August 26, 2013
From the subject title you can all probably assume my last week was quite excellent to say the least. In fact, yesterday while at church I was thinking about my week and about all the things I was learning from the speakers, and realized they all linked together. So, this week I'm just going to tell you what I learned at church yesterday.
I went to the 4th Ward this week, which starts out with Relief Society, then I'll go to Gospel Principles class, and then end it with Sacrament meeting.
Relief Society
Zhang JM gave a wonderful lesson on 4 roles that define us. Her lesson was based of President Uchtdorf's talk given to the men at general conference, but we linked it to women. The first role is that we are children of Heavenly Father. This reminded me of one of our friends, Guo JM. She has been meeting with us for a few weeks and has a strong testimony of prayer and her relationship with God. She loves coming to church and is working to prepare for baptism next month. She shared a cool experience with us last week about how her and her mom don't have the greatest relationship. She said that they often fight and don't really see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. She took our invitation to pray to heart and started to pray for their relationship to get better. She came back the next time giddy with excitement because her prayers had been answered. As she's worked on her patience and not getting upset so easily with her mom, her mom has also started showing more love and understanding. I know that Heavenly Father wants to bless our lives and help us see the good ineveryone, for we are all his precious children.
The next role was Disciples of Jesus Christ. A huge part of this comes from our own study of Christ's life and how He interacts with those around Him. I thought upon my testimony of the Bible and Book of Mormon. I also reflected upon the chances this week I had to bear my testimony of what I had learned and come to know that was true. First, while in a lesson with a wonderful Jehovah's Witness sister. She had come prepared with a list of why we are terrible and wrong and how we could not be Christian. However, as we lovingly shared scriptures with each other, bearing our testimonies of their truthfulness, she was touched. At the end, she looked me straight in the eyes and said, so you actually believe the Book of Mormon to be true? How? I was able to share a tender experience when I myself, 13 years old, came to know the Book of Mormon was true through feelings of the Holy Ghost. As I'vecontinued to study and read over the years, my testimony is strengthened everyday. As we study these things, the next part is to go and do! Fun story: We were about to get on our bikes to ride when I noticed a cute old man trying desperately to ghostride a bike home. It would go astray every few seconds and he would have to stop and readjust frequently. I ran over to help him stand the bike up straight and then asked where he was going. He said not too far, so I got on the bike and told him I'd ride it for him and then walk back. After being on the bike a few minutes, I began to realize that this bike was special... This bike had no breaks. Haha, it was a really funny ride (especially since it was a tall boy bike and I had on a skirt) but we made it! It was fine and that was that. We said goodbye and walked back to our bikes. I want to be better at doing nice things for people. It feels good.
The next was "Healer of the Soul" We get to comfort the brokenhearted, help the sick and afflicted, strenghthen those who have lost their way, share the light of the gospel with our loved ones. This role is pretty special. Last week we went to visit a few members of the church who haven't been in many years. Many have been burdened down by the last few years of trials that keep piling up. They want to come back and feel free from it all, but are just not quite sure how to. As we become their friends, they realize that God has not forgotten nor ever will forget them. They feel that spark of hope and allow the atonement to help their lives feel peace again.
The last was Heirs of Eternal life. Remember Chen JM, the miracle miracle who was baptized a few weeks ago? We met with her last week and I was able to hear the story from herself. She'd been meeting with missionaries and coming to church for several months. She was excited to be baptized, and had her parents permission (even though she was 26 years old) to get baptized. It was wonderful. 2 days before her baptism her best friend in the world tells her suddenly that she has to pick between getting baptized, or being her friend. She was really hurt and called the sisters, not knowing what to do. The sisters bore testimony that she was making hte right choice and to keep praying about it. Chen JM felt it was right and decided she'd still get baptized. The next day, her boyfriend of 2 years does the same thing, and again she decides to keep going. The day of her baptism, that best friend went to her parents house and told them how she didn't want her to get baptized and convinced her parents to forbid her. She came home from work to grab her baptism clothes to a changed house. Her parents locked her in and wouldn't let her out, forbidding her to be baptized. She called the sisters and told them of the situation. The baptism was about to start in a few minutes, so everyone was there. They all said a fervant prayer together and had the feeling that they should just wait for her and that she would come. 6:00 comes by and her boyfriend pulls up, her right behind, ready to be baptized. Turns out, her boyfriend changed his mind once he realized how happy church made Chen JM, he went over to her parents house and smoothed everything over, and attended the baptism with her. It ended with him even saying that he too would like to be baptized one day. I know that's a long story, but it just shows the faith and determination of a wonderful 25 year old woman. She will continue to learn and grow in the gospel and one day will be the heir to eternal life. p.s. the best friend is still friends with her... no change after baptism haha.
Next class: Gospel principles.
We talked about honesty and how it is sincere, selfless, doesn't mislead, and a characteristic of Christ. This lesson affected one of our friends Qiu JM so much that she decided to quit her job that makes her do some little dishonest things, and quit her other job that usually makes her work on sunday. She decided that she wants to find a job she can come to church and learn every week, and to make sure that she feels happy and righteous at work, no matter how much money she makes. She is a wonderful example of taking what we learn at church and applying it in our lives right away!
Next class:
Sacrament meeting. 2 things really stood out to me in sacrament. 1- Love. Why do we serve? What is the purpose of our service? Love! We went to visit the Cai family, long time members of the church to do FHE with them. We asked Cai JM what she learned on her mission and she said, to love the members you serve with. I can testify that that is so important! It makes the work so much more fulfilling when we work with others to do it. A great example of love last week was the Xu family. They are ward missionaries and do an incredible job helping investigators, members, and everyone they see. We were on our way home after church and some meetings to grab lunch when they called and said they had a feeling we should go see one of our members who wasn't there today. We gladly went with them and turns our she really needed our help. It was so cool to see the Holy Ghost working in their lives and how they acted upon that prompting to help someone in need. The second thing was something that a sister said in her talk 2- "Our marriage is based on Missionary Work." What a cool thing to base a marriage off of. So many families in Taiwan have that approach. We got to go to Youth Conference on Friday night for Missionary Night. We got to play some games and help the youth see the importance and happiness in missioanry work. At the end, the stake president asked who from the youth planned on serving a mission. Almost every single youth of a group of around 400 stood up instantly. I could just feel the power of the future missionary force here in Taiwan. I am so glad they will get to experience the blessings of a mission and come to know Heavenly Father in a wonderful way.
As I read over President Uchtdorf's talk this morning, this stood out to me: "Perhaps it is ture that we are weak. Perhaps we are not wise or mighty. But when God works through us, no one and nothing can stand against us." I know that is true. I know that we can feel happiness as we turn to Him for help through our prayers. I love life. I know I say it far too much, but its true. I love you all and miss you so much!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment