Hello Family Dearest, Family Mine!
I love you all! Lots! So, life is always exciting, isn't it though?
I mean, one day I was happily knocking doors in the little villages in
Yuen Long, and the next thing I know, I'm taking a ferry to the magical
land of Macau. Wow. I will miss Yuen Long and Sister Lau, but I know
that it is time to move on. But part of my heart will always be with the
people in Yuen Long. It has a tendency to steal hearts.
So, here's how it went: My companion is training, and so I knew
that I would be leaving. She is training an American named Sister Ainge,
and she is so prepared for it, even though she is a little overwhelmed.
Actually, looking back now, I see just how right it was that we would
be companions. We were very similar, and I think that in the time that
we were together we both grew a lot. She's going to be training in her
mission a lot, I tell you, and I hope that I was able to help in some
way. Anyway, I sent a little picture of three generations: me, my baby,
and her baby :)
Well, on Tuesday, the day after I emailed you all, I got the news
that I would be going to Macau and serving in a companionship of three
people! Crazy, right? I am serving with Sister Cook again! And with
Sister Chan, a wonderful native missionary who actually lived in the
same apartment as me when I was back in Kwai Fong. We are having a great
time. I really feel that this is Heavenly Father's arrangement.
Actually, it was very unusual and special, but President Hawks called me
into his office after Sister Lau's training meeting on Tuesday to tell
me in advance about this special arrangement because he wanted to let me
know that he prayed about it a lot and really feels that this is what
Heavenly Father wants. He also gave me a special assignment: he really
has high hopes for Macau and wants to help it grow more than it has. And
he felt that for some reason, I specifically needed to be here. He
actually called me last night, too, to ask what my impressions were of
the area and what my ideas to improve it are. I feel very trusted but
also very overwhelmed. I really really admire our mission president and
his dedication, but I sometimes doubt my own ability. What a trust.
So, I figure I really ought to tell you all my impressions of Macau
too. Well, it is totally unlike Hong Kong. It was a Portuguese colony,
and it feels so much more like Europe than I thought it would. There are
old Catholic churches everywhere and European-style streets with lots
of mopeds and people walk slowly! Also, they are more willing to talk
with you :) It is really beautiful. However, apart of all this
loveliness are tons of casinos. Macau is the Las Vegas of Asia. There
are more casinos here than there are in all of Vegas. Yeah. So there are
all the problems that go along with that.
But I am learning from this slower pace of life. I am learning to
relax just a little bit more and not worry about quite so many things
that I can't change. However, I'm also looking to help this area and
trying to see what I CAN change. It's very confusing.
Oh, I sent a picture from outside our balcony. Yeah, we have a
balcony. This apartment is large and lovely, and Macau is also very
picturesque. Note the little church and the European style houses near
the bottom. We went running the other day and found an old fortress at
the top of a hill. I like Macau.
To quote Sister Chan: "Macau is like a hospital. For your heart." Tee hee. So true. So sweet.
But we are also looking to work on three main things: working with
members more, updating records, and finding more people. Foreign
missionaries can only be here for 60 days at the longest, so that makes
these three things particularly hard. The relationship with the branch
here is not that strong, even though the branch is full of wonderful
people. So we're excited to go and visit them more and to help them
become the permanent missionaries here more.
Oh, one last bit of news: I heard on Sunday from our mission 2nd
counsellor that people have started to get mission calls to Mainland
China! Yeah. I'm not sure how it will start, etc. but big things are
afoot. Yeah. Apparently they may start serving in Taiwan first and then
get moved to Mainland. Lots of prayers are probably needed.
Well, here's one quick miracle story for you: as the three of us
companions started serving together, we set some goals to find more
people and talk with everyone. Well, as we were walking to English class
(Macau is small and we mostly walk), I started talking to this girl
next to me, and she ended up coming to English class with us and then
having a lesson! What miracles!
Well, there's lots more to tell you about the area and about what's
going on, but there's not time. To be honest, I'm stil figuring out as
much as I can about this area, too. But I'm excited to be here to serve.
I'm so grateful for all of your love and support. All the way over here in Macau, I feel your love.
I know that this gospel is true and that Heavenly Father loves all of us so much.
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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