Sister Richards takes Taiwan: Week 45: CINDY GOT BAPTIZED! (June 11, 2017)

Guys, I cannot even put into words how incredible this past week was. I COULD CRY. Jokes I already have. I AM JUST SO HAPPY TO BE A MISSIONARY!!

Alright, before I explode of missionary feelings I want to give a shout out to my sweet dad and wish him a happy fathers day:)) Dads are so important and being out here really has shown me how special my own dad is. THANKS PAPA JOHN FOR BEING THE BEST EVER and leading our family by your righteous example. I LOVE YOU.

Ok, back to the best week ever. We'll ya'll, pretty much life is just so good I can't even describe it. This week was full of so so many miracles. Old investigators coming back from wherever they were hiding, getting 17 numbers in less than 2 hours of finding, not having had any new investigators all week and then getting to meet, teach, and set up with TWO families all yesterday and end our week with 5 new investigators, stake conference with Elder Meurs of the 70 coming and speaking to our stake, the coolest P-day ever with the squad up to Toroko, and so many more. But as good as these things were, the highlight of our week can be summed up into one word; CINDY.

Guys, CINDY GOT BAPTIZED! She did it. She went forth with faith and took the plunge! (literally lol) This week was so full of miracles regarding our sweet girl Cindy. Sister Birch and I had a goal this week to see Cindy EVERY SINGLE DAY before she got baptized. We know how hard Satan works on people before they make big ETERNAL LIFE changing decisions, and we didn't want him to have any room to do that! So, since last Thursday, we have seen Cindy every. single. day. Whether it was in lessons, church, church activities, lunch, morning frisbee with our zone, or anything. We saw her every single day, and I truly believe it made all the difference in the world. She had so many opportunities to feel close to the spirit throughout the week, ask us questions, overcome her concerns, and feel so prepared to be baptized at the end of the week. I feel so so blessed to have been able to get to know Cindy over these past couple of months. She has become one of my best friends and someone that will always be dear to my heart! Let me tell you a little about her story.

Cindy has been a good friend of one of our YSA's for a long time, and this member, Greg, has always done his best to share the gospel with her. Though sometimes he did it a little forcefully, he was a great member missionary and because of that she came to our ward's Christmas activity at the end of last year! This is where the sister missionaries met her, and Greg recruited them to start getting to know Cindy. He didn't want them to push her too hard because he had done that and it back fired a little bit, so they started by meeting with her and teaching her English with small spiritual shares at the end of each lesson. Over time, they built a good relationship with her, and when I came to Hualian and met her, we were able to push Cindy (with love of course) to move away from English and move completely to teaching her the lessons. I am SO grateful for the previous Sisters' efforts and patience to keep building that relationship and trust which allowed for her to take the time she needed to be prepared. I don't think I could've done that! So, anyways, we've been meeting with Cindy pretty much every week since I have been in Hualian. Teaching her lessons, reading scriptures with her, answering her MILLIONS of questions (holy cow this girl has so many thoughts and asks us the DEEPEST questions. hah that has been fun), and getting her prepared for this day of her baptism. The thing that makes this such a miracle, is the change that has happened in Cindy in just the short time I have known her. She was already a great person before, but she has become so full of light and faith. She has learned to believe in God (she came from a background of no religious beliefs and not believing in any God), trust Him, and follow Him. She has learned to take the leap of faith and know that Heavenly Father will catch her.

That is exactly what her baptism was. It was a leap of faith, trusting that the Lord was there to catch her and continue to help her know the truth as she expressed her faith in Him. At her baptism, she shared the most special testimony of exactly that. Of trusting in the Lord even when she didn't know what the exact result would be. THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR HER LITTLE SCIENCE BRAIN. My science people you know. This took so much of her and so much faith, and she is really starting now to see the fruits of her hard work and diligence to find the truth. She shared with us a series of small experiences this past week where she has recognized God starting to answer her prayers, and her testimony building. She knows that she made the right choice by being baptized, and she is already such a part of it all. She fits right into the ward and the YSA group in Hualian, and is already attending everything and SHARING THE GOSPEL.

Oh my gosh proudest mom moment ever this week:

AFTER HER BAPTISM, she comes up to me and holds up her phone and goes "hey, will you check this and make sure I wrote this all right?" I am slightly confused as to what is being shoved into my face, but she explained that it is a new friend that she made at her college who is from Bangladesh and only speaks English, so she has been trying to use English to talk to him. Anyways I start translating for her and making sure what she said to him made sense when I read this.

Bangladesh friend: hey so when can we hang out? Maybe Saturday or Sunday?

Cindy: Well every Sunday I go to church so I couldn't do it then.

friend: oh that's cool.

Cindy: ya it is! Would you want to come with me this Sunday? I know you'll love it!

friend: Ok sure!

*talks about details and dongxi*

Cindy: At church we sing and pray and learn about Jesus Christ. Would you like to learn more about Jesus Christ? Because if you do I have some really awesome friends who could teach you more!

friend: Um maybe. Ill come to first church and see from there.

me reading this: ....reads.....jaw drops.....wipes a tear of joy......proud mom moment ends...... jumps on Cindy to give her the biggest hug ever and die over her missionary moment.

That friend did end up coming to church, and the elders were able to set up with him! SO COOL.

SO yep, pretty much she is the coolest ever and I am so sorry I just wrote a NOVEL about all of that, but I just couldn't leave anything out. SHE IS THE BEST.

My heart is so full of joy this week that has come just from being here, a representative of Jesus Christ, preaching his restored gospel to this amazing people. I cannot imagine being anywhere else. I cannot imagine not having these people in my life. They have truly changed me forever. I am SO grateful for my mission and that Heavenly Father knew me well enough to send me to this sweet little tiny island that I would've never guessed for myself. I LOVE MY MISSION IN TAIWAN.

And I love all of you so much. I hope you all have a wonderful week and continue looking for opportunities to stand as a witness of God and share the gospel! Don't be afraid to open your mouths! It is so worth it.

xoxo

Sister Richards

李姐妹

Lǐ Jǐemeì

Sister Micah Richards

Taiwan Taipei Mission

4/F, #24, Lane 183

Jin Hua Street

Taipei, Taiwan 106

1-4: CINDY'S BAPTISM. my girl.