LET ME BACK UP-
This week has been interesting, but faith building. We worked with members and saw miracles, and were feeling so blessed for achieving almost all our weekly goals, but my companion started not feeling well on Thursday, and not sleeping well. Then Saturday night we got the call that two elders in our mission had passed away in the night, they think because of carbonmonoxide poisoning. One of the elders was my companion's good friend from college, so Saturday night was also rough, and she couldn't eat. Sunday (that elder served in our ward for a long time before he was transferred last transfer) was also hard for her, but, why do I tell all of this? Because Sunday morning one of the elders in our ward gave her a priesthood blessing that she could sleep and have peace. This elder was friends with her and the elder who passed away since they were little kids. It was such a special moment seeing the priesthood in work supporting us and blessing us in this time of hardship. Yesterday afternoon and last night she was able to sleep and she said she hadn't slept so well in a long time. She usually has scary nightmares too, and she had no dreams she said. Besides feeling more of the importance of the Plan of Salvation and missionary work in the Spirit World, this weekend I've witness the power of the priesthood. And I just want to say thank you to all you worthy priesthood holders, for being worthy to hold the preisthood and use it to bless others' lives. Never take that for granted.
I've also learned the power of companion prayer and scripture study. We have only grown closer as a companionship. We picked a chapter of the Book of Mormon to read together and just talked. Then she played the guitar and we sang. It lifted our spirits and I know that through prayer and relying on Christ we can do hard things. It is sad, and I believe it will take time, but Sunday I was pretty worried about her and now I know it's just the saddness that we all have when we won't see someone we were close to, for a while. It's amazing to see as we rely on each other we then can lean on Christ together. We so blessed to be here, at this time, to be the Lord's missionaries. To spread the message of Christ. This truly is His church, and I know we have the restored priesthood power.
This church really is true! It is Jesus Christ's living church and through Him we can all do hard things. I've learned a lot about Christlike attributes charity, hope, and faith this week. We must have charity in companioships. No keeping score. No competition. No pride. Just serve. Just love for each other and love for Christ.
Challenges this week: Sister Sun's health but the blessing and I think last night of talking and singing for a bit really helped our spirits. Successes? Jesus Christ overcame death, so we can all have the hope of seeing loved ones again. Another success? Working with members brings miracles. This week we worked with members more and we were blessed to acheive almost every goal, or get really close. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary, especially in the Taiwan Taipei mission! I love Sister Sun, and love this work, and love the Savior. I am so glad I chose to serve the Lord, and I'm so glad I know who I chose to serve, our living Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful, not just to know that plan of salvation, but to know that there are missionaries in the Spirit World, and I know they are working hard just like we all ought to be down here. All of us. Members, missionaries, everyone. This is the Lord's work and we all need to serve Him the best we can.
Miracles are all around us, just pray for them and look for them. Mosiah 16:8-9 has been on our minds this weekend.
Keep loving this experience and best of luck with starting school! Send me pictures!
-Sister Smith