Golda's Birthday

So it all started with a rejected travel request. Because not more than eight missionaries can be in one small area at a time, we 'apply' to travel to our desired Monday destination. Because the previous Friday was Sister Hugo's birthday, and mine was the following Friday, we planned to celebrate together at The Cheesecake Factory. It is Hong Kong's newest American chain restaurant addition, and we American-deprived-food girls were quite excited. When the text came back REJECTED, we sat on the floor and discussed possible Plan Bs. But compared to our dreams of tuxedo-chocolate cheesecake, they all paled in comparison. Finally, we decided to check out the world's longest escalator, located conveniently close to our apartment, and boasting great street food and indie-chic side shops. We got gyros and continued up the hill on escalator after escalator. Then we got to a heritage museum that was also on the itinerary. This museum used to be a church chapel of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We walked in and saw the original baptismal font. Many of our friends from Pok Fu Lam ward were baptized there, as well as hundreds of members throughout Hong Kong. We admired the European gold accents and fireplaces in what used to be the Relief Society room, and were approached by one of the workers who had met missionaries before. Her knowledge of the Church and missionaries was impressive, and she said she really admired the men who come back and tell her in detail memories of when they attended church there. She joked that they were more knowledgeable about the building than she was. Anyway, after she guided us to a hall we'd overlooked and assured us we could open the door onto the balcony, we stepped out to the balcony. As we admired the view, a girl sitting there asked if she could take a picture with us. (This is not unusual as I have reddish hair and was with Sister Hugo who has outrageously curly bright red hair). We talked to her and shared about the Church and its relationship with the museum. Her name is Poppy and is from Mainland China. We talked for quite a while and taught her about Heavenly Father and invited her to pray. Her Cantonese was good, but she chose to pray in her native village language, so I didn't understand at all. It didn't even sound like Mandarin. Her prayer was so humble and sincere though, and she thanked us for helping her know there was someone who would always listen to her. We exchanged numbers and went on with our day.

The next day at Zone Conference, Poppy called us. We asked the Mandarin sisters if they had time for a lesson that afternoon and they told us they did because someone just canceled. So an hour later we introduced sweet Poppy to basically the whole HK Island mission. She has met with the Mandarin sisters 3 times, and has since returned to Mainland. We hope she can meet with missionaries whenever she comes to HK, and eventually get baptized! 

After an auspicious start to the week, we continued on and experienced lots of little tender mercies and miracles. On Saturday, we had the best first lesson ever with Ken So. His twin sister was baptized 2 years ago. We taught the message of the Restoration and he accepted a baptismal date of August 27th!!!!!! The Spirit was so strong, and I just felt so grateful. We brought Adrien Chan to teach with us, so there were four 20-something-year-olds all sitting in Ken's living room talking about the purpose of life, how we communicate with God, and of God's love. It was such a powerful experience. This church is true. The Book of Mormon is true. It has changed my life this week.

Friday, my 20th birthday was amazing. We had language pass offs, passed out fliers for free English class, did studies, and had a delicious dinner at a posh place called Latitude. It had a burger called the Texas burger, so we were quite happy with our American feast. Then we taught English class, where our friend Si Man brought me a big vanilla, mango cake!! Then I came home to a beautiful big yellow flower from Sister Milan. She'd gotten our roommates to buy it so I would be surprised. Then she gave me a note that said "20 Things that make Sister Dopp Sister Dopp,' with a jar full of thoughtful, personal, kind notes of what makes me me. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received! 

Then last night at ward Family Home Evening, a member made a cake for me and they sang a beautiful English Happy Birthday to me.

I just feel so joyful to be here in Hong Kong, surrounded by so many selfless people. Life is good. Jesus Christ lives and The Book of Mormon testifies of him.

Staying in Pok Fu Lam

Well, the transfer news is.....

I will be staying in Pok Fu Lam!!!!! At the end of this transfer (6 weeks) I will have served here for 11 months! I am so happy to be staying. We have some exciting things happening in this ward! So much has happened lately, I think I will let the pictures do most of the talking.

Some highlights of my life lately...

We met a girl named Jasmine in a park in Cyberport. I didn't know why I felt like that was where we needed to go that night, especially because Monday nights are not very crowded. As we neared the end of the walkway, I saw a girl sitting on a bench with her feet on a skateboard, looking at the view of the ocean. The first thought I had was about my little sister Araceli and her love for skateboards. So I just said, "I like your skateboard!" Turns out she didn't speak Cantonese, but has parents from Switzerland and Hong Kong, and has grown up in Hong Kong attending international schools. We asked her about her understanding of God and what she thought life was all about. She shared how she thinks about that a lot, but never arrives at a point of certainty. We shared a little bit about Heavenly Father, and how prayer is the way we communicate with Him. I talked about how it's like talking on the phone or writing an email: you know the other person is there even though you can't see them. I apologized for the seemingly trite or cheesy analogy, and she said, "No, actually it's not! I've never heard it explained like that!" We said a prayer with her in the park, and she said "Well, this is a first." She said her very first prayer with us! It was really, really neat. She said she would probably go home and pray herself! We testified that God wants and WILL answer her prayers. Even if all she wants to talk about is help with school, or confirmation that He is there. She also told us "I have never met someone so passionate about something." This is what the gospel does! It gives our lives meaning, and enables us to have conviction about the purpose of our lives! Words cannot describe my gratitude. 

On Friday we were meeting with our friend Daphne. We were going to talk about Christ-like attributes, so I decided to bring the Church's "The Living Christ". Here is a link to it: http://jesuschrist.lds.org/testimonies-of-him/articles/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints?lang=eng&_r=1

Then in the bus I met a girl from France, who has also spent most of her life here. I wish I could have spoken a bit of French with her, but Cantonese is currently crowding out most of the room in my brain, including crowding out English sometimes! haha Her name was Marie, and she was baptized into the Catholic church when she was 9. We talked about our baptisms and what they meant to us. I asked why she was baptized, and she said "Well, mostly cultural. My family all was too. And, because like...Jesus is a good guy!" I loved how honest and simple she was about it! I testified that yes, Jesus Christ is a really good guy, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints has helped me know him on a more personal level. I gave her my copy of The Living Christ, and told her I knew Christ lived. 

How grateful I am for small promptings and Heavenly Father's hand in the details of our lives!

Lift Where You Stand

This week I read an amazing talk in the Liahona about President Uchtdorf when he was serving as a high counselor in Germany. The article talked about how faithfully and cheerfully he fulfilled his calling, and how years later when he heard him speak, he knew how genuine his message was, because he saw him live what he taught. It was neat for me to ponder on how we can always magnify whatever responsibility we have as Christians. The topic of President Uchtdorf's talk all those years later as "Lift where you stand." It became my weekly theme this past week. Sometimes I get prideful and think that there is a better spot I could be lifting from, more things I could be lifting, or a way that I could lift higher. But Heavenly Father loves me and knows me. He wants me to lift right where I am, because then HE and His son, Jesus Christ, can lift me. Wherever we are, whoever we are, we can always do good. That is one of the promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ! His grace and strength are always available for those who want to go about doing good. It is not dependent on wealth, circumstance, or time. There is always something we can do, because God will help us do it. Maybe it's small, maybe it seems insignificant. But I testify that as we "lift where we stand," we will more humbly accept God's will, we will stand in holy places, and we will be lifted up by our Savior. I know that he desires to help us, and that when we lift others, and just do what we can, it will be enough. Love you all! Jeung Ji Muih and Daphne are doing great! Pok Fu Lam is still amazing, I hope I don't transfer next week!!!!I found this hymn today on lds.org and liked it...

Lift Me, O My Savior

Solos to Sing, Submitted Music (2012-present)

I search for thy stillness abiding to quiet my restless soul.

In humble submission inviting the Spirit to take control

To strengthen me, Lord, in my weakness …

To offer Thy solace in grief.

I lean on the arm of Thy meekness and mercy to bring relief.

Lift me, O my Savior, Bid the shadows cease.

Calm and still my troubled spirit.

Fill my soul with peace.

I call upon Thee in my suffering.

My need for Thy help, confess.

And plead to partake of Thine off’ring to fill up my emptiness.

I thank Thee, dear Lord, for revealing

Thy goodness and charity; thy grace be the hope of my healing.

I yield myself unto Thee

Lift me, O my Savior,

Bid the shadows cease.

Calm and still my troubled spirit

Fill my soul with peace.

Lift me, O my Savior, Bid the shadows cease.

Calm and still my troubled spirit, Fill my soul with peace.