"Cast a Wider Net"

Thanksgiving week! There is simply too much to be grateful for. I am honestly in awe of Heavenly Father's generosity. I am grateful for my family, the Savior, the gospel, my mission, my investigators, music, bright sunshine, my zone and companion, the scriptures, and so much more. I am thankful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. A quote I really liked this week was "Because Joseph Smith was a prophet, we have more than a window into heaven, we have a door into the eternities." ~Craig C. Christensen. 

We also had a tropical storm on Saturday! It rained so hard and was so fun and beautiful! It started at the beginning of a mutual BBQ, which we invited our 14 year old investigator, Kelly, to. We were all walking together, and I was the only one with an umbrella. I held it over her as we walked, and it just reminded me of the protection and safety the gospel can give. I am so thankful I can give that to others, and eventually help them have their own umbrellas (she was on her phone and didn't want to hold it at that moment haha). 

Yesterday was also probably the prettiest day I have ever seen in Hong Kong. The rain cleared out the sky and the ocean sparkled and the boats and trees seemed so vibrant in the crisp, bright air. 

My ward here is starting to feel like family. We reschedule the BBQ to last night in the church, and when Sister Gomez and I arrived, everyone cheered and smiled and said they were so glad we were here. It meant a lot to me and made me feel like I was home and that I was where I needed to be. The small moments on my mission have been the most meaningful and comforting.

This week I thought about the theme or idea, "Cast a wider net." Because this week I studied the New Testament story when Christ beckons his disciples to follow him and become fishers of men. And then they immediately leave their nets and follow him. I just wanted to cast a wider net, or talk to more people, try to make my example reach further, and have more memorable lessons, so that I can be a better "fisher of men" and help more people have the opportunity to come unto Christ. I have so many flaws and weaknesses, but as I concentrate on the Savior and day by day developing his attributes, I am filled with hope, joy, and love. I hope that everyone this week can rejoice and give thanks in that we have a "door into the eternities." Emily Abel, my favorite word to say in Cantonese is "Yehsou Geiduk wuhtjeukge."  Jesus Christ lives. And because he is our Savior, he stands at the door, knocking, waiting to let us into an eternity of joy.

 

Bitter Will Become Sweet

This week was one of the best weeks of my life! We had a Thanksgiving activity on Saturday, and we had 3 investigators attend! They met so many ward members, and I honestly felt like I was in a Mormon Message, it was picture perfect. They even had turkey and it tasted like my grandma's Thanksgiving turkey! :) Then yesterday we had a Stake "gai yauh jaahm." Which is literally "add oil station." It's like a gospel gas station/chance to renew our testimonies and commitment. We had one investigator come with us, bless a member's friend, and it went so well. Sister Gomez and I sang Savior, Redeemer of my Soul and the bishop shared paintings of Christ by Greg Olsen. They were beautiful! It was really funny because there is one picture of Christ cooking a fish over an open fire near the shore, and the bishop jokingly called it a "B.B.Q." And then in the next meeting, we were all sharing what happened in the individual wards with the stake, and the sister who summarized ours,  said "and here is Jesus having a B.B.Q." You probably had to be there, but it was really funny!!!!!

This week in one of my personal studies I was reading about adversity. Because the people in the Book of Mormon sure had their fair share of them! When Sister Gomez and I sang Savior, Redeemer, the line "and made with sweet my bitter cup" really stuck out to me. Moses 6:55 and D & C 29:39 both are listed as references to adversity in the Guide to the Scriptures, and they both speak about sweet and bitter. And the Book of Mormon also teaches us that "there must be an opposition in all things." 

Even though some experiences here are bitter, they will be made sweet. Sometimes it doesn't take that long. Like me, with looking back at my first few weeks in Hong Kong. Even though all the change and newness was really overwhelming and hard, I look back at it with fondness, because I had to rely on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so much, and it made my relationship with them much stronger and deeper. A relationship I need now as I teach and do Their work. 

Sometimes it never becomes sweet in this life. But I promise that it will. Any pain and bitterness we experience now is carving a larger capacity to feel joy in the future. Because Christ drank the dregs of the bitter cup, of the most bitter cup, we can feel joy now. We can feel an abundance of joy. And we are promised that we will be made whole. We can have a sure hope that everything will work out for our good. Even in the bitter moments of life, the hope of the sweetness of repentance, of forgiveness, and of hope is always before us. Our cups truly "runneth over." 

This week I am just thankful. I am thankful for my family. For all your support! For the Savior, the gospel, Heavenly Father. I am thankful for His patience. I am definitely not the most well-tuned or beautiful instrument in this work, but He teaches me day by day. I am thankful that He always accepts our small offerings. I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and all those who sacrificed all they had so that we can have it today. I am thankful for the commandments, that teach us the importance and sacred nature of sacrifice. He has prepared a more excellent way, and they are the commandments, which turn our souls to Christ. Love you all!

--

Sister Dopp

 We sang at a meeting and we wanted to match the Elders.  We said "blue is good," and they literally brought every blue tie so we could choose.  Ha ha

"Gai Yauh"

First thing is first: I love Hong Kong and being a missionary!!!!
I am so grateful this week for the power of prayer. I know that Heavenly
Father answers our prayers. I can hardly comprehend how many prayers he has
answered here.
So yesterday, we taught 2 girls, twins actually, for the first time! I met
one in Tin Wan while on exchanges, and she brought her sister! They are
adorable and have no religious background, but are so accepting and willing
to listen. Their names are Beryl and Phoebe. We taught the Restoration and
I got to do one of my very favorite things: share the First Vision to
investigators in Cantonese. The message of the Restoration is so powerful
and my testimony grows every time I testify of it and invite others to ask
God if it is true. I love how much of our role is to invite others. We want
them to know for themselves, and we get to direct them to the ultimate
source of truth, love, and knowledge.
So a common saying here is "Gai yauh." Which literally means "Add oil." It
means 'keep going, good luck, you can do it.' And everybody says it! Then
in District Meeting, something we were talking about made me think about
the parable of the ten virgins. When I was in Young Womens, we studied this
parable and made our own lamps out of clay. I kept my lamp by my bed, and
it reminded me to constantly add drops of oil to my lamp. Or in other
words, to add simple spiritual experiences and confirmations to my life
daily. So now whenever I say or hear "Gai yauh!" I think of my testimony
lamp, and how important every single drop is. Heavenly Father teaches us
line upon line, and also promises that by small and simple means are great
things brought to pass. As we add oil to our lamps, the light of the world:
Jesus Christ, can help us have a bright flame that we can use to guide our
paths, and encourage others to do the same. But we need to be in darkness
for a time to help us realize that we really do have the oil, the
testimony, to keep faithfully press on.
I know Heavenly Father loves me. And He loves you!!!

-- *Sister Dopp*

Week of Diamonds

 

This week has been one of those that will influence the rest of my life. As
things in Hong Kong transpire, and the things happening in my hometown in
Utah continue and are active in my mind, an eternal perspective is more
comprehensible to me than ever. I am deeply sad about the passing of a
noble, strong, deliberate, powerful, humble woman in my home ward, Julie Karren, and
surprised and aware of health problems in my immediate family. It makes me
grateful for the Plan of Salvation and the testimony I have of it. These
events have also made me realize I need to be closer to the Spirit. So many
promptings are more like nuances in a fast-paced, crescendoing symphony. It
is difficult to notice and play them, but they are the most important, the
most sublime. Although my weaknesses here in China are magnified and at
times frustrating, I know that the Christ-like attributes of faith, trust,
patience, long-suffering, and humility are attributes I need and
desperately want to develop. Heavenly Father is so merciful to give me the
trials and weaknesses that He does, amidst the excitement, the strengths,
and the outside influences. The path paved with diamonds I spoke of earlier
in these emails is absolutely sparkling right now. I have never been more
aware of the light that causes these gems to shine and beautify my journey.
It is the light of Christ, and as I grow closer to him, seeing the diamonds
is easier and they reflect his light more brilliantly. The light of Christ
is given to each one of us and the pathway back to our Heavenly Father is
already laden with the footprints of One merciful, One perfect, One loving
person. Our Savior.
This week I was able to mention, as I do almost daily, that I have 4
sisters and 2 brothers, and that I have one sister who is adopted from
China. I love telling people about my family back in Meigwok (United
States) and also love telling them about our Father and Brother in heaven.
We taught a 14 year old this week who has had a very difficult life. I
won't go into details, but she has had so many trials I can never relate to, 

and that brought me to tears. I never would have thought she had gone
through these things, or had such a heavy heart. I was again taught that we
can never judge others or assume their happiness. We were able to teach her
again and tell her Joseph Smith's story. It hit me how amazing it was that
a 14 year old's prayer changed the world, and now, in Hong Kong China we
can tell a 14 year old girl about the Restoration of Jesus Christ's church.
We also gave her a picture Book of Mormon book and talked as she flipped
through it. She acts like she doesn't need religion and is not interested
in prayer, but she likes meeting with us because we listen. However, she
perked up and listened when she looked through the Book of Mormon stories.
As she looked, I was singing "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" primary song in
my head. We all yearn for stories of the Savior. We are all children of God.

I love this quote by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "We can all partake of an abundant
feast of spiritual opportunities and universal blessings."
It is from a talk about living up to our potential. I memorized the word
for potential in Cantonese this week, and has been thinking about divine
potential lately. I hope we can all have hope and faith that this is true.
That we can all be partakers of joy and salvation.
-- --
*Sister Dopp*