Master, the Tempest is Raging

My only advice for future missionaries is this:

Heavenly Father doesn't need superheroes, He needs servants. Sometimes you need the humility to see His vineyard as the life changing landscape that it is. There is work to do, and it is His work. Find joy in the small labor He requires of you. Only you can do it, and it is marvelous in His eyes!

So, this week we had a number 8 typhoon, (8 out of 10, the worst typhoon in 10 years), so we had to stay inside until 3pm on Wednesday and Sunday. I was so sad church was canceled, but it did look like we were underwater on Sunday morning, so it was probably for the best. Other areas were hit harder, especially Macau, where people died. Fortunately, we were completely safe! The worst part was a small leak in the window, and just finding stuff to do to stay busy. We still continued to work, call people, update records, plan, study, and laugh together. Sister Johnson is the best companion in the world. We sang Master, the Tempest is Raging during companionship study :)  Yesterday, it went down to level 3, so we went out to visit a member. She was baptized last year, and is in the hospital. So, everyone remember how we are white washing? I am still not very good at getting around. We took the wrong bus twice, and then finally walked up a long hill toward the hospital. The walk had a breathtaking view of all the cargo crates and ocean here in Kwai Chung. It's bigger than life and makes you feel so small and so powerful at the same time. 

Around the curve toward the entrance, we saw a nurse and another woman burning stuff in a trash can. That and the rain, and memories of horror movies, scared us a bit, but we kept our imaginations in check and continued onward! haha, we found our friend Serena and shared a message on the love and power of God in enabling us to do all things. And about the worth of souls. She told us that she wanted to be taller, and prettier. I am astounded at home universal and real this is for girls! Self esteem issues aren't just in ballet studios and high schools. But these things are so insignificant and trivial in the perspective of the gospel! However, on my mission I have definitely also struggled to look past my frizzy hair, sweaty face, and rice cheeks and see the beloved missionary I am, and then STOP thinking of myself and serve others. It requires effort, but as you study the gospel and accept God's love, it becomes easy. I am just SO incredibly grateful for the lens the gospel gives me. When things are hard and confusing, I remind myself to look through the gospel lens and see what is of significance and what will bless others. They aren't rose-colored glasses, that is for sure, but it does work! 

This week we also read scriptures with a member named Candice! She is amazing and loved reading about Charity with us in Preach My Gospel. She was baptized a few years ago, and has a great testimony and desire to increase her testimony. 

We have eaten dinner with some great member families, and have 4 more this week! We are so excited! Sister Johnson and I are starting a program to help each missionary make their own Family Mission Plan, then share with the Bishop what it is. Then they are making a small family crest focused on the gospel. We will put all the crests on our ward bulletin board, under KWAI CHUNG FAMILY. We hope we can help each member understand their missionary potential and responsibility!! 

So, my mom this week told me "We have realized you haven't told us anything for 14 months! Send more information!" hhahaa, I have also noticed how my emails have not described in detail my investigators' progress, area, or ward, or schedule, etc. etc. I guess because all these things are really precious to me, and all written in my journal, but when it comes to the end of the week, and I reflect on what I have learned, it is always the spiritual enlightenment I remember. Also, perhaps things out of context would worry my family ;) Anyway, I will strive to have a better balance of the real life and stuffy stuff, with the gospel messages :) 

This week really was wonderful! Next month we set a goal to find 12 new investigators! Pray for us!!!!

Purpose

This week's word was PURPOSE.

We had an amazing meeting in Kowloon about our missionary purpose: Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. 

Because I have been a Sister Training Leader, I was able to give a 15 minute training with Sister Thomson. We decided to talk about being enough. We wanted the missionaries to know that because they exist, they are enough. Life can try to fade away your knowledge of divine nature, but Jesus Christ is there to remind us of our royal origin as children of God, and of the reality of change. So we did a little skit where Sister Thomson acted really rude and vicious to me after teaching a pretend lesson. After it all the missionaries were confused why she was such a horrible companion in the skit, then we told them she actually represented my inner thoughts. We talked about how sometimes we say things to ourselves that we would never say to others. We then redid the skit but Sister Thomson represented the Savior and only read back scriptures in response to my lines. We invited them to replace negative thoughts with the Savior. We then read the hymn Where Can I Turn For Peace and had a discussion on what "Reaches my reaching," means. Then we watched the bible video of the woman with the issue of blood. How all she did was reach out and touch the hem of Jesus Christ's garment, and was made whole. There is so much meaning in that story, and too little time to explain. I just know that we are enough, and that Jesus Christ will recognize any subtle, finite, struggling, small attempt to come unto Him. He loves us. 

Also, so in Hong Kong lots of people where T shirts with nonsense English on them. Then sometimes they randomly have quotes that make sense and that are actually deep in a weird sort of way. I write my favorite ones down in my language notebook. For example...

It's Time For Change

First Deserve, then Desire

Curiosity is the Beginning of Wisdom

A Winner is a Dreamer Who Never Gives Up

Be Silent so You Can Listen

It is Not Easy, But it is Worth It

If Not Now, When?

Kindness is Key

Tomorrow is the Beginning of the Future 

Mrs. Zach Efron (hahahahaha okay this may be an exception from my thought below)

Walking the crowded streets of HK, I then ponder up a whole gospel message based around the T shirt. So, can you guys all do it? How do these random English words relate to the gospel?

Love you all! In the words of a wise MTC teacher "The gospel gives everything meaning."  We are here for a glorious purpose!

The Absence of Clocks

This week my word was ABIDE.

First, because I realized that after looking back at my mission, one of the most important lessons I have begun to learn is the importance of hope. Hope is an ABIDING trust that the Lord will fulfill his promises to you. I desperately want that kind of trust in God. It doesn't come in a moment, and it's not easy, but I am learning! 

Another reason is because of the song Abide With Me 'Tis Eventide. I love that song. I know that Jesus Christ has been with me throughout my time as his representative. 

Thinking about this word has given me so much hope! I just think about all the attributes I want to develop, and how I want them to be abiding. I want them to be a part of me. So it helps me have hope when things are hard, because I know long-suffering and time help develop an abiding trust. That is what patience is about! 

Time truly is a gift. It's something that only exists on this earth, in mortality. I am grateful Heavenly Father doesn't have clocks and To Do lists. He sees us in terms of forever, He understands our potential. He is constant and His purpose is all about His children's progression. He knows everything we need. And one of those things is time....so He's given that to us too! So, try to seek God's perspective. Use the time as HIS time. It is precious, but it is there for progression. Heavenly Father doesn't use clocks-We can always repent. He loves us how we are. He accepts us in our weakness. 

So yesterday we went to the baptism of one of my companion's (I'm in a trio) friends from an area she recently served in. So Yan Ching is her name, and she is 17. She is from Hong Kong but attends a boarding school in Mainland China because her mom works full time. Her mother was baptized many years ago, but has since become too busy to attend church. Her baptism was so special. She was so excited, and cried when she saw Sister Percival. I got to sing with some missionaries the primary song I Like to Look For Rainbows. It was really powerful to sing that familiar, joyful song in Cantonese. 

After she was baptized, Yan Ching bore her testimony. She explained how her mom wanted to go to the closest Christian church to their home, but she wanted to find the Church she remembered attending as a little kid. She encouraged her mom to attend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She said, through tears, "I wanted to find this Church, because I missed those feelings." Her testimony was so sincere and so powerful. Chinese people don't often get emotional, so I was especially touched. I was just overwhelmed with the Spirit. I know that the things we learn in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are unique and life-changing and complete. Most of all, I just felt that the belief that we are all children of God is absolutely true! I just saw Yan Ching as the daughter that God had been leading, blessing, and pleading with to make it back to Him. Her spirit is strong, and I will be praying she can be an example in China, amidst so much secularism and with no close churches around her strict school. 

WHEN I AM BAPTIZED

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain

And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,

And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

I am thankful for rainbows :) After the rain; the trials, we see rainbows. We realize the rain was a blessing-it makes things grow, and it cleanses us. And we can see all the colors of the rainbows and understand them. I just love how the deepest, most complicated aspects of the gospel can be wrapped up in one primary song. All that matters is that we are children of God. He loves us and will always be with us. Love you all!!