Whoah, this week was really busy but also kind of slow.

For P-day we went to an island in my area, Cheung Chau, and it was so so beautiful! We rented bikes and just rode around the island and it was too unreal for it to be real life. I really am in the prettiest place on earth! As you’re riding past the beach with the wind in your hair, you almost forget where you are! Such a cute little place!

We had mission tour this week which is where we had a general authority from the seventy, Elder Wong, come and speak to our mission for a few hours about what we could be doing better and kind of like a big boost as well as a kick. All of what he said was really good and he talked about how important preparation is, but in the end you have to be willing to let go of what you have planned and do what the Lord NEEDS you to do. It’s hard sometimes, especially when you have put a lot of work into preparing, but faith is key! It was such a good day and I learned so much–and ate some free curry which will make my day any day ;)!!

Friday we also had another typhoon hit us which meant that we spent literally the entire day inside of our apartment and weren’t even allowed to go outside! It was sad because it meant that some lessons that we had were canceled and also we had to find things to do to stay busy which meant calling number after number after number of people. I’ll just tell you that the next day sunshine never felt better! There wasn’t any serious damage done, at least from what I heard. Just some heavy rain and winds–we took a break to make some hot chocolate and watch the storm for a little bit 🙂

I’m going to be kind of honest, things haven’t been going the way that I want them to lately. A lot of our investigators and people that we teach have just kind of dropped of the face of the earth for a little bit. One big problem that we have here is that sometimes people just kind of disappear to Mainland China for a bit and then you don’t see them again for a while–if you do see them again! We have been doing a lot of finding lately which I really don’t mind, it’s just the implications of it all which means that we’re not really doing a whole lot of teaching which is what we’re just aching to do! And it’s kind of like what they say, when it rains it pours. We thought that things would get better, but instead we literally had a typhoon hit us in the face and knock us back down a little bit. But what you have to realize is that the blessings will also eventually come pouring down as well if you just give it a little bit of time!

We met two new investigators who are so good! We met them on the subway and then they invited us to go to “yam chah” with them, which is were you just go to a restaurant and stuff yourself with lots of really chinesey foods. They were so nice and even let us see them again later that day to teach them a lesson and they LOVED it! And what’s even better, they came to church yesterday and the ward did such a good job of making them feel loved and welcomed. We also had a couple of investigators that we hadn’t seen in months show up to church which meant that we had more investigators at church than we have ever had before!! The new investigator, Amy, and her son, Ron, are actually going to China this week so pray that they don’t get swallowed up in the big sea of Mainlanders!

I came across a scripture from my personal study that I loved so much!
Alma 24:14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

I like the emphasis of how this scripture states that he will ease the burdens placed upon us, He won’t take them away. Oftentimes we forget that the reason were are given trials and difficult times. As soon as these hard times hit, we start to retreat and ask someone to take it away from us. But can you imagine what it would be like if someone actually did? Do expect your teachers to take back every assignment they’ve given you that makes you think a little harder than before? Or when your boss gives you a task to complete that is taxing and requires some extra work, do you then plead with him to give it to someone else? We recognize these as things given to us from people with more knowledge and experience as a way for us to grow and expand our capabilities. So why, when traveling along the path of life, when we hit a bomb in the road or the path seems too steep for us to climb do we sit and cower, waiting for the road to straighten itself out? All of those things have been given to us for our benefit, but we’re going to have to climb through them first! No amount of waiting, no amount of pleading, is going to change the way that things are sometimes. The hope of all of this is that we are not walking down this road by ourselves. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is there to help us every step of the way. When the burdens upon their backs were eased and made lighter, it wasn’t that their circumstances had actually changed, but they themselves, as a result of the power and grace of the Lord, had been changed in order to withstand their trials. The mountain isn’t going to go away, but we can be given the strength that we need to climb it. And when looking at the path behind you, I think that you will be surprised to find that what at one point seemed impassable now looks to be nothing more than a little dip in the road. Our capacity will be increased and we will be able to take on more difficult challenges.

These hard times can make us better–if we choose to let them and rely on the strength of the Lord as added to our own. I know that the power of the Savior is real, I have felt it. I know that there have been times where I thought that surely I could do no more, but I somehow was able to find the strength that I needed to push ahead. I know that our Heavenly Father is so aware of each and every one of us and loves us more than we can even begin to comprehend. I am grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary and put these beliefs into action!

Now get out there and go climb some mountains!!

Love,
Sister Crockett

18 Dorset Crescent
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong

Pictures:
1) Cheung Chau!
2) another sister and I wore matching dresses to mission tour–haha!
3) the restaurant we ate at
4) the beach on the island