Patience is a virtue!

Today is Thursday and we are still patiently waiting for our assignments.  We would have been okay if we were busy but we are not!  The hardest thing is when other asked us if we know what we are doing yet, we can only say so many times: we don't know.  I guess you can say this is a little trial for us.  We went from the high of the MTC, feeling motivated and inspired to do the Lord's work, then the excitement of arriving Hong Kong and getting familiarized with our surrounding, getting to know every one in the office, now we are ready to work but having no assignment make use feel like we are "useless" and idle!  We have been offering help to others in the office but they are also busy with their own assignment and it is hard for them to come up with something for us to do!  Needless to say, we are learning patience and having a good attitude about this.  The term "waiting for the Lord" takes on a little different meaning for us!  The good thing is I am able to keep up with my posting and journal in my blog!

Every Wednesday, there is a Institute just for the sisters, on the third floor high counsel room, we are studying the new Testament, Each sister in the class take turn teaching and it was Sister Funk's turn yesterday, she taught from Luke 15-17 about the lost sheep, lost coin and the prodigal son.   The lesson I learned most is from Luke 16 about the unwise steward, we read from James E. Talmage:
“It was not the steward’s dishonesty that was extolled; his prudence and foresight were commended, however; for while he misapplied his master’s substance, he gave relief to the debtors; and in so doing he did not exceed his legal powers, for he was still steward though he was morally guilty of malfeasance [wrongdoing]. The lesson may be summed up in this wise: … Be diligent; for the day in which you can use your earthly riches will soon pass. Take a lesson from even the dishonest and the evil; if they are so prudent as to provide for the only future they think of, how much more should you, who believe in an eternal future, provide therefor! If you have not learned wisdom and prudence in the use of ‘unrighteous mammon,’ how can you be trusted with the more enduring riches?

My take away from these is that we should not judge un-righteously, even the most wicked has some good in them that the gospel of Jesus Christ can change and the atonement can make a different in their lives, The gospel is for everyone even the most unworthy!  We need to live our life in such a way that we can emulate Christ's virtue, patience and charity!

After class, I went with Sister Roberts, Norman and Funk over to Central and shopped at two American Stores that carries some bulk items from Costco.  I found some Onion soup mix so I might try making the delicious baked potatoes Celi Miller made!

Another new couple came in last night, the Becksteads, they are replacing the Chamberlin who will be leaving Saturday, doing Public Affair.  We also went over to the Chamberlin's last night and "shop", since they are leaving, I was able to get some pillows, storage containers and spices for my kitchen, that is how the law of consecration works among missionaries!!

Elder and Sister Beckstead who arrived yesterday, Elder Beckstead served in Hong Kong 73-75 under President Bradshaw/Wheat.  They are also parents to Sarah Warner who is friend to the Millers.