Sis. Jarvis is now training Sister Shultz from Oregon!...and experiencing an earthquake up close and personal!
Hi wonderful Fam!! Happy Easter!!
Wow, I can't believe it's April 1st..........So here's some news.........I moved!!! to Taibei!!...................Happy April Fools! :) I'm still here in Zhang hua with my awesome trainee!! It was my last week with Sister Xie, whom I will deeply miss but am excited for her to go to Gaoxiong and help more people! My trainee is awesome! Her name is Sister Shultz and she is from Oregon and she's such an amazing missionary because she's willing to do anything! She's super cute, fun, happy, and so excited to be here! We had three meals at other places in the first 2 days she was here and she was willing to eat anything! Good sign of a great missionary ;) We went up to Taizhong to meet them, they read our names out from red envelopes, went out to eat with President and Sister Bishop, and then hopped on the train to Zhang hua! We had a dinner appointment with the Bishop of the 2nd ward who lives out in the rice fields so we immediately came back and hopped on our bikes for our 45 minute bike ride......and Sister Shultz was such a trooper! Happy as can be and patient with me as it took us a little while to find the Bishop's house :) She is so excited to work and be in Taiwan- I just love it! It's also been really amazing because although she is still learning Chinese, whenever she teaches or bears her testimony, the Spirit is so strong. These new missionaries are sooo prepared and have such a strong gift of the Spirit :) I'm so excited to serve with her!
O! The earthquake.....funny and scary story :) We were actually in Taizhong for our Trainers meeting when it happened........President Bishop was speaking and all of a sudden the chapel started to shake and keep shaking! Since it wasn't really stopping, President Bishop calmly told us we should all probably go outside! We all got up and started moving out and then it stopped....but the lights kept moving! It was so crazy! Probably the biggest earthquake I have ever felt!! Lots of missionaries' apartments had cracks afterwards (including ours) and some sisters' door was bent so they couldn't leave their apartment, but everyone was just fine! It was really funny......President Bishop stepped out for a second and Sister Bishop asked us if going outside was the best thing to do haha :) We discussed that next time we better just get under some doorways :)
Just since Friday, we have had some really amazing teaching experiences with people we just met on the street or tracting! I believe it is definitely a new missionary blessing :) We were out tracting on Saturday night and no one was really interested, but then we started talking to this lady who was walking down the street. We found out she was a member of another church and she said she had never really heard anything about our church before. She told us she liked to read the Bible so we started sharing about the Book of Mormon and she was really intrigued. We gave her a B of M and then shared about 3 Nephi 11 when Christ came to visit the Americas. She stopped and asked us, "What? Did Christ really visit the Americas?" We testified that He did and showed her the picture in the front of the B of M........she just looked at it and said, "How amazing!........I had no idea....." I have never met anyone on the street before who was so touched by the message of the B of M. The Spirit was so strong and we are hoping to meet with her again :) I've been reading Abinadi's words how one day the entire world with know and see Christ....what an amazing day that will be, when everyone will know He lives and loves each and every one of them! Another awesome B of M story!! Our 9 and 10 year old investigators are amazing!! We gave them a B of M about a week and a half ago......we went back to visit them this week and they had both been reading and the 10 year old was in 1 Nephi 9 and had marked her scriptures too! She recited all of Lehi's Dream to us because it was her favorite part :) We taught them the Plan of Salvation too and they understood it so well! It's just amazing to me that these adorable young girls read more than some of our other investigators and have such beautiful comments. Children truly are so precious in the eyes of God and the Spirit seems to speak even stronger to them. I love them so much and hope that they can be baptized very soon! (aka next month!)
Well this last week was a little stressful.......OK a lot stressful :) Unexpected training, only been in the area for 3 weeks (take deep breaths)......still not sure what's going on and don't know very many people (more deep breaths!)...........but somehow I know it's all going to be ok because it already has! We may still get lost, I am far from a perfect trainer, BUT I have seen answers to prayers and just the overwhelming comfort of the Spirit! The last few days I have been reading in Mosiah 14-16 in which Abinadi uses the words of Isaiah to teach of Christ. I just love them! The Atonement is so amazing.....I love my Savior so much! I especially loved Mosiah 14:12 when it says that "he hath poured out his soul unto death." Wow.....Christ gave his whole soul for us. It's a really beautiful thing to think about and I know that the best thing we can give to Him is the exact same......we can give our whole souls to His service. When we give our whole soul over to Him, we are happier! We feel a greater sense of love and purpose! I have many weaknesses, but I know that if I give my whole soul to Him, He will help me :D He will help us all! I'm so grateful for this Easter time and hope you all have an amazing Easter week! Our Savior lives and He loves us! The Gospel is true and I love you!
Sister J. :)
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