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

Today was temple/p-day. The celestial room in the temple was awesome because I can always feel so much peace there.

 While emailing, this weird guy sat by me and was trying to tell me all this weird things and started telling me what our church was all about and how we are extremists and yatayatayata..I finally just told him well everyone has their own opinion but we know it's true and that's why we're here. He got pretty upset and telling me how he is "The man of wisdom" and is so much older than me and started sticking his hands all in my face and everything so we just left haha. #inevitablemissionarymoments. 

Anyways then I got my haircut! She cut off more than I wanted but i still really like it. I think she cut off five inches. Then we were planning for a less-active we were going to see that night and suddenly a scripture popped, like literally just randomly popped into my mind about the guy who builds his house upon the rock and the guy who builds his house upon the sand. So I was like okay let's use this scripture, but didn't know where to find it. I picked up my BOM and opened up to a random page and the first scripture my eyes hit was that exact scripture! It was seriously the most bizarre/inspired moment of my life haha. So when we used it in her lesson she kept reading it over and over again so hopefully she found something in there. And I bet she did, cause she came to church!! good thing I also had the impression to call up a last minute member to help us teach her because we literally did not understand one word she said. She spoke mandarin most the time and if she spoke Cantonese, it had the heaviest accent. haha.  

The next day we visited"another less-active" that was actually a fully-active member haha oops. These records aren't very up to date.  That day we also found two people on the street. One was Chloe who is super cute and 24 she was really interested in the BOM and actually asked us if she could keep it which NEVER happens. She was going to come to church but didn't. It's okay we will call her. The next person was a Christian pastor. She kindly didn't take our flier haha so we were about to leave when she said "I really hope you two girls find the real God." Oh no you didn't, Sista! ha I told her about the BOM and she really did not like that. She kept telling us how dangerous it was for us to be reading that book and how wrong it is but that she had never read it. haha. When Sister Christensen started whipping out references in the bible we decided we had better just leave. so I just bore my testimony and left. haha.
 

Today we taught english class and only two people came. Benny and miranda. Benny is a very old like late sixties man with his four year old daughter miranda!  Benny and miranda are actually really cute. I think her mom left them and they are just so humble and sweet. She looks like little sister Hadley in Chinese form haha.

A talk that I've been reading this week is I think it's called "Are We Not All Beggars?" given in the most recent conference address by Elder Jeffery R. Holland. It is super good and reminds us that we need to always be aware of those that are around us in need.

Thank you all for your prayers and support!

"https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/are-we-not-all-beggars?lang=eng

Japanese Songs and Air Punching Chancho

"Chancho, don't air punch the messengers of God"

Finding finding finding finding.....that is all that is in my brain right now. haha. We have found almost everyday allll day this week haha. But, it's okay because I rather like finding. It's also just been hard that we haven't had a p-day forevvs. But we have also taught our new investigator Brenda twice this week. We found Brenda the first few days I arrived in Sha Tin. We were getting home from a full day of finding when we found her walking into an apartment complex very close to ours. We decided to run up to her even though we were pretty tired, so she would be our last contact. I'm so glad we did. Because she is SOLID GOLD. She is a humble older woman (not that old, maybe like 40 or something) She hasn't been married but takes care of her sick mother at home and is looking for a full-time job to support her. She accepted baptism yesterday, but only upon the condition that she finds out THIS church is the true church. She has a kind genuine heart and Sister Christensen and are are soo excited about her. 

Yesterday we were out finding. We stopped a lady on the bridge that didn't have much interest, but as we were talking to her, this little pohpo grandma came up to us and was like " YOU SPEAK CANTONESE?!" Haha she seemed flabbergasted and just went on and on about languages, but then got into religion and said "I am just looking for something in my life" Both our jaws dropped open and we didn't know what to say because well either that has been said in Cantonese and we just didn't understand them, or we've never ever heard someone explicitly express to us their need for the gospel. So she took us by the arms and said "Let's find a place to sit down so I can sing you a Japanese song." haha what? So we went into the fanciest shmanciest place in Sha Tin called Fo Taan where all the richies live and there is a door holder at every door with diamond chandeliers above. haha we sat down with her and she sang her song. I was actually quite impressed . She had an okay ear. So after chatting and chattign with pohpo nancy, we got into the restoration and although she got bored half way through, my testimony really seemed to touch her and she didn't let us finish but said we could call and reschedule, so who knows?! haha. My favorite was when Sis Christ complimented her English (it really was quite phenomenal) and her response was: Yes, yes, I know. it's okay. You don't need to tell me. hahahaha. anyways after that, a dog jumped on me and scared the peeps out of me and then a chubby little Chinese Choncho boy pretended to air punch me a thousand times haha. That was a straaange few hours of finding ha.

I Can't believe that in less than two months I will already be half way through my mission!

Thank you all for your prayers and support in my behalf! 

Naughty or Short?

I got the christmas cards from the ward. They are so awesome and it meant sooo much to me. 

Todays Doppelgangers

The most accurate Asian doppleganger I've met is Todd Larsen's because he actually even has the same personality and everything. I will try to get a pic.

I also met Jackson Smith's last night. He was walking with this cute girl and we stopped and talked with them. I gave them more chances than I can count however they didn't really want it. But it was crrazy cause his smile and everything looked exactly like him!!

1. dop·pel·gäng·er

   ˈdäpəlˌɡaNGər/

   noun

   noun: doppelgänger; plural noun: doppelgängers

   1. an apparition or double of a living person.

   
   

   - We were talking to this 19 year old girl on the street. When she told us she was nineteen we got excited and told her we were as well. She looked a bit surprised that we were that old so I was like: " Yes I"m 19, but I'm just really naughty!" haha  I meant to say short.

Thanks Oly 5th YW!!!

BOM goes to Mainland and Happy B-day mom....

Taught a family lesson, a couple from mainland, by the river. They didn't know Cantonese but the woman's English was perfect. We taught about the Book of Mormon and she seemed really interested. I gave her my Book of Mormon because we didn't have any simplified versions. She also told us that her child had passed away and we were able to bear testimony of eternal families. She really appreciated that and said she would definitely read the Book of Mormon. The only thing is that they are quickly going back to mainland and don't have a cell phone number for Hong Kong, so we were not able to get that. But, they've got the truth in their hands now!

 One unfortunate event that happened this week was that my wallet got stolen on the MTR. So, it will take a while to replace everything in there, including my ID card. But, its okay, it will all work out in the end. But, it was kind of cool that I didn't react in the way that I probably would've before my mission. I was okay. Because there are more important things to worry about on a mission. So we just kept finding ha.