WEEK 23

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

Léih hóu! 

Wow, can't believe it's Monday again and it's Octobeeer 😊  How's everyone doing? 😊 I felt like last week happened soooo fast... And uhmm, nothing much happened too. We did finding everyday for almost 3 to 4 hours (whew).

Updates/Highlights from last week:

Sept 24 Monday - 

It's my 5th month mark today! 😊 Crazy how time flies... Anyways after emailing today, we...had KBBQ with Sister Lim and Sister Rodriguez. It was nice catching up with them 😊 They're doing [missionary] work [in Tagalog] now and it was great to hear their missionary work experiences too... At night, we met with a former (kinda sketchy guy) 😑 It's sad that he doesn't have much interest in the Gospel anymore and just met with sister missionaries before because they're pretty lol. Haaaay 😖 Nevertheless, we still shared how the Gospel can bring joy in our lives and how God loves us so much, that no matter how imperfect we are, He is still there for us.

Sept 25 Tuesday -

Gave a training about Extending Commitment Invitations during our District Council. We also had an activity wherein I gave them scripture verses and from that, they should come up with a commitment that they'll extend to the people that they're teaching...It was a fun activity 😊 I know that people would not likely change unless they are invited to do so... As missionaries, we desire the Salvation of souls (Mosiah 28:3) and we could do that by extending specific and right commitment invitations to the people. I know that when we commit them to do something, we are also inviting them to come unto Christ and invite them to repent and change.

Sept 26 Wednesday -

Did Crossroads (service)... Then did Finding in the afternoon-evening... Tiring day haha... Nothing special happened though but I just want to share this talk that I read today: The Best Is Yet to Be by Elder Holland (Click for link). Please read it 😊

Sept 27 Thursday -

Did a lot of finding today but no success. Rejections here and there 😞 Since we're so focused on finding souls to teach today, we just ate biscuit for dinner haha no time to eat.

Pictures: Reminds me of a special dog back in LA 💗

Sept 28 Friday - 

Had our Zone Opening Exercises and set our "zone goals" and the things we will improve as a zone:

1. Focus on Christ - His attributes and teaching skills (teach like the Savior's way)
2. Be more effective and use backup plans
3. Work with members - talk to them before and after sacrament meeting, also don't waste time

Today we also met with a returning member who's actually a BYU-H alumni too but since he got back to Hong Kong, he stopped coming to church 😢 We are doing our best to remind him everyday to pray and read again the Book of Mormon.

Sept 29 Saturday -

Finding all daaaay. 🙏

Sept 30 Sunday - 

I always love Sundays. 😊 ... Sacrament talks focused on serving other people and doing "small" good deeds for them. It reminded me of the hymn "Have I done any good?"... I made a goal that every night before I go to sleep, I will evaluate myself if I did something good today / small good act for others.

That's my week. Sorry it was short. 

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a true church and I am grateful that I have the gospel in my life. I am grateful for Jesus Christ's Atonement and for His sacrifice. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and they keystone of our religion. I also know that all missionaries help the gathering of Israel. Heavenly Father loves us so much. Never ever forget that 💓

Love y'all! Have a great week!

Your Sister in Christ,
Aū Jímuih - Sister Apao

China Hong Kong Mission (Apr '18 - Nov '19)

---

Email me: 

wealthia.apao@myldsmail.net

Written Letters and Packages:

Sister Wealthia Apao

18 Dorset Crescent

Kowloon Tong

Kowloon City

Hong Kong

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

WEEK 22

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

Léih hóu! 

Picture: My companions ended their mission with honor!

Sister Ramboz and Sister Lee

It's email day again 😊 How are y'all doing? First off, I have a new companion now. Second, I am getting fat hahahaha 😟 Third, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone! 😄

Anyways, this is my update from the last four days
(Thurs-Sunday):

Sept 20 Thursday - 

Had transfers today and got my new companion, Sister Frandsen. It was heartbreaking to send off my trainer Sister Ramboz and my other companion Sister Lee 😢 I just love them so much but I know it'll be okay and I'll adjust fast. Sooo, Sister Frandsen is originally from China, moved to California, and got baptized when she was 14 years old. She's so nice, funny, and is really good in Chinese. I am learning a lot from her everyday and our companionship unity is great! We just vibed easily and I am thankful for that... 😊 Aside from that, I also have a new Filipina apartment-mate and her name is Sister Alboroto. She's fresh from MTC and is being trained by Sister Liang. They cover [the neighboring] ward now and I am back to my baby area [original ward]... Did District Finding today and had a lot of rejections still but it's good, at least we tried our best 😊 Hmmm, t'was a tiring day for me (emotionally and physically) but I know that Heavenly Father is helping me everyday... Missionary work is indeed hard but I know that "if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23)

Pictures: I miss you Sister Ramboz and Sister Lee!

Letter and gift from my trainer Sister Ramboz.

Sept 21 Friday -

Me and my companion taught English Class today and our topic was Mid-Autumn Festival or jung chau jit in Cantonese. So this festival is the 15th day of the eighth lunar month (wow) and is also nicknamed "Family Reunion Festival". Families gather together and they eat moon cakes (yuht beng) which represents the full moon 😊 ... Our message for our English Class today was centered about families and how the Gospel can bless our families... I am grateful for my family for their support and for their example and I testify that families can be together forever. I am so thankful that I have this privilege to help other people be with their families for eternity 😊 --- Missionary work is great!

Sept 22 Saturday -

Did Finding all dayyy. Rejections everywhere but I got used to it haha. I can somewhat say that I am developing "Charity" and "Humility" because of this work.

Picture: Bumped into my BYUH friend at the train station!

Sept 23 Sunday -

Ward Conference today was so great! The High Council reminded us on how to improve and be better ministers. He suggested ABC which stands for 

• A-Attitude (have a positive attitude)
• B-Believe (believe that you can improve), and 
• C-Courage (have courage in helping the Lord's work).. 

I also sang sang with the Ward Choir (in Cantonese) and it was a great experience... Also today, "SISTER G." GOT BAPTIZED (yuhooo!). I was so happy to witness her special day! I've been praying and fasting for her since the day I met her and it was really an unexplainable feeling when your "investigator/people you teach" finally enter the waters of baptism. We will continue to nourish her faith and so she can eventually enter the temple and make higher ordinances 😊 .. I testify that Missionary Work is soooo worth it and I am glad to be part of this work 😊

Pictures: Baptisms!

P.S Thank you [to my good friend] for the stuff that you guys gave me! You're the sweetest. It was nice seeing you! 😊

That's my short(?) update for now. I miss you all and I love you all! Have a great week.

Your Sister in Christ,
Aū Jímuih - Sister Apao

China Hong Kong Mission (Apr '18 - Nov '19)

---

Email me: 

wealthia.apao@myldsmail.net

Written Letters and Packages:

Sister Wealthia Apao

18 Dorset Crescent

Kowloon Tong

Kowloon City

Hong Kong

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

WEEK 21

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

Léih hóu! 

Picture: Mission Tour with Elder Meurs and Elder Homer, counselors of the Asia Area Presidency.

First of  all, thank you so much for your prayers and for your messages. I am safe and all the missionaries as well. The "super typhoon" was too strong that they needed to cancel church and P-Day last Monday 😟 We could still see the after storm effect til now but we're grateful that no one was hurt.

Updates/Highlights from last week:

Sept 10 Monday - 

After emailing, we went...and had tohngseui with our potential [person of interest] "Brother L." He chenged us hehe.. Then me and my companions went...and did some Muji shopping. Muji is a Japanese store that has cute pens and other cute stuff hehe. I think it's kinda like Miniso. A member from [the neighboring] Ward gave us $100 muji gift certificate (yayyy!) so basically I didn't spend anything today 😊 At night, we visited "S. Family". They are members of [my] Ward. [One of them] also graduated from BYUH (Sept 2013) and we overlapped for a bit, She said she knows [some of my] friends who worked in Luau before. She also served her mission in California Los Angeles and her brother served his in California Arcadia. We asked them to share their favorite mission experience/s, [the parents] really raised wonderful kids 😊. We shared Enos 1:11-12 to them.

Pictures: P-day food and Muji!

Sept 11 Tuesday - 

Today was our Mission Tour (it's kinda like Zone Conference) with Elder Meurs and Elder Homer (counselors of Asia Area Presidency). The mission tour was edifying! These are some of the things that I learned:

• Give more personal invitations (very specific to their needs)
• The people of Hong Kong do not know why we have the Gospel but we do so help them feel the urgency and the need of the gospel in their lives
• In order for the Lord to answer our questions/prayers, we have to be prepared to act. Just like Joseph Smith's question: "Which church should I join?" Aside from his desire to know the truth, he's willing and ready to act!
• We are all in the process of conversion until we are exactly like unto the Lord. Just like what 3 Nephi 27:27 says "...what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am."
• If we believe we can't then we will not progress. If we believe we can, our eyes and hearts  will be opened... Our mission goal now is to work more with members and involve them MORE in the work. We will teach repentance and baptize converts each month 😊

After the long training / mission tour, me and my companions had a hotpot chengout for dinner hehe. Sister Lee's recent convert chenged us and we ate a lot of seafoods! Hehe. Sihkbaau! (so full!).

Pictures: Seafood chengout!

Sept 12 Wednesday - 

Did Crossroads and weekly planning. We have a baptism coming soon! So we planned for that, too.

Sept 13 Thursday - 

"Sister G." had her baptismal interview today 😊 She's getting "dunked" this Sunday, the 16th!

Sept 14 Friday - 

Taught [one of the Bishop's daughters] about the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity today. Whew! It was hard/awkward to teach Chastity to an 8-year-old girl haha but it's good that [her mom] was there too. Basically we talked about how we should take care of our bodies and that our body is sacred and a temple of God. After the lesson, we had pizza (yahoo! lol been awhile haha) ... and durian HAHA.. At night, met and taught "Brother L." (from Monday) about the importance of Sacrament and shared Moroni 6:6. It's sad cos after tonight, we're not teaching him anymore and I'll be back in (original) ward but the new sisters assigned to [the neighboring] ward will continue working with him 😊 I know they'll do their best to bring him back to His fold 😊

Pictures: Yum!

Sept 15 Saturday -

We went visit "Sister A." (she's from the Philippines) today and ate breakfast with her. She's recently worried and stressed with a lot of things and so we shared about Prayer and Fasting (the blessings of it). We read Isaiah 58:6, 9, and 11... Also visited "Brother H." and "Sister C." today. They're doing good and still trying to get an answer from the Lord tor their baptism date. We'll keep praying for them 😊 .. At night, visited "L. Family". [One of them] is the gospel principles class teacher for [the neighboring] ward. Very funny and has a strong testimony! We shared 1 Nephi 1:20 and invited them to look for "tender mercies" from the Lord everyday 😊 ... Move calls happened tonight too and my new companion will be Sister Frandsen! 😊

Sept 16 Sunday - 

Church was cancelled today 😟 It's supposed to be our Ward Conference and "Sister G.'s" baptism but we just moved it for next Sunday 😊 Typhoon 10 was crazy! But I bet it was crazier in the Philippines?.. Today we called members and asked if they're doing okay and my companions said bye to them cos it's also their last Sunday here in Hong Kong.

Picture: Safety preparations for the super typhoon!

Sept 17 Monday - 

No P-Day today {by order of Mission President). Just stayed at home, cleaned, and rested... In the afternoon, we got a text that we're allowed to go out but just close in our area. We had Family Home Evening with [two families together]. I [introduced] the "fruit game" which you're not allowed to show your teeth hehe it was fun! I chose Lauh Lihn (durian) haha.

Pictures: Some damages caused by the typhoon...

Sept 18 Tuesday - 

Yesterday was not busy at all, today we are so packed! In the morning we helped a member and did some service in her area. We picked up branches, twigs, and even small/medium trees that were on the road. Had district council and we talked about what are the ways that we could earn members' trust that would eventually lead them to want to work with us. I encourage everyone to please please please help the missionaries in your ward / branch. They need you as well... After district council, had one teaching appointment then two back-to-back chengouts (whew --- I'm sooo fat now 😆)... Long day!

Scripture verse for today: 2 Nephi 31:19-20

Pictures: Missionary work also means community service!
Helping out after Typhoon Mangkhut.

That's my week. 😊 Hope everyone is safe! I know that this church is true and I am grateful for the gospel. I love you all! See you again on Monday!

Your Sister in Christ,
Aū Jímuih - Sister Apao

China Hong Kong Mission (Apr '18 - Nov '19)

---

Email me: 

wealthia.apao@myldsmail.net

Written Letters and Packages:

Sister Wealthia Apao

18 Dorset Crescent

Kowloon Tong

Kowloon City

Hong Kong

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

Typhoon Mangkhut Update

*Note: Typhoon Mangkhut (aka Ompong) was a Category 5 in the Philippines and made it's way towards Hong Kong/Macau and mainland China on September 15 and 16, 2018. China Hong Kong Mission reported that all missionaries are safe and accounted for and allowed each missionary to send a short e-mail to loved ones...

Kamusta po kayong lahat?

This is just a short email and notice to everyone. 😊 Our PDay is cancelled today due to the after storm effect so our mission president allowed us to email from our phones. Just want to notify everyone that I am safe and all the missionaries are safe as well.

Last Saturday was Typhoon 8 and yesterday was Typhoon 10 so they also cancelled church. I think Typhoon 8 is like PH's Signal 3 and Typhoon 10 is PH's Signal 4. The wind was so strong yesterday! We heard that a tree beside the temple was uprooted but luckily it didn't hit the temple or it would have caused damage to the temple.

President Phillips said he'll notify us when are we finally allowed to go out and also I think we'll do some service projects this week. He will also give us a longer time to email this week so just watch out for my next email.

By the way, transfers are this coming Thursday! I'll have a new companion and her name is Sister Frandsen. She's also [ending her mission] this coming transfer. Hmm, so that means I'll stay even longer here in my area. Maybe I'll be here til the end of the year hahaha.

That's it. Have a great day everyone! Love you all!

Sister Apao

WEEK 20

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

Léih hóu! 

Leihdeih seunggo singkeih hou ma? 😊 (How was last week?)

Updates/Highlights from last week:

Sept 3 Monday - 

Just an ordinary P-Day 😊 After emailing, we went to...this place [that] has a dirty mall (that's how they call it lol). That place has a lot of cheap stuff. They have cheap gummy bears too haha soooo good!... At night, met with a potential [person of interest]. He wants us to teach him English cos his work is related to Logistics and they use English for their transactions. He said he doesn't have beliefs so we introduced our church and shared to him about prayer... It still amazes me to meet someone that doesn't have beliefs or doesn't even know who Jesus Christ is. Makes me do more missionary work 😊

Sept 4 Tuesday - 

Had yamchah (dimsum restaurant) for brunch. "Kanye" chenged (dinner appointment) us today haha. He's one of those people who attends our English Class. He's a suksuk (old man) and the missionaries named him "Kanye" hahaha. He's a cool suksuk! Very funny but do not have much interest about the gospel. For him, church is good but it's just a place of comfort 😟 Hmmm.. At night, we taught Sister "T." (a returning member) piano hehe and shared a message on how we can develop our relationship with Heavenly Father. She was teary-eyed while we are sharing our thoughts. I know that she felt the Spirit as well 😊 I testified that we are all God's children and He loves us so much no matter who we are 😊

Pictures: Tried this burger place called Mos Burgers

Sept 5 Wednesday - 

Did Crossroads [service] today! 😊 We were assigned in the kitchen again hehe... Then in the afternoon, we did finding with our Zone and this time is in our area 😊 ... Oh! Me and my companions also had a funny experience today! Haha. Soooo, we went to a member's house for a cheng out / dinner appointment but it turned out that we are actually scheduled for tomorrow! Haha. (awkward). We were in front of their house and knocked on their door but no one's answering so we decided to reread their text hahaha and it says "See you on Thursday night." LOL fail hahaha. Missionary work really makes you forget what day is it na haha.

Picture: At Crossroads with our friend from South Africa

Sept 6 Thursday - 

Had mission President's interview today. I asked him what will happen next transfer and he said he still doesn't know lol... but I have a feeling they'll white wash [the area next to us] and I'll stay in my original ward... Both of my companions are "dying" so I'll have a new companion next week 😊 ... At night, had cheng out with "N." Family and we also invited Brother "W." (a returning member). Brother "N." was actually the one who baptized "W." 😊 We shared a message about Faith and used Ether 12:4. Committed everyone to continue praying, reading the scriptures, and come to church.

Pictures: Our cheng out with the "N." Family

Sept 7 Friday -

Taught a recent convert today and used Mosiah 24:12-16. She said she's been struggling a lot and is worried for her mom's condition (she has kidney stones and gall stones) 😟 ... We bore our testimony that we know God will help us lift our burdens if we allow Him to do so... I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much and He will definitely help us overcome our trials and challenges... Ngohdeih yiu houdo seunsam (We need to have great faith).

Sept 8 Saturday - 

Pictures: Relief Society activity - Cake rolls! 

They look like giraffes or snakes. Hahaha!

The...Ward Relief Society Sisters had an activity today. We learned how to make cake roll haha fun! Had another chengout tonight and it was at Sister "A.'s" place. Hingdaih (Brother "A.") is a great cook! They served Chinese foods and we had mango meringue for dessert nyuuum. The Elders shared the message and we read Mosiah 27:36-37.

Video: Elder Batey wants to be famous and be included in my blog

Pictures: Chengout at Sister "A.'s" place with Elder Batey and Elder Francom! 

They have a crab for a pet lol.

Sept 9 Sunday - 

Another physical and spiritual draining day haha. We were at church for the whole day again... Uhmm, I have a very good news! [One of the people we are teaching]...the one who decided to have her baptism next year, will be baptized next Sunday on the 16th! Yuhooo 😁 We are so happy for her decision to finally not delay it. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are both happy for her as well 😊 ... Had another cheng out [with a] great family! We shared the message and used Enos 1:11-12 and committed them to think of someone that they can share the gospel with.

Pictures: Tried Pepper Lunch for the first time on our P-day today (Sept. 10)

That's my week. Thanks for reading my email! Have a great week everyone! Mahal ko kayo!

Your Sister in Christ,
Aū Jímuih - Sister Apao

China Hong Kong Mission (Apr '18 - Nov '19)

---

Email me: 

wealthia.apao@myldsmail.net

Written Letters and Packages:

Sister Wealthia Apao

18 Dorset Crescent

Kowloon Tong

Kowloon City

Hong Kong

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