This week has been a good week of work. Hey, I'm sending a picture of Sister Taylor and I as we wait for the light rail to come send email. Yes. Where was I...
Well, once a year, an apostle will come and address our mission, and so this Tuesday, we all went to Wan Chai (which is on the island and far away) and heard Elder Oaks speak specifically to us. We each got to shake his hand as well. Here are my general impressions, since there's never time to tell it all: he is definitely a man called of God, and his council was just what was needed, for right now and also for later. I am realizing more and more just what it means to have the Lord's restored church on the earth today,and having leaders with the correct keys to help us is a huge blessing. In fact, if we didn't have this, we wouldn't have the sealing power on the earth to make any of this worthwhile. But, as it so happens, Heavenly Father has given us everything we need. And it's all about choosing to follow Him and making covenants with Him. Yup. Also, Elder Oaks said something profound about the fact that we can't get answers to our questions if we' re not willing to act on the answers we get. He encouraged us to help our investigators understand that. That's a good thought for us all to remember. The last thought that I'll share is that I'm also learning that part of this mission is to help me become who I need to become, not just to do missionary things. And that is a gloss of some very profound thoughts that he shared with us. Oh, how it lifted my soul to learn and hear it all.
Speaking of very spiritual things, this week we also got to visit one of the most Christ-like people I've ever met. Her name is Sister Poon. I could never write all of the things that I have to say about her, but suffice it to say, she has had a hard life. And yet she believes so firmly and completely in her savior that you can see it in her face. She joined the church when she was 18, and her parents basically told her not to come home after that point. Then, when she got married, her husband, who went to another church, started to not let her go to the LDS church anymore. So, when he died in 2004, she came back. And then made sure his temple work was done. She is in a wheelchair, only has vision in one eye, and can't do a lot of things. But she loves to share her testimony with missionaries. We went intending to teach her and serve her, but she taught us. We were able to serve her a little, with a few tasks around the home, but WE were the ones going away uplifted. You see, the story doesn't end there. Her daughter just passed away this year, from a wasting disease, which is really sad. But to hear Sister Poon talk about how she knows that her daughter is in a happier place, and that she can see her again...you can just feel the hope and joy of that message. Wow. Is all. This mission has given me the chance to meet some of the noblest spirits ever...
Well, what else to report: a missionary from Yuen Long ward is going to the WA Spokane mission! His last name is Wong. Watch out for him and tell him hello if you see him. His mom is less active.
Ah, this Saturday we had an excellent activity. Sister Cook used to teach this guitar class on Friday evenings, so on Saturday we had a performance followed by a musical fireside about the Restoration. It was an awesome opportunity to share this gospel with new people, and luckily the guitar class stuff went off ok. (Did you know that I don't play guitar? Yet I had to finish teaching it and put this together. I even played one song in it that Sister Cook had taught me. Miracles.).
Ah, another miracle: We started teaching a former investigator named Cathy. We had planned to give her Mosiah 4 to read after the lesson. She had brought her old Book of Mormon that earlier missionaries had given her. There was only one bookmark in the whole book for back when she met with missionaries before...and it was in Mosiah 4. Yeah. We kind of all stared at each other for a little bit in amazement.
Lastly, our investigator Stella's been having a rough time. Pray for her. I got to share one really cool thing with her about my ancestors...likened William Cole's story to her (he joined church at age 16, and then his parents joined. And now his posterity is strong in the gospel.) Stella said that William Cole would be her example. Such a sweet little statement and a cool experience.
Well, I love you all so much. Sorry for the random nature of this email. Please know that I know this gospel's true. And is worth it.
I love you!
Love,
Sister Sarah
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