September 8, 2014: ...and then came the miracles!

So. Not a ton of time this week since today, Elder Rasband (president of the 70) as well as the ENTIRE Asia Area Presidency and their wives came to speak to our entire mission. This only happens like once a year, and I guess it already happened last February. So this was really really special and I was grateful to hear their sweet message.

Monday was the bomb. We took some time to do a touristy thing and take a ferry out to Wan Chi, where the massive chapel is for all the international people- the building where they hold church like every day. No joke. The Filipino women only get one day off a week so that's so they can have the sacrament too. Yay. We wandered around looking for a supposed Thai buffet, never did find it. Maybe another week we'll try. We ended up finding some place with Kebabs that tasted more like a burrito than anything but they were still good. Closest thing to Mexican food I've had in a while. I got some good pictures that my mom can put up on my blog if anyone wants to see.

Tuesday we visited a less active member. She made us the most amazing dumplings I've ever eaten. So good. The soup she threw on top of it was like chicken broth with lots of vegetables and green onions- really good. Apparently there were chicken feet in the soup but I didn't know that until after I was totally stuffed. so maybe next week. The sister asked if I was from England because I'm so white... yep, nope. haha. She's feeding us tonight too for the moon festival.

Wednesday- went on another split with Sister Tu-Avao. We're just awesome together. We went to teach a poh poh in Sis T's area and it was the bomb. She literally had no teeth so I couldn't understand a single thing she said (Chinese is hard enough to understand even when they do have teeth....) and she just wanted to talk and talk. Super cute. Then we went finding in Kowloon Tong, which is where the temple is. We taught two street lessons and I think they've started to teach the one lady! woo. had family home evening, where we played Mafia. Except it's hard in Chinese because you don't understand what's going on. A member, Sam (I think he's doing a teaching English internship- his English is way good) helped me. Fun times.

Thursday I experienced my first Hong Kong rainstorm. The thunder seriously was CRAZY loud. The sky suddenly went totally black and lightning was flashing and the thunder wasn't a rumble, it was a cracking whip! It only lasted for an hour or so though, and it was during lunch/study time. So no worries. We taught Janda and she's progressing nicely.

BAHA. Best story EVER. So Thursday night. The sisters I live with serve in another area but somehow met a less active in my area, so they came with us to meet her and they "turned her over" to us. She. Is. A. NUT JOB. really nice. but legitimately crazy. Hahaha I'm totally crying just thinking about it. So we started talking and getting to know her and she told us she had twelve kids- ten in america and two here. Very unusual for Chinese people, but whatev. Then she went to go find a picture, and came back empty-handed, saying her crazy older sister stole it, and that her son made the room too messy to find anything. I don't have time for details, but basically she told us
-she was never born
-she is 500 years old
-she speaks 50+ languages, most of which sounded totally made up (one sounded like the word "diarrhea" with a bad accent)
-she was baptized twice (possible but not likely)
-fought in a war (possible, but also not likely)
-married 6 times by the age of 24

Friday was good. We had zone training. Sis Lubeck called a lady she met on the street who apparently was drunk and started railing on our beliefs... pretty sad.

Saturday. I cracked. We haven't been having ANY success street finding (which is literally all we can do- no doors to knock on) and I was just done. I was frustrated with my companions and just started to cry. I don't remember why I was so upset, only that it seems silly now. I missed home pretty bad and just wanted to curl up and sleep for three days. I'm so exhausted. But then my comp and I talked for like two hours and she helped me get back on my feet.

Then came the miracles. It started when the elders gave me a blessing before church. Thank the heavens for priesthood! I immediately felt more at peace with the work here. Right before the end of relief society we were pulled aside- some girl walked in off the street and said she was looking for a church and wanted to schedule a time for a "tour" and then we could teach her a little bit about what we are. WOW. And then Yeung Jimuih (a recent convert) got a temple recommend and is going to ward temple day on Saturday to do baptisms. She did it all by herself too! SO excited for her. Then. Someone gave us "ice cream mooncakes". if you recall, mooncakes are NASTY (happy moon festival week, by the way. starts today) but someone gave us some that are flavored like ice cream and are probably way expensive. very nice of them. then We went finding after church. It was raining pretty hard, but it was fun. We met a girl named Joey and placed a BoM. then we met a girl who had maybe heard missionary lessons before- had a BoM but hadn't read it. Then we met Ng Siu Je. Whoa. She was a mom with a cute little boy, probably 6 or so. we started talking about the Book of Mormon and gave her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. Her little boy is obsessed with Americans, so that was funny. And then she asked "Is there some place I can take classes about this stuff?" Um. YES. We'll teach you. For free. Whenever. Wherever. So great. Then walking home we ran into a younger girl who wanted to give our number to her friend who was also looking for a church.

ALSO. SO I said it was raining. Like a lot. like torrential downpour. Yeah, it was "Tropical Cyclone Warning Level 1"!!! Woo. Officially been outside being drenched in a tropical cyclone. It was wimpy though. Haha. We don't have to stay inside till level 8, and it goes 1, 3, 8, 10. So it was pretty pathetic. But way fun.

So miracles are real. D&C 58: 2-4 says after the trials come the blessings. I cannot testify more to that than I can today! It was just amazing. I'm so grateful for this gospel and all that I have.

Love you all! Ngoh ngoi leihdeih!

-Kuk Jimuih

P.S. If you could all take 30 seconds and appreciate your big kitchens, your carpet, and your air conditioning on behalf of those of us without those blessings, we'd appreciate it. Thanks. (: haha just kidding. But really. be grateful for carpet.


P.P.S.I am alive and well! Elder Rasband came today so we moved email time to later...sorry. Temple next week, so p day is Thursday! heads up. House looks awesome. We all commented on the fact that the kitchen is HUGE and how much we really miss carpet...
Mom: Are you adjusting to the potty smell? Yes. The outside doesn't stink as bad anymore. helps that it's rained a few days this week.
Mom: Does living up on the 24th floor make you sick? Nope. I've visited people who live on 30+ floors up, and honestly it isn't bad. the sketchiest elevator I've been on since the beginning of my mission was actually in the MTC...
Jaiden: What is the most exotic food you have eaten this week? Hmm. A member made us some seriously yummy dumplings. Then she threw some sort of chicken (umm maybe) soup broth over it, and I guess there were chicken feet in the soup. Didn't eat one because I didn't realize she didn't give me any. but by the time i knew, I was seriously SO full of dumplings that I just figured I'd have another chance next time.
Tessa wants to know if there's really McDonalds in HK? Yes. Freaking everywhere. Haven't been to one yet, but the elders in our district eat there at least once a week, if not more.
Jaiden: What American food are you missing the most right now? Ice cream. It's SO expensive here. like... $100 for a tiny container. (about $15 american dollars)

Glad things are going well! sorry I have no time this week! hope you enjoy the pictures on drop box! last week we went to Wan Chi for our P-day adventures. took a ferry out there and wandered, ate some.... Indian food? or kebabs? and then otherwise it was awesome. way fun. more to come later!

Pictures:
Uber sketchy "fresh meat" hanging up in Wan Chi. Pretty typical of a Chinese market, but DANG it smells SO bad. so so so bad. We also saw one with an entire cow tail. Like, from where it attaches down to the hair. Just hanging. But people get mad when you take pictures, so we had to be sneaky and just get the sketchy meat instead.
WanChi from a distance! We took a ferry there so that's a picture from the station.
The most INCREDIBLE water dumplings I've ever had in my whole life. I'm learning to make them and will make them when I come home! 

The following photos came with ZERO information.  Mom had asked for scenery, city and p-day photos.  I believe this is what they are but there is no explanation.

September 1, 2014: I'm Not Dead Yet

Yeah, that's a thing.

Monday was pretty crazy. I was informed that my house FINALLY sold, so dearest friends, I'll be returning home to... Idaho? what the heck. Guess that's real. Haha. pretty weird, I must say. But I'm grateful for the opportunities that it will create for my family. Missionary miracles are a true thing. So Monday's AWKWARD moment. We were finding and it was hot and humid and dark and I was just done. We hadn't had any success. I asked Sis Lubeck if it was a rule that we don't talk to men, or if that was just a personal preference. She said it was a preference. So we keep walking and probably five minutes later we found this guy on a staircase with his head in his hands, looking like he had a really bad day. So of course we wanted to give him something that could make him eternally happy- the gospel. We started talking and shared a message and then he was saying something about wanting to visit us in America. Now I can't understand hardly ANYTHING anyone says to me. Ever. But this dude was totally flirting with us (I mean, how many blonde and red-headed Americans are there in China? ha. not many.) and we were both freaking out not knowing what to do. He has our number though, and I think a Book of Mormon? so if he reads it and wants the gospel, you know. he can have it. It was just way awkward, but whatevs. Then we visited a less active, Ng Jimuih. She was baptized a few years ago but stopped going to church because when she prays, she hears voices. Not sure how to handle that one, but...yeah. we'll work with her. She's way nice.

Tuesday was fun. We went less active finding (we have a lot of less actives. like I can't even explain.) with a member, so that was way fun. I had a pretty rough morning (it's really easy to be frustrated with the fact that I cannot speak nor understand ANYTHING) and was pretty upset with myself (patience is a hard virtue to obtain) but it ended nicely. We actually found one of the less actives and she invited us back for dinner! We took a recent convert, Jamie, with us, so it was really nice to have her spirit there. She's super cute.

Wednesday we went LA visiting with a member, Tai Jimuih. She's adorable- olderish (like... 50s or 60s? maybe? Chinese don't look old like, ever, so who knows) but the sister wasn't home. Then we did a banner find, where we set up a table with big banners and pictures of Christ and stuff. Then we just talked to people as they walked past. We stopped a young couple and the girl said that she was having a hard time in her life and that maybe this was what she needed, but her boyfriend kept pulling her away. We gave her a card with our number on it and pray that she calls us- she didn't have a chance to give us her number. We also stopped an older lady named Kiwi who had like a thousand questions. We taught basically most of the first lesson on the street and prayed and hope that she'll call us too. Then we talked to a 17ish year old girl and gave her a B of M. We got her number, but when I called the next day some dude got on the phone and told us he was police, and a bunch of other stuff I don't remember. so that was sketchy, even though he probably wasn't. I really hate making phone calls. We then visited a LA sister who's older and her husband is retired. We're going to try to help her come back to church, but she takes care of her mom on Sundays so that'll be hard.

Thursday was good. We taught Kelly again (her baptism is scheduled for this month) and Lam Lam, our fellowshipper who is also a recent convert, brought two friends with her who aren't members. It was a good lesson. I made a mistake and when talking about the Word of Wisdom tried to explain that we don't drink beer and ended up saying "we don't eat full" which was just pretty weird, but the words are similar, so whatever.

Friday I went on an adventure to Cheung Sha Wan, the area the other sisters I live with serve in. My trainer and one of the other sisters are sister training leaders, so I went on a split with sis Tu-Avao. It was so fun. she's adorable. We got some contact information, so hopefully she gets a hold of them. We taught a street lesson to a lady from... Indonesia? and she wanted a picture with us, so she has one with us and one of sis tu-avao's nametag which is pretty cool. We went to English class and the Elders taught, and Katie Chan (her english i sway good!) gave us a mooncake........... let the mooncakes begin. Ew.

Saturday we made mooncakes. So mooncakes are a flour, sticky outside skin type thing called pei with stuff inside. Usually typical mooncakes have like... red bean, green bean, or sweet potato in them which is pretty good, and then inside that it's a salted duck egg yolk (EW). they're just really sweet and not exactly the best thing ever. But the ones we made were a lot smaller and you freeze them. Sister Lau (Lau Hingdaaih's wife- so cute) is going to translate the recipe into something we can understand and give it to us. She also bought us mooncake molds, so I can make them for you when I come home. (: she's the best. so cute. wouldn't even let us pay her for them. We had dinner with Wong Jimuih (the LA we visited Monday or Tuesday, can't remember) and she fed us all sorts of traditional Chinese food- rice, nasty nasty nasty chewy mushrooms, fish that still had half the skin and eyeballs... you know. the typical stuff.  The fish wasn't too bad- just picked the meat off with my chopsticks. the mushrooms I had to gag down but that's alright. I ate some other kind of weird fungus that's supposedly good for your skin- tasted okay but the texture was... uber weird.  Didnt' know it was a fungus till later. That's the rule here- just eat it and don't ask questions unless you like it. Wong JM's husband died 6 years ago of cancer, and she has a desire to go to the temple to be able to do his work. I'm really excited to start helping her. Church is hard because she has a lot of health problems and can't sit or stand for very long, but it's all good. We'll work with her.

Sunday was good. After church we had lunch with a member and shared about missionary work. We were in a hurry to leave, so afterwards Lau Hingdaaih (coordinator) told us "go get on that bus and it'll take you to Tsing Yi Sing!" that's the stop right across from our church building. It made a stop at Cheung...on? I think. just another stop. And then it drove right past Tsing Yi Sing. And Sister Lubeck was talking to this old guy. Yeah needless to say we accidentally left our area because by the time she realized where we were (I still don't have a clue) we were on a bridge to Cheung Wan. So that was crazy. We jumped back on a bus to come back and do some finding. I talked to two old ladies and we taught them how to pray which was fun, but then they went off about how our church is a devil church. Beauty of not knowing the language is you don't know when people are insulting you or what you believe. So that was....fun. but it's whatever.

So we have about 80ish members in our ward. We keep their names and records in a binder. the less active binder is probably 3 times the size. I guess they recently renovated the chapel here, meaning the members had to go about 30 minutes train ride for 2 years to get to church. So tons of people went less active, because that's a ton of time and money. We're going to work SUPER hard to have that book of less actives a ton smaller. IF they were all active, we could have a second ward here. our goal is to have tons of reactivations here by the time I leave Tsing Yi and my trainer goes home.

Love you all. It's been a hard week and I'm really frustrated with the language, but it'll come. I'm struggling to have patience with myself, but I have to remember that my savior loves me and these people and he'll provide a way to have me teach them. I love the Chinese people. (: ngoh ngoi leihdeih!

-Kuk Jimuih

P.S.
I got permission from President Hawks to do dropbox- just wanted to be sure that it's okay with him...he's a stickler on obedience. Do me a favor and please please CALL him. He needs to know of the address change and I don't know if I have time to give him a call (sad life, right?) So if you could do that that would be awesome. I'll be sure to go visit the Utah ward when I come home- most of them are the reason I'm on my mission in the first place. I'll get that big email written in just a few.

(In reference to a story about Sister Crook's great grandmothers at Hawns Mill and Battle of Crooked River): I may not have been shot, but I've been run away from, got told I worship devils, and spat and probably peed on (people do all sorts of weird stuff out the windows here....) so I guess my trials are just different.

(In reference to questions about Poh Pohs which are old grandmas and Chinglish): yes! Chinglish. one lady was wearing a shirt that said something like "propert original please" which was funny. a fellowshipper, actually. Lau JM? I think? I can't remember. there's like 500 lau jimuihs... so yeah. and then I tried to talk to some poh poh yesterday and they were pretty funny. We had a poh poh from Indonesia in our ward who seriously is like 4 feet tall and her voice is super high pitched and she has these glasses that make her eyes big. so cute. I'll try to get a picture with more members this week, she's way funny.

Before I forget. Not next week but the NEXT my P day will be different- it's like... wednesday or thursday. I just remembered. so don't panic when you don't get an email that Monday.  just kidding. Thursday, sept 18th.

It's TEMPLE DAY. woo. so yeah, that's a thing. so it'll be probably Tuesday night that you get my email that week. should know more by next week when it gets closer- not positive though. so don't panic. yep.

Mom's note about the photos:  There was little explanation about these.  I know this was primarily an activity to learn to make mooncakes but other than that...I have no idea.

 It may not taste good but it really is pretty

 Our fair-blue eyed missionary just doesn't fit with these tiny little Chinese people.

 Way in the back

 The is Sister Crook and Sister Lubeck and Sister somebody

 Churches in China look almost the same as they do here!

 Mooncake molds

 Random ingredients to make mooncakes

 Maybe the recipe?

 ?

 another recipe?

 Maybe they don't tast good but they are really pretty

 Mickey Mouse!

 Another Sister Missionary we don't have the name of.

August 24, 2014: ARRIVED!

So. I made it. and I'm not dead yet. THANK HEAVENS. This week has proved to me more than ever that I am where I need to be.

Monday morning last week, we jumped on an airplane to Seattle. I had the chance to talk to my family for a few minutes, which was awesome. Then we made it to Seattle and had the wonderful opportunity to talk to some really funny old guys that spent the past month or so fishing in Alaska. Minus their language (after 9 weeks in the MTC, I forgot that bad language was a thing...) they totally reminded me of my Grandpa Crook. They showed us some awesome pictures and it was nice to talk with them. They asked about what we were doing and hopefully the missionaries in Texas find them. They're great.

We landed in Hong Kong Tuesday evening. After geting through immigration (not customs, cuz I LIVE HERE NOW! WHAAATT.) we walked out to see our sweet mission president (chyundobouh wuihjeung, in case you wanted to know the Cantonese) and his wife. She just hugged each of us and he shook our hands and knew most of us by name. it was amazing. I was so grateful for them!!! They took us back to their apartment... in the temple. So yeah, I've technically already been to the Hong Kong Temple. it doesn't look quite like the pictures, but it is beautiful. ANyways, we went up a few flights of stairs and right across from their apartment is a little dining area. Sister Hawks made us cake. no joke. legit chocolate cake. I seriously wanted to cry. We were all so overwhelmed and exhausted, but she greeted us with loving open arms, a hug, and a cake. Just like a mom away from home. Love her! President Hawks is cool too. He genuinely cares about each of us. Anyways, we ate cake and took a really awful picture with them (not sure why) and they sent us across the street above the stake center to Patron Housing. that's where all the out of country people come and stay while they attend the temple. We fit 8 people into a room that was maybe just bigger than my bedtroom at home, and it included a bathroom. Needless to say it was hot!

Wednesday, we got our Hong Kong ID's, trained, and took a picture with President and Sister Hawks to send to our families showing that none of us are dead yet. I swear my hair just eats the water in the air here. It's not any more curly, but dang, it's big. I don't have a clue how to tame it so it's been in a bun and probably will be for the next 16 months. We went to a mall and got food0- real chinese sticky rice and soem kind of barbeque pork. I realized that I still stink at usign chopsticks (more to come on that later).That night we went finding in some place with a sister. Sister Nuttall and I went with Sister Choi, who is a native from Hong Kong. We spent a couple hours wandering the streets in the pouring rain trying to tell people about the gospel. No joke, as soon as someone saw us walking towards them they looked away or opened their umbrella at us (it was all wet...not fun) or ran away... it was really discouraging. People are not open to hearing what we have to say. I went to bed feeling pretty sad, not sure I could handle this new adventure.

Thursday we got up, ate breakfast, and met our trainers and got our areas. My trainer is Sister Lubeck from...Morgan? Utah. I have been assigned to serve in the Tsing Yi (kind of pronounced like Ching-Yee, kind of.) area. It's a tiny island just off of mainland Hong Kong (the part stuck to mainland China). It is adorable. There are palm trees lining the coasts and you can see HK Island and mainland in the distance... love it. But it's definitely not paradise. The buildings may look glorious, but dang, the place stinks. It smells like trash and a dirty bathroom everywhere we go. So that'll take some getting used to. We took my 3 suitcases, as well as Sister Lubeck's bag and she ha dto grab another bag of stuff to take to someone in our area, so trying to ride the MTR (subway) was an adventure. We made it though. Thursday evening I got to teacha  lesson! She's my favorite. Her name is Janda, and she's actually Sri Lankan. She married a chinese guy and has been here for like 20 years. She progresses slowly, but it's totally sure and she just is so happy. She smiles and gets so excited about everything we taught her.

Friday was good. We had lunch with a member from the ward, Chiu Jimuih. She made us some kind of vegetable soup and homemade potstickers. AH. It was so so so so so so good. I know not all the food will be that awesome. But homemade dumplings? Yessss. win. I also got the opportunity to teach English! how crazy. I met John, who is the Elders' investigator, and Katie Chan. AI loved teaching English class. We watched a mormon message and took words from it to teach them, so they're still getting to feel the spirit even though we're not really "teaching". It was awesome.

Saturday was fun. We taught a less active sister, Chan Tung Jimuih. SHe's cute. She's pretty nervous, and I'm new so that threw her for a loop, but she wanted a picture with us so I have one that hopefully Mom can forward on. She's adorable. loved her. She actually came to church this week, so that was good! We went out to eat with a recent convert A-Teng (or Yeung JM) for lunch. we ate curry soup with giant noodles... yeah, we had to eat that with chopsticks. In case you were wondering, eating soup with chopsticks is possible. BUT it ended up down the front of my shirt. so that was fun. We went to eat at a member's house for dinner- Lau Hingdaih. he's the coordinator with the missionaries. His wife made us ribs (whatt??? yeah. real thing) and salad with RANCH! we don't get ranch here so that was fun.

Sunday was good too. I seriously do not understand a single thing people say to me, so they definitely enjoy that. it's funny. I met lots of people and don't remember most of their names. But that's okay. We had amusical fireside last night (hmm, think my being here is inspired?! yes.) and I got to help with that. Janda came and I was super excited to see her. And then another investigator Jasmine that I actually haven't met yet was there too. Kelly, a 14 year old girl, came to church though and we taught her afterwards about the 10 commandments and law of chastity. She's cute and is really excited to be baptized, I think next month? I can't keep the people straight.

So I live on the 24th floor of a skyscraper...that's sketchy. We can't run our AC except at night so it's ALWAYS hot, and the whole thing is maybe as big as my living room at home. kitchen, washer, dryer, bathroom, and 4 beds. I live with two other sisters from another area, Sister Tidwell and Tu-Avao (not sure I spelled that one right). The araprtments are sketchy here because as soon as you step off the elevator you feel like you are in prison, since all the doors have a metal barred door over the door. It's scary. you feel like someone is gonna jump out at you with a knife. bUt we have all sorts of guards and stuff so I know that we're safe. it's not too bad, just hot. and stinky. the whole place stinks like a bathroom (thank goodness our apt doesn't stink that bad). but oh well.

Umm... I love China. I freaking stink at speaking this language. Well, no. I can speak alright. but I TOTALLY can't understand a single thing anyone says. But oh well. I love our investigators and I love the people and the ward totally loves me so that's fun. love you all!

Ngoh nhoi leihdeih! (:

-Kuk Jimuih

P.S.
Okay, finally have a few minutes to reply to this. Wow. Yeah, missionary miracles are real. I can't believe it. I am so excited for that. I can't believe you're moving already. That's weird. I mean, I know it's fast and stuff, but dang. I'm glad you all have a fresh start though. I hear dad is excited about his new job (sorry, don't have time to reply to his email so just tell him I'm happy for him! and tell hi9m he has to start a rock band in Boise so I can play keyuoard when I come home.) I hope school goes well for everybody. It'll be really weird to come home and not be home home, but it's whatever. I feel pretty weird where I am now, so that's just a new adjustment.

yeah, sorry about that picture. Our senior couple who works in the office, Elder and Sister Pack, kinda...they're special. haha. technology and the seniors isn't the best thing. It's dang funny though. I love them. Sorry I look so awful in whatever picture they sent you!! I promise I look more put together now. really.

I can't get down on my knees and pray here since we're on some hard core time crunch. but I've had a prayer in my heart from the second I got that email. Hopefully all goes well in the move to Boise. I'll be praying for it.

I ask you to pray for the families of those missionaries from Taiwan. I was pretty close to a few of the Taiwan missionaries in the MTC, and though I don't know who they are, I hope their families are okay. If they release the names, let me know. Pray that their families will be comforted. Pray for my investigators as well. We have a few that I haven't met (mroe details next week when I know them) that are struggling. so keep them in mind. Love you all!

 Saying goodbye to Sister (and BFF) Mertens as they part ways from the MTC.

 First daylight view of Hong Kong

 Chopsticks!

 Sister Killpack

 Sister Nuttall

 View from the 24th floor apartments.  Hong Kong island in the view and the mountains beyond are mainland China.

 4 girls crammed into this itty bitty living space.  The refrigerator is on the far left.

 View from outside the apartments.  Palm trees and stinky air.

 New comp Sister Lubeck

 Moon cake

 Mud masks