The Matchless Gift

What a week. I do not even have words. So much has happened. We taught
Tohng Ji Muih, an investigator from Mainland. She is incredibly kind and so
accepting of the gospel. We taught the Word of Wisdom this week and she
accepted it so quickly! Even though she is very used to drinking coffee and
tea, she said that it was probably not the healthiest because God knows us
better. She came into the lesson talking about some health problems she has
been having, and the Spirit was just so strong as we testified of blessings
that come from following the commandments. I am truly so grateful we have
such specific direction and help to receive specific and needed blessings.
She has a baptismal date for next month!!! And yesterday at the ward Family
Home Evening, she shared that her Christmas wish is to be healthy so that
she can attend church on Christmas next week! I love her so much and am
praying everything goes well and she can attend next week! 

Our recent convert Jeung Ji Muih is doing well. We taught the 10 commandments this
week and once again the spirit was so strong as we talked about ancient
prophets and how Heavenly Father's love is so unconditional.

Today for P day we went to "Lamma Island." It is off of my area, Auberdeen,
and was absolutely GORGEOUS. The boat ride there felt like a dream, the
walk to the beach felt like a Disneyland safari it was so picturesque, and the
beach was straight from a post card! We got special permission to go with
our whole zone, so Elders and Sisters could go together. It was so fun to
spend time as a zone, especially for Christmas.
This week I have really felt the love of the Savior. The other night I was
thinking about my family back home, the many ballet performances I did not
see or dance in, the traditions that will be missed this year, and the Utah
snow. Also the apartment things that needed cleaning, lessons coming up,
personal weakness I would like to work on, Cantonese grammar structures,
and helping the people we are teaching understand the gospel. 

And then I just felt peace. It was instantaneous, yet intensified as I sat there. The
peace came to my heart as I thought about the night the Savior was born.
People were traveling from afar, many grand signs had just taken place,
King Herod was considering sending a decree which would kill many young
children, and the inns surrounding that stable in Bethlehem were filled.
But for the small moment, Mary and Joseph held a child in their arms. They
knew that the Savior of the world had come. The One perfect soul had come
in all humility and love to change a world that was in commotion. To a
world of compassion, hope, and PEACE. It was indeed a holy night. And
because of that one night, two thousand years later, one night in Hong
Kong, an imperfect missionary felt the peace of a perfect Savior. And many
billions of other moments, that peace is felt. And I know we can all feel
that. The Savior is there for each one of us, in a very personal way.
The people before his birth had faith in him. Even faith enough to follow a
small light in a huge sky. One star led them to the Savior of the world.
And I testify that one spark of faith can lead us to him as well. And when
we arrive at that place, that we can say for ourselves that He lives, I
hope we can share that with others. I cannot express my thoughts adequately
about the Savior, but I know He lives. And basically everything else can be
encompassed in that.
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!
--
*Sister Dopp*

Light the World

Sometimes it hits me that I cannot do everything and that the distance
between perfection and me is equivalent to the distance between Hong Kong
and Utah. And that I single-handledly cannot convert all of Hong Kong
Island or introduce Pok Fu Lam to the gospel in one transfer. And it is
joyful and humbling when these moments occur because then Heavenly Father
helps me realize what matters most. It is not what I cannot do. It is what
I can do with the Lord's help. I can have direct communication with God. A
much faster communication that even my communication with my family in
Utah. The commercialness and materialism of Hong Kong contracts distinctly
with the precious knowledge of the gospel that I hold in my heart. It is
like comparing emails to prayer. They are both communication and get the
job done. One is happy and quite efficient and a little convenient. But one
is life-changing, constant, always two-way, and powerful. One depends the
world-wide web, and the other depends on the Creator of the universe. One
goes through Wi-fi, the other goes through the Savior of the world. These
seem obvious and too simple, but it is sometimes how I feel when people
fail to accept the gospel. I guess what I am trying to describe is that
nothing can compare to the knowledge of the gospel. The perspective the
gospel gives is priceless. There is simply nothing better.
We had a pretty busy week this week and hopefully this week will be even
busier! We had zone training on preparation and it was so amazing! We
really focused on how missionaries can "prepare every needful thing" and be
two steps ahead so we can have the Lord's promised blessings and be
prepared whenever our testimonies or help are needed. The Elders ended with
"It all began with a plan in heaven. Heavenly Father understands the
importance of planning." It was just really powerful and helped me see the
bigger picture and connect it to Christ.
We also did exchanges and I got to teach with Sister Yost, from California.
She almost had to go home for a medical surgery, but she is sticking it out
for 2 more transfers and she is honestly such an amazing missionary. She
has taught me so much. We taught Kelly together and it went so well. Even
though Kelly isn't ready to get baptized yet, and can hardly say a prayer,
I am thankful we can introduce her to the gospel and teach these lessons to
someone who needs them so much and has never heard them.
Yesterday we had dinner at a member's and it was so happy. It just felt
like a home away from home. I am so thankful the ward members and this
family in particular are so welcoming and loving. The food was also really
good :)
I hope everyone continues to do the 25 Days Christmas challenge! It is so
powerful! Let's LIGHT THE WORLD!

--
*Sister Dopp*

Faith Gives Sight to the Blind

This week has been a week of humbling, stretching, and illumination. I have never been so aware of my weaknesses as I am now, which helps me use Jesus Christ's atonement and further realize how his grace works in my life. I know when we do our best: keep the commandments, remember him, and be kind; his grace will make up the rest. His grace is everything-we do everything through him. And when we fall short, he has already made it possible to still have success and keep going.

We had 4 investigators at church yesterday! We also attended the Auberdeens' baptismal service. A mother and daughter, and another old man got baptized. I am thankful for the greater understanding I have of the doctrine of Christ: faith, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end. 

I taught a lesson with my MTC buddy, Sister Magleby while our companions were planning a Zone Training. We taught in a member's home in North Point. The member couple was so amazing. Honestly, their faith inspired me so much. The husband is blind and a little hard of hearing. But he has so much faith, and his testimony of the Savior was touching. The wife is so charitable. While she was sharing about faith, she said that her husband has never seen her face before. But they have a happy marriage and he trusts her to guide him and live a sightless life. A lot of people think that faith is blind. But I found out for myself, in a tiny apartment in Hong Kong China, that faith gives sight to the blind. It gives more than sight. The Savior healed the blind two thousand years ago, and today he heals our spiritual blindness, helps us have hope in things not seen, and helps us keep going. We can all be healed and forgiven, according to our faith. And I testify that if we think our faith is weak, we can ask him, "help thou my unbelief" (Mark 9:24) and he will. Our weaknesses can be made strong. Our mustard seed of faith can turn into a mighty tree. And I know that that mighty tree can bring forth fruit, even "fruit meet for repentance." (Matthew 3:8). When we have faith in Christ, we have a desire to follow him and ACT. I am so excited about the church Christmas initiative and theme: Light the World. The 25 ways to Light the World invitation is truly worthwhile and I know it will help us focus on Christ this Christmas season. here is the link for everyone to find it and start participating: https://www.lds.org/blog/25-ways-to-lighttheworld-this-christmas?cid=HP_TH_1-12-2016_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-2_

Today is "Jesus healed the sick and so can you." Each day has ideas for how we can cultivate a Christ-like attribute or action. I invite you, yes you! to do this!

Jeung Ji muih is doing well! She got a job and doesn't need to work on Sunday! A small miracle for HK. We have Zone Training tomorrow and I'm sharing about how preparing for lessons during my hour of Personal Study has blessed me and helped me be more prepared to share and explain the gospel. I love Hong Kong and missions! We are so blessed to share "glad tidings of great joy" every single day.

Love you all!

--

Sister Dopp