Thank you for all of your letters and emails!!
Ok this week was incredible!!!! and apparently tired us out a little bit as I almost fell asleep 3 times in Sacrament Meeting yesterday ;) Probably the happiest baptism I have ever attended (next to Nitti's) and an incredible Taiwan flavored Ward Pioneer Party!! and of course all the other miracles, spiritual moments of learning more about the Gospel in between :)
This week began with interviews with the Blickenstaffs! It was so great........their family is beautiful!! Holy ca pole and then we watched their grandson's video who loves Star Wars and was one of the little Jedis at Disneyland :) They're really cool.......I was trying to think of whom to compare them to so you would understand and I feel like they are a lot like the Fredricksons hehe :D but they really are!!...kind of bring in a different feel to the mission but it's super good! It's amazing how the Lord has everything planned out so perfectly :) I really loved my interview with President...........I think he was very inspired as he talked to me because the things we talked about were exactly what I needed to hear. I have gained such a stronger testimony of priesthood/church leaders on my mission..........he shared some personal experiences with me and we talked about what visions I had for these last 5 months......soooo goood!
Next miracle- ZJM's baptism was incredible, truly the happiest most spiritual high ever! She has been an investigator for so long so she knows a lot of members so therefore the turnout was fantastic! And the best thing was that the missionaries were just there to sit with her, pray with her, and talk to everyone.......but the ward took care of everything else and it was soooo good! I have a new standard that for the rest of my mission that's how all the baptisms will be- it just brings in so much love when the ward is there and doing everything :) The YWs sang a BEAUTIFUL song in English called Guardians of Virtue and then that moment that she has been waiting for so long came.......she was beautiful in white and came out as pure, clean daughter of God :) She gave about a 5 minute testimony that was incredible..........sounded like a long time member. The biggest miracle was her mom and sister came!! and they were both so happy to be there! As everyone was eating the delicious treats after the service........Sister Belnap started talking to her sister about what she had felt at the baptism. All of a sudden her sister started crying and said as we were singing, she felt the most amazing peaceful, happy feeling but she didn't know what it was. We talked about how that's the feeling church brings, the Spirit.........her eyes continued to flood with tears as she talked about the pressure and bad feelings she felt outside but how good it felt in the church and in her heart. Then newly baptized ZJM came over, hugged her sister, and began to testify as well......she even said that she waited to long to bring her there and she should have brought her sooner :) It was an absolutely beautiful moment that I will never forget.............her sister said she doesn't believe yet, but she loves the feeling and wants to learn more! She came to our party on Saturday too so we are going to start meeting with her too!!! It's amazing........even as ZJM was getting confirmed yesterday, the Bishop in the blessing said that she would be the example and means of bringing her family and others to the Gospel......and it's already happening! She received her temple recommend yesterday and is going to the temple with the ward on Saturday! Can you just feel the outpouring love of God in her story? It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it!!! Heavenly Father is so aware of her and her family and I can't wait for more of His plans to unfold for this incredibly, amazing daughter of God! :D
ZJM and the YW of the ward
If you want to have real, deal, super ecstatic, yet spiritually fulfilling pioneer party then come on over to Zhang hua!!!!! O my goodness after three crazy weeks of planning the Pioneer Party on Saturday was a complete success!!! Let's break-down the night: We had the chapel all decked out in flags and everyone came and sat down and we introduced the pioneers and how amazing they are.......then we split up into 5 rotating stations with every station having a pioneer story theater and then an activity: peach cobbler, scones with shakin' butter( ha which actually turned into whipped creme- but that's ok! we just called it butter anyway ;) ) , bamboo leaves dolls, stick-pull, and the coolest Lagoon Pioneer photo booth ever! After these stations Sister Belnap and I taught them the Cotton-eyed Joe which was so fun! And then my dreams came to life as we taught them a cool folk-dancing trick and all the girls were so into it and it was so fun! Then we sat down and watched the last clips of Legacy and testified of the Pioneers and how they are important to each one of us and then we ate the deliciousness and the Peach cobbler was definitely the winning prize!!! All the missionaries dressed up, the elders even spent an 11/2 hours making pretty cool beards out of yarn haha, and we had a family we met on the street come as well as lots of members bring friends, LAs and had about 100 members or so there!! It was the best thing ever!! We might have had some burning cobbler at one point in the oven because it was overflowing, and the Stake President came over to double check on what the smell was and had 6 members helping with the oven- ha it was so great! One of the bishops' wife just dived right in and scraping it- while it was still on!! with no gloves or anything! o man it was so great! Then two members brought their own donut maker and just had a hey-day! But everyone loved it and that was what was most important!!! The members were definitely the best part- taking pictures of everything and now everyone wants cobbler recipes! We are so doing this again- Halloween style!! We are so grateful everything went well and it was ok! Huge blessing! These members are incredible- Best pioneer day ever :)
Enjoying Peach Cobbler and Scones!
Teaching Cotton-Eyed Joe!
Well I hope you know how much I love you all!!! Seriously!! Each of your emails today really touched my heart- tears, spirit and all! Chinese was really hard for me this week- really truly! BUT it humbled me and gave me another reason to draw closer to the Savior and rely on Him for these language skills! I need to jia you, but I need to do it with Him for He is the master :) This work is the best thing ever!!!! There is sooooo much to be grateful for--every single day!!! Gratitude truly changes our heart, attitude, and I feel builds our confidence as well!! I love you all so much!
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart!"
Sister J.
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