A baptism and 1000 Buddhas

I'm excited to watch general conference this week. Mostly for the as you call it, asian power. Yesterday we went to Jodelyn's baptism (she attends a ward of filipinos and some white people in Wan Chai) and it was the weirdest thing. So many white people and they were speaking English and I didn't clearly understand I only knew how to converse with the one chinese guy there. Weird. PS Elder Ian Taylor from my high school baptized Jodelyn. Lol,  He's serving as an international elder right now which is like a coveted spot in the mission. There's only one set, and they get the white people food and the filipinos with hearts of gold. My goal setting training went okay, I mostly talked about how if we are setting goals we don't care about cause we're supposed to than we should just stop setting as many goals because why. And all our goals should point us to our ultimate goal which is knowing God. Today we went to hike 10,000 buddhas, it was beautiful, I love going there. It was a little weird, kind of intimidating or overwhelming to be wearing a tag with Jesus name and a purpose to tell people about Jesus as I stood in the midst of these people bowing down before their statues and worshipping. It's something that would have made me so upset at the beginning of my mission, thinking how unfair it was that they don't know actual truth and how on earth are we going to be able to help them even a little bit. But today it didn't bother me. I think that each person has a very different journey in life and not everything is black and white and maybe God's happy plan for some of these people is to find peace in their own way then when they get back to him they will realize that in the midst of all of it Jesus really was with them. It's still wonderful. 
China is just really cool. So is Korea probably, and America too because they have better cookies. PS yeah that's the real sign of growth in my life is that I like their fish here. I like it when they steam it and put the peppers on top. But don't make the mistake of actually eating the pepper because my mouth burned for like a day when that happened. And yeah, we can't eat sushi. That's fine though, I think I will always hate sushi. 
 It's actually been raining lately here too. On Saturday we helped Chloe move. I honestly can't remember if I told you about Chloe, but I also almost don't even know where to start. Ah. She's this young single mother from Singapore who kind of had the marriage from hell and got divorced and she hates Hong Kong and has this two year old adorable and insaaaaanely fat son named Jeremy. WE met her a couple of months ago when she came up to us in tears and asked if we could pray for her. Then she randomly called us a couple of weeks ago and thus began the adventure of us helping dear old Chloe move from one side of HK to the other. Bless her beautiful heart but the girl's got some mental problems that keep her from being able to function normally. When moving day came we were on exchanges so Sister Woodruff and I took on the task but we managed to get her whole house packed, keep Jeremy entertained and happy, and even got the moving van to come. Okay, actually we had to call Elder Lee to figure that out for us because it's something you've gotta be native to do. We ended up being able to meet her mom. At first we thought she didn't like us but once she discovered that we can actually speak cantonese she loved us and talked to us a lot. I think we've got a good shot at being able to introduce her to missionaries in the area where she lives. Okay, why did I tell this story? Oh yeah, it was because after a week of rain Tinfuh gave us a beautiful sunny day on moving day which made things so much better. ALSO CHLOE HAD A BOOK BY JOYCE MYER!!!! I told her my mom liked Joyce Meyer and she was a fan. She told us to thank our parents for raising kids who are so helpful and good at moving. We told her thank you as we practically ran home because oh it was all a crazy mess haha. 

Im truly happy here.  The rash/skin disease is completely gone.  I feel like a new woman.  It only took an entire year so no big deal.  I love China and I love these people.  Im learning so much and maybe I shouldnt say this but laughing and having fun in this life every day.  Love you guys.

Gorgeous beauty inside and outside

This week has been a week of miracles and mercies. I don't know how to start or what to say, so I want to share pieces of a journal entry from Saturday. 

Today we went to visit Muih Pohpo. The weather was gorgeous, it felt like May. Muih Pohpo's got this new neighbor- the constantly drunk and loud Mr. Yip. Great guy. So anyways, when we finished teaching Muih Pohpo Sister McNeely said the closing prayer. As she prayed Mr. Yip comes marching into Muih Pohpo's little room and kneels down right between Sister McNeely and I. He put one hand on my stool and on hand on her's and dramatically bowed his head and kept saying "amen, amen, amen" during the prayer. When Sister McNeely finally said "amuhn" Mr. Yip threw himself, yeah like literally collapsed, into Sister McNeely's lap, then after a second he stood up, bowed to us, then strolled on out. We looked at Muih Pohpo and she was just normal like nothing had happened. What on earth. As soon as Sister McNeely and I left Muih Pohpo's we laughed so hard. But truly, I just wanted to cry. I wanted to fall down onto the gravelly floor right there and weep. Isn't that silly? I know. But it was because there we were in this tiny cement room covered in plastic bags and mosquitos, with a beautifully stubborn old woman and a crazy old man and there He was- our God who stoops. And He stooped. He was there, really, I felt Him. In the most unlikely of places, but He isn't shy. Not shy of dirty, not shy of sin, not shy of young and irresponsible, or old and ignorant. Tonight we also got to meet with our darling new fillipina friends Wilma, Jessa, and Dorry. Dorry talked about how she sins and makes bad choices but thanks God for being with her through it all. Tonight I join her in that thankful prayer. He is good. 

I have been reading a quote Dad sent me with my favorite line: Grace is a God who stoops. It's been running through my mind time and time again as I have been working in Fanling this week. The truth of it fills my heart with gratitude. 

 We are seeing awesome things happen in Fanling. It just is such a sweet testament of how God loves His children to see the things He does with them here. We were able to meet again with the family we met while getting lost finding last week. We taught there cute little kids English which was mostly their son throwing his flashcards at us but I'm pretty sure he learned how to at least say the word yellow so pretty good. They fed us octopus and told us we could come over any time. We will be seeing them next week and are excited to share more about Christ with them. They actually already believe in Him, just that he is an alien sent from another world. We'll work on that.

My favorite thing that happend this week was defninitly getting to meet again with Wilma, Dory, and Jessa. They are three darling fillipinas we met a few weeks ago. Last week we invited them to be baptized and there was a long pause. We got nervous and bummed out thinking oh no not again, they're gonna think we're pushy and say that they're fine and probs to busy to have us over again (good think I'm such a positive thinker), but then they say "it's just that we can't all get baptized on the same day because at least one of us has to be home to take care of pohpo.." they then frantically started to organize a shift of who could stay home one week while two get baptized then the next week they switch and oh my it was adorable and made me laugh. But anyways, when we saw them on Saturday we talked again about baptism. They then told us that they don't think they can be baptized soon because they are sinning and if they get baptized they want to be serious about it. It filled my heart with joy to be able to testify to them with my companion of the forgiving and merciful nature of God and that if they have a desire to change, they can.

 It made me think of the things I have been reading in the Book of Mormon lately. I read about Alma the elder first, about how he sinned and was wicked but was changed and converted. Then there is Alma the younger who rebels and destroys and yet is sent an angel. Then there's Amulek who says that he also rebelled against God despite the times He tried to reach out and yet he too gets an angel sent to him. Next is Zeezrom who is a liar, a hypocrite, the large cause of the murder of many women and children, and the cause of the torture of two innocent men, and he even cowardly runs away from all of it and yet the moment he asks Jesus for help he is completely forgiven and becomes a teacher of the word of God. And it just keeps going after that. I realized that the Book of Mormon is actually just a book about terrible sinners who kill people that Jesus loves and nurtures. It's really amazing.

You know how sometimes you just want to rebel against what your parents say and you don't even really have a reason but you just want to do that. Lol. Well, my parents have preached grace too me forever and so sometimes I read the scriptures and I think, "okay, it can't be like that. This can't really be all grace, and mercy, and love, there's gotta be some kind of a catch or something else they never told me." But NO, it turns out they were right what the heck. He really is only mercy, only love, only forgiveness. I don't understand that but I know it is good and I love it and am grateful.

Hope you all have a fun and happy and good week and most importantly that you play a lot of basketball. Love you. xoxo

My year anniversary!

Hello Family
This has been one of the most amazing weeks of my mission.  Ok I will just get it out of the way.  Brother Ho was baptized.  He said he wanted to cry the whole day.  He bares his testimony to everyone.  He thanked me over and over again for teaching him the Gospel.  I thought my heart would burst wide open this day.  As I watched his baptism I realized I actually waited one whole year for this.  I thought that I would never have a baptism here in China.  I reached a point where I was ok with that.  Its almost like this snuck up on me and surprised me and I wasnt expecting it but its much like a bright sunny day when you are in the middle of rain season.  You are ok with rain season and even like rain, but oh, that sunshine is so bright and beautiful you almost forgot how good it feels.  So if I only taught the beloved Brother Ho and saw him baptized my entire mission was a huge success.  I mean that.  If  I only came for one precious little man, then God is just beyond good to me.

Also we had a hot pot activity this week.  It was super fun.  Dad would love it.  You boil dumplings and thin meat.  Its really delicious.  Also we moved this week.  We actually packed up our entire apartment and unpacked it in one day.  I have never been so exhausted but I really love my companion and the girls I live with here.  Life is good.  I am as happy as I have ever been.  I love you family.  Just keep putting one step in front of the other.  Even baby steps get you closer to your goals. Talk to you next week.

Reality shows and Brother Ho

I'm doing good. Really good. We've had a good week here, I just feel blessed to be here. Oh also I forgot to tell you and Dad but they kind of changed up our schedule a bit and I actually really like it. So now instead of doing daily planning in the night (okay you won't understand the significance of this but max and marie will) we do it in the morning which means we have an hour and a half to get ready for bed instead of an hour and we can go to bed early if we want during this time (so many praises) and then we do our daily planning in the morning. Then we only have a half hour instead of an hour for lunch and still an hour for dinner. 

I sent you a picture of the adorable Brother Ho.  He is by far and large one of my favorite people we are teaching or have ever encountered.  

Okay can I just say you make me laugh. I miss that. I cannot imagine how the wedding planning is going. Mom you have such a good opportunity in front of you! Call MTV or possibly E and get them to do a special on the Magical Marie's Wedding and everything will be paid for. My dance teacher had her reception at that library and it was beautiful! I can't wait to see pictures.   I have to give a training on how to help our investigators learn about repentance through commitments (whoa way to long) but anyways I've been studying about repentance a little bit. I love that the bible dictionary defines repentance as changing our view of God and ourselves. Repentance is all about discovering God's mercy and changing our thought process of him. I think it's meant to show us how graceful He is and love Him more and also love ourselves more. I often get that idea lost when I think of repentance. The purpose isn't to cleanse us because we're unworthy and God hates unworthy people. He isn't afraid of sinners at all. But he wants us to feel better and be able to be closer to him. IT's not about worthiness, just His mercy and our ability to embrace it. I have had a good week here in Fanling. It's still hard and I have to say for whatever reason I have been missing you this week. Yesterday was such a sweet day. Our bishops little daughter Elizabeth got baptized. We were able to attend because Bishop invited us to share a message in the program. After little Elizabeth was baptized she came out in her pretty little white dress with flowers in her hair (which her mom had totally blow dried and styled for her:)) and sat down to be confirmed. I kept my eyes open for a moment when the prayer started and looked over at her mom. Here eyes were open to and they were filled with tears as she beamed at her daughter receiving a blessing. IT was so sweet because moments before had been a little hectic with babies crying in the back of the room and her younger son being naughty and noisy, but once the blessing started I could just see how filled with love she was. It brought tears to my own eyes and made me feel homesick for my own family, but not in a bad way. I love you dearly. I miss you so much but I'm good here and so grateful for it. on p days the only studies we have to do are a half hour of personal. So yeah, they're pretty good. IT's worldwide too. IT's because they want missionaries to be more flexible so they don't panic when they go home haha I love you guys.  Know that I am super happy here, and love every day I get.  Have a great week. 

Engagements and Chinese New Year

Congrats to Marie and Isaac.  I'm happy for them. Tell Isaac good job on the engagement its sounds great.
 This week was a good week, seeing Brother Ho who is adorable. Seeing Muih Pohpo who is also adorable. She's a sweet old grandma but actually incredibly sassy and hilarious. This week as she said the closing prayer she said "Heavenly Father, even though you're not a chinese person I definitely need to tell you happy new year." then she opens her eyes and goes "how do you say it in English?" so we tell her happy new year and then she yells in the cutest and most terrible english "happy new year!!!". I can't explain how great she is. But she's so sick and thin and lives in this tiny little government cement room in the middle of nowhere, it makes me sad but she is grateful and happy despite of it. So yeah, it's been a good week. . I wish I could be there with you on all this planning fiascos but no worries I'm happy I'm here. I love it here, it's good for me everyday. Okay, that's about it, thanks for emailing me I love you a lot! 

A Hong Kong Christmas

Merry Christmas family!  Did you really get 3 ukuleles? I have a feeling that could be either your best or totally totally worst decision of your life. :)  Okay so pretty sad Carrie sort of completely ignored us there for a week and we were panicking. She finally texted back and said that she would come to our Christmas party. That's kind of sad because we can't actually meet with her and teach her but hopefully she'll be able to come to the Christmas party. We also weren't able to meet with our new friend Sammie because she cancelled on us but she's rescheduled for this week so also hopefully we will see her. Peter the infamous caller/singer has been calling less lately, mostly because we had to start ignoring his calls because it was getting a bit ridiculous. It breaks my heart to let the phone ring I kid you not. But also the fact that not even Peter who is obsessed with us will meet with us is less than encouraging. But mganyiu we are working on it. I wanted to share with you about a new friend Sister Cote and I met the other week. Her name is Gumari and she is about fifty years old and from Nepal. She approached us and asked us if we would help her learn english. So for the past couple of weeks she has come to English class and I take her to the back and work on the alphabet with her. It's hard because she speaks very little english and even littler chinese but we've been working on the abcs lately. She tells me thank you literally after everything and puts her hands on her heart and is just so thankful that I showed her how to write a K. She's so great. Anyways, it has been a good week. We are handing out so many christmas cards mostly because our zone is having this competition of who can hand out the most and you know I won't be losing. Thanks for the email, I love to hear from you.  Love you!!!! Watch every single Food network christmas special for me 

Have yourself a little Hong Kong Thanksgiving

Hi Family,

Thanksgiving was the same day as my hump day so it was fun. We ate lunch together as a zone and it was actually pretty impressive. Sister Cote and I made apple pie which was insanely hard because we are in china but we made it work. President and Sister Lam stopped by and played games with us and it was a good time.   But the best part of the week was that after seven months I think we found a good investigator!( Loud cheering and celebration here please) She's so cute. Her name is Carrie and we met her at McDonalds last week and she came up to me and talked for a little bit then I gave her a flier and she gave me her number. I'm pretty sure she thinks my first name is Terry (along with the rest of China) because she texts us "hi Terry this is Carrie" hahaha people are way to freaked out that we go by Sister. So I called her the other day and we scheduled her and then when we met with her on Saturday she had looked on our website and learned all about Joseph Smith. She even came across some anti but told us that she didn't think that stuff was true. She said that it makes sense and she thinks it's true. She told us we could see her again next week. And she even lives in our area! I'm super excited. Anyways, it was a good week. I will continue to pray for Paul's basketball. Its clearly a priority for me.
Also Elder Kim made korean noodles for his thanksgiving dinner dish because he hates american food but actually they just tasted like spicy ketchup spaghetti did you ever eat that in Korea?

This week we had interviews with the Sister Training Leaders which is weird because she STLs are my comp and Sister Adams who I literally sleep three inches away from so I don't know why we still have to have interviews. But in our interview she asked me how I have been able to stay positive in seven months without investigators who were ours. I was kind of taken back by that question. But my heart is so full of gratitude for the mission I've had. It's been the hardest thing of my life but it has been the very best thing of my life too. There's a quote in this book President lam gave us I think it's by Boyd K Packer and in it he says "your mission is the time of great healing" I have felt that. I thought when I first came out that I was doing this for other people but I have learned that I did it for myself. God has taught me so much and given me more than I ever thought I deserved. I'm so grateful for you and your example and your love and everything you are to me.

Love you thanks for emailing me!