Part 2: Week 5--General Conference Miracles

We taught Sister Li. She has a baptism date now. There were two members present, who happened to be at church early for General Conference when we were trying super hard to get anyone to call in and bear their testimony! Their testimonies were awesome. The Lord provides.

Sister Li has loved the children's Book of Mormon storybook and reads it every day with her son! She already has testimony of it bringing her peace and helping her temper.

We taught Eric (the doorman) the restoration and it was great. Brother Chen was there (his wife is a recent convert from this past April; she helped with Daisy' s lesson with the other sisters at the same time). Brother Chen and his wife were both so edified in having shared their testimonies and so excited to help with the Lord's work. They kept encouraging Daisy and Eric afterwards and building their faith!

Eric watched all of the general conference sessions and is still reading the book of Mormon earnestly!

Fei Fei loves the Book of Mormon story Book videos on the app (they have them in Mandarin! ) and is keeping the commitment of reading them and praying with us nightly over the phone. Her family seems so enlightened by the Gospel visits we've had. Our ward correlator really wants his daughter to help fellowship and be her friend (having her open up and trust someone from the ward is what we are having a hard time figuring out). We are excited to get her involved and so thankful for the cooperation and encouragement from those serving their callings fully in this ward.

Miracles!

Other activities:

We went to the Bronx Zoo today! I saw a baby snow leopard (my favorite land animal). Now we just need to get to the aquarium. There is a really cool old school arcade near our apartment, which also has DDR. I will be going there when I visit. Who wants to come with? 🙈 We also went to Kung Fu Tea which has the best boba! Every morning we run on a track in a park near the apartment (some do Tai Chi with the group in the middle of the track). And we have English class twice a week here with 4 different levels.

Thank you to the sweet ward from Texas who sent me a package! We all really loved the treats and cute things. And thanks to Sage and family as well (爱你们。好开型)! Carr family: you are all so great! I appreciate your cute letters and encouragement! Reuben, have you ever tasted a Rambutan? Kim, your emails are the best and always make me feel like I'm right there experiencing life with you (I love your adventures)!

传教是工给我混多的快乐。谢谢你们的支持和爱 ! 继续加油。

Answering questions:

So we have all of Manhattan island, but our zone is officially Manhattan South, and we generally stay in Chinatown area in the very South of the island. We have zone meetings, etc. in the Manhattan Temple chapel building. Our ward is 41 Elizabeth Street floor 4 (an office space, one of the most expensive rented chapels in the world), so there is no sign outside to find it, but it's nice inside! There are only 7 Mandarin missionaries currently in our mission. (But there are Mandarin missionaries in many missions, ie NYNY South, and Boston and even Jacksonville FL has Mandarin missionaries..).

In the temple, we just had English, but there are other language options, of course. Finding investigators is a bit difficult in both cities (NYC and Hong Kong), considering how many people we talk to each day! But we find the elect (those whose hearts are prepared)! That's why it is awesome that 3 of the people we found this transfer have baptismal dates already! And I will still be here for one of them who we found on the metro! It is so great. The church meetings are in Mandarin, but there are headsets that the missionaries translate English into (some of the children in the ward don't speak as much Mandarin as their parents, and there are two English families who have callings as ward clerk, and 2nd counselor, though the parents of one of the families speak Mandarin). We live in an apartment in Chinatown which is actually pretty nice and big, and probably expensive! There are currently 2 Mandarin speaking elders.

2 Nephi 25:26

I'm so blessed to know so many of you who teach their families in the good ways of the Gospel. Isn't it a joy to have the knowledge of the Savior' s redeeming sacrifice? We can be together eternally! What a blessing. Now let us rejoice.

Sister Wilcox

韦姐妹

Our Mandarin District is in Chinatown on the south part of Manhattan Island

We have our zone meetings in the chapel in the NYC Temple, which is near Central Park.

Our mission includes Manhattan Island and parts of New York State and Connecticut

Socializing after watching conference and having English class

The Bronx Zoo

Part 2: Week 4-Your Family Forever!!

More New York Miracles

We were able to go inside the Manhattan Temple last Preparation Day. It was beautiful. And spiritual and peaceful. Always remember Jesus Christ. He is so aware of each individual and has so much love for us. The Manhattan Temple will always remind me of that; it will always be special to me.

We had a family history focus day with people on the street. I was on splits with Sister Kratz. Our goal was to receive 5 numbers for people who were interested in family history. As the hour or so had passed and we were all packing up to leave, we realized we had only received 4 numbers after diligently talking to all walking past or around us in the park. Someone then came up to us in the last minute and asked us for all the information and to give us their contact information. Heavenly Father helps us to obtain our goals.

Family History is awesome. What a great opportunity to get to know our ancestors. I encourage you to reach out to know how/ to do genealogy work. I'm excited to do more when I get back!

Our doorman saw one of the sisters with a Book of Mormon in her hand. Now he is reading it every time we pass him by. He is always asking us questions about the people and the stories and the meanings. He is intrigued and sincerely reading on his own time! He said this morning "I don't like his brother. I don't want to be like him." We realized he was talking about Laman and Lemuel. Every time we pass, he brings up the Book of Mormon. It is awesome to witness.

We brought Helen to the Mandarin speaking ward and she made a friend who also came from China! She is excited to start going to church often again!

Daisy Liu. We met her on a subway on a split and got her number. She was moving to FL and wanted to go to our church there; she was really interested! She is staying here for a while because of hurricane season. They met with her on 09.20 Wednesday and she now has a baptism date for October 15. She loves church and the members there.

There are simple, small miracles every day, everywhere around us. What a blessing a Mission is to help us more fully recognize His hand in our lives.

President Smith is an awesome leader, and truly loves his own little investigators (his kids)! I told him this in an interview and he said, "I desire their eternal salvation." Beautiful. Doesn't that really help us see family in an eternal perspective? I appreciate his example. I appreciate his wife and children. They serve their calling so fully.

To all those who have made it thus far: I will be returning to Hong Kong on October 17th! It feels like I've been in New York for forever. I will treasure the memories and the people I've met here. Excited for good things to come. Thank you to all you sweet people who take the time to read the emails and support the Lord's work! You are awesome.

Pray for the leaders of the church! I invite all of you to find a question to ponder and pray about for General Conference. I know that you will find the answers this weekend. We are so lucky for this opportunity to hear their words! Take advantage of it.

Mormon 9:17 God of Miracles. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He loves His children (us!) and has given us light and truth for our days. The book of Mormon is true; it testifies of Christ. There is a living prophet on the earth today. We are so infinitely indebted to Christ's grace and saving atonement, for the Gospel plan. We can return! We will return, and have become like Him.

Love you all,

Sister Wilcox

Me and my companions with mail Does it look like I love it in the mission field?

Using Genealogy to meet people. We had a Family History finding yesterday. We decorated the board with pictures of our ancestors. I'm so thankful with how much there is on family search of my Thompson and Powell ancestors. I really enjoyed going through and seeing my ancestors. I felt the spirit of Elijah. I desire to get to know them better. We used some of their pictures to decorate our board. Grandma and Grandpa Thompson, you are both on the board as well- as little young children! Enlarge the picture and see if you can find yourself and other relatives!

Sunday in the Mandarin speaking ward.

P-day fun with the missionaries

Brooklyn Bridge, Hayden Planetarium, pictures on Elizabeth Street in China Town

Part 2: Week 3 More NYC Miracles

More New York Miracles!

We have given out many Book of Mormons! It is awesome how each time one is given, it is through an inspired interaction that was not expected. There are so many good people. The subways always bring really spiritual and cool experiences. There are too many to write.

Our relief society and ward council is awesome. They try so hard and hold meetings in order to help everyone in the ward to grow together and come more into Christ.

We have had great opportunities for service; helping people translate at the hospital, visiting old widows from the Chinatown ward (one is in the hospital, too), and helping other families who are having a hard time (getting them the information/ contacts they need). We have four New Investigators. Two have attended church (Sister Li and Elise), but we have a very hard time scheduling lessons with them; they seem to be always working! They read the Book of Mormon and we are working one trying to get a Skype lesson in, or something during the week to teach! Sister Li bore her testimony in Relief Society! It was about 2 Nephi 28:3-8 (we sent her this when she was confused of why the LDS beliefs were any differemt than any other Christian church). It was very touching to many of the sisters. The other two (Fei Fei and Amber) have been taught the Restoration. Amber said she would think about baptism, and Fei Fei has a date for October 15th! Amber is a referral from Hong Kong who just moved here. Her phone number and address, however, had changed. It was a miracle on Sunday, when a member called and asked for the other two sisters to walk to the chapel to give her something (we accidentally took her food home along with our food that members so sweetly got for us). As they walked around the corner, they met none other than Amber, our lost referral. It is impossible not to recognize the hand of the Lord in His work! She came from an awesome area; one of the 6 Elders from the English class she used to love to attend was in my MTC group (Elder Love). We were so excited to have a great lesson with her and Kirstin from our ward Skyped in. She was great at bearing testimony and making Amber feel loved and important. Our member is now inviting Amber to a ward event on Saturday! I believe so strongly that having members involved in the conversion process is crucial. They need someone who shares those spiritual moments with them and gets to know them, for when the missionaries leave. They can look out for each other and be edified together.

We have been making a huge point in involving members. I was grateful to give a talk on Sunday about diligence and discipleship in Sacrament meeting. They asked me to give it in Cantonese (there are some Cantonese speaking members), and Sister Lin translated to Mandarin, while Elder Burch translated to English for the English family in the ward (through headphones). I had the opportunity to tie my talk into missionary work, and the importance for everyone to be involved in sharing their testimonies! We have been working very very hard to get members present in our lessons. I am hoping we can help Fei Fei have ward support. She is only 11 years old, and has no gospel family support. The relief society President, Sister Wu, was also able to pray for Elise before meeting her and she shared with Elise the story of what she had prayed for and how excited she was to meet her. It made Elise feel very special and excited to come again and learn more about our faith.

Thankful to be a part of the work. Thankful to know the truth of the Gospel.

The Temple and beautiful New York City

Part 2: Week 2 Miracles in NYC

Hello! This past week has been full of miracles. We've given out many English class flyers and many cards about the Gospel with pictures of Jesus Christ/ the Temple on them. We have been getting multiple numbers and giving out Book of Mormons in little inspired ways. I will tell you just a few of the many little stories that help us to realize the Lord's hand in His work.

We usually have scheduled days in Chinatown, but whenever we travel to meetings in Manhattan,etc we always use it as an opportunity to meet people!

We met a lovely Russian girl on a metro whose flight was that night to return home to Moscow. She had been in Utah over the summer and a family had given her the Book of Mormon. She was such a happy young lady- just glowing! Long story short, she gave us her contact information, and really wants to meet with missionaries now at home!

There was a sweet woman on a subway from Turkey, but living in New York. She was very interested in family history and gave us her contact information and times available to learn more. President Nelson's words and encouragement about family history are inspired. So many people have been interested and already know the importance of genealogy. She also was so happy to receive a Book of Mormon. The man who had been across from us on the subway happened to be right behind us when we exited, even though we had dropped some things on the subway and had a conversation with someone before leaving. He was just glowing and after we gave him a card and testified, we had a nice chat and he was anxious to have a Book of Mormon as well! It was awesome.

There were so many inspired stories; Sister Jacobson and I were on a split and I started talking to a Swiss-french family on a subway. We of course were talking about blessings and the mother said she had just been saved by angels. She had almost died in a car crash. It was really touching because Sister Jacobson had prepared a scripture in French that morning and had it open on her tablet (1 Nephi 21:16). We knew that it was the hand of the Lord. The lady sitting next to her was so touched as well and was glad to receive a Book of Mormon.

We met a lady who spoke Cantonese after visiting a sick member from our ward. She is so sweet and excited to learn more about Jesus Christ! She is a caretaker and is often busy, but is also taking citizenship classes right now, so we feel like it would be a good idea to start a free citizenship class as well!

The ward members are really awesome and involved. The are excited with ideas and willing to help with the work. They are also so serviceable! They make the missionaries food to eat after every ward correlation. Wow. We have made a point to ask everyone if there is anyone they know who is sick, pregnant, moving, just had a baby, or would be interested in the Gospel that we could serve or teach!

We have enjoyed being able to meet with many cute, sweet people, and the work is progressing!

Funny: Sister Lin got her arm stuck in a subway door. A nice young man helped pry it open enough for her to get it out. Haha.

My trio is awesome! Sister Bu, Sister Lin, (Sister Wilcox)! We can teach in Mandarin and Cantonese :) and have used (a littlr bit of) Spanish, German, Portugese, and English this past week as well! New York is so diverse.

Daily bread. I'm thankful for the opportunity to convert and be more converted myself. Urgency of the Gospel. This is our time of probation! We must learn all that we can and be the best we can be! Hard work, and obedience are such important principles that have blessed my life so much, and are so important in missionary work as well. I know that pushing ourselves in learning, working, serving, and loving is so important. Always remember Him. Do all we can to be and to become a Disciple of Christ. President Nelson and Elder Gong came to talk to the missionaries. It was so spiritual and such a powerful atmosphere. We each shook their hand. They are called of God-- His inspired leaders. I am so thankful for their witness and for their examples. Let's do all that we can to be like that.

Sister Wilcox

Me and my two companions and a local.

English class.

Part 2: Week 1 Plus--Learning Mandarin in NYC

I'm here!! The past two days were awesome! We have met so many people while walking to different appointments and have been able to bear testimony/ pass things to them (Spanish, English, Mandarin, and Cantonese). We have also gotten a referral for Queens area. Today I will contact the person I met on the plane and try to send him some missionaries (I gave him a book of Mormon and it was really inspired). I am trying to SYL (speak your language) Mandarin as much as possible though I spoke Cantonese in Hong Kong, but we have also met lots of Cantonese speaking already! NY is beautiful, Chinatown is awesome, the people here are lovely. People have already given us free Food! Being a missionary again is awesome, this mission is quite different.

Part 2: Week 1 Return to Mission

August 31, 2014 I will be leaving this Monday to the New York, New York North Mandarin speaking mission. Once I get my visa I will be returning to Hong Kong.

The long process has finally turned into reality! I'm thankful for the opportunity for healing and growth that I've had. And for all the support from family and friends. Thank you. I'm excited to finish what I started-- to finish what has meant so much to me-- and to teach of Christ, truth, repentance, purpose, and happiness. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true restored gospel on earth. The Book of Mormon (translated ancient records of God's dealings with the people of the Americas) is the word of God and is our direction. There is no greater truth than this; it is the very essence of our existence. I'm grateful for that knowledge and for the opportunity to once again help people come unto Christ (by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.) 😄😄 Exciting things to come.

Sister Wilcox

Week 38

Aurelia is on medical leave in Australia. The blog will resume when she returns to the mission field.