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
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