From the Land of Typhoons and Monsoons!

Something weather-ish:

Just when I thought Hong Kong weather was pretty crazy, typhoon and monsoon season starts. ahhh! you are all probably sick of me talking about the weather, as that is what most people talk about when they have nothing else to say, BUT, let's just say that as missionaries, our life revolves around the weather. every morning we call the weather number on our phone and find out what the day holds in store. umbrella or not? leather shoes or my dress crocs? waterproof mascara or regular? ha! just kidding....we actually check for the typhoon warnings and what level they are at. if it's a 1 that means it's coming but not bad yet. a "3" means we have to stay within 15 minutes of our apt and an 8 means we are stuck in the apt. and can't leave....which is so not fun, but when you look out at the winds and the rain coming down you realize it's probably a pretty good idea....:) the actual typhoon isn't that bad, as we had one last week come pretty close, but it was the rain afterwards that just dumps and dumps and causes lots of monsoon warnings and thunderstorms. the rain just pours down the sidewalks like rivers (which is when me crocs come in handy) and your umbrella, no matter how big, is completely useless. i must say that i absolutely love it. the weather here is so crazy and so fun. sometimes at night if i can't sleep i'll just lie awake and listen to the thunder and watch the lightening. there's nothing like it.

something missionary-ish:

The youth here in Hong Kong are amazing. this last week my new companion, sister mander, and I had the opportunity to have a "summer missionary" with us for a week. she's 18 years old and from the TST area of hong kong. basically they have a really cool program here that allows the youth to come and live with the missionaries for 1-2 weeks and learn what it's like to be a missionary. they do our studies with us in the morning, (except they study english, instead of cantonese) and go out finding, teach lessons, participate in our meetings and service projects. I can't tell you how amazing they are! it's been such a blessing in a lot of ways for the people we were teaching and also having someone there who fully understands the language, etc...so helpful and amazing to see how much they already know about the gospel and their testimonies are so strong! i don't think i knew half as much as they do when i was that age.