Peak Celebration - Week 13

I love our family!!!! You guys are so awesome! Tommy and Camilla are just the coolest people ever. Seriously. I wish I was more like them. I love those pictures. They look so good too! 

And dad makes me so happy :) I love the hat. and the beard. and the smile. and everything. I can't wait to give him a big hug when I get home. I didn't hug him enough. 

And Abbey is so bright. I love that picture of her at girls camp. She is such a light. I remember the YCL's I had, and how awesome I thought they were, and they really were a drive for me to want to be good. Abbey is such an example and she hardly knows it. I love that girl. And she makes the best hippie I've ever seen.

Danny and Jack, I don't care how old or cool you are when I get back. We're having a trampoline camp out the night I get home whether you like it or not. Good luck Dan on your hike. Have so much fun! And this time you wont have to run up Mt. Whitney! haha. you can walk it! So that will be cake. And Jack attack, your birthday's coming up! I'm looking for something cool to send you. Any suggestions?! Good luck at scout camp...that seems pretty rough without running water. But you're an awesome boy, Jack. You bring personality and fun and energy wherever you go, and thats an amazing skill. You might not see it, but I know there are boys there that appreciate your help and fun attitude and kindness. Keep an eye out for someone you can be a friend to, and I promise it will be more fun. And mom! I miss you! I decided to only use that aveda shampoo on mondays when I get to email you, because it just makes me that much happier :) I love you and miss you and think you're the most incredible person I know. Honestly, I feel like I'm gaining a new perspective of our family while being out here, so I know this is a dumb, cheesy, lovey letter, but I think you're amazing, and I feel like I've gotten that much closer to you here. I admire you so much, and can't wait to work out in the garden with you again :)

Today is Hong Kong's 65 year anniversary of the Church. It's called Peak Service or Peak Celebration. A long while back, President David O. McKay dedicated China. But then things got complicated and missionary work couldn't continue. But 65 years ago today, (this is so bad I forgot who!)

(I did a little research - it was Mathew Cowley in 1949.)  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/01/small-and-simple-things?lang=eng

He said a prayer and opened Hong Kong to missionary work. He didn't dedicate it, because that was part of the China prayer, but he opened it. So we had a cool celebration on Saturday with all the members in Hong Kong. President Holland had a video message for us. It was really neat. President Holland said that throughout our Church history, the people of Zion have had to flee Babylon. Lehi and his family had to flee. The pioneers had to flee. But here and now, we will no longer flee. We will fight back. Cool, huh? And it was neat to see how the members here in Hong Kong recognize that they are pioneers in there own sense. It was an awesome spirit, and really exciting. So we're going to keep pushing and finding and sharing and teaching and working. Today for Pday, my companion and I are going to hike up to the Peak where they prayed and opened up Hong Kong and check it out.

What else....I'm not sure. We had exchanges this week. I got to go to Causeway Bay, which is really just that downtown Hong Kong Island city area. So neat! And alive. There were so many really nice shops. And the people there were so dressed up and fashionable. And I saw alot of white people, which was weird...am I allowed to say that?! In Kwun Tong, I stick out like a sore thumb. I'm so tall compared to most people haha. I can overlook the whole MTR when we travel hah. Kwun Tong is a pretty old place, and quite honestly, there are a decent amount of crazy people there, so it's hard sometimes. But a lot of people are also humble and prepared to hear our message. So we're just working on finding them. We have a baptism date with Ayuh on the 27th, but I'm nervous about it. She knows what she should be doing, but doesn't want to start keeping the commandments until she has to after she's baptised. She doesn't have a hard time with all the commandments...just keeping the Sabbath day holy.  Our mission has a goal to see 65 people baptised in July in honor of the 65 years. Which is awesome! but challenging. I think the most our mission has ever had before is 23. but we're working. And we're seeing many miracles.

Alright, my time is up, but I love you! Have an awesome week!
Love
Hannah