super posh, it's not like the cheap top ramen in the us. So it's a little more expensive but it literally tastes like 20 times better than American ramen. So now every week I buy a couple different flavours to try out haha, they're all actually really good. I also buy wayyyy too many sweets every week haha

That's basically it really. Everyday we just kinda message people on Facebook, study, and have lessons. The days are going by surprisingly fast which has been a nice surprise haha. Hope yall have a good week!

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester M22 4BJ 

England 

Sorry didnt take any pics this week so heres a pic of some of the stuff I bought. Also I bought some fruit tea this week cause ive never had it and I'm curious haha

Week 48: June 9, 2020

Hey all!

Well we have transfers tomorrow! I will be staying in manchester with elder cheang and chen. I've been in manchester so long! This will be my 7th transfer in total in manchester! I've only spent one transfer outside of this area haha. So weird to think about, but I'm really excited to stay here! Manchester is the best haha

Elder Cheang cut elder chens hair this week! During our interviews with the mission president, elder cheang was told he needed to cut elder chens hair cause it was way to long. He hasn't cut his hair for literally like 6 months now, so he didn't have anything resembling a missionary haircut haha. So elder cheang cut it! It actually didn't turn out too bad this time, it wasnt a bowl cut like last time. But it's probably one of the most asian cuts I've ever seen. He looks like one of the many Chinese people I've walked past on the street for many months. So I still haven't got my haircut, but next week nonessential stores are allowed to open so I think I'll be able to get it cut then! Hopefully ahah cause my hair is crazy long right now

Elder Chen loves moving things around the flat for no reason at all without telling us. I guess he likes feeling in control? Well usually it's small stuff, like moving the microwave to the other side of the counter. Or putting the cereal in a different cupboard. But sometimes its bigger, like once I was in the shower and he moved the dryer into the kitchen. Soo yeahhhh... Well this week he was moving more stuff, so when elder Chen was being interviewed by the mission president in a different room, Elder Cheang and I as a joke moved around like EVERYTHING. We flipped around beds, stacked dressers, put the ironing board in the hall, furniture in the bathroom, you name it. We had to be super quiet and were basically moving around as fast as humanly possible. But his reaction was WORTH IT haha. Hes super gullible and doesn't really understand pranks and that type of humour so he was just completely confused when he saw everything changed around haha

Also I came to the realization that today is my 86th day in quarantine, with no end in sight but still going on strong! Its definitely been hard, and its getting harder now we're having less and less people to teach everyday, but we're working really hard and using Facebook a ton so I'm hoping to see results soon :)

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester M22 4BJ 

England 

Week 47: June 1, 2020

Hey all!

 

Not a super exciting week, but also a lot of things to write about!

First, it's the “why i believe” devotional on Facebook live again this next sunday! Everyone go check it out, heres the link to the event https://facebook.com/events/s/why-i-believe-devotional-faceb/2584607965120859/?ti=as

This week the prime minister announced that all stores are opening by June 15! I think. Also now we can go meet with people in person, as long as we're outside and 2 metres away. So lockdown restrictions are finally starting to be taken off which is exciting 

Also just want to let like the 10 of you that told me I needed to get outside that this week I actually went outside haha. Also I'm surprised that many of you actually read my emails. Well elder chen and cheang hate running and stuff so a couple mornings this week we went right outside our flat and I ran back and forth on the block like 1000 times while they watched. It was super boring and not very fun, but at least i got outside right?

Last Monday we started jump scaring each other every opportunity we have which has been super fun haha. We've been doing it all week. At first no one was safe but Elder Cheang and I found out very quickly that Elder Chen scares VERY easily, and has the best reactions too. So that being in mind I did what any lockdown missionary would do. I'm making a video compilation (dont worry Im doing it outside of proselyting time ok haha). Its pretty funny, and I'm still in the process of making it cause I'm actually terrible at remembering to record. My favourite scare literally had me laughing for soooo long and it wasnt even an elaborate setup or anything haha. Elder Cheang wanted to test exactly how jumpy elder chen was. So he stood right in front of elder chen, had him close his eyes, and then after a couple seconds did the “BOO” noise you make when you're jump scaring someone haha (sorry I'm not very good with onomatopoeias). Elder Chen, knowing elder cheang was there the whole time, literally jumped so high haha. And as he came back down and landed he tripped on his feet, falling backwards where he luckily crumpled into the couch. It was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Words dont do it justice. I literally thought he was faking it but he's really just that jumpy haha

Also fun fact, we taught elder chens mom over video the other day! His mom has been taught by missionaries before but now shes actually interested in learning about the gospel. It was sooo amazing, they're definitely getting baptized! Itd be good since all of elder chen and cheangs family aren't members

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester M22 4BJ 

England 

All the Chinese missionaries in the EMM

Manchester town hall 

Week 46: May 25, 2020

Hey yall!

Not much happened this week. We just stayed inside and used Facebook all day. Heres some things from this week:

It might've been more than a month later, but I finally had my Easter dinner haha. We went all out last pday and bought a 6 pound gammon (ham). We cooked it in the oven for 2 hours while we were working on our phones haha and then feasted. It was soooooo good. Except elder cheang went on this whole rant about how americans are weird with the things they eat haha

Total times leaving the flat this week: 0. Elder Chen and Cheang dont want to go outside at all, even for morning exercise. Elder Cheang claims he has sensitive skin and so he trys to avoid sunlight. Hes from Hong Kong though so i have no idea how he survived before. And elder chen is fine sitting on a couch all day doing nothing. I've been slowly dying being cramped up all day, I just want to go outside soooo bad haha. Walking 5 minutes to the grocery store today was my highlight of the week haha

Also this week I actually took some pictures. Well kind of, so the zone leaders are making everyone take a picture of themselves awake from 6:30-6:45 and send it to a group chat with a bunch of people from the zone in it. I guess theres some companionships that haven't been doing great at waking up on time so they need photographical evidence haha

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester M22 4BJ 

England 

One of our morning glamour pictures haha

Going to the store

ALSO I'm never going back to America because of ASDA Smartprice. Literally the best deals ever. I bought 12 bags of chips for 70p. Let's get ASDA to America 

Week 45: May 18, 2020

Hi!

Not a super exciting week! We just stayed inside all day looking at our phones, like always haha

But now that we dont call people over the phone, we've spent a lot of time on Facebook. We've been joining random groups on Facebook and trying to start conversations with random people. Its kinda hard haha. But we also have a bunch of Facebook pages for areas in our missions, and we're posting on that to try and find new people to teach. So if any of you have any creative ideas for posts on Facebook, send them this way! 

Being companions with Elder Chen and Cheang is kinda a rollercoaster of emotions. Like I enjoy actually speaking chinese everyday but now I'm forgetting how to say things in english. And I'm still not at the point where I'm able to really think in chinese so basically my brain is just messed up right now haha. Plus we basically exclusively eat chinese food since elder cheang hates anything else. The closest thing to English food I eat is probably my cereal in the morning haha. Oh and also most of our english friends wont really respond to us, so now we really only teach Chinese people haha. I actually enjoy teaching chinese people though. But my brain is kinda confused by everything going on, and by the end of the day I'm just exhausted haha

Not really much else! Send me updates with your life cause mine isnt super interesting right now haha

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester M22 4BJ 

England 

Sorry forgot to take actual pics so heres some I took today before we went to the shops haha. Plus some we took when we walked around a little bit. Please ignore my kinda long hair haha

Week 44: May 11, 2020

Hi!

A couple things from this week!

First! The prime minister announced yesterday that we can now leave our flats more than once everyday for exercise! That's the only change though haha. We still have to keep social distancing, still no baptisms, stores & restaurants arent opening, etc. So looks my hair isnt getting shorter anytime soon. Haha unless I trust elder cheang to cut my hair :)

Last week on monday, the fuse for our cooker blew. It happened once or twice back when I was in manchester like 6 months ago. 6 months ago, they told us that there wasn't a problem until it happened again... and then last week it happened. So we called a bunch of people and they finally said that they would send an appliance engineer over on thursday to fix it. But until then to keep the fuse for the cooker switched off.

So guess what we did for 4 days?? Yep, we cooked all our food in a microwave, on a George foreman grill, and in a chinese hot pot. For those of you who dont know what a hot pot, it's basically a Chinese thing where you have a boiling pot of broth in the centre of a table and then you put like vegetables, meat, etc. into the broth and then eat it once its cooked. Super good, highly recommend. But I don't recommend  trying to cook other things in it haha. Some things we cooked this past week with our limited resources:

-ramen ;)

-rice (we put a bunch of rice and water in the microwave and hoped for the best. It actually turned out super well haha. Now we cook our rice in the microwave even though we can use our stove now haha)

-Curry

-Chicken wings

-Meatballs

-Garlic breaddddd 🤤

Well they finally came to fix our stove, and told us that actually there wasn't actually anything wrong with it, we probably just let a pot boil over and it got in the electrics. So we put in all that effort for nothing haha. But now I know how to live in case my stove actually breaks haha

Also, this past week we finally called through all our phone contacts. So now its gonna be Facebook finding for a couple months haha. But actually it kinda works cause some random chinese man randomly liked one of my posts without even being my friend. So I friended him, started a conversation, and now we're teaching him! Hopefully we'll see more success!

Also, our mission president shared a quote from this past week: ”A survey by ComRes last week found that almost one in four British adults have watched or listened to a religious service since lockdown began. Academics from British Religion in Numbers estimate that typically just 6% of adults regularly attend a religious service.” The work is still progressing! The virus is softening peoples hearts :)

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester M22 4BJ 

England 

For lack of any other pictures here's our garlic bread and chicken wings :))

Week 43: May 4, 2020

Hey all!

First off shout out to all those who watched the devotional yesterday! It was really good and all the missionaries did a musical number together. I shared it on my Facebook if yall wanna check it out :)

But Elder Cheang joined me and Elder Chen this past week! And now it's talking Chinese non stop all day haha. I had the WORST headache the first couple days my head was hurting from all the thinking I've been doing haha. Up until this point it's been mostly english all day (with lessons, talking to people on the streets, companions, etc.). But now unless we're teaching an english lesson, we're speaking in chinese. Big eye opener that my chinese still needs sooooo much work, plus I need to learn Chinese culture haha. But it's been nice to practice more, plus I'm slowly gaining a hybrid Macao/Taiwan chinese accent haha

But it's been a lot more fun serving with them than I thought! Elder Cheang is so fun. He has a twin brother like me, and hes also a convert! He got baptized when he was like 14, but he's the only person in his family who is a member. He also teaches his family the Gospel on P-days over videochat so he's literally a legend. He eats a ton of chinese food, hes made fried rice at least once everyday since he got here. Also, on his first day here he cut his own hair. He offered to cut my hair as well, but I think I'm gonna wait until the barbershops are open again cause he basically gave himself a bowl cut haha

Also still sooo excited for Wangyue to be baptized, shes amazing! Everytime we meet with her, she reminds me of a quote by President Hunter, “A great indicator of one’s personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others”. I believe I've already mentioned this before, but she said she wants to invite at least 10 of her non-member friends to her baptism. And this past week as we were teaching the Law of Tithing, she mentioned that she wants her parents to be baptized into the church as well! She plans on going back to China for the summer, and I have a feeling that before she returns to Manchester, both her parents will be baptized haha. But it's been so faith building to see her continuing conversion to the Lord. Church is true!

-Elder Ensign 高长老

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Altrincham Road

Manchester  M22 4BJ

England

Elder cheang, chen, and I

Elder cheang cutting his own hair 

Our district all walking homing from the store maintaining social distance haha

The England Manchester Mission choir :)

Week 42: April 27, 2020

大家好!!

IMPORTANT! This upcoming Sunday is our mission's “Why I believe” devotional. Recent converts are gonna share their testimonies/stories. It's gonna be on Facebook live and all of you should watch! It's gonna be amazing and the missionaries are all doing a special musical number which I'm sooo excited for. It's gonna be at 6:30 PM UK time, but that's 11:30 AM Utah time. Here's the link, plus some details. You don't need a facebook account to watch:
"Please join us once again for an uplifting evening of music and the spoken word. Listen to those whose lives have been changed through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Everyone is welcome, invite your family and friends to join the live stream!" https://www.facebook.com/englandmanchestermission/posts/122693956060435

Now onto this week. Not super exciting but heres some things

Mini transfers happened cause like 20 missionaries got reassigned to the england manchester mission! They got sent home cause of the virus and just barely got out of quarantine. Elder Newell is leaving me! So sad haha. But Elder Cheang is joining me and Elder Chen! He's from Macao and I'm super excited to learn some Cantonese with him haha (kidding). Looks like I'm gonna be eating exclusively chinese food the next little bit, right? haha

Balcony contacting! So the flat complex we live in is arranged so it's basically flats surrounding a car park. And there's balconies off all the flats facing into the car park. So this past week we had some pretty good conversations with people about 50 feet away. We might've had to yell a little but they were lowkey good convos haha. We've only spoken with like 3 of our neighbors so far, and they aren't super interested in talking religion, so we're working slowly on that haha. Wearing missionary clothing all day has actually started one or two of those convos haha. “Why on earth are those people wearing sunday best sunbathing on their balconies??” It's been a nice break from staring at our phones all day

I gotta talk about elder chen's food habits now. That man has a STRANGE palate haha but what can I even say. A quick list of his meals this past week:
-Cheese and raspberry jam sandwich. Cooked in a George foreman grill so the cheese is nice and melty
-Fish ball pasta. Carrots, noodles, plus a whole lot of fish balls we found in our freezer from forever ago. I mean it's not like I hate fish balls but that must have tasted a little interesting haha
-Egg yolk and parmesan pasta. He cooked some noodles and then mixed in raw egg yolks, parmesan cheese, and pepper. Maybe it's supposed to be posh? Didn't taste like it though haha. And I was a little terrified I was gonna get food poisoning cause those eggs were not cooked at all
-Also! This man is literally 4 ft. 6 in. but he eats SOOO much. I get a little concerned for both him and also our budget when he peels an orange, sticks the WHOLE thing into his mouth, swallows, and then 10 seconds later proceeds to do the exact same thing with another orange. He basically eats double the amount of food I do. So exciting haha

A couple weeks ago I mentioned a referral from Lancaster named Daniel. Well we finally got ahold of him and now he's on date for baptism on May 28! Now we have 2 people on date, him and Wangyue (May 23).  So excited! Now we just have to wait for the government lockdown to be over haha :)

-Elder Ensign 高长老
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Altrincham Road
Manchester  M22 4BJ
England

WhatsApp takes a screenshot if you videocall someone and they don't answer. Elder newell and I were prepared haha