Pictures



I really wanted to send you some of these pictures last week, but I just really didn't have time.  Last week was so great, and so sad for me.  The mission is the best thing I have ever done in my life, by the way.

1.  Sister Shen and I at the Temple.  I cannot tell you how blessed I was to go to the Temple with her and the other departing missionaries.  That was such a blessing that it was this transfer I was able to go when so many of my friends were going home.  Sister Shen is one of my best friends... I don't even want to say mission best friends, she is simply one of my life best friends.  She changed my mission and my life last transfer by helping me wake up and realize what I need to improve.  And because I trust her, I listened.  We are holding our arms up because I told her about how when I was little I would always pose and things and she thought it was so funny, so we did it like all the time :)




 

2.  With Elder Ashcraft and Elder Sutton at the Temple.  I love these Elders so much, I'm so grateful that I was able to serve around them.  They are really some of my best friends as well.  After I left Swinton like everytime I would see them I would have this huge smile on my face because I was so excited.  So many jokes.  Like right before this picture was taken I was like, 'I found a skirt with pockets in it...' and Elder Ashcraft was like, 'Why did you just tell us that?'  So funny.  Anyway...

Wasn't the lighting at the Temple so good?  It was like raining the whole day, but these pictures turned out nicely.

3.  Anna's baptism!  I think I forgot to tell you, but Anna was baptised on the same day as Tong :)  I grabbed this picture from Sister Beaty.

4. Our last Chinese meal in Preston.  A few days later when we found out that I and Sister Shen were leaving, Shen Chen started crying, and I started crying and Sister Shen started crying.  A lot of tears that week.

I did it, I made it through the week

Hello :)

 

I don't even know where to begin right now.   There are so many things constantly running through my mind and it drives me crazy because no matter what I say I can never say enough that you can really understand everything that is going on... just like any missionary I guess.

 

Yeah, Liverpool is great.  It is so funny, because my mission has changed me so much.  After I got the transfer calls it was like 2 days later that I remembered the Beatles were from Liverpool.  Now when I think of Liverpool I think of Chinese people.  But, yeah, the Beatles are from Liverpool, aren't they?  I did love them once upon a time.

 

Sister Gong is great.  She is really really good.  I honestly didn't know her that well, we mostly served in different parts of the mission, but it has been so great to serve with her.  She is from China, legitimately.  I think she is like the first Chinese sister to serve in the UK or something like that.  She joined the church when she was doing an internship in Washington DC about three years ago, and as such is the only member in her family.  I think the rest of her family doesn't even believe in God, which is very typical of Chinese families.  She is a great missionary and has a lot of things to teach me.

 

Where we are living is a little bit dodgy, to be honest, probably the most dodgy sister area in the mission.  But most of the time we are working at the Uni so it is really safe with like all the students around and everything.  And, of course, President wouldn't send us anywhere were it was *really* unsafe.  There are Elders he can send there ;)

Working with the Chinese people is completely different than working with anyone else... and I guess it is because of their culture.  I've learned a lot about Chinese culture, so I know what it is, but sometimes it is difficult to comprehend.  But we teach different, we find different, we commit different, we do most things quite differently than I have on my mission... Which is really strange- I feel like I'm being retrained at times actually.  There are creating this Chinese packet for the EMM which has like all the tips for working with Chinese people, and they will be giving to every Chinese speaking missionary, and probably me as well.  Sister Gong has a rough draft of it and so we have been studying it so I know what to do, and also how to best help my companion when she comes.  So crazy.

 

For example.  The packet says we should invite them to do things like learn about Western Culture and ask if they'll make Chinese food for us.    We invite them to learn more about church and things because they haven't really had the opportunity to ever go to a church before, and for the most part they are interested to learn, even if they don't have a belief in God.  And because they are so pure in heart they listen and do receive answers to their prayers.

 

I am a bit self conscious about talking about Chinese, because I assume this will go on the blog and Josh will read it, and he knows how to work with Chinese a lot better than me.  But maybe they are different in Liverpool than Australia.

 

Liverpool is a very blessed area.  Going to church yesterday was an entirely different vibe than going to church for the first time in Preston.  People just love the missionaries here, and they were really gutted when the sisters left, and are now so excited to have us back.  They walked in like, 'SISTERS!!!!'  Seriously, most of them did that, though.  And our investigators love us, which is also worrisome for every new missionary in an area.  But they really seem to love us already and so that is really good.

 

I'm good.  Thanks for everything, and I love you SOOOO MUCH! 

 

Loves,

 

Sister Hull

 

PS  BTW... Happy Birthday, Mom.  I remembered day of... I was like, 7 June... my mom's birthday.  I'm grateful you had such a great party :)  Loves.

liverpool:)

Hello Everyone!

Sorry for the late email... I have just had a whirlwind of a week.  Seriously, though, it has been insane.

I got a transfer call on Sunday evening.  No one gets transfer calls on Sunday unless they are whitewashing or training... and I'm not training!  That's right, I whitewashed into Liverpool this week with Sister Gong.  We kicked the Elders out and we are back in.  What a day.  Luckily for us, Sister Gong has served in Liverpool before (for 4 transfers) so we are really just whitewashing investigators, not really so much the area and members and things.  So that is a blessing.

What is so special about Liverpool?  In the EMM it is THE Chinese area.  There are so many chinese here that they have their own Gospel Principles class... and of our 18-20 investigators (so many!)  ALL of them are Chinese.  I am pretty much the unofficial Chinese Sister Missionary in the EMM right now.  But Sister Gong is leaving this transfer (I know, it isn't fair I have to send two missionaries home in 2 transfers...), and so I will be the person here to take care of them... until I train a sister who is learning mandarine in the MTC... probably right now.  I know, President gave me spoilers about training.  And this is a crazy area, so I have a lot to learn.  Luckily, Sister Gong knows that her role right now is to help me learn everything I can about the area and chinese people and culture, and teaching chinese people and everything.  It is a crazy ride.  I'm a bit overwhelmed, but it will make my prayers more sincere, and so I'm grateful for that.

In other news, I had to say goodbye to Sister Shen and Elder Ashcraft this week, which was the worst.  I was able to go to the Temple with all the departing missionaries, though, and that was a tender mercy from the Lord.  It was like the weirdest day ever because most of the time I had this huge smile on my face... until I started bawling my eyes out.  Goodbyes don't get any easier, but I know that Plan of Happiness is real and that God gives me people to love and I'm thankful for that :)  I wish I could say more about transfer day, but I seriously have like 3 minutes.

I love you!  Loves,

Sister Hull

Subject Lines......Blarg

Hello Everyone!

Goodness gracious, everyone is growing up, aren't they?  I can't believe it.  Everyone is going going going like crazy people.  I couldn't keep up.  I'm actually really nervous to keep up with normal
life and all these activities when I get home.  Luckily I don't have to worry about that for a long time.

Mom and Dad, I just don't know how you can be so Spirit led.  It seems like everytime you go to the Temple you see someone you know, or I know.  This time was simply amazing- I was like, 'Sister Shen, how are my parents just in the right place at the right time all the time.'It was like you were there for Chase, and then you saw Lesli, answering a prayer, and then you walk outside and it was Erin's wedding!?  That is crazy.  I love it.  Logan Temple is the best.  You can always see someone you know and love there, pretty much.  And Logan Temple is just the best anyway, I love it so much.  I miss the Temple a bit- I always tried to go there a lot, and I still will when that time comes again.  Sister Shen and I have been talking about the
Temple recently, and I just LOVE it- so much.  We are hoping we get to go on transfer day because usually departing missionaries get to go on transfer day.  Hopefully.  Speaking of... could you send me some named
asap in case we can go?  Thank you.  If there are any left.  I've had more than one person write and say, 'Your mom gave me some of your names to go to the Temple,' which I LOVED to hear.  Like a ton.  I
want everyone I love to be connected and that is one way to do it.  I just lover the Temple so much.  The Logan Temple is the best.

Miracle.  Yesterday Sister Shen and I were waiting for a lift to church.  There were people walking past but I was thinking, 'I'm waiting for the lift and if it was any other day I wouldn't be out of the flat yet.'  Poor excuse.  Finally the forever finder in me broke loose and I went and talked to someone.  Her name was Ogo and she is and African student at the university.  She asked me if the building next to us was a church, I told her 'no' (it is a church that has been changed into flats).  I started setting an appointment when our lift showed up, and I was feeling rushed.  She told me she was looking for a church to go to that day.  I said, 'Do you want to come to church with us?'  She said sure she would.  I called to Sister Shen, asking
if Ogo could get a lift with us to church.  She asked the member who said it was fine.  So we all piled in.  Ogo liked church and she set an appointment to see us this week.  After she left I went to tell the
Elders of the miracle that had happened.  Elder Neilson said, 'Sister Hull, that is an answer to my prayer.'  I was really confused and asked why.  He said he had prayed that morning that someone would have a desire to come to church, and although no one he knew came his prayer was answered.  It was like he prayed and Ogo started wandering around for a church because she wanted to go that way and then I got over the inconvenience I felt about talking to her... and she came to church.  What a miracle.  I was quite excited about it all day.  It was fun to tell people at church, 'This is Ogo, we met this morning.'

We had a fabulous training this week.  It was a skills workshop to pass on some of the mission culture since so many of our experienced missionaries will be leaving the mission.  It was good to just review
the basics that we do everyday as missionaries, because those are the things that we really need to improve on in the mission, and make sure we don't lose.  I cried after the training, though.  I cried a lot.  At trainings and things missionaries give their departing testimonies, and I remembered how many of my friends will be leaving this transfer.  It broke my heart.  I seriously can't describe how much it hurts, but like at the same time it is a bit of a good hurt.  When you love and care about someone, and you realize that the gospel is true, it hurts really bad when they are gone, but you realize that you can see them again.  It hurts because you don't know when, but you have hope at the same time.  I love these people on my mission so much.  I care so much more about so many more people than I ever thought possible.  I know that I don't have a friend-quota, and I am so so grateful for that.  God has blessed me with so many people in my life who love me and take care of me and I'm so eternally grateful.  Sometimes in this life because our memory darkens and our intellect is finite we can forget how much we care about someone- but I know that we still do.  I'm so grateful for my mission.  I'm so grateful for the people I have met here.  God has blessed me so much.

Wow.

I have to say, I couldn't believe the picture you sent to me of Jaden. He is starting to lose his baby face a bit, isn't he?  He is going to look like a teenager soon.  That is so strange.  I can't believe it.

Loves,

Sister Hull


Companionship Unity and Sister Shen's Birthday



17 Missionaries at Tong's baptism

It's nice to be nice

Hello Everybody,

 

I can't believe it has been another week.  Time goes by so fast here in the mission field... and especially this transfer.  It is actually only a 5 week transfer (they have them once a year because of the MTC or something) and Sister Shen is packing things to go home, and we have a dated investigator... so it is going by SO fast.  S. Shen only has like 2 weeks left!  I can't believe it.  And when she leaves like half of my Elder friends will be leaving as well... and if they don't leave this transfer they'll probably be leaving next transfer.  We are going to be having a lot of changes in the mission soon- something like a fourth of our missionaries changing over in like 2 transfers.  Crazy.

 

We had a good week, very busy.  One of the highlights was the picture I sent to you, when Danni made us Chinese food.  I was afraid it was going to be super spicy, but their was only one dish that was too spicy for me (Wei Di said he couldn't tell any spice in it :p).  But it is so great, they just put all the food in the middle, and their isn't like any serving spoons or whatever, you just grab what you want whenever you want it.  It is like the true way to eat family style.  But it also great, because no one can really tell just how *much* you eat.  So you can eat as much as you want.  It's great, I love it.  I told Chen Shen I'm going to have an eating contest with him next time.  I asked what some of the dishes were called, and they told me in Chinese.   I was like, 'what does it mean?'  'Chicken with pepper'... that was the dish with chicken and peppers in it.  So it's going to be a hard time finding any of the food ever again.  Yup.

 

I also went on exchange this week and stayed in Oldham for two night with Sister Horne (Riverton, UT) and Sister Telefoni (Auckland, NZ).  It was a lot of fun, they are both really great sisters.  Sometimes you have too much fun on exchanges and you start thinking it is a holiday or something... but that didn't really happen this time- we had a lot of fun, but also got a lot of work done.  A working holiday, perhaps... har har.  I had heard a lot about Oldham from S. Low, so I was excited to see it.  The area seemed fine, but the ward seems really excellent- I met like 5 of them :)

 

We took Tong to a Relief Society Sisters Meal.  Apparently they have been holding this meal in Preston Ward for like 30 years or something... a lot of traditions and inside jokes and things.  But we had fun with Tong, and Victoire (an African less active that S. Shen has been helping a lot) and the WML's wife and mother-in-law.  It was a good night.

 

I studied grace the other day, it was so great.  Read the talk by Elder Bednar in the April Ensign.  It is amazing.  Will you read Elder Bednar's talk?  I promise that if you read that you will come to understand more of how the Atonement is applicable to you.  It is really amazing and really beautiful, I would highly suggest it.  It really opened my mind.  My mind was like on the brink of being opened, but then I read the talk and studied grace from the scripture and I was like, 'wow.'  Spiritual Mind Blown- but not to any depth that it isn't applicable to me life.  I loved it.

 

Well, we have another crazy busy week ahead for us.  Pray that Tong can continue to progress well, and that our Chinese investigators (nearly all of whom are going home this week) will continue to read and pray.

 

I love you.  I'm thankful for the commandments.

 

Loves,

 

Sister Hull

 

PS  The Senior Couple serving here in Preston had their friends come over and visit.  One of their friends grew up in Franklin, ID.  I told her I was related to the Neeleys and she said, 'Not RaMona Neeley?'  I told her that was my grandma (except sometimes here I call her my 'nan' because that is what everyone calls grandma's here).  Anyway her name is Linda Hawkes Douglas and she said that she was a few years younger than Grandma RaMona.  FYI.

 

All the Sisters at the Mission Sports Day



Me, Wei Di, Chen Shen and Sister Shen with wonderful food!



 

I Speak Chinese....haha

England Manchester Zone

Hello Everyone!

I love you!  You are all amazing.  If you are reading this, you're amazing, and your Heavenly Father loves you.  And I love you as well. Don't forget that.

It was great to talk to you (mom, dad, Jenika and Jaden) yesterday. You are so great.  I'm so grateful for you.  I only wish that I could have talked to Jordy as well.  I love him so much.  He really is my
best friend, and the best missionary in the WORLD.  But seriously, he is such a great missionary, I can tell.  Jordan sent me a letter for my birthday and I just got it this week, and it was amazing.  He is so
great, and he loves people.  He is pure in heart.  He has always been pure in heart, though.  Pure in Heart is like the biggest compliment you can receive from an EMM missionary... and he really is pure in
heart.  Anyway... I wanted to say all that because I didn't get to talk to him yesterday, and I know that you did, and that isn't fair :) I hope he is well.

I am well.  I have received a few letters that expressed worry about me.  But I AM WELL.  Missions, like life, go through ups and downs and we all know the emotional rollar coaster I put myself on- its like
that one at DisneyLand that only I liked and made everyone else sick... I just go around and around and around :)  But really, I'm doing very well, no worries.

What did I do this week?  What didn't I do this week?  Sister Shen has us going here, there and everywhere, I can barely remember what was going on because there has been so much going on.  I do remember we had our mission Sports Day last Wednesday... before you laugh, I played football (soccer) with the Elders for like 2-3 hours.  I know, right?  Elder Hengst challenged me, I am hard core so I can't give up on a challenge... and so I played.  In the rain and mud.  Yup.  I even kicked the ball... and Elder Reynolds shins.  It was great, but I was so sore afterward.  I haven't exercised for that long since I was like
5... if that.  It was great.  I love Sports Day, running around really does clear your head (I am most likely not going to start running... I can only do it if it makes me look hard core... like all those times in Youth (mutual) where I like got on any tube when we were boating for shut down the young men at water basketball... yeah).

We teach a lot of lessons here in Preston (comparatively).  Most of our investigators, however, are going home to China for summer break, or indefinitely.  It kind of bites.  Chinese people seem to be mostly
sincere, but their progression takes a while.  You have to help them not just understand that the church has been restored through a prophet, but you have to help them that God and Jesus Christ are real. So a lot of our investigators could progress if given more time, but they are going home.  Some of them will come back next year, and one that wants to be baptised lives near Hong Kong so he can get in contact with missionaries there... but the sad thing is for most of them we can't refer them to missionaries, because there are no missionaries.  But the Lord will provide a way for them.  They are so great, and they love me because I'm from America (actually a lot of Chinese people have heard of Utah... which not a lot of other people have unless it is about Mormons.  But Chinese know Utah because of the Jazz.  One apologized to me because he was a Lakers fan... Kobe :p).
Our dated investigator, Tong, is so great.  She is really excited about everything and is so willing to take an active role in her conversion.  She is willing to meet with us often and go to things like Relief Society and Institute.  It is really great.  We have a Chinese recent convert named Wei-Di, and I just love hanging out with them (and of course Sister Shen).  It's weird, but it is really nice to have friends my own age, if that makes sense.  Even though we are culturally very different, it's nice to have the same type concerns
and things.  I love it.

The Ward Mission Leader and the Bishop's families made dinner for all of the missionaries in Preston (there are 3 companionships, Elders, Sisters and a Couple).  It was great, it was like this grill thing that you cook your own food on... I can't remember exactly what they called it...a briclette or something.  It was great, and the ward leaders really want to get more involved with the missionaries and really want the missionaries to become more apart of the Preston ward, which will be really beneficial for all involved.  It think it is going to take a lot of work to unite with the members, but it is work I have had to do before, so I have faith that God will give me the ability... I hope :D

I know that the church is true.  I know that Jesus Christ lives.  He loves us and wants each of us to come unto Him.  We can find the most joy in applying His grace into our lives.
Loves,

Sister Hull



PS  I got the letter with Jake and Emily's wedding announcement in it. I love it so much.  I love so much that they are in love.  I wish I could have gone to the wedding.  Did you go to the reception, mom?  If anyone did, or can fb stalk pictures and print them off fb, I would love to see pictures.  That's not creepy :)

Hello everyone!

 

I'm glad to hear everything is going well and everyone is so busy. I'm glad to hear that Lesli is fine... when is the baby due?  Sometimes I forget I'm going to have another cousin, and then I remember and it is like I'm hearing the news for the first time and it is so exciting.  I don't remember if I got the letter from Andrea about her going to China... I feel like I knew that months ago- like before Josh even got home?  But I haven't got the package that she wrote about, and I think she said a letter was in there.  I'm glad you saw so many of my friends at buyback.  That is great.  I hope they are all doing well, and having happy lives.  I love to be updated (hint hint) about what is going on.  I'm glad to hear the family is well and I love that you seem to see both of our grandparents so often.  That is healthy, and I'm grateful I am so close to my grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins.  Extended family is so important.

 

I've realized I've forgotten so many birthdays.  I'm sorry.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  I love you if it is your birthday, and I'm glad you exist.

 

Everything is beautiful here in Swinton.  I'm learning Chinese... okay, not really, but I can pick a few things out that I learned in my Pre Mission Existance.  We have a dated investigator named Tong and she is really great and progressing really well.  She has been Christian for a while and so their is no parental opposition, which is the biggest concern for Chinese investigators.  We did have to move her date back to the 26th because she is in Uni and so she hasn't been able to meet with us consistantly, but her exams finish on Thursday so it will be great. I did service for her today by correcting her essay... my academic brain is mush.  I can't remember anything :)

 

We have several other Chinese investigators as well, and some great Chinese recent converts.  Since I arrived we have also been able to set a lot of appointments with non-Chinese people, so I'll be able to teach more soon, I hope.  Preston is lovely, and I love serving with Sister Shen.  She is so obedient and charitable.  She has every desire to be her best.

 

We went to Zone Leader Council on Friday, which was fun.  We tried to help Zone Leaders understand sisters. That didn't work, because sisters are so different from each other.  But it was fun, we have really good mission leadership right now, we are very blessed.

 

FYI  I want Sister Low to know this... they whitewashed the sisters out of Stafford and Whitefield!  I know, right?  I called Stafford, for sure, I thought Elders would be there before the end of my mission, but not this soon!  Goodness... I can't believe Elders are living in my flat.

 

I'm going to attach a picture to this email.  If Katie could make it my profile picture, that would be so lovely... thank you Katie.  When is your mission call coming?  I hope I don't look too gross in this picture.  It's me in front of the BBC.

 

Jaden and Jenika, you are great.  Keep going strong, and remember what is most important.

 

Life is great.  I'm going to talk to you live really soon!  (Remember only family allowed, no friends ;)).

 

The church is true!

 

Loves, Sister Hull

 

Beautiful here in Preston... I mean Preston!

 

And technically the Temple is in Chorley, not Preston, but we could still go on a bank holiday or something, anyone can in the mission can if they can get a lift and permission from President.