Last Email from the Mission - Elder Joshua Avery

Written by Elder Joshua Avery, serving in the Singapore Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Mandarin Chinese.

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this is not a fun e-mail to write at all. Seeing all of you is exciting again, but I will miss this experience so much. 

This week my faith has increased as I have been reading Preach My Gospel chapter 4. This chapter focuses on recognizing and receiving the Holy Ghost. I also read this awesome quote by George Q. Cannon "Every man and woman in the Church of Christ can have the gifts of the Spirit of God divided to them according to their faith and as God wills. …

How many of you … are seeking for these gifts that God has promised to bestow? How many of you, when you bow before your Heavenly Father in your family circle or in your secret places, contend for these gifts to be bestowed upon you? How many of you ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, to manifest Himself to you through these powers and these gifts? Or do you go along day by day, like a door turning on its hinges, without having any feeling upon the subject, without exercising any faith whatever, content to be baptized and be members of the Church and to rest there, thinking that your salvation is secure because you have done this? …

… I know that God is willing to heal the sick, that He is willing to bestow the gift of discerning of spirits, the gift of wisdom, of knowledge and of prophecy, and other gifts that may be needed. If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. Have I imperfections? I am full of them. What is my duty? To pray to God to give me the gifts that will correct these imperfections. If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity, which envieth not. So with all the gifts of the gospel. They are intended for this purpose. No man ought to say, “Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.” He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them. If a man lack wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His Church. He wants His Saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He gives these gifts and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth, notwithstanding their many weaknesses, because God has promised to give the gifts that are necessary for their perfection."

I saw the gifts of the Spirit at work this week. We have been seeing great success from our English Class. Not only are we getting students but we are getting solid investigators from it. This past week we met with a girl named Al**. She said that she has always wanted to learn about Christianity because Christians and us at the Church always seem happy. She said that she had wanted to learn but was always scared that the people would be too pushy when they taught her. After coming to English Class and participating in the gospel discussion afterwards she talked to one of the members and said she had a good feeling and wants to learn. We were able to teach her this weekend and it was awesome. Then we also met with a girl from China who has been Christian for a short time only. She told us later this week that when she had met us and we invited her to learn English she had just had a rough day at work because her English is not very good yet and that she has been struggling with her confidence. She said that she has been feeling confident after coming to English class. We are also teaching her and she says she has been feeling closer to God.

We had a way awesome lesson with S** this week. It was so perfect and just what she needed. She said she knows the Book of Mormon is true and that the only commandments she still has to keep is the sabbath day and baptism. haha! when she said baptism she acted almost like she had said a swear word haha :) She said she is going to worry about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy first. She goes back to China next month so it is a time crunch for her baptism! Elder Boud has been amazing though, he knows exactly how to connect with her. Everytime she meets with us she brings treats for him haha! I think he and Elder Shirley with the guidance of the Spirit will be able to make it happen before she goes.

Miracles: Last night we went to see a member named D** K** that has not been to church in a while because he recently switched jobs. We went to his house and the owner of the apartment who's room he is renting and their family was there. The were all from Beijing and way nice. They immediately invited us in and fed us till we couldn't eat. It was delicious! The daughter is learning English and is going to try to come. We will keep in touch with them. The family wants to have us over to have Malaxiangguo. Sweet!

Also earlier this week we just finished making English Class flyers and then a lady walked into the mission office and said "My friend is in the hospital and gets discharged tonight. She said while she is in the hospital she is willing to learn the gospel because she has a lot of free time". We went and taught her friend because there were no other missionaries there (she would be in Bedok Ward), and her friend was interested and we are going to have dinner at her house tonight and teach her for the second time.

Today a recently re-activated member of 20+ years that I had helped find/teach in Woodlands took my companions and I out for lunch. It was crazy to talk to her because when i was in woodlands she was still not open to learning and she was convinced she would never come back. She was glowing and so happy. One of her daughters was just baptized and another is getting ready to be baptized. It is amazing how important the Spirit is and how God was preparing the family at the same time even though they were living in different parts of the world. i also found out that another less active family I had taught in woodlands, recently came back. Sometimes we don't get to see how our small part plays out, but every little visit, and follow-up is another step to someone's way back to the gospel. Every act is important. This was an awesome week. This is the best work and I am so excited it never ends :)

 

Love,

Elder Avery

 

The Final Countdown  - October 17, 2016

The Final Countdown - Elder Joshua Avery

Written by Elder Joshua Avery, serving in the Singapore Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Mandarin Chinese.

Dear Family and Friends,

I have to admit that going home is not exciting at all. I am excited to see all of you again, but leaving the mission field is heartbreaking. I have learned so many things on my mission. 

I started my mission in Ipoh and there I learned that the gift of tongues was real. I remember teaching an investigator named Li** who was from Mainland China. God didn't bless me to be able to speak good Chinese to her (it is still okay only), but through the Spirit we were able to understand one another. Nearly two years later she is still strong in the church and reads The Book of Mormon everyday. Her 8 year old daughter was baptized a couple months ago and they now live back in China. I am also forever debted to Sister Chris, President Yap, and all of the amazing Ipoh Branch members.

In Ipoh I also learned that when we are worthy and act in faith, God will give us power from on high to perform mighty miracles. There was the first time I laid my hands on someone's head in the hospital and saw them be healed instantly. She wasn't a member of the church and she wasn't even Christian, but God loves all his children and will bless anyone who comes to him and exercises faith in him.

I left from Ipoh to Melaka. Melaka was a refining fire. At times I felt alone and felt like I was wandering in darkness but it was there that I gained a witness of the Book of Mormon. That has been the single most spiritual experience of my mission. My testimony of the Book of Mormon has been the key to my motivation. If that book is true, then everyday of life is glorious and happy if we choose to follow Jesus Christ.

I then went to Petaling Jaya. I wasn't sure why they had Chinese Elders there because everyone there spoke English. That was the last transfer they opened that area for Chinese work. That transfer my companion and I finished teaching a family who lived far away who was baptized the weekend after the area closed. God's timing is everything. 

My next area was Johor. There I met some of the best friends I have ever had. I love my companion Elder Pearce and my amazing Zone Leaders Elder Hanks and Elder Lloyd. After having had a tough time in Melaka and PJ I was ready to work and get things going. My companion and I were new, our Chinese was not as good as some of the other missionaries, and we were reopening the area. There I learned what it really means to talk to everyone. After two transfers of hard work my companion and I gained some traction and it remains to be a high performing area today. I felt I had learned a lot in Johor. A couple days before transfers I prayed to God expressing a desire to go and serve in Sitiawan. That has always been a place that has been known as a "hard" area in the mission. I committed to God that I would go there and work hard everyday. I was only slightly surprised when I got a call from President a couple days later to go serve in Sitiawan.

Serving in Sitiawan was a sacred experience. Everyday I felt like I was in the palm of God's hand. It was a secluded and quiet place, a great place for reflection. My companions and I turned over every stone in that town. We talked to people no matter where we were. I became good friends with the members there and loved my companions. I will never forget the night that Elder Brown and I were out in Pekan Gerney, which is way out in the middle of no where. Our investigator was running late. It was Saturday and we were sad that we still had no new investigators that week. We only had fifteen minutes but we said a prayer and walked on a small road that looked like it lead to nowhere, After passing a couple houses we knocked on the gate of the house of a long lost friend of the member who was with us. I learned that The Spirit is important in all aspects of missionary work, including finding. I learned that we cannot be successful without it, regardless of our talents or abilities.

In Puchong I was companions with Elder Schwemmer. Serving with him changed me. He is like a brother to me. That was my first and only transfer as a Zone Leader. I learned that sometimes those who are your senior will disagree with the choices you make as a leader, but in the end you need to face the Lord not them. I also will never forget Sister Saffron and all she did for me. :)

I was caught by surprise when I was asked to go serve in Singapore as an Assistant to the President. I felt unqualified. To be honest I was scared and not very excited about it, but I learned to love it. I knew there were other missionaries who could do better than me. I still feel that way about it, but God wanted me to have that opportunity to learn. I hadn't seen a baptism since Ipoh at that point. My companion Elder Spurrier and I set a vision to baptize and many baptisms followed. Despite occasional uprising from the ward haha :), we were able to develop a good relationship with them. They are now the strongest member missionary ward in the Stake. I learned how to motivate myself and work when I had nothing left. I also loved my new companion Elder Harker. He was a great support and taught me a lot about how to help people feel loved.

The last 6 months of my mission were definitely the toughest. There were struggles and challenges that I did not expect I would face on my mission, that have tested me to my limits but I have learned patience and faith in Christ and the enabling and cleansing power of His atonement. I have lost count of how many times I have been stuck by needles. But doctor visits, immigration miracles, a lot of reimbursements, moving houses, missed plane flights, stress, and many Chinese mistakes later I have made it to the last week. I love serving in the Singapore 2nd ward. The YSA is amazing. Elder Boud and Elder Shirley are amazing and I cannot thank God enough for this experience. The best part is the work never ends! Time to go out and kill it this last week! SPRINT TO THE END :)

Love,

Elder Avery 

Book of Mormon - October 9, 2016

Last Email from the Mission  - October 24, 2016

Book of Mormon - Elder Joshua Avery

Written by Elder Joshua Avery, serving in the Singapore Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Mandarin Chinese.

Dear Family and Friends,

I finished The Book of Mormon the other day. That was only the second time I have finished the Book of Mormon on my mission. I have spent the past year plus studying The Book of Mormon to better understand Christ. I highlighted every reference to him, every attribute, all of his words, and references to the doctrine of Christ. I am amazed at how much my understanding of Christ and my belief in Him has grown. Prayerfully studying The Book of Mormon has done more for my testimony than anything else. I love reading it so much. I am reading my study of Christ Book of Mormon these next 3 weeks. I plan on finishing it before I get home and then I will start reading a new Book of Mormon with a new perspective. Anyone who does not believe in The Book of Mormon has not studied it well. There is no other possible way for there to be a God and to have a plan to return to live with him other than the God and plan that is presented in The Book of Mormon. Other options might please the ears, but they are impossible.

The other day we found a super awesome prepared brother. We were on the bus going to visit a less active. When we got on the bus I had a thought come to my head that someone on the bus was prepared but it was not someone who spoke Chinese. After we got on the bus a man who is paralyzed from the waste down was trying to wheel himself on. The bus was pretty packed so he was struggling to get his wheelchair in the handicapped section. Us Elders helped him get situated and he was very grateful. He started asking us who we were and why we are in Singapore. Elder Boud, who has no fear showed him and another lady on the bus a Book of Mormon and said "This is why we're here". He taught and bore a powerful testimony of The Book of Mormon. The lady was not interested but the man in the wheelchair was. He got off at the same stop at us and told us not to go because he wanted to talk to us. He explained how he felt confused by all the different Christian teachings and doctrines. He told us that he had heard things on the internet and south park but he still wanted to learn because he felt like this was what he was looking for. We taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. We are passing him to the Zone Leader's and we are excited to see where things go from there.

Sister J** and Sister S** are doing great they just won't commit to a baptismal date. I think we are just going to focus on reading the Book of Mormon with them. They don't want us to talk about baptism for a while.

We had an awesome finding miracle on Saturday. After Saturday conference the ward ordered pizza which I can't eat so we went to get some Malaxiangguo.The food court in China Town was packed so there were almost no seats. The only open seats were at a table with these two 20 year old girls from China who are studying nursing. Of course we talked to them and they were way nice and wanted to learn the gospel. We were able to teach them yesterday with some of the YSA members. It is always interesting to teach people from China because they have no thoughts about God at all. It is way different than teaching Christians. 

Also A*** (an investigator I had started teaching with Elder Spurrier before we passed him to the Chinese Elders) is back and came to conference. That was sweet!

The members in our ward are always helpful. We didn't have to buy food during conference because members would always pack lunches for us. They would even bring salad for me :) We have also been trying to use members to help us learn the language because Malaysia corrupted Elder Shirley and I's Chinese. Not terribly, but it has caused us to pick up some bad habits. A lot of members have also told me that a lot of grammar and words will not make sense until I understand Characters. The new books from Taiwan that the mission will be getting soon will be a big help for the missionaries, I think that will help them get a solid foundation and help them sound more educated. 

 

Love,

Elder Avery

Gifts of the Spirit  - October 2, 2016

The Final Countdown  - October 17, 2016

Gifts of the Spirit - Elder Joshua Avery

Written by Elder Joshua Avery, serving in the Singapore Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Mandarin Chinese.

Dear Family and Friends,

 This past week I learned a lot about obedience and tenacity. They go hand in hand. Often times we are asked to do things that seem impossible in missionary work. Like talk to strangers, learn Chinese, talk to strangers in Chinese, and sometimes because of our weakness the commandments or white hand book rules can seem difficult to obey. As I have recommitted myself to all these rules and am trying to live them with greater exactness I have been feeling greater spiritual power. It really is the little things that make all the difference. It is the small things like speaking English when I should speak Chinese, not filling out all the teaching records that night, getting home a couple minutes late, and other things like that that can add up and weaken our spiritual armor. 

We have two investigators named J** and S** who are so good and doing great but won't commit to a date. Keep them in your prayers.

A miracle that I would like to share is how fast Elder Boud's Chinese is improving. The gifts of the spirit are real and I can see him  receiving divine help every day. Last night he was going up to people from China and initiating the contact and did a great job. There are some times he even knows a word or two that Elder Shirley and I don't. Having a trainee is a cool experience. I want to have a good experience but when you have a trainee you want to work even harder because you want him to have a better experience than you had. 

I was able to meet with the Bishop and go through our ward list. Because a lot of people in the ward move to and from China a lot of the people are unknown. But he gave us great direction. We were able to identify all of the key investigators and less actives and part member families. We visited a less active who has not been to church in a long time. As we were trying to teach him the Restoration we couldn't get a word in because he just wanted to share his gospel knowledge. we decided it would just be best to have him help us to teach one of our investigators. After he helped us teach a lesson magically he was at church this Sunday. Testifying of restored truths is a great way to help rekindle testimonies and conversion.

Love,

Elder Avery

Study and Miracles  - September 26, 2018

Book of Mormon - October 9, 2016