The girl boarded the plane and took her seat. She looked longingly out the window at the place that she had called home for the past fifteen months. Thousands of faces flashed though her mind as she stared. Faces of friends, teachers, sisters and brothers. Faces she had served, learned from and loved dearly. The thought of the faces filled her with so much joy she felt as if she was going to burst, yet simultaneously she experienced a pain she had never felt before. It was like a giant piece of her heart was missing. The engines roared and the plane moved forward. The flight attendants took their seats directly across from the girl. She continued to stare out the window as the plane lifted off of the ground. With each inch the plane climbed she felt as if the hole in her heart grew . Tears rolled down her face as the plane gained altitude and her beloved home disappeared into the distance.
That girl was me... Exactly three years ago yesterday I was on that plane leaving Hong Kong. I have never been so sad in all of my life. I think that only those who served missions understand the impact the people and area you serve in have on you. I can honestly say that there isn't a day that goes by that I do not think of Hong Kong and my experiences there. I miss it every day. I miss the people, the food, the language, the siu ba (little busses), the MTR (subway), the buildings... I could go on forever!
I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve my Heavenly Father in the city of Hong Kong. These last few months I have received the best news a missionary could hear. One of the girls I taught and baptized is going on a mission! She has been called to the Salt Lake City Temple Mission and reports to the MTC in August. I am sooooo happy and excited for her! She is the only member in her family. She sent me the sweetest letter thanking me for my service and example. You never know how you have impacted someone's life. I am so proud of her and feel so unworthy of her compliments.
The second bit of news I heard was from my trainer. My first area was the hardest area of my mission. It wasn't hard because I didn't really know the language (I didn't). It was hard because we worked hard everyday and had no investigators, so we were working with a recent convert that was going inactive. She was going through a rough patch in life and was severely depressed. Every time we saw her she was upset. She had two beautiful little girls and a husband and yet nothing could ever cheer her up. The only time she went to church was when we or a member picked her up. I left that area and never heard anything about her again, that is until a few weeks ago. My trainer went back to Hong Kong and visited this sister. She took a picture with her and her family. When I saw the picture on Facebook I didn't recognize her. My companion then wrote me and informed me that it was Sister Chan, the same Sister Chan that was always so upset and sad. She was now going to church on her own (even though the building has been moved far away from her home)! She also told me that her two oldest girls and husband have been baptized!!! I cried when I read her message. It's amazing how much of my heart is still there with those people. We worked so hard, and I am so happy that she found happiness.
Here is a look back at some of my experiences.
The Hong Kong Temple
That girl was me... Exactly three years ago yesterday I was on that plane leaving Hong Kong. I have never been so sad in all of my life. I think that only those who served missions understand the impact the people and area you serve in have on you. I can honestly say that there isn't a day that goes by that I do not think of Hong Kong and my experiences there. I miss it every day. I miss the people, the food, the language, the siu ba (little busses), the MTR (subway), the buildings... I could go on forever!
I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve my Heavenly Father in the city of Hong Kong. These last few months I have received the best news a missionary could hear. One of the girls I taught and baptized is going on a mission! She has been called to the Salt Lake City Temple Mission and reports to the MTC in August. I am sooooo happy and excited for her! She is the only member in her family. She sent me the sweetest letter thanking me for my service and example. You never know how you have impacted someone's life. I am so proud of her and feel so unworthy of her compliments.
The second bit of news I heard was from my trainer. My first area was the hardest area of my mission. It wasn't hard because I didn't really know the language (I didn't). It was hard because we worked hard everyday and had no investigators, so we were working with a recent convert that was going inactive. She was going through a rough patch in life and was severely depressed. Every time we saw her she was upset. She had two beautiful little girls and a husband and yet nothing could ever cheer her up. The only time she went to church was when we or a member picked her up. I left that area and never heard anything about her again, that is until a few weeks ago. My trainer went back to Hong Kong and visited this sister. She took a picture with her and her family. When I saw the picture on Facebook I didn't recognize her. My companion then wrote me and informed me that it was Sister Chan, the same Sister Chan that was always so upset and sad. She was now going to church on her own (even though the building has been moved far away from her home)! She also told me that her two oldest girls and husband have been baptized!!! I cried when I read her message. It's amazing how much of my heart is still there with those people. We worked so hard, and I am so happy that she found happiness.
Here is a look back at some of my experiences.
The Hong Kong Temple
I also just found out that there is a family from Hong Kong in our new ward!! I can't wait to talk to them!!
Also,
Yogurt update:
He barked for the first time today! He is good at going on walks with and without the leash! He is an expert at playing fetch. He LOVES his little teddy bear, and apparently golf balls! He is getting strong enough to push his "child" gate over and get out of his play area. He has unending amounts of energy and is still having "accidents" in the house! He has gone "swimming" in the bathtub and cries whenever you get into the shower and he can't see you or come in.
Also,
Yogurt update:
He barked for the first time today! He is good at going on walks with and without the leash! He is an expert at playing fetch. He LOVES his little teddy bear, and apparently golf balls! He is getting strong enough to push his "child" gate over and get out of his play area. He has unending amounts of energy and is still having "accidents" in the house! He has gone "swimming" in the bathtub and cries whenever you get into the shower and he can't see you or come in.
