Hello Dear wonderful Parents and Family,
Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you for your wonderful support and encouragement and letters. . . . My companion is doing so much better than before, and I feel very grateful for the chance I've had to learn from her and to encourage her. I think we were very specifically assigned to be with each other, to learn, and to lean on each other every once in a while. . . .
Speaking of my comp, she has encouraged me to diligently work on my passing off of lessons (language learning tasks) so that I can officially start learning characters. Well, yesterday I had my last passoff, and today I bought flashcards (provided by the mission) so I can start becoming literate! I'll have you know that it's a miracle that we, young, illiterate and barely-able-to-speak-Cantonese missionaries can teach from the Book of Mormon and help people actually come unto Christ. Obviously these people have been prepared and are very humble.
One stellar example of this is Penelope. She will be baptized this Sunday! I feel like it is such a privilege and blessing to be able to teach her. She's very intelligent and very proper (Father is half British), but very humble and willing to learn. She writes notes in her scriptures like no one's business. Anyway, this is her 3rd baptismal date because her parents have felt earlier ones were too fast, and Penny wasn't feeling prepared for them either, but now here she is, all ready to make this covenant and continue progressing. It's amazing to see how happy this gospel has made her.
Speaking of our other investigators, I would like to tell you about Chan Jimiuh and Wun Ying. You've heard of each of them, but they are also really good examples to me of humility and of diligence in learning this gospel. Chan Jimuih has been investigating the church for over a year now, and she will be baptized this March 4th. I think it is a huge blessing that I get to help teach her here at the latter end of her investigating process. I've really been able to see how much this gospel has helped improve her life and give her more hope. She has an 11 year old son, and is divorced, a working mom, and I know that she has had a rough time finding joy and security in life. But now, though I've only known her a short time, and though she is still continuing in this learning process, I can tell you that she is happier. She herself has told us so. When she prays, it just just so clear that she knows that her Heavenly Father is listening. Her prayers are so humble, and so much like a testimony to me.
Now, Wun Ying is amazing too. Her baptismal date is March 18th. She is only 16, so she has to have her parents' permission to be baptized, which she doesn't have yet, but she hasn't let that get her down. She's fasted twice already about this problem, and for a 16 yr old, that is amazing. I mean, she's still a typical teenager in many ways, kinda shy, doesn't like homework, etc, but she is so sincere in her learning of this gospel. I have so much to learn from this sincere seeking for truth. Anyway, it is a privilege to teach them.
Also, the next big thing coming up is transfers, or moves, as we call them. Next Thursday. I really have no clue how things will be, but we are guessing that I will stay in this area and that Sister Wan will leave (she's been here for 5 moves. And she used to work in this area before her mission. Talk about being familiar with an area...). So, I'm excited to see how things will go, but I will also very much miss Sister Wan, if she leaves. We have learned an awful lot together. I know that her willingness to teach me Cantonese and all sorts of things about missionary work has really helped my learning process. We've both learned patience and love and humility, and we have really grown to love each other's company. We have a good time together. Even last Saturday, when we taught 5 consecutive lessons together, back to back, we ended the day, happily exhausted. I feel very blessed.
Oh, so the pictures are from today. We had a zone activity for P-day, hence the jeans. We went to Hung Hom (whampoa area) and went bowling. It was really fun since our zone has about 20 missionaries in it, and we don't often get a chance to see everyone. Also, it was a bit foggy, hence the dramatic picture of a building.
Maybe next time I will give you a better picture of a day in the life here. I realized that I haven't really done that yet. Look forward to next letter! I really want to help you understand what it's like here and what a mission is like.
But for now, I want to let you know that I very much know that Heavenly Father is real. I feel His love and His support here in very real and tangible ways. I know that there is no other way I could be learning this language at this speed (even though, yes, I still only understand about 60%), and I know that there's no other way I could be feeling so much love and joy. Blessings from Heavenly Father, all. I know that He cares about us all. I am grateful for the chance to be a foot soldier, so to speak, for Him. I know that many people might not like us missionaries, but I know that on the other side of the veil, there are many who are eternally grateful for the person who introduced them to this gospel. Don't be afraid! Go ahead and share this gospel, this joy, with others!
Well, I love you all!
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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