Monday:
Rain Rain and more Rain. Good thing I enjoy biking in the rain...buahahaha
Tuesday:
We had interviews with the Blickenstaff's today. They are a great couple and do a lot to help the mission.
We went on exchanges today with the Sister Gonzalas and Sister Zhang. Sister Zhang came here to Sha Lu with me. We saw Grace at the 7-11. We see her everywhere, but she never answers the phone! She was waiting for the bus but decided to come and talk to us. Found out that she is moving. Her mom is becoming more active in the church, which is really helping the family.
Rain Rain and more Rain. Good thing I enjoy biking in the rain...buahahaha
Tuesday:
We had interviews with the Blickenstaff's today. They are a great couple and do a lot to help the mission.
We went on exchanges today with the Sister Gonzalas and Sister Zhang. Sister Zhang came here to Sha Lu with me. We saw Grace at the 7-11. We see her everywhere, but she never answers the phone! She was waiting for the bus but decided to come and talk to us. Found out that she is moving. Her mom is becoming more active in the church, which is really helping the family.
Wednesday:
Sister Zhang told me that she wanted to learn how to manage time with this exchange. Well, today we were rushing from thing to thing and didn't get a chance to have lunch.
Ya, Sister training leaders have weaknesses too and can't do everything.
Tonight I talked with an English student, Frank, who I thought seemed interested in the Gospel. He is but not willing to meet with the elders. He says that English class is good enough. There are a few other students who are like that. They accept and are curious but not willing to get the individual help that they can get.
Sister Zhang told me that she wanted to learn how to manage time with this exchange. Well, today we were rushing from thing to thing and didn't get a chance to have lunch.
Ya, Sister training leaders have weaknesses too and can't do everything.
Tonight I talked with an English student, Frank, who I thought seemed interested in the Gospel. He is but not willing to meet with the elders. He says that English class is good enough. There are a few other students who are like that. They accept and are curious but not willing to get the individual help that they can get.
Thursday: We met with a less active family today for brunch. They are super cute but not willing to come back to church because they compare themselves to the other members. They don't trust members. But they trust the missionaries because we "have a pure heart." We are all human. We are just like any other member. But it is hard not to compare to others. Sometimes we don't mean to, but this is a competitive world. We have to learn to not be too competitive.
We met with a member who has been out of town for school. Everyone is on break for the Chinese New Year. This member has a lot of doctrinal questions that are really hard to answer. But the questions make me think.
We also met with Ivy (our 9 year old investigator). She committed to ask her dad to be baptized! As we were teaching her she was all over the place and I was thinking, "man, we are wasting our time with this child." But then after we taught she opened up. She wants to be baptized, but she is scared of her dad so she hasn't asked for his permission yet. She is has an honest heart and wants to follow Christ. We also met with Zhang jie mei (Mickey). She is doing well. We taught the Word of Wisdom. Before we even invited her she challenged herself to live it.
We met with a member who has been out of town for school. Everyone is on break for the Chinese New Year. This member has a lot of doctrinal questions that are really hard to answer. But the questions make me think.
We also met with Ivy (our 9 year old investigator). She committed to ask her dad to be baptized! As we were teaching her she was all over the place and I was thinking, "man, we are wasting our time with this child." But then after we taught she opened up. She wants to be baptized, but she is scared of her dad so she hasn't asked for his permission yet. She is has an honest heart and wants to follow Christ. We also met with Zhang jie mei (Mickey). She is doing well. We taught the Word of Wisdom. Before we even invited her she challenged herself to live it.
Friday:
We visited a new investigator, Xie Jie Mei. She has met with the elders before, but this was our first time meeting with her. She is super cute. She is solid and hoping this gospel can help her family. She has a daughter who is 18 and we are good friends with her.
We visited a new investigator, Xie Jie Mei. She has met with the elders before, but this was our first time meeting with her. She is super cute. She is solid and hoping this gospel can help her family. She has a daughter who is 18 and we are good friends with her.
Saturday:
We met with a couple of sisters at the church today--ages 22 and 18. They were cute. Reminded me of Kami and I. Best friends. They were very quiet and just super curious about missionaries.
We met with Titan and Vivi tonight. Last week the elders gave Titan one of the Apostle books and he read the whole thing this week! Wow. They had a lot of great questions as usual. We planned only sharing 3 principles with them but ended up sharing almost all of the commandments--got into the temple and stuff. But they loved discussing these things. They agreed with all of the commandments. They committed to living it all. We followed up with Vivi on the word of wisdom. She said that the day we taught them she had an unusual desire to drink. But she is staying strong. We brought up baptism and Titan said that he wants to get baptized on the 30th!! She believes in everything that we have taught her. Titan is so excited to get baptized. I read a talk last night called, "Cast not away therefore your confidence." It mentioned at the very beginning that one thing we can learn from Joseph Smith's First Vision experience is that temptation and turmoil always come before great things, especially great spiritual things.
We taught about Tithing and I was thinking today how I don't have a huge testimony on tithing. But as I was talking with my companion we realized that even though we didn't have to choose to come on a mission or supporting a family; food or a house etc., we have a testimony. By living the law of the Tithe we have been able to live a life without worry. That is a testimony right there. We mentioned about Tithing and Titan was like, "Oh it is all here in the book." "Well how much do you understand?" he pretty much taught us the principle, sacrifice and blessings from living the law of the Tithe. "It totally makes sense! God gives you everything. We give a little back and then He blesses us." Those were his words. Man, This family is the best!
We met with a couple of sisters at the church today--ages 22 and 18. They were cute. Reminded me of Kami and I. Best friends. They were very quiet and just super curious about missionaries.
We met with Titan and Vivi tonight. Last week the elders gave Titan one of the Apostle books and he read the whole thing this week! Wow. They had a lot of great questions as usual. We planned only sharing 3 principles with them but ended up sharing almost all of the commandments--got into the temple and stuff. But they loved discussing these things. They agreed with all of the commandments. They committed to living it all. We followed up with Vivi on the word of wisdom. She said that the day we taught them she had an unusual desire to drink. But she is staying strong. We brought up baptism and Titan said that he wants to get baptized on the 30th!! She believes in everything that we have taught her. Titan is so excited to get baptized. I read a talk last night called, "Cast not away therefore your confidence." It mentioned at the very beginning that one thing we can learn from Joseph Smith's First Vision experience is that temptation and turmoil always come before great things, especially great spiritual things.
We taught about Tithing and I was thinking today how I don't have a huge testimony on tithing. But as I was talking with my companion we realized that even though we didn't have to choose to come on a mission or supporting a family; food or a house etc., we have a testimony. By living the law of the Tithe we have been able to live a life without worry. That is a testimony right there. We mentioned about Tithing and Titan was like, "Oh it is all here in the book." "Well how much do you understand?" he pretty much taught us the principle, sacrifice and blessings from living the law of the Tithe. "It totally makes sense! God gives you everything. We give a little back and then He blesses us." Those were his words. Man, This family is the best!
Sunday:
Yang Jie mei, Xie Jie Mei's daughter (An Ting), Titan and Vivi all came to church today! It was amazing! :) They all had different experiences. This was An Ting's 2nd time coming to church. She knew exactly where to go and what to do. She really enjoys church and she is willing to get baptized when she knows these things are true. Yang Jie Mei (pictures) is a new investigator. She thought we were a crazy group of people when we learned about fasting in Gospel Principles class. The elders had a lot of people come to church too. All are great!
Quote of the week:
"God left the world unfinished for man to work his still upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to a man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and the glories of creation." President Thomas S. Monson.
Love you all and hope you all have a great week!
-Sister Graham
Yang Jie mei, Xie Jie Mei's daughter (An Ting), Titan and Vivi all came to church today! It was amazing! :) They all had different experiences. This was An Ting's 2nd time coming to church. She knew exactly where to go and what to do. She really enjoys church and she is willing to get baptized when she knows these things are true. Yang Jie Mei (pictures) is a new investigator. She thought we were a crazy group of people when we learned about fasting in Gospel Principles class. The elders had a lot of people come to church too. All are great!
Quote of the week:
"God left the world unfinished for man to work his still upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to a man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and the glories of creation." President Thomas S. Monson.
Love you all and hope you all have a great week!
-Sister Graham