Week 48: The Holy Ghost is the Teacher (July 3, 2017)

Hello Hello team

Well, things have definitely been heating up around here! And I mean that in every way possible. Summer has definitely come and it is toastayyyyy. But it is so good. Blood, SWEAT and tears am I right?? ha! But really, it is great. 

This past week was a good one. Honestly, looking back it was all a little bit of a blur so I'll try my best to remember the highlights for ya'll. 

Looking back, our week was full of lots of ups and downs. Getting stood up, getting passed a baptismal date investigator, plans falling through, miracle finds, great member work, people who promised to come to church not coming, and putting new people on baptismal dates! That is about how the work is going. ha Lots of great and lots of.. unexpected. ha But what really stood out to me from this week are three experiences.

The first was a visit to the Wang Family in our ward. They have been members for a long time, and are a wonderful family! We went over to visit them, share a message, and ask them for referrals, but it turned out to be so much more than that. We prepared to share a message about the Holy Ghost, and in a discussion manner share about the nature and role of the Holy Ghost. As we did this, we also gave each member there an opportunity to share about a time that they have felt the Holy Ghost in their life. As each member shared their own experiences, the Spirit just filled the room and bore testimony to all of us that what each of us was saying was true. As we shared this incredible spiritual experience together, I just kept thinking how important it is to remember and record all of our spiritual experiences. They are gifts, and if we show the Lord our gratitude for them by writing them down, He will, in turn, continue to give us more and more. Plus it will help us to remember them often and to ALWAYS be filled with the Spirit. Just all around such good things. 

Next was a meeting with our RC Cindy this week as we met with her to teach the second new convert lesson on the Plan of Salvation. And by "us" teaching her, I meant "her" teaching "us!" Cindy is so awesome. We met with her, and she completely just taught us everything! All we did was just share a couple scriptures and bare testimony to what she was saying! It was just so special to see her testimony just growing more and more before our eyes. Best part is that after we finished the lesson she looked at us and said, "Ok, my turn!" and proceeds to share with us her favorite scripture that she read this past week. SHE IS SO AWESOME! RCs are kind of like children I think. The more you have, the bigger your heart and love grows. And there are few things happier than seeing them walking on their own (doing the little things without you reminding them to, making friends at church without you planning it, coming to activities when you didn't invite them, and developing their own testimonies). Moms and dads, am I right or am I right?! So anyways. Heart= so happy.

Lastly, I just felt the influence of the Spirit so much this week. Obviously, we always strive to have the Spirit with us, but this week felt especially guided by the hand of the Lord. Feeling the Holy Ghost so strongly in lessons, great English spiritual shares that led to new investigators, and some amazing finds. One thing that I really learned this week is how comforting the Spirit feels to souls that are near it. I had two really cool experiences this week of people I just barely met just pouring their hearts out to me about their trials and hardships and challenges. Literally just met. One woman I met while just sitting in a family mart (convenience store) for a second, and within 5 minutes we were in a deep conversation that brought both of us to tears. Why is that? Why would she trust this random foreigner, 20+ years younger than her, with all of her life's hardships? It is because of the Holy Ghost. It has nothing to do with us, but the message we bring. The gospel of Jesus Christ truly is a message that brings joy. It brings fresh starts. New beginnings. Hope. Peace. I have felt that so many times in my life, and that is exactly what I desire to share with others. Everyone is searching for that whether they realize it or not. We just have to find those prepared souls, and make sure we have the Spirit with us so that when we find them, HE can witness to them. 

Guys, I just love my mission so much. It is not easy, but oh is it worth it. I am so grateful I have the chance to serve here and be surrounded by so so many incredible people. So blessed!

I hope you all have a great week and live in a way to always have the Spirit with you! 

Also...SIDE NOTE. My MTC teachers that MY DISTRICT set up are now currently engaged so just let that one sink in. SO HAPPY FOR YA'LL LI AND HU LAOSHI. 

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: beach day adventures

5-6: some of this week's delicious moments- tomato noodles, fruit bing

7: the biggest down pour I have ever seen in my LIFE
8:Me finding out my MTC teachers are getting married
9-10: Today's adventures with our Bishop to learn about Buddhism at the practical monk mtc...very interesting pday. ha!