Why would more than 85,000 perfectly normal young men and women give up 18 months or up to two years of prime-time young adulthood to serve unpaid missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in hundreds of countries around the world? Nearly half of Hong Kong’s 150+ young missionaries recently combined their efforts with those of local Church members in a blankets-for-the-elderly service project in Wanchai. As these young people worked to create warm blankets for Hong Kong residents, they talked about their reasons for serving.
- Missionaries with stacks of blankets
- Elder Woolley and Sy cut material
- Sister Missionaries in Hong Kong Prepare Blankets for the Elderly
- Sister Samantha Yost works on blankets for the elderly
- Elder Benjamin Breedlove cuts fabric for blankets
- Elders Ferrar and Mangrobang cut sections of fabric
- Sister Megan Jackson smiles while working on blankets
- Elder Michael Hatfield busy at work
- Elder Thomas Cox is happy to serve in Hong Kong
- Sister Macy De Ocampo is happy to serve in Hong Kong
- Elders work together on blanket project in Hong Kong
- Sister Rebecca Stromberg is happy to be serving in Hong Kong
- Elder Belknap and Herzog work diligently on blanket project
- Elder Rawlings joins blanket project
- Elders Jensen and Hill cut fabric for blankets
- Sister Regan Curtis enjoys serving people in Hong Kong
- Elder Nicholas Graham ties bows on blankets for the elderly
- Elder Tung Hei Wan cuts fabric for blankets
- Elder David Boyd looks up from his work on blanket project
- Sister Rebecca Stromberg and Sister Hannah Sharp stop their work for a moment to take a picture
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Many have come from faraway places. Elder Tung Hei Wan from Ma On Shan, Hong Kong, is not one of them. After serving for almost a year, Elder Tung sees a change in himself. “I care more for others than myself. There is a challenge being in your own country because I understand the culture here so I understand why others may not be interested.”
Those who have traveled great distances to serve in Hong Kong have noticed that despite the profound differences between Hong Kong and their homelands, there are some universal blessings that come from service no matter where you serve. Elder Benjamin Breedlove from Snowflake Arizona, USA said, “Doing my best to help and love others has helped me feel the help and love of the Lord towards me.”
Other reasons to serve emerged as the missionaries cut fleece material with their hands while talking about their experiences. Elder Ching Ho Yan from Hong Kong said, “You never know how much good you do.” Elder Frenwick Tseng from Philadelphia Pennsylvania, USA said, “Service is a great opportunity to forget yourself.” Quoting Gordon B. Hinckley, one of the church’s former prophets, he continued, “Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause.”
Sis Leung from Hong Kong left her studies in Hawaii, USA to serve a mission. When asked why, she replied, “Because the gospel has blessed my life so much I want other people to have the same joy. It is not really a sacrifice because you are helping the Lord gather his children.” Sister Hannah Sharp from Virginia, USA mentioned, “I have always wanted to serve a mission." She explained, “My mission experience has been challenging, but it has been the happiest time of my life.”
No matter how young missionaries in Hong Kong serve, they love what they’re doing and the people they meet.