Kwun Tong 7, Month 10

Just realized I have just past my 10th month mark in my mission last week, Where did month 9 go??? It's all going by way too fast.

Last week was so special, well, I guess every week I realize that my past week has been very special; I am grateful for e-mail times not only because I get to communicate with my family, but also because I get to reflect back my week and realize how wonderous and miraculous it had been, and how much I have learned and grown in such a short time.

I can't believe all the things that has happened the past week, it all seems so long ago, yet I feel like P-day was just 2-3 days ago and it's already here.

Last Friday-Sunday was a very overwhelming period for many of us in our areas. One of the sisters living with us in our apartment, her relative has passed away very suddenly who was very personal to her and was one of the hopes and blessings she prayed for as she went on her mission. There were also other many very crisis moments that happened all at once for so many people around us, even for me as well. And the most miraculous, unifying part of it all was that we all overcame each of our crisis through the same power: the Atonement. I would not be able to fully describe how amazing, how incredible, I can't describe what we all experienced, only that it was so very special, we are really trusting in the Lord, and we can feel His strength, and, ah, it's SO incredible, we are changing, we are becoming ever more humble, ever more meek and broken hearted, and the Lord is able to purify us and help us become more like Him.

The World will never be able to understand, how those who apply the Atonement of our Savior daily can do what they do, how we can still laugh and look out for someone else in their crisis while in the midst of our own, and how we are able to invite the Spirit to let it lift the burdens of our friends whether they be members or investigators or whoever they may be, how we can remember someone else's needs and include them in our prayer of faith, how we can list lists of blessings after blessings and really sincerely thank God for everything--even our painful moments we are experiencing, how we are able to just continue to do our best efforts in the Lord's work, how we can just let go of others' offences and mistakes, how we can just forgive and accept, to move on and trust and obey, how we can look at some one in the eye and tell them "I know God, my Father in Heaven loves me, and I know He loves you". God is so merciful, so patient, so kind, so loving. I am grateful that such a perfect, all mighty and all loving, glorious being is our Father up above. We really can trust Him, because He really does have all the best in mind for us. Mission has really been different than what I had expected. The Lord is ever so mindful of us each. He uses specific people, blessings, trials, and opportunities tailored and personified specifically for each of us to help us grow and learn and become more like Him. And as we realize we really are His baby, ever in need to rely and trust in Him, as we humble ourselves like so and accept our brothers and sisters who are also given weaknesses as we have been, we are letting the Lord change us into who we were made to become. And the price for all that mercy and privilege has already been paid through the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for all the prayers and fasting and other supports on my behalf,

so grateful for this privilege to serve a mission even though I have so many weaknesses, the Lord truly qualifies those He calls, He makes sure He fixes them up :) And Loves us so SO much.

I am so grateful to be alive

to have all these experiences in this mortal life, to know my Savior and can feel of the power of the Atonement,

His Grace, I will eternally be grateful for, it is my source of survival,

I am super grateful I had already chosen my Savior even before this life to receive this body of flesh and bone :')

And as always, I love you,

and what more, our Best Friend, Jesus Christ loves you, Perfectly.

S2, Leih Ji muih

Zone Activity today, we went to Tai Po!! My baby area!! I have missed it so much! Felt so good to visit it again :') 

Kwun Tong 6

This past week was unique,

we went on a zone find and during the find they exchanged the companions and I got to be companions with Sister Cheung (we were in the same zone & apartment my first area and recently she was moved into this zone --but different apt.--so we are reunited in the same zone! :D) And we found a new investigator together who was willing to pray and hear our lesson on the street, her name is Skye, and she loves art as well :D she asked good questions and though it is Sister Cheung's area so I won't see her in their next appointment, I am really excited for her to come closer to the Savior, and she expressed that she wants to :)

And on Monday I helped Phoebe with her English homework and she thanked me saying she was able to get it done much faster than she would have if she struggled on it by herself, so since she has been to busy to read the Book of Mormon, I congratulated her for this extra time that she has just discovered to actually read the Book of Mormon now! And she really did read! I was SO happy! Because of the way she grew up she was convinced that there cannot be God and was hesitant to try having faith and gain answers to her prayers, so we came to a conclusion that the only way she can overcome those doubts and be convinced to try it out is through the Book of Mormon, and she is a reader herself as well. So we are slowly trying to help her find her faith. Her younger brother on the other hand is preparing himself to be baptized on the 29th! We hope the changes he will go through through the gospel will also help Phoebe develope the seed of faith to plant.

On Saturday we visited our less-active recent convert Jenny and that day we also met her older sister Ada as well! Ada is a former investigator who skipped on her appointments with past missionaries and this rare opportunity we were able to share the messege with her with her siblings--Jenny and her very active older brother/Ada's younger brother Marcle. And Jenny offered the closing prayer where she expressed her hopes that her sister Ada and her parents would also come to believe in God someday and it was so beautiful. Since Jenny's learning the gospel, the relationship with her and Ada were improved, and we could see that her prayer drew them even more closer, we also could see that Jenny actually deep within really did love the gospel and realized that we just needed to encourage her to wake up on sundays so that she can come to church, so her sister and her parents can also see her love for the gospel in action. I have made an agreement that she may sit next to me and watch me draw her some pictures during church, which she seemed to be excited for.

This week we also had 24 hour exchange in our zone, and I had the opportunity to be companions with Sister Kelly again from the MTC!!! and we didn't realize how much we had really missed being companions until that day, we had such an amazing unity and were able to experience the application of basically everything we learned in the MTC and Preach My Gospel! We could see that the same time we have been apart that we learned so much ourselves and it just came back together so smoothly and really helped us to feel the potential of well unified companionship applying the new principles introduced in the MTC. And we were very happy and it really helped us to know that we really have grown and learned more than we thought we did since coming to Hong Kong.

I am truly learning so much, more than I have enough space or time to record it, let alone email it, time is running out, but I just want to share I am so happy to have this privilege to be used as the Lord's instrument in His work. Really overwhelmed by His grace and mercy :')

Loves always

Sister Burningham

Kwun Tong 5

Last week was Hong Kong's General Conference!! And I am glowing and floating and giddy with such a feast for my soul! And as usual it answered my questions! I am so grateful that we can have such a meeting and gathering with the Saints all over the world and be strengthened together.

Anyways, I am becoming closer to our recent converts and less-actives and our investigators. I am getting to know them more and we are becoming better friends, I just need to help this relationship to slowly be passed onto the Savior, so that He can be their Constant best friend, like He has been for me with all the changes I've gone through :)

It will take some time as I help them gain more out of the Book of Mormon, but I know it can happen, because it already has in my past areas, and it's what we have been called by God to do.

 

Pictures this week are Korean food! well, I have desperately been missing Korean food more than I ever have in my entire life this past week, and I attempt to cook something somewhat close to it, but my beloved companion had her birthday past week and a member took us out for dinner and since my companion also loves Korean food, we went to a korean "fast food" booth and had some! hehe <3 it's SO much better than my attempted cooking in the limited time we have as missionaries :)

 

Short and sweet this week, hope to write more next week!

Loves to you all

from Hong Kong :) :) :)

Sister Burningham

Kwun Tong 4

Sunday last week was so awesome, Kobe the elders' investigator was baptized and bore strong testimony, he's so great, loves the gospel so much, so happy to see him so excited to keep growing and improving. Last Sunday was also a special My Conversion Story Fireside with Songs of the Heart Choir for Easter season for the whole Hong Kong. It was held in Kowloon City and we all traveled there and got there early to look around the temple together, Kobe was so excited. It was his first time in Kowloon and he even gets to see the House of the Lord. It phases me everytime how the temple stands in the midst of busy Hong Kong streets and despite how noisy the street is with cars and buses once we enter in the temple grounds, it is actually quiet and so peaceful within--and we haven't even actually entered into the actual temple itself! It truly is the House of the Lord where it points us to look to God.

The Choir program was great and powerful, I just wished we could have had our investigators to come but they all thought it was too far and too late in the evening, because the fireside is for everyone and anyone and the spirit is so strong, and the recent converts of the missionaries ending their missions share their conversion stories and why they believe. So good.

It was a bit funny, a bit of a culture shock to be at the fireside because basically everyone in Hong Kong was there, including the members and missionaries in my first area, I must have been away quite a while it was quite overwhelming to see them all again,

time is running short already, (yay send picture days), I love you all so much as always, thank you for your support and prayers.

Leih Jimuih

The recent converts of Kwun Tong Ward: (from left) Kobe (baptized that day), Elder Ho, Earnest, Elder Farnsworth, Cassandra (baptized a week before), Michelle, Sister Wan, Carry, me

 

With Sister Chang, her last Sunday as missionary in Hong Kong, I heard about her since the MTC and met her my first day in Hong Kong and really was a great example to me, I will miss her and her smiles so much!! 

Harbor side of my area, from our beloved Thailand sister, Sister Pang's balcony, she treats us for dinner basically every Thursday and we eat in her balcony with this beautiful harbor sceneary :)

 

Kwun Tong 3

Thank you everyone for your support and prayers, I definitely feel them and it helps me, who has many weaknesses, do wonders. It's truly wonderful being on a mission to humbly serve and do our utmost best, and to see the Lord stretch forth His hands to accomplish miracles and teach us all. I am constantly honored and privileged to be serving on this full time mission. Truly an opportunity that I would forever be grateful for.

I forgot, last Thursday was March 22, which means that I have been serving my mission for 9 months, my half mark point. It was a bit unsettling at first because it has really gone by so fast, I have already went through half of this special time, and the desire and hopes to use this sacred time to its fullest further sinks in my heart. And I feel the Lord trusting me with more opportunities and challenges to step up, learn, and to grow, and   these strengths I feel that isn't my own continues to grown and strengthen within me, I can really feel this mission purify me. I am overcome with this waterfall-like mercy pouring down from the Lord. I have felt myself let go little by little daily, the pride that I have yet let go of. And I can't help but to feel that the Lord is continuously preparing me for both the near future and the far future. The Lord is really making something out of me, and I can only trust in Him.

I don't think I have written about Pandora (or Tihng Tihng) yet, she is our recent convert Cindy's older sister and LOVES Korea and really wants to learn Korean. She has turned down Cindy's invitations to learn the gospel but then all of a sudden she wanted to schedule the missionaries to learn Korean when I moved here. We explained to her that we couldn't just teach her Korean only because that isn't why we volunteer to go on this mission for the Lord, so we came to an agreement of 15 min Gospel and 30 min Korean lessons. The first time she came though, Cindy really wanted to watch the Restoration movie with her sister, so we did, and it prompted Tihng Tihng with many quesetions, so we taught her the message of how Restoration came about and why it is important, and upon seeing the Book of Mormon she eagerly said she will read it and find out if this is really all true. In closing prayer, her first time praying, she expressed how she hoped to understand and learn more about this gospel of Jesus Christ, and no mention of Korean! And then we ran out of time so that meeting turned out to be 45 min gospel lesson and 5-10 min Korean. It was a miracle! And then she is continuing to investigate, and expresses she feels better after praying and she likes seeing the missionaries and as Cindy expressed, the two sisters' relationship has improved since Cindy's conversion to the gospel and Tihng Tihng seem to recognize that as well. I am very excited for her to feel more of the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We also started teaching Phoebe, a street contact from the Elders, I am amazed as I teach her because she has grown up in the Mainland and the influences she had as she grew up convinced her to believe that there is no God. yet, she keeps coming back to learn the gospel, and asks great questions. Last time we got to the point where she recognized that she need to really try this out because she doesn't have a definite testimony that there isn't a God, and because finding out if there really is a God will give her more hope in her life. She is very smart and really easily understands the word of the messege, we are working on trying to help her feel it by trying to help her to pray with real intent.

I went on a companion exchange as we went finding on the street for the other district, and it was one of the rougher finding where we couldn't find anyone interested. As I felt a bit down and entered the subway, I knew that I needed to just overcome it and continue to find. And so when I looked around, in front of me I saw a man who wore a cross around his neck, and saw that he was looking at us missionaries. I asked him if he has seen us before, he said no. I explained to him who we were and he said as he pointed to his necklace that he is also Christian. I asked Him why he believes in Christ, he said certain events in his life led him to Christ. I asked him which church he attends, if he attends it every sunday and why that particular church. He regularly attends a church below his apartment because it is most closest to him. So I gave him a Restoration pamphlet, our church addresses and a Book of Mormon with explanations and he graciously accepted them. And I was overcome with gratitude, the Lord has placed someone who would accept our invitation, and really, this one event/encounter outweighs all the previous disappointments. And I had to repent, because I had forgotten to ask for his contact information,,, but I know that the Lord will consecrate my efforts as I repent of my shortcomings and mistakes and will continue to lead those prepared souls to Him, and will help me as a missionary to learn and grow to do better next time. I am continually grateful for the Savior's Atonement that offers that opportunity for me to repent.

Time is up and I need to go,

but I love you all so much, thank you so much for everything

the Lord has really given me precious, wonderful, Christ-like friends within my family and even so many outside of my family

Loves Always,

 

Sister Burningham

Leih Jimuih

Kwun Tong 2

Where to start?

Continuation of last week's thoughts, I have been thinking about how perhaps, the reason that although God is almighty and He can do anything but would call us imperfect servants to "assist" Him in His work is not only to teach and train us and everything but to also help us meet these our brothers and sisters again that we loved so much to come to love them again by serving them, so that we would excercise our faith for them by praying and fasting and working for them to open the windows of heaven to bring to pass the miracles Heavenly Father is so waiting to pour down upon us. This work of the Lord, I am learning, really is played in big part by faith. Which without hope and charity is also vain. It is through it that the work of the Lord started, it is through it that we came to earth, it is through it that it moves forward and will continue to move forward. And most importantly what do we have faith in? It is only by having faith in our Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement that all these things are broght to pass. He really is center of everything in God's Plan.

Anyways, last week has also been full of God's mercy and teachings for me, as He sees me overcome and grow from one challenge, He sees that I am ready to start working on another weakness and lets me know it's time to start working on it, and I have accepted that Heavenly Father really wants to use all the opportunity of the Mission to fix me up for the future, for which I am grateful that He is. Ever since getting the conference issue of Ensign/Liahona, I have been back reading and being reminded again and again of Elder Henry B. Eyring's talk in the October 2011 Priesthood Session of the General Conference, "Preparation in the Priesthood: 'I Need Your Help'". I think I admit it is my favorite, :) It really helps me to keep moving forward with trust in the Lord, not knowing what exactly He is preparing me for, but knowing that if I let Him I will be able to accomplish all that He has sent me on earth to accomplish and grow the way I need to.

Yesterday was a 24 hour companion exchange and I had the opportunity to be companions with Sister Nelson and serve in her area of Tseung Kwan O, and had the most honorable privilege to teach Annessa. I have met her before when Sister Nelson and I went on splits street finding, she is an investigator and LOVES Korea, and she is a very admired popular person "so cool" as the ward YW leader would describe her, and she's also "crazy" and silly--in a good way :), it was incredible meeting her because it's so apparent she loves God more than anything. She confidently told us as I and YW president was getting to know her more, about a lot of things about herself including her "dream man" lol, which some parts were not inline with the standard of the church, and she was determined and confident that it would not change. However, we had prepared to teach the Word of Wisdom, and when we did, she right away, though disappointed, changed, and wrote down all the points of the Word of Wisdom and committed to live it and just ate the lesson up! She then saw a picture of Jesus and was so happy and put it right in the front cover of ther school daily planner. She really really loves the gospel, and really doesn't care about what other people may think, being only 16 years old she's very incredible example. And she will be getting baptized in 2 weeks and is reverently excited for it. So honored to have met her.

There's more I want to share but time is up, so will have to wait until next week,

Loves to you all as always,

Leih Ji muih :) :)

Kwun Tong 1

So I am in Kwun Tong now and this past week has already been lots of learning and growing experiences for me, I have already seen some miracles, and it hits me again that I will always never have enough time to write home about it all.

I am serving in this area where Sister Kiene last served, she's the one that went to Macau in my stead, and she's the one that I first met in MTC in our older district :) I am honored and a bit overwhelmed to be filling her shoes here, but I have really felt the Lord's strength the past week. I am also very blessed to be serving with Sister Wan, she is almost done with her mission and only has less than 1 and 1/2 moves(transfers) left, so I may be her last companion and she has lots of experience and learnings to teach me, and I have already learned a lot from her so far.

There is an investigator named A-Ling, who is a mother of a cute little 2ish year old daughter. She has been really progressing and is really a miracle. Even this past 2 times I have seen her she is still changing and drawing closer unto the Lord. She loves to read the Book of Mormon, she reads it in every spare time she can find in her busy schedule as a mother of a toddler. The truth is, she didn't used to, but she has gained her testimony of it recently. And then the first time I saw her we extended to her a baptismal goal/date, but she was hesitant and told us of needing her mother's approval first. But the second time we saw her (by then we had prayed to find another date together for her, but when we got the answer, we found that it was the exact date as the one Sister Wan had prayed with Sister Kiene and had received) we gave her the baptismal challenge again, and she opened up to us and told us that before she had actually been resisting baptism, she didn't want to be baptized for many reasons, but now she understands more and actually wants to be baptized and wants to prepare for it. it was so incredible!! made us SO happy! :D

We also visited a less-active member who is also called Sister Wan, she is from Thailand and she only herself is in Hong Kong working, rest of family is back in Thailand, and when she heard my story she said I was lucky and blessed. But we helped her see that the miracles I have had isn't because I was lucky or that I was any special from her, it was because my mother in America who had joined the church first has prayed and fasted and kept diligently going to church and to study the scriptures and keep the commandments for at least more than a whole year, and then has this great miracle come to pass that my brother and I had the opportunity to visit her and to have the chance to learn the gospel ourselves and then choose to stay miraculously.

And as I told her all this it really hit me, that I really owe it all to my mother's dilligence and persistant prayers. I owe it all to her that I had the opportunity to become who I am today and to have experienced and grown the way I did. The reason why out of all these people who are still suffering in this world I have had this tremendous blessing of having had the chance to receive and accept the gospel and be rescued by my Savior is because of my mother's unyielding faith. And Sister Wan shared Ether 12:12 and told the Less-Active Sister Wan that if she really desires such blessings as well, she must do her part to excercise her faith by praying daily, reading the scriptures daily, come to church weekly first, by enduring to the end would she receive these blessings like our family was so blessed to receive. All because of one mother's faith. So I really want to thank you mom, I don't know if I ever fully realized the infinite impact of your faith, I realize i can't and never will be able to thank you enough, I am eternally indebted to you of all my ignorance and ingratitude. I am so thankful, I can never fully express how grateful I am for you. Because of your faith, our family is being tremendously blessed daily and will eternally,, I'm so honored and privileged to be your daughter, to have chosen to come to this life through you. I am so grateful that our family is sealed for eternity, that I will always be your daughter. Thank you so much. I love you so much.

Out of time, and got to go, but really really thank you, so so much

 

loves always,

Leih Ji muih

 

P.S. I realized that my name tag basically has both of my parents' last names, Burningham and Lee :) And I am very proud to represent both, with the name of Savior whom I also represent, which is such a privilege and honor.

LAST WEEK in MACAU

So, last friday 3 of us 4 foreign missionaries only received 10 more days, (the other one got 20! he's the lucky one, no, God knows better ;) )
And so before that ten days were up President Chan decided to move us on our P-day, So today I Am Back in Hong Kong! And it has been a long day packing at last minute, traveling and everything, so I am emailing this late.
But anyways, past week we were able to contact some former investigators and they were willing to be taught, because before they hadn't had time because they were too busy, so hopefully they will realize this time that it is worth making time for.
I am most sad to leave Ga Yih but she has promised to see me again at least in Celestial Kingdom (If I can't make enough money to find ways to come back to macau myself to see her again in this life)! :D She is very excited for her baptism and wants to work hard and learn more, she always reads the chapters of  Book Of Mormon we give her even though she doesn't understand most of what she reads, she just knows it will help her some how, and last time she was so excited because she actually understood the chapter and excitedly told us what she learned. I am so grateful to the Lord for this opportunity to have met her, and though I will not be there for her baptism I am very happy for her.

A-Tihng is fully activated now and she tried not to show that she was sad I was leaving but the night before leaving she called and told me that she's actually very sad, and wanted to make sure there are ways to keep in touch after mission, which I assured her and she will also do her best to become better person through the Gospel of Jesus Christ because she doesn't want to let me down and let the Lord down, so happy to have heard that. She has really become humbled since I met her and have been gaining more testimony through actually doing what we invited her to do. I am incredibly grateful to the Lord for giving me this experience to strengthen my beloved sister.

Macau will always be a very special place and experience for me, in such a short time I have seen so many miracles and have grown a lot and learned so much and having to leave this beloved place has been very hard, not knowing if I would see these people again in this life, but I know I will if it is the will of the Lord, and I also know that I will definitely see these loved ones again at least after this life--one of the best gifts that come from this Gospel of Jesus Christ, God is so merciful.

Now I am moved to Kwun Tong with Sister Wan who is also a native. In our district there are 2 missionaries who are also from Tai Wo Ward: Wilma's older brother Elder Ho, and Sister Hsiene. So funny to be following these Tai Wo members around throughout my mission :) I have been told many times in Tai Wo that Wilma and I look alike & Elder Ho also thinkso so he's really nice and almost looks after me it seems haha. God has really placed loving and family-like people in my mission to take care of me, and it really humbles me because I thought I came out to serve the Lord but He is still continuing to serve me. I know I still have so much to learn and grow just as these people I am "serving" do.

loves always,

Sister Burningham
                                          A-Tihng

                                       
                                          Ga Yih

MACAU 7

we had another miracle baptism!

Our investigator from the Mainland China, Sister Ng (or Wu) said that she didn't feel like she was ready to be baptized on thursday so we cancelled the baptism, but then she came down by herself on Saturday night to attend our meeting on Sunday morning to tell us that she felt as ready as she can be now and that she wanted to be interviewed, and she passed!!!

So some of the members in mainland came down to attend her baptismal meeting that afternoon and it was a very happy afternoon! And they were very excited to see us missionaries, most likely because missionaries aren't allowed in mainland so they rarely see one.

It's been such miraculous move so far, having 3 baptisms in a row, it is such a tender mercy from the Lord and I really know that this is Lord's work and He really is in charge. He brings us His children along to help eachother grow and learn of Him, and then makes up for all our mistakes and shortcomings. Honestly, in all my weaknesses and imperfections, I truly didn't deserve to see so much miracles, but I have learned that it's not being perfect that will bring successes and miracles, but consistantly repenting and continuing to quest after that perfection that brings about this tender mercy of the Lord enabling His work to keep moving forward. I have truly learned so much from being His instrument, watching Him use what He can work with this imperfect "tool" that He has been given. He has made me realize strengths within me that I hadn't known I had, and have fixed and polished here and there in me that is ready to be fixed and improved. One reason how I can know He is still pleased with me despite all my mistakes and failures is because I feel His Spirit still abiding with me and burning within me and guiding me.

One of our new investigators from just a week of two ago, GaYih, now has a baptismal date that she is excitedly progressing towards! She has received witness that God loves her and her simple prayers are being answered, we can feel the Spirit so strong when we teach her and her sharings further witness to us of God's incredible love, and nomatter how small, He cares about every little things that are important to us. He really only wants to make us happy.

Last week I didn't have enough time to share the great miracle of God within myself. He has helped me overcome yet another one of my greatest fear. I received a letter on the Sunday where we had 4 confirmations, in the letter it contained a news that I hadn't expected. It was a huge challenge. But I straight away began my fast, and during that fast, so quickly the Lord was right by my side. and He opened my eyes, vision, helped me to gain greater understanding of His plans for me. And instantly, I don't know how He did it, in a moment of time, all my pains melted away, I don't know what I did or what I said in my prayer, but as I prayed I felt my heart healing, I felt complete peace and confidence in the unknown future. I just couldn't believe how quickly I was able to change and overcome. The Lord had really prepared me for this challenge. Truly, if we build our all on the foundation of Christ, we will not fall. He will keep us standing. I still have no idea what the futures will bring, I only know that the Lord will still be with me by then and all the way through as I let Him, and so, I'm willing to let it all go, truly let it all go, and I have no fear in the uncertain future. And it was still incredible how many people were inspired to send extra support to further let me know that God is aware of my trial. :)

I am almost out of time again, so long until next week! Lots of loves, always, to all my loved ones back home!!

Sister Burningham

 

 P.S.-

Tomorrow my visa expires -- my another 20 days in Macau will be over -- and four of us missionaries would need to get out and come back to see how many more days they are still willing to give us, each time it's pretty suspensful, haha, adds more flavor to already interesting mission in Macau :) It's become my home to me now, I love this area, just as much as I loved Tolo Harbor my last area, if not more. I love the people, and actually, to tell the truth I love Chinese people more than Korean people now :P haha, no, actually that's not true, I just really love people so much right now if I haven't before. :) It just further excites me for the greatest reunion party we will have after we die xD

                                          Sister Ng and the missionaries

Some members from a Branch in Mainland, they were so awesome to come down at the last minute to support her baptism! And powerful testimonies and prayer!

Sister Ng's fellowshipper and friend, also called Sister Ng, but different chinese tone/character :)

MACAU 6

Heavenly Father's love and very personal specific daily designs never ceases to amaze me.

Before I get on that I would like to mention,

JENNY WAS BAPTIZED!!! :D

On Saturday we held a baptismal service because there's a leadership meeting on Sunday after church, and there were 3 people being baptized that day:

Jenny, A-Fai the Cantonese Elders' investigator, and Mok Ye the Mandarin Elders' investigator :) It was such a happy exciting day and lots of people showed up although it was held on Saturday. Afterwards all three bore their testimony, and Jenny shared how grateful and blessed she was that she was found and had the opportunity to learn the Gospel and very respectful sweet humble testimony. Then A-Fai was very nervous about bearing his testimony and didn't know what to say, so Jenny and other members asked him questions to prompt his testimony and it just ended up turning into a testimony meeting basically :) and though I didn't understand very much of Mandarin, when Mok Ye bore his testimony I could still feel the Holy Ghost strongly and knew that he knew this gospel was true.

On Sunday we had 4 people receive their confirmations!! Including our other convert A-Yan who was baptized a week earlier :) :) :)

Both girls are so solid and love the Lord and were excited to finally receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!

And it was so awesome to see them progress since the beginning and watch their faith grow and gain their own testimony.

This past week we also met some awesome new investigators, basically like Jenny where they were willing to just come follow us into the church to hear our lesson and to meet us again, among them are Ga Yih and we were able to see her twice already and she was very purposeful in her agreement to be baptized, she really wants to have the testimony that we and A-Yan (she helped us fellowship :) ) have, and to know the truth and also be baptized, it almost made both of us cry because she was such a miracle find and so golden. Another one, Sylvia, she had to go to work and had just moved from the mainland china few days ago and didn't know her phone number so she said she can meet us after work the same place we met her and follow us to the church. We had lots of experience where even though we receive some-sort-of phone numbers they would "fong" our appointments where they flat out don't show up and ignore the promises, but for some reason we both really believed her, and that night waited for her. But she didn't show, and Sister Wong said we will wait for 10 more minutes and at last as we were about to leave when that 10 minute was almost up, she showed up! She was sorry she was late, and she actually liked our messege and agreed to see us again! So many miracles, but the greatest miracle I have yet shared, and actually I'm out of time, perhaps next week, but really, as Mom shared with me her relief society lesson the past week I am firther convinced of how specific God's designs are, although I had missed that messege across the seas and He has helped me another way, I am still greatful for mom's sharing. The gratest miracle this past week is the miracle within me. God has helped me to overcome another one of my greatest fears of my heart, anyways more next week

loves

leih jimuih

                                          Us and Jenny!

 Jenny and the best youth members ever! They are all converts! From left: David-introduced to the gospel through his friend Ann, Ann-can't concentrate on homework because she wants to read the Book of Mormon so bad, such strong testimony of the Book of Mormon, Jenny-Yay!!, Tiffany-Jenny's first friend in the church, introduced her to love the Book of Mormon and how to apply them daily, Such powerful youth with strong testimony, All three wants to serve a mission :)

                                         There were 3 people being baptized that Saturday :D

 for Jenny's baptism back of Jenny's Journal that Tiffany her fellowshipper bought for her and asked me to draw in them

                                          front

 

MACAU 5

Another miraculous week!

where to start, well, A-Yan's baptism of course!!! :D :D :D :D

She is SO awesome! she is 20 years old and I am looking forward for her to prepare to serve a mission as well, as she has already helped us teach a lesson before being baptized, and even on her baptismal day she helped us go finding and together we found another new investigator and taught her on the street with A-Yan!! She is so incredible and loves the church so much!

Lets see, oh and so Jenny's parents have now given her the permission to be baptized and because there is a leadership meeting in church this sunday they moved the baptism a day early so it's now this Saturday after the "mutual"-missionary Activity we hold every Saturday! She has already agreed to help teach baking for the activity and we will see her get baptized and eat the cookies we made together afterwards, :D

Oh and I did go back to Hong Kong last friday only to turn around and come right back to Macau! 4 of us foreign missionaries have all received 20 more days in Macau, we shall see how much longer after that we are allowed to stay :)

A-Tihng on Sunday was talking to different people and participated in classes very well, and she was smiling a lot and looked much happier. She also sincerely congratulated A-Yan and welcomed her to the Branch. We are seeing so much progress in her, she is opening up more and changing herself to become better and happier. :D

We also had a formal investigator call this past week to tell us some unhappy news, and no matter what we shared (testimony, scripture, Jesus Christ, personal experiences,etc.) she seemed determined to keep her decision that would mean seriously breaking a commanment, she only wanted to convince us that she is an exception and wanted us to agree with her and console her. But finally, it happened that we ended up having the elders with us in her home to help her clean and move some heavy things, but she had already finished cleaning everything by the time we got there as scheduled, so we ended up teaching her together. And when things were again not helping her to repent and turn towards Christ, Elder Yeung our zone leader who was with us spoke in a way best described by the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants section 121 verse 43, he reproved her with the Holy Ghost. As he spoke so boldly and strict, so powerfully, the Holy Ghost was felt so strongly in the room, no one in the room could deny what was being felt, I think even the baby within her because she all of sudden held onto her stomach as the Holy Ghost witnessed unto all of us powerfully about Elder Yeung's sharp reproval. Afterwards, our investigator's attitude changed, she sincerely wanted to know how she can really trust God as she tries out keeping the commandments first, she really wanted to know if there really was hope for her, she has promised to personally kneel down and pray to know God's will and let us know this coming week what her decision afterwards will be. And then two days later she came to A-Yan's baptismal service, she has never been to a church service before and she really loved the hymns and held onto the book very earnestly. She realized through A-Yan's testimony afterwards that church people don't have perfect lives, they have tragedy happen to them too, but can still be happy because they have God with them and the family they find in the church of God. She left that meeting with much hope for her circumstance. It was truly a miracle. I had prayed for her a lot the past week. I also received a priestood blessing the past week which told me that my mother's earnest prayers are protecting me and that there are angels round about me, I asked the Lord to please send some of those angels to protect this investigator and her baby with-in her at this crucial time, and I know that my prayers just as every one's, were heard.

It truly humbles me to serve a mission. We missionaries truly are still immature 19 to twenty-something year old kids, and that this really is God's work, not ours, I cannot help these people with their challenges and tragedies, only the Lord can. All that I can do is to do my best to be a worthy clean receptor of the Holy Ghost that God, through me, can freely accomplish His will. I am but a pen in His hands, i need to be ready and worthy so as God picks me up to use, there's ink ready to be spilled. And I am so grateful for the worthy priesthood holders, God's authority on earth. I am so grateful for the Lord's mercy. Despite all my imperfections still finds me useful to accomplish His designs. All these miracles are happening before my eyes and I know that it's all the Lord's doing, and I am just grateful to have been there to witness and recognize and give thanks to Him for the opportunity. I have done truly no special thing to deserve so much blessings, privileges and opportunities as He is constantly giving me. I am so grateful, despite all my pride, lack of faith, weakness, and sins, the Lord loves me so much and is willing to keep working on me, to change me, to help me become better, even to become as He is.

I hope that I will never forget His mercy and remember of my own nothingness.

with Love, always,

Leih Jimuih

                                           A-Yan's Baptism

                                          with elders

                                          A-Yan and Sister Wong, and Jenny's fingers :)

MACAU 4

On Saturday my visa in Macau expires and will be kicked out, ha, only to come back and ask for more days! We will see how much longer I will be allowed to stay. :)

I had originally been very nervous and didn't want to come to Macau very much, but once being called there I knew that's where Heavenly Father wanted me to be and so far I have really felt his power in arranging everything.

The less-active member here named A-Tihng has been baptized two years prior, and due to her bad family situation she is very hard to be sociable to and it had been difficult for previous missionaries to help her progress. But once meeting me and finding out that I am Korean, she was very excited to tell me all the Korean things she loves, and has been very active (perhaps too active) in calling us missionaries lately whereas before she never called them. At first we thought maybe she has some mental problems, it was a struggle to teach her, but we are finding that she just needs to learn how to be sociable. I am especially noticing my past self in her, having no friends with family problems and not knowing how to interact with people, etc. and I realized that the thing that has changed me to be who I am today was the Book of Mormon and so I made my best effort to help her be more interested to read the book. It is very hard because often she doesn't hear what we say in the lesson and goes off telling us something so off topic, but we have hope because by being straight forward and loving, she has actually been progressing--coming to church each week and participating in the classes, also meeting new people, calling us not too much but simply calling us once a day now to tell us thank you and how happier she feels, sharing with us that she knows she has problems and has the desire to repent and change and become better person, being more diligent in her school work (she is 22 still trying to finish highschool level), she has actually been answering the questions ON-topic during our lessons which means she now is listening to the words we say, she knows the Book of Mormon and church will bless her. So we have high hopes for her, especially me, because I know that God has made me all that I am today, and if He can change me and find use in me now doing His work, He can also make that happen for everyone as long as we let Him and feast upon His words.

Also this past week we met with Esther a member in Macau 1st Branch, and it is also very inspiring because I actually knew her before my mission. I met her when I went to an activity one Sunday evening provided by these two brothers in our Singles Ward at BYU and she was from Macau and was surprised I knew where that was, and I was excited to tell her I just got my mission call to Hong Kong and she taught me one of my first few words of Cantonese I learned: Thank you and God :)

She felt it was very special that we met again, she remembered me and I also remembered her, and we were able to share some messages to strengthen her as well. She was very supportive of us missionaries and was very giving. We missionaries also learned much from her.

I have also realized that my first 6 months of mission, especially while I served in my first area, has really prepared me to be Sister Wong's companion. Because I already knew her and her family and her home ward in Hong Kong, and we realized that we had lots of experiences that were similar and strengthening to us as we shared them. I am also very blessed to be working with such incredible convert youths of the branch, one of them that Sister Bingham has taught when she herself was in Macau. We have A-Yan's baptism coming this Sunday, and we are so excited!! Jenny's baptism is the next Sunday but we are praying because her parents were pretty hesitant on giving her permission to be baptized, but strangely they wake her up every Sunday and send her off to church (because waking up is Jenny's weakness-like me, haha) :) We also found some more new investigators through many small and big miracles, one of them being Alice who is excited to learn more and find out for herself, we are very excited to introduce her to A-Yan because they are around the same age :)

Work in Macau is going well, it's different, teaching me different things and making me work hard in different focus than in Hong Kong but going well. I am happy and well.

Got to go now, but I love you as always, you are still in my prayers,

Sister Burningham

MACAU 3

Not much time today but just want to more boldly testify that the Book of Mormon is SO important, and more important that we study it daily, its power and influence is incomprehendable, and I know more than anything that it is true and the people in it definitely existed. They are my best friend, I can truly feel each of their utmost passion in the Lord's work doing their best to persuade at least one more person to come unto Christ, their testimonies are my treasure and their personal experiences with the Lord is my strength. They watched some of their family member, brothers, sisters, beloved friends, neighbors perish in unbelief, struggle in life unwilling to accept Jesus Christ, and in their pain watching those people they cried unto the Lord, and I know that the Book of Mormon is the fruit of each of their faith, I know that the Book of Mormon and all the souls it has, does, and will yet save is the answer to all their faithful prayers, And I know that God is really showing His infinite love and marvelous powers through this book. I know that the Book of Mormon is the answer, it was provided by the Lord and came forth by His power and continues to touch souls by that same power. It is no ordinary book, and definitely cannot be taken for granted. As those prophets pleads, we must feast upon it, and feel of their sacrifices, love of God, all their powerful faith, their wisdom, testimony, experiences, it has all been prepared for us specifically in our day. This is what I really want to share with everyone, God, through the Book of Mormon has really made me all I am today, I used to be nothing, such hopeless child, but now I am something: I am a missionary, I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ, all because of the study of and the applying of the principles found in the Book of Mormon. It has really brought me to my Lord. I can't stress it enough, how much Jesus Christ, my God, His gospel, His words, His love, His everything, means to me. I hope that everyone can also find out their true potential and are growing more into becoming that potential, is my brief message.

Love, Sister Burningham

P.S.

Pictures:

Today for P-day we went to the beach and played Volleyball and Ultimate Freezbee and I am tired-OUT >_<;;

But I got to take some pictures to send home while we relaxed afterwards, I was also able to sketch some drawings there,

so I am sending picture of my companionship, my zone, and a fun sign I saw at a restaurant, and really pretty umbrellas in the ceiling of an exhibit :)

Hope to send more next week!

MACAU 2 Happy New Year!

This week was Chinese New Year, so almost all businesses were basically closed, including the library, so here is my brief late email to you all :)

I am truly blessed to be serving in Macau right now, we are finding new investigators, one of our investigator A-Yan is progressing so well to her baptismal date, she even helped us teach another investigator and bore powerful testimonies and encouraged her to also keep learning the gospel. She hasn't even been baptized yet, and she has already recognized how happier she has gotten since meeting the missionaries. That other investigator Jenny, is also doing great, we found her last week and she has come to church last week, the same week we found her, and already has developed great friendship with our member Tiffany. We have high hopes for her, she really enjoys the members, activities and us missionaries and has kept all her promises and really loves to learn the gospel.

For the new year our mission went up to the Big Buddha in Hong Kong, it is supposedly very huge buddha on a hill (Wow, that's a big Buddha"), but unfortunately I couldn't really see him because that day there was a very thick fog (Wow, ,,, where is he?) haha. It was a great activity, we also had a vegetarian lunch together which was delicious with so many kinds of tofu I have ever seen. Oh, and also on Sunday they assigned to give a talk in Sacrament, and it was so nerve-racking doing in Cantonese! I get nervous doing it in english in the first place, but it worked out well. I hope the Branch rises up to my invitation to work together in this missionary work :).

Oh and another news while ago I moved on to the second language level and started learning chinese characters, I was working hard on my language because my setting apart blessing told me to read the book of mormon in the language, but I don't know how to read Chinese! So I began since coming to Macau, to learn to read, and it is actually possible :). Well, of course, the Lord wouldn't command me to  do something without providing me a way to accomplish it!

So yeah, working hard and learning much, I hope the same for all of you back home. Nothing provides more purpose, meaning, and joy than what serving the Lord can bring.

Yay mortal life!

with love as always,

sincerely,

Sister Burningham

MACAU 1

Wow, my first week in Macau!

Macau is quite different from Hong Kong, and here we only have 2 branches-Cantonese and English. Sister Wong and I are serving in the Cantonese Branch and it has been going great. I am just still trying to figure out how to best help this area that I can leave it better than I found it, that I can accomplish the wills and plans of the Lord for the area. Because,,,sad to say, although Macau is known to have the most baptisms in the China Hong Kong Mission, it also has the most less-active members (about 400 baptized members but about 50 active members,,,), also it is really hard to find members to fellowship for the lessons. However, Sister Wong last move has just opened a new area with her former companion and they were both very new to Macau, and last move unfortunately they didn't have very good success. But I know that planting seed is just as important as harvesting. This week so far from monday we were able to find a new investigator everyday, it's been a huge miracle, and we were even able to find a very golden new investigator from Indonesia for the English Branch as well. We have been very happy and are doing well moving the work forward step by step. There is a member in the English Branch, her name is U-lan(?) I don't know how to spell her name, but she has so far had us over for a meal twice already, and these indonesian and philipinean people are not rich, they are actually very poor working in Hong Kong or Macau and sending the money home to their family, yet U-lan, cooks and feeds people all the time! Especially on Sunday she fed 15 people in her little tiny apartment! And it was a very touching moment seeng 10 of us missionaries and 5 of the members in the Branch all fitted in this tiny apartment eating food together and getting to know eachother and sharing our conversion stories, all of us away from our families yet finding joy in the gospel as sister/brotherhood in the church, it was very very moving. I am so grateful for the gospel, although we may not have much in the eyes of the world, I know that we have everything because we have the gospel.

Anyways, I hope that everyone also counts their blessings of the gospel, it really is the best and everything we can ever hope for. In it is found all the answers, hopes, happiness, love, and blessings beyond measure. And gospel is only possible, because of our Savior Jesus Christ and His Great Atoning sacrifice.

I love you as always,

Sister Burningham/Leih Jimuih

 

Pictures:The pages in Mandy and Angel's new triple combination for their baptismal gifts :) A-Jyu (shorter one) and Miki <3