Fiona! 

Leih hou. San lihn Faaihlohk!

So good to hear from you all. The personal breakdown about the family sure is fun to read. Let me start with a "Happy Birthday Abbigale!"  I'll get danny next week :)  You are 18?! are you KIDDING ME?! weird! yes, I was in fallon at a track meet eating BJ's garlic chicken pizza with haydn as we prepared for the 400 m (coach maw's present haha..the race, not the pizza). We secretly loved it. What are your plans? San Francisco?! you lucky girls. that sounds so fun. dont party too hard out there. I wish I could even just witness the car ride over...what a blast :) just stay away from that dog day's song for dad's sake haha. Good luck with BYU. Decisions are fun. and hard. and I'm better than anyone at making the wrong ones ha. I've made a lot of different life plans, but it's comforting to know that Heavenly Father loves us enough not to let us completely screw up our lives, right? so keep making them :)  and ya! I'm impressed with Camilla's travelling accomplishments this semester with school and work! She knows how to be busy, and she does it like it's nothing. She amazes me. And Tamara is this mystery girls name. That's fun. I tried to make a good joke about the other way I'm most familiar with that name, but I felt like it would be too presumptious. oh fun, it's a riddle...guess what's in my head. winner gets the first hug when I come home. after mom. and dad. what a prize haha. sorry, I couldn't think of anything.

Well, it was Chinese New Year's this week! so that was fun. And lots of people went to mainland, so kind of sparse, which was strange. But the sparse here is most likely equivalent to not sparse back home. I think that will be the weirdest thing to adapt to. It will be either really lonely coming home, or like absolute freedom. who knows .There are a lot of fun traditions. Everyone wears red, and lot of people wear more traditional robe things. people just shout out blessings at people, but there are really only like 3 or 4 that or most common.  The conversation in english with random strangers on the street goes something like this, -"Happy New Year"...-"Happy New Year!"...-"Healthy body"....-"get rich"....-"your dreams come true"...-"peace"....like that. But seriously, that soon becomes all you say, all day long. And it loses meaning real quick. And since we walk around all day long and yell these things out to people, we needed to get more creative with our blessings. Which was tricky, because it could easily become offensive:  "grow taller"..."more hair to you"....and so it goes. The Chinese are so blunt, I know they wouldn't have a problem saying them to us, but as missionaries we were careful. And it ended up being a big hit haha. So we essentially spent the week walking around the streets yelling blessings at people. And it was fun. We built up a good reputation I think haha. And to be honest, that's more than half of what finding is for us...establishing reputations. Missionaries have pretty bad reputations as it is right now for maahfaahning people on the streets...annoying inconveniencing.  that kind of thing. So we're changing that the past few months. and things are changing. People will recognize us when we talk to them, and are a little nicer. So things are good. 

Hey! and speaking of decisions, will you think of a few options and ideas for me to do when I come home?! haha...ya, big question. I know. I'll talk to President Hawks about it next week to start looking around online at schools. but I'm not sure really what to do. Brother Shaffer's idea sounds cool though. I dont know. I need help. 

Sorry, short letter. But here's a picture of Fiona real quick! 

 

love, hannah

I'll Remember these People and Places Forever

Dear family!

I hope you're having a great day. You all look so good! Happy Valentines to you all too! I did get your card, and I really appreciated it. So thank you. You all look and sound so great. The quilting looks amazing, mom! You'll have to help me finish my sewed up patches of fabric we will pretend to call a quilt :) Congrats Abs and Dan with the talent show. I would have loved to see it! Please keep copies of things for when I get back.

Things here are going great! It's such a treat to go back to Kwun Tong. I love that area. It's just special. We went and ate som Chau siu faan and they remembered me! it made me so happy. And the fruit man remembered me. And the fish cutting men with cigs in their mouths all the time. Not much has changed. But I was glad my gaaisi pals remembered who I was! I was shocked. And I'll be shocked if they remember for much longer haha. I feel like that's just part of missionary work...you'll remember these people and places forever, and they have such great meaning to you personally, but they just move right on without you. And they do just fine haha. Which is good. It should be like that. One of my favorite quotes from Elder Oaks was, "you're not here to be thanked...you're here to serve." I think that's wise  :)

I don't have much to update you on! Elder Ballard is coming, and I'm really excited for that. Shake hands with an apostle! I know I got to shake Elder Bednar's hand before, but it will be different as a missionary! I'm really excited. So I am just preparing for that handshake haha. Trying to work as hard as we can, becaue you know they look right into your heart! But I'm excited. 

Fiona, our recent convert, had quite the valentines day! She's been getting involved with the single adult activities, and the Young Men's president of another ward who is also single, has hit it off quite nicely with her. And they went on a date. weird?!?! but fun for them. I'm happy for her. she's really just been absorbed into the stake. She's so great. I can't figure out how to send pictures on this computer, so I'll send some next week. 

how's camilla? I'm worried about her. Is she feeling better. Are her bruises better? And that's exciting for Tommy. He's so good. Tell Jack I say hi. He's a good kid. I read his Christmas letter to me last night...re-read it. It gives me a good laugh every time. Thank you dad for the valentines :) I love you. I'm so glad you're my dad. I got your postcard from canada this week! And I was thinking...I need to start thinking about what I'm going to do when I get back. 

Funny story...we were doing finding out in Kwun Tong by the gaaisi. Love it. Lots of people. Lots of pig guts. We were walking along the street by the bus stops and a couple meters in front of me, I see this mom with two little boys. Target. walk up to them - about to pass them a quick flyer and start a conversation when all of a sudden, she stoops down and de-pants her little boy. And he just starts peeing right to the left of me haha. Seriously, crowded with people. People are seriously walking into his stream. I figured I should let them do their thing in peace, but wow! I died laughing for the rest of the day. it was funny. anyway, I should go. but I love you guys. Happy Valentines day!

Love hannah

Fiona, Cherry, & Back to Kwun Tong

You sound so great! I love the sign danny. you're awesome. And if I were jack, I would enjoy every minute I could get with just mom and dad. especially at chipotles. That makes me so happy you and Abbey help the Sisters so much. You are forces for good. It makes me wonder what we can do to have people in our ward admire us the way you admire them. What do they do? We have a fine relationship with our ward, but we can always strengthen that bond. And Happy Birthday Tommy!!! Lot's of people here have a light obsession with Tommy, and all wish him happy birthday. Obsession's too strong of a word haha. Girls here just really like american boys, and want to meet him if they ever go to America haha. So know you are well loved on this side of the world :) Really though, I hope you had a great day. I know things will never be the way they were before I left, but I wish I had spent more time with you. 

Things here are pretty good! Fiona got baptized yesterday, and it was so happy! She's integrated into the ward so well, and into the single adult programs that we didn't have to take much part in anything. Which is amazing and exactly the way things should be. But I feel like our child grew up so fast and moved out or something haha. Not really. But a little. Investigators never get baptized so fast here. We couldn't be more happy for her, but we have an ounce of feeling cheated that we don't get more time with her haha. But she was ready. She was so excited to finally get an opportunity to give a talk haha. Usually at the end of the baptismal service, they will bear their testimony. Some last maybe 3 minutes. She took a solid 20 minutes giving an amazing talk about really just about everything haha. She starts quoting Helaman and Mosiah and a few other scriptures that answered different questions or doubts she had throughout this past month- from terrorist activity, to the importance of work ethic and diligence in her program, to science and the need for religion. I was super impressed. Fiona's a real go-getter. Elder Barker, our district leader, described her baptismal interview and said it was hilarious because he could tell she had very specific and planned answers, although he could tell it was completely sincere. You knew she had planned for that interview all week haha. And the entire interview she had gripped both sides of the table, just leaning across almost like an interrogating setting, just bearing testimony at him haha. She is this cute, small, high pitched sweetheart, so this image of her just going at Elder Barker, this 6 foot something sports star, just makes me smile. I love her. Oh! and we occasionally see President Hawks around the chapel sometimes since the mission office is inside the church, so she has become familiar with President and Sister Hawks a little. She understands he has a great responsibility and is busy and made it clear she didn't expect him to be able to come to her baptism, but she made it just as clear that if he had time, she would like him there. And this is where my admiration and respect for President just continues to grow... President Hawks pushed back a meeting by a half hour and made it work. Isn't that incredible?! And it's not uncommon. He cares about the one, and is so down to earth. We are so blessed to have him as our President. 

Anyway, that's that about Fiona. After the service, we once again hit the streets and got back to finding. Got to love finding. 

Good news! I'm going back to Kwun Tong! Kind of. Do you remember how much I love Kwun Tong?! I love it. My favorite place in Hong Kong. Lam Jimuih went home today (the natives went home early for new years), so me and Sister Takahashi will add Sister Brown to our companionship and cover both Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong for the next month, kind of like what I did back in August. So we're excited for that. What else, Elder Ballard and Elder Raspband and Bishop Stevenson are visiting Hong Kong Feb. 25 and 26, so we're so excited for that! I can't wait. 

I want to tell you about Cherry. We had an interesting experience with her. Actually, we've had several similar discussions with a disturbingly large amount of people. We are teaching her about the Savior. And she is having a difficult time getting it. We have come from just about every angle we could to help her understand who He is, what His life consisted of, why He is important. We've tried everything. And she's learned a lot, but she still doesn't get it. We know that the main purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of the Savior, so we decided to pick a specific chapter to read with her about the Savior to help her better understand his character, and we decided 3 Nephi 17 would be perfect for her. The Savior is visiting the ancient american people, and he teaches them. He blesses him. He tells them that he needs to return to His Father, but will come again tomorrow. He recognizes that they don't understand perfectly all of his teachings and instructs them to go home and think about it. Pray about it. But the Nephites don't want him to leave. They desire them to stay. Cherry was so painfully confused at why they would want someone who taught them things they didn't really understand to stay. The savior then stays and does miracles. He heals them and blesses them, and weeps with them. I think it's a very touching chapter that helps us understand the Savior better. And Cherry didn't get it. We showed her that Reflections of Christ video. We have taught her the atonement. She knows that Christ loves us. She doesn't have, or at least recognize, her love for Him, and doesn't understand why we would should have love for Him. I have seen it time and time again. Even Fiona who clicked with the gospel had a difficult time understanding why she could have love for the Savior. I think it's interesting that family relationships can be so different here. Cherry has a great family and has good family relationships with them. We asked her in the presence of her entire family about what she thinks about eternal families, and point blank, she didn't care for it. In front of all of them. And it didn't bother them. I am trying to understand and peek into this thinking more, because I think it's crucial. And the thing is, they are amazing good people. But interesting, eh? I have realized and I have been grateful for the love I have for my Savior. I had never viewed it as such a gift before. My time is up, so i need to go. I wish I could wrap  up my thoughts, but maybe next time. I love you! I miss you!

Love Hannah

Deepening My Roots

Hey everybody!

Thank you for that letter! I love being in the loop of what's happening. So fun! Congratulations danny-boy! you look so good in your homecoming get up. you too abbeygale. I'll be completely honest...I dont feel like I look like myself anymore haha. I dont know if that makes sense or not, but I think I definitely look different, and I think a few reasons for that are 1) ya, I'm getting older and 2) china is doing weird things to me. So I'm going to need your guys's help when I get home, because you are all such nice looking people. I dont know if it's the pollution or what, but my hair is pretty dark. 

It's been a great week here. We've had a lot of meetings, which is always inspiring. President Hawks is so amazing. And last Pday we cooked muffins with Sister Hawks, so that was fun. They're good people. One day in the church we were near the water filter tap thing, and Elder Wong happened to be in the church and walked by, and started making a joke with me about dumping water on people. Still called me Teacher Dung. I was shocked he could remember me. And then he goes on talking with a woman visiting from the states, who asked where he was from. she had no idea who he was, and he just introduces his wife and says he's from Hong Kong, and how honored he felt to be able to speak to the China teacher ambassador something something. There was a conference that day in the chapel of a bunch of ambassador teachers on some lds program. i dont know. Point being... I am just so impressed with how down to earth and good the leaders here are. Exactly what you were just writing about, mom...people are good and keep working and doing their part. That's what I learned a lot this week. Just do my part, and do my best. 

There hasn't been any sun here lately. Just cancer. The pollution is pretty bad. My throat I think was breathing too much of it, and I lost my voice for about a week and a half. But it made talking with people entertaining, because you can squeak out enough, but it added at least 5 new tones to this language that people would just laugh at me. I would just laugh at me. Sister Takahashi was great though. We have fun together. Fiona is preparing for baptism, which is so exciting. She's amazing. I can't express how special it is to come to love people so quickly and so entirely. She's amazing. And Shandy came to church! miracle. we're excited for her. 

We had exchanges this week. I went to Tsing yi, and did a lot of finding. Which was fun. I think it's fun. we met a man named leo and we turned him over to the Tung Chung elders. so I travelled all over hong kong this week. Our zone is so young. Me and one other sister are the oldest sisters in our zone -so that's terrifying. And we have 5 new trainies. so it's been a struggle sometimes for us not to get discouraged. Because we're working. We're trying. We go finding and we're trying to learn the language and talk to people, but nobody is seeing much success or growth. But I really love this story about the bamboo tree. When we plant a bamboo tree, we water it and feed it for years. I've heard some say 4, others say 10. you water it and water it, and nothing changes. nothing happens. but you keep going. It feels like that's exactly what happens to us. We keep watering, feeding, trying, but it feels like we aren't growing or changing. But then what happens to the bamboo tree? In a period of a few day to a few weeks, it grows inches and feet until it's this towering and strong tree. It had been spending all those years deepening it's roots so it would be capable of growing in the ways that it does. so I guess faith can also be related to bamboo seeds haha. and I'm deepening my roots right now! We'll see changes in the future, I know it. It was kind of fun looking back at what I thought I would be like halfway through my mission though. And I am nowhere close to what I had planned. My cantonese is not fluent and I dont baptize people every month either. but I know we see changes in other ways and goals accomplished in other ways. so it's ok :)

Alright, I need to jauh, but I love you all! hope you're good! 

love hannah