I don't know what it is about pdays, but something always happens that reminds me of home. Every other day I seem pretty mentally involved with everything going on here, but I must just get these tender mercies every Monday. This morning I got ready to that song "One Good Woman" which has always been my theme song for you. So that made me smile. But it's been a good week! Busy. Always busy. Ayuh, our investigator with a baptism date on the 27th, was struggling. But we felt like we needed her to physically make the decision to do it or not to do it, otherwise she keeps waiting and nothing happens, but she doesn't actually have to say she rejected it and say no. So we gave her a deadline. We called her on Saturday night to see what she had decided, and she finally opened up to us. Her husband has been neutral about her meeting with us...doesn't really care. But he has a problem with the Law of Tithing and Ayuh being gone every Sunday. So that's why she's been so hesitant. She knows it's true, but her husband doesn't agree. And that's hard. I feel for her. She said she absolutely would if she had his support. So we ended that conversation with the idea that the baptism was off, but we would continue to meet with her and try to figure things out. But then the next day at Church, she asked us if she could still go through with the Baptismal Interview. She talked with her husband, and they're going to talk more this week, but she wanted to do everything she could to be ready for the 27th. What a miracle! We're still working towards it and praying hard. Maybe they need more time. But maybe her husband is coming around. Either way, it's been a testimiony to me that Heavenly Father knows Ayuh and is so aware of her. It's neat to sit in these lessons and have a glimpse of how Heavenly Father sees his son or daughter, and to feel a sliver of that undescribale and committed love for them.
We have another girl named Heidi. She is so sweet, but it's been interesting to peek into her brain a bit more. We've taught her the first 2 lessons several times, especially the Plan of Salvation, but she's really struggling with grasping it, which shows that I'm really struggling with teaching it in a way that applies to her. So if you have any insight, please help me. A common thing here is the "So what?" of it all. It reminds me of what Mr. Morgan would always write back on my History essays haha. We tell her that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, she can return and live with Heavenly Father. And she answers...OK, what if I dont really care if I live with God again? I think there are so many Christian private schools around here that God and the Savior are more of a subject in school. Prayer for them is homework, not something that really means anything to them. And it's hard to switch that into something emotional.
-"You can pray to know _______ is true"....."So what if it's true? What is truth?"
-We can repent and become clean and obtain perfect joy and happiness...."I believe in myself. Why do I need a higher power to confirm that I change. And I dont want perfect happiness. My mistakes are a part of who I am....
I dont know. They're really digging questions. I dont know how to go more basic or foundational. But it's so common. We literally are walking around all day long talking to people on the metro or in the streets, and I have yet to meet someone who cares or has ever wondered about where they came from before this life, the purpose of why they are here, or what happens after they die. It's just such a here and now mindset. I guess my mind is especially on it right now because yesterday, we met a man who believed in Jesus Christ. Like actually believed in Him and bore testimony to us that he knew He was his Savior. It was incredible! we had a great conversation and he wanted to read the Book of Mormon. Very educated science guy. Very busy. But he's there! People are prepared. I read in Jeremiah today I forgot where...(16:16? its a scripture mastery. I dont know. that's embarrassing) ...but it was how God will send fishers, and then he'll send hunters. I'm feeling a little more like hunter lately haha.
But, this week I had seafood pancakes! They were weird. And there were little octopus squid looking things in it. And we had a fun Thaigwok dancing ward activity! (our ward merged a Thailand branch with the Cantonese branch). We have the best members. It's amazing how much they dedicate to helping build up their wards. There are a group of 6 or 7 women who help with at least one lesson every week. So that made me so happy to hear that Abbey was going out with the sister missionaries! And that you do that! I didn't really realize that people did that until now haha.
We went tracting in the typhoon this week. It was only a level 3, so just heavy rain. If it's an 8 we stay inside, but it's really just wind and rain, so nothing to worry about except our skirts flying up haha. Thats as dangerous as it gets! My shoes are great. My clothes are great. Not really white anymore, but still great :) I eat a lot of curry, actually haha. and apples. oh and peanut butter. I need to tone it down on the peanut butter. I've eaten an entire jar every week...that's horrible! they're the smaller jars, but still. It's out of hand. I put them on my apples and I make peanut butter and honey sandwiches a lot. We don't get fed unless there's an activity at the church, so it's a lot of home stuff we make, or egg tarts. Those are good. The bakeries here are amazing. I love walking past them. I don't buy things from there very often, but I breath really deeply every time I walk by! The woman in the picture was liuh jimuih. She was an investigator who was awesome and had a date for August 17, but she had to go to mainland, and is there for 4 months, so I'll get her when she gets back. We stay in our areas for awhile here...like 6-8 months, so I think I'll be here for quite some time. But things are great! We went and knocked on doors out in the boonies. It was so fun! Very Buddhist. And nobody answered really. So now we know that's probably not the most effective. But it was still fun :)
Love you,
Hannah
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