HAPPY HALLOWEEN – all smiles.

HAPYP HALLOWEEN

It is Halloween today, which means…with all the evil spirits around and about, we have to stay home…curfew changed to 6pm instead of 9.30pm. Nah, not really about evil spirits, but just it is not safe nor is it good to OYM and talk to people in masks about the gospel…so therefore we are planning other useful things to do in our apartment tonight. Like thinking how we can improve, sorting out the paperwork,etc…there is never a idle or dull moment in missionary even if you are stuck inside!

So a few weeks back, I said I’ll take some pictures of autumn scenes here, so I failed…autumn is almost over, but I did manage to snap one photos of a very nice street that a member lives on…pretty red coloured leaves…hmmm…nice.

And of coz, it is a good week, because we’ve had some really nice meals togther with people, last Sunday, went to Sis Kwan’s home, she is a WONDERFUL cook…anything she cooks taste good! She is gonna hate me for telling this to everyone…but she is…and we had a very nice meal, I think it was the first time, me and my companions went to a dinner appointment just the 3 of us and members….so we took a nice group photo…check out the beautiful smiles on their faces!

Then very next day, Karena, our investigator and friend, passed her driving test, so we celebrated with her by going to eat hotpot…it was Elder Huston’s first time…he enjoyed it, but we were all slightly disappointed that he ate less than all of us…we expected an American can eat a lot…but it turns out the person who ate the most was me. I guess no surprise there, but Elder Lee can eat lots too!

Lastly, in Canada, there is a coffee shop that is everywhere…Tim Holton, you cannot drive anywhere in Toronto for 5 mins without spotting one, and they serve up these things called Timbits, the centre of donuts, and they are actually quite tasty, I prefer them to donuts, but for Halloween, they decorated their box very nicely…

Lastly week, I was feeling a bit down due to various reasons, but had a wonderful Sunday yesterday, which REALLY brightened up my week…The new missionaries had a chance to introduce themselves, all 4 of them who are new to Markham Ward, and a wonderful dinner at the Tse Family. Also special thanks to Shella and Ling for putting a smile back on my face…really appreciate it…you are great friends!

I love being a missionary here in Toronto, serving the Markham Ward….can’t believe I only have a month left…but I’m determine to enjoy it as much as possible…

Lots of Love

Elder Lau

ps. I realised yesterday, that for me, these 2 words are never seperated…."Elder Lau" and "Food"! I just enjoy eating too much I guess…haha!

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Photos from Home.

My sister sent me from recent pictures from home, I just wanted to post them on here. They are very nice pictures of autumn colours, and also a picture of first pumpkin anyone in our family has ever carved…and my sister did a pretty good job I think!

So the beautiful building in the first pictures is the London Temple, truly beautiful sight…you can come see it too when anyone come visit me in London, and autumn colours in England is very different from in Toronto, maybe it is the ever cloudy sky that covers the whole of England…

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TWINS!!

from left to right, Elder Lau (me), Elder Huston and Elder Lee!

they are both so tall…

also a huge group photo of all the new missionaries and their trainer!

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What A Week!

A mission is a two years journey, but this last week has certainly made the past week a significant time for me. It has just been a whirlwind of a week…I’m still waiting for the dust to settle down.

So first of all, I started last week knowing Elder Leung and I were going to be split apart, with the Markham Ward being served by two sets of missionaries like it was before. But little did I know there was going to be 5 missionaries in Markham, and a even greater surprise is that I’ve never trained, but that I was training 2 new missionaries from the MTC at the same time.

In the mission, when we train, we "give birth", so when I train 2 together, I had "twins". First impression, what did I ever do to deserve this rare and special privilege, but I realise that this is nto something I can do on my own, but totally needed to rely on the Lord for help and His strength. It was the first time I’ve heard of anyone training two, but I know it is a wonderful blessing for me, and I guess an honour to know that I can be trusted with such a important responsibility.

So these two new blessings in my mission life are Elder Lee, from Hong Kong and Elder Huston, from Salt Lake City. Both come really well trained from the MTC, both have different talents and strengths, and we’ve been having a blast together, working hard, having fun, enjoying ourselves as we do missionary work. They are learning at amazing rate, when thinking about it today, I’ve just realised that they haven’t even been here a week. So to be able to end my mission this way is truly a blessing, couldn’t have wished for anything else!

This week has also been a week, I’ve had some, I guess, what you can call, personal struggles. At time I’ve just felt so powerless and helpless. During my mission, I’ve meet so many people, so that I’ve been able to know well, and become really good friends.

But this week, some things have happened that I felt I haven’t been able to help them at all… almost two years have past, and still I am not able to bring happiness to those who I really care about. I understand a lot of things can happen around me that I have absolutely no control about…but seeing those that I care so much about….feeling discouraged and sad….is really painful…and all I can do is stand at the side, unable to do thing about it….

We share with people the plan of happiness, but how come I’m not able to help everyone be happy…where did I go wrong? If I could start again, what would I change? how difference would their lives have been if I’ve never been in Toronto…I guess answers to my questions I can only find from my Heavenly Father, as I search for the peace and solace that only he can bring…both to myself and to those around me.

But one thing I know for sure…that this Gospel is true, and that God loves each and every single one of us…this knowledge gives me the strength to carry on…it gives me to strength to face each day with a smile…

Take care, have a great week…

lots of love,

Elder Lau

ps. no card reader today, but next week I’ll post up some photos of my lovely trainees!

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FINAL ROUND.

Canada Toronto Mission: FINAL ROUND for Elder YS Lau

So I only have officially 6 weeks on my mission, and to make it the most interesting ,exciting and potentially most challenging 6 weeks in this final transfer, I’ll be training a new missionary! Dunno where he is from, dunno who he is…only know I’ll meet him tomorrow and train him in the field for 6 weeks. Nervous stuff…making me lose sleep and even more hair…

Out of the "old guard" Elder Lam, Ip and I still remain in the mission, but only I will remain and finish in Cantonese work in the Markham Ward, there is another Elder Lau from HK who is currently serving as a mandarin missionary coming in to train too…He is a great guy…so 3 out of 4 missionaries in Markham will be new…hope the ward is excited for the new arrivals!

Also, last Monday was Thanksgiving, so made a trip down to Eaton Center (downtown shopping center in Toronto) with a friend for dinner, and in there, saw many people paying tributes to Steve Jobs.

And a fond farewell to Macy, who in the short time we’ve been able to serve with her in the Markham Ward, has been a great help to us, and a wonderful friend…Thank you Macy…! So the pictures are Macy with Elder Leung and I, also the gift we made for her…

As I head into the next 6 weeks, the last 6 weeks of my mission, I’m full of anticipation and a shadow of doubt whether I’m able to fulfill this duty to help this new missionary make the best possible start….but I’ll will not trust in the arm of flesh….but rely on My Heavenly Father for strength and guidance at every step of the way.

Take Care…Love

Elder Lau

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I caught a cold on General Conference night, and have been slowly but surely recovering this week, so thinking back, although we’ve been working, everything seems to a bit of a blur. But yesterday being Thanksgiving Day here in Canada…was a very nice day, played football with some friends, investigators and members in the morning, then had a inspirational meeting with our Zone, and had the chance to talk with my mission president, President Scott. Although I haven’t known him for too long, in these brief encounters, I really feel his love for all the missionaries.

The weather has been good of late, the sceneries beautiful, the maple leaves all around displays a full array of colours, I’ll try to snap some pictures of that for the coming week.

It is the last week of the transfer, there should be 2 new missionaries coming into Cantonese work…so there is an air of excitement for me regarding next weekend.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Have a great week.

LOL (lots of love)

Elder Lau

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY x2

The winter is coming, the temperature has dropped, but nose is sniffing, and there is always a pack of tissue in my packet…oh I guess the cold weather has found me earlier than I wish, but this week was really wonderful!

First of all, there is General Conference, yes it’s that time again! A time to recieve guidance from the Prophet and Apostles, a time to recieve personal revelation! A time to know what we ought to do in the next 6 months to maintain good spiritual health. It was an exhausting 10 hours glued to a screen, hanging on every word, with pencil in hand, dropping down thoughts and impressions. But I’m glad I was there for it. What a weekend of learning!

Well, also this coming Friday, is my dear sister Louise’s birthday!…*everybody cheer !!* unlike usually I managed to get my act together and sent out the present and card on time! (a pat on the back for myself). So since it’ll be late on next monday, I guess I’ll just say it early…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
…wish you a most wonderful day!

w/ LOL.
from the best brother in the world!

also, on the 1st October, celebrated the birthday of “my other little sister” Ling Ling. We hopefully was able to make it a very memorable 16th birthday for her…and below are some photos of our little treat for her…we typed out Happy Birthday in chinese with candles…sweet idea eh? Also like to wish that:

You had a wonderful birthday!

Take care, play hard but work harder!

Elder Lau

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