Dearest family,
I love you! I got to talk to you this week! It was amazing. Yes, it
truly was. So I am sending some pictures with this email, which you can
post if you want, and you can scan and post the pictures I mailed you,
if you so choose.
By the way, sorry that this is a day late, too. P-day had to be
rescheduled to Friday because of a leadership training meeting. Really,
this shouldn't happen too much. Don't worry.
Hey, merry Christmas and a happy new year! I have to say that
Christmas was definitely a good day. We had a few Christmas miracles. We
had 6 investigators attend church (woohoo!) and one less active sister
come. Yay! And guess who else was at church. Yep, you guessed it, Amy
and Enoch Yeung! [Note: Amy has been a family friend for many years.] It was seriously the best Christmas present I've ever
gotten to be in Hong Kong with practically family at Christmas. We
didn't have much time at church to talk, but they had invited us to
dinner in the evening, and let me tell you, it was one wonderful
Christmas. Really, it was like being with family. And we ate roast beef
and spoke English (then I shared a short message in Cantonese afters).
Just lovely. So, now I know that I am definitely blessed beyond belief. I
mean, there's no other way I could have seen Amy and Enoch even if they
visited unless I lived in the Yeung's ward. And what makes it funnier
is that I wasn't even sure which Yeungs had asked us to eat with them,
so it really was a surprise. Yup.
In other news, we have 7 people with baptismal dates! Very
exciting! I really hope that we can help them all keep going and really
understand what they're learning. Speaking of baptisms, yesterday
evening, we helped a recent convert go to the temple and do baptisms for
the dead for the first time. It made me realize that we're not just
doing missionary work on this side of the veil, but on the other as
well. It was a very special experience.
Ah, so also, some of the pictures I am sending are from a BBQ that
we attended this week with a bunch of our investigators (6 of them). I
really have to tell you about Hong Kong BBQ. So, this event was a 7 hour
affair. Really fun, but definitely a holiday activity. We went to this
beautiful and rural-er place called Tai Mei Tuk or something which was
on the coast and spent time wandering and taking pictures and then
eating. You can also rent bikes and ride around on paths, but we had
neither time nor enough inclination to do this. I think our
investigators really had a fun time and were able to meet a lot more
people, which is good. This ward, Tsing Yi, has most of our
investigators in it (about 6) and they are all very awesome. Two in
particular, Penelope and Jasmine, are really ready for baptism, they
just have to realize it. In fact, Penny wants to serve a mission so
badly even though she's not baptised yet. Of course, she wants to wait
till after her big test in school before being baptized...Anyway, as
soon as she figures out she's ready, she's just going to take off
running (gospel-wise), I just know it. But, back to the BBQ - when I
get home I will have to teach you Hong Kong style BBQ. It's lovely and
unsanitary. Every one sits around the fire and roasts their own food,
and it includes much more than just hot dogs and marshmallows (though
those were present). Really, any sort of meat goes on the skewer and is
roasted. The unexpected part is the honey. They slather honey on the
meat at various points during the cooking. It's very good. Also, it was
really nice to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the not-city-ness of
the place (yes there were lots of people but no skyscrapers).
In other news, we are taking today to visit this big fair thing
that comes once a year and involves lots of stuff being sold and I
really don't know what it is yet, but I 'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it. So
that's what I've been up to lately and will be up to.
Cantonese-wise, I've sort of hit the point where I wonder why I
can't speak perfect Cantonese yet or understand what people are saying.
Why can't I just be able to do everything right now? But of course, I
know that this is silly and I just need to keep plugging along. And plug
along I will! This is really the opportunity of a lifetime, this
mission here, and I am determined to enjoy it.
Speaking of that, when I was talking with you all on the phone, I
ran out of brains and forgot to tell you the most important thing: That I
know that this church is true! I know that God is very real and that He
guides His children today. He has not forgotten us and He never will.
He wants to help us learn how to return to Him. This gospel tells us
exactly how to do that. It is such a priviledge to get to share this
with others. That is why I am here in Hong Kong, being a missionary.
Because this is all true. I hope you all understand how much I love you
and how much this gospel means to me. I wouldn't be doing this
mission if it weren't. You can know that it's true as well. All it takes
is exercising some faith. So I encourage to you go ahead and ask,
exercise that faith. Heavenly Father will tell you that it's true.
I love you all so much! You're the light of me life. You're the best family ever!
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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