{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:)

{Three Peas in a Pod} 8/19/2014

On missions you usually have one companion at a time. But sometimes
you get lucky enough to have two.

 

 Meet Sister Johnson and Sister Wang. Two of the very best friends I
have ever had. When I say The Lord knows what you need when you need
it. This is one of those instances. We are all so similar.

 

Our days consist of hard work. Constantly out doing something.
Laughter. So much laughter. Oreos. Brownies. Using a hair dryer on
rice. Massaging each others feet at night. Learning. Having story
time.

 I am so grateful The Lord gave me an opportunity to serve with these
two sisters. I learn and grow with them everyday. They are so much
more then companions to me they are my sisters.

{Transfer Meeting} 8/19/14

Every Six weeks we have transfer meeting. Everyone who has ever served a mission knows what I am talking about. But for those of you who haven't I will explain. Five weeks go by. Everyone starts whispering. Am I staying? Am I leaving? Am I getting a new companion? Am I training? Saturday night comes. Three days before the transfer. We do a conference call with our Zone. They go through each District. Staying. Going. You don't know where you are going. You just know you are leaving. Monday you pack your bags. Tuesday you go to the office. New missionaries coming. Old missionaries Departing. Others going to new areas. Getting new companions. We all sit in the Chapel. We listen to President and his wife talk. We listen to departing missionaries sing. We cry. We say a closing prayer. This is when everyone gets on the edge of their seats. The Zone Leaders in each Zone stand up and annouce who's in their Zone. This is when you find out where you are going and who your companion is. It is truly our of inspiration. Every companion you serve with. Every are you go to. Is meant for a reason. The lords hand is in this work.

 

{Now&Then} 7/27/14

I sit and listen to the speakers. One member crying because her son left home today. I think of my mom. One is laughing playing with a baby. I think of my nephews.

The speakers talk about when they got taught by the missionaries. I think of my Investigators. Some of them here. right now. listening. Will this push them closer to baptism? I think of my baptism. I see the missionaries all focused on everyone else. Old missionaries back to visit. A member who just got engaged here with his fiancé. who isn't a member. I think of my sisters wedding.

The single parents here with their kids. Very few families. I remember my Family. My blessings. I'm grateful for this church. So many different backgrounds. So many different emotions. The same belief. The same hope. I think of our savior Jesus Christ. He has felt every emotion in this room. My testimony grows. Being here, in this situation. Brings back old memories. I now know god has a perfect plan for me. everything leading up to this point in my life happened for a reason. I know I am exactly where I need to be right now.