About a boy. . . .

On the 8th of March. 2025. Weijie Chu, (Lorenzo), was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He is from mainland China and has an amazing story.  Last night he talked for over an hour about his path to baptism.  I won't tell you everything but try to hit some highlights.  This is somewhat a continuation about an earlier blog entitled "about a girl". Just before covid Lorenzo had graduated from high school but due to covid he could not travel and was to shelter in place like we were here in the United States. With so much time on his hands he spent time on public media. Keep in mind that in China the people are limited to viewing only those things that the government approves of.  However, Lorenzo had a friend that showed him how to get around the government blocked sites and was able to watch American youtube. He came across a Chinese man with a youtube channel that talked about his experiences living in San Diego, California where he had sought asylum for political reasons.  This man shared his feelings about family, and building good relationships, and other positive things.  He also told people about his research into the many Christian religions in America. In China Lorenzo had attended both a Protestant Church and a Catholic Church.  Lorenzo explained that thou there were these two choices the Government was in total control over what was being taught.

This youtuber posted every day and Lorenzo watched every day and found good things there.  I wish I knew the name of the youtuber, I shall have to ask Lorenzo.  Anyway, this youtuber eventually started posting about a church that he found that answered so many of his questions and gave him hope.  This Church he eventually joined was The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This is how Lorenzo first learned about the Church.

Jump forward a year, Lorenzo became more and more unhappy with the control that the Government had over the lives of the people.  More than anything he wanted to leave China but had no idea how this could happen.  He at one point thought of leaving China without permission, or a visa, by crossing the border with Thailand. If caught he would end up in jail.  One day he received a letter from the Australian Government explaining that he could apply for a work visa to come to Australia. He was thrilled and applied that same day.  Unbelievably he was accepted to the program. As a side note, I believe after being here for a while. I have learned that Australia has problems getting Australians to live in more remote areas and even a harder time finding Australians who will do some of the manual and/or distasteful jobs like harvesting crops or working in sheep or cattle slaughter factories.

I am going to jump past some of the experiences he went through his first few years in Australia other than saying that he always went to church when he could find a Mandarin speaking Christian church.

Lorenzo ends up in Rockhampton where he randomly stays at a motel owned by a Mandarin speaking Chinese immigrant who helps him get settled in Rockhampton. To meet with the terms of his work visa he was required to work a certain amount of time in a remote area and Rockhampton, because it is north of the tropic of Capricorn, met the requirements. He gets work, finds a place to stay and settles in to fulfill the requirements of his visa. After being here for a while he searches for a church to go to but there were no Mandarin speaking churches. His English is pretty good because all Chinese children are taught English.  While researching a church he sees a symbol of a "man blowing some horn" which intrigues him, and it is very close to his flat. The next Sunday he goes to the church and is amazed that it is the LDS church that his youtubber friend joined in San Diego. He thought the LDS Church was only an American church. Over a 9-month period of time he meets with Sister Missionaries and spends time with the Senior Missionaries, who were here before us. He learns a lot about the Church but then decides to take a job 40 minutes away from Rockhampton and the missionaries lose tract of him.

Enter Sister Gao from the previous blog, who has just been transferred to Rockhampton, and is part of the companionship that reaches out to the last know contact information for Lorenzo and he answers them, A couple of months later Lorenzo moves back to Rockhampton.  The sisters continue to teach Lorenzo then Sister Gao challenges him to be baptized. He says he needs to think about it. Lorenzo had learned about temple being a sacred place so, he decides to get in his car and drive the 8 hours to Brisbane to walk around the temple grounds. He had a number of tender mercy experiences while there and when he returned and explained his trip he was literally glowing with excitement. He set a date for baptism but two days before changed his mind.  It however seems that the Lord was not going to let go of him. A week later he jumps in his car and drives 17 plus hours to Sydney where he walked around the Sydney temple grounds and again feels the sacredness of the temple While there, he texts the Rockhampton Sister missionaries and says he wants to be baptized. They were so excited.  We all were.

His story has just started as a member of the Church. He doesn't want to go back to Chine.  He has one year left on his work visa and would love to get it extended.  He said that he may ask for Political asylum in Australia.

The Lord is getting the message out about the restoration into countries where there is no religious freedom.  The internet, although it is also used for evil, is reaching out to all of scattered Israel and this tech savvy generation, who are searching for something more in their lives, are finding it.