~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.