Hey Family!!!
Wow what a great week. We ended with miracles after miracles. We had 8 souls come to church all who are progressing toward baptism....Also we ended the week with 9 New Souls to teach and 20 lessons with members present..... It was a great week. Those numbers are just to show the amount of success the Lord is allowing us to have. It's not our hand that's doing these things; there is absolutely a higher power involved I know it.
But this Christmas was great. Christmas Eve we unwrapped pjs. Then on Christmas morning we went with Wu momma and Guan Chen at 4:30 in the morning on a "hike." Our original plan was to hike elephant mountain, when you get to the top you have a great view of the whole city including 101. So we set out and decided to hike it, but we turned too early so we started riding on our bikes up these roads that had to be the steepest roads I've ever ridden on. I got to the point where I couldn't even feel my legs anymore, and that it was freezing didn't help the fact. But we just kept going and going thinking we were going to find it. But we got as high as we could on these paved roads hoping to find the train only to hit a dead end and have a view of the actual mountain we wanted to climb up. It was across the valley. We had turned too early. Now we were higher than that one with no real view because of the apartments were in the way. It was a fun experience. The desired outcome wasn't what was expected but the fun while doing it was great. I loved Wu Momma and Guan Chen just rooting us on while they very smoothly road their scooter up the hills while we 4 struggled and died trying to get up there. It was a great Christmas morning spent with those who I love.
Then we came home and did studies we had a lesson in the morning which was great. Then we had another lesson right before the baptism. This guy was golden. We taught him the beginning principle in preach my gospel and set a baptismal date with him. He was sweet. Then we got ready for the baptism. It was a great service. Brother Ye is a stud. I remember back in the day when I was first in Song Shan we didn't like each other much. He always made fun of my Chinese and our relationship just wasn't great. I even got to the point that I just didn't want to meet with him anymore. He always refused being baptized, we invited many times in many different ways. But I guess when I moved and he moved over to Tai Zhong He had a change of heart and decided he wanted a new start with the members here in Song Shan and said that if I come back he will be baptized. Then you can guess what happened!! I came back!!!!! And he got baptized. He shared his testimony after he was baptized it was great, he told of his coming unto Christ story it was great. He had a really rough life like when his dad was mad at him when he was a kid he would take his cigarette and burn him on the arm with it. He still has scars all over his arms from it. He had a really rough childhood. He hates going home, but he also said that the church has taught him to forgive and he's found a new love for his family. It was a great thing for him to be baptized!!! It was really cool I know two main reasons why I came back to Song Shan now one is Wu momma and the other is Brother Ye! Along with many, many others the Lord has placed in our paths. It has been a blessing to be a tool in the hands of the Lord and being lead to those prepared people and sharing with them all that I know and love!! This is the best experience of my life; I love my mission and everything about it. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's absolutely worth it!! The things you learn and the happiness you see in other’s' lives as they live the gospel is priceless!! It's a memory that I will never forget, and with most definitely shape my life the way the Lord wants it shaped.
Then after the baptism we got ready for the ward party, which was amazing. There were many, many people there!! The whole program part of it was based on a family that ran into missionaries. So they were taken to the party and then according to that we had other things like the ward choir, and reading the Living Christ, stuff like that...So My companion and I were the missionaries. We started out by getting rejected by two people, and we looked at each other just in pain saying OK I have a good feeling about this we’re going to find a family, we'll say a prayer. So as we prayed we had the Zhuang family walk out, we said Amen and there was a family, so we contacted them and invited them to the party.....it was a great skit, it worked out really well, everyone was laughing and loving it. The party was great, the ward choir sang, we had a brother read the Living Christ, also had all members share their testimonies about the gospel blessing families and put them on a slide show and watched it, it was awesome because in the middle of the skit as I was supposed to invite this family to come to church with us the next morning I had the impression to turn to the whole crowd and invite everyone to church tomorrow. So I turned to everyone and said are you all willing to come to church with us tomorrow morning, and everyone yelled willing. It was a sweet experience, the power behind that willing was great. Then at the end of the party I used the mic again and followed up. I said now remember what is tomorrow morning, and everyone yelled church. It was great, and a creative way to help all the investigators there know about church the next morning. The best thing though was Sister Chen the professional dancer with the 2 way darling cute daughters. Her husband is way busy because he is a professional dancer also. Tonight he had another show so he wasn't going to be able to come to the Christmas party, but for some reason the show canceled so he ended up coming. When I saw all 4 coming in, I just couldn't help but smile and see that future eternal family walking into the chapel....I looked at her and she just smiled and winked because her husband was with her. I went up to her after and said Sister Chen, baptism!! She said I know. I asked her when, she was like I’m praying every night. Haha, so we're really trying to find ways to help him learn about the gospel so he can progress toward baptism. But because of his work he has a word of wisdom problem so we've got a barrier or two to help him get over. But I think he can most definitely do it. The party was great, so many people came.
Also on Christmas Eve, we went over to Brother Ault's house. He is an American that served a mission here. Now he is here for work. We had a great Christmas Eve party with much food, and a great spirit. Yeah I got invited to play the piano for the thing. I was freaking out. Talk about stage fright. It was all good until I found out that he was going to sing a solo with me playing a song that I've never even heard before. We don't need to go into too much detail of the experience, just know that not much singing happened. Haha it was bad, I felt a little embarrassed but it was great. I tried the best I could, really I put all my heart into it, it's just the effort of my fingers didn't match the want and desire of my heart. Haha, but I can't wait to get back and start up the piano again...I can't wait to take lessons and practice, and practice, and practice some more. It was a great Christmas Eve though!!
This last week was also temple week, on wed we got to go to the temple. It was great; I haven't been to the temple in a while. It was a great feeling to just get out of this dirt filled world and go into a place that was as clean as clean could get, and just being close to the Lord. It was great. It made me think of being in the world and not of the world. How we don't need to go into the temple to get these types of experiences. The home can also be that kind of place. But we need to remember that our bodies are a temple of God. When our bodies are clean on the outside and dirty on the inside we can't be a walking living temple. Just think about it. Looking at any of the many temples around the world, they are beautiful. Think if you walked inside and it was all black and just nasty. It would be an awful feeling. But because the insides are clean the outsides are even that much better. We need to be walking living temples. So we need our insides to be clean. The only way to clean is through the Atonement of our Master even Jesus Christ. Through Him we can become a clean vessel, and be a walking light among the evil dark and dreary streets of this telestial world we live in now. There is so much judging, pornography, vain words, mocking, back biting, plain stupidity. Too much of all those things that make our insides dark. We need to live according to the standards of God. God's standards don't lower because of man's inability to comply to those standards. He's set his standards and we need to live up to them. The temple was a great experience I was also talking to the temple worker. They said just the other day they did a endowment for a person that lived 1000 BC... Can you believe it, the family history in China goes back that far. When I heard that I was in shock. That is so sweet. This church is so true, and God knows how to work things and the way things need to be done. They are getting done too, we need to join in and enjoy the journey of the crosses and hardships of this life, in order to live with Heavenly Father again. I love this gospel, I know it's true!!!
But I forgot to tell you on the phone when I called you guys. About Brother Chen or David. So we called for a week straight, but no answer....We really tried. Then we found out that this last Monday we had president interviews and because the university he teaches at is kind of close to the church where the interviews were held. We called and got permission to go and find him! And oh did we do just that. It was quit the adventure! We found out that the building he was in wasn't even on campus, so just had spent forever trying to find him on campus, just for a fact it is the biggest campus in Taiwan. So we found out he was off campus, we also looked at our watch and found out that it was almost time for interviews, but we didn't come all this way just to get close. We needed to find him. So we just ran and ran and ran until we got to his building. Sweating and out of shape we arrived at the building, luckily he was there. I had the picture in mind of what he looked like, as we entered a gated area we thought another guy looked like him but it wasn't!! So we went into the building looking for him, asking everyone. Finally we get to his room and he's there. He saw it was us missionaries and he was just like sorry, sorry I don't have time right now I have to go to a meeting. Then I asked him to you know a Rick Pettit. He said yes, I told him about the situation. We sat down for minute I relayed what Brother Pettit wanted me to say, and Brother Chen wanted to let Rick know that they have a 1 year old daughter now....But his interest toward the gospel was not there. I just gave him a Chinese Book of Mormon explained why it's important and testified that it was true. I gave it to him and invited him to read it. But other than that he wasn't quite willing to meet with us yet. But give it some time and he'll come around. He was an amazing man though. Just as humble and nice as you could be, it was a great opportunity to see him. But then we had to take a taxi and fly back to interviews to get there on time. It was a fun little journey. It was weird to walk through a college campus as a missionary, it was interesting and brought back some of my college memories. Just tons of middle aged people.
I’m loving this whole mission thing. It's sad that time flies by so fast. But it's a great thing that the Lord has blessed us with this time or probation that we need to prepare for the after world, and returning to live with Him again. All of our new members have been getting temple interviews and doing baptisms for the dead. Man, I can't even explain the fullness of joy that I fill when I get around these ward members. I want to stay here the rest of my mission. I love this area and can't even imagine leaving these members whom I've grown so close with. I just get happier seeing them smile!! It's a great love only developed on a mission and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
But Josh stop working out, your already bigger than me!! I’m this old man right now!! Geez. Oh well that's ok. hah I love you man. I love all you guys so much. It was great to talk to you guys! Thank you so much for all that you do and the love that you share for me. I love you Dad, Mom, Josh, Trey, Cade, Britton, and Abby. You guys are the best!!
Love-
Elder Rasmussen
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Just Me with one of our new investigators Brother Wu that came to the party. Guan Chen dressed up as Santa, so I sat on his lap, also this is the Zhuang Family's little 7 year old daughter, I've told her to email Abby but I guess she hasn't yet. I love this girl so much, she is so cute, and every time she sees me just runs up with the biggest smile and just wants to be around me. I want to just hug her so bad. 
We got 5 dollar bills from his grandmother, so we decided to sign them together as a rememberance of the amazing 2 transfers together. (The character in the middle of the bill means baptism :D)
Christmas morning at 4:30 in the morning we went with Momma Wu and Guan Chen on a hike. I love this picture, Wu Momma looks sweet in this pic....I love her diamand stud in her ear, haha.
Christmas morning at 4:30 in the morning we went with Momma Wu and Guan Chen on a hike. I love this picture, Wu Momma looks sweet in this pic....I love her diamand stud in her ear, haha.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
What a Great Period of Time it is to Be Alive!!
Hey Family!!
Things are going great here in Taiwan. Just a lot of stuff has been going on because of Christmas. So we are just getting things ready and still immersing ourselves into the work of the Lord. Just yesterday on Sunday night we had a cool opportunity to take part in the nativity show that the English ward puts on every year. It was great. We missionaries had a choir put together and we sang for the nativity. It was a very spiritual event. We found lots of new people that I believe will start to investigate the church. It was a huge success. Everybody loved it. It was a great experience. We just held it right next to the temple!
This week was good. I tried and tried and tried to get a hold of David, Chen. He didn't ever answer but I’ll continue to try. I know that the college he teaches at is not in my area. But who knows I don't know where he would live. So I’m hoping this week I’ll get a hold of him and be able to work from there.
A cool miracle that happened this week. As I was on exchanges this week with a new elder in the district who has been on island only 3 weeks. We had 40 minutes to contact and find some new people to teach. We set a goal to find 2 lessons and to help them continue to come to church and learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we wrote down the goal and set it. We went out and I saw a young girl, I started talking to her, she was about 24 years old. I started talking to her. I soon found out that she was very sad with life because work was really busy and tiring, and she didn't have a lot of friends. But she really wanted to help her faith and hope in life grow. So I shared prayer with her and testified of the importance and meaning of prayer. Then I taught her about her relationship with God and how she is of great importance in the eyes of him. How He loves her, and wants her to be happy and to be successful in life. She really liked the idea of that. Then I asked her if you start to meet God and fill his love would you follow what he asks us to do? She said yes. So I invited her to baptism. I just told her I know this is what God wants you to do. She said she is totally willing so she set a 1/21/10 baptismal date. She was way happy after I got done talking to her. Then I set her up for the next night to meet with the sisters in Xi Zhi. She ended up coming and loving it. I asked Sister Riggs in the district how was she. She just started freaking out and thanking me so much for finding her because she was golden. She come to church also, and then came to the nativity scene. She was a lot happier and met a great friend at the nativity which is also another investigator so it was a cool experience to be a part of. I’m grateful that the Lord trusted me and put her in my path. I was grateful to be a tool in the hand of the Lord's that night. It was like music to my ears when I heard her set up for baptism, and a song of joy when I found out she went to church.
Another awesome thing. At the nativity I had a women come up to me. Her name is Susan. She is amazing. About 2 months ago I found her on the street taught her and gave her a Book of Mormon, then set her up with missionaries to meet. They ended up standing her up the first time. Then called her and luckily she was nice enough to set up again. But she came up to me and was like Elder Rasmussen guess what? I was like what? She said I was baptized today. I can't even begin to explain the joy that I felt at that time. I remember contacting her and teaching her on the street, and now she is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What an amazing blessing it is!! She is Filipino, so that made me so excited. Now she can hopefully help her family in the Philippines get baptized and they can someday be married for time and all eternity. What an amazing blessing the gospel is. It brings all nations, kindred, tongue, and people together as one. There is no separation in the gospel! We are all supposed to be a unified group of ONE! We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only true and living church on earth, and that will ever be, which is in preparatory to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the King of all kings. What a great period of time it is to be alive!!
This week was interesting. I was feeling something was wrong with our district. I was contacting on the street Thursday night and it just hit be strong that something wasn't right. I was confused; it just didn't have the same feel as it usually has had. So I prayed about it and I’m pretty sure that pride is starting to creep into some of the district members. We all know that pride is the downfall of everything. So I’m going to continue to prayer and study up and see how I can help the district stay humble. Something I’ve been doing that has changed my life/mission experience. After every successful contact I’ll stop, write down about the person I just talked to and then say a prayer of thanks. It has kept my mind on the Lord, and not allowed me to think that anything I’m doing is because of the Lord! Also just dedicating your day to the Lord in the morning as you kneel down and say your prayer. it's helped me immensely, I feel more humble and closer and closer to the Lord. It's been a great week for that purpose! But other than that the district is doing good, we are improving and moving toward a sturdy place in the work. We had a good district meeting last week. I talked to them about goal setting. President Grimley said "you should be getting your goals 85-90 percent of the time" So I saw the goals for the next week in the district, they are a lot more realistic, and as we actually get our goals we will gain more and more faith, and fire. So it's all looking positive, just trying to uplift, motivate, and help all the missionaries and people I’m around. I’m trying, and think that the Lord is happy with what I’m doing. There is still a ton of room needed to improve, but we all are working on it, and working on becoming sanctified servants of the Lord!
That's so crazy that Landon gets home on Thursday, you'll have to say hi for me. All my friends are getting home, it’s so weird. Steve has been home for about 4 months now. Kyle is home, Landon ends and Rob is done. I can't believe it, life just moves on and on and on!! I just can't wait to get married. Especially after last night, seeing all the English ward kids running around. I love kids so much. I can't wait to have a family of my own, to love them, care for them, be there for them!! What a beautiful and sacred thing marriage is!! It's so sad, in Taiwan it's taken pretty lightly, and there are a bunch of stuff that go on outside of just husband and wife. It's really sad. Thank you Dad and Mom for setting an amazing example of perfect parents. You nurtured me, put up with me through those teenage years, and taught me the ways of truth. I will be forever thankful for the sacrifice you two made to take care of your rowdy son Brock. Thank you!! I hope to repay you throughout the rest of my life, but even after that I know it will not be enough!! Really thank you so much. I love you Dad, I love you Mom. Oh yeah I can't forget those 5 other little munchkins. Josh, Trey, Cade, Britton, and Abby. You all are my sunshine. I love you guys so much, I can't wait to talk to you guys in a couple of weeks. I’m glad to see that you’re all doing great, and I hope that you guys are developing the Talents that the Lord has given you. Don't let those go to waste. Do all in your power to develop those talents then pray to the Lord to develop them even more. I’m really trying to develop my piano, every morning at 5. I’m up to about the ability to play 9-10 hymns. And I can sight read almost anything with the right hand. But I’m so excited to continue to develop my piano skills the rest of my life.
Well this week is a little shorter. But I just would like to share my testimony. I know God lives. I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior and Redeemer of the World. I know that the church was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God at this point in time! I’m grateful for repentance and the cleansing power it includes. I know that repentance has allowed my life to become closer to God, and to feel the promptings of the spirit. I love this gospel. I love my life. I love my family! I’m grateful for all that I have, because it all came from my creator even God himself!! Thank you family you guys are the best. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
This is the best experience of my Life! It's hard and challenging, but it's absolutely worth it.
Love your son and Elder Brother
Brock
Things are going great here in Taiwan. Just a lot of stuff has been going on because of Christmas. So we are just getting things ready and still immersing ourselves into the work of the Lord. Just yesterday on Sunday night we had a cool opportunity to take part in the nativity show that the English ward puts on every year. It was great. We missionaries had a choir put together and we sang for the nativity. It was a very spiritual event. We found lots of new people that I believe will start to investigate the church. It was a huge success. Everybody loved it. It was a great experience. We just held it right next to the temple!
This week was good. I tried and tried and tried to get a hold of David, Chen. He didn't ever answer but I’ll continue to try. I know that the college he teaches at is not in my area. But who knows I don't know where he would live. So I’m hoping this week I’ll get a hold of him and be able to work from there.
A cool miracle that happened this week. As I was on exchanges this week with a new elder in the district who has been on island only 3 weeks. We had 40 minutes to contact and find some new people to teach. We set a goal to find 2 lessons and to help them continue to come to church and learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we wrote down the goal and set it. We went out and I saw a young girl, I started talking to her, she was about 24 years old. I started talking to her. I soon found out that she was very sad with life because work was really busy and tiring, and she didn't have a lot of friends. But she really wanted to help her faith and hope in life grow. So I shared prayer with her and testified of the importance and meaning of prayer. Then I taught her about her relationship with God and how she is of great importance in the eyes of him. How He loves her, and wants her to be happy and to be successful in life. She really liked the idea of that. Then I asked her if you start to meet God and fill his love would you follow what he asks us to do? She said yes. So I invited her to baptism. I just told her I know this is what God wants you to do. She said she is totally willing so she set a 1/21/10 baptismal date. She was way happy after I got done talking to her. Then I set her up for the next night to meet with the sisters in Xi Zhi. She ended up coming and loving it. I asked Sister Riggs in the district how was she. She just started freaking out and thanking me so much for finding her because she was golden. She come to church also, and then came to the nativity scene. She was a lot happier and met a great friend at the nativity which is also another investigator so it was a cool experience to be a part of. I’m grateful that the Lord trusted me and put her in my path. I was grateful to be a tool in the hand of the Lord's that night. It was like music to my ears when I heard her set up for baptism, and a song of joy when I found out she went to church.
Another awesome thing. At the nativity I had a women come up to me. Her name is Susan. She is amazing. About 2 months ago I found her on the street taught her and gave her a Book of Mormon, then set her up with missionaries to meet. They ended up standing her up the first time. Then called her and luckily she was nice enough to set up again. But she came up to me and was like Elder Rasmussen guess what? I was like what? She said I was baptized today. I can't even begin to explain the joy that I felt at that time. I remember contacting her and teaching her on the street, and now she is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What an amazing blessing it is!! She is Filipino, so that made me so excited. Now she can hopefully help her family in the Philippines get baptized and they can someday be married for time and all eternity. What an amazing blessing the gospel is. It brings all nations, kindred, tongue, and people together as one. There is no separation in the gospel! We are all supposed to be a unified group of ONE! We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only true and living church on earth, and that will ever be, which is in preparatory to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the King of all kings. What a great period of time it is to be alive!!
This week was interesting. I was feeling something was wrong with our district. I was contacting on the street Thursday night and it just hit be strong that something wasn't right. I was confused; it just didn't have the same feel as it usually has had. So I prayed about it and I’m pretty sure that pride is starting to creep into some of the district members. We all know that pride is the downfall of everything. So I’m going to continue to prayer and study up and see how I can help the district stay humble. Something I’ve been doing that has changed my life/mission experience. After every successful contact I’ll stop, write down about the person I just talked to and then say a prayer of thanks. It has kept my mind on the Lord, and not allowed me to think that anything I’m doing is because of the Lord! Also just dedicating your day to the Lord in the morning as you kneel down and say your prayer. it's helped me immensely, I feel more humble and closer and closer to the Lord. It's been a great week for that purpose! But other than that the district is doing good, we are improving and moving toward a sturdy place in the work. We had a good district meeting last week. I talked to them about goal setting. President Grimley said "you should be getting your goals 85-90 percent of the time" So I saw the goals for the next week in the district, they are a lot more realistic, and as we actually get our goals we will gain more and more faith, and fire. So it's all looking positive, just trying to uplift, motivate, and help all the missionaries and people I’m around. I’m trying, and think that the Lord is happy with what I’m doing. There is still a ton of room needed to improve, but we all are working on it, and working on becoming sanctified servants of the Lord!
That's so crazy that Landon gets home on Thursday, you'll have to say hi for me. All my friends are getting home, it’s so weird. Steve has been home for about 4 months now. Kyle is home, Landon ends and Rob is done. I can't believe it, life just moves on and on and on!! I just can't wait to get married. Especially after last night, seeing all the English ward kids running around. I love kids so much. I can't wait to have a family of my own, to love them, care for them, be there for them!! What a beautiful and sacred thing marriage is!! It's so sad, in Taiwan it's taken pretty lightly, and there are a bunch of stuff that go on outside of just husband and wife. It's really sad. Thank you Dad and Mom for setting an amazing example of perfect parents. You nurtured me, put up with me through those teenage years, and taught me the ways of truth. I will be forever thankful for the sacrifice you two made to take care of your rowdy son Brock. Thank you!! I hope to repay you throughout the rest of my life, but even after that I know it will not be enough!! Really thank you so much. I love you Dad, I love you Mom. Oh yeah I can't forget those 5 other little munchkins. Josh, Trey, Cade, Britton, and Abby. You all are my sunshine. I love you guys so much, I can't wait to talk to you guys in a couple of weeks. I’m glad to see that you’re all doing great, and I hope that you guys are developing the Talents that the Lord has given you. Don't let those go to waste. Do all in your power to develop those talents then pray to the Lord to develop them even more. I’m really trying to develop my piano, every morning at 5. I’m up to about the ability to play 9-10 hymns. And I can sight read almost anything with the right hand. But I’m so excited to continue to develop my piano skills the rest of my life.
Well this week is a little shorter. But I just would like to share my testimony. I know God lives. I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior and Redeemer of the World. I know that the church was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God at this point in time! I’m grateful for repentance and the cleansing power it includes. I know that repentance has allowed my life to become closer to God, and to feel the promptings of the spirit. I love this gospel. I love my life. I love my family! I’m grateful for all that I have, because it all came from my creator even God himself!! Thank you family you guys are the best. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
This is the best experience of my Life! It's hard and challenging, but it's absolutely worth it.
Love your son and Elder Brother
Brock
This is just a cool area that they had up there. It was a blue sky wall, with a mirror, and the ground was a picture of the ground and it had clouds that would come in and out just like you were standing on clouds. The camera on flash made a cool light picture. This is with Elder Daniels. He only has 1 more transfer. It's sad, I'll miss him. I love him so much!
This last p-day we went to 101 and went up it. One of the tallest building in the world. I took a picture in front of it (you remember I took pretty much the same type of picture and used it on my Christmas card exactly 1 year ago!!! Time flies doesn't it!) But this family I contacted them and talked to them. They are from Singapore I shared our message with them and expressed the desire we had in Singapore to continue to share this gospel with them and they gladly accepted. So that was way cool!! While there I contacted 3 Japanese people who spoke very little English. I pointed at a picture of Jesus Christ, I said Konechewa or however you spell it and Ohio! which I think means hello and good morning. Then I somehow got them to know I wanted the Japan missionaries to visit them. I used hand signals and body languages and it worked. So I'll send their information over the japan. Then I also contacted some other singles from Singapore. There truly are prepared people all around the world.!!
Monday, December 6, 2010
It's Been a Weird Week...
My most amazing spectacular family!! How are you guys?!! Sounds like you guys are doing great, I’m glad to hear the Lord has followed through on His promise of protecting your family when you go on a mission. I feel not only has he protected our family, but has blessed us beyond measure. I believe he has blessed us in ways we as humans can not yet fathom, and will only understand when we receive a replay of the life we are living and involved in at this point in time. But just remember God lives, his hand is in each and every one of our lives, we must remember that and be thankful for it every day. We cannot let a day go by without lifting our hearts to the Heavens in thanks for all the blessings received from the hand of the Almighty Himself. I love my Father in Heaven, I have a close relationship with him, and know that relationship will only continue to grow as I’m casting my cares upon His Son’s back, and sanctifying myself to the fullest, which brings up a story I would like to tell.
This last week has been one of the weirdest weeks of my mission. Temptations left and right, disappointments left and right, not knowing or not feeling the confidence I’ve felt most of my mission. I’ve been in deep and constant thought about what is going on. As I’ve been pondering this I’ve thought about some teachings of a prophet or leader in the church who said something along the lines of "When something great is going to happen, Satan pulls out all the tools to stop that great thing from coming to past" Then my thoughts were drawn to the experience of the young man Joseph Smith in 1820. As he retired to the grove of trees to pray to a loving Heavenly Father with a question that would change eternity. He knelt down in prayer and was overcome by the power of the evil one. Only after all his energy to offer up the prayer was when he states "I saw a pillar of Light exactly above my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually till it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description. Standing above me in the air, one of them spake unto me calling me by name and said, pointing to the other, this is my Beloved Son, Hear Him!" I reflected this experience to my life at the current moment. I was thinking I’ve never been more sanctified in my entire mission or life for that fact. I’m trying with all the energy of my soul and with the power of Heaven to lose myself in the work, and sanctify my life to the Lord. It has been a long and tiring process. I’ve had days where I didn't think I could make it, I’ve had days where I wanted to quit, I’ve had days where I was sick of the rejection, and just wanted to cry. But one thing is certain and the testimony that has been planted and grown inside of me is that the Lord is always there. No matter what we are going through or what we are doing (whether it's sin, or going through trials) His arm is always extended in mercy. I know it, I know the Lord is always by our side, But.....He is just out of reach! So we must show our faith and reach for him through faith and repentance in order to receive his help. This is the testimony that has been given me. But what I would like to share right now is the "personal" first vision that came after a week of hardships, temptations, and setbacks. As I sat in sacrament meeting I pondered the life of the Savior. As the sacrament was being passed I was looking at the people in the congregation, I don't know how to explain it, except for an overwhelming feeling of perfect Love enveloped my body. I felt a perfect love and care for each and everyone in the room. I then gained another truth to my testimony, that is we are all Sons and Daughters of God. I felt that love yesterday in church. I know it's true. I couldn't help it...I just turned to both of the members on the left and right and told them I loved them! It was a feeling I’ve never felt before. I was filled with a charity that only comes through a sanctified life. (I’m not saying this to boast of myself, but I want to say how a sanctified life has blessed me and helped me know God) But as I sat there, I was overcome with a power that I have not felt before in my 20 years of existence the power and feeling to bear my testimony. Before that my entire life, I’ve never had this kind of urge to share my testimony. I don't even know what happened, the best way I can explain it is, I had a rush of hot water go throughout my veins from my head to my toe, this feeling lifted me out of my chair as if I were on a cloud just floated to the front stand. I don't know what came over me, the spirit literally picked me up out of my chair though. I didn't know what to share about. I just sat there and looked at all the faces of the members. The feeling of overwhelming love came back and filled my body. Usually I’m nervous, but this love replaced all feeling of fear of talking in front of people. I got up and learned the other testimony that will bless my life forever, this is as I bore my testimony. I just to start expressed my love for the Taiwanese people. Then it came to me, Satan exists. I testified of it! But then it came to me again but opposite this time. I said "I know Satan exists, but I also know God and Christ not only exist but live." Then I testified of Satan trying to destroy our efforts to be sanctified unto the Lord. I learned another truth, that right now in my life I’m moving in the right direction and sanctifying myself in the right way. There are two sides to it, one is very happy and pleased and the other angry and furious. The one will do anything, absolutely anything to stop one from being sanctified in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord confirmed to me yesterday in Sacrament that I’m on the right path, I’m doing the right things, and I’m being sanctified day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. I will never lose this relationship with the Lord that I’ve developed on my mission, and will continue to develop the rest of my life. Living a somewhat sanctified life is an amazing thing, and it has power, I can only imagine a completely sanctified life as the apostles and prophet live. I will continue to sanctify myself the rest of my life. I love my Savior, and know He lives. He really lives! He loves us and has already suffered for our sins and pains. The Atonement is real; it is the healing power that is needed by the entire world. I’m forever indebted unto Him, and grateful for that atoning sacrifice in my life.
Another experience!
One night after getting stood up, we had an hour to go and hit the streets and talk with everyone. I looked at the phone referral system. I just randomly picked a number; this man's name was Wu Qi En. I called him, and just stated that I was a missionary, I asked how his day was going, he said it's alright. I asked him if he could meet in a few minutes. He said yes, So we set up for the church in 15 minutes. As my companion and I were outside contacting waiting for him 15 minutes passed he didn't come, 20 minutes passed he still wasn't there, 25 minutes still no, at this time I started talking with a man whose wife is a Mormon his dad is also a Mormon, but he wanted nothing to do with us. As I was talking with him a scooter pulled up, I don't know why but I just randomly said, you can park here, I helped scoot some other scooters out of the way to give this man a parking spot. As the other man walked away I looked behind me and that man just on the scooter was just standing there looking at me. I greeted him, and just asked him you’re not by chance Wu Qi En, are you. he said yes, (was I excited to see him or what). Because my companion, Elder Workman was contacting another person we just sat down on the bench together and I taught him. I found out that he is a Christian. I asked him if he believes Christ is perfect. He stated yes. Then I asked him is Christ is perfect, and then everything that he says is perfect right? He said yes once again. Then I asked him what truth was? I also asked him could truth change. He said no it can't. So now we had established that God is perfect, everything He says is also, and that all He says is truth. Then I asked him, why are there so many different Christ's sects on the earth? He said because of the faults of men, and their own understanding. I said exactly, every priest or preacher has their own thoughts that they share and call it a church. He agreed. Then I said, but wait I thought truth doesn't change? How can there be so many different churches if truth doesn't change. He looked confused and just said that is a difficult question. I said well don't you think a Perfect God would give us a perfect Church that hasn't been changed and is built according to His truth? He said maybe, I just wouldn't know which one it is. Then I said Brother Wu, in a minute I’m going to share the most important message you'll hear in your entire life. Can we say a pray to invite the spirit with us before I share it with you. So we bowed our heads and said a prayer. Then I shared with him the first vision. It was powerful. I just looked into his eyes as I shared it with him. I saw into his soul, the longing for knowing the truth. The spirit of Christ being revived and allowing him to feel the truthfulness of the restored gospel. After I shared the message with him, I asked him do you believe that God would have appeared to Joseph Smith. He said, I don't know but if he did I'd think he would have left something to prove that he really did. I looked at him again and said I hold in my hands that proof. I know the Book of Mormon is the proof that this experience is true. I told him I want to give you this book to help you know for yourself that it is true. Then I asked him, Brother Wu, when you start reading this book, and know this is true, will you be baptized by someone holding the priesthood power of God, and join this church. He said yes. After we said the closing prayer, He thanked me for sharing this message with him, we set up another time. He said that I taught him very well, and it was very easy to understand why this is important. I just told him that it was the spirit of truth or the Holy Ghost that had just taught him. This was a precious experience that I’ll always remember. The power of God filled us both on that bench that night.
I can't even believe it, time is just flying by. It just gets faster and faster, its unbelievable!! Just know Rob gets home in 3 weeks. It's crazy, we really have to take care of our time here on earth and do all we can to develop the talents we have been given. Which reminds me, I’ve been really working on piano lately. We wake up at 5 in the morning and play piano at the church until 6:05. I can play around 8 hymns now, and I can look at sheet music and pretty much play it from just reading the notes, which I’ve never been able to do! It's really slow when I put both hands together and play, but after I practice a song a couple of times it comes naturally. The Lord has been really blessing my talents. I play in priesthood a bunch and stuff. Also I’ve pretty much made up my mind; I want to play college Golf. It's a passion that has only grown as I’ve come out on my mission. I love it!! I might try to walk on at Utah or Utah State gold I’ll see. I’m just praying that the Lord will bless me with success in athletics like it states in my patriarchal blessing. I’ve been going to the driving range probably 6 times now and 18 holes once. I’m pretty sure my swing has gotten better. Because of my mission and the change of the Lord my concentration has improves and my drive to perfect also improved. So that's my plan when I get home! It’s a challenge and a dream that I want to take on. Also can you get me a spot on with Sister Swensen. I absolutely need to keep taking piano, it's not even an option. Tell her I promise I’ll indulge myself into the music ha ha.........and yes I’ll practice every day. Tell her what she taught me as really helped me and now it allows for the spirit to be in our priesthood meeting. Thank you Barbara!!!!! I love you!
Things are going great. I love my life and this work. Thank you for everything you do for me. It has blessed me and helped me while on my mission. Always remember the Lord’ hand is in everything, and also always thank him. Re-read President Monson’s talk about gratitude and put it to work in our lives. We will be blessed. The prophets don't just talk to talk. They talk because it's what God wants us to know. So we need to go act upon the instruction we received in the last conference.
I love you all so much. Dad, Mom, Josh, Cade, Britton, Abby!! You are all amazing, and light my world on fire. I love seeing and thinking about you guys. Talk to you soon!!
Love-Elder Rasmussen
This last week has been one of the weirdest weeks of my mission. Temptations left and right, disappointments left and right, not knowing or not feeling the confidence I’ve felt most of my mission. I’ve been in deep and constant thought about what is going on. As I’ve been pondering this I’ve thought about some teachings of a prophet or leader in the church who said something along the lines of "When something great is going to happen, Satan pulls out all the tools to stop that great thing from coming to past" Then my thoughts were drawn to the experience of the young man Joseph Smith in 1820. As he retired to the grove of trees to pray to a loving Heavenly Father with a question that would change eternity. He knelt down in prayer and was overcome by the power of the evil one. Only after all his energy to offer up the prayer was when he states "I saw a pillar of Light exactly above my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually till it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description. Standing above me in the air, one of them spake unto me calling me by name and said, pointing to the other, this is my Beloved Son, Hear Him!" I reflected this experience to my life at the current moment. I was thinking I’ve never been more sanctified in my entire mission or life for that fact. I’m trying with all the energy of my soul and with the power of Heaven to lose myself in the work, and sanctify my life to the Lord. It has been a long and tiring process. I’ve had days where I didn't think I could make it, I’ve had days where I wanted to quit, I’ve had days where I was sick of the rejection, and just wanted to cry. But one thing is certain and the testimony that has been planted and grown inside of me is that the Lord is always there. No matter what we are going through or what we are doing (whether it's sin, or going through trials) His arm is always extended in mercy. I know it, I know the Lord is always by our side, But.....He is just out of reach! So we must show our faith and reach for him through faith and repentance in order to receive his help. This is the testimony that has been given me. But what I would like to share right now is the "personal" first vision that came after a week of hardships, temptations, and setbacks. As I sat in sacrament meeting I pondered the life of the Savior. As the sacrament was being passed I was looking at the people in the congregation, I don't know how to explain it, except for an overwhelming feeling of perfect Love enveloped my body. I felt a perfect love and care for each and everyone in the room. I then gained another truth to my testimony, that is we are all Sons and Daughters of God. I felt that love yesterday in church. I know it's true. I couldn't help it...I just turned to both of the members on the left and right and told them I loved them! It was a feeling I’ve never felt before. I was filled with a charity that only comes through a sanctified life. (I’m not saying this to boast of myself, but I want to say how a sanctified life has blessed me and helped me know God) But as I sat there, I was overcome with a power that I have not felt before in my 20 years of existence the power and feeling to bear my testimony. Before that my entire life, I’ve never had this kind of urge to share my testimony. I don't even know what happened, the best way I can explain it is, I had a rush of hot water go throughout my veins from my head to my toe, this feeling lifted me out of my chair as if I were on a cloud just floated to the front stand. I don't know what came over me, the spirit literally picked me up out of my chair though. I didn't know what to share about. I just sat there and looked at all the faces of the members. The feeling of overwhelming love came back and filled my body. Usually I’m nervous, but this love replaced all feeling of fear of talking in front of people. I got up and learned the other testimony that will bless my life forever, this is as I bore my testimony. I just to start expressed my love for the Taiwanese people. Then it came to me, Satan exists. I testified of it! But then it came to me again but opposite this time. I said "I know Satan exists, but I also know God and Christ not only exist but live." Then I testified of Satan trying to destroy our efforts to be sanctified unto the Lord. I learned another truth, that right now in my life I’m moving in the right direction and sanctifying myself in the right way. There are two sides to it, one is very happy and pleased and the other angry and furious. The one will do anything, absolutely anything to stop one from being sanctified in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord confirmed to me yesterday in Sacrament that I’m on the right path, I’m doing the right things, and I’m being sanctified day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. I will never lose this relationship with the Lord that I’ve developed on my mission, and will continue to develop the rest of my life. Living a somewhat sanctified life is an amazing thing, and it has power, I can only imagine a completely sanctified life as the apostles and prophet live. I will continue to sanctify myself the rest of my life. I love my Savior, and know He lives. He really lives! He loves us and has already suffered for our sins and pains. The Atonement is real; it is the healing power that is needed by the entire world. I’m forever indebted unto Him, and grateful for that atoning sacrifice in my life.
Another experience!
One night after getting stood up, we had an hour to go and hit the streets and talk with everyone. I looked at the phone referral system. I just randomly picked a number; this man's name was Wu Qi En. I called him, and just stated that I was a missionary, I asked how his day was going, he said it's alright. I asked him if he could meet in a few minutes. He said yes, So we set up for the church in 15 minutes. As my companion and I were outside contacting waiting for him 15 minutes passed he didn't come, 20 minutes passed he still wasn't there, 25 minutes still no, at this time I started talking with a man whose wife is a Mormon his dad is also a Mormon, but he wanted nothing to do with us. As I was talking with him a scooter pulled up, I don't know why but I just randomly said, you can park here, I helped scoot some other scooters out of the way to give this man a parking spot. As the other man walked away I looked behind me and that man just on the scooter was just standing there looking at me. I greeted him, and just asked him you’re not by chance Wu Qi En, are you. he said yes, (was I excited to see him or what). Because my companion, Elder Workman was contacting another person we just sat down on the bench together and I taught him. I found out that he is a Christian. I asked him if he believes Christ is perfect. He stated yes. Then I asked him is Christ is perfect, and then everything that he says is perfect right? He said yes once again. Then I asked him what truth was? I also asked him could truth change. He said no it can't. So now we had established that God is perfect, everything He says is also, and that all He says is truth. Then I asked him, why are there so many different Christ's sects on the earth? He said because of the faults of men, and their own understanding. I said exactly, every priest or preacher has their own thoughts that they share and call it a church. He agreed. Then I said, but wait I thought truth doesn't change? How can there be so many different churches if truth doesn't change. He looked confused and just said that is a difficult question. I said well don't you think a Perfect God would give us a perfect Church that hasn't been changed and is built according to His truth? He said maybe, I just wouldn't know which one it is. Then I said Brother Wu, in a minute I’m going to share the most important message you'll hear in your entire life. Can we say a pray to invite the spirit with us before I share it with you. So we bowed our heads and said a prayer. Then I shared with him the first vision. It was powerful. I just looked into his eyes as I shared it with him. I saw into his soul, the longing for knowing the truth. The spirit of Christ being revived and allowing him to feel the truthfulness of the restored gospel. After I shared the message with him, I asked him do you believe that God would have appeared to Joseph Smith. He said, I don't know but if he did I'd think he would have left something to prove that he really did. I looked at him again and said I hold in my hands that proof. I know the Book of Mormon is the proof that this experience is true. I told him I want to give you this book to help you know for yourself that it is true. Then I asked him, Brother Wu, when you start reading this book, and know this is true, will you be baptized by someone holding the priesthood power of God, and join this church. He said yes. After we said the closing prayer, He thanked me for sharing this message with him, we set up another time. He said that I taught him very well, and it was very easy to understand why this is important. I just told him that it was the spirit of truth or the Holy Ghost that had just taught him. This was a precious experience that I’ll always remember. The power of God filled us both on that bench that night.
I can't even believe it, time is just flying by. It just gets faster and faster, its unbelievable!! Just know Rob gets home in 3 weeks. It's crazy, we really have to take care of our time here on earth and do all we can to develop the talents we have been given. Which reminds me, I’ve been really working on piano lately. We wake up at 5 in the morning and play piano at the church until 6:05. I can play around 8 hymns now, and I can look at sheet music and pretty much play it from just reading the notes, which I’ve never been able to do! It's really slow when I put both hands together and play, but after I practice a song a couple of times it comes naturally. The Lord has been really blessing my talents. I play in priesthood a bunch and stuff. Also I’ve pretty much made up my mind; I want to play college Golf. It's a passion that has only grown as I’ve come out on my mission. I love it!! I might try to walk on at Utah or Utah State gold I’ll see. I’m just praying that the Lord will bless me with success in athletics like it states in my patriarchal blessing. I’ve been going to the driving range probably 6 times now and 18 holes once. I’m pretty sure my swing has gotten better. Because of my mission and the change of the Lord my concentration has improves and my drive to perfect also improved. So that's my plan when I get home! It’s a challenge and a dream that I want to take on. Also can you get me a spot on with Sister Swensen. I absolutely need to keep taking piano, it's not even an option. Tell her I promise I’ll indulge myself into the music ha ha.........and yes I’ll practice every day. Tell her what she taught me as really helped me and now it allows for the spirit to be in our priesthood meeting. Thank you Barbara!!!!! I love you!
Things are going great. I love my life and this work. Thank you for everything you do for me. It has blessed me and helped me while on my mission. Always remember the Lord’ hand is in everything, and also always thank him. Re-read President Monson’s talk about gratitude and put it to work in our lives. We will be blessed. The prophets don't just talk to talk. They talk because it's what God wants us to know. So we need to go act upon the instruction we received in the last conference.
I love you all so much. Dad, Mom, Josh, Cade, Britton, Abby!! You are all amazing, and light my world on fire. I love seeing and thinking about you guys. Talk to you soon!!
Love-Elder Rasmussen
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Something Special is Happening!
Hello, Hello Family. How are you guys doing? Hope that thanksgiving was a great one this year, because mine was awesome. It's pretty amazing I’ll be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years in the place I love, here in Song Shan. That's unheard of that you spend the same holiday twice in the same area. I’m very lucky and blessed of the Lord! I love this area! It's literally just like my home ward!! It's so fun being here and interacting with the members every day. What a miracle the Lord has allowed me have being here!!
This last week was amazing. I’m telling you something special very special is happening here in Taiwan especially in our district. Just an idea of the things that are happening in our district. The average new investigators in a month per district in the mission is around 50-70. Our district with less companionships are averaging around 110 new investigators a month. My companionship, or Elder Workman and I are baptizing more than entire zones. Not saying that to brag, but I just want to illustrate what the Lord is allowing to happen here in Song Shan and in this district. It's an amazing district, I love district meeting because I get to sit in front of 7 other missionaries who also like myself just want to serve the Lord and do all they can to bring souls unto Jesus Christ. I just love it, our district meetings are filled with fire and energy, every time I leave just pumped and wanting to go convert the whole city!! Which doesn't happen because there are some people that use their agency the wrong way, but it’s been a very big comfort lately along with this subject.
Earlier on in my mission Sunday was the most stressful and worst day of the week. When in all reality it's supposed to be the best, because we get to attend church and partake of the sacrament. But before it was always, waiting for investigators and them not showing up, so then I wouldn't have a spiritual good experience at church because I spend the whole time freaking out, where is this investigator and where is that investigator? It was a battle I’ve been having my whole mission. Just until recently I’ve been able to have spiritual experiences at church. Also to feel the sacrament take away all of my sins of that week has become the highlight of my week. I know that through the sacrament our sins are washed clean. I literally have felt my body be cleansed of those mistakes and a new feeling. I really is a baptism every week, What a wonderful blessing. But lately we found that as we do everything we can possibly to, to help all of our investigators know exactly why they need to do these things. As simple as simple can get, and as clear and plain as it can get, we tell them what we do, why we do it, and the outcome. After we've done that I’ve had a perfect assurance in the work that I’m doing. I know that I’m doing what the Lord wants me to do, So now I still get sad when they don't show up, or they don't follow through on a commitments but I don't allow it to bother me, because in the end it was their own personal choice whether to do it or not. It is my duty to share with them the what why and how. I know the Lord is pleased with the work we are doing right now. The way we are doing it. We are teaching People not lessons. We are helping people develop faith and endure to the end. We are helping people learn about the restoration which will bless the lives of all those who partake of its goodness. It's goodness is too hard to describe and too precious to try and explain. It's something that has to be personally experienced. It's our jobs and duty as members of this church to bring this gospel to everyone and allow them the opportunity to partake of the most precious and white fruit of the tree of life!! What a wonderful calling we all have and get to be a part of.
Huge miracle and lesson learned. Last night I was just not in a good mood. We went out contacting after an amazing day at church with 10 investigators coming and all being solid investigators who I believe will all be baptized in the coming month or 2. But it was a great Sunday, my studies were on the second coming of the Lord which fired my grill, I was ready to contact, go out and see some miracles. It was all going good, until I ran into a family in a park. They were playing with their 2 kids in the park. 5 year old girl and 3 year old boy, they were adorable. I asked them if I could share this message. They said no. I asked them if they loved their family, They replied yes. I asked them if they could live with them forever would they like that, they said no. I then said really, I asked them if right now you got separated from your two kids would you be sad, the mom was like, no that's just reality. I was like OK if you could not communicate with them, see them, or do anything with them would you not be sad, she was like no. Then I just lost it inside. I was so frustrated with this mom, with the no sort of love she was displaying right in front of her kids. I just invited them to church but still inside my heart was fuming. I don't know what it was. But I learned a most precious and important lesson at that moment in time, Families are Forever, They are the most important thing here on this earth, we need to protect them, spend time with them, stop teasing each other, stop fighting, don't do anything that would harm or hurt your family members. We are blessed, act like it!! I will forever hold this lesson dear to my heart, especially when I begin to have a family of my own. But the whole night I was just a little frustrated at him. We were just riding around and we went down an alley, to this point in time I don't know why but I just randomly stopped at a house, out of pure frustration and just not wanting to ride my bike anymore. We tracted a door and got rejected. I was just sick of riding, I saw a black staircase leading up to some apartments. I know it was the spirit leading me, but at the time I was just like, Let’s just tract for a minute. My companion was like, well what do you feel? I was like, it doesn't matter let’s just tract, it's only the 3rd time I’ve ever tracted on my mission. We walked up to the 5th floor it looked like the roof so we went to the 4th floor and knocked. The family was like, we have a sick mom upstairs can you give her a prayer. so we went up with the husband and gave the lady a blessing. The spirit of the Lord filled the room. Then we asked the husband if we could share a message with him, he was like, I don't know just go ask my wife. So we walked back down to the 4th floor asked her, She invited us right in. We started to talk to her in order to better understand her background. She was like we went to a Christian church in Xin Zhu (I’ve lived there before) she was like it was behind a hospital, I simply told her the address of our Mormon church in Xin Zhu and she was like, Yeah yeah we've been there before. We were like what? She then pulled out a picture of Jesus Christ and showed it to us. It had 2 elders and their signatures on it. The husband had been baptized 8 years ago. The wife never baptized and the son also never baptized. It was very interesting. I just looked at my companion and he smiled. We taught the mom and the son, we will teach them again on Thursday and Saturday, twice a week. I hope in the Lord that the husband will start to come back to church and we can help them mom and son receive baptism. It was a huge miracle that I can't even start to explain how it happened, other than the fact that this is the work of the Lord and that He wants it done. I still don't know why I stopped right there and walked up that staircase, maybe it was the Lord helping my heart settle down and show me there are still families that love their kids and want the gospel, I don't know. But it was a miracle that I will be forever grateful to be a part of!!
Lately I’ve been really interested in the signs of the coming. It's coming, and coming fast:D I can't wait. But so many things have already happened and are happening. It's amazing to be a part of. I can't wait to see my Lord face to face. I know that the work were doing right now is what needs to be done preparatory to His coming. It's on the doorsteps and we need to prepare. The prophets have been exhorting us to do so for ages, now we need to do what they've invited us to do. the easiest way to success and happiness in this life is through general conferences and the teaching of our living prophets, and through the Book of Mormon. I heard a prophet say, "the things we have learned in this general conference, if followed, is sufficient for us to be lead back to Christ presence" something along those lines, but the point is the living prophets words are more important than dead prophets. So listen to them, and live by them. Don't waste so much time with TV and games. Develop talents and learn the scriptures, preach my gospel, and understand the doctrine of the kingdom through dedicated study and prayer. I’m so glad for the knowledge the Lord has blessed me with since I’ve come on my mission. I may not know all things, I may not be able to answer every question, I may not be the smartest, the best looking, the fastest, or most intelligent but I do know by the power the Holy Ghost, God lives. I know it! I know it and I can't deny it. I plan on spending the rest of my mission and life helping people feel and know of his existence. The witness He's allowed me to have through many spiritual experiences is too precious to keep inside. I need to share it, and I WILL!
Just know that the work is moving forward. Something special is happening. We are preparing the world for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord is pulling so, so many prepared people and just putting them in our paths. It's amazing I’ve haven't taught this many golden investigators in my whole mission. The Lord wants the work done and it's getting done. It's our job to jump on board and be sanctified unto the Lord. I can't even start to explain the feeling that comes from being sanctified in the work, and in the eyes of the Lord. The relationship I have with my Heavenly Father is unexplainable but so real. I know he lives and Loves me. I know Jesus is the Christ. The Savior of this world, and all mankind. I know the Book of Mormon is True!!! I love you all so much, I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Love, Elder Rasmussen
PS. Could you send some of that hair gel and dry stick deodorant in the Christmas package? Thanks :D
This last week was amazing. I’m telling you something special very special is happening here in Taiwan especially in our district. Just an idea of the things that are happening in our district. The average new investigators in a month per district in the mission is around 50-70. Our district with less companionships are averaging around 110 new investigators a month. My companionship, or Elder Workman and I are baptizing more than entire zones. Not saying that to brag, but I just want to illustrate what the Lord is allowing to happen here in Song Shan and in this district. It's an amazing district, I love district meeting because I get to sit in front of 7 other missionaries who also like myself just want to serve the Lord and do all they can to bring souls unto Jesus Christ. I just love it, our district meetings are filled with fire and energy, every time I leave just pumped and wanting to go convert the whole city!! Which doesn't happen because there are some people that use their agency the wrong way, but it’s been a very big comfort lately along with this subject.
Earlier on in my mission Sunday was the most stressful and worst day of the week. When in all reality it's supposed to be the best, because we get to attend church and partake of the sacrament. But before it was always, waiting for investigators and them not showing up, so then I wouldn't have a spiritual good experience at church because I spend the whole time freaking out, where is this investigator and where is that investigator? It was a battle I’ve been having my whole mission. Just until recently I’ve been able to have spiritual experiences at church. Also to feel the sacrament take away all of my sins of that week has become the highlight of my week. I know that through the sacrament our sins are washed clean. I literally have felt my body be cleansed of those mistakes and a new feeling. I really is a baptism every week, What a wonderful blessing. But lately we found that as we do everything we can possibly to, to help all of our investigators know exactly why they need to do these things. As simple as simple can get, and as clear and plain as it can get, we tell them what we do, why we do it, and the outcome. After we've done that I’ve had a perfect assurance in the work that I’m doing. I know that I’m doing what the Lord wants me to do, So now I still get sad when they don't show up, or they don't follow through on a commitments but I don't allow it to bother me, because in the end it was their own personal choice whether to do it or not. It is my duty to share with them the what why and how. I know the Lord is pleased with the work we are doing right now. The way we are doing it. We are teaching People not lessons. We are helping people develop faith and endure to the end. We are helping people learn about the restoration which will bless the lives of all those who partake of its goodness. It's goodness is too hard to describe and too precious to try and explain. It's something that has to be personally experienced. It's our jobs and duty as members of this church to bring this gospel to everyone and allow them the opportunity to partake of the most precious and white fruit of the tree of life!! What a wonderful calling we all have and get to be a part of.
Huge miracle and lesson learned. Last night I was just not in a good mood. We went out contacting after an amazing day at church with 10 investigators coming and all being solid investigators who I believe will all be baptized in the coming month or 2. But it was a great Sunday, my studies were on the second coming of the Lord which fired my grill, I was ready to contact, go out and see some miracles. It was all going good, until I ran into a family in a park. They were playing with their 2 kids in the park. 5 year old girl and 3 year old boy, they were adorable. I asked them if I could share this message. They said no. I asked them if they loved their family, They replied yes. I asked them if they could live with them forever would they like that, they said no. I then said really, I asked them if right now you got separated from your two kids would you be sad, the mom was like, no that's just reality. I was like OK if you could not communicate with them, see them, or do anything with them would you not be sad, she was like no. Then I just lost it inside. I was so frustrated with this mom, with the no sort of love she was displaying right in front of her kids. I just invited them to church but still inside my heart was fuming. I don't know what it was. But I learned a most precious and important lesson at that moment in time, Families are Forever, They are the most important thing here on this earth, we need to protect them, spend time with them, stop teasing each other, stop fighting, don't do anything that would harm or hurt your family members. We are blessed, act like it!! I will forever hold this lesson dear to my heart, especially when I begin to have a family of my own. But the whole night I was just a little frustrated at him. We were just riding around and we went down an alley, to this point in time I don't know why but I just randomly stopped at a house, out of pure frustration and just not wanting to ride my bike anymore. We tracted a door and got rejected. I was just sick of riding, I saw a black staircase leading up to some apartments. I know it was the spirit leading me, but at the time I was just like, Let’s just tract for a minute. My companion was like, well what do you feel? I was like, it doesn't matter let’s just tract, it's only the 3rd time I’ve ever tracted on my mission. We walked up to the 5th floor it looked like the roof so we went to the 4th floor and knocked. The family was like, we have a sick mom upstairs can you give her a prayer. so we went up with the husband and gave the lady a blessing. The spirit of the Lord filled the room. Then we asked the husband if we could share a message with him, he was like, I don't know just go ask my wife. So we walked back down to the 4th floor asked her, She invited us right in. We started to talk to her in order to better understand her background. She was like we went to a Christian church in Xin Zhu (I’ve lived there before) she was like it was behind a hospital, I simply told her the address of our Mormon church in Xin Zhu and she was like, Yeah yeah we've been there before. We were like what? She then pulled out a picture of Jesus Christ and showed it to us. It had 2 elders and their signatures on it. The husband had been baptized 8 years ago. The wife never baptized and the son also never baptized. It was very interesting. I just looked at my companion and he smiled. We taught the mom and the son, we will teach them again on Thursday and Saturday, twice a week. I hope in the Lord that the husband will start to come back to church and we can help them mom and son receive baptism. It was a huge miracle that I can't even start to explain how it happened, other than the fact that this is the work of the Lord and that He wants it done. I still don't know why I stopped right there and walked up that staircase, maybe it was the Lord helping my heart settle down and show me there are still families that love their kids and want the gospel, I don't know. But it was a miracle that I will be forever grateful to be a part of!!
Lately I’ve been really interested in the signs of the coming. It's coming, and coming fast:D I can't wait. But so many things have already happened and are happening. It's amazing to be a part of. I can't wait to see my Lord face to face. I know that the work were doing right now is what needs to be done preparatory to His coming. It's on the doorsteps and we need to prepare. The prophets have been exhorting us to do so for ages, now we need to do what they've invited us to do. the easiest way to success and happiness in this life is through general conferences and the teaching of our living prophets, and through the Book of Mormon. I heard a prophet say, "the things we have learned in this general conference, if followed, is sufficient for us to be lead back to Christ presence" something along those lines, but the point is the living prophets words are more important than dead prophets. So listen to them, and live by them. Don't waste so much time with TV and games. Develop talents and learn the scriptures, preach my gospel, and understand the doctrine of the kingdom through dedicated study and prayer. I’m so glad for the knowledge the Lord has blessed me with since I’ve come on my mission. I may not know all things, I may not be able to answer every question, I may not be the smartest, the best looking, the fastest, or most intelligent but I do know by the power the Holy Ghost, God lives. I know it! I know it and I can't deny it. I plan on spending the rest of my mission and life helping people feel and know of his existence. The witness He's allowed me to have through many spiritual experiences is too precious to keep inside. I need to share it, and I WILL!
Just know that the work is moving forward. Something special is happening. We are preparing the world for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord is pulling so, so many prepared people and just putting them in our paths. It's amazing I’ve haven't taught this many golden investigators in my whole mission. The Lord wants the work done and it's getting done. It's our job to jump on board and be sanctified unto the Lord. I can't even start to explain the feeling that comes from being sanctified in the work, and in the eyes of the Lord. The relationship I have with my Heavenly Father is unexplainable but so real. I know he lives and Loves me. I know Jesus is the Christ. The Savior of this world, and all mankind. I know the Book of Mormon is True!!! I love you all so much, I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Love, Elder Rasmussen
PS. Could you send some of that hair gel and dry stick deodorant in the Christmas package? Thanks :D
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sanctification...The Key to Power!
Hey Family!!! Glad to hear that all you are doing great!!! I love nothing more than Monday morning I get to read about my dad and mom and about every kid to see how they are doing in life, and what things they are accomplishing. I’ll tell you it gives your big brother some attitude because I get so excited to see my siblings accomplishing great things and doing great things. I’m grateful for all you guys do, and all the talents that you have. I’m proud to call myself your brother and son. Thank you for all that you do!!
This week was great. We ended with Sister Chen getting confirmed in church and Peggy or (Li Pei Qi) Getting baptized afterwords. It was a great service full of the Love of God, and the spirit being present within every one of us. Peggy loves the Lord and you can see it by the way she shares her testimony and is helping all of our investigators. I can feel something special inside her. When she speaks her body kind of shakes, it's as if her spirit is just yelling at her body to get out of the way because it has many things that need to be said, experienced, and told. She has amazing faith, and is willing to do anything for the Lord. She is always talking about how she can't wait till the second coming of Jesus Christ the Lord and Redeemer of the World. She is basing her whole life off of that event saying "I want to live so when that happens I’ll be able to smile and know that I’m clean." She has only been an investigator for about 2 or 3 weeks. This is what I like to call a very, very prepared soul. I love looking at the schedule for the day and seeing her name one of the day’s activities. Because that means that we get to have a very spiritual experience and learn from her about Faith. I love her to death.
A cool experience. We have an investigator Sister Xie. She is in her 30's, she is also just great. We had planned to teach her the Plan of Salvation with the Word of wisdom. Because of Time we were only able to teach her the Word of Wisdom. What a spiritual experience that was. We started by explaining the blessings of this Law of Heaven. Then we explained what it was. We said according to you what do you think we can eat or drink that would be bad for our bodies. She said the obvious ones bear, smoking, drugs. Then we were like what else. She just randomly said Coffee. We said yup, she went from a face of guessing what could be bad for our bodies to a face of horror. She said are you serious you can’t drink coffee. We said God has asked us not to so we choose not to. She was like oh man this is a big problem. She drinks a cup of coffee every hour. About 6-8 cups a day which is a load of coffee. We taught her why we follow this commandment. We looked at her and said Sister Xie, will you start to follow the Word of Wisdom. She looked as us and said, yes I will. It was an absolutely perfect display of child like faith. She went from saying If I don't drink coffee I’ll die, to yes I’ll keep this Law in the matter of minutes. The spirit of the Lord worked on her spirit, and made the light of this Law simple to understand and she was willing to follow. She is amazing, I learn something new to from every investigator every time we meet with them.
We've been really stressing the importance of Reading, Praying and coming to church with all of our investigators. We've been using an example we came up with. The H2O example. We ask them what does a water molecule include. They said 2 Hydrogen and 1 oxygen. Then we ask them if you only have 1 Hydrogen can it be a water molecule. They obviously say no. Then we say OK if you have 2 hydrogen and no oxygen can you have a water molecule. Then again they say no, thinking that we are giving them a lesson on science of something. But then we hit them with the example. We said OK, do you want to know if this gospel is true? If they say yest, then we say this water molecule is our answer or our testimony. We need both hydrogen's which are prayer and Scripture study, and the biggest part an oxygen which is coming to church, in order to produce the water molecule or our testimony. After this lesson they completely know what they need to do, and if they aren't willing to go and do it, then we don't have time to meet with them, because there are too many prepared souls that are willing. So we are just making sure we know who really wants it, and not wasting time on those that may now be prepared yet. As we have gone about doing this we have really found out which investigators are willing to progress and learn about this gospel, and those that really want to know if these things are true or not. It's interesting, if there is an investigator that does these 3 very, very simple things, there is no way they will not get a testimony. Granted they have to be repenting and following commandments but it’s a given. God won't lie, he'll give everyone an answer if were willing to work for it. This is an action gospel, that's why we are called a living church. We aren't just a church that goes to church on Sunday. We are constantly acting and working on helping the world come to the knowledge of the Savior of the World even Jesus Christ. I love my calling, I love serving the Lord, and Love calling the world to repentance, because oh how much do they need it!! But I still love the people with all my heart, That's my drive to share with everyone regardless where they are or what they look like.
Testimony get together. Last night we had an amazing experience. Wu momma invited us over for dinner. We got there and there was about 12 people there all were our new members and the bishop and his wife. It was cool to think that everyone in that room was a new member, not baptized more than a year. What and amazing feeling. Just to know of the support they all gave to each other. It was a great environment to be in. After we finished eating, we had a thankful party. We went around the room thanking the gospel for a change it's made in our life's. The Love shared in that room is unspeakable love. I couldn't even start to explain that love. Listening to how the gospel has changed all of their life's, and having the opportunity to share my personal experience, was a life changing experience. To see how much this gospel meant to these precious souls, or children of God. Parents disowning them, friends hating them, work friends mocking them, all in response to their decision of joining the church. I’ll will be forever moved and touched about this gospel and how it changes life's. It has absolutely changed and molded my life and made me what I’ve never even thought possible of becoming. I’m patient, loving, understanding or others, and just full of the spirit. I can't explain the feeling of being completely worthy in serving the Lord. Granted we all make mistakes, but the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. It heals the broken heart, and builds up those that need it!! I love my Savior, and will eternally be grateful for the change He has brought about in my life. I love my life, the time that I have to spend here in mortality is precious to me, and my view of how to spend it has completely changed. I have many, many hidden talents that I want to develop. I love playing the piano, singing, talking with others, understanding how my role in this gospel works. All are blessing since coming on the mission. This mission is necessary for all young men's salvation. it's the fastest improvement that needs to be made in order to progress towards eternal life. In this little sharing session I also learned of my love for the Taiwanese people. I love them more then I can explain with words. I hope my love for them is shown by my effort in bringing them the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also learned that I have an eternal friend and brother in Wu Guan Chen. I’ve always loved him and knew I wanted to see him for eternity. But lately my understanding and Love of and for him has taken a new level. I want you guys to meet all of my converts so bad. You'll love every single one of them. I just want them all to move to America so I can always see them. I love being around them. I don't want to leave Song Shan, I’ll be just grateful for the rest of my mission, if I stay district leader here in Song Shan with this ward. It's been a great calling.
The district is doing amazing. We are improving daily. We are the first district in the History of the Taipei mission for all companionship's getting the golden standard or more for new investigators. It's going great. The fire and desire in the district is enormous right now. It's been fun to try and just lead by example more than word. It's been working great. We've been really focusing of sanctification. Today is the first day of the new transfer. I’m staying in Song Shan with my trainee Elder Workman. But this transfers theme for the district I’ve come up with is. SANCTIFICATION-THE KEY TO POWER we will work on 100% complete sanctification and then I know we will become and stay sharp tools in the hands of the Lord. As I’ve sanctified myself more and more throughout my mission I’ve seen the Lords hand in my life and in the missionary work. I have a testimony of the reality of the father of the Son. I know they live. I know that because I’ve tried to sanctify myself and by doing so I’ve received answers and testimonies in ways that are sacred to me, and have allowed me to know, absolutely know without a single doubt that God lives. he loves us. And Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. We will come, and soon, this is why we must be prepared, be prepared to meet our Lord as he comes out of Heaven surrounded by concourses of Angels. I know I will be one to greet him into this world, and I hope and prayer everyday He will be able to take me in with loving arms. Like Enos, I know as I keep doing as I’m doing, The Lord will invite me into the rest of Heaven because He has prepared a place for me to live. I love being close with the Lord, I will never leave his side and in doing so I know I’ll always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost which is the most precious gift we can have in this life. I love my Lord and my God!!
The other day as I was praying I had the strongest feeling never to forget this language. Why there are two main reasons. The Lord has more work for me to do and I’ll never be done using this language to bring to past the immortality and eternal life of man. Also I could not live not being able to communicate with these loved ones I have met on my mission, and have helped come unto Christ. Just coming back to visit, and not being able to talk to Guan Chen or his mom, or the many others would put a dagger straight through my heart. I will continue the rest of my life to study this language.
Thank you family so much for all that you do. Just know that I’m having the time of my life. I’ve never been happier, and part of it is because you guys are all doing great too. So thank you for the example. I love all you guys so much. I pray for you every day I hope you feel my love for you!!
CHRISTMAS PACKAGE.
3 white dress shirts. For some reason all mine have been getting destroyed. I have 2 news ones I’ve just started wearing. But I think that should last me the rest of my mission. A letter from each of you would be nice in the Christmas package :D But other than that whatever is fine!!
I love you guys.
-Elder Brock Rasmussen
Keep up the hard work, the Lord is blessing us greatly. Keep thanking Him for the blessings ok!?
This week was great. We ended with Sister Chen getting confirmed in church and Peggy or (Li Pei Qi) Getting baptized afterwords. It was a great service full of the Love of God, and the spirit being present within every one of us. Peggy loves the Lord and you can see it by the way she shares her testimony and is helping all of our investigators. I can feel something special inside her. When she speaks her body kind of shakes, it's as if her spirit is just yelling at her body to get out of the way because it has many things that need to be said, experienced, and told. She has amazing faith, and is willing to do anything for the Lord. She is always talking about how she can't wait till the second coming of Jesus Christ the Lord and Redeemer of the World. She is basing her whole life off of that event saying "I want to live so when that happens I’ll be able to smile and know that I’m clean." She has only been an investigator for about 2 or 3 weeks. This is what I like to call a very, very prepared soul. I love looking at the schedule for the day and seeing her name one of the day’s activities. Because that means that we get to have a very spiritual experience and learn from her about Faith. I love her to death.
A cool experience. We have an investigator Sister Xie. She is in her 30's, she is also just great. We had planned to teach her the Plan of Salvation with the Word of wisdom. Because of Time we were only able to teach her the Word of Wisdom. What a spiritual experience that was. We started by explaining the blessings of this Law of Heaven. Then we explained what it was. We said according to you what do you think we can eat or drink that would be bad for our bodies. She said the obvious ones bear, smoking, drugs. Then we were like what else. She just randomly said Coffee. We said yup, she went from a face of guessing what could be bad for our bodies to a face of horror. She said are you serious you can’t drink coffee. We said God has asked us not to so we choose not to. She was like oh man this is a big problem. She drinks a cup of coffee every hour. About 6-8 cups a day which is a load of coffee. We taught her why we follow this commandment. We looked at her and said Sister Xie, will you start to follow the Word of Wisdom. She looked as us and said, yes I will. It was an absolutely perfect display of child like faith. She went from saying If I don't drink coffee I’ll die, to yes I’ll keep this Law in the matter of minutes. The spirit of the Lord worked on her spirit, and made the light of this Law simple to understand and she was willing to follow. She is amazing, I learn something new to from every investigator every time we meet with them.
We've been really stressing the importance of Reading, Praying and coming to church with all of our investigators. We've been using an example we came up with. The H2O example. We ask them what does a water molecule include. They said 2 Hydrogen and 1 oxygen. Then we ask them if you only have 1 Hydrogen can it be a water molecule. They obviously say no. Then we say OK if you have 2 hydrogen and no oxygen can you have a water molecule. Then again they say no, thinking that we are giving them a lesson on science of something. But then we hit them with the example. We said OK, do you want to know if this gospel is true? If they say yest, then we say this water molecule is our answer or our testimony. We need both hydrogen's which are prayer and Scripture study, and the biggest part an oxygen which is coming to church, in order to produce the water molecule or our testimony. After this lesson they completely know what they need to do, and if they aren't willing to go and do it, then we don't have time to meet with them, because there are too many prepared souls that are willing. So we are just making sure we know who really wants it, and not wasting time on those that may now be prepared yet. As we have gone about doing this we have really found out which investigators are willing to progress and learn about this gospel, and those that really want to know if these things are true or not. It's interesting, if there is an investigator that does these 3 very, very simple things, there is no way they will not get a testimony. Granted they have to be repenting and following commandments but it’s a given. God won't lie, he'll give everyone an answer if were willing to work for it. This is an action gospel, that's why we are called a living church. We aren't just a church that goes to church on Sunday. We are constantly acting and working on helping the world come to the knowledge of the Savior of the World even Jesus Christ. I love my calling, I love serving the Lord, and Love calling the world to repentance, because oh how much do they need it!! But I still love the people with all my heart, That's my drive to share with everyone regardless where they are or what they look like.
Testimony get together. Last night we had an amazing experience. Wu momma invited us over for dinner. We got there and there was about 12 people there all were our new members and the bishop and his wife. It was cool to think that everyone in that room was a new member, not baptized more than a year. What and amazing feeling. Just to know of the support they all gave to each other. It was a great environment to be in. After we finished eating, we had a thankful party. We went around the room thanking the gospel for a change it's made in our life's. The Love shared in that room is unspeakable love. I couldn't even start to explain that love. Listening to how the gospel has changed all of their life's, and having the opportunity to share my personal experience, was a life changing experience. To see how much this gospel meant to these precious souls, or children of God. Parents disowning them, friends hating them, work friends mocking them, all in response to their decision of joining the church. I’ll will be forever moved and touched about this gospel and how it changes life's. It has absolutely changed and molded my life and made me what I’ve never even thought possible of becoming. I’m patient, loving, understanding or others, and just full of the spirit. I can't explain the feeling of being completely worthy in serving the Lord. Granted we all make mistakes, but the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. It heals the broken heart, and builds up those that need it!! I love my Savior, and will eternally be grateful for the change He has brought about in my life. I love my life, the time that I have to spend here in mortality is precious to me, and my view of how to spend it has completely changed. I have many, many hidden talents that I want to develop. I love playing the piano, singing, talking with others, understanding how my role in this gospel works. All are blessing since coming on the mission. This mission is necessary for all young men's salvation. it's the fastest improvement that needs to be made in order to progress towards eternal life. In this little sharing session I also learned of my love for the Taiwanese people. I love them more then I can explain with words. I hope my love for them is shown by my effort in bringing them the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also learned that I have an eternal friend and brother in Wu Guan Chen. I’ve always loved him and knew I wanted to see him for eternity. But lately my understanding and Love of and for him has taken a new level. I want you guys to meet all of my converts so bad. You'll love every single one of them. I just want them all to move to America so I can always see them. I love being around them. I don't want to leave Song Shan, I’ll be just grateful for the rest of my mission, if I stay district leader here in Song Shan with this ward. It's been a great calling.
The district is doing amazing. We are improving daily. We are the first district in the History of the Taipei mission for all companionship's getting the golden standard or more for new investigators. It's going great. The fire and desire in the district is enormous right now. It's been fun to try and just lead by example more than word. It's been working great. We've been really focusing of sanctification. Today is the first day of the new transfer. I’m staying in Song Shan with my trainee Elder Workman. But this transfers theme for the district I’ve come up with is. SANCTIFICATION-THE KEY TO POWER we will work on 100% complete sanctification and then I know we will become and stay sharp tools in the hands of the Lord. As I’ve sanctified myself more and more throughout my mission I’ve seen the Lords hand in my life and in the missionary work. I have a testimony of the reality of the father of the Son. I know they live. I know that because I’ve tried to sanctify myself and by doing so I’ve received answers and testimonies in ways that are sacred to me, and have allowed me to know, absolutely know without a single doubt that God lives. he loves us. And Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. We will come, and soon, this is why we must be prepared, be prepared to meet our Lord as he comes out of Heaven surrounded by concourses of Angels. I know I will be one to greet him into this world, and I hope and prayer everyday He will be able to take me in with loving arms. Like Enos, I know as I keep doing as I’m doing, The Lord will invite me into the rest of Heaven because He has prepared a place for me to live. I love being close with the Lord, I will never leave his side and in doing so I know I’ll always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost which is the most precious gift we can have in this life. I love my Lord and my God!!
The other day as I was praying I had the strongest feeling never to forget this language. Why there are two main reasons. The Lord has more work for me to do and I’ll never be done using this language to bring to past the immortality and eternal life of man. Also I could not live not being able to communicate with these loved ones I have met on my mission, and have helped come unto Christ. Just coming back to visit, and not being able to talk to Guan Chen or his mom, or the many others would put a dagger straight through my heart. I will continue the rest of my life to study this language.
Thank you family so much for all that you do. Just know that I’m having the time of my life. I’ve never been happier, and part of it is because you guys are all doing great too. So thank you for the example. I love all you guys so much. I pray for you every day I hope you feel my love for you!!
CHRISTMAS PACKAGE.
3 white dress shirts. For some reason all mine have been getting destroyed. I have 2 news ones I’ve just started wearing. But I think that should last me the rest of my mission. A letter from each of you would be nice in the Christmas package :D But other than that whatever is fine!!
I love you guys.
-Elder Brock Rasmussen
Keep up the hard work, the Lord is blessing us greatly. Keep thanking Him for the blessings ok!?
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