Kia Ora 朋友和家庭 !
Honestly, this week was tough.
I find it a little humorous that the other week I told you about Cacerlyn and Kewell, out of all of the people we were teaching. My fear has been realized and they actually dropped us this week- meaning they gave us a nice text telling us they didn't want to meet with us anymore, at least not to learn about the gospel.
Let me tell you all- I don't think I have been as disappointed and as sad as that text made me, in a very very long time. I get that you all might be reading this and thinking I should not have had my hopes up. People find missionaries weird, accepting this gospel is hard, not everyone will choose to learn more. I know those things realistically- but as a missionary its also my job to look past those things and have faith and hope that the people we are meeting with will want to learn more, and through their own experiences, by doing what we invite them to do, they will grow to know that Jesus Christ is real, and these teachings are true. If we as missionaries do not interact with them holding onto that faith, there is no way for us to help them. We need to believe that people will listen despite all the reasons not to. I believe that faith brings miracles, and brings about God's work- but people can still choose for themselves.
That is why it was disappointing for them to drop us, because they were receptive and wonderful and I could just picture how much joy this gospel could bring them, yet they do not want to keep learning and progressing right now.
So, that was a big emotional blow. That was also a big spiritual blow. We haven't been able to get any appointments this week- nobody seems to want to listen. It made me re-question what my impact here is.
But we pressed forward, and I've been feeling really blessed.
Positives this week:
- On Christmas Eve we went caroling, then went to a member's house to eat dinner. This member happened to live on a farm outside of the mission (we went with permission) in Hamilton and it was awesome! And we saw a lot of SHEEP!!
- We were able to talk with a lot of Asian people on the street in the city on Christmas. Most of the Kiwis were at home, but most of the people from Asia went out to shop, so it made our job to find Chinese speakers to talk to a little easier.
- Our District Leader is awesome and we did a few district prayers over the phone a couple times this week to end the night.
- We got WENDY'S. It's always a treat to eat out, and to eat beef, which is not a staple food item in our flat.
- On Boxing Day we were able to go to a BBQ with our Branch, and, man! Do Chinese people know how to cook meat! It was delicious and super fun to see the branch members in their natural environment.
- Me and my companion had a good talk about the Chinese language and how hard it is, and what I can do to continue learning without getting frustrated. We made a study plan, so I'm feeling a little better (I'm progressing poco a poco).
- I LOVE my companion, Sister Rich or Ren Jiemei/任姐妹. I honestly am so happy to be friends and companions with her! She's a party, but we also work hard, so it's a good mix. (Picture below from today: Sister Young/Yang Jiemei, Me, Sister Rich/Ren Jiemei, Sister Sparrow/Sun Jiemei)
- A person the Elders were teaching, Rock, just got baptized!
- After my super hard week, we went yesterday to hit some past potentials that hadn't been contacted in awhile, and some referrals that we got from English Missionaries. (It's always so nice when they meet Chinese people and send them over- so just the fact we had referrals was awesome). Almost every single person we talked to yesterday was keen. That was a huge miracle, especially after what felt like a week of only rejection. It honestly made it all worth it. This is what missionary work is about.
Food Review: Turkish Delight
Chocolate covered gummy- the gummy tasted like it was Lychee flavored or something, but not quite sure. The other Chinese sisters hated it. Ren JM (mission writing shortcut for Ren Jiemei!) thought it was fire. I really like chewy foods, and chocolate, so it's a pretty big win.
SCORE: 70
Simple Truth:
Without sadness, there can't be happiness.
2 Nephi 2:11"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility."
If there were no light, the absence of light, or in other words, darkness, would not exist. As I've really experienced this week, we are only able to have joy and to be grateful for it, if we have and understand sadness. This is not to make us suffer, but to allow us to know happiness. I'm grateful to be able to go through my trials and learn from them, and to feel the joy that comes from this life.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and will continue to have a Happy New Year! Be Safe!
Much love,
马姐妹
Sister Martinez
PHOTO: Ren JM's wonderful mother sent her Fruity Pebbles (her fav), so she shared with me and we had a cereal party (WOOH).
PHOTO: At the war tunnels this morning. North Head Historic Reserve lies across the bay from Auckland city. We did a walking tour of the abandoned military tunnel complex.
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