DINKYTOWN: Week 12 "HO HO HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. 

JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL IN MY HEART AND PRAYERS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRAYERS AND MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE AS YOU SPEND THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON WITH YOUR LOVED ONES! 

LOVE,

SIS PAO

Dinkytown: Week 11 "A White Christmas"

A white Christmas it is and will be indeed everyone! We are loving the beautiful blanket of snow here every single day. Although its cold, I really don't mind it...just yet, because it is just oh so beautiful!

Funny thing about last P-Day. After emailing y'all, Sister Smith and I spontaneously went to have frozen yogurt for lunch! haha call us crazy? yup! We had a lovely surprise at the check out: Normally, an ounce of froyo costs 42 cents but we ended up only having to pay 11 cents/ ounce for our froyo! The lady explained that at their store, with every degree below 32 degree F, or 0 degrees Celcius, that would be how much cents you get off the original price. So the temperature was 1 degree F that day so we got such a great deal! Best day everrr! One of the ups of being in the Icebox of the Nation. haha- nobody wants to eat frozen yogurt expect for crazy missionaries.

This past weekend was certainly a white Christmas, not only because of the constant snow, but because my dearest two new best friends, Naye Lazaro and Karem Salas Ramirez entered the waters of baptism dressed in all white. My First baptisms here on the mission! I can only express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father of how blessed and fortunate I feel to have been granted this opportunity to teach them and to see their conversion process. If I never told you all, Naye, we contacted on campus, and from there, Naye brought Karem, her bestfriend and roommate, to church and from there, the two of them simply flourished. They are so faith filled, loving, and prepared to spread the Gospel. I can just imagine them sharing their conversion story to many more in the future, including their families. Naye accepted this Gospel, blessing the life of her best friend as well. I just love it!

Yesterday, we had the chance to go over to two of the Zone Leaders investigators home for dinner. Zhang Jia Ling and Ding Hao Chen are such awesome people- and awesome cooks as well! Jia Ling and Hao Chen are both from China, and because Sister Smith and I are supposed to be teaching all the Chinese investigators, the Elders had to pass them over to us. Jia Ling cooked us all the most amazing meal, and probably the closest thing that reminds me of our home cooked meals, that I've had here on the mission. REAL chinese food, and not fake panda Express American Food, not greasy China food, but GOOD yummy food. 

While we were there, we had the chance to teach them a lesson as well. We focused on helping them brainstorm ways that they could continue to be anchored in what they have learned, continue to be faithful, and to feel of the spirit especially when they return back to China for the Christmas break. As missionaries, we worry for our investigators' spiritual growth like a mom worries for their teenage son. I guess this is a taste of how motherhood will feel like in the future! Sharon, this is probably how you'll feel very soon, judging by how fast Carson is growing!!- I'm tellin' ya, the mission prepares you for every aspect of your life.

This Christmas season I've been thinking a lot about Christ's mission. It reminded me of the scripture found in 3 Nephi 27:13. Christ came into the world to do the will of the Father, because the Father sent Him. I know that as I am serving my mission, I am walking as close as possible next to my Savior and His mission. It is probably the only time of my life where I will come as close to literally walking hand in hand with the Spirit. I will not fight to do the will of the Lord. I will submit myself and serve selflessly, thinking less about myself, but always filling my mind with thoughts of how I can be helping those around me, helping my companion, doing the will of the Lord, and reflecting a FLOW missionary at all times. A MMM missionary is a Faithful, Loving, Obedient, and hardWorking missionary. And I want to exemplify that, because those are all the qualities of my Savior. 

I am so very blessed for loving parents, a great family, and opportunities of a life time that I am enjoying here on my mission. I am also so grateful for my knowledge of how I can receive eternal happiness in this life today, and not simply dwell upon the temporal things of this world. May your knowledge of the Savior's birth into this world this Christmas season and of his redeeming love and mission inspire you to share this Good News with all those around you. Humble yourself, and do the will of the Father.

Hugs and Loves to all of you during this special season!

Sister Pao

Our gift to President and Sister Clements from the zone. Excuse my horrible writing! But I tried with what I had: acrylic paint and a 1 dollar paintbrush. Haha!

Dinkytown: Week 10- Losing Track of Time!

Another week has passed. Which means a week and a half let before we have transfers again! Crazy! That means Sister Smith might be leaving me, and new Chinese sisters will be coming in! Can you believe that?!

Speaking of Chinese sisters, this past week was a definitely just like the last. Lots of heavy lifting, and self refining, and trusting in the Lord. First off, we had a new found realization that was sort of like a stab to the heart, but which was definitely must needed. This past week, the Elders and Sister Smith and I were sort of chastised by President Clements. Apparently, we misunderstood the plan of action of exactly how he envisioned the Chinese work moving along in the TC YSA ward. With my arrival, I knew that I am opening doors by knowing how to speak the Chinese language and by helping the chinese learn the Gospel through their native language. However, we were not aware of the fact that Sister Smith and I were supposed to be TEACHING all of the Chinese investigators. We have been teaching some, and mostly in English with clarifications done in Chinese. However, that was definitely not what President intended for me to be doing.

It was shocking to hear that, and to think that I haven't been doing exactly what President Clements have been wanting me to do, and to think that I wasn't wise enough to have asked and clarified otherwise. However, it was enlightening to be reminded of the greater plan that the Lord has for me and for this area. I am honored and humbled once again to be serving Him and to be helping Him move his kingdom ahead, especially the work in China. I am truly so blessed to be teaching and working with some of China's brightest and most brilliant students here at the University of China. They are going to be such amazing leaders back in their home countries one day. I can just see it and I have such great faith that things are happening fast. Read (D&C 90:11). 

Now I am focused again on my purpose and my work to be done here- what the Lord has called me here to Minnesota for. President has instructed me to start reading the Book of Mormon all in Chinese, and I have gladly taken up his counsels. I love the Book of Mormon, and I know it will be a challenge to read it in Chinese, but simply from the past few days, I have been shocked and surprised by how much of it I can understand. I am so excited to think of how much I can learn by doing so.The Lord is empowering me from on high, and blessing me with the gift of languages. I will give you all updates later on of how it goes!

As for now, I will keep this email short, but please do continue to pray for Karem, Naye and Pan and all the rest!

Karem and Naye are getting baptized this week! Its been truly blessings beyond words to have had the chance to be acquainted with them and to have had the chance to participate and be a part of both of their conversions. The Lord is being so good to me by blessing me with two of his strongest daughters as my first baptisms. I am overjoyed and so very humbled. They are going to do and work miracles for their families. I can just feel it in my bones and guts!

Love you all so very much!

Sister Pao

Dinkytown: Week 9- Heavy Lifting

Another eventful and fulfilling week has passed! Mission life is so fulfilling, that I already fear how my life will feel after returning home to ordinary life! It's not a bad thing, and I know that when the time comes, I will simply have to accept another change and phase of my life. The next will be just as rewarding as the previous!- I hope ;)

Changes are good. Changes are oh so good! And I have felt that way ever since my life took on a significantly remarkable change the day I moved to Shanghai. Ever since then, I feel like my life has never been boring, and I have been ever so blessed with new adventures, enriching experiences, and the creation of inspiring and everlasting friendships. This is especially and undeniably applicable to my life as a missionary today. Change is the key to exercising the power of the Atonement in my everyday life. And never before have I ever come to see this as strong as I do so now. My Savior loves me, and thus, he continues to refine me. I have come to experience "a change of heart" and I "have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, that Alma talks about in Alma 5:26. 

Thanksgiving celebration this year was a memorable one indeed. Definitely a change up from all the previous years of thanksgivings I've had. Our district had the honor and chance to host a thanksgiving dinner for all the international new members, investigators, and potential investigators who are students here at the U. We had a delightful turnout! Teamwork coming from all different sides, resulted with an absolutely remarkable meal! We had turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin sticky rice, corn soup, cranberry, jello, green been casserole, and much more deliciousness.    We had about 30 people show up, and out of the group, we had people representing 10 different backgrounds/languages! (English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, French, and Spanish!) Diverse eh?! We were so blessed, and it truly was a special night.

This week, because of the continuously intensifying dangers/sketchiness surrounding Dinkytown/campus, we experienced a new change up! Because the elders live farther away from campus than we do, they always had the car. Now the sisters are assigned the car for safety, thus leaving us to swap apartments with the elders! Today we had our move! Much heavy lifting was done! However, before any of the elders could come serve us, a hilariously unlucky, and inconvenient event occurred before hand! Of course, something funny ought to happen!

Sister Smith and I woke up at 5am to get the apartment ready. Cleaning packing, vacuuming and ensuring that we had EVERYTHING ready and be waiting for the elders at 10:30am. We successfully did so, and at 10:20, we got ready to make our way downstairs to grab the rest of our laundry that was in the dryer. Lo, and behold! Ironically enough, something came our way. I reached to grab the door handle to head downstairs. The door was locked. I unlocked the door, and tried again. The door was still not budging. Pulling and yanking simply did not work. We were LOCKED INTO OUR OWN APARTMENT! Can you believe that? Ridiculous eh? Super funny as well? oh heck yes! Sister Smith and I just laughed and laughed, and then called the elders to say that we were locked in. The elders came to our rescue- supposedly - but no one could get the door open. Long story short, we still ended up calling maintenance and he got the door open in like 10 seconds. haha. Should have just called him right off the bat! Would've saved us some time, but of course, we were too prideful, thinking that we could figure it out on our own. Anyways, lesson on pride -- still in the process of refining.

With December 14th coming up close, sister Smith and I are getting more and more anxious as we have 4 people set to be baptized that day. Definitely at the beginning of my mission, I simply thought that all the work was done when we had a date set with investigators, little did I know, that was only the beginning! After a date is set, that is when the HEAVY LIFTING begins. President Clements has been counseling us a lot recently on pulling all the way through, until they have entered the waters of baptism!

Let me tell you a little about each of these investigators. Pan Rojonasarot is from Thailand. Absolutely darling and hilarious. She studied at the BYU ELC and that is where she met missionaries. Now she is studying Pharmacology Social Science here at the U. She was supposed to be baptized Nov. 23rd, but delayed because her mom intensely opposes her being baptized. Poor thing. She is working hard for Dec. 14th now, and yesterday, we just finished fasting with her for the courage and confident to stand up to her mom with what she knows to be true. She can do it! and She will! We are praying sooo hard for her!

Naye Lazaro is the sweetest, sassiest little Mexican girl from Austin Minnesota. When we first met her on campus, she said that she hates and doesn't trust in God at all anymore. Her mom died when she was young and from then, God has always been unfair to her, making her grandfather sick as well. Now, she can say that she has officially let go of all her grudges and sees the bigger perspective of life and of God's plan and his love for her. She has grown so much! She is so amazing! we know she is ready as well, she doesn't think so , but we know she is!

Karem Salas Romeres is our miracle as well. She is Naye's roommate and is the sweetest little Mexican girl as well, they are too much like sisters. both 4'11, and sassy, and smart and funny. We love them to death. Karem comes from a strong Catholic background with strong ties to her Mexican culture. She believes strongly in God, but never found her true faith. She enjoyed the culture side that the Catholic church brings to her, but since meeting with us, she has come to learn so much! She says everything makes sense now! What we know and teach the LDS church makes sense! She is scared to betray her culture, and to cut all ties, thus she's nervous for the 14th as well. We know she can and will be ready. Much prayers sent her way.

Finally Yan Wu is our sweet Chinese investigator from Beijing China. (She has the same last name as Wu Guan Chen!) haha

When we first met her on campus, she expressed her pains of not knowing why she is studying so hard, and what is the whole purpose behind her education and her life! We knew the Gospel and the Plan of Salvation would solve her problems. She has been meeting with us ever since and have grown exponentially. All the Chinese new members think that she needs more time judging by the fact that people in China never had religion before, but I KNOW SHE'S READY!

I guess with all these people lined up to go, Sister Smith and I will be doing much heavy lifting within these next two weeks. Getting fellowshippers to love and serve them, help them be committed and help them not miss out no this beautiful blessing. We are overjoyed and so super stoked for them. But afterall, it will all be according to the Lord's timing. And I will be happy and absolutely satisfied to accept that.

I know this is an overload of information and the LONGEST email ever, but, pray for our investigators this week! And hope I survive contacting, BECAUSE IT IS SNOWING CATS AND DOGS OUTSIDE NOW. It's BEAUTIFUL THOUGH and I am excited for a White Christmas. In fact I am dreaming of one. Of one where many of our investigators will enter the waters of baptism in their white baptism clothing. Now that's my perfect White Christmas.

I love you all very much, hope you all have a splendid and fulfilling week!

Love, 

Sister Pao

District Thanksgiving Lunch

We did good eh? All prepped within half an hour. Instant meals haha

BOOTS, GOT-'EM thanks Shar!

Thanksgiving Sunday at the Quass's

The Quass' and the Chinese new members and investigators. The Quass have two adopted Chinese kids. Sarah in the white beside Sis Smith and the  other is blocked. They are the greatest!

We surprised Ali Fife (my mostest fav person ever) with a Thanksgiving "turkey" breakfast, because she is a pharmicist and she has to work all day 7 days of the week! poor thing. But we LOVE her!

Dinkytown: Week 7-Warm Me Up!

I made it through my first transfer (my first six weeks) out here in the mission field! It's been an incredible six weeks and I have learned so much about myself, about my Savior and about how to get along with a companion haha.

I love Sister Smith, and we really are good at working with each other to better each other. We are open to each other on things that we can improve on. As much as chastisement and constructive criticisms hurt on the spot and in the moment, they are moments where I have learnt to actually be humble, and to look over my own pride.

The Lord knows me so well. I am so grateful to Him for helping me make the decision of coming out on a mission. If I had not ever came out, I don't think I would have ever realized how prideful and self righteous I was and still am. I have never had to rely on the Savior's Atonement and the power of change through him ever more than I am now. I love my Savior, and I truly am coming to acknowledge him each and everyday of my life as I exercise faith to repentance EACH AND EVERY NIGHT. The power of change is so real! I love how in Chinese, the word for repentance literally means, turn around, and change. Change ourselves to be aligned with the will of God. How come I never realized that until now?? Chinese is so cool!

We had some exciting things happen to us this week! Sister Smith and I survived our first transfer! WE are still together, hoorayyy!

We have two new elders nonetheless in our district family. Elder Meguro from Japan, and our new ZL, Elder Harrison from Arizona!

We are honestly the most ethnic district ever! The Chinese, the Korean, and the Japanese! Woot! Somehow, no matter where I end up, I am still surrounded by diversity. and I love it! Not complaining at all! :D

Other than the change up in peeps around here. Sister Smith and I were so blessed to be fed by so many gracious people. Will and Robert were two Chinese investigators we were teaching, but because they are exchange students here, they have been really busy with a lot of traveling, hence, not much progression at all. They will be leaving back to China in less than a month. They are the sweetest people ever though! Because they felt bad for wasting so much of our time, they invited us over for dinner and we had HOT POT! oh ya! Warm me up baby with some hotpot. I could kill for that everyday in this freezing icebox of a state that I'm living in haha. Pictures will be attached to this email of the amazing amount of food they prepared for us! Chinese people really are soooo hospitable. Oh! and Will is from Shanghai, so literally, during the whole time that we were there, he was busy in the kitchen cooking nonstop. We were so sad that we had to leave early for lesson and that we didn't get to eat more of his good cooking.

As the weather continues to get colder, and colder, my heart becomes warmer and warmer as I think and ponder about my Savior's Atonement, upon the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, and as I continue to feel more and more refined through learning about myself and through doing the Lord's will. 

It saddens my heart, but for a very small moment to think that Shar, Carson, and Robby, will all be reunited with the fam in Taiwan very soon without me, but then my joy is full as I think of the happiness they will have and the excitement it will be for Grandma to finally meet Carson. 

As I feast upon the words of the Book of Mormon, I become more and more grateful for all that I have grown up with. I am grateful for a loving family, I am grateful for goodly parents and grandparents, I am grateful for my gifts and talents, and I am grateful that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- that I know that I am a daughter and child of God, and that I have great purpose in this life.Like the wisdom that Lehi shares with his son Jacob, "the Lord will consecrate our afflictions for our gain."

I am grateful for sweet sweet Emily Hang, one of the new Hmong members of the ward for her thoughtfulness of making cute scarves for us. WARM US UP AND WARM MY HEART ONCE AGAIN.

I am grateful for Brittany Nagel for making us the best SWEET POTATO CHILI, SOUNDS GOOD EH? 

And I am so grateful to the Chan's for sending me such a cute package with a Chocolate Survival Kit from Purdy's! Ah, reminds me of Home sweet Home, Canada. 

With all that said, my weeks here simply get better and better. I say this not to boast or to brag, but to express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for providing me with so many learning experiences. I love my mission and Minnesota truly is my sacred grove. It will be the place where I come to know of the redeeming love of my Savior. (Mosiah 18:30)

I love you all so very much!!!!!! Until next week!

Love,

Sister Pao

Dinkytown: Week 5 Church Church Church!

Another week has passed and it's officially been my one month mark out here in Dinkytown! Woot Wooten! Things are only getting better and better. and colder and colder. Luckily, not much snow, or any snow at all, except for that one morning.

This week, we had an appointments jammed packed week. There were two days where we literally had six appointments almost back to back, with only an hour for lunch and dinner in between. I was physically and spiritually drained at the end of both those days. Amazing thing was that, my companion Sister Smith was actually super sick for one of those days. But another testimony to me that the Lord does qualify His missionaries when they are obedient was that she was still able to carry out her duties. I was super glad that I was able to put all of the drugs that Dad gave me to good use. so Thanks Dad for pushing me to bring all those meds! She took some stomach meds, then a nap early in the morning that day since she was up puking all night, and while I prayed for her, She woke up right on time feeling a whole lot better! Miracle right there again! Honestly, she was not even able to walk that morning, let alone have to walk to the institute and teach all day!

Miracle:
I think our biggest miracles this week were the fact that we had two days filled with six scheduled investigator lessons. Both days, all six investigators confirmed and showed up to the lessons. We were kept very busy indeed!
Another one of our miracles this week occurred over the weekend. We had our second lesson with Muhammad on Saturday. We were expecting a lot of arguments and doubts from him, judging by our first lesson, but miraculously, he was very willing to listen and process what we taught him. Although he was still very skeptical and unbelieving at the end of the lesson, he was willing to pray! It was a very interesting prayer indeed, actually quite disrespectful in some sense, however, he was willing to ask through his prayer whether or not what we taught that day was true. Funny note, he ended the prayer by saying " In the name of God's only son...if he even had one, apparently named Jesus Christ, Amen" (Since he didn't believe in Jesus Christ, he tried to "tactfully" dodge accidentally showing that he believes). HILARIOUS! The miracle didn't end there, late Saturday night, he texted and ask, "do I need to dress up for church?" We were overjoyed that he was willing to come to church, and so he did! He even stayed for all three hours! Miracles all around indeed.

Progressing Investigator:
Pan from Thailand is our sweet progressing investigator. We had a tender experience with her this past weekend as we joined together in a fast to pray that she will have the strength to tell her mother about her choice to be baptized. Also in hopes that her family's hearts will be softened when she does tell them. Our prayers were answered as she attended church and listened to a very inspiring lesson from a guest speaker during Relief Society. Sister Ostvig was a convert herself at the age of 20. She received a lot of opposition from her parents and grandmother, but in the end, everything worked out and her family never had a negative comment about her joining the church. Sister Ostvig was a great example to Pan, and we can't wait to see how that nourishment of the good words will blossom within her.

Our final miracle tied the knot for our amazingly blessed and awesome week. We had SEVEN of our investigators show up to CHURCH! Fast and testimony meetings, I personally think, are the best times for investigators to see how Christ's church truly has the fullness compared to other churches. The Spirit was so strong throughout the whole sacrament and so many of the testimonies of the members were so evidently directed at the concerns and needs of our investigators. We were so blessed to have such a divinely inspired meeting.

The Plan of Salvation has been something I have been studying a lot on this week. Read 2 Nephi 2, 9, Alma 12, Alma 34, and 42. The Plan of Salvation truly is remarkable. For those who do not know the purpose of life, and/or are having struggles in life right now, whether it be with making big choices for schooling and work, or with other struggles. Learn of the Plan of Salvation, study it, understand it, and you will see how God will consecrate all thine afflictions for your gain.

Throughout all those chapters, you will see how all the people the prophets were addressing were trying to find solutions to their afflictions. The solution is, know God's plan of Happiness and you will see the bigger perspective of life.

Finally, Happy Belated Halloween to everyone! I dressed up as a Sister Missionary this year. I know really original. However, I did get to be a little bit festive and wear black and orange. We got to celebrate by going to the temple! haha I know weird combo, but at least that was memorable. The St. Paul Temple is apparently the SMALLEST temple in the world...and it really is...and I thought the Taipei temple was small! haha

Finally, to close this up, I just want to tell everyone that...

Minnesota has sooo much good foods! (of course I would talk about food)

Minneapolis is where General Mills' main company is situated! Did you know that? Also, Food science is a huge deal here, and I never even knew how the experiment on food was so widespread here! I love it! It's so refreshening to learn about food science from so many of the ysa members here. Its so cool! One of the members in our ward created Hershey Cookies and Cream cereal! Also! Target's head company is situated here in Minneapolis as well! WHAT! All these big companies here in Minnesota?! How come we never hear much about MN? Weird!

Love you all tons, until next week,

Sister Pao

FROSTY. OUR CAR SHARED WITH THE ELDERS.

THE ADORABLE SIS. SMITH. AND PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING!

OUR APARTMENT. A TEENY BIT GHETTO. BUT. OH WELL!

LOVELY ALEX NOTERMAN A RECENT CONVERT OF ABOUT 7 MONTHS.

ME, BEING USEFUL. FIXING LIGHTBULBS! GOOD THING I WAS TALL ENOUGH...i DON'T KNOW WHAT SIS. SMITH AND I WOULD DO IF I WERE SHORT.

DINKYTOWN! CUTE EH?

OUR CUTEST DISTRICT FAMILY EVER! (last district meeting before transfers, boo)

The beautiful apartment building of our favorite member Ali Fyfe. Happy Halloween!

Fun halloween straws credits to Sis. Smith's fam bam.

Ali Fyfe, our lovely sister away from home. She is simply so loving and gives the best hugs! She served in Germany and is now a Pharmacist here in MN! and an awesome cook btw!

Isn't this so mystical. Night view of the city skyline.

"Fake It 'til You Make It...Better Yet, FAITH It 'til You Make It!"

Aloha to my beautiful family and friends and poppets!

I chose to title my blog post this week Fake it Til you Make it, because it reminded me a lot of my dad. And believe it or not, Dad, I thought a lot about you this week, during my personal studies, during training, during my lessons with investigators...and etc. You're the topic of my week! Seriously! Weird huh? haha

For those who don't know much about my dad, he's a Super hero. A quiet one though that has worked and labored for decades to serve and provide for my family. On top of that, he's saved hundreds of lives outside of his immediate family. He's a doctor who's days revolve around serving others. Evidently from all these descriptions of him, you can imagine all his super powers.

Despite all these things, what makes him my dad is also the fact that he is still human, and one that makes mistakes. I know for a fact that when he was first investigating the church, he didn't understand his true potentials yet, as a father, as a patriarch of the home, as one that holds the Priesthood authority of God. I judged him, and was not all that patient and humble in helping him find his true potentials. But over the years, I have seen his powers grow, and his faith strengthened, and his true, fathering side.

He has taught me to be the person I am today. Through example I guess. I am fearless and willing to explore and try new things all the time because of him. He has taught me the advantages of being quiet and not always needing to express every feeling that I have. My favorite quote that he spoke of during my farewell talk before I left on the mission was: "Sometimes you really don't know what you're doing, but you simply keep doing it until you know more." He basically summed up the first step of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His example and personal experience of investigating the church have shown me the truth of having faith. 

And these are the experiences that I share with my investigators all the time. So thanks dad for being the example that you are to me each and everyday!

I was reminded of these quotes because during my New Missionary Training this past Wednesday, my president's wife, Sister Clements shared the quote about "Fake it Til You make it" Evolved to "Faith It Til you make it." Having that true faith is to have hope in things that you cannot see. I cannot physically see myself as a person that has the ability to not be TONGUE TIED while trying to teach my investigators yet, however, i have the faith that i can keep trying until I know what I am doing. No matter what it is that we are dealing with in our lives, it really is simply "all about our faith and our attitude." 

This past week, Sister Smith and I had the chance to attend a baptism! Not one of our very owns, yet, but the fruits of the hard work by our zone leaders in DinkyTown. Elder Roberts and Laga. These two girls are sisters from China FuJian and are absolutely adorable. 

Danting and DanYan (Diane) are so very sweet. The night before their baptism, I got a voice message from Diane asking for Sister Pao's help with something. I was sooo nervous and thought the worst instantly. I thought that I had to be the one to spill it to the zone leaders about how their two investigators did not want to be baptized anymore. For afterall, they aren't in until they've been dunked, but even after that, there's still so much more! I got a little ahead of myself and thought the worst, but foolish me, that was not the case. THANKFULLY!

I called Diane back and found out that all she needed from me were some church clothing. I was so glad and happy, and overjoyed, and ecstatic, that I could help them out with their troubles, and to be able to even take part in even a little aspect of preparing them for their special day. She definitely came to the right person, because who else would have more skirts and Sunday clothing than the Sister missionaries. Sister Smith and I were so excited to be able to plan out what they could FIT IN (right i forgot to mention that they are tiny!) and to basically mother them a little. haha It was the most that we could do, and it was the best favor anyone could ever ask of us.

Sunday morning rolls around and we help them try on the different outfits that we had for them. Unfortunately, we didn't think clearly and brought a few pencil skirts which obviously would not fit them well enough. So in the end, I had to actually take off my stretchy long skirt that I was wearing that day and switch them for a pencil skirt. Luckily, I can actually fit into Sister Smith's skirts, otherwise...things could have gotten interesting! haha So with that, re-occurring theme, "Fake it Til you Make it!"

OKAY! now exciting things about our very own investigators! Sister Smith and I have been receiving sooo many investigators these days. We have quite a lot of people on our hands now so we are busy busy busy!

A miracle for us was that sisters from another area actually passed on an investigator to us, and she is absolutely GOLDEN i tell you!

Her name is Kala Walcheski, and basically during our first meeting with her, she came in and said, "I have decided, I WANT TO BE BAPTIZED DEC. 7TH" crazy huh? I barely even knew her name and she wanted to be baptized already! We were so blessed that she simply was looking and was prepared by the Lord. Now, Sister Smith and I just need to prepare her by helping her know the members of the YSA ward, and by keeping her in check. She is amazing and I can simply see so many of her potentials.

One of my favorite things about being here in Dinkytown with all the new Chinese converts is that, I get to see the bigger picture of it all. I have come in contact with so many Chinese people/converts, amazing convert stories and experiences of the influences of Chinese converts in my life, that I simply KNOW with all my heart that some of these new converts will  be doing amazing things in building up the kingdom of God in China, when time allows. I am so blessed and lucky to be seeing all the PIONEERING events that will lead to so many greater things in the future. The Lord truly is hastening his work, and I can't wait to see what will come of it.

WeiHua Li from Shanghai and Tuan Pham from Thailand are two of my favorite new converts. I wasn't there to witness their baptism but I got to see them receive the Aaronic Priesthood, start passing the sacrament, and then even baptize Diane and Danting within the 3 weeks that I have been here. It's been magnificent seeing how the Priesthood authority is already playing such a huge part of their life, and I can't wait to see and hear how it blesses their future families.

With that, Know that the Lord is Good and that he loves us all!

I love you all so very much and I can't wait to share with you more of my experiences!

Love always,

Sister Pao