There seems to be a need for a grandiose title when it comes to big things like this. Can you believe how fast time flies????
Well,
I love you all so much! You are the best family in the world, in my
opinion. I feel so lucky to be related to all of you. I hope you're all
doing well and are happy.
I am very happy myself, though this past week has
already started to be full of lots of mixed emotions. Who knew it would
be so confusing? I don't think I quite predicted it. Ah well, every day
is good. I just love my mission so much and I love you all so much and I
just want to have my cake and eat it too.
Well, wanna know what actually happened this past week?
Lots of good stuff. We have had quite the week. The big featuring event
was having the Church Missionary Department (aka Elder Evans, a member
of the presidency of the 70) come and speak to us. It was amazing. They
were here because there was a mission presidents' seminar for the
entire Asia area this week. But let's back up a little and do this
right.
So, last P-day we spent with Vina, shopping (biking
didn't work out) and it was so nice to get to see her. She just is so
faith-filled and is helping so many young women in her ward. Her own
family is still not receptive to the gospel, but she says it just gives
her more fire to have her own family be raised in the Church someday. It
may be because she's 15, but she is just so excited about eternal
marriage :) Hey, it's worth getting excited about.
Then, the next day we got to talk with President Hawks
at Kowloon Tong briefly, amongst our other duties. I didn't realize till
I had a chance to talk to him, but I really have been a little nervous
at this last part of my mission. His wise words of advice really helped
me. He can tell that I'm a perfectionist and want to make the most of
these last few weeks, and he very gently but firmly told me to relax,
just do my best, and enjoy these last few precious weeks. He also told
me not to judge the success or failure of this goal to teach and baptize
a family till at least July this year. This was wise as well. You see,
if I pause to think about what this goal has done for us, it's helped us
have a more family-focused outlook. We're teaching more families now
than I ever have in my mission! That's a miracle already. Anyway, I
really love our mission president, and I'm grateful for his inspired
words. I have found more peace since talking with him, and have been
enjoying my time with Sister Palmer so much! She's a blast. She has to
train really soon, and though she's a little wary about it, she is
faith-filled.
The next day, Wednesday, was so intense. So, here's the
story: we were on our way to teach a LA sister with a member
fellowshipper when we got a call from President Hawks asking if we could
get to Wan Chai (far away) in 30 minutes. The Missionary Department
wanted him to call in some missionaries whose daily planners they could
look at. There
was no way we could get there that fast even if we didn't teach
the lesson, so we asked if 45 min would be ok. He consulted with them
and gave us an hour. This miraculously gave us time for a short lesson
with this LA, and as we were there, I could feel Heavenly Father's love
for her and His assurance that this one person needed us now. Heavenly
Father cares about the one. In case you weren't sure about it, it's
true. Then we RAN to Wan Chai and had this incredible experience
learning from a member of the 70. Our part wasn't that big, but they had
us sit in for the whole session and WOW. A room full of mission
presidents, their wives, and members of the 70 is quite an incredible
place to be.
Then the next day we taught lots of lessons. Yay!
Then
on Friday the Missionary Dept addressed us, the whole mission. It was
really good. Here's what I've learned: missions really are training for
life, which is training for eternity. We're all here to help each other
catch the vision of what we can become. And I've learned that there is
no "perfect" missionary that I'm supposed to become (I've been
disappointed in finding that out) but rather, that a successful
missionary is one who is repenting and trying to come closer to doing
their best every day. Same goes for a successful person. This is a
gospel of repentance. That's why it's so happy! I told you about my
perfectionist tendencies, and how I had been getting a little
discouraged, but this week's lessons helped me a lot. I am grateful that
we have to atonement to help us every day. That's the only way to have a
mission of no regrets or a life of no regrets.
As for our investigators, they're finally coming back
from Mainland after new years! We saw Chan JM again, and she's doing
well. I think she's perhaps a slow but steady investigator, which is
wonderful. Lulu just got back from Mainland yesterday and read all the
scriptures we gave her! She is busy catching up with school, but she's
doing well. :) Ng Family was busy this Sunday and couldn't come to
church, but we have big hopes for them. We want to take them to the
temple grounds and let them tour and teach them more about eternal
families. As for Wong HD, he was planning to come to church, but we
think he got a little scared and didn't come. He's kinda shy, and his
oldest son has ADHD and something else, and we think Wong HD is nervous
about bringing him to church. Also, his wife has found some Anti stuff
online...We are praying for them. Wong HD himself is diligently reading
the BoM from the beginning, and he is praying for peace for his family,
and we are sure it will be ok. As for Wong JM, the mother of the LA son,
we got to teach her and her kids a full lesson at their home, with a
fellowshipper! This is huge progress. The son didn't come out of his
room the first time we visited. Wow!
And, in general, I love Tai Wai ward. Our leaders work
with us so well, and they have so much faith. The bishop remembers all
of our investigators so well. :) It's a good place to finish a mission, I
would say.
Well, that's my report to you all. We haven't given up
on the family we hope will be baptized (still not sure how it will
happen), but we are looking at all the miracles coming along the way.
It's going to be a big week.
Love you all so much! I love my mission! I love my
Savior and Redeemer, whom I have the honor to serve during this short
year and a half.
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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