Sister Richards takes Taiwan: Week 12: Small and Simple Things (October 26, 2016)

My dear family and friends... what is up?

This week was one of the best. Honestly, I grow to love this place, this people, and this work more and more every single day. It is truly such a blessing to be here and serving. AH.. I just love it.

I don't even know where to start, because this week was one of so so many miracles. First and foremost, I GOT TO SEE SISTER BERNHARDT. I live with the Sister Training Leaders here in Xinzhu, and so when they go on exchanges with sisters in our zone and the neighboring zone (because they don't have enough sisters to have STLs for every zone), we get to see all the sisters because they come and stay at our apartment! So, imagine the happiest little reunion and that was Sis B and I this past week! It was SO wonderful to see her for the first time since being here, and to talk and catch up and strengthen each other. She really became my sister in the MTC, and I feel so lucky that I still get to see her periodically out here in the field! What a blessing.

The work here is seriously booming. There are SO many prepared people. I know I keep saying that, but it is because it is true! And in the craziest ways you could imagine. This week we had four investigators commit to a baptismal date, and we are SO excited for all of them! And we have even more wonderful people that we are hoping to commit this week! We are hoping November will be full of baptismal services! Our biggest miracle this week was with our dear friend Chai Jiemei. A little background on her. She met my companion a little before I got here, and met her because she ran out to them on the street and literally said "I know you are missionaries, and I want to know what you teach." Any missionaries dream, right?? Right! Until the next Sunday, when her grandpa died. This is a big thing here, because in the Buddhist culture if you have a family member die, you literally can't leave your house for like 100 days to mourn them.... Yes so issue #1. Issue #2, she found out her husband was cheating on her the next week. Long story short, lots of terrible things have been happening to her, and she hasn't been able to meet with us or frankly really talk to us for a long time. This past week, after much effort, we were deciding whether to put her on the back burner or not. We had been trying so hard to get in touch with her and help her, but she just wouldn't pick up or wouldn't let us see her, so it's a little hard to help her and keep her progressing. But, I had this feeling we should leave her up and keeping trying. On Monday, after dinner, we had an investigator bail last minute on a lesson, so we had some free time to go tracting. Instead, I had the thought that we should call Chai JM. We call her and for the first time in weeks she PICKS UP. She is on the road and we cannot even hear her, but in a quiet moment we yell "DO YOU WANT TO COME AND GET ICE CREAM WITH US RIGHT NOW?" and she says, "YES!". WE WERE SO STOKED. Long story short, so sorry for the novel people, we ended up having a SECOND dinner with her and her son, and she told us the extent of her story and her problems. Her relationship with her husband had been abusive, and she finally got out. In the first 10 minutes of our meeting with her she says this. "My main priorities right now are 1- raising my son 2- church and 3- work." Now granted this woman has only met with missionaries ever for 30 min... all they taught her was about God and prayer, and she had so much faith to put it as a priority in her life and told us that she has been praying twice a day ever since the missionaries taught her how to. She is so solid. Although her story is such a sad one, she is being strengthened by the Lord, and her faith is growing every single day. She told us that she wants the fresh start she can get from joining our Church, and wants to do it as soon as possible. Um okkkkk???? YES. We are so excited to work with her, and her cute 9 year old son! The Lord works in mysterious ways people.

I've seen His hand in so much that I am doing here. So many times we have had investigators bail, only to find that we needed to go to their area to meet a different person. We have been led to so many amazing people, and so many of them are seeking the truth and light that the gospel can bring them. The Lord is not wasting anytime in the furthering of His work!

Sister Cullen and I are working really hard out here. The other day we were so excited to get out the door that I forgot to take my retainers out before leaving.... hahah, ya my life. Funny things happen everyday here people. We had an investigator try to bring their dog to church, we have had to kill about a million cockroaches this week, and sometimes Chinese just really gets the best of me. ha! The other day in interviews with President Jergensen/training from the assistants, I said the prayer and accidentally called him our mission husband instead of president and you know all good things like that. hahah President Jergensen is so amazing. He is truly inspired. He has so little time to spend with us personally, but each time he sees me he shares with me some piece of counsel or wisdom that is always exactly what I needed to hear. This week in interviews, he reminded me how fun missions are. He reminded me to enjoy the little things. Enjoy being a beginner and not being able to understand everything. Enjoy laughing at yourself when you make mistakes in the language, or when you are dripping with sweat from the heat. Work hard yes, but enjoy yourself! I think sometimes I get so caught up in it all that I forget to take a step back and just enjoy it all. He said that it'll all be over before I know it. I'm not sure I totally believe that last statement, considering I've been here only 3 weeks and feel like I've been here my whole life... haha But if it is coming from his mouth then I do!

I truly love it here, and the Lord is really looking out for me. In our ward, we've been really trying to get everyone excited about missionary work and start sharing the gospel with their friends and family. One thing that I've learned from this is how it truly is the small and simple things that bring about the biggest things.(Alma 37:6-7) To share the gospel with your friends, you don't have to jump from 0-100 and ask them point blank to meet with the missionaries. You start with letting them know you're a member, inviting them to FHE or a church activity, have a gospel or religious conversation with them, invite them to church, and slowly get them warmed up to the idea. It is the small things. We have seen miracles in our ward of people that have gotten baptized because of a member taking them under their wing and showing them the blessings the gospel can bring them. It got me thinking about how much work we can all do in each of our lives, and I want to invite you all to think about how you can start sharing the gospel with someone you know. Pick a name and just start doing the little things. I promise you that the Lord will bless your efforts, and you will see miracles. I see it happen everyday here.

Well, I love you all. I hope you are all doing well, and hope you have a great week! See ya'll next Monday. (our pday was different this week because we get to go to the temple today! you bet it is 4:30am currently here... go team) Ok bye!!

xoxo

Sister Richards

李姐妹

Lǐ Jiéměi

1- last week's P-day--district bowling and cold stone hah!

2- Dinner

3- sweet comp

4- Xinzhu

5- district (+exchange sisters) group volleyball

6- SIS B

7- SIS B

8- Buddhist temple behind shops