Kwun Tong 25

Debby was baptized last Sunday!!!!!

It was a bit of a hassle and a rush in a way because it was held after the Stake Conference in Wan Chai Chapel (the biggest chapel in Hong Kong, and the most expensive building The Church has ever had to spend on). The baptism was held 30 minutes right after the Conference, and Debby and her member sister Michelle's mother also came and stayed though the whole conference and the baptism and thanked us missionaries!!! But unfortunately she doesn't see the need of the gospel in her own life yet,,she thinks it is good for her daughters but not for her. So we will see what we can do to help the sisters' family.

Wendy has been progressing!!! I am so excited for her, she has a baptismal date of October 7th as of now, and last night when we reminded her about coming to church again at 9am she didn't say any excuses, nor second thoughts, nor complaints but an of course "yes"!!! We are already seeing her change and Father in Heaven truly is in control. Her prayers are so different now, asking for humility to accept God's words and commandments, and doesn't even ask for what she used to ask: a new and better job, and justice for all the wrong she's been through. And on Tuesday was the first time I ever witnessed Sister Dang pray in front of us sister missionaries!! Her husband is a member and a return missionary, and she already knows all the answers in the Sunday School and has heard all the lessons, but for some reason hasn't been baptized when they already have kids about 5-6 years old. Many missionaries have tried to help this family because they really need Christ's Atonement. It has been very slow and hard because originally Brother Dang didn't even want sister missionaries to teach her, and said not to push her to be baptized, etc. But I was really touched to finally hear her prayer after all this time I had been in Kwun Tong.

Anyways, I am just constantly awed, eternally grateful, and overwhelmed by God's mercy, His grace. Some time ago I had received a phone call during busy train travelling, and the lady on the other line named A-Kay, was looking for other sister missionary. I had just enough time to explain about the transfers and moves and that I can call her back later. Then I have been keep forgetting to call her back. Sister Wong (My Macau companion) is serving in the same zone as me right now, and Kwun Tong was her first area in Hong Kong, and she had an impression that she must call A-Kay. She looked back in her old planners to find her number and scheduled her for us Kwun Tong sisters to visit together for a turn-over lesson. A-Kay was first found by Sister Wong and at that time she had no big desire to change, but now she had the desire to see missionaries again to learn and understand more about the gospel of Jesus Christ and has been calling the Kwun Tong sisters for quite a while--each have answered in an inconvenient time and had said that they would call her back, but never did. It was when she has decided to just give up that Sister Wong has called her. It was extremely humbling, grateful experience, more because I know that Sister Wong's area is struggling so much to even find investigators to progress let alone towards baptism, and not much member support. It makes me feel more broken in a good way knowing that as a missionary serving in Kwun Tong, we have really been given such a huge responsibility. I need to work harder, more effective, become more worthy and diligent missionary to depend on the Lord. Because I myself really can't do it all at all. Everything really is in God's hands. He is in control. So many spirits are relying on us to be more worthy of these many prepared souls in Kwun Tong.  The Lord truly works in mysterious ways. He doesn't place the most capable, full of Spirit, most perfect person, nor great perfect harmonious companionship to do His work. He uses us, very inexperienced, forgetful, weak, and young missionaries like me to take care of so many of His precious children that are just waiting to be found. He really trusts me so much and it overwhelms me. He is so forgiving and loving and understanding, I never felt so loved in my life like He loves. And I know all I can offer is this little, small, inadequate best effort of mine. I could never thank Him enough. I couldn't ask for more. I am full of joy and am engulfed about the Lord's love. And I pray hard that He will consecrate every effort for the welfare of the people in Hong Kong. Time is flying by so fast. and I am so grateful, He can use me as His tool, it really is the best feeling, humbled yet so happy.

The past Monday in District meeting I was invited to do a sharing on how to help our investigators to progress towards baptism by having a baptismal date, and I bore testimony on the only thing that has kept me through my mission: Prayer. I had actually prepared a page of other doctrines and principles to share about that topic, then it all went out of my brain when I stood in front of my district. I bore testimony about Prayer, and about the prayers of the recent converts--how it changed and brought Suki, Debby, and others to develop the desire within themselves to be baptized, because they have felt God's love through their prayer. We are instructed in the Scriptures that we are commanded to read, to hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray. I know that is the way we re-develope the forgotten relationship with our dearest, loving Father in Heaven again in this world. We are sent here on earth to learn, but we are not meant to do it alone, we must pray and keep in touch with our Father. We must pray always, literally. Prayer is where I find the love of God, it is my source of refuge, it is where I receive revelations and the clarity to discern. Prayer has protected me through so many things, has brought me to meet so many precious people in my life, has helped me to find what was lost, has helped me to learn and remember, has brought so many miracles in my life. And this testimony of prayer I credit to my mother, her living example of prayer helped me to know that it was so crucial ever since when I was young. I have truly been given so much in my life, the Lord had really been in my life whether I accepted Him into it or not. I am so eternally grateful that we are not left alone in life. So grateful that because of our Savior and His Atonement, no matter how unworthy we may be, we can still commune with the almighty God, the Father in Heaven, in Jesus Christ's name. No matter who we are, what we have done, we can always, where ever, whenever, about whatever, pray and commune with our Father. I love Him. So much.

And I love you my brothers and sisters, and I love Hong Kong.

Hope you are all praying and strengthening your relationships with our Father as well.

Loves always,

Sister Burningham

Kwun Tong 24 - 14 Month Mark

I am overwhelmed and I feel broken, in a good way. I am filled with love for the people of Hong Kong. I am coming to realize how much I really love them even more as time goes by. I think about the part member family Dang family, and how much they need the healing from the Savior's Atonement, I am so happy and humbled to see Wendy progressing, she is thinking less negative thoughts and is praying more, and is changing, slowly but changing nontheless, she came to church at 9 am for the first time last sunday!! Which means she sacrificed/gave up on a lot of her habbits to do it! Debby has passed her baptismal interview and she and her member sister Michelle are trying to invite their mother to the baptism, they are so happy and seeing them together I feel so much strength. Sister Law Poon's husband was just baptized last sunday! after 12 years of not willing to be baptized because of his habbits that he wasn't willing to give up. but for his family he changed! and he is smiling and grateful man! Sarah was out of the hospital to see him be baptized and the family is so happy! Not long more and they can be sealed for eternity,, :') We also visited Suzana's family again on Sunday with our beloved summer missionary Sister Leung, and got on the topic of church, baptism, and good influence of our church! they love having us come over! We thank sister Leung, we know it was her influence that opened up this family! We have more potential to introduce the gospel to this huge family! The twins are still doing so fantastic, they support us missionaries to spend more time helping others to come unto Christ though they miss spending so much time with us. They truly understand our role and purpose and show their testimony through their actions. Vicky, a former investigator, after meeting with us after eefy and explaining clearly our purpose and how gospel can help her, brought a friend specifically to meet us to hear the message of restoration and prophets! She wants to also learn more and learn the truths! Which was so incredible because we weren't sure what her views were because she isn't the kind of person to say  a lot or show any emotions, so this action really showed us how big her desire actually was and her faith. 

On Tuesday night A-Yih met with us after having just returned from mainland. She broke down and told us how happy she feels when she is with us, but, she must leave us because she doesn't believe the Book of Mormon is true. We discussed, and it was clear that she has no faith in the truth that there is a God that created us, that is our Father in Heaven, and she has too many doubts to even ask for an answer. So before things get too complicated, she wants to leave and not see us anymore. It really broke my heart. I don't understand why someone who has seen the light, instead of trying to find out what and how to have that light, decides to leave and remain in the dark and be unhappy she left the light. But, I know that the Savior understands her. I know that He will always be waiting for her to be ready to find out, it really pained me to know how much longer she would choose to not be happy, but I have peace knowing that that is why we have our Savior. I love the gospel, I love my Savior, I am eternally grateful for the mercy and patience He has shown ME, and I hope to bring as many of those that are ready to meet Him.

Loves always, I must go, I love Hong Kong so much,

Sister Lee 

Kwun Tong 23

Ok, this will really be a quick note,,

My new companion is Sister Taylor! She just came out of Macau to serve in Kwun Tong, like me! She was born (first area to serve) in Tai Po, Tai Wo, Sheung Shui after I left the area and served with Sister Farr! They helped Amy, Mandy's friend Leo's mother, come back to church after many many years of inactivity! She has moved to a new area every move after serving in her first area since!

Our beloved Sister Chan, our summer missionary just finished her mission last night, she will be so greatly missed!! She has been such a huge support and blessing to not only us missionaries but to our investigators and members, she is so humble and so willing to serve, so willing to follow.

But we just got a new Summer Missionary on the last minute today! Her name is Sister Leung, and she is so sweetly sitting by us doing her personal study as we email our families, I am really looking forward to get to know her :)

Wendy has a baptismal date, and Raven is praying for one! And Debby is being baptized on the 26th! It is truly a huge miracle to see these three people converting step by step, there is still much work to do. Our mission president, President Hawks just set a new standard of excellence with a great vision: in 8 years, there will be 25 new Stakes established in Hong Kong. And this great zion is established by the sealing of families. We as missionaries need to step up greatly in our faith, diligence and humility in this great work. We are to exercise our faith and all to find families to come unto Christ together, and rely on the Spirit evermore to utilize our time well, using more time and focus towards the less-active members and recent converts, finding families and meeting the families of our investigators.

This Vision is really helping me to be more effective, and to pray and rely on the Spirit evermore.

I know that family is the most important, the whole purpose of our life, and it is the key to happiness and exaltation. It is key to Zion. I love Hong Kong so much, and am so humbled and honored that I get to participate and put forth what best effort I could offer to support in this great cause,,

Loves to you all always, 

Sister Burningham

 Life is full of Miracles! Me and Sister Clements while we were on splits for Mission President Interview on several P-days ago

 Tai Wo Recent Converts!!! From Left: Amy (miracle lost sheep that came back through his son Leo's baptism), Ling Ling, Sister Farr, Mandy!, Sister Chan/A-Yih (Mandy and Angel's Aunt), Angel!, Leo (in front, Mandy's friend), Tony (Ling Ling's Husband), Me, Sister Fernelius, Sally(Mandy's friend), and her mom!

                               Summer Missionary Sister Chan, Raven, Sister Cook, Me

      Sister Taylor, Summer Missionary Sister Chan, Me, on Sister Chan's last night as a Summer missionary :')

Kwun Tong 22 - 11 Month Mark in Hong Kong

I am on a very slow computer today so this will be a quick note.

First of all, Suki, Annie, and Lucy are all confirmed and received their gifts of Holy Ghost!! Their testimonies are touching the people in our ward, they are so amazing! 

We also have New Summer Missionary, Sister Chan! She is from Ma On San Ward back in the Tolo Harbour Stake/Zone I used to serve in my first 3 moves in Hong Kong! And she has just returned from her trip to Korea and got assigned to be our companionship's summer missionary! She is so full of happiness and humility and enthusiasm and hard work, She has been such an enormous help, support, and blessing this past week! She has helped so many of our investigators to progress! 

Our zone has also started our EEFY Activity this week, English Especially For Youth, it will last from Monday to Friday with many activities and sharing of talents like the church activity/camp EFY. It has been going quite smoothly after some nervous scattered planning and preparation, and on Tuesday, Sister Clements and I even taught Drawing!

Our beloved Raven is also doing amazing, she has a powerful testimony of prayer and is really developing faith. She is so prepared and is progressing at a great pace for her.

Despite all the amazing miracles that are happening and the people progressing so well, the mission is still a challenge. It is hard, really hard. I think the biggest miracle and progress in a mission is the miracle and the progress that happens with in each of us as a missionary. I know that although things are hard, each of these challenges were arranged specifically for each of us in specific perfect way. I know that I would never have learned the things I have learned or grown the way I have grown if it wasn't for these specific challenges the Lord has given me. The only thing that holds me up is the support of my Lord. And that takes humility. In all we do, no matter what our circumstances, we are all tested of our faith which can only exist when we have humility. Whether our life may be easy, amazing, hard, worst thing ever, we are still tested of the same things. 

I think the true test in life is that, no matter what happens, no matter what circumstance or situation we are in, are we willing to be humble and exercise our faith to fulfill our duties of the time? Right now my duty is this mission in Hong Kong, in Kwun Tong, there is no excuses or exceptions as to why I am unable to fulfill my duty here right now. When my mission ends, I am to still accept the new duty as a member missionary and not dwell on the fact that I am not a missionary in Hong Kong anymore and lead me to not fulfill the new duty to its fullest. We need to be humbly be faithful to our duties. The Liahona of the last month helped me a lot in realizing this. Today, so many beloved missionaries finished their missions, including my beloved "step-mother" Sister Farr, and Sister Darcey who has been a great influence in my mission ever since my first week in Hong Kong. Sister Cheung who I admire so much and want to become like, and Sister Hsien such powerful encouraging missionary, and Sister Siddayao who has felt like a mother to me and helped me see the international side to Hong Kong and just opened my deep love for Philipean people. Today is also our moves day/transfers, and I am staying in Kwun Tong with 3 moves still left. Sister Cook will be moving to Aberdean and West Point. 

So many has happened, been happening lately, so many things I can't even begin to describe that are trying to break in and destroy my peace, So many drastic changes are happening and we all knew changes are coming soon, and there is so much mixed up emotions that draws me evermore close to my Lord. I want to fulfill His will for the people here. The work He has given me. I want to be pleasing to Him. In all the things that are happening everywhere, He is my anchor, my only hope, the only source of constant love and light that guides me. The only reason why I am still alive and here, the only reason I'll ever need. The only source of opinion that matters. And I gain it all from His Book of Mormon, through prayer, fasting, and His Spirit. I am so grateful to be a member of His sheep. I know that as I keep holding onto His light, I can't fall, can't fail, can't get lost. He is my everything.

He is the Love that I hope you all can feel today and always,

Sister Burningham

Kwun Tong 21

SO Much is happening and no time ever to tell it all,

but, wow, Kwun Tong is truly a special place with so many prepared people, so ready to be harvested, ,,,

The Twins, Annie and Luci passed their baptismal interview on Saturday and were baptized on Sunday!!!

And what is more,,, Suki also was prepared to be interviewed on Saturday so she did and she also passed, and was so excited!!!! So excited that she expressed how she even wants to be baptized the next day instead of waiting until the planned date of August 5th! And so we called everyone that would be affected by this last minute change/arrangement and no one had a problem! So we had an unexpected Suki's early baptism!!! It was truly a special Sunday! Annie and Lucy wrote their testimonies on a piece of paper and shared it after the baptism, they were so prepared and their testimony invited the Spirit so strong, several of us cried, their reason for being baptized is truly purely for their Savior Jesus Christ, it is so definitely apparent, and when they were being baptized the Spirit also flowed into the room and filled us all, we know this was a right decision for them, and a choice that is eternal. An eternal covenant, they have just entered on this road back to our Eternal Father, so so happy. Suki is also very strong, she is so happy and caring and loves the church so much. She had to move to a completely new apartment the past week and made many other sacrifices and changes so she can keep the commandments of God. She has already helped us fellowship and teach lessons before being baptized, always willing to help, and even looks after our recent converts and members. So fantastic.

We also found out why Hoi King couldn't come to church! She has had a surgery on her head/face! She didn't tell us because she was afraid we would worry her to death, which we pretty much already did because we couldn't get a hold of her and thought she was avoiding us for some not good reason, but she has told Sister Lee who used to serve with us as a summer missionary, and so we now know why. She will be coming to church this week, so we are looking forward to it very much.

We had so many miracles happen this week as well, we were also able to meet up with one of the moms in our childrens' English class to explain more of our purpose and she is willing to learn the Gospel! yay! Also the Mandarin Elders were also able to grab two mandarin speaking moms after the class and teach them!

Debby, Michelle's little sister is also preparing to be baptized on the 26th of August, she loves the church and is happier, is learning so much, and is growing in the gospel, and desires to join the family of the Lord. She has been keeping all of her commitments, and willing to keep the Word of Wisdom, loves and appreciates Joseph Smith so much, she really understands the importance of Restoration and knows this church is true. She reads the Book of Mormon, she is so prepared and Michelle is such a wonderful fellowshipper :)

Anyways Kwun Tong is doing very well!

I love you as always and miss you,

my prayers are with you every day,

hope you all are also coming closer to our Savior, remember Him.

Luvs,

Sister Lee

Wow, I haven't sent pictures home in a long time!

here comes loads!

 

     Suki and the Twins baptism:  Suki and the elders

     S. Cook, Suki, me, Becky Ng-suki's fellowshipper

      The Twins and Sister Law Poon: Luci, S.Law Poon, Annie

     Becky Ng-also their fellowshipper, S.Cook, Lucy, Annie, me

      Everyone together! E. Perry, E.Bingham, Luci, Annie, S.Cook, Suki, me, Becky Ng! 

     When we went to the temple 2 weeks ago:  Sister Cook and I 

Our zone sisters! In front: Sister Darcey, Sister Hinze, In back: S.Mercado, me, S.Clements, Sis.Wong, S.Cheung, S. Cook

,,,and

Cindy Wu, a member referral, we are teaching her English in her beautiful glamorous, very fancy palace looking apartment! Originally, there was only English interest, no interest in religion whatsoever. But, Cindy has now started to be in a habbit to pray as she studys! We will be meeting her mother soon who also is a great person and wants to improve her English, their family all speak Mandarin and we will let them meet the Mandarin speaking Elders soon!

This is also about 2 weeks ago when we visited Sarah, Sister Law Poon's daughter in the hospital, she is now all good and came back to church last Sunday with her whole family, including her non-member father! He has chosen to be baptized this month of August!!! Has been refusing for 12 ish years now and finally because he wants to be with his family forever he has chosen to be baptized!!! So Happy!!!!!!!!! Such awesome strong family!