I'm going to Hong Kong!

大家好, 是丁姊妹 in the house!!!!

This week has been AMAZING! And so full of miracles! But first and foremost, the news about Hong Kong!!!

I was actually in language study over zoom with Jōng jímuih (Sister Johnson) when she said "have you checked your email??" I was like, no way 😲, but I checked and it happened!! I got travel plans!!!! 🎉🎉🎉 I will be leaving out of Denver at 5pm on the 15th and flying from there to LAX and then at midnight there, I will fly out to Hong Kong! It's so bizarre to think that I'll be back home in LA for a few hours before heading to Hong Kong! If any of you are in the airport at that time, stop by haha.

I am so happy that I get to go to Hong Kong but there are still some things to figure out before that can happen. I know from my district going, that I need to have my middle name on my covid test in order to be let on the plane so I've got to make sure that gets done. I was a little worried because the mission travel department is supposed to mail a covid test to you when you travel abroad, but when my MTC district was going, they never got theirs and had to drive to Provo and pick them up. Luckily though, a lady from the mission office called and said that they won't have me get a test in the mail because the results won't come back in time, so instead, I'm going to take a covid test in Fort Collins and that is what will be used.

The other thing is baggage. On Sister Johnson's and my flight tickets, it says we're only allowed one piece of baggage instead of two like the rest of my district got. I heard that in some cases, you may get a ticket like that and you just have to pay for your second bag and then bring your receipt to the mission office and they'll reimburse you. Sister Johnson said she talked to the lady in the mission office and that's what she said the case will be. I just hope that that won't be too much of a hassle when the time comes, especially with me taking my violin as well. I will just keep praying that everything works out and goes alright. Also quarantine will be 3 weeks instead of 2 once I get to Hong Kong so rip but I know I will get through it.

Other than Hong Kong news though, Dan was baptized!!! It was so awesome to be able to see him baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! It was truly such a special experience. You could really tell Dan had this light about him after he came out of the water. There were also some fantastic talks before and after the baptism. President Walker (the president of the Pavillion branch) got up and gave the closing remarks and he said "being baptized is one of the greatest things you will do in your life" and you could see Dan nod very strongly to that. I loved seeing his reactions. The next day when Dan got confirmed was fast Sunday of course and Dan got up and bore his testimony! It was the most beautiful testimony I've ever heard. He was crying a lot so I couldn't hear clearly everything that he said, but I was able to hear him say that after the baptism, he was driving home in his truck, just listening to music, and he said that the sun was brighter and colors were more vibrant and sounds were clearer. It was a true and distinct difference in his life. I shed a tear at that because it's crazy to think that Dan was just a stranger that Sister Steiner met on facebook, but he gained a witness that this gospel is true and his life has changed because of it. President Walker also that day referred to Dan as Brother Lookingbill (yes that's his last name) and that made me so incredibly happy. President Walker said that next week they're going to interview him for the priesthood and then the week after that have it conferred to him and ordain him. I'm so happy for Dan. I'm sad I won't be here to see him have the priesthood and get a calling and all of that, but I'm so glad to have been a part of the journey and a part of this wonderful experience.

We also had exchanges this week! Since our old STLs are in Canada, our new STLs are normally stationed Casper and they drove the whole 2 hours from there to here for exchanges. The four of us slept in the old STLs' apartment in Riverton and then we started our exchange the next morning. I was with Sister Black and Sister Steiner was with Sister Niupalau. They're both so awesome and it was so fun! Sister Steiner and Niupalau were in Riverton for the day and Sister Black and I bounced around in Pavillion. We went to a place called Perretts for lunch and it was the BEST Italian food ever! This day was also the day I got my flight plans so it was doubly awesome! In Pavillion, Sister Black and I tried to stop by quite a few people's houses but no one was really home. We did however meet a couple named the Yoaks who apparently had been MIA for the past few months due to them being out of state. Sister Black and I just dropped in and they were there though. We shared an impromptu lesson with them and got an appointment to come back on Wednesday!

We also had zone meeting last Thursday and it was honestly so good! We talked about how President Palmer wants us to have a goal "reset". To think about our goals and make sure that we can achieve them, but still try to push ourselves. We also just talked about how important it is to teach the doctrine of Christ in our lessons which I thought was so good. After that, Sister Steiner and I have really been focusing on our goals this week to make sure we're doing everything we can to achieve them.

President Palmer also sent out an email on Sunday and he said that for the last week of the transfer, he wants us all to really focus on being closely in tune with the Spirit and doing whatever we can to make sure we can always have it with us. Being inspired by this, Sister Steiner and I have made it a goal to be bolder. Because we know we can achieve our goals if we just are bolder with our invitations and introducing the gospel to people. We will prayerfully be working on that this week.

We have honestly already seen so many miracles though! On Sunday we got 10 return appointments! 10! That was the most we've ever gotten in one day! It was so cool. We've also been seeing miracles in finding new people to teach as well! I've been talking to two guys on Facebook who might be interested, we met some people from calling former people being taught who are interested, and yesterday we even found a lady just outside who we set up an appointment to meet with this Thursday! I already know it's going to be such an awesome final week!

As for the other people we have been teaching, we taught Patty the Plan of Salvation! It was hard because she likes to go off on tangents, but we did it! She hasn't read the Book of Mormon yet but we're still praying that she will start! We also had another lesson with Roland! His biggest problem is he's not good at keeping commitments and is not confident in doing much acts of faith, but we are continuing to encourage him and he really appreciates the gospel and the Spirit it brings. Then, we met with Hector on zoom again! I don't know if I've mentioned Hector before, but he is a guy who actually lives in Mexico City and Sister Steiner met him through Facebook. He's so awesome though! He's really curious to learn more about the gospel. We taught him the restoration and invited him to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and then he DID (no one ever keeps that commitment). We also invited him to join the Pavillion sacrament meeting's zoom on Sunday and he did as well!! He had to leave early but said he will join again next week. We definitely want to teach him the Plan of Salvation and will have to pass him off to the missionaries in Mexico City soon, but I just hope he continues to have that desire to learn!

Honestly it's really bizarre that this is my last week in Wyoming, with my district, and with Sister Steiner. I'm going to miss everyone so much but I am just so grateful that I was able to have this experience and be here in the first place. Today for pday we're going to meet up early as a district and do all of the things we've done on pdays before like playing frisbee golf, Catan, and spider ball! (it's like dodgeball but more hardcore). It's going to be such an awesome pday and I just want to make the most of it. I hope I will be able to see all of these peeps again after the misison because I've truly grown to love them.

My days in Pavillion are running short, but my days in Hong Kong are drawing nearer! It will be scary to be in a place where I don't understand much and am in an all new territory (it will be much different than mucking out goat stalls) but I know it will be such an adventure and I can't wait to see what the future holds!

I hope you all have had a great week this week and continue to do so! And I will see you all next week when I am preparing to push off to Hong Kong!

Gāa yáu!

丁姊妹

Sister DelHoyo

Helaman 10:4-5

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will

I know that when we choose to serve God, we will be blessed in whatever capacity we work in. I love this gospel and am so grateful for all it's done for me and the people I love and I know it can help everyone in their lives! <3