OUR DECISION TO SERVE AS SENIOR MISSIONARIES
 
By Elder John Aki

Elder John Aki and Sister Lydia Aki
Public Affairs Missionaries

Sister Aki and I love missionary work.  We are converts to the Church and appreciated those young, fearless missionaries who, almost 50 years ago, taught us the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has brought such joy and happiness into our lives.  What better way to express our love and gratitude to our Savior than by serving a mission in Public Affairs in Hong Kong.  This is my third mission; it is Sister Aki’s second mission.

Although, we sometimes feel that we are busy with public affairs work all week, temple work one night a week, and church callings in our branch on Sundays, we discovered that if we remember that we are proselyting missionaries first and everything else second, the Lord will provide a way for us to share the gospel.

What better way to share the gospel than when riding in a taxi.  We chat with the “captive” taxi driver about whom we are and why we are in Hong Kong.  We are able to share a short message and testimony and leave a missionary tract before exiting.  We’ll even leave a missionary tract in the back seat.  Who knows, the next passenger might find it, read it, and inquire about the Church.

Hong Kong is a wonderful shopping paradise.  Sister Aki enjoys letting people know that she is a missionary.  She proudly shows off her missionary name tag.  She explains a little about our church and invites people to come and visit our church in Wan Chai.  One store keeper did come and attended a sacrament meeting with us.

We often meet a wide range of visitors who stop by the Church office building in Wan Chai.  They see the beautiful building and a sign that says, “Visitors Welcomed.”  Sister Aki and I are often called to welcome them and show them the building.  We have opportunities explaining to them about our church.  We have met a wide variety of people from Asia, Europe, and North America.  It is a great joy to be able to explain about the Church and to share our testimonies during these visits.

In Doctrine and Covenants 60:2-3 it states regarding missionary work, “But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man.  Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.  And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have.”

We don’t need to be full-time missionaries to share our wonderful gospel message and the great blessings that come from being members.  All we need to do is to remember why we became members in the first place, and then go out and share the good tidings with all kinds of people that we meet daily.

Elder & Sister Aki in office		Elder & Sister with vistors from Malaysia

Elder John Aki and Sister Aki had served as Public Affairs Missionaries in Hong Kong since2008 and were released in August 2009.
Elder Aki had served as a missionary in Hong Kong when he was young and as the Mission President of China Hong Kong Mission with Sister Aki from July 1995 to June 1998

December 2009