Macau 2-20-09 to 2-26-09

Hi from Macau!

The weather in Macau has been so warm and humid! I can't imagine what this place must be like in the summer! We don't have a dryer so laundry takes forever to dry but I'm happy that we at least have a washer that works hehe!

Since last Wednesday, I've been in a threesome with Sisters Benton and Wong. It's been really fun and also a bit of a challenge because we didn't really know each other, and then I've had to push them and lead them in just about everything! Sister Wong (the native from HK) only has three months left of her mission, and Sister Benton has six months left. It's interesting because if you look for faults, you will always find them. But if you look for the good in others like their talents, then you can help them to strengthen their talents to be used for the work!

After every companion, I try to think of what I'd learned from each of them. From Sister Bostwick in the MTC, I learned to be diligent and that it's better to be steadfast than be hurried every once in a while. From Sister Thompson, I got my foundation as a missionary. I learned that if there are struggles, it's usually because we're not forgetting ourselves in the work and remembering that we are here for God. She taught me that there are many chances to laugh in a day! She made me and our investigators laugh all the time. From Sister Harding, I learned the meaning of working hard! She is the hardest worker and has such great desire to serve every single minute! She contacts EVERYONE and knows how to smile all the time no matter what is happening. From Sister Benton, I've learned so far that I need to eat more vegetables haha! She loves to cook and be all healthy while I've just been buying rice boxes and stuff. I guess it's still okay because I've somehow lost weight . . . again! Eeep!

My days in Macau are coming to a close . . . my last turn-around in HK is this Saturday, and if all goes well, I will at least have 10 more days in Macau. Then, I will be sent back to serve in HK again! This move will go by so fast! I will miss this place but am grateful for every minute that I've had here so far.

Dev was finally baptized last Sunday. I will be forever grateful to those who plan baptisms because now I know what it is like to have to arrange and confirm for all the speakers, the water for the font (the one in Macau chapel is ANCIENT so it takes FOREVER to fill!), clothing, etc. My companions couldn't really help, but all of it is so worth it when you see your investigator come out of the water! :) Dev was just glowing when he received the gift of the holy ghost right after . . . he got special permission because his work schedule doesn't allow him to have more time next Sunday!

Ram was going to speak on the Holy Ghost in Nepalese, but in the last minute, he was worried because he didn't have a white shirt to wear so he went all over Macau to find one only to have one custom-made by a tailor. And then he was super scared cause his English isn't very good! So in the end, I could only convince him to at least stand next to me as I ended up giving the talk LOL! Ram brought a Nepalese friend for me to teach last week and I was just so happy! Now he is doing missionary work and can translate for his friend!

The threesome has ended today. Phew! We've just dropped off Sister Wong at the ferry so that she can get her baby companion from HK. I'm so excited to see Sister Pun cause I knew her at BYUH! It's so good because now Sister Benton and I can focus on international work, and I can help her to figure out how to work with the branch.

We've started teaching another Vietnamese investigator named Giang. He is amazingly smart and works for United Nations. Vincent, our other investigator from Africa, brought him to the church last week to meet us! :) Giang told us last time that he wanted an English name so I helped him pick out James since it kind-of sounds like his Vietnamese name! Haha this is the first time I've ever named anyone. He just soaks up everything we teach him and always comes with many, many questions! He is now learning about the plan of salvation, and I hope he is also inspiring Vincent to read the Book of Mormon more now that he is learning too. :)

Thank you for your prayers and support!

I love you all!

Sister Chu :)

P.S. To those who don't know since I've been asked . . . you can email me on the mission at alohasister@myldsmail.net . . . I can receive your emails but I can't email you back even though I wish I could! Letters are good though! Here's my address again:

China Hong Kong Mission
2 Cornwall St.
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
HONG KONG

P.P.S. I still haven't heard from Tiffany!

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Macau 2-13-09 to 2-19-09

Great Day!

Today we got to learn from an apostle of God . . . Elder Nelson! He came to the Wan Chi building (HK) this morning along with his wife and the entire Asia Area Presidency. Amazing! Before he and the presidency spoke to us, we took a mission picture with them, and then as we filed out, we each had the chance to shake hands. Haha for the mission photo, I got to stand right behind him and his wife with Sister Cheui (my friend from BYUH)! Weeee! He just has this glow about him. Amazing!

When Elder Nelson got up to speak, he said of us, "I see you as you're going to be . . . and I also see you as you once were." He also said he sensed that some of the missionaries were fasting to receive an answer to a prayer, and he opened up the meeting for any questions we had for him. So here are some of the questions and his answers:

Q: How can I be more focused on things that are important and not distracted by things from home?
A: Think of what you want more than anything else in life and aim for that!

Q: How can I help investigators focus and progress?
A: To help your investigators focus, be like a doctor. Find the hurt or source of concern and resolve from there. "The temple is your answer."

Q: How can I inspire a bishop to help with missionary work?
A: You have total control of how you feel about him. If you love him, it will show! You can't command love, but you earn it! Same with getting referrals . . . we cannot just ask for them because we need to earn them as well.

Q: In your opinion, how can we become better missionaries?
A: For Hong Kong; use the topical guide, especially the headings under Jesus Christ. You can forget all the scripture names at times, but don't forget what the scriptures are all about--Jesus Christ. Focus on Jesus Christ's mortal ministry and mission.

It's neat cause he also showed us a scripture from Isaiah 49:11-12, which says that the path to eternal life will be prepared even for Sinim (China!). Horray! And of course, Elder Nelson talked about obedience. He shared a story of how he was obedient to a prophet's voice in a meeting when the prophet told all who were present to learn Mandarin. Even though he had no interest, he had a tutor come every Wednesday to teach him and his wife Mandarin. Because of this, he was able to meet with the president of the ministry of health in China at a random doctor's meeting and become friends with him. Fun, huh?

In the end, he gave us an apostalic blessing that we will literally be able to feast on the gospel of Jesus Christ, speak with power and conviction, be missionaries all our lives, and have a testimony of the divinity of this work. Horrah!

So there are so many changes in Macau! Sister Harding and I were so sure that we'd be able to stay with each other again for another moves but I guess not! She was moved out and my new companion is Sister Benton, from the U.S. We are now a threesome with Sister Wong, who will be training an in-coming, native HK missionary Sister Pun (from BYUH too!) next week. It's kind of crazy because even though I am not the official senior companion, I am anyway. Sister Wong doesn't like to lead anything and Sister Benton doesn't know anything about Macau. Plus, there are two new international elders who don't know anything about the international ward so I'll be helping them, too. It'll be so much fun cause Elders Jackson and Crowder are now in Macau and they're in my MTC district. Yaya!

When Sister Harding left, our investigators were all so sad! Wah! We have really become good friends, but in the last visit, two (Tek and Vincent) committed to be baptized in March, and Dev will be baptized this Sunday. I am thrilled to pieces!

Coming into Macau today, I found out that I only have about 20 more days in Macau, which was really unexpected cause I thought I would have enough time to finish the move (six weeks). Wah! I guess not! Sister Benton will have to learn fast cause I will have to be moved back to HK to stay soon. She is amazing so I have no worries!

This place is so fun because not only are people more receptive to the message, it's also such a cultural experience. I was just thinking about my current investigators, and they're from the Phillippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Africa, and Macau. I've even met people from India, Portugal, England, and someone from Madagascar here (By the way, I've never seen the movie Madagascar, but the guy I met said the place is nothing like it!). I love it! Last Monday, Tek and Rupa invited us over to have some Nepalese food. Rupa made homemade dumplings with a sauce made out of all these spices, and then they gave us a humongous plate of rice. They LOVE rice! There were all these little side dishes filled with sauces, pickles, vegetables, and chicken. It tasted so amazing with all the spices! I just felt bad that I couldn't finish, and I hope they didn't get offended. They even gave us white roses before we left. I love them so much!

Vincent (the one from Africa) has made so much progress in the past week. Now that he's made friends with the YSA (young single adults) in the ward, he's been so much happier and came to church more! He thinks he doesn't know if Joseph Smith is really a prophet but I think he really does! He is willing to keep all of the commandments and gave up his coffee and smoking. Still, he has a baptism set for March 8 so we have time to work on it. Yay!

Pray for the people of China!

Love,
Sister Chu :)

P.S. Dar: Yesterday, I ran into Samily Kwok from BYU. Do you remember her? She's back in HK and says hi!

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Macau 2-6-09 to 2-12-09

Hi!

Thanks for the emails Dad, Mom, and Darilyn! I always look forward to p-days because I know there might be something from you!

So last week . . . I am trying to remember but it's all really a blur! Last Saturday, I did a turn-around and went back to HK for the night. Then Sunday I came back. It was all really stressful because we've all been sick in our apartment for the past week, and we're trying to prepare for Ram to get baptized! Sister Harding lost her voice so no one could understand her on the phone and I couldn't help cause I was in HK. In the end, Ram couldn't get baptized because his boss made him work all Sunday. Being a guard is rough in those casinos!

So anyway, the highlight of the week: Ram was finally baptized last Tuesday! Glory be! Halelujah! It was amazing and a miracle that it even happened cause the baptism had to be rescheduled four times in the past week. Ram texted us earlier that morning to say that he had a high fever and a headache, and then the ancient font we have in Macau didn't quite fill up with water. In the end, there was enough water to at least submerge someone. PHew! I had no idea how stressful it is to plan a baptism! We were so relieved that people actually showed up to support Ram because most Phillippinas have to work during the day. The speakers were great and Ram was glowing the whole time. He had to be baptized twice because the first time, his forehead wasn't entirely covered. After, he had the biggest smile on his face. I can't believe he's only 23! His family is Hindu. He has so much faith! We took many happy pictures and gave Ram a tie to wear on Sunday. :)

We have two new sisters in our apartment: Sister Mander (from Australia and also was in my the older MTC group) and Sister Wong (from Seung Seui, HK!). They are super sweet, but like I said before, we have all been sick since they've arrived to Macau. Each one of us has had something different so I have no idea what's going on! Oh well!

I went on exchanges with Sister Mander, and I just loved contacting cause I was able to contact the Chinese, too! It was fun to speak in Cantonese again! When I went back to HK on Saturday, I did some contacting on the MTR, and it was a little bit of a shock because the Chinese were so closed to what we had to say. I had forgotten how much harder it was. So different from Macau where all the Phillippinas, Nepalese, and Indonesians at least smile and let you share some! No matter though cause I know the prepared are waiting somewhere!

Next Monday, we will get our moves calls. I can't believe I've already been in Macau for a month already! I hope Sister Harding will stay with me, but who knows.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sister Chu :)

P.S. Is Tiffany or Justin EVER going to write to me?!?! I'm already about half-way done with my mission! HALF-WAY!!! Just wait till they go on their missions . . . just wait . . . haha!

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Macau 1-30-09 to 2-5-09

HI!

I just read Nathan Wood's email, and I must say that my couple weeks in Macau is definitely not representative of my months in Hong Kong! The work there in Hong Kong was pretty much similar to his in Japan . . . many Buddhists, aetheists, and others. At least he doesn't have to deal with the ridicule from looking Chinese but not really being able to speak it!

The thing is to remember that missionary work was never easy for Jesus Christ so it definitely won't be easy for us. He suffered all humiliation and pain so that we can have these small but significant victories on our missions. In Yuen Long, my companion and I would walk for hours because we had no appointments either and we wouldn't find anyone to talk to and those who we did find wouldn't talk to us. Still, our Heavenly Father always finds ways to let us know that he loves us like a breeze when it's unbearably hot or an extra crunchy leaf on the ground to stomp on. :) I love the scripture in John 15:15-20 that says that "remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also . . ." So have good cheer Elder Wood! We came to this earth to be tried in our faith and patience so embrace them the best you can and God will provide the rest!

The weather is super nice in Macau! It's been warming up for some reason and we're so happy! Today is my companion Sister Harding's birthday so we have an ice-cream cake to surprise her with later mmmm!

It's been interesting to look at our pool of investigators. Of all of them, only our Nepalese friends Dev and Ram plus a couple others have really survived. We analyzed why, from when and where they were contacted to lessons and commitments. What it comes down to is that they have been faithfully reading the Book of Mormon. From this, they have gained the faith and desire to be baptized next Sunday! Every weekend, Dev stays up for 36 hours straight because of his guard duty in the casino. When no one is around, he pulls down his cap just a little and prays to God for hours on end. He also sneaks the Book of Mormon into his desk drawer and pulls it out a little at a time so that he can read it. He is amazed that the book has all the answers in the world in it! Then after, he comes to the Chinese branch with us, where we translate the meetings into English for him. The power of the Book of Mormon is so real and it's a miracle!

We are also teaching these two adorable kids, Melanie (10) and Jonathan (8). They are ABCs from New Jersey who speak no Chinese, and their mom is Chinese and their dad is from Vietnam. Their maid, Jenny, has been bringing them to church so we can teach them. It's so fun because they are so American and also very smart! Melanie pretty much has a photographic memory and Jonathan asks questions like is God Asian or what? I always laugh so hard during lessons with them cause they are so funny! They are going to be baptized in March if we can get their parents permission!

Last Friday, we had a huge shock because Elder and Sister Kap, the senior couple in Macau and also the glue that holds us together, told us that they had to leave within a week to go home for good. Elder Kap, who is also the branch president, needs to have heart surgery because he now has 90% blockage. From the outside, you could never guess! They were very sad to cut their missions short, but I believe that they have done so much for the people of HK and Macau that they really aren't cutting their mission short--they have fulfilled what they'd set out to do. They have invited so many to come unto Christ! I will miss them, though, cause Sister Kap always had so much energy and Elder Kap was always so calm and steady. President Van Dam has just called Elder and Sister Lloyd to serve in their place. They are the sweetest couple ever! I can't wait to get to know them better!

Sister Chan and Esplin are leaving Macau this weekend because their visa expires and they will die from their missions a week later. It's so weird to think that they are done and will go back to the real world! I will go with them on Saturday back to HK because my visa will expire as well. Then I'll return Sunday morning for the baptisms! Because of all the visas expiring, about half of the 12 missionaries here in Macau will have to have new assignments in HK and we'll have newbies arriving soon.

Thus endeth this week.

I love you all!

Sister Chu :)

P.S. Sorry Mom I couldn't see the ecard cause I can't go to other websites to view it! Thanks anyway! :)

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