This is my helmet hair! Like it?!?!
This week has been great! I totally love my life here.
Facebook: we have seen miracles, friends of members liking our posts and investigators liking or watching things to bring the spirit into their lives. Just the other day we were on, and an investigator messaged us. We started a conversation in which we used HBT phrases and were able to bear testimony (this investigator always talks so much and always brings up the word of Wisdom so we never get a good chance to peacefully talk about Christ, but we were able to, and they didn't bring up the word of wisdom once. It was so cool to hear about their family a bit too. This week there were a few days we worked with members and those are the days miracles like exploded, lessons and new investigators. It's hard because like 7 active households live in our area so members are a bit of a challenge. But we have a new plan for this transfer! We have decided to take the members who will work with us and help them get into Preach my Gospel and give them good experiences with us that hopefully it'll spread, this fire for hastening the work. I'm so grateful for sister Sun and her past experiences, I think it will really help this area, and I know it's already helped me learn more of my purpose here. Another cool miracle, an investigator who says he can't be baptized (still working on the ancestor worship issue) but always reads, prays, and usually comes to church, wore a white shirt to church yesterday! Usually it's just polo shirts.
MIRACLE TRACKER REPORT- (The Tree Incident) Another miracle, we were safe again while traveling! I did have a run in with a tree, but my bike, the tree, and myself are all unharmed. :) haha. Afterward my companion (who is Taiwanese, said in English) What were you thinking? I said I was just deciding if we should turn or not, which would be faster and then a tree was right there. then I asked her what she was thinking and she said. "What is she thinking?" Yep. There's a glimpse into the dignified, spiritual life of sister missionaries. ;)
I read in D&C about being clean, and I realized my study area is probably not as tidy as it could be. As a companionship, we are doing great. I really love everyday, I trust Sister Sun, and we are working together really well. We both agree it was a rocky start but we were both so grateful to hear we had one more transfer together.(no one moved this week at transfers) This is special for Sister Sun because she usually is with a companion for 1 transfer then they switch (I'm number 12!) but her trainer, Sister Su and I have had the opportunity to be with her for a little longer :) Speaking of D&C study, I saw a very interesting and important pattern lately. In D&C 39 and 40 it's revelation about a man, he told Joseph he would do anything the Lord asked him to. What did the Lord reveal He wanted him to do? Preach the gospel (note #1, the Lord wants us to preach the gospel to everyone, it's so so important!) and in the next section verse 2 it tells about how Satan used fear of the world to make this man afraid and decide to not do what the Lord asked. (note #2, Satan uses fear as one of his strongest tools to stop us from being happy and try to stop the work of the Lord.) I just took a bit of time to think about what things I might be afraid of doing, and why I'm hesitant to do them. I realized as we grow in our love for the people here in Taiwan and grow in our love for the Lord, that fear will decrease because like the Bible dictionary and John state :Perfect love casteth out fear.
Exciting things are happening here in Taiwan. This transfer 20 new missionaries came in and 32 are coming in next transfer! How crazy! and the transfer after that 20+ are again coming. that mean that by winter about half of the mission will be on their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd transfer. Crazy! But I'm so excited because new missionaries bring fresh ideas, new faith, and miracles. Seriously. It's so cool. Love you all so much! Keep studying, sthe scriptures, and PMG. Use all the resources you have, the Bible dictionary, True to the Faith and lds.org even. This gospel has so much to learn! Then take that reading and APPLY it in your life... or it won't do much good.
Love you all soo sooooo much! Have a fantastic week!
Love, Sister Smith
This week has been great! I totally love my life here.
Facebook: we have seen miracles, friends of members liking our posts and investigators liking or watching things to bring the spirit into their lives. Just the other day we were on, and an investigator messaged us. We started a conversation in which we used HBT phrases and were able to bear testimony (this investigator always talks so much and always brings up the word of Wisdom so we never get a good chance to peacefully talk about Christ, but we were able to, and they didn't bring up the word of wisdom once. It was so cool to hear about their family a bit too. This week there were a few days we worked with members and those are the days miracles like exploded, lessons and new investigators. It's hard because like 7 active households live in our area so members are a bit of a challenge. But we have a new plan for this transfer! We have decided to take the members who will work with us and help them get into Preach my Gospel and give them good experiences with us that hopefully it'll spread, this fire for hastening the work. I'm so grateful for sister Sun and her past experiences, I think it will really help this area, and I know it's already helped me learn more of my purpose here. Another cool miracle, an investigator who says he can't be baptized (still working on the ancestor worship issue) but always reads, prays, and usually comes to church, wore a white shirt to church yesterday! Usually it's just polo shirts.
MIRACLE TRACKER REPORT- (The Tree Incident) Another miracle, we were safe again while traveling! I did have a run in with a tree, but my bike, the tree, and myself are all unharmed. :) haha. Afterward my companion (who is Taiwanese, said in English) What were you thinking? I said I was just deciding if we should turn or not, which would be faster and then a tree was right there. then I asked her what she was thinking and she said. "What is she thinking?" Yep. There's a glimpse into the dignified, spiritual life of sister missionaries. ;)
I read in D&C about being clean, and I realized my study area is probably not as tidy as it could be. As a companionship, we are doing great. I really love everyday, I trust Sister Sun, and we are working together really well. We both agree it was a rocky start but we were both so grateful to hear we had one more transfer together.(no one moved this week at transfers) This is special for Sister Sun because she usually is with a companion for 1 transfer then they switch (I'm number 12!) but her trainer, Sister Su and I have had the opportunity to be with her for a little longer :) Speaking of D&C study, I saw a very interesting and important pattern lately. In D&C 39 and 40 it's revelation about a man, he told Joseph he would do anything the Lord asked him to. What did the Lord reveal He wanted him to do? Preach the gospel (note #1, the Lord wants us to preach the gospel to everyone, it's so so important!) and in the next section verse 2 it tells about how Satan used fear of the world to make this man afraid and decide to not do what the Lord asked. (note #2, Satan uses fear as one of his strongest tools to stop us from being happy and try to stop the work of the Lord.) I just took a bit of time to think about what things I might be afraid of doing, and why I'm hesitant to do them. I realized as we grow in our love for the people here in Taiwan and grow in our love for the Lord, that fear will decrease because like the Bible dictionary and John state :Perfect love casteth out fear.
Exciting things are happening here in Taiwan. This transfer 20 new missionaries came in and 32 are coming in next transfer! How crazy! and the transfer after that 20+ are again coming. that mean that by winter about half of the mission will be on their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd transfer. Crazy! But I'm so excited because new missionaries bring fresh ideas, new faith, and miracles. Seriously. It's so cool. Love you all so much! Keep studying, sthe scriptures, and PMG. Use all the resources you have, the Bible dictionary, True to the Faith and lds.org even. This gospel has so much to learn! Then take that reading and APPLY it in your life... or it won't do much good.
Love you all soo sooooo much! Have a fantastic week!
Love, Sister Smith