Contact at the University of Virginia (UVA) or otherwise grounds.
Elder Snow and Elder Smith

Elder Smith and Elder Snow making their travels from Charlotteville and Harrisonburg 

We went to grounds (UVA) to contact, which felt really good with Elder Snow, for some reason going out with him is so great. It was also good there was a good number of Chinese people there. Then, a really cool thing happened. A family was taking a picture, so we asked if we could help. After the picture Elder Snow heard them speaking Chinese and asked if they spoke Chinese, and they did. Then one of the first things the daughter asks is if we are from the Mormon church. We say we are and she explains she did an exchange in Utah for a year and attended the Mormon church. Then we ask where...and anyone reading this might not believe it, but she was in Lehi!!! Wow, I didn't react too crazily, but writing this down it is hard to believe. She went to Rockwell charter school, which I'm not sure where that is, but it was really, really lol. She said that she had some friends that went to Lehi High. The parents were really nice too, and she had a Chinese Book of Mormon, and it was home. We pulled one out and the parents said it was the same book they had at their house. Wow, it was really cool, then we talked a little bit more about our church and what we do, then we gave them all of the pamphlets, which was pretty cool. They are visiting for graduation, which made sense to give them all the pamphlets so they can read them on their own. Wow, it was really cool, then we got a picture, even though I'm not sure we ever got their name. Too bad she is moving to San Francisco, and the parents go back to China, but it was cool to talk with them.

-Elder FoundMyLaoXiang

We went out with Wang Laoshi( she taught at MTC, now lives in Statford). We went to grounds and met lots of people. We showed her some things as well. It was really good. She is cool, it was kind of unique because Elder Snow loves to talk, as does Wang Laoshi...so I didn't say much as we contacted. We tried going downtown as well which was good. Then we went to meet with Young, however he didn't show up. Our Gezi was fanged...or however you say that. It is an idiom in Chinese meaning you got stood up, Wang Laoshi taught us that. She definitely really, really loves doing missionary work. Elder Snow says she is addicted to it.

 Went to teach Yangli Jing, which was really exciting because Aldous really likes Elder Snow (Aldous is her son that last December wanted to join a church so Elder Snow was teaching him however he was transferred soon after.) So we get there, and both Yangli Jing and Aldous are there, and she has this really good lemon, mint and honey drink.wow it was really tasty. So because of Aldous's homework, we decided to share a message/teach him before helping Yangli Jing with her English. So we ask kind of what he believes, and he says something in Chinese I only understood parts. Something like there is an Ultimate truth, and that different religions can be true even with different beliefs, and that he wants a religion with the ultimate truth. It was somewhat confusing. Then Wang Laoshi and Elder Snow kind of co-teach, after a long discussion we get into the Plan of Salvation. Wang Laoshi leads and the other two of us help teach. There was a cool part where Yangli Jing was really amazed by the resurrection. She was surprised, because she hadn't heard yet that everyone would be resurrected. She also hadn't heard any of Aldous's beliefs either. It was a good Plan of Salvation lesson. Aldous understood it. Then he said he believed it, but he said that he believes many things can be true. Which was interesting, not exactly what we wanted. However, Wang Laoshi gave him two really good invites, one to pray every day and two to read the Book of Mormon every day and that would help him find truth. We gave him 2 Nephi 2 and Alma 40-41. As well to look at mormon.org according to his curiosity. It's was good. After that, well it was good because he wants to learn. However Yangli Jing was a little saddened we couldn't help her English, so we answered a few questions about some idioms. 

-Elder WangLaoShi#YrrtInSouthernUtah

Mandarin Work progressing in Virginia

We had district meeting, and I gave a training on teaching simply, not sure how simple it was though. Kind of like President Uchtdorf's simplify talk in 2015. I didn't do it very simply. Then Sister Ruffner trained which was good.
Ate lunch, did some maps and talked more about Fit for the kingdom with the Zone Leaders. We found out that each zone will have a Elder companionship winner and a Sister companionship winner...so that definitely boosts our odds of winning which should be fun for Elder Schellenberg and I.

Well today was kind of interesting. Had a really good meeting with President Duane Snow, it was a pleasant surprise. As we talked about the Mandarin work. I kind of felt like he was our missionary and we were his investigator. It was pretty special. I hope we can be the same missionaries to our investigators.
Ate lots of noodles(three bowls)
Taught Yangli Jing English, and the gospel. She is interested, but it is hard for her to make place in her heart for a portion of the word.
Then we went to dinner, Lu invited us via Brother Williams. Lots of people.
Way too much food.
-Elder ChineseFoodRound2

Next day Lu Jiemei, this was definitely the highlight of the evening. We were able to go over and talk about fasting this Sunday to help her friends be open to the Gospel. We shared Alma 17:9 with her, which talks about the sons of Mosiah and what they did before going to the Lamanites (fasted). It felt kind of like we were the sons of Mosiah, especially since LU Jiemei kept saying her friends are busy drinking, smoking and don't like rules from church and lots of different problems. She was nervous they won't change. However, as we talked I felt strongly that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is there to help people change, whether or not we all sin(Roman 3:23) it is about building people.

In the end she was willing to fast with us and President Snow. It was pretty special. Then she gave us corn, apples, and crunchy Reese's cups(mini)

Then we reported to Elder Snow and talked about things, we were able to talk how we all felt good about this, and as we go it is getting better. Seeing different things fit together like a puzzle(Elder Neil L. Andersen, October 2016 General Conference). We are meeting with President tomorrow to talk about the maps. As well President mentioned possibly having the mission fast for the mandarin work. It does feel good.
-Elder EndingOnAGoodNote#Dream