"12/11/2011 Sunday afternoon. It was the first day me and my family met Elder Church and Elder Bay from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Tall Cedars Ward. I was looking for a church to attend for my kids and also for myself, so when they knocked on our front door, there was no reason I would not let them in.
When I attended De Anza College in Cupertino, CA several months after I was immigrated to the US, there was Stevens Creek Ward right across from it, so I always saw missionaries walk around campus and talk to people. Of course I had a chance to talk with them as well. There were two main reasons that I couldn't make it at that time even though I wanted to give it a try. The first reason was because I was a little scared and afraid to go and talk to church members in English, and the second reason was because I was originally Catholic and very involved in church activities as a piano/organ accompanist for Sunday mass and choir when I was in Korea, so I just didn't want to give up my religion soon after I came to the US. Anyhow, in short, I was not ready at that time.
16 years passed by since then, and it's been a long time since I met missionaries again. They invited us to an upcoming Christmas party on 12/17. This time again I wanted to go, but I was afraid that I didn't know any of church members except Elder Church, Elder Bay, and one church member who came along with them. Haha, I kept thinking and thinking about whether I would go or not. Finally, we started our first step and went and we really had fun. After that, we attended sacrament meeting on Sunday, too.
Since then the Elders came to our home every week mostly Saturdays and taught us the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the beginning, I was worried that what if they were constantly talking about their belief and faith and gave us pressure for us to do the same way because my husband, Dave studied science and engineering all the way to his pH.D., and was a little skeptical about religion. However, they really respected us and didn't give any pressure at all (mutual respect). We liked their approach when they talked to and taught us, so we could open our mind sincerely. The Elders stopped by one weekday to give us a little booklet to read ahead and came back Saturday to discuss on that. We are very thankful for their consistency and efforts. Without them, we could have really missed the most important thing throughout our life. We were very impressed that the Elders and church members try hard to follow and live with the word of wisdom.
One month before baptism, Elder Bay suggested us to get baptized. I looked at Dave first to see his reaction, and I was quite surprised that he said Yes ahead of me. :) We prepared our baptism for one month and got baptized at Ashburn stake on 2/17. Elder Bay baptized Dave, and Elder Church baptized me. We had confirmation on 2/19 Sunday at Tall Cedars Ward. My baptism and confirmation were truly great blessings and touching. Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit were with me during the whole ordinances. I can't describe in words all the feelings I had on those days.
The Elders gave my kids their favorite Pokemon cards for Christmas present, and on my birthday, Elder Church gave me the baptism picture with frame. One week, my son, Ethan was sick, and couldn't make sacrament meeting on Sunday, and the Elders came on Monday to check everything was OK with us. We are very grateful for their teaching, baptism, confirmation, and all the other things they had done for us . We also appreciate that brothers and sisters welcomed us and invited us to dinner, dropped off cookies at the doorstep, visiting, phone calls, notes and lots more! We truly felt the warmest love from our Heavenly Father through the Elders and church members.
Yes, I will continue my journey to the Celestial Kingdom of our Heavenly Father by attending church, keep praying, listening to the Spirit, and reading The Book of Mormon."
-Hannah Lee
