Church in China

We won't have guys in our group until February and until they get here, we can't take the Sacrament in Zhongshan. We have been having "church", but it is just not the same without the Sacrament. I was very grateful to be able to go to church and take the Sacrament in Shenzhen. After taking a two hour bus ride the day before, spending much more money than budgeted for unplanned hostel costs and taxi rides, and waking up at 6 so that we could make it to church by 10, we had a couple of mix ups with taxis and bus schedules Sunday morning and almost didn't make it to church on time for the Sacrament. By some miracle, we made it right on time as they stared singing the opening song, "Come, Come, Ye Saints." Did the pioneer saints realize as they crossed the plains and suffered severe trials that in less than two hundred years, a group of Latter Day Saint girls would be coming from Zhongshan to Shenzhen, CHINA so that they could attend the same church that they were members of? Did they realize how fast the Church would grow and what an impact they were making on the generations ahead of them?

I learned that there are 2,000 native Chinese Latter Day Saints who are "miracle members." They somehow find out about the Church on their own, make the journey to Hong Kong to get baptized, and then return to mainland China where they are then allowed by the government to be a member of one of the Chinese branches, which have more regulations than the Chinese international branches. Our church is in very good standing with the Chinese government because we will only go into China through the front door. I can't wait for them to completely let us in! And what a huge responsibility these "miracle members" will have when they do! The entire three hours of church was amazing and made me realize how much I take for granted a church building that is in walking distance from me. 

Our friend, Jess, is from Ireland and is also a teacher in Zhongshan. She decided to come to Shenzhen with us for the weekend and even went to church with us. It couldn't have been more perfect for her. One of the speakers talked about Magonus Succetus (St. Patrick, who she was very familiar with) and our Sunday school lesson was on the first vision. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said that she would read it. She couldn't believe that a three-hour church meeting could go by so fast and she was very glad that she came. This is Jess and I on New Years Eve.

Oh ya. And the government also lets Chinese spouses of LDS people get baptized so maybe I WILL find my husband here... HA.