Week 5 in Taiwan - Baptism!

Sis. Jarvis and her companion witnessed the fruit of their labors this week, as well as powerful testimony.

Hello Familia!

What a week!  Lots of contacting, baptism, new and old investigators, service project, and new things every day! 

Well I have to start with NT's baptism first :)  Everything went SO well - there were no glitches or problems....she had a great week and had a beautiful baptism.  My trainer said that it was the smoothest xili hui(baptism) she's ever had!  We have an amazing Ward Coordinator/Mission leader who planned and set up everything.  There were also so many people there...they all couldn't fit into the room to watch the baptism :)  A very special part of the baptism was NT's family.  Remember the story I told you about her Aunt seeing NT at Stake Conference and bearing her testimony how she has been praying for years for her family to accept the Gospel?  Well her Aunt spoke at her baptism and reitterated her very powerful testimony - it was an incredible moment that I will never, ever forget :)  After 30 years of being a very strong member of the Church and praying for her family to accept this Gospel, her Aunt was able to see her neice be baptized and you could just see and feel the eternal joy that she had.  Her Aunt's son, NT's cousin, baptized her which was also very special.  NT's Mom and older sister also came, which you could tell meant the world to NT.  I don't know if I mentioned before, but her mom has been battling cancer so it has been a really hard time for their family, but Nitti has told us that since she has decided to be baptized, her family has become even closer and things were getting better.  When NT bore her testimony after being baptized, she was in tears as she spoke to her mom and sister, telling them that she knew the Church was true.  She talked about how grateful she was for her family and really just bore testimony to them.  There were so many ward members there.....so many people have played such an important role in her conversion.  One brother from the ward even had all these delicious fruit and snacks set up afterward for everyone!  I know she is in such good hands and I know she knows that too :)  

As we were listening to NT bear her testimony, I sat there realizing that this had absolutely nothing to do with us, the missionaries.....we literally just led her and guided her along the path of preparing for baptism.  She came to know her Heavenly Father and Savior herself and we were just there to help......I love that it's not about us at all, it never is and never will be.  We're here to help people receive their salvation, but it's all about their relationship with their Heavenly Father.

O!  Another miracle story with NT :)  Her Dad and sister came to Sacrament Meeting the next day when she received the Holy Ghost.  They stayed for the entire meeting which I thought was really neat.........I talked to them afterwards while NT met with the Bishop and they really really liked it! Her Dad had only been to church once before, like 30 years ago with his sister, the Aunt who spoke at NT's baptism, but he really liked Sacrament Meeting.  And lo and behold, her sister just graduated from college and her roommate was from the U.S., from Utah, from BYU, a member, and had already given her a B of M!  (Heavenly Father is truly preparing this entire family!)  I asked them if Sister Gibson and I could come visit them and share a scripture message with them and they said YES!  Not just yes, but Yes with a smiley :)  I just feel like NT's story isn't done yet and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for her family!  She is a great strength to them and I can't wait to see what her future holds!

Well in a nutshell the rest of the week.....lessons, contacting, O! and on Saturday morning was Clean Up the World Day- did they have that in Utah?  We got to ride with the Relief Society President in a car (it had been a long time since I had been in one!) to Ping An, which is right by the ocean.  Our Stake all helped clean up the dock area by the ocean, so that was really fun!  The RS Pres, who is incredible, also took us out to Friday's after so it felt like a P Day haha  O!  Remember Tian and his wife Zheng?  Well Pres. Bishop had told us to try to read the B of M with them to help them........we went over last night and read Alma 40 together and it was such a beautiful lesson.  Tian didn't make his tea and was much quieter.....his wife really began to understand about the resurrection and Tian was truly listening.  The Spirit was there.....he said the closing prayer and just poured out his heart to his Heavenly Father.  Sister Gibson and I feel like they can really keep progressing.  We just love them and are so excited as we continue to read with them :)

What an incredible blessing we have to have the Gospel, to have an Eternal Family :)  With the Savior you can do anything, anything.  The scriptures are full of power and what a blessing to have a living prophet on the Earth (I can't wait for conference!).  Heavenly Father and your Savior love you so much, more than we can even comprehend. 

Love you all!

Sister J.

BAPTISM PHOTOS!!