Until we meet again

You're gonna be set apart as a missionary for 18 months in less than 24 hours. How exciting it is! Feeling nervous? When you read this, I'll almost have to wake up to go to town (and no access to wifi soon), and you'll not be contactable by phone or Facebook anymore when I'm back from town. So I just wanna tell you something more (as you told me the other day that you needed encouragement) before you leave for the MTC.
I know that Heavenly Father is happy about your decision, and He'll always provide a way for you to fulfill the tasks that He wants you to. There is no doubt that there's gonna be lots of trials and hard times, but things will work out at last when you get on your knees and humble yourself to pray for help and guidance. Just remember the most important things - the Atonement, the Spirit, prayer and scripture study. Also, don't forget what President Gordon B. Hinckley has once said: "You want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause, and bend your efforts to helping people." It's the Lord's mission, not yours. I bet you still remember what I told you few days ago: "Obedience brings blessings, but exact obedience brings MIRACLES." Always try your best and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I'm looking forward to your letter as you said that you'll write me first. I promise that I'll be writing letters to you throughout your entire mission, and I'll write as much Chinese as I can. (at least 80% Chinese in each letter, okay?)
I'm so glad that we had our last SKYPE within the next two years tonight. Talking to you always brings me lots of joy. I laughed so hard during our conversation. And I'm happy that we ended our chat with laughter. I know that the longer we're apart, the merrier we'll be when we reunite.
You'll always be in my thoughts and prayers. And I shall see you in 2015. Good luck on your mission. I love you as always.

My dearest Sister Leung

Time always passes quickly! This girl's going to be set apart in a few days. And I just want to write her something on this blog before she leaves for her mission.

No words can express how grateful I'm for having met you in my life! I still remember how I was afraid of you at first LOL You just didn't look quite friendly to me at first. Few days later, seeing me walking around in the hale at midnight, you asked me if I was locked out. Yes I was. And you kindly invited me to your room to wait for my roommate to come back. We then started our first conversation.Sadly, I can't remember how and when we became good friends. Please let me know the story if you remember. 

Have I ever told you that I really enjoyed spending my summer break with you? You're a person that is always so fun to be with! I totally like going to town, having delicious food, cooking, shopping, and even going to the WATER PARK with you! You kept saying how powerful you were as nobody thought that I would go to the water park. I'm so afraid of WATER!

But I did have so much fun at the water park! And I do think that we should go there again when we are both back from mission. Thanks for FORCING me to go with you.

I believe you've known me pretty well already, and for sure you know that I'm not a beach person that I'd rather spend my time at the library. (weird me) So I really think that you should be thankful that I've gone to the beach to enjoy the sunset with you! HAHAHA!

Let's go to the Sunset beach together in 2015!

We continued to have lots of FUN even though the Fall semester was really tough for me. The English 201 class almost killed me! Thanks for always asking me to relax and have fun instead of staying at the library for 8 hours every day.

 

One of my favorite pics

Thank you for your faith in the Lord and your example. Thank you for going to the temple with me to pray and study the scriptures whenever I need it. Thank you for encouraging me to keep praying and asking for guidance if I should serve a mission. Thank you for cheering me up when I almost died at the library. I can't ever thank you enough. But most importantly, thank you for being one of my best friends and "brother"!

Sister Leung. Canada Vancouver Mission.

Soon after the Fall semester began, I kept saying that I wanted to go home for Christmas. Before I came to Hawaii, my parents said that I was not going home until 2014 summer break. But I begged my mom for letting me go home for Christmas so that we could spend the Christmas break together. And at last we went home together for Christmas; I mean we were on the same flight! It was my first time flying with a friend!

 I've no doubt that you're gonna be a wonderful sister missionary. Your smile and strong testimony are gonna touch people's heart. There will be lots of hard times, but at least we can encourage each other for good through letters and emails. GO BAPTIZE VANCOUVER!
P.S. Don't forget that we're gonna SKYPE this Saturday afternoon (HK time)

I love you to pieces.

We are all gonna be sister missionaries

It has been 6 weeks since I opened my mission call. Time flies! And I can tell you that my life has changed a lot already even though I still haven't left for the MTC. When I met with the Stake President for my missionary application, he required me to finish several tasks before getting on the plane to the MTC, and one of them was reading the Book of Mormon for an hour each day. It's not an easy task, but I know that the Lord will strengthen me if I put Him at the first place. Here is one of my favorite scriptures: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (3 Nephi 13:33)

Because of the missionary age change, many of my friends have also decided to go on a mission. Witnessing my friends opening their mission call is always exciting and joyful. I wish I could witness a few more mission call openings before this semester is over.

I'm grateful that the Stake has helped us prepare for missionary work by holding a MINI MTC last Saturday. It started at 6:30am and so I woke up at 5:45am to get myself ready. Getting up that early (especially on Saturday) was not easy but it was worth it! All prospective missionaries were assigned to different zones. My friend Debbie and I were in the same zone, and we worked as companions. A Japanese return missionary was there to teach us how to teach the first lesson. After explaining how we should prepare for the lesson, he gave us time to study as companions. Debbie and I were companions in the mini MTC last semester also, but we took it more seriously this time as we will soon teach real investigators. When we were ready, the return missionary acted as an investigator and we had to teach him the first lesson. Though the starting was a bit awkward, we did so much better than last semester! We then spent time on evaluating our teaching, and the return missionary was able to answer all our questions and teach us some skills. After that, we retaught the lesson. This time we taught even better. While Debbie was teaching the investigator, I had to testify what she said was true, and at that time I was thinking how blessed I was to have known the true gospel since I was born. (I almost dropped my tears while sharing my testimony and giving promises to the investigator) My life has been greatly blessed by the gospel. And my love for the gospel grows stronger every day.

Called to Serve

Seeing a lot of missionaries creating their blog to record everything about their mission, I decided to create one for myself so that my family can update my friends on how I'm going from time to time while I'm on my mission.
Hi, I'm Stella. I'm a born and raised Mormon. But it wasn't until the age of 17 that I was truly converted in spirit. I've gained a strong testimony of the true gospel by myself. I've realized how important the gospel is in my life through trials and blessings. I become more converted to the gospel every day.
In last General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced that worthy women may begin serving missions at age 19 instead of 21. What a surprising news! I had no clue why I was so excited about it as I had never planned to serve before that. Since that day, I've been praying and fasting to ask if serving a mission is what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. I received the answer within a week that I should go on my mission.For the next two months, I was working on my paper work with lots of friends who have decided the serve a mission also.
On February 7, my mission call ARRIVED! My friend Debbie was with me when I opened my mailbox, and I can still clearly remember her SCREAM. (I could tell that she was even more excited than me)

I didn't open my mission call until February 10. That day, my family (parents, sister, uncle, aunt, and cousin) and many good friends were able to witnessed me opening the call. I still remember how nervous and excited I was while reading out the call, and everyone was just screaming. Dear Sister Leung, you are hereby called to serve......You are assigned to labor in the Washington Seattle Mission.

Washington Seattle Mission, English speaking.

Going on a mission is the hugest decision I've ever made in my life. It's not easy to leave my family and friends for 18 months to preach the gospel in a foreign place, but I know that its worth it because its Heavenly Father's plan for me. I'm excited about serving the people in Seattle! I know that through missionary work, we can help people to be with their families for ETERNITY. I know that the Church is true with all my heart, and I'm grateful for the true gospel that brings me true joy and comfort.