Week 21

The first week of being a trainer is pretty hard work let me tell you, but also rubbing shoulders with the greatest missionaries in the mission. I''m regularly talking to the AP's and playing basketball with them almost every morning (wish I took basketball more seriously back at home). I see president and sister Stevens every day now which was very strange for me. I think the biggest change and blessing for me is that every day I enter into the walls of Zion. Every day I get to go to the
chapel, resource center, talk with other missionaries. That is the biggest blessing for me, to be in an environment where the spirit constantly dwells. As missionaries we most of the time bring the spirit with us where we go. When we talk with people on the streets, when we enter their homes, when we sit on a bus; the spirit is with us. But there is something different about a THE chapel and especially
Hyde park chapel that when you enter you feel the spirit testify that the  Lord loves you, and will take you as you are and make you better.
Elder Mora is a Boss. His last trainer was Elder smith, I sat with him on the flight over actually. He is a little rough around the edges but we will, like Christ, take him how he is and make him better. Here we teach mostly Chinese. They are the most humble and most diligent in their scripture studies. But when you first get them they have no understanding who or why God is. In the beginning, we start with how prayer works. We liken it unto a letter that you write to heaven. You
are sending it to your father in Heaven. The post man is Jesus Christ.
When the father gets the letter he responds through the Holy Ghost, who communicates to our spirit that he got our letter. You have to treat them so gently because honestly, they are all on the edge of snapping
due to the stress of their studies. Their parent at home pressure them so hard, and a lot of Chinese here have severe depression and anxiety issues. So when they come to church that is really where their friends
are. There is also a Chinese hero of mine, her name is Helen.

She is also a recent convert of a few years and she actually is a mother hen to these recent converts. Because when these Chinese students go home
they need to go to church, and due to such severe enforcement of religious laws there the church is not able to be as well organized.
So Helen finds these Chinese students branches to attend when they go home. Which are usually in basements or someone's home. She is the master fellow shipper and a pioneer of the east, such an honor to serve with her. This week has been an enthusiastic one with going out with full power every minute of every day, with me now being the
senior companion a lot of pressure rides on me. I know we can get through it with the spirit, though. I've been praying a lot! 

Whenever I get the chance really. In stairwells, in empty rooms, in the bathroom; always trying to communicate with my Heavenly Father on what
I should do. I know that I can do what the lord has commanded of me and I hope I can do it the way he would have me do it. I love you guys
so so much.

Elder Massey