August 5

Hello again! Another week has flown by and it is almost time for moves calls. I don't know if I'll be staying in Tuen Mun, but I am assuming so because Sister Englund has already been here for 4 moves. thats... 6 months I think? So it will be interesting to see who I end up with next move, and who else is in my apartment etc.

My chinese is steadily progressing... it is still really hard. I feel like if I were learning any other language, by now I would have a decent grasp on it. I was thinking the other day, and I am pretty sure one of the reasons God sent me to China instead of anywhere else in the world is so that I would be humbled. Because there is no way I would have been able to learn this much without His help. I am having a grand time just smiling away and not understanding anything! haha!

The other day we were teaching this girl Ban a lesson about the Book of Mormon and prayer. While introducing ourselves, I showed her the only picture I have of my family. She told me I looked like I was Korean and that Rebecca looked like she was chinese. No one here thinks I am white here, which I think is pretty funny! They always ask me where my ancestry is from. Even one of the elders in the MTC thought I was mixed until after we got to China!

We have a goal to teach 20 lessons this week, which is kind of a standard the first presidency has set for the missionaries. I love teaching, but it is really tough to start from complete scratch with people. Most chinese either don't believe in God (believe in themselves only) or are Buddhist, or worship their ancestors.

Some are Christian but believe that all Christian churches are true. I was pondering this the other day, and I realized if all churches are true, then the differences in doctrine don't matter. If the differences in doctrine dont matter, than there isn't any standard by which to measure truth, so essentially it doesn't exist. If one Christian church says god and jesus are the same person, but another says they are two separate beings (like the LDS church does), and both churches are "true", then I submit that neither can be true. So it only makes sense that one christian church can be completely true even if all churches have bits and pieces of truth, the differences in doctrine point that they can't all have complete truth. If Jesus created only one church while he was this earth then which is true?

This is what I am teaching as a missionary. Jesus Christ created one church, and I know that this is His church because we have his priesthood and a prophet leading us today. This is just like how there were prophets a long time ago! God always has a prophet lead his church. He always has, so why now would he not? Some may say false prophets will come, which I know is true because in the Bible it talks about this very thing. But it also says you will know them by their works. I know the Book of Mormon is probably the LDS church's greatest "work" by which to judge. So how to know if the Book of Mormon is true? 1. read it 2. ponder what it teaches 3. pray and ask God, in the name of Jesus Christ if it is true. It is so simple. If anyone truly wants to know, they can. For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, click here

We are teaching a girl and taught her about the restoration and about Joseph Smith. She has grown up going to a christian school, and believes in Jesus. We asked her to read a part from the Book of Mormon and pray about whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. She did, and God answered her prayer. You can feel truth. When someone says something that isn't right, or suggests to do something that is wrong, you can feel it. Just like when someone encourages you to do something good, you don't just know in your mind that it is good, but you can also feel it. I guess what I am saying is, I just want everyone to have the opportunity to hear that. To see for themselves, to ask God if it is true-- but sincerely, intending to act upon whichever answer they recieve.

In other news.. . . . the typhoon is gone, the rains are gone, and now.. . it is SO HOT. I don't know why but the air quality is terrible all of hte sudden. it is hazy everywhere. even looking at the buildings around us I can tell it is hazy. Maybe someone could email me and update me on hong kong weather reports because in all honesty, I have no idea what is going on in this world at all. Maybe some news too. Any natural disasters anywhere? Any interesting tidbits? Also I hope I'll have a chance to go into kowloon tong soon and get my mail. I hope I have some!! :) Thank you everyone for your support!


Oh we also have this family, the Lauh family- amy and her two daughters, who we teach english to. They are SO awesome!!! I also know that every person in this world is God's son or daughter. And they all should know that. It is a knowledge that most people don't have. So be kind, help each other, lift each other. Smile! for crying out loud just SMILE!! A smile can do a world of good. I love that there are so many simple things that would make htis world so much better, if people could just let go of their pride, their selfishness and love each other and look for how to help each other be the best they can be, this world would be so much better. and I know people always say that and they always think, its not me that is the problem it is someone else. but no, everyone can improve and change and help ppl more.

ok i have to go. I am going to get kicked off the computer by someone who needs it. Love you! take care!!!

-Sister Black/ Baahk jimuih!