Kia Ora 大家 !
This week was c r a z y and I have transfer news!!!
On Wednesday morning both Sister Rich and I packed our stuff, went to the chapel to pick up our new companion and we moved flats to double cover both an English-speaking Ward and the same area (West, South, East) of the Chinese Branch. This might not sound that surprising or exciting, but let me tell you, it was probably the biggest twist possible based on usual trends with the Chinese-speaking Sisters. When we got the call that we were double covering, I literally cried just because I was so surprised!
But yeah, this last week has just been a huge adjustment to being an English -speaking Missionary, basically. That means I have a lot to talk about, which is good because I thought I'd already be dry and out of ideas at this point! ahha.
About the Area/Transfer:
- I'm finally out of training!!
- Sister Vahai just got reassigned to this mission from Hong Kong, so she knows some Mandarin. She's really sweet and she loves talking with people!
- The English Ward we are now covering used to be covered by the Zone Leaders, meaning it was an Elder's area. That means we are white-washing the area now. ("White-Washing": none of us in our companionship has been here previously, so we don't know the area, the members, or the English Speaking people being taught. It's a fresh start!)
- Sister Rich, Sister Vahai and I moved into a flat in the East of Auckland. Sister Rich and I think the Lord's trying to get us to focus on the Chinese people in this area, in addition to whatever He would have us do to help the people in the English Ward. The flat is not exactly 'celestial' like people call the one where we used to live in the city, but it is really nice and it feels more home-y.
- The Howick Ward is AWESOME. We've been able to have meals with some members already (oh yeah and side note, we get FED here!), and they are just so faithful and willing to help us with missionary work. There are lots of Kiwis, Islanders, and lots of South Africans in the ward! It's a really cool mix of culture.
- Since we are now based in the East, it will be harder to get out to the South and West of Auckland for the Chinese Branch, but we are making it work so far.
- The first night in the new area we had 30 minutes to door-knock. Sister Rich followed the spirit and led us down a street and we ended up talking to three Chinese families that had interest in hearing more!
- As we have feeds almost everyday, we are able to practice teaching lessons to member families. In consequence we've been able to participate in a lot of really fun activities with each family. One of my favorite things we've done a couple times so far is say a prayer with the family and have them pick a street for us to tract in later that day. Each time we've done so we've had the spirit lead us to people we knew needed to hear from us that day, they really were miracles. We text the members later that night whatever miracles we come across. So far the members have been really excited to feel like they led us to the elect.
Lowlights:
- The Coronavirus in Hong Kong is so bad that all the missionaries were evacuated from the mission... The virus is an issue I think no one outside the Chinese people really trully understands.
- While I'm excited to have this change, the task ahead of us can feel really hard sometimes. It's a lot of change at once but I think it's good for us and I know its God's will. It might just take a second to settle in.
- One of the streets we were led to by a member led us to a man who had heard of the Book of Mormon and our teachings before. He had his own thoughts about religion, and despite what he says, he was not open to learning more about God. We all did our best to testify of truth, and we all could feel the Spirit strongly confirming the truthfulness of our testimonies. Despite everything he still insisted we are brain-washed into our beliefs and that we should reevaluate what we KNOW as truth. Honestly I felt like I gave my whole heart and soul to this old man and he just beat it up and threw it in the rubbish bin. It was good to know that we all did our jobs by doing our best to offer him truth through the power of God...but wow it just made my heart hurt that he was so unwilling to listen. Those are the moments I've felt the most joy and sorrow, because I can feel so strongly that I am speaking truth but then this child of God isn't even willing to consider what we are saying is true.
Simple Truth:
Heavenly Father always wants us to know truth, and he leads us to know truth through the Holy Ghost.
Moroni 10:4-6
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is."I know this is how we know truth, it is a personal process and communication between us and God. If we want to know truth, we just need to ask earnestly through prayer. I can testify that as you pray to know truth it WILL be made known to you.
I say those things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love all of you and think of you lots. Thank you for your support and hopefully when things die down I'll have more interesting stories!
Love,
马姐妹
Sister Martinez
Photos:https://photos.app.goo.gl/sgY95kdCHMzp7BqHA
No comments:
Post a Comment