{Freely} 8/10/2014

"He knows what we feel these night, with every step we take he's by
our side. Open your heart, please just let him have a chance. He will
be your savior." -Elder Purcell

They say on a mission you have a turning point. Where you won't want
to leave. When I started my mission I didn't believe this. I had many
challenges. I cried many times those first eight months. I had never
been away from my family, and my family is very close. There were days
I asked myself if I could go on. I remember P-days used to be hard for
me. I loved talking to my family but it made it harder to be away. I
was missing things. One Monday night in April we had FHE, I left and
just started bawling. My companion and I were standing outside our
building with two other missionaries. They asked if I was okay. I
looked at them and said I honestly don't think I can do this. The one
looked back at me and said, "sister Lee I promise it'll be worth it."
August 10, 2014 we had a fireside at our chapel in flushing. There
were many talented missionaries who came and sang songs and played
instruments. It was beautiful. Then these two elders got up and played
and sang a song that the one had written back in high school. This
song struck me so hard. It was the most amazing thing I had heard. I
recorded it. I went home that night and listened to it again and
again. I was so overcome with the spirit. I wanted to cry but I
couldn't. I was too happy. This was it. The switch. The turning point
of my mission.
November 15 we had a meeting at the mission office. I was privileged
to hear them play and sing this song once again. The words again
pierced me. On December 24 I was able to confront these two
missionaries and tell them how grateful I was for this song. It truly
to me shaped my mission and I felt forgiven. But I don't think that
small thank you will be enough to repay them.
I know the atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I know that he FREELY
gave his life for us so we could have eternal happiness. I now also
know the words of president Gordon Hinckley are true when he said,
"you will shed more tears leaving your mission, then you did going to
your mission."

Enjoy this song and I hope you can get out of it a piece of what I did 🎶❤️

{One year in New York} 2/10/2015

"Let your faith show!" -Russell M. Nelson 

February 10, 2014. I left

the MTC at 3:30 that cold winter morning. I got on a bus filled with

other missionaries. We drove to the airport. I got out of the bus. We

went inside. I was alone. I was the only one going to New York. I was

afraid. I called my family. I wake them up. They are so excited to

hear from me. I cry. I call my grandmother. It's the day of my

grandfathers funeral. She is happy to hear from me. I fly to Georgia.

I wait. I fly to New York. I walk outside. I don't know who I should

look for. It's my first time in New York. "Taxi! You need a taxi?" So

much smoke. So many people. I wait. I don't know what to do. In the

distance I see people walking toward me. They look friendly. They

wave. There are five of them. They come up to me. "Hello sister lee,

I'm your trainer sister Dean!" We hug. We go get in the car. She is

wearing a Spanish name tag. I'm confused. "I thought you were my

trainer?" I saidShe laughs, "yes I am, I used to be Spanish but since

you are the first Chinese speaking sister I was chosen to train you.

We will be learning Chinese together." The missionaries up front are

laughing. "I didn't know I was the first."We go to the mission

president's house. Him and his wife are so loving. We go out to

dinner. P.F. Changs. We go to the high school. There is a basketball

game. Their daughter is singing the national anthem. We leave. We go

to their house. I'm the only new missionary. We watch our mission

video. This is so real. We share our testimonies. I say the closing

prayer. In Chinese. We get ready for bed. We go to bed. "I love you

sister Lee," says sister Dean. I roll over and close my eyes.

  *                                 *                                       *

One of my favorite singers recently released a song that goes a

little something like this, "when we first dropped our bags on

apartment floors. Took our broken hearts put them in a drawer.

Everybody here wants something more." I couldn't help but think this

is what I have experienced the last year of my life. I came to a

foreign place I had always dreamed of coming to. New York City. I was

put into an apartment to live with different people I have just barely

known. These people are now my best-friends. I took my broken heart

and put it away. Focusing on the people surrounding me. Helping them

search for and find what it is they have been looking for. I love this

work and I am so grateful and blessed to have been here for the last

year of my life. I look forward to what the future holds!

{God is LOVE} 1/13/15

Sometimes it's so easy to lose sight of the big picture. Something goes wrong and you feel like giving up. I already messed up so what's the point in fixing it? Nobody cares about me. I remember feeling this way just a few times throughout my life. I felt hopeless. I didn't know where to turn. I had people that loved me. A lot. But I felt like giving up. I remember reading my scriptures once in a while. But never consistently. Maybe that one Sunday I would go to church every few months. I had a friend. A very close friend. I remember my junior year of high school she would start texting me every night. All she would send me was a scripture. Those scriptures pushed me through. They helped me strive to be better. Because she shared with me I wanted to share with others. When I would receive these texts I felt gods love. I knew it was always there but I didn't feel worthy enough to accept it. Now from this friends example to me I have the opportunity to help others. I can share with them the scriptures she shared with me. I can help them know how much God loves them. For God is love. I know I am a

daughter of God. No matter how far away we may feel. He always loves

us. He sent his son to take away our pains and sorrows. To help us

become all that we can be. We weren't sent here to be perfect. But we were sent here to improve. If you want to know more about gods love for you, ask below! <3

{EMBARK} 2015

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."-Mosiah 2:17

Service. The action of helping or doing work for someone. Embark. To begin a important course. Social media. Websites and applications that enables users to create and share content or participate in. What are we participating in when we get online? We are participating in one of gods greatest tools to us. We not only have the opportunity to share or "like" others posts. But we can create our own. 

When we serve others we are only serving our God. 

"Hey guys so we are going to use three hours Monday to help a member in another ward move." The elder said. 

"No," I thought as I knew that this was preparation day and I wanted to relax. I was so upset. Over something so little. Monday came around and we showed up at the house. There were things not packed and the woman was stressed. We started working as fast as we could. As we kept going I felt the anger leave me. I started smiling. I started laughing. We started talking to eachother. We got her house completely empty. She was overwhelmed as she looked at us and said, "thank you, I couldn't have done this without you." 

Sometimes we don't always want to do what we are told or asked to do. But from this experience, I have a much stronger testimony on service. I know that as we put the lord first and help others we become happier in the process. 

So let's take this challenge that we have been given and embark in the service of God using the tools that we have been given. 

{Flushing|New York} 2/14-10/14

Usually on a mission you get the chance to serve in many areas. Luckily I am a Chinese speaking missionary. We only have two areas we can get called to. One of which being Flushing. I remember the first day I arrived. A chill winter morning. I had never been to New York and this wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be like. It was so crowded. It was like I was in China. There are so many little shops all down the streets. So much food. Food I've never seen and definitely never ate before. 

I was able to live there for eight months. Everything became so familiar to me. The people. The stores. The food. Well sometimes the food. And especially the church. Every branch or ward you go to is different because the people are different. But every branch or ward you go to has things in common. Every body is happy. Loving. Everybody is a big family. 

Being able to serve in flushing for eight months really got me connected to the ward. I was able to get to know them as my brothers and sisters. I was able to make friendships. And I was able to grow. 

When I found out I was leaving I cried. The following day was a fast and testimony meeting and I was able to share my testimony. I cried. Again. I shared my feelings that I know with my whole heart this church is the true church on this earth. I expressed my love for my brothers and sisters. 

I will never forget them. The parties. English class. Flushing adventure. Basement floods. The people. The smell. The feeling. The love. The members. The cockroaches. The street sweeps. The met. Target. Sanford. The planes. And the 7. I will never be far away.

{conversion} 8/17/14

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God"

D&C 18:10

Almost nine months on my mission and I haven't brought anyone to the waters of baptism. What am I doing wrong? I thought. I told my mom about my sadness and concern I felt. She told me, "it's not about if you get a baptism, look at all the success around you." I talked to president. He told me my mother was very wise. I agreed. 

We walked into the church. "Hey this is my friend. She wants to learn about the gospel." The member said. We had a lesson. She accepted a baptismal date. We continued to teach her. She was ready. She came prepared. Three and a half weeks later she entered into the waters of baptism. I was overcome with the spirit. I thanked my Heavenly Father. My mom was right. Its not about me. This woman didn't need me. She came to us prepared. We were the tools in our fathers hands. This Woman is now a strong member of the church. She is a ward missionary. Her son just received baptism. Her daughter will soon. This family will now and forever be together in our Heavenly Fathers presence. 

{the HALF of it} 9/11/14

 

"As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin
their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age
at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce
that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be
recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age
21."
General conference October 2012

Just over a year ago I decided to serve a mission. I have now been
here 9 months today! I can't believe it. There was a quote I used a
lot before my mission, "you've had eternity to prepare for your
mission and you'll have eternity to reflect on it but you only have
eighteen months to live it." My mission has changed my life. Being
able to serve others. I have made so many friends. Family. Memories.
The last nine months have gone a little something like this. Getting
trained by a Spanish sister who learned Chinese with me. Making cakes
out of cornbread. Free English class. Street sweeps. Service. Lessons.
Walking. Knocking. New people. Old people. Companions. Training.
Heartbreak. Happiness. Joy. Excitement. Baptisms. Knowledge.
Airplanes. Trains. Buses. Smells. Growth. Prayer. Learning. Listening.
Not understanding. Feeling the Holy Ghost. Transfer meetings. Trio. I
am a new person. My journey is only beginning. I want to also talk
about the Book of Mormon. This book has changed my life the last nine
months. I get an hour everyday to read it on my own. Before my mission
I didn't fully understand it. But now I can say I do. A book of only
530 pages has changed my life. Every time I read it the same
scriptures mean different things because I am changing. When I have
questions I read it and they are answered. When I am sad I read it and
I am happy.

I want to know how the Book of Mormon has changed your life! So tell me below:)