This week was a week of miracles! We chose themes for each of my last 6 weeks, and this week was The Church is True, the Book is Blue. We based all our finding on the Book of Mormon. We were able to give copies to Oscar, Thomas, David, Jenny, Tiffany, Mandy, Hellen, Cecelia, Kimberly, Kathy, Annie, Chloe, Kathy, and Candy. And we organized a district finding and other missionaries gave out 4 copies. It was such a joyful experience speaking to people about this book. The words seemed to fly from my heart to the air, and I felt so much peace. The words don't have to pass through my brain as much as my Cantonese improves, and I have an inner peace about my purpose. My purpose as a missionary is to yield to the Spirit and just open my mouth. When the words make it into the air, the testimony and Spirit is there, and then it is in the hearers' hands. Sometimes the hearer doesn't even want to hear, but sometimes they have been listening for a long time. Cecelia and Kimberly were such examples. We met them on the street. My amazing amazing companion Sister Johnson was walking nearest to them, and asked them if they had any brothers and sisters. It was different than the "Golden Questions" I usually ask, and so I was hoping the girls' interest would spark and they'd want to talk to us. Then immediately I felt a warm peace come over me stemming from the trust and love I have for Sister Johnson. She is so hardworking and so inviting of the Spirit. I feel like her heart is a shelter. Like, I can't adequately explain it, but she lets Heavenly Father widen her vision, love, and capacity to serve. And then her testimony becomes like a shelter for anyone who needs it. Her charity is immediate and already radiating, and if you are lucky enough to walk into her bubble of light, you feel drawn to the Savior. She is a true disciple.

So anyway, after I was humbled in that way,Cecelia and Kimberly did respond well! They talked about their families a bit, and Kimberly said she was looking for a church! She asked if it was near. Cecelia wasn't very interested, but she was with her friend, and besides, her friend said she's super dakhaahn. (free) So, we walked together to the church right then and there! And had a lesson! Guys, that doesn't happen very often! 

We connected right away. Even if their teenage lingo and fast talking was a little hard to understand. We talked about our missionary purpose, and their understanding of God. Cecelia shared that she felt like she couldn't get close to God. She was hesitant to share why, so I shared Ether 12:27 and testified of its truth. I said I was thankful that God gave me a new start to every day. She said she wanted that, but felt like she had to apologize to God and other people. Yes! I said. That's called repentance. So we talked about repentance and she shared that one time she stole books as a kid, and felt guilty, and the store is no longer in existence. I just hugged her and she cried and we scheduled another time to meet. I told her to pray and I would pray and we'd talk about it on Saturday. On Saturday she said she didn't want her guilt to stop her from getting to know God. She said she felt so much better after confessing to me, and then we had a wonderful lesson on the Godhead and The Book of Mormon and bits of the plan of happiness. When Sister Johnson told her she is a daughter of God, you could see her countenance change. A spark of hope and familiarity and happiness. She is special. I know she is a daughter of God.

Kimberly and Cecelia both accepted a baptismal date for December 25th!

Yesterday, I found out an investigator from Pok Fu Lam, Tim Chan, also is getting baptized on December 24th!!! I LOVE the Chans. Tim and Ann are from China, and recently moved from Australia. Ann joined the church a few years ago, and Tim's family was baptized, but went less active right before he was born. But he still remembers hitting balls back and forth with Elders over the fence of his childhood home. Anyway, his story is so interesting. But no time! He is simply the kindest man in the world. He took me and a bunch of other sisters on a hike in October. It was complete with photo ops, lunch, an itinerary, and kind words of encouragement and appreciation. I never thought he'd get baptized that soon, because he was a tad stand offish about actually attending church. But I knew it would happen eventually. I texted them during dinner that day and they said they had just been thinking about me. They wanted to do my last P day together! They are seriously so nice. Today we are going to the Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen to yam cha (to eat dim sum). I am so excited for their family!

Then yesterday was dear sweet Emma's baptismal service!!! Remember Emma? She showed up to church on October 1st, and she and her brother were our last investigators for that month we found 12. We went to an activity, taught her, and attended General Conference together. She didn't live in our area, so the Tsing Yi sisters taught her the rest. She invited us to the baptismal service and we were ecstatic. Her mom and brother came too, and I suspect they will be baptized soon. Afterward Emma shared her testimony. She mentioned attending church for the first time in Kwai Chung and loving the people there. They were welcoming and kind and willing to help. She also shared 1 Nephi 3:7 with everyone. I recently memorized that scripture in Cantonese, so it was really special to hear. It now feels familiar to me in a deeper way. I love Cantonese. Emma said that scripture was really meaningful for her. She is truly amazing and has such a strong testimony. 

We also had exchanges this week and I went to Butterfly Ward with Sister Webb. On Saturday morning we studied with the youth that have mission calls. Two girls both going to Hawaii on the same day, and 2 boys both going to Canada on the same day!! I did a sit faahn (role play) with the girls, and they taught me the Restoration in English, their mission language. It was neat to be on the other end of hearing people teach in their second language. I noticed incorrect pronunciations or awkward grammar, but it didn't matter. I felt the Spirit. I love hearing the lessons. It speaks to my heart that I would have accepted these truths even if I wasn't born into it. After, the girls humbly asked for how they could improve. I told them the thing that helped me most in the MTC. Instead of thinking about "What should I say?" Think "How would Jesus feel?" Then Heavenly Father blesses you with charity, and you invite the Spirit to teach the person, not just a lesson. It was so fun to see the girls diligently and quickly write What would Jesus Feel? in the front of their Preach My Gospels. Recently, I have really had a strong desire to teach in the MTC.We will see.

Sister Webb and I sang primary songs in companion study, and all the feelings from primary came flooding back. Friends, music, fun teachers, and just knowing things were true. Nothing else seemed to block what I was learning, and I took them in just like I did food and water. Of course Christ lived. Of course he loves me. Of course. 

1. 2. I wonder, when he comes again,
   Will I be ready there
   To look upon his loving face
   And join with him in prayer?
   Each day I’ll try to do his will
   And let my light so shine
   That others seeing me may seek
   For greater light divine.
   Then, when that blessed day is here,
   He’ll love me and he’ll say,
   “You’ve served me well, my little child;
   Come unto my arms to stay.”
   
   
   
   
   I know Christ is a God of Miracles. Because he helped me learned Chinese. He helped me love the people I didn't want to love. Because he helped me understand the gospel joyfully. 
   I am thankful that in about 3 weeks I can hug my earthly dad, and stay. 
   I know that we can all be ready for that day. I know Jesus Christ can teach us how to pray. I am thankful Heavenly Father wants us back. This is all true. I hope we can listen to the Spirit's quiet promptings, confirming  "Of course." 

Douh Ji Muih

Only Begotten Son

This is my second to last P day email and I feel "Baat gam gaau jap" A hundred feelings combined in one.

This week we met Anita in the park while waiting for another investigator. She volunteers at the park cleaning and has lunch there every Wednesday to Friday. We chatted and explained our purpose here in Hong Kong. We asked if we could come back the next day, same time. So we came back two days in a row after that. The third time we brought a Book of Mormon, and she was so excited to read it. She kept flipping through and asking questions.  
We invited her to read and she said she could probably read at least half of the book!  Because she loves reading. We were like, "Oh! Wow, ya, great! You just call us if you have any questions!" I love love love testifying of The Book of Mormon in Cantonese.

We also met the coolest guy on the MTR last week named Stanley. He is from Nigeria, has lived here for 5 years, and speaks some Cantonese! We met with him on Saturday to talk about our beliefs. He is Christian and asked us the neatest questions like, "What motivates you to follow God? How do you study the Bible?" and then after our introduction of our favorite book...

"How do you know the Book of Mormon is true?"

Stanley quoted so many Bible scriptures, and I was so inspired by his love and study of it. One thing I loved was that he said "The Bible has about 40 men from different ages and cultures, that come together to tell one story, one direction and purpose. No other book is like that. It is from God."

I felt the Spirit so strongly talking with him. He was courteous and kind and just really devoted to God and Jesus Christ. It was really humbling. I was also really thankful for seminary and all the scripture masteries.

Mostly, I was just overcome with gratitude to be a Christian. There are so many good, good people. I am so thankful for the Bible. Lately I have been reading the gospels, especially the beginning of Christ's life. I love reading about the obedient, eager sheperds; Mary who pondered everything in her heart; the wise men who sacrificed much to see the Christ child; and the angels who brought "glad tidings of great joy."

A new investigator, Kelly (Yes the Buddhist one) met with us again this week. She literally calls us and literally things we are angels. hahahahhha But I was studying our missionary purpose this week and I realized how similiar are missions are with the people in the nativity story. We must be humble and prepared and believe and share the news like the sheperds. We must be meek and courageous and reverent like Mary. We must be studious and deliberate and longsuffering like the wise men. But most of all, we are here to "declare glad tidings of great joy!"

Something Sister Johnson and I also realized is that Christ's lineage is recorded in detail in the Bible, but it is Joseph's side of the family. And Joseph wasn't Christ's biological father. We wondered why Mary's was not. But it was cool to think about Joseph and adoption and the importance of a mother and father and families and prophecies of Christ.

Rose is doing well! We met with her and she told us she hadn't read the Book of Mormon because there are too many characters! hahhahha I know how you feel Rose! We read 2 nephi 31 together and set a new baptismal date for Chinese New Year. We told her she could start by just reading 5 verses a day. Her testimony is really growing, and now we are just helping her have the faith to act and really change.

I love Rose! I love our little flock in Kwai Chung. Everyone is doing so well and is so special and I will miss them SO much. I wish I could write about each one.

Also, last thing. I love John the Baptist. Reading about him is so inspiring and makes me want to repent. One Bible verse calls him "dayspring" or dawn. It is neat to think about that, because Jesus Christ is the Sun and Son. John understood 37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible." John's mission was 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

I am grateful we still have prophets today to do that. There is so much light in my life, and I am thankful I know the source of it.

I don't have much time, but I just want to bare testimony that Christ lives. This scripture is true...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

He loves you!

I'll Be Home for Christmas

We went to dinner with Tim and Ann at a fancy dim sum place and had the best goose I have ever had. Also, Tim and Ann are like my Hong Kong parents. They are so kind and love taking pictures of us and feeding us amazing food. I cannot wait for December 24th when Tim gets baptized!!!!

So our church is under renovation so we use the back door and we can't use the password anymore because the Elders' teenage investigator would always find it out and sneak in and play ping pong. So...we use keys now and only a handful of people have keys. So we unlock it for people sometimes. One morning we were doing personal study and hadn't gotten ready yet (Because we live with 6 sisters and can't all get ready at once) when a member called. So we threw on skirts, thinking we'd come right back. But then she invited us to breakfast! We just laughed sitting there eating our eggs, sweet bread, and honey chicken and Ovaltine drinks with our messy hair. 

THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Was perhaps one of the best days of my life. Sisters Magleby and Briggs were also in charge of stuffing, so we made it together. We were ripping pieces of bread and putting them in trash bags with spices to sit overnight. And....it was all worth it. Our stuffing was amazing. It was pretty funny bringing the food on the MTR. We had Thanksgiving lunch with our whole Zone and it was just picture perfect. So many friends, good food, ping pong, games, gratitude. I just felt like I was with "my people." Sister Johnson and I had not eaten that much food in....the whole time together. hahahha It's a good reintroduction to American portions and food. Anyway, we also went around a circle and said what we were most grateful for in Hong Kong. I said the temple. The Hong Kong temple is one of the few in Asia, and so it serves a vast majority of the world population. It's been neat to see the families that come here and the sacrifices they make. 

I also had my departure interview with President Lam. I will miss President Lam and Sister Lam SO much. President Lam is THE most Christ-like person I have ever met. His wisdom, devotion, and grasp of the gospel is so inspiring. He is always calm and happy and peaceful. Just his being is a good example of the blessings that come from living the gospel. 

So....we also had the Annual Thanksgiving Party for our ward. It's a big deal. And we were put in charge of making a piñata. (And mashed potatoes. I learned that Chinese people really don't know how to make mashed potatoes)  So after the initial turkey piñata activity to make it with the primary kids, we had to do another coat, and then we couldn't find paint ANYWHERE and had to buy brown paper and do another coat. And so it turned out pretty hard. In the end, a kid snapped a wooden broom stick on the piñata and it almost hit someone, and they had to unplug the hole and dump the candy on the floor. I actually didn't see any of this because we had 7 investigators, 3 nonmember families, and some friends of members. It was pretty chaotic. Oh, I forgot, we were also in charge of the 10 minute performance. So, I read a scripture from Alma, all the missionaries bore their testimonies, then we all sang For the Beauty of the Earth, then did the Virginia Reel. It was one of the funniest things teaching the Elders the Virginia Reel prior to that day. They did a good job! 

On Thanksgiving night we went to a YSA activity with our investigator Yui. We watched 17 Miracles, and I realized all the miracles that I have seen on my mission. There are many. 

Transfer calls! I will be transferred to Utah. And Sister Johnson's new companion is Sister Scott!!!! They were in the same MTC group, and I think they'll be a fabulous companionship. 

So...I am trying to be as normal as possible, but I am leaving this Friday. I still haven't come to terms with it, and it has been SO hard saying goodbyes here. Even harder than coming here, because I don't know if I will see some of the people again. I feel like I am leaving another family. 

But, I guess Heavenly Father wants the next chapter of my life to begin, and I have to continue to put my trust in Him. I will share more at my Homecoming, so for now, just a small thought, and then I will see everyone in Utah!

My 17 Miracles...

~1~Learning Cantonese. The Gift of Tongues is real, and it is hard to describe the experience of receiving it. 

~2~Being trained in the prettiest area: Pok Fu Lam. And my wonderful trainer Sister Gomez

~2~Meeting 2 girls from Mainland in waterfall park and teaching them who God and Jesus Christ are as the sun set on the ocean

~3~Teaching Tim and hearing about his Christmas Eve baptismal date

~4~Seeing Daphne testify of the Book of Mormon to a new friend a few weeks after she was baptized. 

~5~Learning who the Savior is and how much I need him

~6~Really understanding and knowing that we are ALL children of God

~7~Hearing Jeung Ji Muih say that she knows God lives

~8~Finding 12 investigators in one month

~9~Seeing Emma's brother and mom support her at her baptism

~10~Giving a Book of Mormon to an Atheist who was briefly traveling through Hong Kong and knowing the Holy Ghost testified of my testimony as we sat in that little bus

~11~Being companions with Sister Johnson. 

~12~Every single time I gave someone a Book of Mormon or shared my testimony

~13~My love for my family growing, across oceans and thousands of miles

~14~Hearing Yui tell me that she will never stop praying and that we helped her achieve her dreams and planning an American road trip with her

~15~Heavenly Father teaching me to notice the diamonds among the pebbles on every path

~16~All the butterflies that I saw and being reminded that I am surrounded by angels

~17~Experiencing conversion.

This has been the biggest blessing of my entire life. I can't say the smallest part of what I feel. I love this gospel. I love Hong Kong. I love the people here. I know God is a God of Miracles. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, who restored Christ's original church. I know my family is eternal. I know Heavenly Father is all-powerful and all-knowing. He is merciful and kind and patient. I know Christ lives. 

Halloween in Hong Kong

The Halloween party was a success! Our investigator did our makeup and....she really, well, did our makeup. I don't think I have ever had so much makeup on my face. We supposed to be Ana and Elsa, but we looked more like their scary Zombie versions. At least it was Halloween :)

We made SO many cookies. We thought quadrupled the recipe would be enough, and it was more than enough. We just laughed as we placed pan after pan on the Hong Kong-sized platers. People liked them though!

We had Mission Tour with Elder Evans of the Asia Area Seventy! It was absolutely amazing!!!!! I don't have my notes, but one of the quotes that I loved is "I don't have a solution for you, but I have a principle." This is so so so important to life! I am thankful for that truth. Heavenly Father's perfect plan includes opposition for a reason. He gives us problems to solve and all the ways to do it. Just remember that the first principle of the gospel is Faith in Jesus Christ.

Also, this week I got sick! I jinxed myself because las week I was thinking how lucky I was that I have never gotten sick on my mission. Thursday I slept a lot and my amazing companion called people, studied, and read me a Christmas book during dinner. She is so so so kind. I am feeling much better.

During Sister Johnson's epic call session, she scheduled a lady named Kelly. We met her on Saturday, and she was so excited to see us again! She remembered the missionary from 3 years ago who contacted her, so we helped her find her Facebook, and took pictures to show the returned missionary. Anyway, Kelly has recently gotten really into this practice called Falun Gong, so we heard a lot about this complex, Buddhist philosophy and way of life. If you think Bible Bashing is rough, try Buddhist bashing in Cantonese. Except Buddhism is really accepting, and Kelly is especially accepting. So whatever we share, they believe! But they also believe in Buddha. She kept telling us "thank your God for arranging us to meet!" I can't really describe that meeting, but I am just thankful we believe in absolute truth and I just love Kelly. 

Saturday was a power day! We met with lots of people and Sister Johnson ate dove! I know I maybe should have, but I kept thinking about how he Holy Ghost descended in the form of a dove, and it was just weird, and ya....hahahahahhaha

Yesterday was my last fast Sunday here and it was sad. I bore my testimony and read Alma 29:9, my mission scripture, out of a character Book of Mormon. No ping yam! Granted, I had it mostly memorized, but still! I cried of course. I KNOW the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

We watched a Face2Face Devotional last night from our USB, and it was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland leading it. In his closing testimony, he shared his three favorite titles of the Savior.

1-Bright and Morning Star

2-The High Priest of Good Things to Come

3-Alpha and Omega

I know the Savior is everything he said he is. I know he fulfilled everything his Father asked of him. I know he lives, today. I am thankful for all the good things to come in the following four weeks here, and the rest of my life as a missionary of Jesus Christ. "He is the beginning and end for me." ~Jeffrey R. Holland

Kindness

This week was filled with....

~Realising Hong Kong lacks regular frosting, cookie mix, and basically anything necessary for a Halloween party that American teenage girls know how to throw

~Finding everything we needed anyway, in a sub-par, very creative sort of way. hahahha No really this is going to be a fantastic party! We have face paint, cookies, doughnuts, candy, games, and music. I personally cannot wait to see Hong Kong parents rocking out to Thriller. (Especially because they love singing and Ls and Rs are really hard to say)

~The Primary Program!!!!!! It was amazing. One family brought 3 other families who had never been to church before! I was so impressed with the kids' preparation and spirit. One song in particular made me feel the Spirit and brought tears to my eyes. They sang Love One Another and on one of the verses, they switched to English. I didn't even realise they switched languages until about half way through the chorus. And they signed it! Seeing sign language made me so happy and a bit emotional. In Pok Fu Lam ward, there are deaf members, many of whom were so willing to teach the missionaries. Even though I don't know a ton of sign language, I love love love HK sign language. It brings everything I love in one: Cantonese, dance, communication, and learning. When I danced in FHE the other week, using the sign for atonement made me so happy....feelings you can only describe in Cantonese and dance and sign language! Anyway, the primary program was amazing. And we got to take the sacrament for the first time in 3 weeks! Typhoon, General Conference, and Stake Conference happened all in a row!

~Last P day was sooooo hot! We went hiking with an investigator for about 3 hours. The view was breathtaking though. We could see Repulse Bay and the ocean reaching out, exceeding in its horizontal expanse the verticality of all the buildings. We then went to the beach after our hike and took about 170 pictures with Yui's tripod. hahahahaha Sister Johnson and I were laughing about how that day we were the people on the beach that we would have made fun of. Yui is a fan of all things 7th grade pinterest. It was actually really fun! #sisters4ever! 

~My adorable companion made me the most meaningful, kind planner cover. It's my last one. I cried when she gave it to me.

~We came up with themes for each of these last 6 weeks. This week's was Be Among the People. We tried to embrace and love the culture and people more than ever. We spent time in the park listening to a 79 year old man playing his homemade flute, cleaning the pier and handing out hundreds of fliers along the way, and talking to everyone about questions we felt would really resonate with the Hong Kong people. This morning on the MTR here, I met Philip and Eerie. Phillip grew up in Florida but spoke Cantonese fluently. I asked them if they were religious. If they believed there was any possibility God existed. And if He did, how He'd communicate with them. Philip said maybe through dreams. Eerie said maybe dreams, but probably through not normal ways. Then Philip asked me how God communicated with me. I can't really explain and retranslate what I said, but I know the Spirit brought to my mind and helped me explain prayer, faith that someone was listening, scripture, good feelings that I know come from God because He created us and the universe, and knowing that He exists because when I follow Jesus Christ, I see positive results in my life. They seemed interested and I sensed an almost tangible light spark in that cool MTR car. Even though I don't often have the privilege of seeing the MTR people again to teach them, Sister Johnson once told me that Elder Nelson promised the missionaries here that the "Questions [we] ask the people of Hong Kong will keep them up at night." When she shared that with me a few weeks ago, I got teary eyed. Sometimes it seems like a drop in the ocean, the meaningful conversations I try to have with people on public transportation. But if I can smile at someone, allow someone to see Christ's name, ask a question that prompts thought and soul-searching, I feel fulfilled. In a small way, I helped one of my brothers and sisters consider eternity. In a place that mortality can seem stifling and like a dead end.

I am grateful that because of the gospel there are not dead ends!

Speaking of which, repentance is why that is true. Sister Johnson and I learned a lot about repentance this week. We are both intense perfectionists. Which makes contentment and happiness something we have to seek, and somewhat of a rarity. We aren't even quite satisfied with our offering. But this week we learned and taught each other that mercy and patience is something Heavenly Father has. Perfectly. And He wants us to develop that as well. For everyone. Including ourselves. If we were perfect, that would be a dead end. We can always get better. And that is hope! Not condemnation. Not being not enough. Jesus Christ is the only perfect person, because he didn't even commit a sin of omission. He literally did everything for all of us. We CANNOT do that. So we can only be perfect in him. I am thankful for that! As Elder James (the previous older assistant to Pres. Lam) said "We are dependent beings. We are mere mortals." 

My word this week was Prince of Peace. I know Christ lives. I see everything around me as evidence of that. It brings everything to life. We can only truly live when we are in his service. He is the bread of life. The light and life of the WORLD! I hope you can imagine how much I am smiling right now standing in the Central Apple store. I believe this!!!!!!!!!!

As you read this, imagine adorable Chinese kids singing this and signing the lyrics...

Love one another

As Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness

In all that you do.

Be gentle and loving

In deed and in thought,

For these are the things 

Jesus taught. 

Kindness is in the way you live. Heavenly Father sent His son to show us how to live, and to live forever in wholeness.

I love you all! Love one another!

Getting "Shot"

What a week! Here are some highlights.....

-We got shot. We couldn't come to the mission home when the nurse was there, so my mission president gave them to us. Don't worry, he's a doctor. Sister Johnson helped me not pass out by reading the letter from my dad we'd just picked up from the mail area. 

-TRANSFERS! We just finished our 9 week transfer! I can't believe all transfers used to be that long when I first came here. Sister Johnson made me my last planner, and it's adorable. I will send pictures next week. 

-SISTER BRIGGS lives with me!!!!!!!!! She is my MTC companion, and her companion, Sister Magleby, is also from our group. We three are so so so happy to be together. I love them.

-We have 2 babies in our zone! They are both from England and very nice.

-We taught a guy named Tom whom we met while moving last week

-We moveddddd! We swapped apartments with the elders, because we now have 6 people in ours, and they only have 3. So we have the biggest, nicest apartment in the mission! It is nice, except....

-Our washer is broken. With all the towels we use to clean trapped inside of it. As far as cleaning is concerned, we have been driving the struggle bus this week

-Stake conference! It was amazing! I wrote down every single word I didn't know in my word book and have like 9 pages. It makes language study so exciting to look them up and ask natives. 

-We took a big bus to stake conference because it was kind of far away (I don't really know why seeing as HK's public transport is amazing) and it was beautiful! The views were spectacular. On the way back we sat next to the bishop's little son, who loves us, and he held my finger the whole way home. 

-Family Home Evening last night! Yui our investigator came and had a great time. We are going hiking with her today. There was SO much good food, and I can't describe how fun it is. People of all ages in a small apartment, playing games and laughing and discussing the gospel...all in Cantonese. My favorite language.

-Last P day we went to Big Buddha. It was seriously the neatest thing ever! We took the cable cars, and admired the view of the airport, all of HK, and the lush green mountains. And of course, the Big Buddha himself. We met Jenny, a girl from Australia who lives in London and works for E-bay. And a couple from Israel, and a mom and son from India. The mom told me about the Portuguese influence of a part of India and how they brought Christianity, and so her family is 4 or 5 generations Christian! 

-This week my word was Our All, from the hymn Redeemer of Israel...

1. Redeemer of Israel,

Our only delight,

On whom for a blessing we call,

Our shadow by day

And our pillar by night,

Our King, our Deliv’rer, our all!

As a missionary, I have truly learned that Jesus Christ is my all. And through loving the people, I have learned that he is OUR all. He is the Savior of us all. In the MTC, I remember singing this hymn and thinking about how he becomes our pillar by night. I thought about how trials help us more fully have his help and rely on him. I don't think I noticed all the subtle shadows of him leading, guiding, and walking beside me before my mission. His hand was so apparent in my life. His hands are always extended in invitation, even though they are scarred. He always remembers me, and I am thankful I know how I can try to always remember him. There is so much meaning in the gospel, and I could go on and on about why he is our all, but the most important thing is that he is there. He knows all, can do all, and has given his all for all of us to be happy, and eventually, to receive all the blessings he and Heavenly Father have.

No Letter This Week

Golda spent all of her email time corresponding with me about her UVU registration, so she could register for classes. It's hard with such limited time. I'm not much help. It's all complicated and I've never done it before, but I think she has what she needs.