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
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