Macau 1-23-09 to 1-29-09

Como Estaca!~

This is how to say "how are you?" in Tagalog! There are so many Phillippinas here that I'm trying to learn how to say some phrases in their language because they always stop to talk longer with you when you try.

I am so tired that I can barely remember what happened last week. Our water heater broke last week and our gas went out so we haven't had hot water in our apartment since last Saturday. At that time, I was preparing to give a talk for Sunday on finding hope. So thinking of my talk, I tried to have hope--an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfuill His promises to us--even though I was . He has promised that missionaries won't have to worry about food, clothing, and shelter if we are faithful in doing the work. He has kept His promise although it was in a different way than I expected. Elder and Sister Kap let us shower at their place Sunday morning and even fed us pancakes afterward! We were so happy!

I was so tired the entire Sunday. One thing after another kept happening that we did not plan for like the teaching two lessons one right after another in the afternoon to these two who randomly walked into the church, teaching Sunday School with one minute notice since the teacher left for the Phillippines, playing the piano for the Chinese branch along with the international branch (actually, in the passing days I've found out that other people play the piano, too, but they're just not willing to play which is so sad!) . . . all these things were so great and definitely provided by Heavenly Father! The work is always so busy with every minute filled up. After finishing one thing, I kept thinking that I didn't have the energy to do anything else, but then another investigator would walk in, another person would ask me to teach something else, and then there was still my talk to give in the evening which I hardly had any time to prepare for. Through a miracle, I was able to give a 20-minute talk on hope, and I can see now how the Lord had me experience this hope throughout the day. I cannot describe exactly what happened on Sunday, but I just remember crawling into bed so tired and exhausted. It makes me happy though because I know for sure that I gave it my all that day!

I'm trying not to fall asleep as I type ahhhh! I went back to HK on Tuesday, and we left super early thinking the boat lines would be busy but they weren't. I was so happy to see Mom's family! I brought them some cookies from Macau and hope they liked them even though they'd tried them before! Uncle Tim and Yi-jeung met Sister Harding and I at the MTR station, and then we went to Yi-ma's place. They were so nice, and this time, I met Uncle Tim's wife and Cherry. Yi-ma made some delicious soup, and Dad's right, she is such an awesome cook! Sister Harding went with me and she talked to her a lot. I even saw a lot a pictures of us when we're young and I hadn't seen half of them before! They were just all hidden behind their couch all this time. It's fun to think that all this time, the family in HK knew about us and saw pictures of us while we're growing up in America, but it's sad that I never knew anything about them in HK.

So anyway, after we took some pictures in their home (they even have fish tank with lots of fish!), we went out to dinner and everything was so delicious! You've all seen the pictures so you already know. Bonnie was so cute and took pictures of everything with her cell phone so you all could see. Sister Harding loves to talk, and the family just loved her! I was so glad. I didn't talk very much because I was so exhausted, but I just watched, listened to everyone, and soaked it all in. After serving in the international branch, the Cantonese is going already, and it's even harder to speak now since I'm not used to speaking it. I try when I can. (By the way, I passed my first set of language lessons so now I am a language giant! Hurrah! I get to start learning characters now, but I'm not sure how to yet since they are changing the mission language program. At least I have my character cards now!)

When I left, the family gave me a huge bag of treats and red pocket money. It was so sweet of all of them, and I am so happy they let me come even though I didn't say very much! They all dropped us off at the MTR station and Yi-ma cried. I gave them all hugs before I left. I just love them so much, and wish that someday, I can speak more Cantonese and have more time to get to know them. Families are forever after all.

On Wednesday for mission conference, we all went to see the Big Buddha! There was a LOT of smoke from the incense. The day started out cloudy and gray, but it all cleared up and was sunny for our long hike after! We hiked for like four hours hahaha and now I'm REALLY super tired! I think the mountain was Lantau and it's the second-tallest in HK. I was with Sister Cheui and Sister Jiu, my friends from BYUH! We had so much fun and took a billion pictures. On top of the mountain was this shack, a temporary refuge, and a LOT of fun mist.

Chinese New Year has been really fun. The other day in Macau, Sister Harding and I were walking along to our next appointment when this guy lit a long string of red firecrackers in the middle of the street. Everyone just stood back, the tourists whipped out their cameras, and all the cars stopped to watch it explode all over the place! The streets are covered with the red paper from the firecrackers. So much fun!

I have to go again!

I love you all!

Sister Chu :)

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Macau 1-23-09 to 1-29-09

Como Estaca!~

This is how to say "how are you?" in Tagalog! There are so many Phillippinas here that I'm trying to learn how to say some phrases in their language because they always stop to talk longer with you when you try.

I am so tired that I can barely remember what happened last week. Our water heater broke last week and our gas went out so we haven't had hot water in our apartment since last Saturday. At that time, I was preparing to give a talk for Sunday on finding hope. So thinking of my talk, I tried to have hope--an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfuill His promises to us--even though I was . He has promised that missionaries won't have to worry about food, clothing, and shelter if we are faithful in doing the work. He has kept His promise although it was in a different way than I expected. Elder and Sister Kap let us shower at their place Sunday morning and even fed us pancakes afterward! We were so happy!

I was so tired the entire Sunday. One thing after another kept happening that we did not plan for like the teaching two lessons one right after another in the afternoon to these two who randomly walked into the church, teaching Sunday School with one minute notice since the teacher left for the Phillippines, playing the piano for the Chinese branch along with the international branch (actually, in the passing days I've found out that other people play the piano, too, but they're just not willing to play which is so sad!) . . . all these things were so great and definitely provided by Heavenly Father! The work is always so busy with every minute filled up. After finishing one thing, I kept thinking that I didn't have the energy to do anything else, but then another investigator would walk in, another person would ask me to teach something else, and then there was still my talk to give in the evening which I hardly had any time to prepare for. Through a miracle, I was able to give a 20-minute talk on hope, and I can see now how the Lord had me experience this hope throughout the day. I cannot describe exactly what happened on Sunday, but I just remember crawling into bed so tired and exhausted. It makes me happy though because I know for sure that I gave it my all that day!

I'm trying not to fall asleep as I type ahhhh! I went back to HK on Tuesday, and we left super early thinking the boat lines would be busy but they weren't. I was so happy to see Mom's family! I brought them some cookies from Macau and hope they liked them even though they'd tried them before! Uncle Tim and Yi-jeung met Sister Harding and I at the MTR station, and then we went to Yi-ma's place. They were so nice, and this time, I met Uncle Tim's wife and Cherry. Yi-ma made some delicious soup, and Dad's right, she is such an awesome cook! Sister Harding went with me and she talked to her a lot. I even saw a lot a pictures of us when we're young and I hadn't seen half of them before! They were just all hidden behind their couch all this time. It's fun to think that all this time, the family in HK knew about us and saw pictures of us while we're growing up in America, but it's sad that I never knew anything about them in HK.

So anyway, after we took some pictures in their home (they even have fish tank with lots of fish!), we went out to dinner and everything was so delicious! You've all seen the pictures so you already know. Bonnie was so cute and took pictures of everything with her cell phone so you all could see. Sister Harding loves to talk, and the family just loved her! I was so glad. I didn't talk very much because I was so exhausted, but I just watched, listened to everyone, and soaked it all in. After serving in the international branch, the Cantonese is going already, and it's even harder to speak now since I'm not used to speaking it. I try when I can. (By the way, I passed my first set of language lessons so now I am a language giant! Hurrah! I get to start learning characters now, but I'm not sure how to yet since they are changing the mission language program. At least I have my character cards now!)

When I left, the family gave me a huge bag of treats and red pocket money. It was so sweet of all of them, and I am so happy they let me come even though I didn't say very much! They all dropped us off at the MTR station and Yi-ma cried. I gave them all hugs before I left. I just love them so much, and wish that someday, I can speak more Cantonese and have more time to get to know them. Families are forever after all.

On Wednesday for mission conference, we all went to see the Big Buddha! There was a LOT of smoke from the incense. The day started out cloudy and gray, but it all cleared up and was sunny for our long hike after! We hiked for like four hours hahaha and now I'm REALLY super tired! I think the mountain was Lantau and it's the second-tallest in HK. I was with Sister Cheui and Sister Jiu, my friends from BYUH! We had so much fun and took a billion pictures. On top of the mountain was this shack, a temporary refuge, and a LOT of fun mist.

Chinese New Year has been really fun. The other day in Macau, Sister Harding and I were walking along to our next appointment when this guy lit a long string of red firecrackers in the middle of the street. Everyone just stood back, the tourists whipped out their cameras, and all the cars stopped to watch it explode all over the place! The streets are covered with the red paper from the firecrackers. So much fun!

I have to go again!

I love you all!

Sister Chu :)

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Macau 1-16-09 to 1-22-09

Dear Everyone,

I don't know what to write because I'M SO TIRED!!! I feel like sleeping for the next couple of years, but there's only 6 more hours left of preparation day. At least I don't feel as bad as the rest of my zone . . . they did the monstrous Hamburger Challenge today in the basement of the church. All the elders attempted to each 10 McDonald's cheeseburgers each, and Sisters Chan and Harding attempted to eat 5 each. They tried to get me to do it, too, for the memories haha! We Macallion Stallions, as we call our zone, have so much hamburger pride LOL! Elder Hardy won, downing 13 total, and in the end, everyone was fat and threw up in the bathroom. It was disgusting. I ate 2 cause the rest of the elders couldn't finish LOL! And I feel amazing!

So on to the rest of the mission! Sister Esplin went back to HK because her visa was up so now Sister Wong, a native from HK, is now Sister Chan's new companion. It's so fun to have her here! She gives the best massages! We've had lots of trouble with our visas because Macau is no longer giving the missionaries the 6-month visas since the economy is so bad right now. They are giving the visas to those who need jobs. I have a 30-20-10 visa now so after 30 days, I will have to go back to HK for a day and then come back to Macau. They will then give me 20 more days and then 10 after that if things work out right.

Yesterday, we did a lot of finding outside. The weather in Macau has been absolutely PERFECT! It's like the beginning of summer at BYU, cool with some breeze. We ran into a lot of crazy people . . . one lady even tried to hold my hand and then just walked away. Weird. Sister Harding and I were talking the other day that if we are just obedient and do the things that we're supposed to, God will provide. And he did! Last night when we got back to the church, three randomly people showed up one after another, and we taught them all! We even had three fellowshippers--so good because I can't speak Tagalog! One is named April from the Phillippines. She is so sweet, and after we taught her the Restoration and did the closing prayer, she was so happy and cried. The other was named Ruby who is also from the Phillippines. She came because at the job agency, someone told her that we taught free Cantonese lessons so she came to learn. We taught her some of the Restoration, too, and she said she really wanted to learn more!

Wah! Sorry I have no more time left so this is such a lame email!

I love you all and Happy Chinese New Year!

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Macau 1-9-09 to 1-15-09

Hello from Macau!

This place is amazing! Sister Harding and I run around like crazy every minute of our time trying to find those people who are not Chinese. Since we are international sisters, we need to teach the people who are not Chinese. The first day, it was really hard for me to get used to because I kept wanting to contact the Chinese. It's like playing Where's Waldo except we're looking for dark skin and big eyes! There are so many other nationalities here in Macau like the Philippinas, Nepalese, Indonesians, Macanese (native people from here who are a mix of Portuguese and Chinese), British, and some random Americans who are also missionaries for their own churches. It's super confusing to not to contact Chinese people anymore, contact men on purpose, and speak in English all the time! We also teach the men like I said last time. Good thing God protects us because who knows what these people are thinking when they're approached by two smiley girls.

Our contacting approach is so different, too. We have to BRT (build a relationship of trust) it up the wazoo to get a word in. I always want to teach about prophets and the Restoration right away, but these people just don't understand the concept of a prophet and that we have a LIVING prophet TODAY. In a way, International is harder than Chinese-speaking because at least the Chinese understand the importance. So in our approach, we talk more about Jesus Christ first and how He blesses our lives. Many of these people are super humble because they are looking for jobs and miss their families very much since they've left them behind in another country to find work. This makes it hard for us because we can only teach those who have jobs. We have to pray specifically for English-speaking, with-job, and willing-to-listen people.

Last Sunday was my first time in the Macau 2nd Ward (international). Most of the members are Philippina, and there are a couple of Indonesians. We now have two men from Nepal and one from the Philippines who have accepted baptismal dates in this past week! Yaya! We will start the Nepalese section in the congregation soon! I played the piano for about 6 1/2 hours straight for so many meetings . . . choir practice twice, sacrament meeting (I played the piano solo "I Stand All Amazed" too), RS, and for a baptismal service. Phew! My fingers were all piano-ed out by the end, but I'm so grateful I could play since I am the only one who can in the ward! So thanks Mom and Dad for those piano lessons hehehe.

Miracles happen everyday. Sister Harding always works so hard to contact people by phone and set appointments so we always have enough appointments for two days in advance. We double and triple book our time because we know that someone won't show. Then, when no one comes, we go contacting outside, and God always provides referrals and pull-backs for us! He always rearranges our schedule so that we meet the people who are ready for the gospel. I've never done pull backs before but it's when you contact someone on the street and have them come back with you into the church for a lesson or tour or something. They are incredible here because we do so many!

We can nearly always get members to go finding with us. It's SO good because I can't distinguish any of the nationalities to save my life! They help us to figure out who to contact and where most of these international people are. I laughed yesterday when I realized that I was asking Sister Harding who was Chinese on the street and who wasn't. And I'm the Chinese one! It gets really tricky, though, cause so many are mixes.

I love teaching in English! I always feel the Spirit more, and I love testifying in English! We have to take care to speak more slowly because for all of these people we teach, English is their second language. They are incredibly humble and need the gospel. I showed a picture of Jesus to a lady named Jackie from the Philippines, and she burst into tears because He reminded her of her cousin, who had just died the day before. And then, we got a pull-back from the Chinese sisters named Caty from the Philippines who has so much sadness in her life because her husband has a mistress, and she is here in Macau to find a job to feed her three children in the Philippines. We are teaching Peter from the Philippines, who only gets four hours of sleep a day because of work and yet still finds the time to come to Church to learn the gospel. There's Ram from Nepal, who has perfect faith, and even though he can't speak English very well, he always fells the Spirit and knows this Church is true! And there's Dev also from Nepal, whose family history is like a black cloud over his head because his grandpa had seven wives and no one else cares about the family's future except for him, being the only grandson. He has always felt his whole life like there was something his grandpa wanted him to do. When we explained about temple work and baptisms for the dead, he felt so at peace and felt that "it is the way." Because of the work we do here, we can give these people answers that they've been seeking their whole lives!

I am so grateful that God has sent me here to serve because I have worked harder than I ever have in my life and studied harder than I ever have before. The Lord has blessed me to have enough energy and not be so sick anymore. And I am so happy! Because I can't speak Canto as much anymore, I study it in any free time that I have. So work, study, teach! Our goal is to have seven baptisms in the next six weeks.

Have faith and the Lord will provide!

Love,
Sister Chu :)

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Macau 1-2-09 to 1-8-09

As you can see from the subject, my new and second area is the magical and faraway land of . . . MACAU!!! And I am now going international speaking ENGLISH! Bwaaaa!

I've only been in Macau for less than an hour now . . . after all the packing and more packing, Sister Thompson and Sister Au dropped me off at the ferry port. I hate packing! It took FOREVER! I am super exhausted, but somehow, since everything's all new, I have energy to bounce around and try to soak everything in. It took about an hour to get here by boat, and I got to talk to this lady about God and how He loves her. Her last name was also Chu so that made her super happy LOL! She was on her way to Macau to go to the casino. Before I came to Macau, all I knew about Macau is that there's lots of gambling and lots of pornography.

One hour later, I still don't know very much about Macau haha! I got my moves call last Monday during zone lunch in Tuen Mun. It was crazy cause they had each companionship, who had to sit in the front of the room, guess where they were going from clues from the other missionaries. As soon as I got up, everyone started screaming their heads off. So now you know! Sister Thompson will be training yet again, this time Sister Cheui, my friend from BYUH! Yaya! She will LOVE Yuen Long! I will miss it. It's funny to think back on when I first started. We had no investigators then! Now, we have several progressing ones with two getting baptized on the 25 and two others who are going to get dates soon! As I lugged my luggage out the front door, I got to say bye to my favorite guard Wong Sinsaang. Wah! He is definitely a kindred spirit. We took a picture with him a couple days ago so Sister Thompson will give it to him pasted in a Book of Mormon with our testimonies. I hope I will one day see him again.

Macau is a peninsula (I had no idea till an hour ago haha) and has a total of twelve missionaries: a senior couple (the Kapps), four sisters, and six elders. Elder Burk and Hardy are my zone leaders. We go to bed (at 11:30 p.m.) and wake up 30 minutes later (at 7:30 a.m.!) weird! Everything in Macau is written in Chinese and Portuguese. Their currency is the pataca. I have no idea what the exchange rate is. The streets are tiny and cute cause everyone seems to have a balcony with flowers and stuff. We don't have to spend money traveling by MTR or anything cause we'll walk everywhere!

My new apartment has three other sisters; two are Cantonese speaking (Sister Chan and Esplin) and my companion (Sister Harding) and I are English speaking. It's really fun because I met Sister Chan at BYU Provo years ago my freshman year! We met on the first day of Cantonese class, but the teacher made her take another class cause she knows it well enough already. The apartment is pretty big . . . two bathrooms, two bedrooms, two refridgerators, a huge living room with a treadmill that doesn't work, and kitchen. AND a balcony! Wooo!

My companion Sister Harding seems really nice. She and Sister Thompson are also good friends, too. Sister Harding talks really slowly in English . . . probably because she says that lots of our investigators are Nepalese so we have to talk super slow haha! She says that we have girl AND guy investigators, which is really different since I'm used to teaching only girls and in Cantonese. I have no idea why we also teach the guys since there are also international elders. We also have a cell phone, which Sister Harding hardly ever answers because she forgets about it LOL! Anyway, I'm excited to go to church this Sunday to meet everyone in the branch!

English speaking or no, I'm determined not to lose my Canto! I've worked too hard to get it so I'm going to speak as much as possible. I don't know if I can go back to see relatives for New Years now that I'm in Macau, so I will talk to President Van Dam as soon as I can. So if Uncle Tim calls, tell him sorry for the wait!

Love from MACAU!

Sister Chu :)

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