Taiwan - Week 60 - September 29 - Happy Monday!

Hi Fam!!! Happy Monday!

This week was mission meeting week!! We had DTM on Tuesday, Zone Conference on Wednesday with the Blickenstaffs about conversion, the B of M, and repentance and then Mission Leadership Council on Thursday. President Blickenstaff has been focusing a lot on true conversion- helping our investigators to be really converted to the Gospel, and specifically through the B of M and repentance. With HJM, it was such a powerful conversion process that it really taught me a lot. if they are converted to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, or actually if we all are, we can not fall and when the hard times come, we turn to Him and it changes us. True conversion really only comes through the Atonement of Christ- of faith, repenting, and becoming more like Him. We watched a new PMG video on teaching repentance with the pamphlet and then we had a great training on it- so powerful! We have a new office couple from Idaho too- they have a son and daughter on missions too! Mission Council was really great on Thursday as well- I have learned so much about church leadership and council from participating in these councils. They way in which the Lord guides His work is quite marvelous. So specific to the area and the people and the missionaries..........President Blickenstaff counseled with us and has given the mission some really great direction in teaching, obedience, and vision.

We had another miracle with our LJM this week! We went to visit her Thursday night and her son and boyfriend were both there. She shared with us that she hoped we could share with her some scriptures or teachings that could help them teach and raise their son. Her boyfriend expressed his concern and love for her son as well......he said he has really noticed a difference in her as she has been reading the scriptures. We shared 3 Nephi 18:20-21 on family prayer and I shared my own experience of family prayer and how much it has changed our family. We invited them to have family prayer nightly before they go to sleep and they said they would! Then......when we were finishing the lesson her son and boyfriend joined us in prayer!! It was the first time her boyfriend had ever prayed with her and she was so touched! Sister Christensen and I both feel that this isn't just about her.....Heavenly Father has plans for the entire family :) She has a lot of faith in God and came to church with her son! This ward is also incredible at taking care of investigators and RCs.......they all guan xined her immediately and then we were trying to find our RC to have a lesson with her after church, but her visiting teachers had already grabbed her and were having a lesson with her! So we were two empty missionaries in the hall with no one to meet with because they were all already meeting with the members! So awesome :)

This week I read an amazing scripture about how Heavenly Father will purge those branches that bear fruit so that they will bring forth more fruit (John 15: 1-2).....I definitely experienced this this week! Sometimes we have to have these rough patches or little times of challenge that Heavenly Father has given us to make us stronger and to once again have us rely upon the Atonement and become brighter lights :) Two incredible experiences with exchanges this week: went to Shalu and shared with a very faithful LA about my pioneer ancestors. As we sang "Come, Come ye Saints" she was in tears and said she hadn't felt that feeling since she was baptized which was more than 10 years ago. The Pioneers bring a Spirit that is unlike any other and I am honored to be of their posterity. I also went on exchanges with a Sister who suffers from insomnia and whose Mom died early on in her mission.......she's still here and she's still strong- as she shared her story with me, tears were in my eyes.....what an incredible example of faith and sacrifice. Incredible people all around us........I love this work and I love you all!!

Sister J.