thank you! that made me really happy to hear from everyone. It's really funny to hear how Ryan is reacting to MTC life. I have to tell you guys though, it's hard in the MTC. people who grow up in utah (which is like 90% of the MTC) get like two letters a day from their families. Its crazy. I remember that my companions that and at least 1 package every week. So even though I didn't complain as much as Ryan, it was still hard. Being in the MTC is a weird time and you really need lots of support. It's even harder in the mission field, the truth is you guys do need to write as often as possible (and write me too!) , because if you feel like your family doesn't support you, it makes everything that much harder, But I know you area all doing your best and he also needs to chill out and be grateful for what he has. I've been waiting for Ryan to start to see how he would react for a while, And I think it's funny he's getting so touchy about it because I remember feeling down around the time of my birthday and he wrote me this preachy letter that said i need to be grateful and stop complaining. It's ok, the mission will humble him. I promise. haha. :)

I sent him a package last pday though, with a picture of our family and a missionary planner that i decorate for chirstmas, along with two talks that really helped me in the MTC. I think it will be a good chirstmas present, It should probably get there before the 25th, but mail out of Macau is really slow because it's such a small country. I remember the package you guys sent for christmas and how much it meant to me, hopefully that help ryan feel better.

Mom, I have been taking about 30 minutes every pday to write a little bit of my essays for BYU, The mission president did the interview over the phone last night so i should have the application in before Christmas Sounds like you're doing good with your nursing stuff. I'm proud of you. Like I told you in my email last week, I lost my scriptures in a taxi. I fasted and prayed but still haven't found them and it's been almost 3 weeks, If you could just put about 100 dollars in my account i'll buy a new pair at the DBC next time I go to hong kong. I'm really sad cuz i've had those scriptures all growing up, but I've been wanting to buy a smaller pair anyway for a while. I would also like you to get back on top of updating my blog please, lots of people have no idea what's going on and I have no idea how to communicate with them. So that would be great if you could just start putting my emails up again for me. It's something I want to be able to look at when I go home as well.

Dad, I miss you too, I was wondering how your health is. Is the kind of diabetes you have really hard? do you have to monitor everything you eat like hannah? take care of yourself, you've been in my prayers. I'd be happy with working for you again, just maybe on something a little more difficult than scooping ice cream. I was planning on seeing if there were any Chinese resteraunts that would hire me to do a hostess or something for a few months. :) My mandarin is getting pretty good :)

Mitchell, Justy, Emma: I've been missing you guys a lot lately! My companion has never had a real Christmas in her life. In china they don't really do anything because most of the people don't believe in Jesus Christ. But we're going to have a little Christmas this year in our apartment. I am going to buy her a present today and we'll decorate tonight and drink hot chocolate, it get's pretty cold and rainy here but I think it will still be fun. Our mission has a Christmas eve party in hong kong on the 24th, I'll be singing at it! I'm helping all the missionaries that want to sing in the choir practice their parts on the piano every week, because we can't practice with the rest of the missionaries, they live really far away. Anyway, be good! Santa is coming!

So I have some pretty big news for everyone. Apparently the church is changing how they do mission transfers, with the amount of new missionaries coming in next year (all the 18 and 19 year olds) the transfer period will be 9 weeks instead of 6. this will go into effect the same month that I finish my mission, next april. Why is this important? It means that I will be coming home two weeks earlier than originally planned. My new end date is the 5th of April. I will be home for general conference in America. and I will have two weeks longer to be with you all before I go to school again. But this means that my mission is cut short. When sister Hintze and I found out we were pretty mad. But it quickly dissipated because we realized that the reason for this change is because the gospel is starting to spread in bigger ways than it ever has before. And then I got swallowed up in the joy of knowing that the second coming of our savior is closer than we think. There is a group of 15 coming in when I die, and even more after that! our mission is going to be huge and mainland china is going to open. And I am on the brink of it all. How lucky am I to see that? I wish I could extend another year, I have full confidence this mission will be the gateway into china, and in the future 90% of the worlds missionary force will be sent there, to teach these people that I love, who have never heard of the savior. It's an amazing thought.

Last week sister chan and I found 11 new investigators. Our numbers are really awesome and we're working really well together. I love my companion! Shes the most adorable little chinese woman in the world :) One cool miracle is a boy that we found, wilson (14) who we turned over the the elders is getting baptized. and in the last week he's brought a total of 12 friends to church! That kid has public appeal! He told all his little friends to give us their numbers and to come to church every week! What a blessing! He's got a testimony of the savior and now of the restored gospel. We found him on the street, because we listened to the spirit and talked to everyone. (Normally I don't go for 14 year old boys...) haha, that sounded sketchy. Anyway. It was cool. And Ha jeh chenged us out to a buffet! And she is golden too! I hope I can stay in Macau for christmas, moves is already next week! I don't have much time left and everytime I think about it I want to throw up. :(

But I'm working hard, I love my mission, and I have no regrets. I'm really happy and I feel like I make other people happy too. Sister Lau (mom, you talked with her on facebook) came to visit Macau this week. She's from my baby area and it was like seeing family! Even though I served there a year ago they still remember me! I made a difference!! :) This is a great feeling. She will undoubtedly post pictures on facebook. She wants me to live with her daughter at BYU next year. I'm up for that :)

I love you all!

Sister Gou

I have to tell you guys something. You are all kinda bad at writing me. Every time you have news for me, you tell me the bare minimum. For example "maddie had her baby" :"Ryan got called to Russia" (you explained this one ok.) ; " The hoffs and truetts moved" "Sister Darcey got engaged" and other various examples. What I learned from middle school english class essays is that if you have a topic sentence, you normally have to support it with evidence and explanation for the next 4 sentences at least. For example:

What city are the Hoffs in now?how is my Trainer Engaged? How is my cousin? I got a letter from Conner and Nathans EFY leader last week, he's from hong kong but had time to write me before cousins did. repent! REPENT ALL OF YOU! haha.

Just Kidding. I know you're busy. But I feel like I need to tell you these things, so we can all be happy.

Here is what is up with me:

This past Saturday I got to go to my old area, Kwun Tong, so that I could play guitar and sing in the stake talent show. It was really really fun. It felt like coming home. People missed me! Especially one of our old investigators, A-yih. Who recently got back from mainland where she took a hard beating from her Friends and relatives about coming to church at the Mormon Church. She seemed really confused about a lot of things, but during the talent show I got to have a good talk with her. I feel like it helped, and I feel like heavenly father has been really guiding me lately, and still giving me chances to carry on relationships with old investigators even though I live far from them.

Interestingly enough, I read something cool from the scriptures this week, that has kinda helped me to have a better view on my mission. It's the parable of the secretly growing seed, in Mark. I think chapter 7. In this parable Jesus explains that when a farmer plants his seeds, after he cultivates the land, and does what he can to nurture the plant, and help it grow, he goes to sleep. When he comes back later, the seed has sprouted, and as he continues to care for the plant, it grows into a crop. But the cool thing about this parable, is that the farmer is not actually the one making the crop grow. The farmer does what he can, but all in all, God is the one that makes the seed grow. The farmer has little to do with if it sprouts or not. He just does what he can to help it on its way.

As missionaries we can't be too concerned with our seeds. We need to do everything we can of course, but we can't sit there and will the seed into growing, it will do it by itself, with the help of God. I know that as I just trust god and have faith that he his leading this work, that my seeds will grow. Some won't of course, some will get choked by weeds, or wither, and die, but if i do what i can and leave the rest up to the lord, I'm not responsible for those seeds.

I shared this with my Zone leader. He didn't get it. But that's OK, because he's dumb. I mean...because he's a seed too. And even though I may not agree with the way he does things, I trust that God is helping him to grow at his own rate.

So yeah, the scriptures are awesome. They help me alot. But anyway, the talent show was great! guitar class and kids English class have just started in Aberdeen and West point now, and they are bringing lots of people to church, this Saturday we will have girls night and I'm really happy. Sister Mercado and I are working hard and I'll send a email with some pictures from last week.

Moves are next Thursday, I hope that I can stay with sister Mercado. We're having a lot of fun together! We'll see what happens though.

I love you all!

P.S. So happy Ryan is going to the temple this week. He'll enjoy it a lot, i'll be praying for everyone. Make sure he gets to participate in everything and tell him to write down his thoughts and send them to me.

Sister Gou

I TOTALLY CALLED IT! MY BROTHER IS GOING TO RUSSIA! When I found out I flipped out and jumped up and down in this little Indonesian shop that I email in every week. And I told the mandarin elders sitting behind me, and I told the shop owners, and after email time i'm going to tell everyone in the mission. haha. I knew it was possible you'd get your call early. It only took a week for mine to come in.

I can't believe it. Actually I can. It's crazy, we'll be on the same side of the world but in completely different places. I don't think you can get much different than Hong Kong and Russia. I know Heavenly Father knows where we are needed, and he knows how different we are as siblings. THATS SO COOL!!! When I think of Russia, I think of trains, snow, radiation, fish, and....scary bearded men wearing racoon hats. :) Ryan will fit right in! I would like to know more about the mission. include anything you can. Get on the visa application ASAP. you'll be in the MTC for 12 weeks, but I know some people that got delayed because it takes a really long time to get visas from Russia.

I don't know if i'll have time to reply to everyone's email this week, so i'll just include it all here. I also got to see Maddie's ultrasound. I can't believe that baby is so big! It's adorable! I'm sure it will come out healthy and happy and I'm happy to see its little arms and feet. So cute.

How was fourth of July? did anyone get hurt? I want to see some pictures I didn't get a video, so i'd love to see one of Ryan opening his call if you get the chance.

I just am so elated right now, I don't even want to talk about this week in Hong Kong, because all my thoughts are on you guys right now. I'm so excited for Ryan! I will write you a letter today about all my feelings. haha. but we did have some ridiculously cool miracles this week in Hong Kong that I feel like I should share.

So, we are teaching twins! Annie and Lucy. I started teaching them when my summer missionary was here, and saw them about 3 times, and they've come to church twice, and they ARE SO PREPARED. Last week we taught them about the restoration and invited them to be baptized, and they asked if they could get baptized this coming Sunday, because they love the feeling they have when they come to church and they want to follow Jesus Christ's example. I looked at my companion and I said, well, we've got a lot to teach you first. For example (they both had lemon tea in front of them, that they had brought with them and were drinking) we have a commandment called the word of wisdom, and we can't drink tea. Before I finished my sentence, or said anything more about the commandment, they both said "OK, what tea's are ok to drink?" we told them, and they said "I don't like flower tea, but I'll just drink soda!" And then they asked me if we could throw away the tea right then. And I was like "YES!" It was so awesome. They both will be baptized on the 29th. :)

Suki also is progressing, and she is planning on getting baptized on the 5th of August. She still hasn't figured out the boyfriend problem, but she wants to move out, and right now it's just a logistic's problem. I am so proud of her. She has come so far.

We are having so many miracles latley that I don't have time to say them all. We have 3 new investigators who are really promising. Nichole, A-yi, and Janice, who all love to sing and play the guitar, and they have come to church every day. Janice especially is really cool because her entire family wants to go to church with her. We are seeing them tomorrow.

SPEAKING OF ENTIRE FAMILIES. Did I tell you guys about Suzanna, (pink hair, actually, she died it again, now it's purple) who lives in the same chyuhn as us? She invited us over to big family dinner at her brothers house last Sunday and we went. It reminded me a lot of Cook Hoff Truett dinners. :) there were at least 25 people there, all related, so many kids, so happy, and every sunday they get together and just chill and eat, because they think family is that important. We are now teaching them the gospel, and we hope that they can understand and accept the blessings it can offer them. It's a little overwhelming, but I'm loving teaching these larger groups of people. The gospel is designed for families, and I'm so grateful to have this opportunity to share it.

Kids english class is kicking butt. We had 18 kids last week. None of the other missionaries in my zone are really good at working with children, so I plan and teach the class. It's also overwhelming sometimes, but I'm happy to do it. Especially happy when one of my students came up and told me that she remembered to pray every day this week. So amazing. I will attach pictures.

Anyway, I love you all so much. We are such a lucky family to have two missionaries out at the same time. This month on the 26h is my halfway mark on my mission. I am halfway done already. See? that wasn't so bad. It was really fast. I actually think it was too fast, and I'm nowhere near ready to come home. A little advice to my little brother. Don't stress out about the language. It will come. It will come when the Lord wants it to come for you, and you will have the gift of tongues. I believe in that gift, because there is no way I can speak fluent Cantonese by myself. It's straight up from heavenly father. You will be the same way. Spend this time before the MTC not worrying about the language, but spend it building yourself up spiritually. Study Preach my Gospel and study the Book of Mormon. It's the best way to prepare yourself for the challenges ahead. And I promise, there will be challenges, but the rewards are greater than you could ever imagine. Also remember to write in your Journal what you learned. Do that so you can share it with others, and also to look back on the progress you've made. You will be such an amazing solider in the army of the lord to fight for the salvation of these souls. I love you.

I love you all!! Keep praying! Have faith! Trust in heavenly father.

Sister Cook

I am so happy I live in a mission where I can go to the temple.We just got back and I feel fantastic, which might also have to do with the fact that we just ate Korean BBQ, and that always makes me really happy as well. All the Chinese people look at me weird when I put Ice cream in my Do Fu Fa, but I don't care, because it's delicious. Thanks mom, for sending the pictures. Everyone is getting so big! Especially Emma. She looks almost as tall as me now. Crazy.


This week we did a lot of stuff. The coolest thing is that we went to visit one of our members, Sarah (17) who is in the hospital. She has kidney failure, I think, from what I could understand that she described in Chinese. She has to go through Dialysis 3 times a day. So sad. The hospital she's at is about an hour and a half away, so we were trying to figure out what would make her feel the best when we went to see her. The first time we folded origami flowers for her and made a card, then that Sunday I took a video of all the young women saying hi to her on my camera and showed it to her. She was so happy! She was super sad that she had missed youth conference because she was sick, but she said the video made her feel better. I also got my hands on a ukulele (borrowed it from an elder) and all the kids at the hospital loved it. I'm getting rusty though, but i was able to play "i'm yours" and "I am a child of god" and "somewhere over the rainbow" so they all loved that. It's awesome to me to be able to just do the humanitarian part of missionary work, and to actually make people happier. It really is a great feeling. I'm so glad god blessed me with talents to sing! It's helped SO much out here in the field (practice piano, Ryan, you're for sure gonna use it in Russia).


This week we met with the twins, annie and lucy, and taught about the plan of salvation. It was super neat because all their questions were directly answered by the plan as we described it. They are so prepared to follow Christ. They will be baptized on the 29th! yay!


Suki promised us this week that if she can't kick her lame stupid boyfriend out, she would find a new place, so she could keep the law of chastity and get baptized. I told her I would be willing to help her pack her stuff, or her boyfriends stuff, and throw it outside for him. haha. But her faith is so big! I love her so much.

At youth conference I got to see some of the kids from Yuen Long. Stella wasn't there, but Chace, eve, and Yuen Ting were. I was so happy to see them! I love those people, and they haven't forgotten me yet, That's good!

Oh! We met a new friend! her name is Raven. She's the one in the picture holding the uke. She's so charming. haha. She came to English class even though her English is realllllyyyy good already, and we taught her about prayer. Her parents are Buddhist, but she says she doesn't believe all of it, she wants to know for herself what truth is out there. I'm hoping to help her realize that truth. Sister Darcey met her on the bus a few weeks ago. (Sister Darcey's mission is over in 2 weeks.. blegh.) but anyway, I'm hoping for ravens continued progression.


A few of our other investigators got antied by their parents, and came to church asking us questions about polygamy and how come we think our church is right. It was scary because they were all progressing really well, but we explained the restoration to them and they promised to continue reading and praying to find out for themselves. I love the truth of the gospel. I love that I can openly promise them if they pray and ask with real intent, they will get an answer. I know that because it's worked with me. :)

So, I can honestly say we're working really hard. Things aren't all peaches and cream though. But through fasting, prayer, and relying on the book of Mormon, we are making it through. I was reading in Alma 5:9 today after going to the temple, and I realized that God gives us challenges because he wants our soul to expand. I'm doing some soul expanding right now as I repent, humble myself, and read the scriptures, i'm finding the strength I need to get through challenges I'm having with my compainion (haha, did you see how i spelled that?) and my investigators, and other trials that lay ahead of me.

I want to bear testimony that I know everything happens for a reason and I know god loves all of his children. He gives us so many blessings, I'm so lucky to have the family I have and to be here in hong kong serving the people I love. I hope that this last half of my mission will be even better than the 1st half. And I hope I continue to work so hard that they bring me home in a bucket.




I love you all.


Sister Gou.