Well ya'll I really don't know where to start. There is never a dull moment out here! From meeting with an investigator that refuses to call me anything but Hermione because "I just look too much like her to have any other name!", to fighting over tables at 7/11 with the Jehovah Witness missionaries, to getting chased by stray dogs, to being absolutely DOWN POURED on 7/7 days this week. It was such a good one and truly chocked full of so many miracles.
The first was with a new investigator named Sister Chen. Sister Chen is the daughter of our recent convert Xie JM (Xie JM is the cute little grandma we baptized a couple of weeks ago), and was in town visiting her mom for the week. We bumped into her in an effort to find Xie Jm in the beginning of the week, and she ended up inviting us in. We sat down, talked to her, and ended up teaching her the whole first lesson. What was really cool about it all was that she told us that she had rejected many many missionaries before, but she was willing to talk to us because she has seen such a change in her mom. She said her mom has never been happier than after joining this church, and so she was very curious as to why. After teaching her about the restoration, she was willing to pray to know for herself. A few days after, we popped back over to their home and were able to sit down with Chen JM again and kind of just see how she was doing. She let us know that she has had some big trials lately. She is in the rock selling business? and has been having some really hard times at work lately. People are trying to swindle money out of her and are not being fair or professional in different aspects of her work. She was so stressed when we came, but we had the chance to share some scriptures with her and testify of the power of the gospel and invite her to turn to God with her problems. That was the last we heard until Saturday night. We had set up with Xie JM to start teaching her the RC lessons and didn't even expect Chen JM to be there, but she was. As we sat down to start reviewing the restoration, I had a strong feeling to share the plan of salvation with them. My companion was literally so confused as she started to intro into the restoration and I took it totally another direction, but she was a good sport and went with it. And how glad I am that we followed that prompting. We were able to share a very powerful Plan of Salvation lesson with this mother and daughter, promising them the chance of eternal life and an eternal family. It was so powerful to teach it to these humble family members who also felt very tender about their husband/father that had passed away a few years ago. As we shared the message, the spirit was so strong, and all of a sudden Chen JM (the only non member in the room) started bearing her testimony that God knows us and our trials. She shared that after we left the other night after visiting her when she was having a hard time, she read the scriptures we gave her to read, and prayed to know what to do and for God's help and strength. She said the moment she said amen, her phone rang. On the other line was the person at work who has been causing her so much grief apologizing and promising her he would not charge her any money for the misunderstanding and promised a safe return of her materials and rocks. She was stunned. She said that she hung up the phone and just started crying and KNEW that God was really there and He really cared about her. It was so sweet to hear her experience and the beginning fruits of her testimony starting to grow. We were able to invite her to baptism in that lesson, and she gladly accepted. The best part of the whole thing was seeing sweet Xie JM's face through it all. She looked like a little kid at Disneyland she was so happy! It is so sweet to see this family becoming eternal. SO MANY MIRACLES. Since then, we have continued to teach Chen JM, she has come to church, and heads back to Taibei today where she will meet with the sisters there and get ready for baptism on 5/20! I know she will make it. SO many cool miracles.
Wow SO sorry for the novel, but I just couldn't leave out too many details! And if that wasn't enough, so many other wonderful things happened as well. We have some really amazing investigators that are really progressing. Our sweet 17 year old Cai Jm is all on track to get baptized this next Saturday! She still has to have her interview, but we are confident she will pass! It has been really cool to teach her because she is one of the most humble people I have ever met. So willing to change and so wanting to follow Christ. She is one of the coolest 17 year olds i know! (you are cool too Kennan)
Cindy is another good friend of ours and awesome investigator! She is a super smart college student currently getting her masters degree. She is a very logical thinker, and religion has always been a hard thing for her to grasp. But, she has really loved meeting with us and learning about how to have a real relationship with God and trusting in Him. Her biggest problem lately has been recognizing answers to prayers. She reads the BOM and prays every single day, but she is having a hard time knowing what is an answer from God, and what is just her our thoughts or what not. I'm sure we have ALL felt this before. But, this week, she had 3 really small but very cool experiences that we automatically recognized as God answering her prayers. And the best part is that she is starting to recognize it too. She is working towards her baptismal date on the 13th of next month, and we really feel like she is going to make it!
We are seeing so many miracles and are meeting the coolest people everyday! But I'll save more stories for the weeks to come:)
WAIT one more side note. This week my first RC, Serena, called me and told me she got into the English Program at BYU Provo for this fall! So she will be heading to Provo this September and will be there for at least a year!! I could not be happier for her and the fact that I'll get to see her all the time! But she'll get there before I will so all ya'll please take care of her:) Take her to BBQ and give her lots of chocolate:)
Man there are just so many miracles every single day. Missions are the best things ever and I am learning so much! This week, I was reading in Alma about Captain Moroni and some of the awesome stories that come in those chapters. As I was reading about the war between the Lamanites and Nephites and about the different causes they were warring for- Lamanites: wanted land, control over the Nephites, and power. Nephites: wanted to protect their land, lives, families, and freedom, I started thinking about our own wars that we are raging. Satan is a lot like these Lamanites--always wanting power over us and control over our lives and our happiness. But we need to remember that we are fighting for a better cause than he is. We are fighting for our eternal lives, forever families, a place in our heavenly home, freedom against the captivity of the devil, and to do God's work. Best of all, we have a captain even greater than Moroni leading us to victory. We have the Savior Jesus Christ at our head, and as we follow Him, we will always end up victorious.
Well, my dear friends and family, I love you all and hope you are doing so well. I am loving my mission and loving this work! I pray for all of you and hope you can feel my love! Choose to be on the Savior's team. Have a wonderful week!
xoxo
Sister Richards
李姐妹
Lǐ Jǐemeì
Taiwan Taipei Mission
4/F, #24, Lane 183
Jin Hua Street
Taipei, Taiwan 106
1-the adventures of p days in hualian
2-3- last week's adventure
4- adventure squad
5-6- this week's adventure to Toroko gorge
6- our bishop took us to toroko gorge and leave it to taiwan to sell hot sausages on the side of the trail. hah
7-8- the hualian 3 ward missionaries
Our girl Cai JM
Our study spot this week
Cindy
Cai JM
My sweet comp and I loving the rain all day every day
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