First P-day and I already feel like I have been here 3 weeks, the second day we were here it felt like we had been here 3 days and it was just insane. Although it feels super long, I finally got the groove of things and me and my companion are working as hard as we can together. So lets get into some details, I am the only guy learning Cantonese. There are two sisters from the Philippines learning with me, and there are only two other sisters that have been here for 7 weeks that are also learning Cantonese. So my companion, the rest of my zone and another zone all are speaking Mandarin. There isn't much of a difference until you learn the language and then there is a huge difference. So I struggled the first couple of days separating Mandarin accents and pronunciations from Cantonese pronunciations and accents. My two teachers are the absolute greatest, they both served in Hong Kong and are crazy fluent in the language. The sister is super nice and explains herself a lot in English and focuses on grammar. The brother rarely speaks English and really helps with vocabulary. I like getting blasted with the language because it allows me to be able to recognize words that I know and respond faster to questions or statements and not just look like a complete idiot. The language is coming but not in the way that I expected. I first came in here ready to give my all and to master this language, but the way in which I approached it was not how Jesus Christ wanted me to learn this language. How I figured this out was pretty simple. Second day we are told we are going to teach a lesson to an investigator, ummmm ok, this is what I'm here for. Lets do it. I prep a lesson, I got scriptures planned out, I got some statements planned out, I got my testimony all ready to go, and I know that I can do this. I knock on the door, she opens the door, I say "Leih hou" she replies "Leih hou" and my mind hit a brick wall. Everything that I planned out to teach was swept from underneath my feet. I had my notes in my hands, I had my scriptures, and everything else I needed right there but I could not say anything for the life of me. I sat there and fumbled with my notes as I tried to find words to say. I tried to read some scriptures to her and have her follow along, but she didn't understand what I was doing. I felt so defeated and alone. I am a very confident person, when I have a plan I can stick to it, but when all of that confidence and surety was ripped from me. I was crushed. So not trying to say any Cantonese I looked her in the eyes and told her "I understand that you are acting as an investigator, and not actually an investigator. I wish I could talk fluently in Cantonese and tell you what I know and answer all of your questions, but I am really sorry. I will be better the next time we meet." and I got up and left. When I sat back down in the classroom I just broke down and cried. AND I DON'T CRY. but I balled like a little baby. I felt like I was inadequate, and had failed. Not only this little test, but also if this was me out in the field I had failed that person. I had failed my heavenly father. Now I talked to one of my teachers and he counseled me and helped me understand that it was only the second day. That I started learning this language yesterday. He told me that he knew that from my reaction that I put in a lot of work and was willing to continue to do so. When he asked me to reflect on the meeting and asked where I went wrong, the spirit overcame me and I knew how I had to approach this language. I need not to find in my own strength the ability to learn this language and teach the people of Hong Kong, I cannot by my own will and means do the things that the lord has called me to do. I need to seek guidance from him and be humbled by him to allow the holy ghost to be my constant companion to help me in all things. I know this church is true, I know that Jesus Christ lives, and I know that as we do the things that our heavenly father not only asks but pleads for us to do we will be greatly rewarded in the things we need.
-Elder Young
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