Mt. Snowden

Hello Everyone!

 

I hope that you have had a wonderful week this week.  I can't believe how fast a week goes by, to be honest, it is crazy.  But I love being a missionary so much.

 

This week as a mission we hiked Mt. Snowdon.  Oh my goodness, it was the worst/best experience of my life. The Assistants had hiked it before and decided to take us up the difficult trail, because it was more beautiful.  And apparently the day before it was quite beautiful... but for us we didn't get to see much of it.  We were about a 3rd the way up and it started to sprinkle just a bit... and it got heavier and heavier until it was a torrential downpour on our heads.  It was seriously raining so hard- it is unbelievable the Welsh weather.  And we were climbing up the side of a huge mountain- it was not a leisurely walking trail.  I realized that it taught me my true character, how much I had learned, and how much more I needed to learn.  If it was pre-mission me, I probably would have been screaming at however forced me to climb the mountain, and would have thrown a temper tantrum.  Honestly, it was that bad.  I was getting pretty uptight about it, but I tried to keep my calm.  At one time I did kind of shout, 'Elder Jackson... why are we stopped moving????'  and I felt horrible.  No one had forced me to climb this mountain, I had decided to do it myself.  It was my agency, and I decided to do it.  And I knew I wouldn't die, but I just had to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Eventually we got to the top- it is supposed to be really scenic and beautiful, but we were just so wet and there were so many clouds we just pretty much started hiking back down, an easier way.  My hip was freaking out (sometimes I tell myself my back is better... but it really isn't, I'm just blessed) and I was hurting bad.  But I had to stay in front  of Elder Hengst, it was the rule.  So I was hiking down, talking to Elder Hengst and Elder Baker (there were sisters within sight and sound- no worry), and I was freezing, but I had a really good time.  I knew I just needed to keep going, and talking to those Elders was entertaining and enlightening and guess what?  I climbed up and down Mt. Snowdon.  It took sacrifice, a sacrifice of my selfish feelings, but I did it :)  Can you believe it?  I've changed so much.

 

On Friday we had a Chinese Activity for all the chinese people within the mission.  It was really good.  They are really pure in heart people and they really desire to learn about God.  Their faith develops so much that they don't even recognize how child-like and amazing their faith is.  They all had a good time, and I was able to see my friend Wei-Di from Preston again (he is going back to China in October :( ), and most of the Liverpool Chinese were there and I love them very much.  Working as a Chinese missionary is one of the biggest blessings of my life, I think so.  I have developed so many friendships and I love them so much.

 

It is crazy how much you love people on your mission.  Whenever I'm having a bad day President always says one thing to me, 'Prisca and her children.'  Oh my goodness, I love them so much.  When I was in Swinton I never thought I could love people so much, nor that I would be able to love anyone in the same way, because they were my first recent converts.  But I love so many people so much.  There are so many Chinese people I love, some are my recent converts, some are my investigators, and some are other peoples recent converts.  I just love them.  I wish you could meet them.  They are amazing.  And it is really hard, because even if I come back to UK in 5 years or something, they won't be here.  I need to go to China.  And another thing, I love my companions so much.  Honestly, they are closer than friends, it's like they have to be family.  And-ah- Sister Shen and Sister Gong, I miss the so much like everyday.  Sometimes I wish they were here to help me and laugh with me.  I think I've become more Eastern Culture.

 

Yeah.  Go on a mission.  I'm going to go on like 12.  Seriously, I hope that my husband and I can come back to UK for a mission, and go to China.  And I hope that Elder Fawcett is our mission president when we go on our mission to China.  He probably will be, to be honest.  He is leaving this week :/

 

Saturday was Vincent's baptism.  Vincent is so amazing.  He knows that God is real, and that is saying a lot.  I ask him how he felt and he said that he felt a little bit special, but he knew that it would grow, and he was glad he was on the path now to follow God.  He really understands that the Gospel is a progression, and that is amazing.  I have really loved him and respected him since I came to Liverpool, and I'm so blessed to be apart of his teaching process.  He will stay in UK for probably a year, which is really good, and then he will be a kingdom builder in China, I think so.  He is really amazing.

 

Funny highlights from the week.

 

Vincent thinks that home teachers should be given a test to make sure they know enough to teach.

 

Steven Dai doesn't have a church in his hometown in China... so he said he will build one.

 

Maxine's computer got wet and she prayed that she wouldn't lose her dissertation.  Her computer worked.

 

Owen said his first English prayer at Vincent's baptism.

 

And by the way.  I hiked Mt. Snowdon.

 

The Gospel is true.  I love you.  I want to go on a Sons of Mosiah mission- length wise at least.

 

Loves,

 

Sister Hull