My Dearest Fam- Good Morning!
How are all of you today?? Conference was just amazing- every talk so unique and so powerful.........there was such a heavenly feeling in my heart as I listened to the Sat Morning session! I LOVED Elder Bednar's talk.....I was in absolute tears by the end. It will definitely change the way in which I teach about tithing, look for blessings in my own life, and there was so much power as he literally called us to repentance- it was as if he were one of the apostles right out of the scriptures. I also loved Elder Edward Dube about looking forward with faith, the fantastic exclamation points from Elder S. Gifford Nielsen's words on our personal Game Plan of missionary work!!! So many incredible talks on Missionary Work- O my family, we should definitely have our own Missionary Family Council! That was such an inspiring story!! It was amazing- as I was praying last night, all these names from home were coming to my head of non-members or LAs of people we could have- definitely inspiration from Heavenly Father! I loved how so much of the RS broadcast talked about our covenants and that by serving and helping our fellow brothers and sisters up the path we are keeping our covenants. Also loved Elder Eyring and Elder Oaks on a happy family with forgiveness and comp. of Holy Ghost and as well as looking at what is our ultimate priority. Also loved Elder David M. McConkie's talk on teaching!! Loved it so much know that what he said is true- just prepare, put the lesson plan aside, listen and let the Spirit guide. Also loved Elder Scott's on repentance and of course President Monson's words on kindness and patience through our trials and never stop praying :) I just love it all soooo much! It's the conference that is so united with heaven and you know it is the Savior's. I was really able to find a lot of personal answers as I used a different method for taking notes....I wrote a DO at the bottom after each talk and wrote what I personally felt I wanted to go and do, to change after hearing that talk. I realized I really havent' been a great studier of Conference Talks, I read them, but dont' really study- and I don't know why! But especially after hearing Elder Hales' talk about the greatest blessings of Conference come after it is over......I'm really going to study these words with all my heart, apply, and change my lives and those around me to draw closer to Christ. I love Conference!!!!!!!!!!!
This week was a special one in Tanzi :) Lots of mini miracles!! Originally this week we were not going to have another time to meet with LJM until Saturday and we were kind of bummed about that because we knew we really wanted to teach her the W of W before that. Well I know that the Lord works through small ways to bring about His work :) On Monday LJM was in an accident that could have been very serious, but other than her neck in pain with a neck brace she was ok. She had work off the entire week so we were able to meet with her a couple times and she spent her days at home reading the scriptures :) I was so grateful she was ok, and had this little miracle to see her often this week. At the beginning of my mission, I may have been worried when people had problems with the Word of Wisdom, but now I just become so excited!!!! It's the best part! Because they are literally changing their lives to live in accordance with God's standards- it's so exciting to me. I know the atonement is real, God's power is real, and that LJM can continue to prepare to be baptized. Powerboarding was pretty good too! Some members came and helped and actually the most interested people we met were from France and Africa! I don't think they came, but that's ok because we were able to tell the world about Conference and meet some great people! We had a less-active come, who has been coming back as well as an RC who has made great progress lately and they both just loved it :)
I LOVE you alll soooooooooooooooo much!!! My heart is just pounding with love for each and every one of you!!!!!!!! I love conference, I love my companion, I love these people, I love Taiwan, I love the Gospel, I love the Savior, I love Heavenly Father, I love this incredible time to share the Gospel!!! and I love my eternal family!!! Have a marvelous week!!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Taiwan - Week 61 - October 6 - Family Prayer and Scriptures
Hello my dearest, darlingest fam!!
Well this week was great :) We had some great exchanges, lessons, and all :) We met with an investigator family on Saturday, mother and 11 year old son, who is so great!! and shared the Plan of Salvation. The mom seemed to really like this life and how we study and learn and also the importance of the Atonement to overcome mistakes. At the end we asked the son what is favorite part was and he said the Celestial Kingdom because he wants to be with Heavenly Father, the Savior, and His family forever! ah it was the most innocent, pure, and truthful answer and you could just see it in his eyes. At the end of the lesson, the son Jack, gave the prayer for us and prayed that he could be with his family forever :) This family is so special......they haven't come to church yet, but I know they will :)
It's been really incredible.......in the last three weeks I have been able to meet with 3 different active/less-active families and testify of the power of family prayer and scripture. It took some time into my mission until I realized really how important it is and because of my parent's example in having us do so, it changed my life as well as my family's. With these families, we found out they weren't having family prayer or scripture study and we were able to share our personal experiences and testify of the power that comes from this sacred family time. Each family was so touched by the Spirit and committed to start having prayer, scripture study, or both! It was amazing! It has been something we have been able to testify a lot of up here and I am so grateful for the verses in 3 Nephi 18:19-21 in which Christ teaches us to have family prayer. I'm so grateful momma and baba for the example you set for our family to always set aside time......and now because of that, you are able to help families here to obtain the same blessings and have the Spirit in their homes :) LJM is still doing well :) Just keep her in your prayers.
O great news! My wonderful companion came up with best idea! On Thursday night we are going to a night market with some ward members to advertise General Conference!! The member will bring his notebook and play some Mormon messages and music and we are making some posters and such! Super excited and feel it will be a great way to find some of Heavenly Father's prepared souls to hear the words of the Prophets!
In other words, when I was on exchanges, one of the sisters shared with me a great bi yu that my old MTC teacher had shared.........our missions are like an hourglass, or life for that matter. We have to have little slumps/drops to build us up and become higher. I loved that! This is our journey of life and it's all possible because of the Atonement...we will indeed have those dropping points but only because it's time to learn something new and the Lord will provide the "meat" for us to make us stronger (1 Nephi 17:2) :D Love you all so much!!!!!!!!!! Let's go forward in faith- can't wait to chat about conference next week!
Sister J.
Well this week was great :) We had some great exchanges, lessons, and all :) We met with an investigator family on Saturday, mother and 11 year old son, who is so great!! and shared the Plan of Salvation. The mom seemed to really like this life and how we study and learn and also the importance of the Atonement to overcome mistakes. At the end we asked the son what is favorite part was and he said the Celestial Kingdom because he wants to be with Heavenly Father, the Savior, and His family forever! ah it was the most innocent, pure, and truthful answer and you could just see it in his eyes. At the end of the lesson, the son Jack, gave the prayer for us and prayed that he could be with his family forever :) This family is so special......they haven't come to church yet, but I know they will :)
It's been really incredible.......in the last three weeks I have been able to meet with 3 different active/less-active families and testify of the power of family prayer and scripture. It took some time into my mission until I realized really how important it is and because of my parent's example in having us do so, it changed my life as well as my family's. With these families, we found out they weren't having family prayer or scripture study and we were able to share our personal experiences and testify of the power that comes from this sacred family time. Each family was so touched by the Spirit and committed to start having prayer, scripture study, or both! It was amazing! It has been something we have been able to testify a lot of up here and I am so grateful for the verses in 3 Nephi 18:19-21 in which Christ teaches us to have family prayer. I'm so grateful momma and baba for the example you set for our family to always set aside time......and now because of that, you are able to help families here to obtain the same blessings and have the Spirit in their homes :) LJM is still doing well :) Just keep her in your prayers.
O great news! My wonderful companion came up with best idea! On Thursday night we are going to a night market with some ward members to advertise General Conference!! The member will bring his notebook and play some Mormon messages and music and we are making some posters and such! Super excited and feel it will be a great way to find some of Heavenly Father's prepared souls to hear the words of the Prophets!
In other words, when I was on exchanges, one of the sisters shared with me a great bi yu that my old MTC teacher had shared.........our missions are like an hourglass, or life for that matter. We have to have little slumps/drops to build us up and become higher. I loved that! This is our journey of life and it's all possible because of the Atonement...we will indeed have those dropping points but only because it's time to learn something new and the Lord will provide the "meat" for us to make us stronger (1 Nephi 17:2) :D Love you all so much!!!!!!!!!! Let's go forward in faith- can't wait to chat about conference next week!
Sister J.
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.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Taiwan - Week 59 - September 22 - Tanzi!
Hi FAM!
Well Tanzi is such a wonderful place!! I'm already loving it so much! The city area is a lot like Zhang hua but there are beautiful green mountains too!!! The sky is beautiful! The chapel we attend is in a near-by city and it is the newest built in Taiwan- it is absolutely beautiful!!!! It was finished in June and is such a blessing for the members here :) The members are incredible.....they are literally living the Work of Salvation......they have a schedule for missionary dinners weekly where we can bring investigators, RCs, etc.....they will call and guan xin our investigators on their own and are so willing to help them! There is a Sister in the ward who has a free Ukulele class for Moms on Friday morning that lots of the members as well as her non-member friends go to and her whole purpose is missionary work :) She shares B of M stories and they are going to start learning hymns- so great! Ward Correlation was great......ward mission leader with Bishopric member and ward missionaries......and then at the end they have the missionaries give a little training from PMG- so good! They are such wonderful examples to me! Their desire to serve and kindness just emulates from each of them :)
This week was Zhong qiu jie (mid-autumn) festival which means the kids are out of school, parents don't have work, and everyone is out BBQing! On Friday we had to kao rou (BBQ) activities......definitely had our meats worth for the week :) They BBQ sausage, corn, vegetables, chicken, pork, mushrooms, tofu, everything and then they put some delicious sauce on top- yum! We also went to a member's house on the mountainside and had hot pot outside with lots of members and they had the Mormon Music Channel playing- it was marvelous :) Their son reminds me of little Jackson.......if you say Michael Jackson he will do the Beat It dance or if you say Michael Jordan he will swoosh it...absolutely adorable! We have a really incredible investigator right now named LJM. She is a single mom with a 7 year old son who has had a pretty rough life....the Sisters met her a few weeks ago while tracting.......she has a Christian background but she started to read the B of M and just loves it, marks it all up and everything! Due to exchanges, I haven't had a chance to actually be in a lesson with her....but miracle, she was worried about her boyfriend's opposition, but then she prayed that he could come to the ward BBQ and he suddenly didn't have work and so was able to come!........the members talked to him a lot and started talking with everyone too! We gave them both a church tour and she was telling him about Sunday and everything that happens.....then at the end Sister Christensen and I had a chance to talk to him and he said that he is Buddhist, but how he thinks the church is great and was so touched by how happy we were that they had come to the BBQ. He said he has to work on Sunday, but if he ever has time he will come to church and is more than happy for LJM and her son to come!! Absolute miracle!! He now has invited us over to their house for lessons- she was so happy! She has a baptismal goal for next month and so excited to share more of the Restored Gospel as it has already blessed them so much! The Spirit truly softens hearts and prepares the way for the Lord's work to take place.
I went on exchanges with Sister Park from Korea this week and I just love her to a million pieces!!! She just finished training this week so she was really stressed this week with trying to lead her new companion around and plan everything, but she felt the exchange helped her to feel a little better about everything.........she is incredible and let me tell you why.......she couldn't speak English or Chinese before she got to the MTC and now she can speak both! She comes from a family of 5 kids, all members, and her two oldest brothers are also on missions in Korea- her mom also served a mission- super strong family! She is really shy, blushes super easy, always bows to anyone when she gives them a tract, cares about her investigators so much, and has so much faith and love for Heavenly Father. Loved that exchange- we had about 3 self-contacts come to the church while we were there.......love Sister Park :)
This week we have 3 meetings!! yay!! Sister Christensen is just wonderful, so kind, happy, hilarious, and super strong....love her :) She's only been here one move-call so we are working to build up the area with investigators.....I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be and it's an incredible feeling.......I found myself praying the other night and realized the only things I could really think to say to Heavenly Father were words of gratitude! My heart was so full of joy and gratitude to Him and for the Savior.......in placing me here with these people, these Sisters, and these experiences. I love you all so very, very much! Last night at the ward FHE we watched the Tyler Haws video- if you haven't watched it on lds.org, you should watch it!! I know that the light in each one of us has the power to influence and help people all around us- that's exactly why He gave it to us. Service is incredible........finding the smallest ways to serve or help others feel the love of the Savior can make all the difference in the world. So pray for opportunities and I know Heavenly Father will definitely provide them :) I love you!!
Sister J.
Well Tanzi is such a wonderful place!! I'm already loving it so much! The city area is a lot like Zhang hua but there are beautiful green mountains too!!! The sky is beautiful! The chapel we attend is in a near-by city and it is the newest built in Taiwan- it is absolutely beautiful!!!! It was finished in June and is such a blessing for the members here :) The members are incredible.....they are literally living the Work of Salvation......they have a schedule for missionary dinners weekly where we can bring investigators, RCs, etc.....they will call and guan xin our investigators on their own and are so willing to help them! There is a Sister in the ward who has a free Ukulele class for Moms on Friday morning that lots of the members as well as her non-member friends go to and her whole purpose is missionary work :) She shares B of M stories and they are going to start learning hymns- so great! Ward Correlation was great......ward mission leader with Bishopric member and ward missionaries......and then at the end they have the missionaries give a little training from PMG- so good! They are such wonderful examples to me! Their desire to serve and kindness just emulates from each of them :)
This week was Zhong qiu jie (mid-autumn) festival which means the kids are out of school, parents don't have work, and everyone is out BBQing! On Friday we had to kao rou (BBQ) activities......definitely had our meats worth for the week :) They BBQ sausage, corn, vegetables, chicken, pork, mushrooms, tofu, everything and then they put some delicious sauce on top- yum! We also went to a member's house on the mountainside and had hot pot outside with lots of members and they had the Mormon Music Channel playing- it was marvelous :) Their son reminds me of little Jackson.......if you say Michael Jackson he will do the Beat It dance or if you say Michael Jordan he will swoosh it...absolutely adorable! We have a really incredible investigator right now named LJM. She is a single mom with a 7 year old son who has had a pretty rough life....the Sisters met her a few weeks ago while tracting.......she has a Christian background but she started to read the B of M and just loves it, marks it all up and everything! Due to exchanges, I haven't had a chance to actually be in a lesson with her....but miracle, she was worried about her boyfriend's opposition, but then she prayed that he could come to the ward BBQ and he suddenly didn't have work and so was able to come!........the members talked to him a lot and started talking with everyone too! We gave them both a church tour and she was telling him about Sunday and everything that happens.....then at the end Sister Christensen and I had a chance to talk to him and he said that he is Buddhist, but how he thinks the church is great and was so touched by how happy we were that they had come to the BBQ. He said he has to work on Sunday, but if he ever has time he will come to church and is more than happy for LJM and her son to come!! Absolute miracle!! He now has invited us over to their house for lessons- she was so happy! She has a baptismal goal for next month and so excited to share more of the Restored Gospel as it has already blessed them so much! The Spirit truly softens hearts and prepares the way for the Lord's work to take place.
I went on exchanges with Sister Park from Korea this week and I just love her to a million pieces!!! She just finished training this week so she was really stressed this week with trying to lead her new companion around and plan everything, but she felt the exchange helped her to feel a little better about everything.........she is incredible and let me tell you why.......she couldn't speak English or Chinese before she got to the MTC and now she can speak both! She comes from a family of 5 kids, all members, and her two oldest brothers are also on missions in Korea- her mom also served a mission- super strong family! She is really shy, blushes super easy, always bows to anyone when she gives them a tract, cares about her investigators so much, and has so much faith and love for Heavenly Father. Loved that exchange- we had about 3 self-contacts come to the church while we were there.......love Sister Park :)
This week we have 3 meetings!! yay!! Sister Christensen is just wonderful, so kind, happy, hilarious, and super strong....love her :) She's only been here one move-call so we are working to build up the area with investigators.....I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be and it's an incredible feeling.......I found myself praying the other night and realized the only things I could really think to say to Heavenly Father were words of gratitude! My heart was so full of joy and gratitude to Him and for the Savior.......in placing me here with these people, these Sisters, and these experiences. I love you all so very, very much! Last night at the ward FHE we watched the Tyler Haws video- if you haven't watched it on lds.org, you should watch it!! I know that the light in each one of us has the power to influence and help people all around us- that's exactly why He gave it to us. Service is incredible........finding the smallest ways to serve or help others feel the love of the Savior can make all the difference in the world. So pray for opportunities and I know Heavenly Father will definitely provide them :) I love you!!
Sister J.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Taiwan - Week 58 - September 16 - A New Season Begins
Hi Family!!!
Hope you all had a marvelous week! Thank you so much for your deep heart-felt emails.....it means the world to me and it always seems to be the thing I needed to hear, so thank you :) P.S. I haven't talked about my companion Sister Chua that much, but just wanted to mention that she is absolutely incredible! She is the kindest person ever- so full of love and service!! HJM's conversion and being in the temple with her was the best thing ever!! So divinely inspired :) We've been planning her trip to come to Utah next year :)
Well the news.........I have left Zhang hua! I got the call on Sat night that I would be moving up to Tanzi in Taizhong with Sister Christensen! So I am here in beautiful Tanzi today! Wow.....I really haven't moved for a long time, about 6 months! But I have just been so excited to come up north- I'm soo grateful to Heavenly Father because one of my missionary dreams has been fulfilled! When I first got on island, I desired with all my heart to serve in every area of the mission...Tainan, Gaoxiong, Middle-Zhang hua, and Taizhong and now I will have! I'm also so grateful because I will still be serving as a Sister Training Leader.....last week we didn't go on any exchanges and it was killing me! I was missing our Sisters so badly, and I honestly, truly missed being there to help and serve them......so I know that Heavenly Father heard my silent prayers and I am so grateful to move up north and now serve these Sisters here. I have come to love this incredible experience to be so focused on the Sisters and their welfare........it's brought me so much more joy as a missionary to forget my own worries and be focused on helping these Sisters in their areas. I definitely still have lots of room for improvement and still trying to overcome my own weaknesses, but Heavenly Father has truly helped me to do all I need to do for them :) So excited to serve with Sister Christensen (from Logan, going home after this move-call, Sister Fitzpatrick's old comp, tall and super cute!) in this wonderful area!
Was it hard to leave Zhang hua? Most definitely..........felt like I was leaving home again- really truly! The members, RCs in Zhang hua literally are my dearest friends and family :) But was my time there finished and I am needed elsewhere? Yesiree........I felt like I was going to move all week....Sister Chua asked me on the road if I felt like there were still things the Lord needed me to do there and it didn't feel like there was at all.....kind of a really special feeling. It's amazing.......I arrived there 6 months ago as a young, still trying to get her hands on things missionary and now I leave as a really different person. It's hard to explain all my feelings about Zhang hua in words........it was there that I truly came to understand what missionary work is all about, it was there that I came the closest with my companions and realized how heavenly sent they were, it was there that my self-confidence was low and then felt the love and confidence of Heavenly Father that He had for me, it was there that I truly came to understand repentance and forgiveness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it was there that I came to understand the potential of divine light we each carry, it was there that I saw and participated in some of the greatest miracles of my life, it was there that the members became family, it was there that I was the happiest I had ever been on my mission, it was there that I came to realize my own weaknesses and how to really live the Gospel and put it into action, it was there that I learned what faith in the Savior really means and the power of it in our personal lives, it was there that I realized my own potential and vision, it was there that the scriptures came alive to me and spiritually impacted my life each day, and it was there that I came to feel the closest to the Savior I had ever felt on my mission. In small terms that is what Zhang hua means to me :) It changed my life forever and I will never be the same...........I know that we will all have places, people, and times in our life that will open our eyes to what we've been missing, realize our personal need for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and then change us forever as we work to live up to that potential of divine light. It's been an incredible journey and now it will only continue on forever........I'd like to share the scripture I chose for my mission plaque scripture :) It came to have very personal meaning to me in Zhang hua.......
"But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God."
"Yea, I know that I am nothing: as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boat of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." Alma 26:11-12
I know that I am weak, so very weak, but with God I have been able to do anything! He has lifted me to new heights and changed my perspective....I want to testify that I know as we have faith in the Savior, pray fervently, and boldly follow Him, we will truly come to know the power of the Spirit and our own divine potential. We are spirit children of the most powerful being in the universe and that is amazing! His light is in each one of us and as we open it up- it beams and will change others lives and help others to do the same!! This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I love it with all my heart!! I love you all so very much and each of your lights have played a huge impact in my own life........I know that we will only continue to grow and that life only gets better until we are with Him again! I love you family! I love these people, I love my companions, I love the Savior and my dear Heavenly Father and I love this work!!! Have an incredible week of faith!!
Sister J.
Hope you all had a marvelous week! Thank you so much for your deep heart-felt emails.....it means the world to me and it always seems to be the thing I needed to hear, so thank you :) P.S. I haven't talked about my companion Sister Chua that much, but just wanted to mention that she is absolutely incredible! She is the kindest person ever- so full of love and service!! HJM's conversion and being in the temple with her was the best thing ever!! So divinely inspired :) We've been planning her trip to come to Utah next year :)
Well the news.........I have left Zhang hua! I got the call on Sat night that I would be moving up to Tanzi in Taizhong with Sister Christensen! So I am here in beautiful Tanzi today! Wow.....I really haven't moved for a long time, about 6 months! But I have just been so excited to come up north- I'm soo grateful to Heavenly Father because one of my missionary dreams has been fulfilled! When I first got on island, I desired with all my heart to serve in every area of the mission...Tainan, Gaoxiong, Middle-Zhang hua, and Taizhong and now I will have! I'm also so grateful because I will still be serving as a Sister Training Leader.....last week we didn't go on any exchanges and it was killing me! I was missing our Sisters so badly, and I honestly, truly missed being there to help and serve them......so I know that Heavenly Father heard my silent prayers and I am so grateful to move up north and now serve these Sisters here. I have come to love this incredible experience to be so focused on the Sisters and their welfare........it's brought me so much more joy as a missionary to forget my own worries and be focused on helping these Sisters in their areas. I definitely still have lots of room for improvement and still trying to overcome my own weaknesses, but Heavenly Father has truly helped me to do all I need to do for them :) So excited to serve with Sister Christensen (from Logan, going home after this move-call, Sister Fitzpatrick's old comp, tall and super cute!) in this wonderful area!
Was it hard to leave Zhang hua? Most definitely..........felt like I was leaving home again- really truly! The members, RCs in Zhang hua literally are my dearest friends and family :) But was my time there finished and I am needed elsewhere? Yesiree........I felt like I was going to move all week....Sister Chua asked me on the road if I felt like there were still things the Lord needed me to do there and it didn't feel like there was at all.....kind of a really special feeling. It's amazing.......I arrived there 6 months ago as a young, still trying to get her hands on things missionary and now I leave as a really different person. It's hard to explain all my feelings about Zhang hua in words........it was there that I truly came to understand what missionary work is all about, it was there that I came the closest with my companions and realized how heavenly sent they were, it was there that my self-confidence was low and then felt the love and confidence of Heavenly Father that He had for me, it was there that I truly came to understand repentance and forgiveness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it was there that I came to understand the potential of divine light we each carry, it was there that I saw and participated in some of the greatest miracles of my life, it was there that the members became family, it was there that I was the happiest I had ever been on my mission, it was there that I came to realize my own weaknesses and how to really live the Gospel and put it into action, it was there that I learned what faith in the Savior really means and the power of it in our personal lives, it was there that I realized my own potential and vision, it was there that the scriptures came alive to me and spiritually impacted my life each day, and it was there that I came to feel the closest to the Savior I had ever felt on my mission. In small terms that is what Zhang hua means to me :) It changed my life forever and I will never be the same...........I know that we will all have places, people, and times in our life that will open our eyes to what we've been missing, realize our personal need for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and then change us forever as we work to live up to that potential of divine light. It's been an incredible journey and now it will only continue on forever........I'd like to share the scripture I chose for my mission plaque scripture :) It came to have very personal meaning to me in Zhang hua.......
"But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God."
"Yea, I know that I am nothing: as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boat of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." Alma 26:11-12
I know that I am weak, so very weak, but with God I have been able to do anything! He has lifted me to new heights and changed my perspective....I want to testify that I know as we have faith in the Savior, pray fervently, and boldly follow Him, we will truly come to know the power of the Spirit and our own divine potential. We are spirit children of the most powerful being in the universe and that is amazing! His light is in each one of us and as we open it up- it beams and will change others lives and help others to do the same!! This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I love it with all my heart!! I love you all so very much and each of your lights have played a huge impact in my own life........I know that we will only continue to grow and that life only gets better until we are with Him again! I love you family! I love these people, I love my companions, I love the Savior and my dear Heavenly Father and I love this work!!! Have an incredible week of faith!!
Sister J.
After a fireside with President and Sister Blickenstaff
The 1st Ward Relief Society (Zhang hua)
The 2nd Ward Relief Society (Zhang hua)
My dearest Liang Mama
Me with Sister Chua
I love the Xu family!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Taiwan - Week 57 - September 9 - Long Time, No See (and a Baptism!)
Hi all!! I felt like I just emailed you, which I did, but I'm happy to again so soon because we had a marvelous weekend of baptism, Mexican party, and just the goodness of members and the Gospel! Hope you all had a splendid weekend as well!
HJM's baptism was absolutely wonderful!! It was a double baptism with the Elders investigator from the 2nd Ward so the room was full to capacity! She was SO excited and everything went just great.........she has been preparing her testimony for a couple of days now and had it all written down :) It was so her, so sincere, and so spirit filled............she shared how much she loves Heavenly Father and has felt His love for her, that she knows the most important thing is Enduring the End, how she desires to obtain the Celestial Kingdom so she can be with Heavenly Father and become like Him, and how much she has felt the Spirit.........after she sat down she turned to me and told me that she hadn't even said all that she had written down. She said that as she was bearing her testimony it wasn't even her....just felt a very strong feeling guiding her thoughts and words.....The Spirit! So incredible!! She has already felt the influence of the Spirit in guiding our words as we bear testimony........Heavenly Father has great plans for her! She is going to grow to be a strong and spirit-intune mother and wife who raises a righteous family in the Gospel :) She was confirmed and received the Holy Ghost on Sunday.........I'm just so grateful for this move-call and to be a part of this.........just sitting in the Celestial room last week, I was thinking of all these precious RCs and how elated and excited I was for them to come there too.......especially HJM......the temple...eternity....Celestial Glory.....Eternal Families....that's what it's all about :)
Tomorrow we are having a ZTM on repentance so I have been specifically asking Heavenly Father to help me learn more about repentance from the scriptures each morning and He has really been answering my prayers :) In these last few months or so, it has become the principle that has really changed my life. I have been so touched and desiring to learn more about mercy as well........the mercy of God is so real! I would just love to share two scriptures I read this morning:
Alma 42:13,15
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state, for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.
And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
God's plan is perfect........repentance is needed in order to obtain His mercy and He is just waiting to give it to us..........I have seen others change, including myself, because of His mercy.......I know that our dearly, beloved God is merciful, is all loving, all charitable!! The Savior is my rock and support.........His love guides me through each day and I will boldly stand and declare His name for the rest of my life. I know that we can all change and become more than we ever though we could through Him.......your potential is endless! Just remember that :)
How do you make members happy? Teach them the simplest Mexican recipe ever and they are elated :) Our Mexican Fiesta consisted of Costco Tortilla Chips, Costco Salsa, Homemade Salsa made by the Elders and Members, 2 mountains of grated cheese, Costco bought tortillas, and meat brought by members........then wabam! You've got yourself a delicious Mexican meal! The cheese lasted approx. 15 min or so before it was all gone.......dearly loved in Taiwan as well! A wonderful member got us great Mexican Restaurant Music- old style and then we taught them the Mexican Hat Dance and the Macarena- sooo fun!! I think the missionaries may have had the most fun ;) But the members loved it too- o my heavens I love these Zhang Hua members so much........I don't know how I'm going to depart, but I know that I will have to........I will love them forever!!
I have come to absolutely love SOY! The Strength of Youth Pamphlet is so incredible- read it:) God's standards are real and help us become exactly who He wants us to be! My dear Fam, I just love you :) I'm so excited every time I get to talk to other about you or our own experiences that have changed our lives together or personally...........you've had a great influence on the people here without even knowing it :) Yesterday a Sister was telling me about how she is worried about her teenage sons who are sometimes not so obedient.......I shared a little of our family with her and how our parents never stopped loving or teaching us.......they always kept us surrounded by the Gospel and we have become who we are because of that. She was really touched and I think it gave her a little more hope for them :) I love you all so dearly!!! This Gospel has changed our family forever and because of our Savior, we will only get stronger and tighter :) I love you!! Share your light with someone new this week!!
Sister J.
Mexican Party!
HJM's baptism was absolutely wonderful!! It was a double baptism with the Elders investigator from the 2nd Ward so the room was full to capacity! She was SO excited and everything went just great.........she has been preparing her testimony for a couple of days now and had it all written down :) It was so her, so sincere, and so spirit filled............she shared how much she loves Heavenly Father and has felt His love for her, that she knows the most important thing is Enduring the End, how she desires to obtain the Celestial Kingdom so she can be with Heavenly Father and become like Him, and how much she has felt the Spirit.........after she sat down she turned to me and told me that she hadn't even said all that she had written down. She said that as she was bearing her testimony it wasn't even her....just felt a very strong feeling guiding her thoughts and words.....The Spirit! So incredible!! She has already felt the influence of the Spirit in guiding our words as we bear testimony........Heavenly Father has great plans for her! She is going to grow to be a strong and spirit-intune mother and wife who raises a righteous family in the Gospel :) She was confirmed and received the Holy Ghost on Sunday.........I'm just so grateful for this move-call and to be a part of this.........just sitting in the Celestial room last week, I was thinking of all these precious RCs and how elated and excited I was for them to come there too.......especially HJM......the temple...eternity....Celestial Glory.....Eternal Families....that's what it's all about :)
Tomorrow we are having a ZTM on repentance so I have been specifically asking Heavenly Father to help me learn more about repentance from the scriptures each morning and He has really been answering my prayers :) In these last few months or so, it has become the principle that has really changed my life. I have been so touched and desiring to learn more about mercy as well........the mercy of God is so real! I would just love to share two scriptures I read this morning:
Alma 42:13,15
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state, for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.
And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
God's plan is perfect........repentance is needed in order to obtain His mercy and He is just waiting to give it to us..........I have seen others change, including myself, because of His mercy.......I know that our dearly, beloved God is merciful, is all loving, all charitable!! The Savior is my rock and support.........His love guides me through each day and I will boldly stand and declare His name for the rest of my life. I know that we can all change and become more than we ever though we could through Him.......your potential is endless! Just remember that :)
How do you make members happy? Teach them the simplest Mexican recipe ever and they are elated :) Our Mexican Fiesta consisted of Costco Tortilla Chips, Costco Salsa, Homemade Salsa made by the Elders and Members, 2 mountains of grated cheese, Costco bought tortillas, and meat brought by members........then wabam! You've got yourself a delicious Mexican meal! The cheese lasted approx. 15 min or so before it was all gone.......dearly loved in Taiwan as well! A wonderful member got us great Mexican Restaurant Music- old style and then we taught them the Mexican Hat Dance and the Macarena- sooo fun!! I think the missionaries may have had the most fun ;) But the members loved it too- o my heavens I love these Zhang Hua members so much........I don't know how I'm going to depart, but I know that I will have to........I will love them forever!!
I have come to absolutely love SOY! The Strength of Youth Pamphlet is so incredible- read it:) God's standards are real and help us become exactly who He wants us to be! My dear Fam, I just love you :) I'm so excited every time I get to talk to other about you or our own experiences that have changed our lives together or personally...........you've had a great influence on the people here without even knowing it :) Yesterday a Sister was telling me about how she is worried about her teenage sons who are sometimes not so obedient.......I shared a little of our family with her and how our parents never stopped loving or teaching us.......they always kept us surrounded by the Gospel and we have become who we are because of that. She was really touched and I think it gave her a little more hope for them :) I love you all so dearly!!! This Gospel has changed our family forever and because of our Savior, we will only get stronger and tighter :) I love you!! Share your light with someone new this week!!
Sister J.
HJM's Baptism!
Mexican Party!
Taiwan - Week 56 - September 5 - Happy September!
Hi Family!!!
Just returned from the Temple.........it was absolutely wonderful :) It truly only gets better and better and just means more and more to me :) Today during the session things just really connected with an eternal perspective and how the things we learn there have so much relationship with our lives right now. You can just feel the presence of the Savior, Heavenly Father, and even the pioneers so much in the temple. We had the incredible privilege to do initiatories before the session.......and I did them for sisters from China 200 years or so ago. I love the temple........I know it is the House of the Lord- you can feel His presence there.......and I will forever continue to return there for the rest of my life :)
How is it that this move-call is almost done??? Things are starting to hit a little more that my time is getting a lot shorter, but it's still a lot, and we are just going to keep that eternal perspective! I am super excited for the work, miracles, and people that the Lord still needs me to meet :) I didn't get a chance to mention it last week, but I had a completely different plan in mind for my last two move-calls......when I found out it wasn't going to happen as I expected it really caused me to hold on to my faith in the Savior and trust in Heavenly Father's plan because I know it is perfect. I prayed over and over again in my heart that I would follow His plan for me and put all my trust in Him. It has made all the difference in the world! Although I don't know at all what He has in store in the next few months......I am elated because I have all the faith in the world in the Savior and I know as I trust in Him and do His will, everything will work out exactly the way it should....I know it :) I thought I understood faith before my mission, but I had no idea! Faith has come to mean SO much to me personally........it brings light, power, the Spirit into everything we do and it most importantly brings us very close to our Savior.
Well it's a miracle......HJM is getting baptized on Saturday! and she is probably one of the most excited people I have ever met! I remember the first time I met her at church....she immediately hugged me! and I was kind of surprised but it felt so comfortable and then when I asked her later about it, she said she didn't know why she hugged me, she just did! :) Before every single lesson I would get so excited to share it with her because she was so prepared, so willing, and it felt like we'd known her forever.........it was so real. We just opened up our hearts to her and she opened up hers with us.........and the Spirit was SO strong......especially every time she prays. One of the most incredible things about her is how early on she was able to recognize the Spirit........I have found that this is so key to conversion. She describes the Spirit for her as a very "man" feeling.......it feels that the room and her heart are full :) I love it so much! She always pauses after the prayer and just sits there............she just sits and feels it.......it's been so key to her conversion. I know that she felt your prayers this week and helped her find her own answers :) She has always known it is true from the first time she felt the Spirit, but she had still not received a specific answer about whether the B of M and the Prophet Joseph Smith were true. She LOVES faith and so we told her about Ether 2 and 3 on Monday. On Tuesday night we called her and she said she had gotten her answer and she was so excited! She read the entire book of Ether twice in two hours! and then in Ether she found a reference to the Three Witnesses....she remembered the first pages of the B of M with the Testimony of the Three Witnesses- it clicked, she said a prayer in her heart and she got her answer :) She has so much faith and she can not wait to go to the temple.....she was dying she couldn't got with us today :) Heavenly Father has prepared her so much and she has truly come to know Him........it is true conversion and it's incredible.
Well we are having a make Mexican food party for the ward on Saturday! We are doing super simple Quesadillas and teaching the Mexican Hat Dance.......I have been praying about it and everyone seems really excited so it should be lots of fun......and we are hoping that the members will bring their family members and friends as well! Exchanges have been great.......one was an adventure in Taizhong when Sister Wadsworth's handlebars were stolen from her bike at the train station so we became walking missionaries for the day! Incredible members helped us out too :) I was with Sister Walbrecht yesterday who was in Tainan with me......she goes home in two weeks and so it was a very "Sons of Mosiah" experience as she said.......just as the Sons of Mosiah were reunited on the road as they had not seen another in a long time and shared their mission experiences....so did we :) Every missionary companionship is so incredible....in their own unique way.....they are each so inspired and you can feel their connection to Heavenly Father....so incredible to see the lives they are all touching!
Well I love you all dearly, I love the temple, I love this mission, and I love my Savior. I just have to say.........my scripture study has changed me forever......as I have re-started the B of M I have been reading it very closely with the footnotes from the Bible and it is incredible!!! I have such a testimony now that they go hand in hand....and we truly do need both to understand the word of God. I highly recommend it as you read! I would like to share a scripture from the Bible that touched my heart this week in Luke 15:7:
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." The Savior's words of the parable of the Lost Sheep........how merciful He is! The joy of Heavenly Father and our Savior as we make mistakes, repent, change, and turn unto Him......I know that repentance is real and so is the mercy of our Savior. Whatever guilt or burdens we still carry, whether new or old, they can all be lifted and erased! I felt it sooo much! He lives and loves you!! and I do too!! Have a wonderful week!!
Sister J.
Just returned from the Temple.........it was absolutely wonderful :) It truly only gets better and better and just means more and more to me :) Today during the session things just really connected with an eternal perspective and how the things we learn there have so much relationship with our lives right now. You can just feel the presence of the Savior, Heavenly Father, and even the pioneers so much in the temple. We had the incredible privilege to do initiatories before the session.......and I did them for sisters from China 200 years or so ago. I love the temple........I know it is the House of the Lord- you can feel His presence there.......and I will forever continue to return there for the rest of my life :)
How is it that this move-call is almost done??? Things are starting to hit a little more that my time is getting a lot shorter, but it's still a lot, and we are just going to keep that eternal perspective! I am super excited for the work, miracles, and people that the Lord still needs me to meet :) I didn't get a chance to mention it last week, but I had a completely different plan in mind for my last two move-calls......when I found out it wasn't going to happen as I expected it really caused me to hold on to my faith in the Savior and trust in Heavenly Father's plan because I know it is perfect. I prayed over and over again in my heart that I would follow His plan for me and put all my trust in Him. It has made all the difference in the world! Although I don't know at all what He has in store in the next few months......I am elated because I have all the faith in the world in the Savior and I know as I trust in Him and do His will, everything will work out exactly the way it should....I know it :) I thought I understood faith before my mission, but I had no idea! Faith has come to mean SO much to me personally........it brings light, power, the Spirit into everything we do and it most importantly brings us very close to our Savior.
Well it's a miracle......HJM is getting baptized on Saturday! and she is probably one of the most excited people I have ever met! I remember the first time I met her at church....she immediately hugged me! and I was kind of surprised but it felt so comfortable and then when I asked her later about it, she said she didn't know why she hugged me, she just did! :) Before every single lesson I would get so excited to share it with her because she was so prepared, so willing, and it felt like we'd known her forever.........it was so real. We just opened up our hearts to her and she opened up hers with us.........and the Spirit was SO strong......especially every time she prays. One of the most incredible things about her is how early on she was able to recognize the Spirit........I have found that this is so key to conversion. She describes the Spirit for her as a very "man" feeling.......it feels that the room and her heart are full :) I love it so much! She always pauses after the prayer and just sits there............she just sits and feels it.......it's been so key to her conversion. I know that she felt your prayers this week and helped her find her own answers :) She has always known it is true from the first time she felt the Spirit, but she had still not received a specific answer about whether the B of M and the Prophet Joseph Smith were true. She LOVES faith and so we told her about Ether 2 and 3 on Monday. On Tuesday night we called her and she said she had gotten her answer and she was so excited! She read the entire book of Ether twice in two hours! and then in Ether she found a reference to the Three Witnesses....she remembered the first pages of the B of M with the Testimony of the Three Witnesses- it clicked, she said a prayer in her heart and she got her answer :) She has so much faith and she can not wait to go to the temple.....she was dying she couldn't got with us today :) Heavenly Father has prepared her so much and she has truly come to know Him........it is true conversion and it's incredible.
Well we are having a make Mexican food party for the ward on Saturday! We are doing super simple Quesadillas and teaching the Mexican Hat Dance.......I have been praying about it and everyone seems really excited so it should be lots of fun......and we are hoping that the members will bring their family members and friends as well! Exchanges have been great.......one was an adventure in Taizhong when Sister Wadsworth's handlebars were stolen from her bike at the train station so we became walking missionaries for the day! Incredible members helped us out too :) I was with Sister Walbrecht yesterday who was in Tainan with me......she goes home in two weeks and so it was a very "Sons of Mosiah" experience as she said.......just as the Sons of Mosiah were reunited on the road as they had not seen another in a long time and shared their mission experiences....so did we :) Every missionary companionship is so incredible....in their own unique way.....they are each so inspired and you can feel their connection to Heavenly Father....so incredible to see the lives they are all touching!
Well I love you all dearly, I love the temple, I love this mission, and I love my Savior. I just have to say.........my scripture study has changed me forever......as I have re-started the B of M I have been reading it very closely with the footnotes from the Bible and it is incredible!!! I have such a testimony now that they go hand in hand....and we truly do need both to understand the word of God. I highly recommend it as you read! I would like to share a scripture from the Bible that touched my heart this week in Luke 15:7:
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." The Savior's words of the parable of the Lost Sheep........how merciful He is! The joy of Heavenly Father and our Savior as we make mistakes, repent, change, and turn unto Him......I know that repentance is real and so is the mercy of our Savior. Whatever guilt or burdens we still carry, whether new or old, they can all be lifted and erased! I felt it sooo much! He lives and loves you!! and I do too!! Have a wonderful week!!
Sister J.
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