This week Abbey was the lucky recipient of Hannah's letter, because she is the one who wrote her. I sent a short note as I was on the road home from Alberta after visiting family. Kids are good, parents are good, everyone is far flung. The days of gathering all the chicks and settling in seem far away. I miss it. But we are so proud of everyone and all the good that they do in the world.
Here is Hannah's letter:
Thank you so much for the letter, Abbey! You have no idea how happy this made me :) you are so right, lay on the couch with your feet up. And the laptop works as practically a heat pad on your stomach haha. I feel ya. who knew there were so many other uses for computers? :) I love you. Hang in there. Well I'll write you a letter and you can share it with you want. It's been fun week. But also a sad week. I was transferred out of Sham Shui Po. Practically 9 months of being there! I was kind of thinking I would finish my mission there. A little bit of hoping. We were seeing a lot of good things happen, and lots of people were making good progress. But an incredible missionary was transferred over to replace me, so I bet it just booms above and beyond. Sister Kartchner and Sister Bosler were MTC companions, and who would have thought they would serve together out here?! President Hawks did I guess ha. They'll be so good. But now I am serving in Butterfly. "I can see [China] from my house!" But really, I can. so that's fun. Huge sky scrapers in that land. It's so mystical looking into China, knowing we can't go there. I loved Kowloon, but the New Territories are beautiful and out in the mountains, so that's really fun. No more city. actually, still some city, but lots more vegetation and ocean. I love it. But we have absolutely no one to work with. And the y just shut down the Elders here. So me and Sister Robinson (she's incredible...I'll send a picture next week) But we found somebody down when I was in Kowloon Tong who lived up here last week, so that was a miracle...one of those 9. God does love us! So we're excited to meet her again. She was the one that I just told to stop randomly. She's amazing.
More exciting news....We have summer missionaries for the next few weeks. I am so grateful. We're back to our 8 hour finding days I think, and now that we have summer missionaries, it's like doing splits for 2 weeks straight. So we'll do double the work. President Hawks is a smart man. And I'm really excited. So not much more to update you on. Noel gets married on the 24th. exciting! Cherry is going to Utah with her family, and will go look at the Salt Lake temple. exciting! lots of good things happening.
But I have to tell you about my new area. We have a few recent convert we're meeting with from the beginning of the year. And since we don't have Elders, we are teaching men now, which is fun. Uncle Fai is awesome. He's in his late 40's probably and wears these cool leather pants to church haha. I don't understand how - with this heat, but he's cool, so he finds a way. He's too good for preach my gospel right now...actually a really smart man with a lot of opinions and ideas...so we're trying to come up with some interesting ways to teach him. But the basics are where it's at, so we're trying to help him see the depth in those. He'll get there. And the Young Mens program here is awesome. There are 2 young men. But we called up a less active young man, and they all have a friend who has been investigating for years, but his mom hasn't given him permission yet. But we got the 4 of them and played a basketball restoration review thing. It was great. The work is fun. And we will build. And find new people to center our lives on haha. It is an adjustment from Sham Shui Po mainly because I feel like I lost so many people who meant so much to me. But they'll always be there. Their lives go on haha. And we'll find more. These people are good.
And so are you! You don't ever get to leave haha. we're family forever. so that's nice for me. I think you're amazing. Give everyone a hug for me. Have a great day today.
Love Hannah
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I Can See China From My House!
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
Well, it's been a week full of literal miracles. I'm still feeling very bewildered by it all in all honesty. But first things first...Noel was baptized! It was so sweet. Her fiance came, and there was just a general feeling of excitment for their future together. She is such a good, genuine girl. They get married on the 24th and will move to Tung chung, so I'm hoping President Hawks will transfer me up there to open it up for the sisters, just so I can teach her ABL's haha. Elder Dale, the blonde one to the left of me in one of the pictures was in the MTC with me and Sister Kartchner. He has been working with her fiance (who has been less active) the past few months, so it was fun to all reunion together. Who would have thought days like these would come? This couple will do wonders here in the church. Very sharp, very personable, very strong character. I love them.
But this week we had a lot of time to do some solid finding, so that was real fun. and real hot. I cant wait to go home and start running the mountains behind our house. You will be impressed with how much I can sweat now. we carry towels around with us as we walk the streets and find, or the people we contact always gives us tissues to wipe off our faces haha. But running in the mornings is another story. We look like a lot less tan, not quite as good physique, and a lot more clothing covered versions of those nike model athletes. mainly in the idea that their entire selves glimmer in sweat as they work out. I never knew sweat came out of our shins. unless we had shin guards on. It's exciting to pray when we come back into our apartment, because our legs and knees will just slide across our tile floor. And that makes the floor gross ha.
But this week we found 9 new investigators! To put that into perspective, our mission has a general goal of 2 new investigators that we, as a companionship, should work for every week. So 9 was really just confusing/shocking. Every one of them were miracles. It almost became laughable on Friday afternoon, when we found 5 of them. As we were walking up the hill to Tsz Wan Saan, almost every person we stopped was willing to listen to us, and had a desire to reschedule and learn more. At first, we would compliment each other on the "good question you asked," or "you explained the Book of Mormon very clearly. Good job." But after seeing consecutive success just one after another, it became blatantly obvious that these were miracles with no relationship to our skills or abilities, and taught us how very much this entire work relies on the Lord. Just person after person. I couldn't believe it. We ran out of Book of Mormons and other pamphlets within the first hour, so afterward, really just had to rely on our testimonies. It taught me the value of our words and genuineness of testimony on the street. Because it was all we had, so we tried to make it count. The last girl we met was named Wong Hoyi. It was on our way back to the MTR. 30 seconds earlier we had taught and scheduled a girl named Eva at a crosswalk, and we were still in the process of getting over our excitement with Eva haha. Hoyi was passing by us, and almost without thinking, I just called out to her to stop. She turned and looked at me and we talked to her for a bit. We had nothing to give her, but bore testimony of God. Her eyes just stared into me. She was so captivated. As I was speaking to her, I remember thinking quite clearly that what you say right now better be what God would have you say, because she is hanging on every word. I never had someone listen to me so intently. It was super intimidating having that much attention and willingness to listen to what we have to say. We're usually fighting for a few seconds and giving everything we have to persuade them. She prayed with us there on the street, and was hoping to see us again. Our church was just around the corner, and we'll see her in a few days. We didn't want to go home, but curfew was coming. I still am so awestruck at the miracles Heavenly Father was just laying out in front of us. One man met with missionaries 20 years ago, still remembered their names. Left to China for work, but came back hoping to find God. Noel, on her way to her baptism, met a man on the mtr and invited him to watch hr get baptized. They walk in together, and he is a man I taught 2 time on the street back when I served in Kwun Tong. I wish I could go into his story, but at that time I had felt a strong impression to talk to him (I usually dont get that direct feelings). He ended up fonging us, but I prayed and fasted to see him again back in september, and now he prances on into the church 8 months later at the same area I am moved to. Au singsang, with hair down to his bum..a real chinese hippie haha. I dont understand why so many miracles happened, and I have been pondering it all weekend. What did we do differently? Why did God bless us like that? Perhaps one reason is to be humbled, I believe. It's kind of like the feeling after a family in the ward expresses appreciation to you, you just have a desire to work that much harder to better deserve their thanks. Disappointments are an important part of this mission, and it is easy to forget the Lord or his help during struggling times, and rely on your own grit and man-power to push through it. But this last Friday afternoon humbled me in powerful ways to better understand that all the grit I could muster up is in all reality, nothing. The spirit is my greatest desire on this mission. Obeying the spirit. Learning better to follow the spirit. But it is so apparent - the hand of the Lord in this work, and I am so grateful to have learned that a little better. I am sure there is more to be learned, and I will continue to think on it. But it was sure an exhilarating experience. To actually feel like you are a vessel the Lord can work through is goal I want in this life. I want the Lord to use me. And I think I got a small taste of that this week, to motivate me that much more to strive to be worthy of that.
I should send you my pictures. But thank you for sending me all those exciting picture events. Life keeps going :) I think we move on with our lives and experience new things, but those memories and past experiences are treasures that shape who we are. The love I have for our family comes from those experiences in the past, so they are always renewed as we continue to grow together. I am grateful our family, and all the experiences we get to have together. Sure, they'll change. But I think the ability to remember is a great gift. So we'll make an extra effort to remember. which makes me think I should do a better job at writing in my journal. You are going to be so disappointed in me mom haha. These letters count, right? I love you all so much. I am so happy to talk to you!
And the rat picture is for dad. I thought he might like it. I couldn't find any squirrels haha. I might have already sent it, but just in case I didn't...
Love hannah
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
What?! Holy Weddings!!! I had no idea! I remembered you mentioned something about some of them. But I must not have remembered very well.....Everyone is getting married!!! Please send me pictures. or have them send me pictures. I would love to see their beautiful selves. Please tell them all congratulations for me! I hope Alana and Kristi wait up for me to get home before they go get themselves engaged too ha.
I am searching my brain to remember this story about Tommy in New York. I remember it was really good. but I can't remember what it was. I'll keep thinking. Hopefully by the end I'll remember.
This week has been busy. We had mission leadership conference...President Hawk's last one. The next one will be the same time he is boarding his plane to go home, and that will feel very strange I think. They are steady people. They try to find simple things that are important, and then they make patterns. And those patterns in their lives seemed to have really made them what they are. They are good examples of the scripture...Through small and simple things, are great things come to pass. It makes me want to think of a few things I want to make into patterns in my life. I bet it will help me with those thoughts on having good desires. Keep them improving.
This week we also had Zone Training. These weeks go by too fast. But we focused on Teaching and Finding. Cause that's really what we do. I am learning a lot about teaching on this mission. It is a heavenly skill I would like to develop throughout my life. But the Zone Leaders gave their training on teaching (they are great teachers), so we took finding. Not because we are necessarily good at it haha. I heard if we spend 10,000 hours at something, we will be an expert. So I'm almost an expert at it. Just kidding :) that's a lot of hours. I'm almost 1/3 expert at it haha. Our main focus was the idea of understanding and loving the Chinese people. We shared David O. Mckay's China dedicatory prayer, specifically the lines where he blesses the missionaries to have keen insight and ability to bring the gospel light to these people in a way that will make the proper appeal. It was a fun training. Helped remind us how much we love these people and the fun details of this city. It's getting HOT and missionaries are walking very crowded, hot streets for hours. Attitudes are sometimes hard to keep up. But we are so blessed to be here. And President Hawks was kind of enough to stop in and he shared a few minutes about attitude in finding. And then Dan Dan (remember her? That mandarin girl I love to death who went to med school in Russia and served in Salt Lake) she came in and shared 10 minutes on loving the people you serve. It's amazing how the spirit works. They had no idea what our trainings and discussions were, but they are in such great tune with the spirit. It was very neat.
This week started a little disappointing. We were supposed to have 2 baptisms earlier this month, but they both disappeared into mainland at the end of last week. We had some great appointments lined up, and decided to really try to strengthen our faith (or faithen our strength as Pres. Hawks puts it) and be pretty bold and challenging. Noel has been struggling with her faith in God. We have taught her the lessons, and she understands them well. If God exists, she says, she'll believe everything else. But she wouldn't find her answer. She is engaged to a less active member in Tung Chung, and she decided that she'll wait until after she's married to continue thinking about God. We met her on Sunday and she shared an experience about praying and feeling as though someone else was in the room with her. She felt like God was listening, and felt a great warmth. After sharing it, though, she continued to express that she wasn't really satisfied with that answer. We tried and tried to share how the spirit communicates with us. Shared scriptures, shared experiences....she wouldn't have it. She wanted more. But on Friday, we prepared a pretty bold lesson. It was funny...she walked in to the class room and after the opening prayer thanked us for still meeting with her. Said we were like her angels haha. I'll explain why I laugh at that later. We showed that hope of God's light video, and then we read in 3rd Nephi toward the end when an angel appeared to Laman and Lemuel and Nephi and Sam. We shared other scriptures about the consequences of how they accepted the angel. Compared Nephi to Laman and Lemuel a bit. And then we said, Noel, God will not send you an angel. He is sending you us. And we are telling you, as clear as this angel talked to Nephi and his brothers, that those feelings to that prayer was your answer. I know that you know that God exists, and you can choose to believe it or not. And you know the consequences of both. Now Noel, think back to that prayer you offered and the feelings you felt. Do you believe God exists? The spirit was incredibly strong. Yes, I do. Noel, will you be baptized? Yes, I will. We prayed about a date with her on the spot, and she just had this pure excitement in her voice the entire prayer. She cried through the entire prayer. It was very sweet. And this email doesn't do it justice. But it was sweet.
I love you very much. You all sound amazing. I hope you have such a great summer. Time is going way too fast.
Love hannah
I am searching my brain to remember this story about Tommy in New York. I remember it was really good. but I can't remember what it was. I'll keep thinking. Hopefully by the end I'll remember.
This week has been busy. We had mission leadership conference...President Hawk's last one. The next one will be the same time he is boarding his plane to go home, and that will feel very strange I think. They are steady people. They try to find simple things that are important, and then they make patterns. And those patterns in their lives seemed to have really made them what they are. They are good examples of the scripture...Through small and simple things, are great things come to pass. It makes me want to think of a few things I want to make into patterns in my life. I bet it will help me with those thoughts on having good desires. Keep them improving.
This week we also had Zone Training. These weeks go by too fast. But we focused on Teaching and Finding. Cause that's really what we do. I am learning a lot about teaching on this mission. It is a heavenly skill I would like to develop throughout my life. But the Zone Leaders gave their training on teaching (they are great teachers), so we took finding. Not because we are necessarily good at it haha. I heard if we spend 10,000 hours at something, we will be an expert. So I'm almost an expert at it. Just kidding :) that's a lot of hours. I'm almost 1/3 expert at it haha. Our main focus was the idea of understanding and loving the Chinese people. We shared David O. Mckay's China dedicatory prayer, specifically the lines where he blesses the missionaries to have keen insight and ability to bring the gospel light to these people in a way that will make the proper appeal. It was a fun training. Helped remind us how much we love these people and the fun details of this city. It's getting HOT and missionaries are walking very crowded, hot streets for hours. Attitudes are sometimes hard to keep up. But we are so blessed to be here. And President Hawks was kind of enough to stop in and he shared a few minutes about attitude in finding. And then Dan Dan (remember her? That mandarin girl I love to death who went to med school in Russia and served in Salt Lake) she came in and shared 10 minutes on loving the people you serve. It's amazing how the spirit works. They had no idea what our trainings and discussions were, but they are in such great tune with the spirit. It was very neat.
This week started a little disappointing. We were supposed to have 2 baptisms earlier this month, but they both disappeared into mainland at the end of last week. We had some great appointments lined up, and decided to really try to strengthen our faith (or faithen our strength as Pres. Hawks puts it) and be pretty bold and challenging. Noel has been struggling with her faith in God. We have taught her the lessons, and she understands them well. If God exists, she says, she'll believe everything else. But she wouldn't find her answer. She is engaged to a less active member in Tung Chung, and she decided that she'll wait until after she's married to continue thinking about God. We met her on Sunday and she shared an experience about praying and feeling as though someone else was in the room with her. She felt like God was listening, and felt a great warmth. After sharing it, though, she continued to express that she wasn't really satisfied with that answer. We tried and tried to share how the spirit communicates with us. Shared scriptures, shared experiences....she wouldn't have it. She wanted more. But on Friday, we prepared a pretty bold lesson. It was funny...she walked in to the class room and after the opening prayer thanked us for still meeting with her. Said we were like her angels haha. I'll explain why I laugh at that later. We showed that hope of God's light video, and then we read in 3rd Nephi toward the end when an angel appeared to Laman and Lemuel and Nephi and Sam. We shared other scriptures about the consequences of how they accepted the angel. Compared Nephi to Laman and Lemuel a bit. And then we said, Noel, God will not send you an angel. He is sending you us. And we are telling you, as clear as this angel talked to Nephi and his brothers, that those feelings to that prayer was your answer. I know that you know that God exists, and you can choose to believe it or not. And you know the consequences of both. Now Noel, think back to that prayer you offered and the feelings you felt. Do you believe God exists? The spirit was incredibly strong. Yes, I do. Noel, will you be baptized? Yes, I will. We prayed about a date with her on the spot, and she just had this pure excitement in her voice the entire prayer. She cried through the entire prayer. It was very sweet. And this email doesn't do it justice. But it was sweet.
I love you very much. You all sound amazing. I hope you have such a great summer. Time is going way too fast.
Love hannah
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Hello family! How are you?! Did I ever tell you, Abbey, that I got your graduation invite. wow, you're a looker! Very beautiful. and I like your shirt :) Congratulations on graduating!!! So exciting!!! You have nothing but great options ahead. I am so excited for you. what are you thinking for the end of summer? but why would I bring up the end of summer so fast...that was silly. What are all of your plans for summer?! tahoe. weeding. tahoe. hiking. tahoe. canada. tahoe. efy. tahoe...right? :) The most beautiful place in the world was 10 minutes away from us all along.
Well, it's been a good week! lots of people disappeared into mainlaind, actually, so we're just hoping to find them soon. It's sad when people disappear. Leung Jimuih with that cute grandson still hasn't been back from mainland. it's been a month. And Ngh Jimuih just disappeared, we think to mainland since her phone is making the mainland sound. Her baptism was scheduled for next week. Shandy, that cute 19 year old saving up for nursing school disappeared 2 weeks before her baptism. We had taught her the Word of Wisdom, and she was so happy to call us and tell us when she yam cha-ed with her family, she didn't drink tea. Amy disappeared 2 weeks before her date too. Her brother told her we are a cult and if she wants to live at their home, she isn't allowed to come anymore. We called her the other week to see how she was doing. She said her life has become so much worse, and she isn't happy any more. The happiest time of her life was coming to church with us. Well Amy, why don't you come on back. Because Amy, you know we aren't a cult. How do you feel when you pray about the church? Really good, actually. I felt like someone was with me and had a really comforting feeling. But feelings don't matter. That's not realy life. Our brain creates feelings, and you trick our brains. You're a cult. The doors to the MTR will open and we'll walk onto the train, and it's incredible how often someone will look at my badge, and then at me and tell me that I'm a cult or work for Satan something. We have a cute less active we're working with who has a great testimony, and calls us up randomly to hear about Joseph Smith, because she just needed to hear it again. She's homosexual, and doesn't feel comfortable with the way she is treated at church, but she'll come visit this pohpoh we visit every week with us and share her testimony on certain things. But the way she came into contact with the church was because all her friends and her heard rumors about this "cult" with all sorts of descriptions about worship services, and they were interested in checking it out, because they were curious and wanting an adventure of some sort. People here actually believe that kind of stuff about us, and are literally terrified to speak to us. It's ridiculous. She's in college now, maybe I already wrote you about her. but she does all her projects and reports (that are appropriate to do) on the church to clarify to her professors and friends what we're all about. Don't you love that?! Go her. not to be annoying or trying to preach to everyone all the time, but to be honest and clear about what matters to her. We met another new investigator this week named Rosanne. met her on the MTR actually. Just started chatting, and it turns out she has a friend who is serving a mission in Hawaii. Of the thousands of people on that train, we talked to her. neat, huh? We met her again and learned a little more about her friend. They went to a Catholic school together, and in middle school, their teacher is explaining the Mormons as a dangerous cult that they need to avoid. Americans on a business scheme that use the devil to get rich. This impressive friend of hers shoots right up and stands up in front of the class and says, "I am a Mormon. I know Jesus Christ lives, and we worship Him." Rosanne said her friend was just shaking and didn't say anything more than that. The teacher was shocked and apologized. I was so impressed with that girl.
I have been very surprised with the amount of anti material and rumors and misunderstandings about our Church here. Especially lately, it has just felt like getting hit one after another. The principle of faith has become so much more meaningful to me lately. As we choose to believe and open our hearts to the possibility and opportunity of truth, the power of God will fill those searches. Time after time. I will be asked questions that I don't fully know the answers to sometimes, and when I turn to the scriptures, I will learn something that will help me. That just happened last night. A woman posed a question that caused me to a ponder later in the evening, but the Book of Mormon gave me understanding and a sense of light in my mind to what I was pondering. When we stick to what we know, and build on to the faith we have, I know that Heavenly Father leads our hearts. And things unfold without us even being fully aware. But I know that Jesus Christ lives. And I know that the priesthood power, the power of God, is on earth today in temples throughout the earth. So I know that Christ's church is restored.
Isn't it so great to know things? I think it's great.
I love you all. Hope you're doing well. I have another story for you next week. it's about Tommy in New York...at least reminded me of him :)
Love you!
Hannah
Well, it's been a good week! lots of people disappeared into mainlaind, actually, so we're just hoping to find them soon. It's sad when people disappear. Leung Jimuih with that cute grandson still hasn't been back from mainland. it's been a month. And Ngh Jimuih just disappeared, we think to mainland since her phone is making the mainland sound. Her baptism was scheduled for next week. Shandy, that cute 19 year old saving up for nursing school disappeared 2 weeks before her baptism. We had taught her the Word of Wisdom, and she was so happy to call us and tell us when she yam cha-ed with her family, she didn't drink tea. Amy disappeared 2 weeks before her date too. Her brother told her we are a cult and if she wants to live at their home, she isn't allowed to come anymore. We called her the other week to see how she was doing. She said her life has become so much worse, and she isn't happy any more. The happiest time of her life was coming to church with us. Well Amy, why don't you come on back. Because Amy, you know we aren't a cult. How do you feel when you pray about the church? Really good, actually. I felt like someone was with me and had a really comforting feeling. But feelings don't matter. That's not realy life. Our brain creates feelings, and you trick our brains. You're a cult. The doors to the MTR will open and we'll walk onto the train, and it's incredible how often someone will look at my badge, and then at me and tell me that I'm a cult or work for Satan something. We have a cute less active we're working with who has a great testimony, and calls us up randomly to hear about Joseph Smith, because she just needed to hear it again. She's homosexual, and doesn't feel comfortable with the way she is treated at church, but she'll come visit this pohpoh we visit every week with us and share her testimony on certain things. But the way she came into contact with the church was because all her friends and her heard rumors about this "cult" with all sorts of descriptions about worship services, and they were interested in checking it out, because they were curious and wanting an adventure of some sort. People here actually believe that kind of stuff about us, and are literally terrified to speak to us. It's ridiculous. She's in college now, maybe I already wrote you about her. but she does all her projects and reports (that are appropriate to do) on the church to clarify to her professors and friends what we're all about. Don't you love that?! Go her. not to be annoying or trying to preach to everyone all the time, but to be honest and clear about what matters to her. We met another new investigator this week named Rosanne. met her on the MTR actually. Just started chatting, and it turns out she has a friend who is serving a mission in Hawaii. Of the thousands of people on that train, we talked to her. neat, huh? We met her again and learned a little more about her friend. They went to a Catholic school together, and in middle school, their teacher is explaining the Mormons as a dangerous cult that they need to avoid. Americans on a business scheme that use the devil to get rich. This impressive friend of hers shoots right up and stands up in front of the class and says, "I am a Mormon. I know Jesus Christ lives, and we worship Him." Rosanne said her friend was just shaking and didn't say anything more than that. The teacher was shocked and apologized. I was so impressed with that girl.
I have been very surprised with the amount of anti material and rumors and misunderstandings about our Church here. Especially lately, it has just felt like getting hit one after another. The principle of faith has become so much more meaningful to me lately. As we choose to believe and open our hearts to the possibility and opportunity of truth, the power of God will fill those searches. Time after time. I will be asked questions that I don't fully know the answers to sometimes, and when I turn to the scriptures, I will learn something that will help me. That just happened last night. A woman posed a question that caused me to a ponder later in the evening, but the Book of Mormon gave me understanding and a sense of light in my mind to what I was pondering. When we stick to what we know, and build on to the faith we have, I know that Heavenly Father leads our hearts. And things unfold without us even being fully aware. But I know that Jesus Christ lives. And I know that the priesthood power, the power of God, is on earth today in temples throughout the earth. So I know that Christ's church is restored.
Isn't it so great to know things? I think it's great.
I love you all. Hope you're doing well. I have another story for you next week. it's about Tommy in New York...at least reminded me of him :)
Love you!
Hannah