Like that subject title? I've been working on it all week. Today I'm feeling slightly nostalgic as it was pointed out to me that I have just recently hit my half-way mark. WAHHHH! I had no idea. I still can't believe it. I will be really honest with you... my first few days here I thought I'd never make it to this point. It was literally 100+ degrees with humidity up the wazoo. I kept getting yelled at in a language I did not understand, and that sounds like you're angry even if you're not. I was riding up and down and all around mountains and rice fields, getting 50+ mosquito bites just on my legs alone. I felt utterly inadequate to give the most precious truth to the most precious people. Here I was, a foreigner trying to teach others how to have eternal life with their families when all they wanted was to pull off or slam the door. I was exhausted both spiritually and physically and didn't think time could go much slower. Of course, I was still happy and loving my time as a missionary, but it was hard. Well... I'm here. I'm at the half-way point and have 9 months left on my mission. How did I make it? When I wanted to die I was so hot, He gave me extra strength, sent a cool breeze or a red light. When I got yelled at, He gave me the charity to keep smiling and lovingly inviting them to church or english class, which sometimes they would even accept. When people say words I have never before studied and technically should not know, He helps me understand what they are saying. It's a miracle I still get to experience every single day. I still get tons of mosquito bites... there's really just no way around that one I suppose hahaha. When I mess up words or disrupt the flow in a lesson on accident, He still helps the people feel the spirit and eventually progress towards baptism. I am still inadequate, but that is what keeps us humble and receptive to the Lord's help. That's why we see miracles every day. We try our best, push through the hard times, and trust the Lord. He lets us meet these wonderful people in spite of our weaknesses. He loves us THAT much! I've worked hard every single day of my mission, and know that the Lord is happy with my efforts. Even when it was hard and I thought I couldn't do it anymore, He broadened my perspective and reminded me how eternal this work is. I will never ever ever EVER regret the decision to serve a mission. I am so happy here and love these people with my whole heart. I will work harder than ever these last 9 months right up until the moment I take off my tag and probably cry a whole bunch haha. But the work will never stop. I will always share the gospel with those I love and help them partake of the blessings that come from living the gospel.
Well... that was a bit longer than I expected... haha. Last week was great! We had some cool miracles on Tuesday. Every Tuesday we have district meeting, and the topic last week was on asking inspired questions. We had a really great discussion on how to really get to know people and their needs through asking inspired questions. We practiced and then went about work as normal. One of our lessons afterwards was with Wen JM. She was baptized last year, but has a harder time coming to church each week. She is divorced and feels really lonely. She usually doesn't open up with us very much, but last week was different. My companion and I prayed before the lesson that we would be able to really get to know what her needs were and how we could help her become happier. The lesson came and we really tried to ask simple but inspired questions, and it worked! She truly opened up and shared with us some of the trials that happened after baptism and how they affected her faith. We were able to think of some ways she could find the happiness she once felt again. When we left that day, we saw a new light in her that comes from the hope of the atonement and the desire to improve. We were so happy and have seen many similar miracles as we've tried to ask more inspired questions.
We made some new friends last week that I am also really excited about. One, Chen JM is in her 20's. We met her as we were pulling out of a 7. She seemed really interested, so we asked if she would pull over and sit with us for a few minutes. She was really willing and we ended up teaching her about prayer and how it can bless her life. Geez, I love prayer. Anyways, she was super excited to learn, and we will continue meeting with her! Another, Li JM, is also in her 20's. I called to set up a time with her and she seemed really excited. We set up for Saturday at 3 at the church. 3 rolls around and she's not there. We try to call, but she doesn't answer. 15 minutes pass and we realize that we are getting stood up... Drats. There was a baptism at 4 that we wanted to go to, so we started calling phones while waiting. Miracleeeee, she calls us! She originally had a ride from her lame boyfriend (later she told us about him, and he sounds lame and treats her real lousy) but he didn't show up, so she had to work out a different way to come, then she got super lost and called a few times for directions. At 3:55 she came, and we quickly introduced ourselves and then asked if she wanted to watch a baptism. She was really curious, and stayed for the whole thing. Zhong DX (the man getting baptized) had a really rough past. Through the gospel, he was able to quit smoking, drinking, drugs, and overcome feelings of same-gender attraction. He is absolutely incredible and shared a really powerful testimony of the atonement. Li JM was touched by the baptismal service and afterwards said that she too wants to be baptized. She told us of her family and boyfriend troubles, and we were able to share with her how the simple teachings of the gospel could influence her life and help her find the direction she needs. I love meeting these wonderful new people and am excited to continue to share the gospel with them.
I got my hair cut! My chinese vocab for hair cutting is really poor... and a lot more hair got chopped off than was expected, but oh well. It's just hair and it grows back really fast. I will try to send a picture, but my camera is being weird today.
Wednesday we had our english party! It was so much fun. The topic was families! We had an angry bird pinata made by the elders, made these cool chinese door decorations, hung up our new year wishes japanese style, and had a few members share how the gospel has affected their families. It was so much fun and I want to send pictures! but I think it will have to wait till next week. Silly camera. Oh well.
Well, I really love you all. I'm sorry today's is a little bit shorter, I reminisced too much about the past haha. I hope you're all doing well! You're in my prayers!!!
Love, Sister Smart
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