Hello to the world!! Totally forgot my journal so I am going to try and remember everything. But this week was awesome! :)) I am so very happy to be a missionary here in Taiwan:) And the Christmas season is coming up! Yay!
This week we had the Christmas Party! Yay! It was so much fun! We went to Sun Moon Lake. It is so beautiful there. And there was a good market that we got to shop at. We also went to a buffet. A buffet of Chinese food? Not a good idea. It was soooo good and I felt sick afterwards. It was really cool to see everyone there! Literally everyone was there. We also had a Christmas fireside. It was full of singing and the office put on the Nativity. It was about a 4 hour long fireside. We didn't get home until after midnight. Super late. But totally worth it. The Spirit of Christmas is coming! People here don't really celebrate Christmas. Even members. But we are making sure that EVERYONE knows that it is Christmas time.
This week we had the Christmas Party! Yay! It was so much fun! We went to Sun Moon Lake. It is so beautiful there. And there was a good market that we got to shop at. We also went to a buffet. A buffet of Chinese food? Not a good idea. It was soooo good and I felt sick afterwards. It was really cool to see everyone there! Literally everyone was there. We also had a Christmas fireside. It was full of singing and the office put on the Nativity. It was about a 4 hour long fireside. We didn't get home until after midnight. Super late. But totally worth it. The Spirit of Christmas is coming! People here don't really celebrate Christmas. Even members. But we are making sure that EVERYONE knows that it is Christmas time.
On Monday we went to the church and watched the Christmas tree lights. Super simple. But it was good to talk to Sister Nelson just about family traditions and stuff. We found out that Grace, our investigator, is in the other area. Dang it! She is sooo awesome! She went to the other ward for church on Sunday - which was good. She liked it and she will start meeting with the Elders. We have become really good friends. On Sunday she brought a letter that our district wrote her for her birthday. She treasures that thing. Sometimes all a person needs is to feel loved. |
Our investigator, Chen Jin Zi, prayed about the Word of Wisdom. Her answer was, "I am still learning." She has a problem with giving up some stuff but she still wants us to come and teach her. And she came to church on Sunday. She is reading and praying more often which is awesome! :)
We had a great lesson with Liu Pin Shao. She told us that she has been given a lot of trials lately. And she bore her testimony about God's plan. She is awesome! She still has trouble coming to church. She said that she would come this Sunday but...never came.
We taught a family (Zhang and Chen) about church and why we go to church. They don't have time to come to church this week. The wife, Zhang, is regularly praying. She tried to read the Book of Mormon when she can. But she worries that she cannot understand everything or remember the events. It is a big book. She also doesn't want us to visit as often. That is ok...man man lai.
We had a great lesson with Liu Pin Shao. She told us that she has been given a lot of trials lately. And she bore her testimony about God's plan. She is awesome! She still has trouble coming to church. She said that she would come this Sunday but...never came.
We taught a family (Zhang and Chen) about church and why we go to church. They don't have time to come to church this week. The wife, Zhang, is regularly praying. She tried to read the Book of Mormon when she can. But she worries that she cannot understand everything or remember the events. It is a big book. She also doesn't want us to visit as often. That is ok...man man lai.
There is one good thing about staying in one area for really long time is that you can see the progress of so many people. Most of our investigators are very slow in learning the gospel. But in time I have been able to see how the gospel has helped them find comfort and love.
We had a great lesson with an Active member. Her name is Ye Jie Mei. She is a mother of 3. And she wants us to help her go caroling at an old folks home on Christmas Eve morning. So we went over to plan it out. After talking she confessed that she hadn't been coming to church. Her husband is just too tired to go. We brought up the scripture, Mosiah 4:27. Super good. And it applies to everyone! Especially those here in Taiwan. Everyone here cares a lot about work and getting money. After sharing this scripture the words came out of my mouth, "By daily reading the scriptures and praying and by going to church everyday we can make decisions more effectively." I know that over email it sounds like no big deal. But it was said with such authority and power. I could really feel the Holy Ghost. And then the wife (ye jie mei) reminded her husband that when they did those things his work went smoother and they were a happier family. I think that sometimes we all forget the power and beauty of doing the small and simple things. And my testimony on "open your mouth and it shall be filled" has increased.
We had a great lesson with an Active member. Her name is Ye Jie Mei. She is a mother of 3. And she wants us to help her go caroling at an old folks home on Christmas Eve morning. So we went over to plan it out. After talking she confessed that she hadn't been coming to church. Her husband is just too tired to go. We brought up the scripture, Mosiah 4:27. Super good. And it applies to everyone! Especially those here in Taiwan. Everyone here cares a lot about work and getting money. After sharing this scripture the words came out of my mouth, "By daily reading the scriptures and praying and by going to church everyday we can make decisions more effectively." I know that over email it sounds like no big deal. But it was said with such authority and power. I could really feel the Holy Ghost. And then the wife (ye jie mei) reminded her husband that when they did those things his work went smoother and they were a happier family. I think that sometimes we all forget the power and beauty of doing the small and simple things. And my testimony on "open your mouth and it shall be filled" has increased.
We went to visit some less active families. And we found that a lot of them do not plan on coming back to church. It makes me really sad when people leave the church. Especially when they have had a spiritual witness that the gospel is true. That is the funny thing. That nothing can physically PROVE that all of this is true. It is only through the Holy Ghost that we can know God is our Loving Heavenly Father, Jesus is the Christ and through the Gospel we can return to live with God again.
We got to see a 5 day old Taiwanese baby! Soooooo cute! He had a ton of hair and would spaz out every once in a while. The mom told me to sing to the little baby boy, a lullaby. I sang, "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" I used to sing that with my parents every night. Brought back so many memories.
We got to see a 5 day old Taiwanese baby! Soooooo cute! He had a ton of hair and would spaz out every once in a while. The mom told me to sing to the little baby boy, a lullaby. I sang, "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" I used to sing that with my parents every night. Brought back so many memories.
Sunday morning we got a call that for the mini movecall (only 3 weeks into the movecall) Sister Nelson is moving down to Yong Kang and I will be staying here with SIster Cardon. Sister Nelson and I bawled all morning. The members were really sweet and she will really be missed. The Bishop had us over for dinner and they invited a bunch of people for a mini going away party for Sister Nelson. I am really going to miss her. She has helped me get through a lot of things and has become one of my best friends. We were so looking forward to spending Christmas and her birthday together. But I am also excited to have Sister Cardon here. I hear that she is an amazing missionary! I’m excited to learn from her.
There are a couple of old ladies that I keep in touch with from my last area. They are not members but come to English class. One of them actually asked me to tell her more about Jesus Christ. I think it is really cool that over time she is coming to WANT to know more about what we share. Love you all and I will see you next week with more news on what is goin down in 沙鹿! -Sister Graham Saying goodbye to Sister Nelson :( --------> |