Chopsticks mastery

HEY GUYS!  You're fourth of July sounds way fun. Mine was pretty good too, After Pday we went to eat with the Pangs again with the Elders. Their kids are so cute and funny. Their little girl  Yoyo dances and her mom showed me this video of her doing High School Musical cheerleading and it was so adorable but then Yoyo started crying because she was embarrassed and it was kind of sad.

 I was able to share a message with them from the scripture I shared last week and I actually felt like I was able to say what I wanted to say (which is rare). Also this week Sister Ng started doing her Sister Traning Leader stuff so I went on exchanges two times with Sister Johnsen. It was awesome. I'm seriously so happy I get to do that sometimes now! She came in with me and she is a good friend. She had a little bit rough first transfer and she is so kind to me and my struggles,  but she got a new comp this transfer so she's doing better. We have a lot of fun together and we even were able to teach some full lessons when we went finding. 

 We also took Christa with us. Christa is also 19 and she is in the ward right next to ours so we see her all the time. She's pretty much in our ward too because she always sleeps in past her sacrament and comes to ours instead haha. I love her. Yesterday we ate dinner at the church with Christa and her older sister Ayan and Christa helped me do language study. Her English is really good and it was so helpful. Today we are going to this place called Mega box which is a restaurant place and then to the Bruce Lee Museum with Christa, Ayan, and Glynis (who is Sister Chung's Daughter). Glynis told her Mom that on her summer mission all she ate was instant noodles and I guess her Mom freaked out and then invited us over the next day to eat dinner at her house where she fed us a ton of vegetables haha. It was cute. We also ate these huge shrimps with the eyes still attached. Surprisingly they were super good. I'm getting much more adjusted to the food now and also using chopsticks which makes life a lot easier. You can lose alot of weight really fast if you dont know how to use chopsticks.  You notice your weight stabilizing when you start to master chopsticks.  

 Oh also we have two summer missionaries in our apartment who are with Sister Adams and Sister Villison which is fun. Well kind of not fun because we have to sleep on the kitchen floor, but fun because their super cute and always help me figure out my words. I love you guys.  Have a great week.

So I see this cute picture every day leaving my apartment and I realize Paul and Luke are never far from me. 

never ceasing miracles

Hi family! 

This was a good week in Kowloon City. We met with a couple of our investigators and they are doing well. Gigi, our little eight year old friend, is excited about being a missionary. We gave her a little missionary tag to wear and she was so proud. When we teach her she loves to answer questions and be like the missionaries. It's pretty adorable.

 We were also able to meet with an investigator who was just turned over to us from some other missionaries named Betty. She learns slowly, but has the purest heart I've ever seen. She's just so sweet. She also has a bit of speech impediment as do I so our phone conversations are very fun as you can imagine. We  taught her the Restoration this week and her desire to know truth is so pure and sweet. 

I also want to share some thoughts with you that I've had this week. Last night particularly I was thinking about atonement. Sometimes when I do dumb things and then repent it feels like no big deal. You know, some days I know I did things that weren't perfect but I tried my best and so I know that I'm forgiven and it doesn't feel like a big deal. But then there are some times where it wasn't that I just fell a little short after all I could do. Sometimes I know exactly what I should do but I choose not  to do it. Sometimes I know that God is telling me I should say I'm sorry or have a better attitude and I purposely do not do it because I just don't want to. And I'm a missionary, I really should be doing these things as soon as I am prompted to. Anyways, the other night I was thinking about Christ performing the atonement and I thought about all these things that bring me pain and other people pain that I have done purposefully and knowing full well what I was doing. I felt so sad at the thought. How could I do that to Him? How could I, someone who knows better, someone who preaches this same thing to people every single day, cause my Savior that kind of pain simply because I'm selfish or lazy? It hurt my heart so much. I wanted to hide myself from God. Then this morning as I was reading the scriptures I came across a scripture that touched my heart. 

Romans 3:22-24

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." 

All have sinned and come short. All. I know that that's true but then sometimes for whatever reason I just want to be perfect and think maybe just maybe, today I could not fall short. Today my sins could be minor and I could be exempt of this all people are sinners thing. But that just isn't the way it works. God already knows that every single person will sin every single day. He is well aware that they all will fall short. So He sent His son to pay the price, and the price has already been paid. Why would it matter to God the size or significance of your sins if the price has already been paid? Why on Earth would He measure whether your sin was an allowable sin, a righteous person sin, a good missionary sin, or a big one, a shameful sin, a bad person sin? I came to realize that sin is not being unaware of what is wrong and accidentally messing up. Sin is knowing right from wrong and choosing wrong anyways. Sin is purposeful. I kind of hate this. The scriptures tell us time after time that we are all sinners but I think to be honest I always ignored that. I never wanted to be a sinner. Being a sinner just feels too shameful. But this is what fills my heart with love for our Savior. He just doesn't care. He felt our shame, He knows the parts of us we don't want anyone else to know. He knew from the moment He created us that we would be sinners, this doesn't faze Him. Our sin is not something that surprises Him or disgusts Him. He saw it coming before we even did. All we have to do is accept Him and all is well. We are forgiven.  Not half forgiven, or almost forgiven, or forgiven but still pretty rotten. No, we are completely healed and completely justified through His blood. 

 I have a final story to tell you that you will not believe and I think this is worthy of being printed off and read out loud or something because it really is huge.

On Saturday  Sister Ng and I were ready on our way to go visit a former investigator named Caroline. She is 17 years old and started investigating the church a few months ago but she doesn't have much focus and is more interested in being friends with the missionaries so they stopped teaching her. But we still see her sometimes just to check on her. So anyways, we had our appointment to visit her home on Saturday afternoon when Sister Ng dropped the bomb. She has TWO CATS. I told her well we cannot do that then and she told me we can do that and we have to do that. So we got on the bus and found Carolines house and I never stopped praying the whole time. then we got to Carolines house and there was no sign of any cats. I thought I was safe. We were talking with Caroline and having fun and she was even speaking in English and it was a dream.  First it was Kenny and William shortly followed and I thought I was dead. Caroline noticed that I was uneasy so her sweet little heart made sure that her cats didn't cross her so that they wouldn't touch me. So then I began so share our spiritual message with her. As I was talking about the scripture we would share William (the big cat) COMES AND SITS RIGHT NEXT TO ME. RIGHT NEXT TO MY STOOL. HE WAS PRACTICALLY TOUCHING MY LEGS. AND GUESS WHAT I DID? I, Emma Frances Terry, kept on talking. I looked Caroline in the eyes and I smiled and in my awful cantonese I told her that God wants to hear her prayers and that He loves her. I didn't even look away from her the entire time. I did it. I was terrified and yes, being afraid of cats is probably the most insane thing in the world and most definitely the most humiliating thing, but it is quite a cross to bear and I DID IT. So if any of you are wondering if God exists I think I have officially solved the question , but God gave me strength beyond my own to be able to share my testimony with our friend. 

So I just want to tell you that it doesn't matter how little, or HUGE, or embarrassing, or shameful, or unique, or difficult your problem is. Heavenly Father does not with hold his help. He cannot judge us for our problems because He gave them to us. And I have many. And wow Hong Kong is awesome but it kind of has a lot of promblems too. I'm beyond thankful for a Father in Heaven and Savior who understand every human being perfectly and know exactly how to help them have the best life possible.  Love you guys.  

Complaining in the rain

Family, oh my family I love you. So it looks like everyone has almost figured out how to be in the same country as each other and that is pretty exciting. I'm so happy for Max. He's been a big inspiration to me. When being a missionary is just not too easy I think of him and think well okay if Max is gonna do it I guess I'll do it too. Mostly I just don't want him to outshine me, but also he is a really good example. Hong Kong is so amazing. Sometimes I just look up at the high buildings and can't even believe I'm here. Cantonese is still just... cantonese. Everybody says not to worry about it but when you go through five hours of church meetings without a clue of what they were about, it's pretty easy to worry.

But my ability to speak is improving so... silver linings yay.  This week we met with our investigator Sister Chung. She is the mother of an ammaazzing girl in our ward. Her name is Glenyis and she's adorable and wonderful and so is her mom. Her Mom is already Christian and has been investigating our church for a while and just warmed up to missionaries. She took us to dim sum and met with us again at the President's house. She also told us for the first time that she is going to read the Book of Mormon. We are so proud of her. She has a thick mandarine accent so if we're being honest here I rarely know what she is saying but I feel so much love for her and can really feel the Spirit when ever she shares her feelings on God. Another miracle, even though her daughter Glynis is doing summer missionary right now (amazing!!) and won't be home, she told us she wants to come to English class on Friday and meet with us afterward. The most I ever related to her is when she told me that English was so hard and I told her cantonese was so hard and then she shared her umbrella with me while we complained to each other.  This week we also got to meet with a family in our ward who have four adorable little kids. I watched them play and it made me think of me and my siblings when we were little. I love getting to be with the families and feel their love and light. It's amazing that even though we also know that they are struggling and challenges that are just heartbreaking, they still have love and they still have God. They are so adorable, I'll send some pictures of them. Also they live in a beyond gorgeous apartment building with an incredible view, I can't even describe how pretty it is.  God is good and kind and life is good and even though it is a hard life that doesn't make it bad. Don't forget that, but I know you won't so that is why I am in Hong Kong talking to people and not to you.

Being Carried

Hi Mom! This week I am feeling a lot better. It is still difficult with the language and all the other things but I have just felt more at peace. I've been trying to focus on no thinking about myself and when I start to feel homesick or sad or annoyed or angry or stressed or anything I just try to remember that I'm not here to be comfortable I'm just here to do what God wants me to do and then I try to think about my companion or the people on the street and its helping me alot. 

The other day I did calls for like four hours because Sister Ng has been pretty sick and at first it was the worst because calls are pretty hard. But then I just started talking to people and asking them about their lives and I couldn't really understand them but it was ok and there was this guy outside out apartment singing terrible karaoke and there I was talking to about a thousand chinese people on the phone and it was the funniest situation I have ever been in.  This whole experience is really pushing me and I'm realizing I want the results but not always the uncomfortable parts.  

Yesterday at church I was feeling so discouraged because I just want to communicate with people but I can't fully understand them when I try to and they can't understand me and I just feel like I sit there feeling so awkard and no one can tell and it is the worst. And then our district leader who is from Korea went up and bore his testimony. He talked about how hard being a missionary is and then he looked at me and said dai ji muih(me) and song jeung louh (elder stober) are new missionaries and they have a lot of difficulties no one can see. I felt like for the first time someone finally got it. I knew that god was really hearing my prayers for them to just get it and so he sent little korean Elder Kim to go tell them. It was a cool experience.  Another tender mercy on a list of many.

When I was in first grade I got sick at school so the school called my Mom and had her pick me up. For some reason (which isn't surprising because we are the Terry's) my Mom didn't have a car at the time and so she walked to the school and when she got there she put me on her back and gave me a piggy back ride all the way home. Our house on Montana Avenue was up at the top of the hill from the school and she carried me the whole way.

I've been thinking about this day a lot. I feel like it is happening again. I feel like Im struggling to understand language and culture so much I cant really do anything on my own yet and so I had to call home. And the person this time who came to pick me up without a car was my Savior. Every morning when I wake up I climb up on His back and He carries me. It's sooooooo hot outside and our house is uphill but he doesn't complain, He doesn't even seem to mind. He is just carrying me home. My heart is full of gratitude for this Jesus who never tires of succoring us. My faith is not perfect and I'm ashamed to admit the way I so often doubt Him and ask Him if He knows what we are even doing. But it doesn't matter. I think that if I was carrying my daughter on my own back up a steep hill and she was telling me I wasn't doing enough I would put her down and say "Okay, do it yourself." But our Jesus does not do that, and wow I am so thankful for that. He hears me out and all the while never stops walking, never puts me down, never makes me do it all on my own.

 I love Him with all my heart and if there is something He is teaching me while on his stable back it is that He love me too. He loves all of His children, maybe especially the ones in Hong Kong.

I love you guys!  Have a great week. 

Hand hugs and tender mercies

 It's good here in Hong Kong and I'm grateful for all the amazing things that happen but it is still pretty hard. The tones of every sound continue to haunt my dreams and I focus so hard all day I fall asleep almost instantaneously.  But the people here, oh the people.  They are truly the most humble kind devoted people you could ever meet.  The youth are so strong.  Most are Christian.  But whats so interesting is that even though they have found Christianity, their parents refuse religion.  I think its interesting what a strong Christian following of youth there is here in Hong Kong. 

I really truly with everything in me want to find people everyday to teach and reach.  When you talk one on one you feel such a genuine kindness in them.  They all need it so much they just work all the time and even the little kids are doing homework all the time and they need to be happy. I hope we get an investigator soon.  For their commitment to work and school, they sacrifice laughing and joy and rich meaningful life experiences of people interaction.

At English class this young Mom named Amy came after and asked me if I could help her read a book in English. It was this cute little book about boy and his kite that was something Luke would read for school. She told me that she wants to learn English so she can get a better job and be a better Mom to her two daughters. She brings them to English class every week and records it so that she can help them. She was so great 

We had one lesson with a fifteen year old named Steffy who is so adorable. She has such a strong testimony of Jesus and was really into our lessons about the Restoration. But at the end she told us she would ask her preacher about it and so we don't have much hope for her to call us back :( but we'll find someone out there who won't ask their preacher haha  Most people here have been informed by their preachers that mormons are a cult and stay away from the missionaries. 

We are teaching one little girl named Gigi and she is finally warming up to me, yesterday at church she came over and held my hand to tell me goodbye :) everyone here holds hands instead of hugging like we do haha it's kind of funny.  But honestly when you a feel a little kids hand slip into yours its hard not to tear up a little.  It feels like a big warm hug to me.  I love you guys.  Please know I am grateful to be here even if I complain about the fish and not knowing the language.  I have perfect hope this will pass and I will be able to do all things, through Christ, who strengthens me.  Have a great week. 

What have you done lately?

This week has been good and crazy, so much seems to happen every day. I am really starting to love Hong Kong so much. Sometimes, well usually, the people are grumpy to us but they are also funny and kind when you start talking. This week we met with a new friend named Naomi and her friend Christina. I was happy because as I was doing potential calls she was the only one out of a thousand that didn't hang up on me and she ended up scheduling a meeting with us. We taught them the restoration and they were really interested. I think it is so cool that the gospel just makes so much sense. They were already Christian and accepted the Restoration pretty easily. But then they had a million questions about prophets and we didn't really know what to do. So hopefully they will want to meet with us again but we will see. :) The kids here are still my favorite people ever. Honestly they teach me more cantonese than anyone else haha it's pretty helpful. We taught one little girl named Gigi on Sunday. She is eight years old and has been an investigator since before I got here. At first I though wow she's only eight what are we even going to teach her? But then when the lesson started she talked about her testimony and it turns out she knows more about God than most people probably do. She was so so cute and is on her way to be baptized. The Yihp family helped us teach her and their little kids are so naughty and yell the whole time and fight with each other in cantonese. I don't know what they are saying but I love it so much. I feel so grateful to be here and learning from these people. Sometimes I just think how am I going to do this? I don't know cantonese and it's all so overwhelming sometimes. But in those moments God keeps reminding me to have patience. He gives me little tender mercies like a kind soul in church leaning over to translate for me or a little kid who comes to hold my hand during sacrament meeting. I still don't understand chinese and you know what that is not an easy life to be in China and not know Chinese, but I know Jesus helps me every single day. I could not do it without Him and I don't know how anyone else could either. I'm so happy to be helping others understand that. PS HBD PAUL WHAT'S UP 14 Joseph Smith was 14 when he had a vision, what have you done lately? I love you fam !!!!!!!!!!! <3

I'VE ARRIVED

I'm in Hong Kong! this is crazy! So much has happened in the past week I don't even know what to say here! Last Monday we left the MTC and after a crazy long flight we got to Hong Kong! President Lam and Sister Lam picked us up and they are super nice! Then we stayed a couple of days at the temple residence housing and they trained us and did things like get our IDs and random stuff like that. Then on Thursday we got our trainers and went to our areas. My trainer is Sister Ng. She is from Washington, and she has only been out here four months but she is awesome! Her language is incredible and she is just incredible. Our area right now is Kowloon City. Since I've gotten here we've met a few members and investigators. Everyone is so kind, but I don't really know what they are saying ever so I am just assuming that they are kind. We met on investigator who has two little daughters and while Ng JM talked to the Mom the seven year old daughter taught me. I would point to something and she would teach me how to say it and get so frustrated when I said the tones wrong. She would put her head in her hands and shake her head, it was super cute. But also kind of helpful which is sad. On Sunday I got to meet the ward and I love them! They were all so welcoming and are sooo patient with my terrible Cantonese. Most of them speak good English and so they help me a ton. At church I bore my testimony and even though I'm sure they could barely understand what I said, I enjoyed speaking to them and sharing my testimony and afterwards they were really nice to me about it. One lady gave me a bag of chips and said "for the new born baby!" Last night we met with a young couple in the ward and it was so fun. They fed us and (I think) they shared their conversion stories. Honestly the people here are amazing. It surprises me that anyone will give us the time of day when we talk to them on the bus or at a crosswalk, but some of them do! They are so great. My trainer usually starts conversations by asking them to guess how long I've been in Hong Kong and then they guess too high and we say one week and they go "so smart!!" But the only thing I said at that point is hello so they are just very kind :) But then usually when we talk about being missionaries they walk away haha, but we are able to get some people's numbers and talk to them a little bit more. OH AND ONE MORE THING. HONG KONG IS CAT CENTRAL. LIKE THERE ARE CATS EVERYWHERE. EVERYWHERE. NOT EVEN KIDDING. I'VE SEEN LIKE AT LEAST THIRTY SINCE COMING HERE. Does God even love me? What is a cat? After I tell Kowloon City about how this gospel and Jesus Christ can change their live I am going to teach them about dogs. And no cats. And I don't even like dogs very much either.

I already love the people here and when I see them it's so crazy to feel how much God loves them. I want them all to know that. I love my family, Terry family and Hong Kong family and everybody. xoxoxox