A decent job at being an unprofitable servant

Oh that list made me sad about my future. The people part of it is great! but the gre/job/ideas with professors part is discouraging. I have no idea what I am going to do, and I am stumped knowing that it is entirely up to me. And I'm tired of having the responsibility of things and people on my shoulders. But other people seem a whole lot more enjoyable than myself. Especially since those other people weren't really on my shoulders at all. People are so good. And it's incredibly fulfilling putting forth energy for others. And it's been interesting having to turn on a very extravert role - which is not my nature - and switch it on and off. It wears my brain out, I think. But it feels natural. As a missionary it's easy to feel like people's conversion entirely depends on your obedience and your preparation and your ability to teach by the spirit, and on and on about the missionary's self. I have loved listening and knowing President and Sister Lam. The greatest lesson they have taught me up to this point is that it has nothing to do with you. You better do all of that because that is expected, but it is in no way your work - so don't act like it is. And I know that. It reminds me of what Elder Oaks had said in the MTC "you aren't here to be thanked, you are here to serve." It really is a privilege to squeeze myself into other people's very personal and spiritual lives, and just watch things unfold. President and Sister Lam and their family all joined the church, and is now a mission president and wife, and the only interaction they had with missionaries was a baptismal interview by a zone leader called in that they had never met before. I love that. Today I was thinking about what it means to be a servant of the Lord, and I thought of a few places in the scriptures when it talks about servants. The first was Mosiah 2 when it explains that we could literally give everything we have, and we still would be unprofitable servants. So I have established that I am doing a decent job at the unprofitable part. I've never been humbled so much as I have out here. And then in the Parable of the Talents where the Lord calls him a good and faithful servant. In all reality,perhaps we are unprofitable, but I can be good and faithful. I have control of at least that. And miracles come and success is seen and progress is made,but it's nice to remember where that all comes from. Hong Kong is seeing some huge growth. we have 4 stakes right now, but they are planning a big ceremony Hong Kong wide party thing at the beginning of April where they will celebrate 6 stakes in Hong Kong. It's pretty exciting. Elder Gong came and presented it to us missionaries, and that was kind of the theme of it. Progress and success is coming, but we need to remember where it is coming from. The New T's don't have much part of it, especially Butterfly, so we'll surprise them with 7 stakes or something by April (just kidding) but the Kowloon stake was split into 3, and Sham shui Po is practically a stake of it's own, with some additions from the neighboring wards. no that's exaggerated. But there are alot of help from other wards, but it was right at the center of it. Made me excited for the people there. It's fun to see so much excitement. People work so hard, I am amazed at the veteran members here who just keep building. It was interesting to hear Elder Gong talk about temples and stakes. He is the area president over half of the world's population. Crazy, huh? But he said there were 138 operating temples for 3.5 billion people, and then 2 for the other 3.5 billion people in his area. But pulled up a map and showed us places around asia where the church is growing and stakes are being established, and perhaps possible future temples could be built. He said of course that it something that is inspired through the prophet, but where there are stakes, Temples are built. After seeing so many people travelling from india or other places and really sacrificing so much, I understood a little more how sweet it would be to see a temple built in India. how neat. The work is real.

It's been a fun and long week. We had a few sisters get pretty sick ini our zone, so we made several trips down to Kowloon Tong to pick stuff up. And it was so fun stepping back into my old area. And so different. Especially with the leadership being completely different. But it was nice. I found out that Ho Tin's mom, the one with multiple sclerosis is getting baptized this Sunday. I love their family, and I am so excited for them. Hot Tin gets his mission call any week now. Super excited to see where he gets called to,. There are only 3 native Hong Kong people here as missionaries now. Isn't that incredible? They are very valuable missionaries with the language and everything, its funny to watch wards fight over them. Actually, with transfers just happening, there could be more. I wasn't moved, so I will stay in Butterfly! I love it here. I'm very happy. I have a lot of pictures to send, so maybe I'll just give brief explanations of a few of them. Jacob, our not really investigator, is a boy in our ward. His mom asked us to teach him all the lessons to make sure it was his decision to be baptized, so we did, and we're pals. Cutest family. It's nice having an 8 year old best friend who brings snack for you after church. He sang "I'm trying to be like Jesus" at his baptism,and it reminded me of Tommy. I still remember that. So they're like the asian family version of us. kind of. They're great.

We also went to Tai o, a fishing village near Tuen Muen. We took a ferry over, and it was incredible. I love the ocean. Every time I go, I just get excited, and don't want to leave. We met a couple new friends, one of which was a 90 year old man who really wanted to show us around the town haha. The houses are all on stilts, and the have the best tofu around. Eating tofu at a Chinese fishing village with a 90 year old suhksuhk.

Doesn't get much better. I loved it. Alright, Hope you have a great week!
Love Hannah

My area in Butterfly