That moment when you see the Sister Missionaries that you've known for almost your entire mission going home... and that very same moment, you realized that you are 6 weeks less remaining on your service as a full-time missionary.
When my trainer went home the moment I came back from outbound, I knew that there was not much time, that I need to work even harder. This transfer has been really good so far as missionary work has gone. Sister Lau and I have been pretty successful and the drive to do even more and to find more people to prepare for the next transfers is increasing. But with the desire, there also came great opposition and adversary to discourage or make us feel that we failed. This past week, we've had a hard time finding people and we are doing the best that we can to testify and invite as many people as we could to learn more and to partake of the blessings of the gospel. There were times, like yesterday, that I felt I didn't do much because we weren't able to teach our investigators. But Sister Lau, doing her best to be more optimistic than I am, counted the blessings and our efforts. That made me feel a lot better.
Sister Lau is such a great missionary and such an amazing companion. In fact, upon knowing my assignment for the next transfer (and I knew that it was coming), she comforted me and told me of the talents and the skills that I have which will be put to use when the next transfer starts. I half-jokingly, half-seriously told her that it's time for me to ask for a new set of advices from my "Moms" (My trainer and my biological mom) who had the experience of being in a mission leadership position. It was humbling to know that the Lord trusted me with the calling, the same for my mission president, and it also helped me to be reminded that I need to work on being accountable to both my Heavenly Father and to President Poulsen. I try to prepare myself and despite the anxiety, Sister Lau reassured me that I will do great.
This morning, I've read my mom's previous email that really stuck with me. When she said "Treasure them (your mission experiences) all because that will be that fire that will keep your testimony burning. Those will be the tools that you will use to destroy all doubts. Those experiences will give you strength in moments of your weakness even after mission life......" Well, it definitely applies now. This is actually the perfect time for me to strengthen myself so that I can turn my weaknesses into my strengths. And the fact that I also have my mission mom (trainer) that I could email every week helps as well.
As for the work, we're still finding. We're still searching. I have faith that this transfer is going to do well. I will have a lot of lessons to learn and a lot of growing to do. But as I looked back, I have grown a lot. I remember yesterday as I bore my testimony, I could feel the Spirit as a confirming witness that I love the gospel, I love my Savior, I love missionary work and that I've seen the gospel and the Atonement change so many lives including mine.
Well, I love you all. I definitely still have a lot of stories to tell... but I couldn't really think of them today. I wrote too many journal pages that I couldn't remember to summarize them anymore. I think it's just me and my memory.
Sister Kristel Marie Cruz Ngo (吳姐妹)
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission/
soooo... the pictures... will be to follow since I will be having my next P-day on Friday. Fun! :)
