Change is in the wind!! There were some big changes this past week!!

First of all, we just found out yesterday in church that we were getting a new bishop–what?!?! I feel like I hardly even knew the current one since I have been here for only a few weeks. And the crazier thing is that the new bishop is super young, like still in his 20s, so none of us were expecting it. But as he was bearing his testimony, I just knew that this was exactly who the Lord needed to guide this ward here and I am so excited to get to work with him! Every time we get a new bishop it’s a chance to kind of start again and we are gong to hit the ground running!

The other big change that’s taking place is that I’M PICKING UP ANOTHER BABY!!!! AHASDsdfkd!! I’m so excited because I have another opportunity to train a new missionary fresh off of the plane from the MTC! Hopefully I’ll know a little bit better what I’m doing this time, haha. The other twist is that my current companion, Sister Malone, is also going to be staying with us as a trio for the next 6 weeks until she goes home. That means that I will be killing someone and training another at the same time–I’m not really quite sure how to feel or how any of this is going to work out, but I know that if this is what the Lord thinks is best, then I will keep moving forward with full faith in Him. I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks hold!

We had some pretty cool experiences while finding this week! Well actually, they weren’t technically during “finding” time, but I have been making a conscious effort to truly be finding all of the time and use every second that I have to the fullest. We were on the train and I started talking to this lady who was sitting with her father. She saw that I was a missionary and asked that I would pray for her mother who just went into the hospital. She herself wasn’t Christian, but she was pleading that I might be able to help her mother, if only through a simple prayer. I was so impressed by her faith and bore testimony about prayer and our Heavenly Father who hears our every prayer and pleading. No miracles came from it or anything else big or measureable, but I have come to learn that sometimes it’s the small and little things that truly can make a big impact in the lives of others. I can’t convert or baptize the world, but I can find little ways to comfort and lift those around me.

One other thing that I have been thinking about this week is the power of laughter. Life is sure to have its ups and downs and although we can’t control what happens to us, we can control what we do with what we are given. I’m a pretty awkward person as you all know and there have been plenty of times I’ve had some rather uncomfortable or less than ideal situations. But when I encounter things like this all I do is laugh and then keep moving forward! When I find myself angry at something small and insignificant what do I do? Laugh about it and then work on something else more worthwhile to worry about and expend my energy on. You can change almost any situation with a smile and a little laughter!

So what’s my invitation for this week? Laugh! I promise that it will help you to more fully notice the sunshine illuminating your life!

Love you all!!
-Sister Crockett

18 Dorset Crescent
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong

Pictures:
1) In Times Square in Hong Kong!
2) Buddhist Monastery
3) We call these “candy burritos” mostly because I’m not sure what their real name is and also because they are delicious. A man outside our apartment sells them sometimes and they are amazing!
4) We bought some Chinese robes last week. Best. Purchase. Of. My Mission.