So
our church is under renovation so we use the back door and we can't use
the password anymore because the Elders' teenage investigator would
always find it out and sneak in and play ping pong. So...we use keys now
and only a handful of people have keys. So we unlock it for people
sometimes. One morning we were doing personal study and hadn't gotten
ready yet (Because we live with 6 sisters and can't all get ready at
once) when a member called. So we threw on skirts, thinking we'd come
right back. But then she invited us to breakfast! We just laughed
sitting there eating our eggs, sweet bread, and honey chicken and
Ovaltine drinks with our messy hair.
THANKSGIVING!!!!!
Was
perhaps one of the best days of my life. Sisters Magleby and Briggs
were also in charge of stuffing, so we made it together. We were ripping
pieces of bread and putting them in trash bags with spices to sit
overnight. And....it was all worth it. Our stuffing was amazing. It was
pretty funny bringing the food on the MTR. We had Thanksgiving lunch
with our whole Zone and it was just picture perfect. So many friends,
good food, ping pong, games, gratitude. I just felt like I was with "my
people." Sister Johnson and I had not eaten that much food in....the
whole time together. hahahha It's a good reintroduction to American
portions and food. Anyway, we also went around a circle and said what we
were most grateful for in Hong Kong. I said the temple. The Hong Kong
temple is one of the few in Asia, and so it serves a vast majority of
the world population. It's been neat to see the families that come here
and the sacrifices they make.
I also had my departure
interview with President Lam. I will miss President Lam and Sister Lam
SO much. President Lam is THE most Christ-like person I have ever met.
His wisdom, devotion, and grasp of the gospel is so inspiring. He is
always calm and happy and peaceful. Just his being is a good example of
the blessings that come from living the gospel.
So....we also
had the Annual Thanksgiving Party for our ward. It's a big deal. And we
were put in charge of making a piñata. (And mashed potatoes. I learned
that Chinese people really don't know how to make mashed potatoes) So
after the initial turkey piñata activity to make it with the primary
kids, we had to do another coat, and then we couldn't find paint
ANYWHERE and had to buy brown paper and do another coat. And so it
turned out pretty hard. In the end, a kid snapped a wooden broom stick
on the piñata and it almost hit someone, and they had to unplug the hole
and dump the candy on the floor. I actually didn't see any of this
because we had 7 investigators, 3 nonmember families, and some friends
of members. It was pretty chaotic. Oh, I forgot, we were also in charge
of the 10 minute performance. So, I read a scripture from Alma, all the
missionaries bore their testimonies, then we all sang For the Beauty of the Earth, then
did the Virginia Reel. It was one of the funniest things teaching the
Elders the Virginia Reel prior to that day. They did a good job!
On Thanksgiving night we went to a YSA activity with our investigator Yui. We watched 17 Miracles, and I realized all the miracles that I have seen on my mission. There are many.
Transfer
calls! I will be transferred to Utah. And Sister Johnson's new
companion is Sister Scott!!!! They were in the same MTC group, and I
think they'll be a fabulous companionship.
So...I
am trying to be as normal as possible, but I am leaving this Friday. I
still haven't come to terms with it, and it has been SO hard saying
goodbyes here. Even harder than coming here, because I don't know if I
will see some of the people again. I feel like I am leaving another
family.
But, I guess Heavenly Father wants the next chapter
of my life to begin, and I have to continue to put my trust in Him. I
will share more at my Homecoming, so for now, just a small thought, and
then I will see everyone in Utah!
My 17 Miracles...
~1~Learning Cantonese. The Gift of Tongues is real, and it is hard to describe the experience of receiving it.
~2~Being trained in the prettiest area: Pok Fu Lam. And my wonderful trainer Sister Gomez
~2~Meeting 2 girls from Mainland in waterfall park and teaching them who God and Jesus Christ are as the sun set on the ocean
~3~Teaching Tim and hearing about his Christmas Eve baptismal date
~4~Seeing Daphne testify of the Book of Mormon to a new friend a few weeks after she was baptized.
~5~Learning who the Savior is and how much I need him
~6~Really understanding and knowing that we are ALL children of God
~7~Hearing Jeung Ji Muih say that she knows God lives
~8~Finding 12 investigators in one month
~9~Seeing Emma's brother and mom support her at her baptism
~10~Giving
a Book of Mormon to an Atheist who was briefly traveling through Hong
Kong and knowing the Holy Ghost testified of my testimony as we sat in
that little bus
~11~Being companions with Sister Johnson.
~12~Every single time I gave someone a Book of Mormon or shared my testimony
~13~My love for my family growing, across oceans and thousands of miles
~14~Hearing
Yui tell me that she will never stop praying and that we helped her
achieve her dreams and planning an American road trip with her
~15~Heavenly Father teaching me to notice the diamonds among the pebbles on every path
~16~All the butterflies that I saw and being reminded that I am surrounded by angels
~17~Experiencing conversion.
This
has been the biggest blessing of my entire life. I can't say the
smallest part of what I feel. I love this gospel. I love Hong Kong. I
love the people here. I know God is a God of Miracles. I know that
Joseph Smith is a prophet, who restored Christ's original church. I know
my family is eternal. I know Heavenly Father is all-powerful and
all-knowing. He is merciful and kind and patient. I know Christ lives.
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