THIS WAS THE CRAZIEST WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. You think you know where I am right now? NOPE. Both Sister Cullen and I got transferred to a new area this week and life is nutso. But let me start at the beginning. hah
This week contained some of the happiest moments of my entire mission. Namely, sweet Serena Xu GOT BAPTIZED. AH my heart. We met Serena my second week on island, and had the special privilege of meeting, teaching, and baptizing her in just a short month! She was so prepared, and so ready to accept the gospel in her life. Over the past month, I have seen the gospel change her. She was already so faithful, but I have seen the gospel shape her life to be much happier, more successful, and more full of love. She has grown so much, and truly become like a sister to Sister Cullen and me. WE LOVE HER! She bore the most sincere and beautiful testimony at her baptism this week on how the gospel has changed her. She said that as she learned about and lived the principles of the gospel, she has learned what her purpose is and how to gain a perspective through trials. Um, OK do some members even know that? hah We all go through trials, but she has learned to fully rely on the Lord and has received so much strength from Him and answers to her prayers. I know that this gospel changes people for the better, and am so grateful I could learn from Serena's example and get to know this amazing girl!
Next comes the craziness. This past week was the end of my first transfer here in Taiwan, and with this came some changes. On Wednesday morning Sister Cullen and I got a call from our mission president saying, "Sisters you are on fire. Time to take that fire to a new area! You BOTH are moving to Zhongli!" We were SO shocked! I am in the middle of training, was only in Xinzhu for 6 weeks, and BOTH of us are being transferred?! Plus the President called us himself, so it was all super crazy! This is mainly happening because of a recent change in mission rules. Right before I got here, the Asia Area 70 changed the rule that Sisters could only teach sisters, and Elders could only teach boys. With this, President needed to get some more sisters all over to teach the women. Zhongli hasn't had sisters there in a very long time, and there were so many women that simply couldn't be taught because of it, or sisters from way far away areas were having to come here to teach them. So Sister Cullen and I gladly accepted that call and packed up and moved to beautiful Zhongli! It is only about 30min train ride north from our last area, but our new area is huge! We cover two different ward boundaries and both of these are huge! hah Pray for our legs right now. But we have a beautiful new apartment, AC (our last apt did not have any), and so many new wonderful people to meet!
In preparation to leave Xinzhu this week, Sister Cullen and I made our rounds of goodbyes with so many people that we have grown to love so much. Members that have become like family to us, investigators that have become our best friends, and our sweet brand new convert Serena. It was hard to say goodbye, but it is the Lord's plan! Our cute members and friends threw us a little "going away party" and gave us cute gifts and cards and so much love! Though so tough to leave, we have already been so welcomed into Zhongli! Our district is so nice and are helping us get all situated here! We've also only gotten lost once, so I count that as a blessing! We also have a great zone! We had stake conference yesterday, so we were able to see all of the missionaries in our zone! I was so happy to see some familiar faces from the MTC, from the choir, and from my past zone! Mainly so pumped because Elder Holderness from my MTC district is in my zone! So many tender mercies. We had the chance to meet some awesome members yesterday, and they were all so good to us! They all expressed their excitement to have sisters in Zhongli again, and are anxious to work with us! We know we are going to see some amazing miracles here!!
In my studies this past week, I have been reading about the 2000 stripling warriors. I loved studying their experiences, and about the kind of boys they were. What stood out to me particularly was in Alma 56 when Helaman calls them to fight. He says "Therefore what say ye, my sons, will you go against them to battle?" They all took great courage and said to Helaman, "Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth." They answered the call of their father and went forth with faith. As I was reading this, I thought of my own call. I have been called by my father to go to battle for Him, to fight against Satan and save His children. As I thought about this, I applied Helaman's invitation to a personal invitation from the Lord. "Therefore what say ye my daughter, will you against them to battle?" And my resounding cry "Father, behold, YOU are with me, and I know you will not suffer that I should fall: LET ME GO FORTH."
In Chinese, the word for mission is chuandao, which translates to "go forth." I have literally taken this promise to the Lord and gone forth to fight. We truly all have. As members of Christ's church, we represent Him. We are on His team and are enlisted in His army to bring the world His truth. "We have been saved for these latter days, to build the kingdom in righteous ways. Daily we'll learn for NOW we are called, to take the gospel to all the world." Whether we are in Taiwan or Canada or Europe or Africa or America, the Lord WILL be with us. He will not leave our side, and He will not suffer that we should fall. I know, that as we take Helaman's invitation in our own lives, to go to battle for our Father and bring about His righteous purposes, that He will, like the army of Helaman, deliver us and preserve us and give us success. Let us all go forth and bring the world His truth!
The Lord is so good and the work is amazing! I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week!
Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMANA HEALY. Everyone send her some birthday love:)
xoxo
Sister Richards
李姐妹
Lǐ Jiéměi
Taiwan Taipei Mission
4/F, #24, Lane 183
Jin Hua Street
Taipei, Taiwan 106
1- our last english class with our favorites:(
2/3- sweet girl got baptized:)
4- Sister Cullen and my goodbye party
No comments:
Post a Comment