Life is amazing, isn't it? I am just in awe of what a whirlwind this week was, and yet how slow bits of it were too. Time is strange, is what. Several days here felt like 3 in 1. Anyway, I hope you've all been doing well. I'm glad I have such a lovely family.
So, wanna hear the report? Oh good. Well, Sunday was Mid-Autumn Festival, and I decided that I really like it. I even like mooncakes. What is Mid-Autumn Festival, you ask? Well, basically, it's the second biggest Chinese holiday, almost as big as New Years, and involves some myth that no one tells the same way (some princess ate a magic egg or something that made her immortal and she flew up to the moon to live where there happened to be a rabbit?). And the proper way to celebrate it is to eat a big dinner with your relatives, give mooncakes to everyone you know and love, and then to go "seung-yuht" which means watch the moon rise. I've sent some pictures of the above activities.
You see, on the holiday itself, it was Sunday, and our investigator Bessie asked where we were going for dinner. When she found out that we had no where to go, who promptly invited us to eat at her house with her whole family (kinda like adopting us). It was lovely and we ate lots of good good food. And on the way home, we were right next to Yuen Long park which was full of families out "seung-yuht" ing and so we took lots of pictures. It was so much fun. Very festive. Lots of people light lanterns and candles and buy lots of glow sticks and just sit out with their family and enjoy the light. I think there's something very sacred about light, an it was fun to participate a little bit.
Also, it was nice because it seemed to make for a very family-filled, slower-paced time of life for everyone, and we were able to contact a lot more people! One I'd like to mention is named Wong Taai. Sister Lau and I met her while we were out street contacting and she was totally open to the message we had to share. She has a little daughter who goes to preschool and we actually were able to meet her husband the second time we saw her! He had driven her there....because they live really far away. In fact, we found out they don't live in our area, and so they have to be turned over to other missionaries. But that's ok. It was so exciting to see how prepared they are.
Also, this whole week has been full of passing over people, which hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. We turned over Mok JiMuih, who is less active, we've already turned over Apple, and the list goes on. But the good thing is that we still get to see their progression. For example, Apple waited at the church for us after her lesson with the elders, and she is so excited for her baptism on Nov. 18. She confirmed the date so that she could be sure to have her husband come :) Speaking of that, a few weeks ago Sister Lau and I wrote a letter to him to try to invite him to meet with us, since he was too busy to talk to. And he wrote us back! He said that he just looks busy since he has to commute two hours to work, and that he'd like to find time to come to church with Apple! Yay! We are praying for them still.
Also, speaking of progressing people, Karen is so prepared for baptism. She just needs to keep learning the lessons and she's going to be there. I really admire her. We're also praying that her mom will let her be baptized. Her mom might come to this huge activity we're holding on Saturday, and I really hope she does so that she can see what church is like.
Speaking of that activity, it is our Big Hope for Y2 Ward. Meaning to say, we don't have a lot of investigators in Y2 right now, and we are calling and inviting everyone and their friends to this activity. We are planning to have lots of referrals come to it, and we hope that it is a big success. It's a fireside about the Restoration, and we hope it's good. Should be.
Oh, guess who might be coming to the activity! Stellar! We rode our bikes over to her house in hopes that someone might be there (after not being able to see her for 2 months) and she was there! She's doing ok, and she wants to be challenged and have goals again. We're here for her!
And one more really really happy thing: Remember Ng JiMuih in Kwai Fong? The less-active sister with whom we worked forever? She was finally starting to show signs of beginning to change when I left. Well, I heard from Sister Yiu that Sister Ng really did quit her job and start coming back to church each week! And what's more, her non-member husband has started to be willing to meet with missionaries (he's seen us for so many years now). In fact, the missionaries took them to the temple grounds and taught him and Ng Jimuih together. I'm gonna keep praying for them too. But isn't that happy?
Well, I'm out of time, but I just want to let you know that I love you all immensely. I feel very blessed to get to serve the Lord full-time on this mission. It is a privilege to get to be of some use in the kingdom of the Lord, mostly because you get to see just how much He loves His children, and how He works so carefully and closely in each of our lives.
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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