China Hong Kong Mission: May 2018

May 28, 2018

BYE WEEK 5!

*Note: URL links to scriptures and related material are enabled.

Léih hóu!

Pictures: Hammock inside our STL's room lol

Last week passed by so fast! Idk how did it happen lol. And I've been here in the MTC for a month and 3 days now! 😊 One more month then I'm off to Hong Kong! Exciting! Soooo, how's everyone doing? 😊 .. For me, nothing much happened this past week hahaha :😀

Sooo, here are my Updates/Highlights from last week:

Tuesday 22 -

We had a workshop and it's about "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts" (2 Nephi 31:17-20). So we talked about our central purpose as missionaries is to teach, convert people, and have them accept our invitation to be baptized. And there was a question raised during the workshop, "What does it mean to be a successful missionary?" --- The answer is on D&C 4:2 ("if you put your heart, might, mind, and strength to the work"). The speaker said that "Success is a special gift given from the Lord but you have to work hard. Believe you can baptize. Believe in yourself. Believe that this is possible and don't lower your expectations." .. For the Tuesday Evening Devotional, we (choir) sang "Hope of Israel".. The speakers were Sister and Elder Rasband (from the quorum of the 12). Sister Rasband talked about our Savior's love for us. We should recall how much our Savior has given to us --- that because of Him, we have the chance to be back in our Heavenly Father's presence someday. Elder Rasband talked about Revelation (the speakers who visit MTC really reiterate the importance of President Nelson's talk last General Conference about Personal Revelation). Elder Rasband said that as missionaries, we share a special bond or we have this "revelatory bond". "Your mission assignment is not just an assignment but it was a revelation, an assignment that has to be perfect.". He also said we MUST listen to our current Prophet because he is the one who is living in our days and he has the latest, inspired words, and the Lord's mouthpiece of our days. We are accountable to the one we sustain our arms into.. He also said, "We live in a perilous world nowadays, full of rage and full of calamity, nevertheless we must be optimistic. We must learn to receive revelation. Our Savior will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous days. 😊 .. He also shared that the announcement of building a temple in India was revealed to President Nelson JUST the night before the General Conference (he received the revelation when he woke up in the middle of the night. Isn't that amazing? Wowww)... I know that we should be worthy and prepared if Heavenly Father will reveal something to us through the Holy Ghost. We must know what to do and follow this. Personal revelation will come through our simplest request (prayer) to our Heavenly Father. I know that I've been called perfectly by revelation so I will go forward with faith. 😊 I chose to serve, I volunteered, I signed the forms, and that means I have to commit myself to exact obedience and work harder each and everyday 😊

Pictures: Just a group pic before lunch (Elder Simmons from North Carolina, Sister McColgan from Wales, Sister Delong from Utah, Elder Haraipai-Teura from Tahiti, and Sister Valencia from the Philippines), Going crazy on our 5th week!

Wednesday 23 -

Today while me and my companion were teaching our investigator (our teacher who is just roleplaying), asked us "Why did Nephi kill Laban? Does that mean it's okay to kill?". And we really struggled on answering his question (and I guess growing up in the church, we just have this knowledge and accepted that yes, Nephi killed Laban for a good purpose and he is very obedient). So after teaching him, we went back to our classroom and our teacher explained to us that in today's perspective of course it is really bad to kill, but in Nephi's time (he used as an example about the Law of Moses Exodus 21:13-14) Laban tried to kill them and stole their properties, so Nephi's act to kill him is not premeditated. God truly delivered Laban into his hand to get those brass plates... At night, we taught our 2nd investigator about Joseph Smith and I recited the First Vision (in Cantonese yaaaay) during the lesson..

Pictures: Just an elevator pic (the spotlight's on me lol) (1st photo), after class (2nd photo)

Thursday 24 -

We taught our investigator about Repentance and used an object lesson ($20 bill). The bill represents us and we know our worth but when we sin (crumpled the bill), it doesn't mean that our worth diminished (same with the bill, it's still $20). Soooo, Satan attacks our self-esteem and because of that our self-confidence decreases but that doesn't mean that God doesn't love us anymore --- we still have our worth --- and Repentance is a special gift given to us. 😊 At night, we practice teach WOW (Word of Wisdom).

Pictures: Half-way MTC Celebration Package with our cute socks (mine is the pineapple one lol)

Friday 25 -

It's my one month mark today! 😍 In class, we discussed about the different Parables found in Matthew 24-26. 😊 Then at night, the sisters in my zone had a mini celebration (had apple cider, cinnamon bread, some chips) -- thanks for the package Tristan! 😊

Pictures: Filipinos after the gym service.

Saturday 26 -

Shared a message to Cantonese members (during our TRC) about Foreordination. 😊 Then in the afternoon, we played "Strike ball' during our gym time. It's my first time to play that game lol fun!!

Pictures: After church red theme, Filipinos in my district sang "Have I done any good" (Tagalog) in our Sacrament meeting (2nd photo), with our District Leader Elder Ray (3rd photo)

Sunday 27 -

Sunday Evening Devotional - speakers were Sister and President William Young (he's a district president here in MTC) and talked about who our Savior really is. We know that He is our older brother and our friend, but He is more than that. As missionaries, we represent the creator of the Earth. He is our Savior.. In that note, how much respect and do we give Him? :) President Young extended an invitation that we should seek to understand more about Jesus Christ.

Pictures: we had to translate these English sentences to Cantonese (with correct grammar) lol it's haaaard, Mohk Jimuíh's (2nd photo), and mine (3rd photo)

Monday 28 -

P-Day and Memorial Day today (so the temple is closed). That's my 5th week! See you all next week! Love y'all and take care!

Dojeh leih!

Your Sister in Christ,
Aū Jímuih - Sister Apao

China Hong Kong Mission

---

Email me:

wealthia.apao@myldsmail.net

www.DearElder.com:

Mission Provo MTC, Unit 51, Mission Code CHN-HK, Departure Date Jun-24

Written Letters and Packages:

Sister Wealthia Apao

Jun-24 CHN-HK

2005 N. 900 E. Unit 51

Provo, UT 84602

*Some names have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of individuals.

May 21, 2018

WEEK 4 DOWN

*Note: URL links to scriptures and related material are enabled.

Léih hóu!

How are y'all? 😊
By the way, thank you for your letters and emails! I appreciate them all. I miss the outside world! LOL. Been here in Provo MTC for almost a month now (crazyyyy!).

Picture: "Thai noodles night" with the sisters in our zone - Sister Delong, Sister Elison, Sister McColgan, Sister Valencia, Sister Komkajone, Me

Well, I had an exciting week! Here's why:

(Updates/Highlights of my week)

Monday 5/14 -

The older district left this morning and off to their respective mission fields. From 40 missionaries in our branch, there's 18 of us left... I miss them all but I know they're doing the Lord's work now and we'll see each other again someday 😊 (I just easily get attached to people.. is it a good thing or bad thing? Lol.) At dinner, we had TacoBell haha (simple joys haha but I'm missing Filipino food na!).

Picture: Twinning with my BYUH friend - Sister Enriquez - during our gym time lol

Tuesday 5/15 -

Today at class, our teacher taught us about the "Parable of Temple Sermon" in 3 Nephi 11-18 which relates to the importance of the covenants that we do inside the temple.. 😊 For the Tuesday Evening Devotional, the speakers were Sister Duncan and Elder Kevin Duncan (from the Seventy) who both talked about the Book of Mormon. Sister Duncan then shared a story about two ducks (male and a female) who goes to their yard everyday; the female duck has only one leg. Sister Duncan's kids always give these ducks food/crumbs to eat and every time they do, only the female duck eats it and the male duck will just watch her eat (he is just her protector and companion). The moral of the story was the ducks were inspired to go to their yard because they know that the Duncan's will feed them. Similarly to missionary work, God prepared for me the people that I'll be teaching and I know that He'll help me find those people. "Finding by the Spirit is as important as teaching by the Spirit." .. Elder Duncan then compared our testimonies to volcanoes ---Some are perfect outside but dormant inside --- weak/less testimony, while others do not have a perfect shape but are active volcanoes --- strong testimony. He also shared to us the trailer of the Book of Mormon videos (exciting!!! It'll be out on September 21 this year). Can't wait to watch those and use it for investigator lessons! 😊 .. He also counseled that we should always read the Book of Mormon because scriptures will always be one of the key components to know more about Christ..In his talk, he also shared a video of "Social Experiment of #BOM #531". It's an experiment conducted wherein they distributed 531 pages of the book and had the non-Mormons read just a page. Their comments after reading a page were like: "Where's the next page? I want to know more!" or "I think and I totally agree about this book! I think I am a secret Mormon" or "I know that this is true and I want to more about God".. This shows that the voice of the Lord speaks to all and imagine that if a single page of the Book of Mormon can give/have an effect to someone's life, what more if he/she will be able to read the entire book? 😊 .. I know that the Book of Mormon is a powerful book and it will be one of the greatest tool of conversion.

Picture: Hosting new missionaries!

Wednesday 5/16 -

Today, we had the chance to HOST the new missionaries! 😊 yaaaay! We helped them with checking-in, dropped them to their residence, and to their classroom. It was a fun experience even though I have to carry their heavy luggage from the underground garage to the stairs to the building lol. 😊 .. Today we taught our investigator about prayer and the importance of it. Me and my companion planned on teaching him about the Book of Mormon but we had the impression that we should change our lesson plan and teach him about prayer instead.. I know that it's good to have lesson plans set but when the Spirit prompts, you have to listen to the Spirit 😊

Thursday 5/17 -

So last Tuesday, we sang "Let Us All Press On" for the choir and today, we (I and some other "chosen" missionaries) were called to sing and pre-film a video for the 40th year commemoration of the Priesthood given to all worthy men --- Click here for link. Hopefully my face won't be cut out haha. They'll show the video on June 1st. .. Taught [our investigator] about the Book of Mormon and he committed to read the first few chapters of the book. In class, we taked about the chiasma in Alma 36. 😊

Picture: This is when we did the "Pre-film video" for the 40th yr Commemoration of Priesthood.

Friday 5/18 -

Our teacher told us (me and my companion) that we will have a General Authority sit-in in our class today but he didn't show up. Hahaha. He said this General Authority knows Cantonese and since it's only me and my companion who are Cantonese speaking missionaries in the entire Provo MTC, he wants to meet us. I wonder who it is, hmmmm. Taught [our investigator] about the Plan of Salvation and he had tonsss of questions! (but it's good! That means he's curious and wants to know more about it).

Picture: Temple day May 21

Saturday 5/19 -

TRC day today (shared a lesson/message to Cantonese speaking members). Today, me and my companion shared about Christ's Atonement (What is it? Why do we need it and How did it blessed our lives?). It's always an interesting discussion when we teach and ask the members to share their personal experiences). I feel like it's really easier to teach members than teach investigators hehe.

Picture: Temple day May 21(pt 2)

Sunday 5/20 -

Sundays are always a busy day! Back to back meetings, Zone Conference, Choir practice, and Devotional... For the devotional, Sister Martino and President Martino shared a very powerful experience. They talked about the impact of the two missionaries (who taught them) in their lives.. After devotional, we watched Elder Holland's talk entitled "Open Your Mouth". He said: "You must deliver your own conviction and there has to be at least one convert on your mission and that is you... An obedient missionary always has the Spirit of the Lord with him/her... When a man works by faith, he works by words."