What is good. I hope everything is going so well for all of you because I really couldn't be happier over here on my little island.
On the mission, there is something that happens called "the elevator effect." Well, maybe it isn't a real real thing, but I have seen it many times on my mission. You work hard to find new people, teach people, and the elevator is always just going up. As you baptize people, that elevator hits that top floor, but after, it takes a tower of terror drop back to the level 1. No scratch that. Basement level. hah Meaning that many times after someone gets baptized, it feels a lot like we have to start back from ground zero. hah We are always teaching people, but that elevator always does seem to go back down before it goes back up again. And that is what we were feeling this past week. haha
A highlight this week was definitely seeing our girl Cindy receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! She was there all bright and early Sunday morning because "she didn't want to be late and miss it!" :) She is adorable. As she went on the stand and sat down and all the priesthood holders put their hands on her head, she got this panicked look on her face all of a sudden and looked at me and mouthed IN ENGLISH "Should I close my eyes?!" hahahahahah yes Cindy. I just nodded and tried so hard not to laugh. She expressed her feelings of peace and comfort that came over her after receiving the gift of the Spirit. So grateful for her!
But as one person gets baptized, it is time to go out and find more people! So, this week really was a LOT of finding. We are always finding, but this week Sister Birch and I really tried to fill our time with productive finding activities instead of just writing, knocking or street contacting, etc. Our favorite method of the week was FORMER FINDING. Holy cow people it WORKS. Sister Birch and I organized a lot of our apartment's old records, and prayerfully picked some people to call/visit, and THE LORD DELIVERED. Most weeks that are filled mainly with long hours of finding usually seem much slower, but let me tell you. This week FLEW and it was really because we made it so fun and productive. And we are SO excited for next week. Throughout the week, we were able to set up with SO many people for this coming week. From former finding, to just talking to everyone- literally set up a girl while both of us were washing our hands in the bathroom hahaha, there are prepared people everywhere, and we cannot wait to help these people get rolling and start preparing them all for baptism! So awesome.
We had a hard time meeting with some of our investigators this week because of finals/graduation/dongxi like that, but we are hoping to be able to wrangle them all in this coming week.
This week, I came across this AWESOME quote in PMG that I wanted to share with dajia. It is in the back of chapter 8 in the pages that most people skip, but DON'T SKIP THEM PEOPLE. They have hidden gems. This quote says,
“None of us should be like the fisherman who thinks he has been fishing all day when in reality he has spent most of his time getting to and from the water, eating lunch, and fussing with his equipment. Fishing success is related to how long you have your line in the water, not to how long you are away from the apartment. Some fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for ten hours. Other fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for only two hours. This last type may wonder why they do not have the same success as others.
“The same principle applies to missionaries, whom the Master called ‘fishers of men.’ A missionary’s line should drop into the fishing water the moment he or she leaves the apartment” (Dallin H. Oaks, seminar for new mission presidents, June 20, 2000).
I loved loved this quote because it teaches such an important principle. We need to always have our line in the water. Always be opening our mouth, setting a good example, and finding the people that the Lord has prepared for us. Those people aren't just going to come during the times you specifically set aside for "finding," Sometimes they literally come while you are washing your hands in the bathroom at a McDonalds, or studying, or eating, or parking your bike, or ANY OTHER TIME. I am such a firm believer of this and have been constantly working on always keeping my line in the water. Do we ever take off our name tags outside of the apartment? Nope. So, should we ever stop doing his work. Heck no.
This goes for all of you members out there as well. Guys, I am SUCH an advocate for member missionary work. Most of my RCs have been member referrals, and most of them met the church and missionaries by just being invited to an activity or something small. It doesn't take something big. Just one moment of putting yourself out there. What is the worst that can happen? They'll say no.... Welcome to the missionary life:) hah I invite you all to always keep your lines in the water as well and look for some opportunities to catch some fish:)
I love you all and hope you have the best week! Go catch some fish:)
xoxo
Sister Richards
李姐妹
Lǐ Jǐemeì
Taiwan Taipei Mission
4/F, #24, Lane 183
Jin Hua Street
Taipei, Taiwan 106
so sorry for the lack of photos. too busy TRBCing(teach repentance baptize converts). ha!
1- love my girl Sister Apsley
2- our dear investigator Qiu Jm- an rc's mom!
3- the Buddhist college in our area that we go to everyday trying to baptize them all. stay tuned. one day it'll be BYU Hualian:)
4- pretty sunsets at the college
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