h how the times are a changin. Ryan is graduated and Emma is baptized! Justin has braces and sounds like a man. Mom's gonna be a nurse. I'm not sure what's new with dad and Mitchell but it's crazy to hear how different everything is. A quick note to ryan, I got a letter from Danny and Leah this week, they say they miss you and want to hang out. Maybe you can invite them over and let them meet the missionaries!

Anyway, this week has been more miracles. Nothing new here in Kwun Tong. :)

I don't have a lot of time but the coolest stories include

consecrated finding: We planned some finding time on Monday after district meeting, and I was feeling pretty crappy. Upset stomach, low energy, I didn't have enough Iron...etc. I asked the elders for a blessing. In the blessing they told me that I am being blessed with extra health on my mission, but only as long as I am working my hardest and keeping my mind focused on missionary work will I be able to forget my pain. So we ended up going finding anyway, despite having a random recent convert call us and wanting to see us. We knew the lord wanted us to be finding, so we went finding.

The first lady we talked to was a lady who was 63, and had just gotten kicked out of her home 3 weeks ago. She'd been living on the street since then, eating this and that, sleeping in parks. She had nothing. We talked to her for a while about her situation, apparently her brother kicked her out because he got a new girlfriend. While my companion made calls to see who could help her find a place to sleep for the night, I talked to her about prayer. She's Buddhist and doesn't believe. I told her that even if she didn't believe in god, he loves her, and doesn't want her to sleep on the street. So I told her if she would pray, god would listen and find her a place to sleep for the night.

She at first wasn't willing, but then she prayed with us, and afterwards we invited her to come to the church for family home evening, that we have every Monday night with the singles in the ward. She was reluctant but I explained there were people there that knew about government help and could get her a bed for the night, and she could eat some food at church with us. She attended the whole meeting, and prayed with us again, admitting that she felt comfortable and peaceful. We let Elder Ho make some calls for us, and we ended up staying at the church really late, but we found her a place for the night. The elders took her there for us. Before she left she expressed her gratitude to us. I told her to express it to heavenly father instead, because he is the real one that helped her.

And then she said "Thank you, God."

:) It was probably one of the most significant moments on my mission. She witnessed a miracle, and accepted that God gave it to her, when just a few hours earlier, she didn't. She asked us why we helped her, and we said it's because we represent Jesus Christ, and that's what Jesus Christ does. :) We are hoping she will attend church this Sunday.

Tong Siu Kiu:

We have a investigator from Thailand! she basically contacted me! She ran up to me and told me I was beautiful. haha. And she came to church with us. She fell asleep when we were watching finding faith in chist (she's old) because we couldn't communicate very well and it's the only movie we have in Thai (where is elder Grover when you need him?) :) But she took a Thai book of Mormon and seems very interested.

I've got some big news. I'm no longer serving In Yuen Long. Right Now my new area is Kwun Tong. It's in the hong kong island zone. It's very different from Yuen Long. I have been here since Monday night. Normally missionaries transfer every 6 weeks but I got moved in the middle of the move because of something crazy that happened. I'll start at the beginning.

So Saturday night I was at a ward BBQ, it was so awesome. All our investigators were there and all my favorite members, and we were just chillin out, eating Korean BBQ and being happy. I remember walking out and saying to my companion "I love Yuen Long SOOOO much. These people feel like my family! It's really awesome." and we talked about how we were just starting to get things down as companions and I was feeling really happy. So we went home and made some calls, and we were just about to get into bed when our phone rang and it was president chan. I answered because sis N was in the bathroom. This is how the conversation went:

"Hello, Sister Neilson?"

"Um, actually this is sister cook. Hello."

"Oh, Sister COOOOOOk, this is president chan"

"I know. Hello.How can I help you"

"I hear you really like Yuen Long. Is that true? I hear you are forming really strong relationships with the members, and that you and sister Neilsen are having a difficult time working together"

"Uh, yeah...I love yuen long, but Sister Neilsen and I are doing fine.We are figuring out how to teach together with the spirit and it's going really well, in fact, we just had a baptism last week. I'm learning a lot from being her companion."

"Oh....well. I have to tell you....you are getting TRANSFERREDDDD (said with an exciting president chan voice)"

.....(1 minute of silence)

"Um.....uhhhhh. Ok. Where?"

"Kwun Tong!"

Me, thinking: Where the heck Kwun Tong?

Then president chan explained that there was a sister missionary who was serving in Kwun tong that was having a really hard time on her mission right now, and that she has only two weeks left before she goes home. She has requested to end her mission in my area, with my companion sister nielson, because this particular missionary has a very hard time getting along with her companions, sister nielsen being an exception.

And I was like "uh...when am I moving?"

and he said "Monday morning"

He then told me that he knows that it is "inconvenient" because it is the middle of the move. and that he hopes I will not be sad about the transfer, but that I need to go because this sister needs help really badly.

I told him I didn't really want to leave Yuen Long, especially because Stella's baptism is coming up and I would love to be there. But that I would do what he needed me to do. He then asked to speak to my companion and he told her that she was going to be this sister missionaries senior companion, even though the other missionary is really old. And he thanked her for her service and got off the phone.

I didn't know what else to do but cry. That's pretty much all I was capable of doing. My companion cried, my room mates cried, and I cried. It wasn't fair. I had worked so hard in this area and I was only just getting the hang of it, I had just, a few hours ago, figured out that I love my companion (ok i loved her before, but for dramatic purposes....i'll leave that in there). And I had to leave. ON MONDAY!

That night I didn't sleep. I stayed up reading scriptures, and writing a letter to Stella, to tell her what was happening. And I knew that the next day was fast Sunday, so I was grateful that God gave me an opportunity to get up and bare my testimony to these people.

When we got up Sunday morning, I told my companion that we weren't gonna be sad about what was happening because we had a lot of stuff we needed to do, and that we needed to trust president Chan received revelation from God and that there was a good reason this was happening. Sister Nielsen didn't want me to leave either, I was the most experienced missionary in Yuen Long at that time and I knew the members really well, so she was really nervous about doing it all herself. I told her I had confidence that she could do it, and I really do. She is a very capable missionary. She was also nervous about going senior over the missionary that trained her. all we could do is really pray together and trust that it would be ok.

On Sunday morning, after Jennifer received the gift of the holy ghost in sacrament, it was time for testimony meeting. Before I got up I had no idea what I was going to say, but I was thinking about the scriptures that I read the night before and my mind popped to Mosiah chapter 23 verse 21-22. It talks about how the lord gives us trials and tests our patience, but when we trust in him we'll be lifted up at the last day. And I just talked about the Atonement, and how important it is to always be humble and to trust that god knows what he is doing, even when you feel like he doesn't.

After my testimony, Stella got up. She said she wanted to bare her testimony on how god has changed her life, and how she believes she is a child of god. This was the most beautiful thing that I have ever heard. She said her life has been changed because of Jesus Christ. I cried so much. Then after that Poon Ji Muih, Leung Leung, Jason, president Jau, and a bunch of other people got up and bore thier testimony on missionary work, and they said thank you to me for my service.

And for the first time in my mission I really knew, for sure, that I was helping people. That I was making a difference in these peoples lives and they really did care. And that the gospel is true. And I was so grateful to heavenly father for giving me this opportunity to love these members and these investigators, and to see their change and progress. And They told me how much I had grown too, and how much better my chinese had gotten, and It was just awesome.

After church I just sat around in the doorway and said goodbye to my friends, and I was just really happy. I remember thinking, "this is what the celestial kingdom is like" Just everyone being happy, and loving each other, and I was just elated.

That evening we had finding time planned, so we went pac muhn in Kam Tin. We found a really cool lady from the Netherlands who invited us into her home and we taught her about prayer. And I knew we needed to talk to her.And so we ended that day with a miracle. When we went back home I had time to call all our investigators while i was packing and say goodbye, and schedule a lot of them for sister Nielsen to see next week. So it was all good.

Then Monday came, we had zone meeting in the morning and we all went out to eat Indonesian food in the morning together. Then around 4pm, the AP's came to pick me up, I said bye to sister nielsen and then we headed out.

My new companion is sister Burningham. She is from Korea. She went to BYU, studying animation (just like Mike Grover, actually i think she knows him!) and she is super sweet and powerful. She hasn't been in this area very long. I love her. I don't have a lot of time left but I have a miracle to share.

Our first day together we prayed about where we could go finding (the sister that took my spot in yuen long never goes finding) and so we had no idea where was a good place. But we looked at the map and prayed and felt really good about a place called crocodile hill. So after district meeting we went there, and we were tracting in this park at the top of the hill and we met this girl. Her name is Amber. As soon as we saw her we knew we needed to talk to her, We asked her how she was doing, she looked really sad, and she said she was doing ok. We asked her where she was going, and she said she was going home but she had some time to talk with us. So we taught her the plan of salvation. She shared with us that her parents are Buddhist but her older sister is christian and she has always wanted to know more about Jesus Christ. She is probably one of the most humble people I have ever met. After our super spiritual lesson, I felt prompted to ask her if she was willing to be baptized, when she knew for herself that our message is true. She said yes.

She met us the next day and we had two young women to help us teach, so she could have more friends. And we watched the restoration DVD, and talked about the book of Mormon, we gave her Alma 32 to read about faith and we prayed together to figure out a baptismal date for her. And she said the most sincere prayer, and in the middle of it, she looked up and said "God is telling me I can pick the day, can I pick it right now?" and we said "yes" and she said "I pick the 17th of June" and she closed her prayer, and then we all hugged each other. She then told me that when she met us the day before, she had some friends make fun of her for talking to missionaries, because they think our church is a cult (super common) and she told me she knew it wasn't, but is it a sin to not tell her friends she's getting baptized? and we talked a little bit about Joseph smith and the persecution he faced when he saw the vision and told his friends about it. We told her it was her choice but that we should try to stick to what we know is true. And she said she still wants to be baptized. So, we're working with her daily.

God has prepared people for me and my companion to teach. One of them is named Amber. But I know this area has others that also need the gospel. I will miss Yuen Long, but I know that God knows I need to be here, and that's why I am here. I love this gospel so much. I really like my new area and I'll tell you all about it more when I call you on Sunday night. The mission president has asked us to stay around 40 minutes. My plan is to call at 7 am Hong Kong time, which 6pm Sunday night for you guys, I think.

I love you so much! Looking forward to the call.

Love, sister cook

P.S. The church is true!!

Hey family,

I re-read my last email and realized it sounded kinda depressed. But I want to let you know that this week was a miracle week! Last Thursday we met a former investigator that I called for lunch, and on her record it said that she had a lot of interest, but no real potential because she already attends another church. We were able to meet with her and talk about why our church is different , and we gave her a book of Mormon and taught the restoration, and the spirit was like 'kick you in the face' awesome. And she's been reading and praying and i'm really excited! Grace and Mary came to church on Sunday, both of them asked about 500 questions about everything and really want to know more. We found 5 new investigators last week and 2 so far this week and we have still had time to start building really strong relationships with the members.

On of the members we're helping is Mh Ji Muih, she just got divorced from her husband (who has a lot of issues) and is trying to take care of her kids and overcome a lot of other personal issues. We meet with her and strengthened her testimony on covenants, and how God will always keep his promises. I think it helped her a lot. We're also meeting with a Thai lady, Paang Ji Muih, who's sons have stopped talking to her, and are not making very good choices, but we shared about alma the younger and how people can repent and turn around. Ah! I love how Kwun Tong is full of people that need help. It's like Heavenly Father is just giving us all these things to do, and we just pray and figure out how he wants us to do them. My testimony is growing about how much he leads this work :)

In other news.....My MOM is living with me again! Sister Darcey has gotten transferred to Tseung Kwan O, which is next to my area, so she lives in the same apartment as me. It's really cool. And it's good to sing together again. And in Kwun Tong I started guitar class! Tony and tze pui, Man-hei, and the elders (haha) are the only members so far, but they're all going to try and bring friends this week. Yay! new people to teach!!

So on Tuesday ELDER OAKS came to Hong Kong to speak to the missionaries. We all had to line up and take a picture with him, afterwards, we all had a turn to shake his hand. I hear when an apostle shakes your hand, he interviews your soul...haha. It wasn't as intense as I anticipated. But he did say some things I think you would like to know.

1) He repeated what elder Jeffery R Holland said to the missionaries last year, when he came to visit. "Hong Kong Missionaries" he said "are the BEST of the BEST". :O there you have it, straight from an apostle. I'm the best. You can never argue again. mwahaha.

2) he said that he, himself sometimes chooses where missionaries go, and because of the language and hardness of the mission, they don't send wimps here. Heavenly Father trusts us.

3) he talked about our relationship with heavenly father, and it was a really touching talk to me. I'll write more in a letter later.

Anyway, I looked at the blog, and I don't know if i'm allowed to do that, and it hasn't been updated in FOREVER! why are you slacking? Stop slacking. Put all the emails you missed up on there this week. And get on facebook and add all the Asian people that want to be friends with me. Everything else is going good. Working hard. Loving people. Can't wait to hear where Ryan got his call too, has he submitted his papers yet? I'm getting impatient.

Add Oil!

Love,

Sister Cook.

hello earthings

Jou San. Thanks for the email mom, glad to hear work is going well and that you guys are fishing a lot. That's one thing that I really miss, fishing, camping, and swimming. We need to do all those things when I go home. :)

This past week was pretty hectic. When we went to Stella's house to get her mom to sign her baptismal record, she said that she needed some time. Then she explained what it means to be baai sahn (ancestor worship/Buddhist). She said that she grew up with her religion and she want's Stella to do the same, but she also understands how important baptism is to Stella, which is why she's not saying flat out no. It's so HARD. Sister Darcey and I have been working our hardest to help Stella, and Satan keeps finding ways to put it off. But Stella's mom trusts us. She likes us a lot and we have brought some people over from church to talk to her. She has a really good view of the church...I think the best way to describe her feelings is say if you, your parents, and your parents parents all went to BYU, and then all the sudden your kid wants to go to Utah State. It's still a good school, but it feels like betrayal, so she needs time. Sister Darcey, Stella, and I all feel confident that it will happen soon. Maybe even still on Sunday, we will find out later tonight at guitar class.

Buddhism is also pretty crazy, from what she was describing. The way her parents did it was that they would cut their hands or sacrifice fingers to show their respect for their ancestors. It's soooooooooo sad. Stella's mom didn't practice that stuff, but it is crazy to think there are people that do. Stella has an older sister Jimmy, that we are starting to talk to the gospel about as well. We are so hoping that her entire family will eventually come to. Her brothers and sisters have SO much potential.

Anyway, JENNIFER blew my MIND this week. D and I were so nervous, because she is ready for baptism, but because of her job she cannot come to church on Sunday. So on Wednesday we planned to extend the commitment for her to quit her job, having the faith that god would help her to find a new one. Asking her to do that was probably the scariest thing i've ever done in my life. But she just accepted it. Like, "yeah, i've already fasted (WE HAVEN'T EVEN TAUGHT HER THAT YET!) and I am going to ut my notice in this week so I can get baptized.

AHHHHHHHHHH! I pretty much had a heart attack. It was amazing. She's coming to church this Sunday and Stella's baptism (if it happens) and It's crazy how little we have to do with those that are prepared. She's set for the 29th. Pray that that works out.

In other news, this month coming up is my 6 month mark on my mission. What? a third done? when did that happen? I got a few letters from some room mates this week and friends from college and learned that like pretty much all my friends are either married, engaged, or pregnant. It's kind of shocking. I don't think I want to come home because nothing is going to be the same. I'll be the weird RM with no friends because they all have like 20 kids to take care of. Soooooo weird.

You're all in my prayers, remember to return the favor. General conference is this weekend! I hope you all pay attention. I challange you to all go with a question, I know that through listening to the words of the prophet, you can recieve revelation! I'll be listening too, 8000 miles and a week later, but I can't wait! It will be awesome.

Love,

family

my dear family!

I am so happy to have the opportunity to email you today. I feel like I need it today more than other days. I have a lot of huge news. First of all, I have a new companion! In fact, you already know her! I was with her in the MTC, she was my older district, that left to hong kong only 6 weeks before me. Sister Nielson is a wonderful wonderful person. She is coming to Yuen Long to help me do the Lords work and I am so greatful for her.
Our area, besides me, has been completely white washed. Everyone that is coming to yuen long is new. Sister Darcey is going to serve in Macau with sister Wong, and sister Mercado is also going to Macau, International. Sister Taylor, from the MTC is going to live in the same apartment as me to serve the Tuen Mun ward! Sister Chan is training her! Almost all the missionaries in the Zone are different, and today, we received a new shipment of freshly born missionaries, straight from the MTC. The mission is getting younger.
Basically, everything is different, and even though I've only been here 12 weeks, Yuen Long is my area, i've been here the longest and I'm responsible for showing everyone else around. It's going to be like im the senior companion for the next couple weeks, until sister nielson can get to know all our investigators.
When we found out the news late on Tuesday night, I kind of had a melt down. But when I found out who my companion was going to be, I instantly felt comforted. I know that neither of us know how to speak cantonese, but we are going to take on this work completely relying on the Lord for help. And as long as we are exactly obedient. I know that we will succeed.
This area is so special to me. I love these people so much. Jennifer was able to come to church this sunday and she's also getting time off to come to conference, until she can find a new job. She's sacrificing so much!
Stella is doing well, no permission from her mom yet, and honestly i'm kind of worried about not having sister darcey, because stellas mom speaks a weird dialect and i can't really understand her. But stella still wants to get baptized and is reading her scriptures, i am proud of her, i bought scriptures to give her for her baptism day, and i'm making her a scripture case.
I really miss all of you.
We had our first new english class this week, it went well we had about 15 people there! And guitar class is still going strong! I love helping people develop their talents.
I am so excited to be able to watch conference tomorrow. I literally cannot wait. I have a list of questions ready that i know the prophet will answer.
I want you all to know that I constantly think about you. I pray for you too, I worry about you and I love you. I'm grateful for your sacrifices to allow me to be here.
Oh, we just found out that on may 22 elder Oaks is coming to visit hong kong, so i'm really excited to hear from him, and shake his hand.
One cool quick experience: I was riding the train the other day on the way to the church and I sat next to a lady who had a big suitcase. We didn't talk for a long time but i felt like i needed to talk to her, even though i wasn't sure what to say. I just said hello, and asked her where she was headed. She was going back to mainland, and she told me i was so smart for knowing how to speak chinese. I told her I wasn't smart, that I had god's help because i'm a missionary.She talked a little about her church and then, Just as I was going to invite her to hear more about our church, an old couple came and I gave them my seat, they didn't want to take it, but i told them i was getting off soon. The lady i was talking to before then said "this girl is a good person" and then she looked at me very seriously and asked me if she could give me a present. I said "mh saai" (no thanks) but then she whipped out a hand made skirt and said that she wanted me to have it. I didn't take it at first but she insisted, and said that she has many. It just so happened that I had a mormon tabernacle chior CD (singing with a chinese choir!) in my bag, that we were taking to give to a blind lady in our ward, and I gave it to her in exchange, I bore my testimony on music, which is the weirdest thing ever, but she accepted it with two hands and gave me her card. I don't know if anything will happen, but I felt the spirit so strong, and that lady could tell something was different about my message. I know she'll listen to that CD. I hope it will help her feel the truth, and want to know more.
Mom, you asked me if sometimes I hide how hard it is to be on a mission in my emails. The answer to that question is no. While this is the hardest thing I have ever done, it would be impossible for me to describe how hard it is actually.... I simply do not have time to tell you about all the miracles that happen to me as a missionary, so that's why i don't dwell on the difficulties of the work. It's because it's totally worth it. It's totally worth it if I never sleep again, or if I have nothing but horrible companions in the future, or even if i don't see a baptism, or my bike breaks, or i feel sick from eating weird food. The fact of the matter is that nothing could ever matter this much to me right now. I am finally understanding the atonement. I am finally understanding God's love. I understand how he feels about his children, and just being able to feel that through service, makes every hard thing worth it.

kayla

I think I have learned more this past week than I have the rest of my entire mission. It was a huge growing week and I have a lot to say so I'll try to type fast.

This week Sister D and I decided we needed to visit some less actives in our wards, so we made a goal to see 3. The first two we saw on Friday, Kristy and Winnie Au. It was super neat. On our way to see Kristy we were getting off the bus, and i saw a white woman. and she was listing to her ipod and had huge hoop earrings in. I don't know why but I felt like I needed to wave at her. so I did, and then she waved back! then she started crossing the street to come talk to us and my companion started freaking out because i think she has completely forgotten how to speak English. So I took the reigns. This lady was awesome! she had just moved from England and has the most adorable accent! she was telling us how she was so lonely and that no Chinese people would talk to her, so when i waved at her she felt like she should come talk to me. We aren't allowed to proselyte in that neighborhood, but I gave her a pamphlet and got her number. And last night i spent quite a while talking to her on the phone, and we're meeting her on Tuesday for 'a spot o' tea'. She told me she's ''heard of the Mormons on the telly" and that she would love to talk to us more! Yay! I'm glad I can speak English. haha.
So the visits with Kristy and Winnie went well. I think Kristy really needed some encouragement for her to go to church, because her husband doesn't like it and it worked! she came on Sunday, with her whole family. She is also white and I got her a TALL book (language book us missionaries have) so she could learn more Cantonese and church would mean more to her. I like her a lot. Winnie didn't come to church but we had a really powerful testimony meeting at her house and she promised she would come next week. Yay for strengthening the ward!!
Ok, so get out your Kleenex for this next one. Sis D and I decided to visit this one lady, her name is Poon JI Muih. We knew that someone in her family recently passed away but we didn't know who, we just knew we needed to go see her. Poon is a pau pau. She's about 75, in a wheelchair, she has no teeth, and part of her jaw has been removed from bone cancer. She has some sort of arthritis, and she's had a really hard life. She lives alone with her helper (minda, from the Philippines). When we went over and started talking about our families, she showed us pictures of her kids and grand kids. she has two sons, and one really pretty daughter, who is a mother of two. It was then that we found out that the person who passed away was this beautiful 40 year old mother of two, Poon's daughter. She gave me a photo album of her to look at, and it was so sad. It started with a normal picture of her, and then as the pictures got more recent, her daughter got more sickly looking, until finally, the last picture that was ever taken of her, most of the muscle in her body had deteriorated, and she didn't have enough strength in her neck to hold up her head, and her little boy was on her lap.
It was then that I started to cry. I mean really cry. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that this mom had to die, or that poon, in her old sickly state, had to go through this alone. I couldn't get it through my head why on earth god would let that happen.

It was then that i think my mission changed forever. As I was crying, poon ji muih started to comfort ME. Then she started to bear testimony of eternal families. And how someday she knew she would have a perfect body, not the old broken one she has now. Someday she knew she would be with her daughter again, so it was no big deal, and she smiled at me, a toothless smile, and she said she was so glad to have these pictures to look at, so she could remember her daughters beautiful face.

It was then that I started to realize, that THIS is what Jesus Christ does for people. In hearing this dear sisters sweet testimony, and seeing her cheerful countenance, I realized that no matter what happens, we can still be comforted, we can still be ok. Because of Jesus Christ. My testimony and understanding of the savior grew. Because Jesus Christ overcame the world, and he overcame death, we have HOPE. Hope so bright that it banishes all the darkness.

This message I'm sharing with people is not just nice, or good. It's the truth, and it's powerful. And for someone like Poon, it's made all the difference.

Anyway, I'm glad I'm here. Sometimes I don't even feel like I deserve these people. My investigators are all doing wonderful. Stella is ready for baptism, She's totally on board (and not to mention, wore the new skirt we gave her to church on Sunday, after much argument, but she looked lovely). She needs to get permission still, but that is the only thing that's in the way, both for her and Winnie actually. I am going to the temple today and fasting that their mothers will understand how the gospel will bless their lives forever. Because they are almost there. It's so great to hear them bear testimony of the savior.

Also, I wanted to spend a little time talking about Jennifer. She is the one girl we taught in the hospital, when her grandpa died. She's doing so great! She's accepting everything and loves to learn more about the gospel, she is actually trying to get a new job right now so she can start going to church on Sunday's, to prepare for baptism.(which she wants to do! yay!) But she is sooo funny.  Actually last week, on the way home, for some reason, we all started singing the titanic theme song...because that is her favorite movie. And I told her I really liked it too. and we explained the whole thing to sister Darcey (Jennifer explained in Chinese, and i did in English) because she hasn't seen it before...then not 20 minutes later, after we had gotten home, she called us and said she bought a copy of titanic she wanted to give us! haha.Soooo cute. I had to then explain, in Chinese, that missionaries can't watch movies, but that i'd watch it when I get off my mission. She's hilarious.

Guitar class this week was awesome. Guitar class every week is awesome.I taught everyone how to play "you are my sunshine" and then we had a little talent show after. I think we're gonna make guitar class a permanent thing now. :) We have a lot of ward support. Brother lee helped me fix my guitar and actually got me a golden oldies song book, so i think i'm pretty much set forever. I don't know if i'm allowed to play the Beatles or the BeeJees, but I...uhhh....well....:) I have to teach these deprived children what good music is, right? yeah. Everyone loves guitar class and brings their friends, so I think it's ok.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention the most awesome of awesome things that happened this week to help me grow! It's called COMPANION EXCHANGESSSSSS :) I got to stay in my area for today, and my mom (sister Darcey) left me. I got to be paired up with sister Mercado, who, like me, doesn't speak very good Chinese. You would think this is the scariest thing ever, because we had 3 appointments that day, all over yuen long, and i had never gone anywhere by myself before, and Mercado doesn't know the area....and you would be right! But you need to know that heavenly father is AWESOME, in the way that he helped me, for an entire day, speak almost understandable Chinese. hahaa. It was so awesome. We got lost once and I asked for directions from a really nice lady. I have never asked for directions before, and for some reason, then i could understand, and she could also understand me! That day we made cookies (another miracle, i didn't burn them) and brought them to brother lee and his non-member wife. I was able to talk to her for quite a while about stuff, and she wants to see us again! YEAHHH! I gained a testimony of when God calls, he enables. Everything I needed to do that day, I could do, because heavenly father was with me. It was awesome to spread my wings and know that I can do this missionary thing, even without sister Darcey.

Well, I think that's it. And it's chaamdou sihgan, so I have to go. I hope you are all doing wonderfully. I love you so much! Remember to read the scriptures, and pray! And eat your veggies.

Love,
Sister Cook.