Chinese New Year, Humble People, Comp Encouragement, Deep Clean and Training!

This week was pretty good. We had a hard time out finding because literally nobody wanted to talk to us. Everyone is so busy during chinese new year and there were some days that literally no one was out. However, people did seem a bit happier during the holidays. The first day of Chinese New Year (they usually celebrate for three days) we had deep clean. So we had this huge list of cleaning chores to do around our house and it took all day long haha. We got every little nook and cranny it seemed. P.S. still have cocroaches NBD.

 

Humble People because my very favorite part of the week this week was meeting a father and his little daughter. They looked very different because I think both of them were born with the same birth deffect. I immidiately went up and talked to them. They were so sweet and willing to listen to us for a bit. Even if we didn't leave with a number or anything, I could feel Heavenly Father's love for both of them.

 

Comp Encouragement because this week was filled with a lot of it. On both parts la.

 

Another awesome thing was a less-active that we visited yesterday. She is from Thailand and still has a really close relationship with God. It felt so natural to be talking with her and the spirit was strong. She started to cry telling us a story about prayer and why she decided to get baptized. She accepted to come with us to Elder Ballard's meeting this week. BTW Elder Ballard is coming this Wednesday and speaking to us missionaries and then all of HK! After that we were walking home and right near our apartment our stake president and Elder Wong of the seventy who spoke in General Conference using Cantonese stuck his head out of the window and thanked us for our service! It was awesome because I felt like it was Heavenly Father through him thanking us. We needed a little pick-me-up like that.

 

Training because I'm training! I just got the call. Wow, I don't even know what to think. But it starts this Thursday so please pray for me. I love you all and am grateful for your prayers because I feel them every day.

Sis Ha

Schooling School Boys, Biking the Boardwalk, Let the Holy Spirit Guide, Hot Pockets, and Tsang Gatihng la!

"No hard feelings little Pidgy, love Midgy"

The other day we were stopped at a crosswalk while finding. Three teenage boys stood behind us. I knew they were talking about us but couldn't tell what they were saying until I heard chehgaau la(cult). I turned right around and said "Oh, you've seen missionaries before?!" All three of their mouths dropped. haha. They were pretty embarrassed. Finally one said, "You speak chinese?!" haha so we talked for a quick minute and left them each with fliers and non-culty impressions haha. My comp thought I was pretty cool after that.

Another funny story:

It was a bit nippy outside so I ripped out the handwarmers. I shook one up and took it out finding. About an hour later, we were talking to a teenage girl we met on the street. When I reached in to get my planner out of my pocket, I forgot the handwarmer was still in there. It was pipin'! I did a little mid-sentence scream/gasp. haha. My companion and her just laughed at me. But she probably thought i was a bit crazy and was keeping a pet hampster in my pocket that had just bit me or something. haha it was really funny and awkward.

Let the Holy Spirit Guide: I feel like I did a pretty good job at following the spirit this week. During finding and in lessons. Especially with that less-active I was talking about. Heavenly Father gave me the exact words to say to her it seemed. Also, this week we heartattacked a lady in our ward (putting hearts on her door and leaving a treat I think is what she means) who is going through some really tough things. We didn't get a lot of dinner time, but it was still a nice idea.

 Another cool thing was that one day when we were at another crosswalk, this boy kept standing really close to us and staring at our nametags. It was a bit weird, but I'm glad that sis Chris finally said hi because he turned out to be really needing someone to talk to and now he is the Elders' awesome investigator la. 

We did an English fast this week and did a lot better than last week. I still feel like i don't know enough as I should know, but whatevs. Did grandma get the letter i sent her?  Also, Dad, I want to know more about your mission stories and feelings out in the field. Maybe you could send me some copies of your journal or type them out?

I'm so happy that T. Family came to English class! Pray for them! I'm also really sad that we have to turn S. over. But it will probably be better for her to learn the gospel in Mandarin. You could start putting Sister N. name in the temple and pray for me to know what she is saying. I got your little vitamin/valentine package. thanks soo much!

I love you all. Also pray for me not to be grumpy and to be happier:)

Sis Ha

She said they made these (probably for Chinese New Year)

Moldy Walls, Pigeon Heads, Zone Conference and Meet the Mormons!

Hello gatihng,

Moldy walls because for P-day we cleaned mold off our walls.  fuuuuuunnn!

On Monday we yam chaahed (Dim Sum) (Chinese buffet) with two of our members. It was actually really fun! So, pigeon heads, because we ate pigeon and not the heads. They were really good. Maybe when I get back home I'll go out of my way to run 'em over on the road. ha. 

Later that night, we ran into a woman who had a very interesting view on God; she believed that God exists but doesn't believe IN Him or that he can help her. She said He is waaay too busy to know each of us individually or answer individual prayers. She was pretty hard to persuade otherwise, but I like the quote that Elder Uchtdorf gives in last General Young Woman's conference :"Yes, God loves you this very day and always. He is not waiting to love you until you overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you've held onto the facing light and believed-even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And he still loves you. And God knows of your successes; though they may seem small to you, He acknowledges and cherishes each one of them. He loves your for extending yourself to others,. He loves you for reaching out and helping others bear their heavy burdens-even when you are struggling with your own. He knows everything about you. He knows you clearly-He sees you as you really are. And He loves you today and always!!!" I really like this quote. 

Zone Conference, because well, we had Zone Conference. Which is always awesome and a nice break from running to and fro all day. At the begging, Pres Hawks made an announcement to all missionaries that five of us would have the opportunity to share about how this last month's emphasis on planning, purpose, and obedience have played a role into your work. He said; Don't worry you'll all find out who you are at least right before you are supposed to get up and speak. haha. I was praying before the second session of the conference and I absolutely knew I was going to be called on. haha so I quickly prepared something and sure enough. I just thought it was so funny how the spirit told me so bluntly. 

Meet the Mormons because they surprised us at the end of conference with the announcement that we got to watch Meet the Mormons! It was so awesome. And no wonder you guys like it so much. My favorite stories were the Candy Bomber (who BTW's is the grandpa of one of our missionaries who was here watching it with us for the first time) His little story made me cry. My other favorite was the woman and the son at the end. It surprised me to find out about her background when at first she just seemed to be a normal Mormon mom. Those sister missionaries are awesome.

 In English class I sat with a little girl I have helped before named W. (No, the T. Family didn't come this week:(). It was a little tender mercy because her dad seemed appreciative that I came to help her again this week. They even remembered my name.

Here is the link to President Uchtdorf's talk

Live the Gospel Joyful

"God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be" - primary song

In an email from her sister:

So I am going to end with a truth that heavenly father has made clear to me this week...

Because something is hard, is why it's worth doing.

Growing is of God. Whether you are growing physically, spiritually, or intellectually it won't be easy but it will be worth it. - Aria

Tessa's response:

. And hard things are WORTH IT. They are worth it worth it worth it. My mission has been the most difficult struggle of my life and it actually gives me comfort, Aria, that we can do hard things TOGETHER. Not only you and I, but also with the Savior. 

SOME WEEKS ARE HARD

SOME WEEKS ARE HARD

Queen of Hong Kong

On Monday we hiked Lion's Rock!!! It was seriously the most incredible view I've eva seen. That was way cool. This week we've been doing like a semi-english fast because Sis Chris and I haven't been very committed to it..:( I'm in a language rutt ruttnow)HAHA...I feel like I'm not learning anything new and haven't been able to communicate very well. But, we've still had lots of blessing for it.  The biggest was the family we met and took to English class! I will always remember them!  One of the little girls in the cute family was named C. and she was seven. She took right to me and laughed at everything I didn't know how to say in Cantonese. She was sooo cute and just took my hand in the MTR station so we were just walkin hand in hand the whole way. haha. Then the little boy J. was five and I got to help him during English class! They had such a sweet spirit about them and I pray and pray we can see them again.  Our investigator N.  came to church and I think she really liked it. She is so shy and lives by herself but it was really good she had so many people come up and talk to her. 

(Part of sis Ha weekly letter to her mission Pres) Sister Christensen and I have seen soo many people with connections to the church this week while finding more than ever. And I don't doubt that it has been a result and blessing of our English fast we've been doing this week with this Tai Wai sisters. We met a woman that lived in New York who met missionaries and now has a copy of the BOM, a man who's aunt lives in Salt Lake City brought him to church before, a lost sheep, a friend of a member in the Tai Wai ward, the mom of one of our members, and more. Another huge blessing was that our not-yet-progressing investigator called us and told us she asked her boss to get work of for Sunday! One great miracle that happened this week was a girl who actually gave us the wrong phone number. But, it turns out the person with the phone number we called actually really wants to meet with the mandarin sisters haha after I explained what we were all about. haha It was really cool. 

This is Sha Tin