September 10, 2012
Buenos dias familia! Isn't it weird to think that it's Monday here, but Sunday where you are? Just a random thought. Anyways, hello hello! This last week has been full of miracles and having lots of exciting things happen and being really exhausted at night yet being so unfathomably happy. alksjelfaj!!!! I wish I could put it into better words but I just can't haha. Here are some highlights.
On Monday we met with one of my favorite investigators- Liu Jiemei (the one who was supposed to be baptized last week but had the husband fandui.) We read with her the story of King Lamoni's father and how he objected his son following Christ and being baptized by Ammon. His father even tried to kill his son and Ammon, but Ammon stood up for Lamoni and wouldn't let him be killed. Once his father saw that Ammon really loved his son and just wanted to help him be happy, his heart softened and he eventually was also baptized. When we read this with her, we tried to help her see that while the Lord can bring about great and mighty miracles, we still must do our part. Liu Jiemei's husband still hasn't met us, but she is scared that he'll get even more angry about the situation if she lets us meet him. However, Wei Jiemei and I are practicing our big manly small talk about TV and stuff. We are not afraid to talk to him and help him see that we love his wife and just want to help their family have eternal joy! My chinese is not that great, and I have no idea how to have small talk with an angry man while eternal salvation hangs on the line, but I know that the Lord calls weak people to do large things so He can show His power. I am certainly weak, so this is a great chance for Him to do exactly that!
Another one of my favorite investigators is 77 year old Liang ama (grandma) (p.s. Mom & Dad: when I have kids, they are going to call you Ama [ah-mah] and Agong [ah-gong] Be excited.) She is the oldest investigator we've seen in a really long time, but she is more full of life than just about anyone I know. We try to teach her lessons but get pretty much nowhere since she interrupts us the whole time and brings up the most random stuff haha. She is the only Taiwanese person I've ever known to brag, she tells us the same stories every single time we visit, and she loves loves telling jokes and being sarcastic. Visiting her is always a good time. She is the funniest old woman! She mainly speaks Taiyu and doesn't understand some of what we say, so getting through lessons is really hard. Lately she had been saying that she was too old to be baptized and it was really no use. "I'm about to die anyways" she always said. We went there last Monday with the intent to help her set a baptismal goal and see the importance of it, however she just carried on as usual and wasn't willing. We visited her on Thursday night and started off with a prayer and hymn as usual. Immediately after she said, "So I want to get baptized this Saturday. That's alright, isn't it?" WHAT??!! Hahahaha it was so great. However she had only been to church twice (need to go at least 3 times before you can be baptized) so we set a goal for this saturday instead. While we had been meeting with her for quite a long time, she still hadn't heard many of the lessons. In order for her to be baptized the 15th, she needed to hear all the lessons and have her baptismal interview by last Saturday (which was only 2 days away from when we set the goal) When we went home that night, we thought of ways we could help her hear the lessons and understand what we are saying while also keeping her attention so she didn't get distracted. The next morning we got out 3 white pieces of paper and taped them together, creating a long blank timeline. Then we drew the plan of salvation really large, drew pictures to go along with it, and wrote out all the parts in characters (characters are really hard by the way) We also took several pictures from a gospel art book in case that didn't work. It kind of felt like planning to teach a class of 6 year olds for an hour. The time for her lesson came and it was a smashing success! We were truly blessed to all be able to communicate with each other, and were also able to help her understand the plan of salvation. It was one of the most fun lessons ever. We then met with her the next day and did the same thing for the Doctrine of Christ. prophets, and some commandments. That night she had her interview, and the next day she came to church! Everything is set for this saturday and she is so excited! Ahhh!!! So are we!!! It's great to see that even someone older and rooted in traditions can have a mighty change in heart and have a desire to follow Christ. I'll be sure to send pictures next week :)
Yesterday at church my companion and I noticed how the gospel really brings all types of people together. Looking around, I could see 77 year old Liang Mama talking to 14 year old Luo JM (a young investigator who dearly wants to be baptized but parents wont let her), a woman with 2 kids discussing her baptismal goal with a ultra successful business woman who is being baptized the same day, a normally silent teenager talking to an older woman about the Book of Mormon and so many more... People who, if not at church, would probably never meet. However, they HAVE met and they strengthen each other every sunday. It's so great!!! Why is the world so great!!!?? Sometimes it can feel easy to get discouraged when you see all the evil around, but we can always have hope through Jesus Christ! We know that through Him, all that is unfair in the world will be made right one day. I know that with my whole heart and am so grateful I get to help others come to the same realization.
Our mission president came out with a mission goal this month to talk to 100,000 people collectively about the gospel. I don't remember what the mission normally hits, but this is MUCH much higher and a huge goal. Our zone set a goal to be 10,000 of those. Further more, our district set a goal to be 5,000 of that 10,000. Lastly, my companion and I set a goal to be 1,500 of those 5,000. That equals out to 375 people a week, which is higher than we've ever done. We still want to hit all of our other goals too, so that means we need to be working smart and diligent. It's a little daunting, but very exciting!
To answer some of your questions Mom, YES. It is as hot as everyone says, if not hotter. I can't believe how hot it is here haha. My clothes are suitable. I brought a few that I won't need till winter though, but I have enough to get me through till then. I bought 1 dress and 2 shirts that are better for the weather. Clothes are SO cheap here. It's hard not to buy some buy I am excercising some nice self control haha. I bought 1 pair of shoes here and then am using a sister that went home's old rain shoes which are great. I still kill cockaroaches daily, sometimes they are in my bed. I sweat more than humanly possible. We bike for hours a day. We eat tons of ice cream. And we get to preach the gospel. It's a great life that I love so much! I'm so happy to hear Shari is having a girl!!! You are all in my prayers! I miss you and love you! Have a great week and I shall write more next Monday.
Love, Sister Smart
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