I love you. Immensely. Thank you for switching systems and writing papers letters. I got an unprecedented 4 letters this week alone! It was loads of fun, and evidence to me that I have a very caring family, and some awesome friends. But I apologize that it has taken me so long to send email this week! Truly unfair, I know, since you've sent me so much. The thing is, we had transfers on Thursday and we haven't had time to write till now!
By the way, Penny's baptism was last Sunday, and it was amazing. I attached some pictures of her. She is an incredibly strong person. Her family still doesn't really have any interest in hearing about the Church, but they came to her baptism and heard Penny's testimony afterwards. Small and simple things....I'm sure they will have their chance to learn as well. It was also such a blessing to see how happy and confident Penny was. I think my biggest realization, though, was that the baptismal itself, though a vital ordinance, is merely the expression of a bigger life change that's taken place inside this person. AKA it's not just about getting a baptism, it's about helping people change their lives. Obviously. But seeing that in action really helped me understand that.
So, the news that everyone wants to know......I am staying in my old area but I have a new companion! Her name is Sister Yiu, and she's amazing. She is from Hong Kong but she speaks perfect English. (I know, I feel like I hit the jackpot. A walking dictionary!). Plus, she is incredibly nice. She went to BYU Hawaii for three years, studying political science, and is intelligent and graceful and loving in every way. I shall have to ask her soon if she is, in fact, an angel or not. Anyway, she is technically my step-trainer as we call it (the person after my trainer to be my companion), but she told me that she'd rather see us as equals and has welcomed my input in everything. It's so much fun! I'm excited to really get to work. I think that each move or transfer can have a different feel, because there are different things that Heavenly Father wants you to learn, and I think that this move's theme will be Hard Work. I am thrilled. Sister Yiu is very driven (though reasonable, don't worry) and I feel like I am finally capable of actually doing some things (though I am still learning a lot) and I can tell we are just excited to do a lot.
So, as you may remember, I would like to give you a better idea of a day in the life of. So, here's a more detailed view of the past couple of days (by the way, every day also includes half an hour of exercise, usually running laps around this handy little basketball court right outside our tower. I'm grateful to have this available every day, but I do realize that the Great Atrophy has begun :) And then an hour of personal study, an hour of companionship study, and an hour of language study. Alright, back to our program:
Actually, in the two days we've been together already, we've had pretty constant lessons. Which is a miracle. The first day of the new transfer (P day), we had a lesson in the evening with an investigator and her friend. This investigator, Vina, she brought her good friend, Veronica (yes, yes, I get confused too) to a ward activity with her, and to church the day after! For a 15 year old, that's amazing. Both of these girls are really amazing people and very willing to learn and to find out things for themselves. In fact, hearing Vina's testimony to her friend during the lesson was incredible. Very much a privilege to hear. I mean, she's only been meeting with us for a month so far, and she has a testimony of her own already.
The next day, Friday, Sister Yiu and I had weekly planning, where we plan for all of our investigators, and for our week in general. We realized that we are very busy. But I think that's a great blessing. It was exciting to tell Sister Yiu all about these people that I've come to love, and to talk about how to help them all (an overwhelming task, until we realize that it isn't us by ourselves doing this).
Then after weekly planning we were going to meet with a girl who the elders had contacted, but she cancelled on us, so we had companionship inventory instead (it is exactly as it sounds. You discuss strengths and weaknesses and how to best work together. It's actually the best idea ever.) Then we met with Penny to teach her an after-baptism-lesson. She gets confirmed on Sunday and was radiant and excited as ever. Then we got stood up for another lesson with another potential investigator from the elders (such is the life...) but got to talk with a YW from Tsuen Wan ward instead. Actually the only YW in Tsuen Wan. So, I think that was good. And then we met with Sister Chan from Tsing Yi ward before her Baptismal Interview!!! It was a miracle. This was her second baptismal interview, after failing her first in November (about when I came to Hong Kong, actually). But she told us that she felt she had that time to really come to trust in the Lord more. I can see that change as well. Anyway, she will be baptized on the 4th of March :) She has been investigating the church for over a year now, and it is a privilege to get to actually see her baptism now. I know that a lot of missionaries' hard work went into helping her. And she's very grateful and very happy.
And now, today we just came from a lesson with a woman (this was our first time meeting with her - she is a referral from ward member), and she has obviously just been so prepared to hear our message. She felt that, even though she reads the Bible, Heavenly Father had another testament He wanted her to read (she used those words too!). So, she was excited when we gave her her own copy of the Book of Mormon. So, we are hoping she will continue to meet with us and learn this gospel.
Well, that's all the latest news from Hong Kong. I wish I could tell you all in greater detail what all of this is like, how it feels to see people changing their lives, how it feels to share your testimony all the day long, to study the scriptures for an hour every single day, to work hard and feel exhausted but happy by the evening....Ah, but you can imagine it anyway. I mean, we missionaries are just normal people, but we get to have this special calling and Lord's help to participate in miracles. It's exciting.
Anyway, the main point is that I know this Church is true! I know that Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to get to know Him!
I love you all so much. You are the best family in the world ( in my humble opinion )
Love!
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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