[Title references a skit from the high school improv troop, Wingin' It.]
April 29, 2024
Ladies and Gentleman. . . .
. . .
WE'VE DONE IT!!!
Through the grace and mercy of the Lord, the Calgary Varsity Mandarin Branch has now become the Varsity Mandarin
W A R D ! ! !
This transition took place in the looooongest sacrament meeting I've ever had (approx. 1.5 hours) and we have a new bishop now! Everyone's super excited about it! We're also hoping some of the other Elders don't quit doing missionary work after this. lol
The Lord really has a way with timing, too. Roda's son Ernest was the first baptism of the Mandarin ward, and one of the other Elders commented on how valuable children are in the eyes of God. I had the privilege of confirming Ernest a member! Very nerve-wracking, but very cool.
We asked a friend named Ryan to pray this week, and he said he felt as if someone was guiding him. That was pretty epic!
We went on a hike on Saturday with some members and friends to the Canyon Creek Ice Caves. It was Soooo long but really cool! I got a lot of Chinese practice, plus some caving practice.
Zone Conference happened this Wednesday, and I got some cool ideas from that. We were reading a lot in John 15 and discussing what the word “abide” means, and I realized that if you change one letter in the word it becomes “abode.” It made me think again about how both a temple and the sacrament represent Jesus Christ, the temple being His house or His “abode” and the sacrament being how we let Him “abide with us.”
This week I noticed what is perhaps the great miracle of the Calgary mission. We are soon saying goodbye to our good member Lucy, since she is moving back to China (and no, that's NOT the miracle). She came to Canada a year and a half ago, was baptized, and made further covenants in the temple within that time. The ward is helping her find a church building in China, just as we did with Mr. Zuo. So many others have been led to Canada to find the Tree of Life, and then led back to China to build up the congregations there. Thus, even in China, against the odds of restricted speech, the Gathering of Israel is continuing. Truly, nothing can stop the Lord from accomplishing His work and His glory.
I'm going to relay an invitation from our district leader to you all, and invite you to look for one small miracle or a tender mercy every day this week! Our prophet has emphasized how seeking and expecting miracles will make life better.
Keep it up everyone! Love you all! 爱你们！
–熊长老
Photos:
Ernest's Baptism
Pics from the hike (including The Tick! But not his fearless sidekick, Arthur)
Our district celebration
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