Another stellaa week here in Asia. Guonian has (gladly) come to an end, but we are still feeling the effects! It is such a fun time of celebration around here, but it wrecks our missionary work and our bodies. ha! Everyone is slowly trickling back to ZhongLi after going to visit relatives and such for the holidays, so we haven't been able to meet with many of our investigators. But, our member visits have been up the wall! Our members are so cute to us here and really take care of us! With Chinese new year, we have people feeding us multiple times every single day so, yes, we have all gained 13,000 lbs, but we're over it. ha! All the members keep telling us it is good for us because we have to bike all the time. What they don't know is that after about one week of biking, our bodies are used to it and now biking does very little for our health benefit. hah But all good things. Good food. Incredible members. And lots of fun mems!
Our members are truly like family here. Transfers are coming up this next week, and all of them have told me how I am not allowed to leave because they still want to take us to this place, or feed me that food, or do this and that and such. They are like family away from home, and I could not be more grateful. There are so many blessings from missionary work, but I think one of the biggest is the people you meet in the process. These members will truly be my lifelong friends!
With all that being said though, that about describes our week. Enough food to kill us- literally waking up full everyday because we were fed so much the week before, biking to Egypt and back everyday to visit all of our members in our TWO areas, and building our relationships with those we love! We weren't able to meet with many of our investigators this week because of the holidays, but we were able to get keep our baby girls going! They are both progressing so well, and are the cutest things ever! I love how these 9 and 11 year olds listen and accept the gospel so easily. They are so in-tune with the spirit, and are so quick to accept and act upon what we are teaching them. Christ said it Himself. Be like the little children! They are great examples.
Finding new investigators has taken a little lull lately with less people on the streets, many people coming into town not from our area, and just everyone being "too busy" with the holidays to want to set up. We are really working to find some new awesome people to teach. That is just the missionary process. We find, we teach, and we keep finding so we can keep teaching, and there is just no break! hah But it is good. We are excited for all of the miracles to come in this next week!
There were two main things to report on from this past week. The first is getting to take sweet Jessica to the temple! TAKING RC'S TO THE TEMPLE IS THE BEST THING EVER. It is like watching them be baptized all over again and more. Jessica is so incredible. So solid in her testimony and dedication to the Lord. It was so special to be able to go into the temple with her, and see the smile on her face as she felt the peace of the temple and the Lord's love for her. LOVE HER.
The second is that I hit my 6th month mark this past week.... SIX MONTHS. like WHAT?!. Where the heck has time even gone???? I feel like just yesterday I was sitting in the MTC dreaming of coming to Taiwan, and now here I am. Six months of wearing Christ's name on my sleeve and doing His work. I can honestly say these have been the best 6 months of my life! Definitely not the easiest, hah but the most incredible. I am SO grateful for my sweet mission and for the year that I have left to be here and put in work! As I was reflecting this week on my past third of my mission, I reflected on the goals that I have set for myself as a missionary. As I was thinking about this, I happened to read the conference talk by Elder Yamashita that we all know very well about being ambitious for Christ. As I read his words, I realized that he summed up exactly what I want to do on my mission and what I want to become. He talked about being ambitious for our Savior through our diligence, focus, motivation, dedication, faith, willingness, worthiness, humility, attitude, and the joy we find in the service we render. We show our ambition for our Savior by emulating Him. Trying to become like Him and relying on Him throughout the whole process. This is what I have been trying to do these past 6 months, and what I plan on continuing to do the remainder of my mission and really just my life. BE AMBITIOUS FOR CHRIST.
I loved this reminder this week and having the chance to evaluate my efforts in becoming like Christ. I challenge all of you to do the same this week. Think about what you are doing to do Christ's work and to become like Him. Set some goals and plans on how to do it better. I know He will help all of us as we show Him that we are willing and wanting to be better disciples of Him.
I love you all and most of all I love my Savior. I know this gospel is true with all of my heart and that it changes lives. It is changing mine everyday. I hope you all have a wonderful week and take some time each day to be ambitious for Christ.
xoxo
Sister Richards
李姐妹
Lǐ Jiéměi
Taiwan Taipei Mission
4/F, #24, Lane 183
Jin Hua Street
Taipei, Taiwan 106
1- guonian part 100
2- selfies...always
3- guonian food--I can't believe Micah ate this...
Temple with Jessica!! - We also learned why she hates wearing dresses. She has never worn one and only had this one from when she was literally 10... so yes, Sister Cooper and I are going shopping for her today.
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