In MiaoLi...Green means Go!
I saw a Transformer!
With my comp, Elder Joly
Elders: Joly, Robbins, Dickson
We continued our deep clean of our apartment this
week. We ended up spending all of P-day last week on it, and yet, we
still haven't finished. I think I understand what they're doing now.
When you sacrifice for something or someone you will inevitably develop
love for that thing or person. Having sacrificed valuable time to get
our apartment into good condition, we will likely treat it much better
in the future. This same principle can be used to understand the perfect
and infinite love the Savior has for each and every one of us. He
sacrificed all...and He did it for you.
Elder
Robbins and I went on exchanges this week. He came on island at the same
time I did. He's an incredible missionary; he's very enthused about
everything he does and is always looking to learn and improve. It was
wonderful working with him for a day.
Guardian of the church building ;)
New badge with full Chinese name:
This
week was full of qingkes (meal appointments where the food is provided
for us free of charge). Everything was closed for the Chinese New Year,
so the ward supported us. All the food was delicious and exciting. In
turn, we were able to prepare messages to bring the Spirit into the
homes of the members. It was incredible to be able to get to know the
ward so much better and to be able to help those we love so much (being
fed was just a bonus). ;)
We had so many amazing meals this week I can't even show them all! Thanks to the generous people who welcomed us into their homes and fed us.
This awesome spoon is like a ladle!
Pancakes! Not to rival the pancake grandma though.
I learned some
lessons in humility this week for which I am extremely grateful. They
came in the form of my Chinese falling apart at times (I may have told
someone I once ate a tire and thought it tasted pretty good...) and a
very stiff neck that may have had something to do with sleeping on a box
spring (Don't worry mom; I have arranged my sleeping situation, and I
now have a mattress to sleep on). However, these among other trials
humbled me; they prepared me to be led by the Spirit in all things. We
got out of the way of the Spirit, and many miracles followed:
My journal entry of this past week:
New missionary schedule:
>M:
We met with M this week and shared the 10 commandments. We asked
him what he thought about them. He said they seemed "...strict." This is
where we abandoned our lesson plan and were led by the Spirit in a
totally new direction. We felt impressed to talk about the Spirit and
its importance in his personal conversion progress. We talked about how
we couldn't give him all the "whys" or resolve all his concerns, but
that as he continued to read, pray, and ponder these things he would
receive an answer from God...he would receive an understanding on a very
personal level. As a result, we learned that he has already had some
experiences that have helped him begin to build a testimony. He's doing
awesome. He's been reading and praying daily, and he said he has a new
sense of purpose that drives him (gets him out of bed in the morning).
Through the Spirit, we were able to help him through several areas of
concern that are currently highly debated topics in the world. It was
cool to learn a little bit myself as we taught him by the Spirit.
>Wen
Agong: He's back in the hospital, but we were able to bring him a
message of hope and happiness in spite of trials (not what we had
planned exactly), but it was what he needed.
>LZG: We haven't known what to do to help him for some time now.
It's become increasingly difficult to meet with him, and he hasn't been
willing to keep commitments. We felt prompted to bring The Restoration
video and start back at square one with this man I've been teaching
since November of last year. It turned out to be just what he needed.
The Spirit was present and taught him things that were true that we
didn't even tell him with regard to the restoration of the Gospel.
Before we left, he told us he could not deny the existence of Heavenly
Father because he knew Joseph Smith had truly seen God the Father and
His son, Jesus Christ.
>ZXS: We
met him yesterday when he brought himself to church. He told us he had
started having problems with his physical health a few weeks back and
didn't know what to do. He felt to pray, but he had never prayed before
and didn't know how. Regardless, he prayed, and, in time, his pains left
him. Then yesterday, he felt prompted to come to the church building.
He said he came to learn more about the God who had healed him. While
there, he said he felt a special energy inside (the Spirit).
>God's
method of helping His children through others. We visited the Z
family this week for a qingke. Elder Johnson shared a scripture for the
spiritual share that led me to bring up Elder Renlund's talk on fairness
and gratitude. They said it was just what they needed as there have
been injustices at work that have troubled them. They looked up the
talk, studied it, and shared from it when they bore their testimonies
yesterday at church. After church, Elder Johnson's investigator, Brother
Fu, said it was just what he needed.
>Ran
into a less active at the train station. We were talking with several
young men about our age. We asked them what they felt was of greatest
importance in life. They then pointed us to a man standing the
background and said it was him we wanted to talk to. They said he always
thought of and asked questions like that. Just before we parted, he
told us he had been baptized a member of our church a long time ago.
That was it. His thoughts were literally on a higher plane as he had the
Gift of the Holy Ghost.
>I could go on and on, but time is up....
I
realize that my time here in Taiwan is very short, and I do not now
fully comprehend or understand the gift I have been given. My current
zone leader, Elder Crawford, is going home this week. I was struck with
awe as he bore a powerful witness of the Savior. He was reduced to tears
and trembling as he spoke of his love for Him and of his gratitude for
the Atonement. In the end, he was shaking and clutching his missionary
badge identifying him as a special representative of Jesus Christ saying
that he didn't want to go home...the Spirit testified to me of this
elder's faithful service. I realize I still have a lot to learn and room
to grow, but I am grateful for what I do not now fully understand.
The MiaoLi Missionaries
Lunch with Sister Chipman and her daughter
I love you all! Have the best week! Transfers is actually this week. I got a little confused with time last week; it all just goes so fast.We'll see what happens.
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