Letter to President Lam

New investigators! Both are formers. Sahm Yik Lihng is a student in junghohk and is so busy with homework. We have her address and we have visited her to drop of cookies. She likes missionaries and believes in God, but her faith is not strong enough to make it a priority to see us. She is so busy with school. I have studied a lot on desire during personal and I feel like it is a gift we get as we learn more about the Savior. It is natural to want to learn more, to need more of the gospel, as we see how saving and transforming it is. We just have to get her to have a bit of desire and slowly give place for a greater portion of God's words. I know she will get there, but it may take time.
Jeung Ji Muih is next! She is about 80s, has lots of energy, and loves us. She is very available, and told us once the lift is done in our church, she will come to church with us. Our ward doesn't seem too concerned with helping old people get to church. They want to wait until the lift is done, and I think they've grown weary of it as a concern and problem. But missionaries don't liek waiting! Perhaps we will see if she will ride with us to Tsing Yi chapel where they have a lift. We will work on her testimony of the Godhead first. She has lots of kids that live with her so hopefully we can teach them all!
We had lots of tender mercies this week, especially on Saturday. We were running around and teaching and meeting great people along the way. Too many to explain. But hopefully in the future you will come to their baptisms!

We will have one new investigaotr today and one tomorrow. Yui is 28 years old and a former. She just needs friends. Rose is a referral from Hawaii and adorable and nice. We've only met once, but I think she has lots of potential.
Serena is out of the hospital and doing well. We visited with a member yesterday and it was one of the most spiritual lessons of my mission. The member Connie is so loving, steadfast, encouraging and steady in her living the gospel. She bore simple, sincere testimony and assured Serena that she

wasn't alone and that we missionaries would take care of her. I felt a great sense of responsilibity. It made me want to take my purpose more seriously, or more prayerfully really. Just really see every person as a son and daughter of God, and give everything to serve them. I feel like your training and testimony last week just sums it up: It is hard, But it is so worth it. This is the Lord's work, He is the Lord of the harvest. That's given me a lot of hope this week. And peace.

Sister Johnson is honestly an angel. I know all the tender mercies and miracles so far have been because of her desire to be perfectly obedient and faithful. I know our goal to find 12 new investigators this month is possible. We work together so well and she teaches me so much. We are lately focusing on the language of the Spirit taking precedence over the language of Cantonese. And making our testimonies sincere and powerful and succint. We have learned a lot already. We want to rely on the Spirit, not our lanugage abilities. Which is so important for me to strive for right now, as my language abilities improve and I near the end ish of my mission. I am so thankful I still have 3 months! So much to do!

The ward is great. We taught two families this week on teh Restoration. The Spirit was so strong. I am learning what Hong kong families really need more and more. I want every visit with members to be memorable and spiritual and focused on their own missionary work. The members here truly inspire me. I love the gospel. I know Joseph Smith is  a prophet.

No Letter This Week

Golda sent some small emails, but no group. Go to deseretj.blogspot.com to see her companion's blog. She writes awesome letters!

Perpetual Excitement

That was my word(s) of the week. Truly my life is in perpetual excitement! Hong Kong is preparing to cool down, but is still as sunny, sticky, and sweltering as ever. The cargo crate outlets we live near practically glow in the sun, and provide an exciting backdrop to our rush of activities, and the ocean in the distance. One of my favorite parts of the week is taking the MTR to Tsing Yi, where you can catch a quick glimpse of a harbor with bridges, rows of sky scrapers, and a tiny island. It's colorful and buzzing and yet serene.

We made chocolate chip cookies (my favorite food) this week to deliver to people, and visited a family with the last name Cheung. They were so kind! The mother and son were baptized last year, and Sam (the son) is just adorable. He has a little lisp which is a bit unfortunate because his English name is Sam hahaha But he is just so polite and has a beautiful, trusting testimony and a love of The Book of Mormon. We shared a scripture with him and he helped us find the door of another girl we have been teaching. They live on the same floor! Then Cheung Ji Muih spoke in church yesterday about her experience in Institute. It reminded me of all my amazing memories and experiences at Seminary and Institute. I am so thankful for dedicated teachers, and especially the scriptures. My mission has helped me truly love, need, and study the scriptures. I remember writing in the MTC that they had become not only plain, but precious to me, and I feel the same now. 

We had FHE yesterday at a members' home and had the best food ever! It was also Elder Sagala's birthday, so we sang to him. We did versions of Happy Birthday in Cantonese, Mandarin, Malay, English, and Korean!

Our Zone is really awesome. My MTC friend is training a sister from Germany, and I love being in her groups when we read scriptures, because she uses her German copy of the scriptures. Her English is flawless but she is proud of her German and is always willing to answer our "How do you say blank in German?" 

The highlight of the week was a musical performance! Missionaries got special permission to go, if we brought a friend. We went with our church friend Abish, and her 17 year old friend, who has never come to church. Abish's friend is named Priscilla, and absolutely loved the concert!

When we walked into the theater, I shed a tear or two, because I was so happy! I haven't been in a theater for almost 15 months, so my heart leaped and soared as I looked at the familiar lettered seating and golden stage. 

My favorite performance was the Chinese drums. First a solo by a master, and then his teenage troop, which consisted of 6 teenagers. They were amazing!!! It was the hardest thing not to get up and start dancing. I choreographed a number a dances in my head throughout the evening.

One guy sang Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, and of course the tears came. I even got to hear Evermore, from the new Beauty and the Beast movie! And a Phantom song and Pocahontas. A Single Adult choir sang I Will Follow Him, complete with actions, and it was hilarious! And a erhu solo!!!!!!! I was so happy! It definitely motivated me to practice the erhu I bought about 6 months ago hahaha Ah there is simply no time! But I really really love the sound.

We didn't get done with the concert until about 10, and we usually have to be home by 9:30, so we were all exhausted, standing on the MTR after 10:00 pm. We even ran into a Catholic Filipino who asked why we were out so late. We were like, How do you know? hahahaha Don't worry! President Lam gave us permission!

It was truly a wonderful week.

My spiritual thought of the week....

“Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.”3 

This is from Henry David Thoreaux, and is absolutely so true! Ever since Nana Ruby, butterflies have become a big part of my mission. Like a symbol of everything I've learned, and a memory of the grace and goodness of my great grandmother Ruby. 

The article it was quoted from is The Gospel Path to Happiness, by Jeffrey R. Holland and I highly recommend it! Just search it on lds.org

Even with butterflies and many good "other things" to turn your attention to, I am thankful Jesus Christ will never elude us, and all we need to do to have him at our shoulder, is ask. I know the Savior lives, and he is our best friend. He understands our pain, and he is the only way to find, stay on, and walk the path of happiness. 

We have so many resources to help us on this path, but the One that transcends them all, that is really the most important, is One person. Jesus Christ. He will help us pray, he will help us love, and forgive, and find real happiness. 

I know Heavenly Father loves us so much, and will listen to us no matter what. As we close in Christ's name, I hope we can all remember and feel how close he is. How much we need him and how blissful it is to simply be his friend and sibling. I invite you all to pray to Heavenly Father a bit more personally this week..

As President Henry B. Eyring said: “It is not a matter so much of which words to use. … It is an approach to your Heavenly Father with the intent to be recognized by Him personally. He is the God above all, the Father of all, and yet willing to give undivided attention to one of His children.”

Love you all!!!!

Sister Dopp

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!!

Changes...and Not

CHANGES CHANGES! No, I am not changing areas. Haha don't be silly! I am Pok Fu Lam through and through :)   End of August is my year mark in this ward!

I am now STL and in a trio! With Sister Percival! She is one of my very best friends here, and I never thought we'd be lucky enough to be companions. But it happened! 

So being a Sister Training Leader has been great so far. I love being able to serve in new ways and receive new assignments and get to know the other missionaries better.

Anyway, so this week my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ became knowledge. I just know  with everything I am that Jesus Christ lives and that he is my Savior. His presence is nearer than we can imagine, and his love is perfect. I know Heavenly Father is aware of all His children. In one of the church videos I watched a few days ago, one woman said "It is amazing that He can put living waters in broken vessels...." I know that Heavenly Father is willing to use imperfect people, to help other imperfect people. As we humble ourselves and seek His will, we become healed and complete.We may not be perfect, but we will be with Christ, so we will be complete. That has been a consistent pattern in my mission. Seeing weak things made strong. 

Sister Percival shared this with me, and it taught me a lot. In thinking of Christ's visits to the Nephites in the Americas, she thought of his invitation:  "Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, 

 or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and

 I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy." (3 Nephi 17:7)

We both agreed that there were probably those who were carrying family members with physical afflictions, who were beckoned to stay by the Savior, because they were afflicted too. As missionaries, we have come to know and teach those with mental diseases and infirmities. And we know Jesus Christ would have healed them too. We know he will heal and help our investigators, and that someday they will also be able to physically come to him and find perfect healing. How grateful I am that he has compassion on us. He is merciful. I hope we can always seek his help to offer that same love and service to our fellowmen. We are all walking a hard path. The mountains can be steep, and I testify that what is even better than arriving and admiring the view, is going and helping someone else walk up their mountain. The Savior lives. I know this. 

 

Sister Dopp