I hope ya'lls week was as great as mine! Ah! The field is awesome! It was actually quite hard the first four days because I was just so tired! I realized too, these are real people! Real lives, and problems, and I am asking them to change their whole lives. Its not really me, it's the Lord, but it's coming from a young American who can barely speak the language... obviously this is the Lord's work because people actually want to keep listening to us. :) Their are so many spiritual blessings from a mission, but its also awesome to be able to go to cool cities and sites. Our first day we ran to the Shank hai Shek memorial (I think that's his name...) and it was awesome to see. So much Chinese culture everyday!
Ok, so I'm realizing now how hard it is to talk to people, but we just go for it... I've only chased down like three people so far (meaning I walk with them for a bit trying to get them to take the Restoration tract) ... :) It's lots of fun. Super cool moment though! When I focus, and I'm trying to just listen to the investigator, the Spirit makes up the difference in my vocab ability and while sometimes my companion does translate, I'm able to understand the jist of what they are saying. It was amazing when we met this lady and she rejected us, but eventually let us in and told us this story about her how she and her husband are split and her son lives with him... well, I only really picked out "son", but I knew what her story was. It was an amaing moment to help me realize, when it comes to God's children, as long as we show we are willing and are trying, he really will make up the difference and help us spread our testimony.
Many miracles from datongqu this week! We were able to meet some really awesome less actives, find out their situation, and let them know we are here to bring them back and do everything we can to help them. We are excited about that, and we had two encounters with awesome restoration lessons with husbands (one of a member and one of an invesigator) who haven't before been too inclined towards the church. Both times the Spirit really was there testifying to them. And then of course there are miracles of safety! This is my first week on a bike... I'll just say I learned really quick my skirt flapping in the wind was soon replaced on my priority list. It's crazy but amazing to bike in this traffic! I honestly love it, and while at first I didn't really like the idea of reflective vests, I quickly have become grateful. I know as well, that as long as we are obeying the safety guidelines and schedule rules we'll be protected. Also, bike contacting is fun! We get some interesting people... and I'm still getting used to people staring or saying "Hey, Americans!" (And then to see their faces when we start speaking Chinese... Sister Jasperson says it never gets old.)
We were able to get some awesome peikes (member present lessons) this week, a couple of sisters in our area are really on fire about missionary work. We have goals for the week to get more involved though. To ask members if they have even just one hour they could set aside to come work with us.
Chinese is challenging, but I don't think it seems as much of a challenge to overcome anymore. Everytime this week when I have needed to tesify or communicate or understand what someone was saying, the Chinese was there- from the Spirit of course. I either can pick out enough words to piece their story together or (and this is super awesome) I get a feeling of what they are saying. I love being a missionary!
Studies are great, I love personal study and companionship study is also awesome. I love my companion! It's easy to talk to Sister Jasperson, and she is so great at teaching, I think it's been really great to learn how to focus and set goals, that has been hard for me in the past. I'm just super excited to keep seeing miracles, and having fun while doing the Lord's work here in Taiwan. I'm excited for the rain, though riding in it is not my favorite thing I've done since getting here. :) Glasses also make it hard. I don't know if I'd rather mess with the hassle of contacts or glasses... but I'm grateful for being able to see at all :)
Food is still awesome! Veggies with rice, or meatbalss with vegggies, or eggs with rice and veggies... yeah. Throw some chocolate in there with oatmeal and you got my life :) But it's super good meat and noodles and veggies. Love it here!
I'm excited for General Conference, here because of translation and things we'll watch it this coming weekend. It's our brothers and sisters we are serving. We just have to remember, it's their agency to reject or be offended, but it's our job to invite everyone. The gospel's true!
Love, Sister Smith
I'm excited for General Conference, here because of translation and things we'll watch it this coming weekend. It's our brothers and sisters we are serving. We just have to remember, it's their agency to reject or be offended, but it's our job to invite everyone. The gospel's true!
Love, Sister Smith