How are you guys doing!!! I love reading your email as usual and seeing how great you all are doing. I love my family so much, you guys are amazing. I’m so glad to have the amazing support system that I have from you guys. I’m glad to hear that everything is going great.
Things for me, are perfect. Not even kidding I’m loving my life. I know I say this every week but I swear every week it just gets better and better. But yeah to start off during a 4 day period I gained 6-7 pounds from eating so much over the Chinese New Year’s, haha it was amazing food but man I was full every single day. It was so weird, we went to a restaurant and we sat down. The only thing on the table was a clear glass bowl full of little fried fishies, with their beady little eyes staring at you. I guess we were supposed to eat it. Man it was disgusting, no actual eating part wasn't as bad, but just the thought that you knew you were eating fish brains, and eyes and everything. It was really weird. Haha, it was a funny thing. They all had to beg me to try it, but I did and it didn't kill me so it's all good.
But yeah this week was absolutely amazing. I’m not even kidding the blessings the Lord poured upon us were unbelievable. Especially because the mission has a thought process that during the Chinese New Year’s you can't get anything done. Well with faith, hard work, and the Lord's help we planned on crushing that thought process, and boy did me. The Lord knew we could meet our goals if we did our part. So we set good high goals and went and got it. We ended the week with 34 lessons, 14 people with baptismal dates, 11 people came to church, and 20 of those lessons were with members present. The last two days on Saturday and Sunday we saw miracle after miracle. We were able both days to teach 8 lessons, 5 of which were members present which is exactly what we needed to reach our goal. Everyone was crazy about the numbers, they asked us what we’re doing. All we can say is we have faith, were working hard, and the Lord is doing the rest. Really though it's that simple, if we have faith and do our part the Lord will help us have success and that goes for all aspects of life. But yeah it was an amazing week, the Lord leads this work I know it, without Him it wouldn't be impossible.
But we went on exchanges this week, a younger missionary came over with me, and I acted like the older missionary. it was sweet, I had the phone and everything. So we taught a lesson for the first time with this one kid who is catholic, he is 22 years old. We were way straight forward with him, and I challenged him to get baptized and he said yes. Then I set a date with him. It was a powerful lesson, I was so grateful for the Lord's help and guiding hand in all of this work. But it was cool, leading all the lessons, taking all the phone calls, and being in charge it is quite a different experience but really fun.
Monday to Thursday it poured rain, nonstop. It was funny, every single day we came home at the end of the night, soaking wet. It was so amazing, it was freezing and cold. But we just literally kept singing at the top of our lungs (church hymns) as we rode on the streets, all people like huddled under umbrellas and under cover thought we were crazy. There were no scooters on the road, so we resorted to contacting buses and cars. The people thought we were crazy, we would pull up to the stop light and knock on the windows of the cars and buses to try and get them to roll down the window. Haha it was funny, and really fun. The funny thing is, almost all the cars have tinted windows because it's legal here, so you can't see inside at all, it's pitch black, so you don't know who is inside the car, you just act like an idiot and try and get them to roll down the window so you can share the gospel with them, it was lots of fun....just sing and talk to everyone, you'll always be happy, haha. But we went to a members house one night, my hands were so numb I literally couldn't feel them, every single puddle an inch deep on the road would fill my shoes with water so my feet were getting numb, and every taxi of bus that would ride by us would hit a puddle and fill our laps and bosom with water. Man it was an interesting couple days. But boy oh boy was it fun. Gotta love serving a mission, I love it!
Our investigator, Wu Guan Chen, he's the 18 year old kid. He got his dad to sign the baptismal paper, he passed his interview, and next week he is getting baptized. So I’ll have picture next week for you guys about that. He came out of his interview and cried because he was so happy he can get baptized. He is such a stud, I love him so much. He's been memorizing scriptures lately, like his knowledge of the gospel is growing so much. Earlier this week, we were teaching two lessons at once, so I went with him and a member. I decided because we've taught him everything, and I mean everything, like temple, auxiliaries, priesthood everything and he's not even baptized yet which is amazing, but we went through the first lesson and taught the 8 principles to each other, we each took turns doing it. So we had a member who was baptized 3 months ago, and Him who is yet to be baptized and we, and we went around I started taught the first principle then she did, then he did. It was an amazing experience, the spirit was really strong. It was a really good opportunity, for them to teach, and find out their testimony on each principle. (God is our loving heavenly father, gospel blesses families, every dispensation he reveals gospel through prophets, Jesus Christ coming to earth, apostasy, Joseph Smith story, Book of Mormon, and pray to know) It was an amazing experience, the spirit was really strong, and it was fun. Meanwhile, in the other lesson my companion was teaching. The lord blessed us with another golden person, he set a baptism date in the first 10 minutes. We are dumb founded; we just don't understand how the Lord is blessing us so much. My companion was like, I didn't think it was possible he was in our area because we are getting amazing investigators left and right, but sure enough he is in our area.
The story behind this boy is sweet though. The other day we went out to lunch. My companion contacting this Christian lady pushing a stroller. So they were talking and he was like tomorrow at 4 can you meet. She said yes, then there was a random kid by his scooter right next to them. Then this lady randomly said hey that kid will want to come too. So she asked the kid, you want to learn about God and meet with them tomorrow. This random kid said yes, and we met with him and now he has a baptismal date. Haha it was amazing. The Lord has a sense of humor, and regardless of the way or strategy, he's going to get his work done. Haha it was awesome. After we asked the kid if he knew the lady, he was like nope. Haha it was cool.
But there was a funny episode with Wakini, our mom from Indonesia. We met with her getting her ready for baptism. She is golden, absolutely prepared and amazing. But she has one issue. The only issue from stopping her form wanting to get baptized is...Guess...yeah you probably didn't guess right because it's a ridiculous reason. Haha but it's funny, it's because she doesn't want to share her testimony after she get's baptized, she's way nervous to stand in front of everyone and do it. Haha we were laughing so hard, she was laughing, our member was laughing it was funny. She's the sweetest, cutest mom, she is 29 years old, and she is just shy I guess. She so cool though. So after we said the closing prayer, we were like ok you know what were going to go practice this after the baptism thing to get you ready. Haha it was kind of a joke at first but then we decided to really do it. So we went down to the second floor where the chapel is. I acted as the bishop, so I went up to the mic. We turned on the mic and acted like the real thing. I was like thanks for all coming to this amazing opportunity for Wakini to accept baptism, and I named off our member also. I was then like ok, it's time for the people that accepted baptism to share their testimonies. So I invited my companion first up, then our 18 year old kid, then I invited her up. Haha it was the same just like 5 people there who were at the lesson, but she still wouldn't get up in front of the mic and do it. Haha we had to like drag her up there and had our member hold her arm and they did it together, she was so nervous it was so funny. We were all laughing way hard the whole time. It was awesome. I love my life.
But yeah on Friday the Feb, 19th was my 6th month mark of my mission. It's crazy, I remember in the MTC when we were all saying we’re never going to get out of here. But I’m already half way through my 3rd transfer out here in the mission field. Its crazy time really does fly, we need to make the most of every second, because times not going to stop for us if were being unproductive. So it's up to us to make the most of it, and help us become like Christ. There's a quote by Abraham Lincoln that I like "The only way to predict the future, is to create it" It’s as simple as that, if we want to be happy we have to do those things that will make us happy. And the only thing that will make us or allow us to be truly happy, are the things that Christ asks' us to do. I’m making that choice, I hope everyone else will. I love my Savior.
But yeah, I’ve never been happy. I’ve never been closer to my Savior Jesus Christ, and my Creator. I’ve also never felt so close to you guys, my family. I’m so eternally grateful for the opportunity to bear witness of this gospel and Christ being the world’s Savior every single day. I know it, and nothing will take that knowledge away from me. I know it because I’ve received a remission of my sins, I know that because I’ve prayed and talked with God. He has forgiven me, and wants me to move forward and become the Servant and Man that he knows I can become. I know I have a purpose in life, to prepare to live with God, and help all those around me to do the same. This work is the most precious work on the face of the planet. I talk with everyone not because I’m told to by my leaders, but because I truly want to help everyone have a chance to receive the waters of baptism and have a chance at accepting eternal life. I’m so grateful everyday to have the Lord by my side to lift me up and give me the energy to submit my will to His and do His work, the way He wants it to be done. I love my life, my Savior and my family. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Ps. Today we have decided to go on a huge exploration of our area, so hopefully next time we'll have some way sweet pictures to send you guys.
Thanks Fam!! I Love you guys
Love-Elder Rasmussen
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
White is My Favorite Color!
Some pictures of the baptism. It went amazing, I'm so happy for her. She is the first investigator I've contacted personally, and seen go from knowing nothing to being baptized. I was so exicted!!
All Things Are Possible With the Lord, and Your Hard Work and Determination
Hey fam how are ya doing? I’m doing absolutely amazing, happy as ever. I’m loving my life, I hope you guys are too, because life is for fun, and if you’re not having fun you’re not doing it right!! (Playing xbox is not fun!! I wish I would have figured that out early in life, haha!)
But anyway, glad to hear all you guys are doing great. Here is my update since the last time...
P-day, we went to the temple we did an endowment session then me and my companion did sealing after. It was an amazing experience, I love going to the temple, it truly is God's home. But being in that sealing room, listening to the sealings, I can picture up in heaven or in the spirit world, there is some sort of barrier, and the parents are on one side, and the kids on the other side, then I could totally picture, when the sealing prayer was done the kids I was sealed for were able to run across that barrier and hug their parents with the sweetest most precious hug that they've been waiting to give since the 1700's. Man I love the temple! Then we were able to be the witness for a couple sealed together for the dead. The prayer is so powerful. I can't wait to get married, kneel across that alter with the love of my life, the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with and eternity, and say yes!! I love this gospel and everything that it is about.
Then we had zone conference the next day. It was way good. We learned about planning and setting goals to better our key indicators. President also talked about our key indicators and what we need to work the most on. Because they had a mission conference in Hong Kong with all the missions in Asia. We are the lowest in finding people to teach, we average 2 new investigators a week per companionship, and the rest of Asia's average is 7. But they send the numbers from the whole mission in to Salt Lake each week, then get a report back with all the missionaries in the mission and all their key indicators and if they are low they mark it with red. Almost every single companionship in our mission has a lot of reds on it. Then president was like some companionships are getting all golds (the best you can get), and when he said that the assistants looked at me and winked. I’m working so hard to not let this all get to our heads. I mean the Lord is blessing us so much, we are blowing all the numbers that the church wants out of the water all through the Lord's power. Satan is trying too hard to let it get to our heads, but we’re fighting with all our might to not let it happen, and it won’t. But that just gives a little example how well we are doing right now. The Lord is absolutely blessing us for our hard work and diligence. I’m so glad for the Lord's help in this work, without it, it absolutely wouldn't move forward.
The next two weeks are Chinese New Year, there is like a scared thought process about Taiwan during Chinese New Year, like you can try as hard as you want but you won't get even close to 20 lessons. But with good old hard work, faith and never having a bad thought about it we are going to blow that stupid thought process out of the water. This last week, no one in our zone got 20 lessons, but the Lord blessed us with 27. We are going to continue to have faith, and I know as we do that the Lord will help us reach the goals we've set. With the Lord nothing is impossible, but just the thought of Chinese New Year being impossible has already created doubt in the minds of a lot of missionaries. But we are going to move forward like a regular week.
But I will tell you something, during this week, I’m going to get so fat. Oh my heck it's not even funny, for the next week every lunch and dinner is packed with a member feeding us. They just bring out heaps of food, and we have to eat a lot, but we can't eat it all, like they feel really bad if you eat a dish all the way gone, because that means that they didn't prepare enough. But the food is so good, but man I have the worst food baby ever. Man it's scary. But I’m kinda breaking out of my picky shell inch by inch, I tried squid and octopus and all this weird stuff. It was all really good. I think it's funny they just bring out the fish and its scales and everything is just laying on a plate, and you just pick at it and eat of it. They dug the eyes out and plopped them in their mouth, gosh it was nasty looking, don't think I’ll try that stunt for a while. But the food is so good, and it's sweet knowing I won't have to buy food for a week. But yeah this is a crazy time of year. No one that you set up with on the street will meet during these 2 weeks. I literally have a list full of people to call and set up after New Years is over. It's not even funny, I’m going to have so many calls to make. (Maybe that’s why I worked at Convergys to get used to that, but I highly doubt it, man I hated that place, but I’m just trying to be optimistic about all things, haha.) But you know how I said no one will meet during the New Years, the other night we had a really cool experience.
We just got done eating at a member’s house, we went to the church quick and had about 30 minutes to go contact. So we said a prayer after we picked a certain place to go. During the prayer I had a night market pop into my head, then behind the night market pop into my head. After the prayer my companion asked me what I thought, I was like well I feel like behind the night market could be good. So we said another prayer, and decided to do it. So we traveled to the night market, literally talking to every single person on the way, not letting one pass our view. We turned down the road to get behind the night market, the second we turned down the road, under a stairwell the first things my eyes went to was a man in his 30's on New Year’s Eve night, standing there smoking and with a beer bottle. I had an immediate thought to talk to him. So I went and talked to him, while my companion went down the road to talk to more people. I started to talking to him, and asked if he was happy with life, he said no. Then I asked what his New Year’s plans are, and he said none. I gazed into his eyes, and saw the spirit of the Lord deep inside there somewhere longing to have a new start and come out and bless his life. so I talked about Jesus Christ, and the atonement, then he can truly have a new start to life and start over, and have a great life. He was getting excited about having that opportunity. I was able to prayer with him, and I committed him to prayer that night, and come to church the next morning. He agreed, and then we had to run home cause we were almost late. I left that, feeling I really spoke what I was supposed to say, and I really felt the spirit of the Lord flow through me as I testified to him. The next day in church he never showed, up I was bummed. Because I really wanted to give him a chance at a new start. Later on in the day my companion got a phone call and it was him. He was way sorry that he didn't come to church, he truly apologized he just slept in. Then said he really wanted to come, and he still really wants to meet. So we're meeting with him tomorrow. Something I left out about this story that is very cool, during the second prayer I said, since no one will meet during the Chinese New Year, I remember in my prayer I was praying for inspiration for where to go to find a prepared person in the next 30 minutes. Then I prayed specifically for someone that could meet during the Chinese New Year. And that is exactly what I found. The Lord lives, and I know that through faith and through sincere prayer we can be lead by his power. This was a cool experience, especially because of the thought process that you can't get lessons during the New Year, the Lord just blew that out of the water, because look what happened. I found a guy that can, and was prepared by the Lord to be under that stairwell, right then when I came around the bend of the street. The Lord is willing if we are!!
Also my companion had his first baptismal interview as district leader. We had to travel to the other elders' area to do it. With a 9 year old kid. It was a cool experience. But on the way as we were waiting at the bus stop I saw a guys kinda by himself, with head phones on and so I felt like I should go talk to him. I asked him about life. Make a long story short, he has no work, girlfriend, and happiness. He hates life. But once again I talked to him about the power of the atonement and he really had a dim light but a light none the less in his eyes. so I set up a time for the other elders to meet with him. Just another little miracle that the Lord is blessing me with by talking to everyone. I love being a tool in the Lord's hands. I have a long way to go, but I’m really trying to be dependent, and right now I feel like the Lord is willing to trust me. But the second I don't give my effort, and talk to everyone, it'll destroy that trust, and I’m not going to let that happen. But yeah that was also a cool experience.
Well the baptism yesterday was amazing. Not just for Lin Ming ling but for all our investigators that were able to come to church. Because all our investigators that came to church also stayed after for the baptism. One of our kids he's 22 he smokes 40 cig's a day, a week ago, and we've made a plan for him to quite, he's down to like 3-10 a day depending on the day. So he's doing amazing. After he saw the baptism, he was so happy and was in shock.. He wanted to get baptized so bad, so I think that was a good motive for him to keep trying to do these things. And he was asking me all these questions about baptism and stuff it was awesome. And our other investigator Wakini (who is from Indonesia, but speaks Chinese) she over like a week period is already half way through alma, she called us the other night and wanted to know if we were still having church, we said of course, she was way happy, then at church I told her about the baptism after and she was way excited to see it. She also came with like 3 questions from her Book of Mormon reading. She has so much faith, and is so prepared. I grabbed a member mom and the 3 of us sat down and answered her questions. The scriptures she had questions about were great scriptures, and I loved sitting down with her and helping her understand the meaning of the scriptures. It was an interesting little session because she can't read Chinese characters, so we got her an Indonesian BOM, and the member had a Chinese, and I was using English, so we have 3 different BOM languages, but we were all speaking the same language. It was really cool. But we sat down, and with the help of the Holy Ghost we helped her understand the meaning, and she was glowing when she found out the meaning and wasn't confused anymore. Man I love her. She is amazing. She's the sweetest lady in the world. She is 28 years old and has a little girl. So yeah that was really good for her also.
But yeah, we have a lot of people looking good for baptism, the Lord is really helping us get organized, and do all we can to help these people receive baptism.
I’m literally loving my life right now, thanks to hard work, and the love of the Lord. I love being in Taiwan, I love the people, I hope I’m slowly learning to love the food, and I love serving my God. Seriously every day I’m happy, yeah I have days where I don't really want to work as hard, but just push through that and you come out even happier. It’s the greatest feeling in the world. I’m so glad I made the decision to serve a mission. My mission has already changed me, I can't wait to go back to school and study and gain knowledge, before I hated it. But now I love studying, I love working hard, and sticking with things to get it done.
I’m so grateful for the Lord's hands in all aspects of life. He really does live, and wants us to be happy. So if we'll do our part, and trust him, he'll allow us to be happy. I’ve found that to be 100 percent true on my mission, if we want to be happy there are two things we need to do. 1.Work as hard as we can 2.Trust/turn to the Lord. With these two things all things are possible.
I know my Heavenly Father lives, He loves me and knows me. I know that I’m serving him on my mission. I know that I was called to this area with my companion Elder Daniels, for a reason, because the Lord knew with our hard work and faith he could trust us to get it done. I know that the Book of Mormon is God's word, I know this because I prayed about it, and received an answer that I will not deny. It’s true, more true than any other book on the face of the planet. Through it we can learn to be happy, and draw closer to our creator and his son Jesus Christ. I know Jesus is the Christ. I know through him I will receive eternal life, or exaltation and live with you guys forever and my future family. This is my hope, that I can provide
a good example for you guys, and you guys will want to live with me for eternity. Thank you guys so much for being an amazing family, I love you guys so much. I also know that God loves you guys so much.
Thank you so much for supporting me in the Lord's work.
Love, Brock
But anyway, glad to hear all you guys are doing great. Here is my update since the last time...
P-day, we went to the temple we did an endowment session then me and my companion did sealing after. It was an amazing experience, I love going to the temple, it truly is God's home. But being in that sealing room, listening to the sealings, I can picture up in heaven or in the spirit world, there is some sort of barrier, and the parents are on one side, and the kids on the other side, then I could totally picture, when the sealing prayer was done the kids I was sealed for were able to run across that barrier and hug their parents with the sweetest most precious hug that they've been waiting to give since the 1700's. Man I love the temple! Then we were able to be the witness for a couple sealed together for the dead. The prayer is so powerful. I can't wait to get married, kneel across that alter with the love of my life, the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with and eternity, and say yes!! I love this gospel and everything that it is about.
Then we had zone conference the next day. It was way good. We learned about planning and setting goals to better our key indicators. President also talked about our key indicators and what we need to work the most on. Because they had a mission conference in Hong Kong with all the missions in Asia. We are the lowest in finding people to teach, we average 2 new investigators a week per companionship, and the rest of Asia's average is 7. But they send the numbers from the whole mission in to Salt Lake each week, then get a report back with all the missionaries in the mission and all their key indicators and if they are low they mark it with red. Almost every single companionship in our mission has a lot of reds on it. Then president was like some companionships are getting all golds (the best you can get), and when he said that the assistants looked at me and winked. I’m working so hard to not let this all get to our heads. I mean the Lord is blessing us so much, we are blowing all the numbers that the church wants out of the water all through the Lord's power. Satan is trying too hard to let it get to our heads, but we’re fighting with all our might to not let it happen, and it won’t. But that just gives a little example how well we are doing right now. The Lord is absolutely blessing us for our hard work and diligence. I’m so glad for the Lord's help in this work, without it, it absolutely wouldn't move forward.
The next two weeks are Chinese New Year, there is like a scared thought process about Taiwan during Chinese New Year, like you can try as hard as you want but you won't get even close to 20 lessons. But with good old hard work, faith and never having a bad thought about it we are going to blow that stupid thought process out of the water. This last week, no one in our zone got 20 lessons, but the Lord blessed us with 27. We are going to continue to have faith, and I know as we do that the Lord will help us reach the goals we've set. With the Lord nothing is impossible, but just the thought of Chinese New Year being impossible has already created doubt in the minds of a lot of missionaries. But we are going to move forward like a regular week.
But I will tell you something, during this week, I’m going to get so fat. Oh my heck it's not even funny, for the next week every lunch and dinner is packed with a member feeding us. They just bring out heaps of food, and we have to eat a lot, but we can't eat it all, like they feel really bad if you eat a dish all the way gone, because that means that they didn't prepare enough. But the food is so good, but man I have the worst food baby ever. Man it's scary. But I’m kinda breaking out of my picky shell inch by inch, I tried squid and octopus and all this weird stuff. It was all really good. I think it's funny they just bring out the fish and its scales and everything is just laying on a plate, and you just pick at it and eat of it. They dug the eyes out and plopped them in their mouth, gosh it was nasty looking, don't think I’ll try that stunt for a while. But the food is so good, and it's sweet knowing I won't have to buy food for a week. But yeah this is a crazy time of year. No one that you set up with on the street will meet during these 2 weeks. I literally have a list full of people to call and set up after New Years is over. It's not even funny, I’m going to have so many calls to make. (Maybe that’s why I worked at Convergys to get used to that, but I highly doubt it, man I hated that place, but I’m just trying to be optimistic about all things, haha.) But you know how I said no one will meet during the New Years, the other night we had a really cool experience.
We just got done eating at a member’s house, we went to the church quick and had about 30 minutes to go contact. So we said a prayer after we picked a certain place to go. During the prayer I had a night market pop into my head, then behind the night market pop into my head. After the prayer my companion asked me what I thought, I was like well I feel like behind the night market could be good. So we said another prayer, and decided to do it. So we traveled to the night market, literally talking to every single person on the way, not letting one pass our view. We turned down the road to get behind the night market, the second we turned down the road, under a stairwell the first things my eyes went to was a man in his 30's on New Year’s Eve night, standing there smoking and with a beer bottle. I had an immediate thought to talk to him. So I went and talked to him, while my companion went down the road to talk to more people. I started to talking to him, and asked if he was happy with life, he said no. Then I asked what his New Year’s plans are, and he said none. I gazed into his eyes, and saw the spirit of the Lord deep inside there somewhere longing to have a new start and come out and bless his life. so I talked about Jesus Christ, and the atonement, then he can truly have a new start to life and start over, and have a great life. He was getting excited about having that opportunity. I was able to prayer with him, and I committed him to prayer that night, and come to church the next morning. He agreed, and then we had to run home cause we were almost late. I left that, feeling I really spoke what I was supposed to say, and I really felt the spirit of the Lord flow through me as I testified to him. The next day in church he never showed, up I was bummed. Because I really wanted to give him a chance at a new start. Later on in the day my companion got a phone call and it was him. He was way sorry that he didn't come to church, he truly apologized he just slept in. Then said he really wanted to come, and he still really wants to meet. So we're meeting with him tomorrow. Something I left out about this story that is very cool, during the second prayer I said, since no one will meet during the Chinese New Year, I remember in my prayer I was praying for inspiration for where to go to find a prepared person in the next 30 minutes. Then I prayed specifically for someone that could meet during the Chinese New Year. And that is exactly what I found. The Lord lives, and I know that through faith and through sincere prayer we can be lead by his power. This was a cool experience, especially because of the thought process that you can't get lessons during the New Year, the Lord just blew that out of the water, because look what happened. I found a guy that can, and was prepared by the Lord to be under that stairwell, right then when I came around the bend of the street. The Lord is willing if we are!!
Also my companion had his first baptismal interview as district leader. We had to travel to the other elders' area to do it. With a 9 year old kid. It was a cool experience. But on the way as we were waiting at the bus stop I saw a guys kinda by himself, with head phones on and so I felt like I should go talk to him. I asked him about life. Make a long story short, he has no work, girlfriend, and happiness. He hates life. But once again I talked to him about the power of the atonement and he really had a dim light but a light none the less in his eyes. so I set up a time for the other elders to meet with him. Just another little miracle that the Lord is blessing me with by talking to everyone. I love being a tool in the Lord's hands. I have a long way to go, but I’m really trying to be dependent, and right now I feel like the Lord is willing to trust me. But the second I don't give my effort, and talk to everyone, it'll destroy that trust, and I’m not going to let that happen. But yeah that was also a cool experience.
Well the baptism yesterday was amazing. Not just for Lin Ming ling but for all our investigators that were able to come to church. Because all our investigators that came to church also stayed after for the baptism. One of our kids he's 22 he smokes 40 cig's a day, a week ago, and we've made a plan for him to quite, he's down to like 3-10 a day depending on the day. So he's doing amazing. After he saw the baptism, he was so happy and was in shock.. He wanted to get baptized so bad, so I think that was a good motive for him to keep trying to do these things. And he was asking me all these questions about baptism and stuff it was awesome. And our other investigator Wakini (who is from Indonesia, but speaks Chinese) she over like a week period is already half way through alma, she called us the other night and wanted to know if we were still having church, we said of course, she was way happy, then at church I told her about the baptism after and she was way excited to see it. She also came with like 3 questions from her Book of Mormon reading. She has so much faith, and is so prepared. I grabbed a member mom and the 3 of us sat down and answered her questions. The scriptures she had questions about were great scriptures, and I loved sitting down with her and helping her understand the meaning of the scriptures. It was an interesting little session because she can't read Chinese characters, so we got her an Indonesian BOM, and the member had a Chinese, and I was using English, so we have 3 different BOM languages, but we were all speaking the same language. It was really cool. But we sat down, and with the help of the Holy Ghost we helped her understand the meaning, and she was glowing when she found out the meaning and wasn't confused anymore. Man I love her. She is amazing. She's the sweetest lady in the world. She is 28 years old and has a little girl. So yeah that was really good for her also.
But yeah, we have a lot of people looking good for baptism, the Lord is really helping us get organized, and do all we can to help these people receive baptism.
I’m literally loving my life right now, thanks to hard work, and the love of the Lord. I love being in Taiwan, I love the people, I hope I’m slowly learning to love the food, and I love serving my God. Seriously every day I’m happy, yeah I have days where I don't really want to work as hard, but just push through that and you come out even happier. It’s the greatest feeling in the world. I’m so glad I made the decision to serve a mission. My mission has already changed me, I can't wait to go back to school and study and gain knowledge, before I hated it. But now I love studying, I love working hard, and sticking with things to get it done.
I’m so grateful for the Lord's hands in all aspects of life. He really does live, and wants us to be happy. So if we'll do our part, and trust him, he'll allow us to be happy. I’ve found that to be 100 percent true on my mission, if we want to be happy there are two things we need to do. 1.Work as hard as we can 2.Trust/turn to the Lord. With these two things all things are possible.
I know my Heavenly Father lives, He loves me and knows me. I know that I’m serving him on my mission. I know that I was called to this area with my companion Elder Daniels, for a reason, because the Lord knew with our hard work and faith he could trust us to get it done. I know that the Book of Mormon is God's word, I know this because I prayed about it, and received an answer that I will not deny. It’s true, more true than any other book on the face of the planet. Through it we can learn to be happy, and draw closer to our creator and his son Jesus Christ. I know Jesus is the Christ. I know through him I will receive eternal life, or exaltation and live with you guys forever and my future family. This is my hope, that I can provide
a good example for you guys, and you guys will want to live with me for eternity. Thank you guys so much for being an amazing family, I love you guys so much. I also know that God loves you guys so much.
Thank you so much for supporting me in the Lord's work.
Love, Brock
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Working Around the New Year
Hey this week we had p-day on wed because it's temple day. But next week it will be on Monday again.
Anyway, how have you guys been doing? I bet amazing as usual. I love reading from you guys and seeing how great your all doing at life. Thank you so much for being an amazing family.
I finally saw ROB!!!!! Yeah, it was so sick, we saw each other quite a ways down the road, I gave my bag to my companion and we ran to each other like little girls. Haha it was sweet, it was the best hug I’ve gotten in a while (haha, just kidding) But man was it amazing to see him. I had so much fun eating with him, he is a stud, I love my man rob. He's looking good and doing good, I’m so glad I finally got to see him.
Well to give you an update on what has been happening to me since the last time we talked. That lady is actually getting baptized this Sunday, so we are hoping for the best. We are meeting with her a lot to strengthen her so Satan doesn't get a grasp of her because she's making a very, very important decision in her life. So were getting way excited, she is so cool, I love seeing people change and having a new view on life. I’m so grateful for the atonement and gospel in my life and the life of my family and friends.
So yeah something that is really, really annoying right now is Chinese New Year’s. Man every single contact we make on the street I like don't even have to guess, I know the excuse is going to be after new year we can meet. Man, New Year’s is like 2 weeks away from being done. It's so annoying, I’ve literally been making a separate list of people I need to call after the new year to set up. Just from the past couple days I have like 25 people on that list. It is crazy, this week isn't even New Year yet, people just use the excuse. They clean their houses and everything absolutely spotless for new years. It's a huge, huge thing here. So the next 2 weeks should be very interesting next 2 or 3 weeks. But were getting stoked, every missionary that has been here for Chinese new year is like it's impossible to get good numbers and stuff, like teach any lessons, but we are excited. We are going to work as hard as we can, and trust the Lord and I believe the Lord will help us reach our very high goals. I know we can if we work hard, and have faith, doubting nothing. But yeah another big down side to this New year is, we have been really, really blessed right now we have 10 investigators that are looking good to get baptized this transfer, but now that this new year is here, it's going to be really hard, to really get them prepared, we might end up having to move a lot of their dates, unless they stay in town and we can teach them, so it's getting pretty frustrating that way, but oh well we can't complain, we got to work with what we got, and trust the Lord.
But one of our investigators her name is Liu (she's the one that our 18 year old investigator friend contacted and set her up) when we tried to set a date with her last week and she didn't. But earlier this week she set one, and is going really good. She is reading praying and coming to church... She is doing amazing. She is really progressing, when she set her date she set it on the same day as "Wu" (our 18 year old friend) so that made him way stoked. Haha because his mom wouldn't sign the baptismal sheet, he left today to drive to Taizhong to get his dad to sign the papers so he can get baptized. Haha he's so funny, when we read the baptismal sheet and it said he could do that he started freaking out and was like I’m leaving tomorrow. It's so sweet, he wants to get baptized so bad. He's been using examples to teach the lessons with us and stuff, he's a stud. Every day he comes with us and does missionary work....His faith is huge, I love working with him. I’ve become really, really good friends with him...I’m so glad that the Lord has given me a chance to meet him.
The Traveling assistants came on exchanges with us. It was a great day. We worked so hard, and it was so fulfilling. I’ve been kinda down on my Chinese lately, just because I’m studying really, really hard, and I just don't really use a lot of the words I’m memorizing. So I was on exchanges with him, and He said there are a handful of guys I’ve seen that work as hard as you, he kept saying how great I was doing, and how he knows I’ll have challenging companions because president will want me to help them. That made me kind of nervous, but I’m way excited to lead by example. That’s what I’m really focusing on is leading by example. This literally is the funnest, best thing I’ve ever done. Then he said that, my Chinese ability right now is at a 8 transfer level and I’m only on my 3rd. I’m not trying to be cocky at all because I’m not, but that really allowed me to realize that the Lord really has been blessing me so much with the language because of my hard work...I mean I’m really trying to learn this language and become fluent so it's not a barrier at all so I can be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, and he'll be able to rely on my in any situation. So it was a really good exchange I’m really grateful I was able to go out with them. I know notice that I’m using a lot of the words I study, and my Chinese is once again taking off. Not because of my own efforts, because if I didn't have the Lord I wouldn't have a single chance to speak this language. But I’m so grateful for the perfect hand's of the Lord helping me out. I only imagine the Lord will continue to help me even more, when I’m more obedient, when I’m more diligent, and do absolutely everything in my power. So it was a great experience to go on exchanges with them, I really, really enjoyed it.
Oh yeah and something way sweet happened. We danced at a wedding. haha it was sweet. There were 6 of us missionaries, just the elders in our district. It was so sweet, we did the same dance with umbrellas as at the ward party, but we stopped in the middle of it and switched to like a 80's beat Chinese song. We have a good dancer in the ward, we went early to the wedding and he taught us a dance to it. Man we messed up on a few parts, but it was fun. It was really funny, I loved doing it and had a great time. They seemed like they really like it, but I don't think the white temple president liked it much. He's really strict, so I’m not to worried, the other two older white missionaries a couple missionary loved it. Haha it was really fun. It was crazy being at a wedding. I can't wait to get married, it just made we want to work that much harder, because the harder you work on your mission the hotter your wife will be haha just kidding. But seriously I want to turn into the man that can take care of my wife and children. I love eternal marriage. It gets me pumped every time I think about it, haha.
Well Family thank you so much. I love this gospel so much. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. The other night as I was contacting I was talking to a guy for about 10 minutes, I bore a sincere testimony, I literally felt the spirit fill my body and flow out my eyes to him as I testified. He didn't set up but I felt like I did my part and gave him a fair chance. I know this church is true, not a doubt in my mind!! Jesus is the Christ, and through him I will with you guys live forever. I know we can live forever together, I beg you guys to join with me in being 100 percent obedient to receive the blessings of the Lord, and allowing us all to live together forever. I love my Heavenly Father I know he exists. I talk with him in sincere prayer. I love to prayer and read the Book of Mormon. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for this amazing experience.
Thank you guys so much, you guys are amazing.
Love-Elder Rasmussen
Anyway, how have you guys been doing? I bet amazing as usual. I love reading from you guys and seeing how great your all doing at life. Thank you so much for being an amazing family.
I finally saw ROB!!!!! Yeah, it was so sick, we saw each other quite a ways down the road, I gave my bag to my companion and we ran to each other like little girls. Haha it was sweet, it was the best hug I’ve gotten in a while (haha, just kidding) But man was it amazing to see him. I had so much fun eating with him, he is a stud, I love my man rob. He's looking good and doing good, I’m so glad I finally got to see him.
Well to give you an update on what has been happening to me since the last time we talked. That lady is actually getting baptized this Sunday, so we are hoping for the best. We are meeting with her a lot to strengthen her so Satan doesn't get a grasp of her because she's making a very, very important decision in her life. So were getting way excited, she is so cool, I love seeing people change and having a new view on life. I’m so grateful for the atonement and gospel in my life and the life of my family and friends.
So yeah something that is really, really annoying right now is Chinese New Year’s. Man every single contact we make on the street I like don't even have to guess, I know the excuse is going to be after new year we can meet. Man, New Year’s is like 2 weeks away from being done. It's so annoying, I’ve literally been making a separate list of people I need to call after the new year to set up. Just from the past couple days I have like 25 people on that list. It is crazy, this week isn't even New Year yet, people just use the excuse. They clean their houses and everything absolutely spotless for new years. It's a huge, huge thing here. So the next 2 weeks should be very interesting next 2 or 3 weeks. But were getting stoked, every missionary that has been here for Chinese new year is like it's impossible to get good numbers and stuff, like teach any lessons, but we are excited. We are going to work as hard as we can, and trust the Lord and I believe the Lord will help us reach our very high goals. I know we can if we work hard, and have faith, doubting nothing. But yeah another big down side to this New year is, we have been really, really blessed right now we have 10 investigators that are looking good to get baptized this transfer, but now that this new year is here, it's going to be really hard, to really get them prepared, we might end up having to move a lot of their dates, unless they stay in town and we can teach them, so it's getting pretty frustrating that way, but oh well we can't complain, we got to work with what we got, and trust the Lord.
But one of our investigators her name is Liu (she's the one that our 18 year old investigator friend contacted and set her up) when we tried to set a date with her last week and she didn't. But earlier this week she set one, and is going really good. She is reading praying and coming to church... She is doing amazing. She is really progressing, when she set her date she set it on the same day as "Wu" (our 18 year old friend) so that made him way stoked. Haha because his mom wouldn't sign the baptismal sheet, he left today to drive to Taizhong to get his dad to sign the papers so he can get baptized. Haha he's so funny, when we read the baptismal sheet and it said he could do that he started freaking out and was like I’m leaving tomorrow. It's so sweet, he wants to get baptized so bad. He's been using examples to teach the lessons with us and stuff, he's a stud. Every day he comes with us and does missionary work....His faith is huge, I love working with him. I’ve become really, really good friends with him...I’m so glad that the Lord has given me a chance to meet him.
The Traveling assistants came on exchanges with us. It was a great day. We worked so hard, and it was so fulfilling. I’ve been kinda down on my Chinese lately, just because I’m studying really, really hard, and I just don't really use a lot of the words I’m memorizing. So I was on exchanges with him, and He said there are a handful of guys I’ve seen that work as hard as you, he kept saying how great I was doing, and how he knows I’ll have challenging companions because president will want me to help them. That made me kind of nervous, but I’m way excited to lead by example. That’s what I’m really focusing on is leading by example. This literally is the funnest, best thing I’ve ever done. Then he said that, my Chinese ability right now is at a 8 transfer level and I’m only on my 3rd. I’m not trying to be cocky at all because I’m not, but that really allowed me to realize that the Lord really has been blessing me so much with the language because of my hard work...I mean I’m really trying to learn this language and become fluent so it's not a barrier at all so I can be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, and he'll be able to rely on my in any situation. So it was a really good exchange I’m really grateful I was able to go out with them. I know notice that I’m using a lot of the words I study, and my Chinese is once again taking off. Not because of my own efforts, because if I didn't have the Lord I wouldn't have a single chance to speak this language. But I’m so grateful for the perfect hand's of the Lord helping me out. I only imagine the Lord will continue to help me even more, when I’m more obedient, when I’m more diligent, and do absolutely everything in my power. So it was a great experience to go on exchanges with them, I really, really enjoyed it.
Oh yeah and something way sweet happened. We danced at a wedding. haha it was sweet. There were 6 of us missionaries, just the elders in our district. It was so sweet, we did the same dance with umbrellas as at the ward party, but we stopped in the middle of it and switched to like a 80's beat Chinese song. We have a good dancer in the ward, we went early to the wedding and he taught us a dance to it. Man we messed up on a few parts, but it was fun. It was really funny, I loved doing it and had a great time. They seemed like they really like it, but I don't think the white temple president liked it much. He's really strict, so I’m not to worried, the other two older white missionaries a couple missionary loved it. Haha it was really fun. It was crazy being at a wedding. I can't wait to get married, it just made we want to work that much harder, because the harder you work on your mission the hotter your wife will be haha just kidding. But seriously I want to turn into the man that can take care of my wife and children. I love eternal marriage. It gets me pumped every time I think about it, haha.
Well Family thank you so much. I love this gospel so much. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. The other night as I was contacting I was talking to a guy for about 10 minutes, I bore a sincere testimony, I literally felt the spirit fill my body and flow out my eyes to him as I testified. He didn't set up but I felt like I did my part and gave him a fair chance. I know this church is true, not a doubt in my mind!! Jesus is the Christ, and through him I will with you guys live forever. I know we can live forever together, I beg you guys to join with me in being 100 percent obedient to receive the blessings of the Lord, and allowing us all to live together forever. I love my Heavenly Father I know he exists. I talk with him in sincere prayer. I love to prayer and read the Book of Mormon. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for this amazing experience.
Thank you guys so much, you guys are amazing.
Love-Elder Rasmussen
Monday, February 1, 2010
I'm Staying with My Companion - We Freaked Out!!
How are you guys doing? Glad to hear that everything is going well... I really do love reading your letters every week and seeing all the sweet stuff that is going on with each of you!
I’m so happy for the Lord's help in setting you guys up with this new business opportunity. This is a wonderful blessing that the Lord is giving our family, we need to be thankful and every prayer thank the Lord for the mercy and help he is giving our family. I’m so grateful for the Lord's help and guidance in our lives. Keep working hard your guys are literally the best family in the world.
Well our transfer just ended. Today is the start of my new transfer. On Friday night we were awaiting transfer calls, I was freaking out because I absolutely love my companion we are having so much fun together. We ended a dream of a transfer and were hoping and praying we would stay together to be able to finish the work that we have started here. So we got the call, and the assistant toward my companion was like, how’s the work going? How'd your day go? Do you like it there? Haha we were freaking out, but then he called my companion to be the new district leader, and then we asked if I was staying with him, he said yes and we freaked out. We are so stoked to start this new transfer. Something that is way crazy to think about, the middle of this transfer I will hit my 6 month mark on my mission, man time flies, we need to make the most of all the time we have, because time is short to prepare to meet the Lord after this life.
We ended the last week of our transfer with a bang, we had 42 set ups, and ended with 34 lesson, 18 of which were member present lessons. We also were able to add 5 new investigators with baptismal dates which is awesome. The Lord just continues to bless us, and allow us to have unheard of success. But this is what missionary work is supposed to be like, it shouldn’t be any other way. Just going out every single day and giving yourself to the Lord and having him bless you in return with success and happiness. This is amazing!!
Wu (18 years old boy) He is doing amazing. Almost every day he comes around with us and does missionary work. He actually contacts people and invited them to church and stuff. He went up to a mom and 2 kids the other day at the park and invited them to English class, they came. Haha he was so stoked that they came, and then we set them up and taught them the next day. They are doing awesome and we are teaching them the restored gospel, all because the Lord, through a not even baptized young man, helped talk to this family and invite them. This just proves that there are a ton of prepared people all around the world. It was the coolest experience to see unfold. He is a stud, he is going to make such a sweet member. He wants to serve a mission so bad, it’s awesome. Haha because his parents are split up, he said in 2 weeks he might go get his dad to sign the papers, we aren't really for it, but it's his choice I guess. We’re going to talk to the mom first though and see how that goes.
Zoey (25 year old, girl) she’s been coming along pretty well. But we had a absolute break through lesson with her. I wasn't there cause we had 2 investigators come, so went and taught him in the hall. But we watched the restoration and talked about the divinity of the Book of Mormon, my companion said the spirit was very strong. Then she set a baptismal date. She has the best ward support system right now, it's amazing, they hang out all the time. So she is doing so well right now, it is awesome. She is progressing a lot, and is really, really excited about getting baptized.
The guy in the hall was a really good experience for me. It was just me, him and the Lord. I taught him the 1st lesson, I’ve never taught so simply, with scriptures and good examples as that. It was amazing. The lord was by my side the whole time. I understood him and then taught according to the spirit. It was an amazing experience. I absolutely loved it. I know the Lord is ahead of this work, because I know I wouldn't have been able to do that without the Lord's help. This work is so true, and the savior lives.
Wakeeny (from Indonesia, married to a Taiwanese man has a little girl, 29 years old) Oh my gosh, she is the sweetest girl in the whole world. She has been so prepared by the Lord is unbelievable. We taught her the first lesson about baptism and how she can have a new start. She was smiling the whole time. Then the next night, my companion gave her a follow up call, and asked her if there is anything we can help her with. She was like yeah "really help my know Jesus Christ" haha that was the sweetest answer I’ve ever heard. Then, we set a baptismal date with her no problem, after we invited her on a date, she was like actually whenever I can, any day and like gave us her whole schedule, haha it was amazing. Then we taught her again, it's amazing teaching someone with a ton of faith, because the spirit is always so strong. Then she called us one night, just to thank us for helping her know Jesus Christ, she was like I’ve been looking for the truth for a long time, and I want to thank you guys for showing it to me, you've blessed my life so much. Haha she is amazing, and doing great.
Wu Mom (she’s the one we ran into, that knew my companion's sister when she was here on a mission.) But she's been really not interested and it's been really hard to meet with her. we were getting kind of worried that she would drop off. But we were able to find a time to meet with her. So we went to her house and taught her. She's already been baptized and everything so she didn't care to again. But we taught her the whole lesson, and it was all just alright, and at the end of the lesson, my companion and I were about to just give up because she wasn't going anywhere. So there was a little quite silence for a minute, and I don’t know what happened (well I do, the Lord's help) but we just starting talking about baptism, and pretty much told her that her baptism didn't count. And she immediately changed, I mean she was pretty hard hearted, but in an instant she flipped. And was like oh I need to get baptized again, and she connected us meeting her again to God telling her to finish the Job and get baptized into his church. And we set a baptismal date with her. I mean went from Hard Hearted, to a Baptismal date in 3 minutes. It was amazing. We are going to have some Word of Wisdom problems and stuff to overcome with her, but she's progressing. It was such a miracle, we were so happy it was amazing!!!
So yeah our investigators are doing amazing, we have 8 that are in the pool, to get baptized this transfer. So we are just loving all of the results, miracles, and blessing the Lord is allowing us to see.
On Tues night we had our little institute class that we now teach. We decided to do a really powerful lesson on the atonement. We did a game to help everyone understand the atonement. We went and bought candy. And we had all of the people in the room pick one of us missionaries to do the pushups. My roommate Elder Duff was on exchanges with us that night, and is way strong, so all the people picked him. So we started one by one and went around the room, asking if they wanted this candy. We started and asked, the first person said yes, so we gave them the candy and had Elder Duff do 25 pushups. Then we asked the next one, they said sure, then we had him do another 25 pushups. Then the next said no I don't want it, then we gave it to her anyway, and had him to 25 pushups. We went around the whole room and did this same thing. People started getting up and trying to do their own pushups but couldn't do it, we had one lady that did 3 then was like ok you only have to do 22 because I did 3, but then we were like nope he has to do 25. People starting crying because he was really struggling trying to do these pushups, it was very powerful experience. Then after we went around the room, I said I definitely want some. So he did another 25 for me, everybody hated me for saying that, and was mad at me at the moment. Then after we did that for everyone, and Elder Duff was literally dead, he could barely do half a pushup we sat everybody back down. And were like, whether we accept the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ or not, he already did it for us. So it's up to us to accept or not accept this perfect gift that has been granted unto us. So then everyone was like yeah we are supposed to eat this candy huh? Haha it was an amazing experience, everybody really understood, the Savior already suffered for our sins, so if we don't use the atonement and accept the suffering of our Savior, we are mocking him and making him suffer for no reason, just like Elder Duff when he had to do the pushups anyway even when the people didn't want to eat the candy. Then, we watched finding faith in Christ DVD, Then after the last 20 minutes of class, we went around the room and had a little Testimony meeting thing. Oh my heck, you could have literally cut the spirit with a knife, it was the thickest spirit I’ve ever felt. Our investigator was crying and it was a great experience. It was a really good class, and the Lord was present for that I know it!!!
ps-Our investigator that was there that cried, just barely and I mean barely as I’m typing this letter, called us and was like I want to get baptized. She set her own baptismal date, and we are planning this Sunday if we can get special permission to baptize her. The first miracle of this new transfer, we can't stop smiling we are just looking at each other and loving life. The Lord is giving us so many blessings! I swear we don't deserve them! Haha but yeah baby!!! A great way to start off the new transfer!
I’m absolutely loving my life! This is the best thing I’ve ever done. I love being so close to the Lord and feeling of his perfect love for me every time I kneel down and pray to him. This work is real. God lives and loves each and every one of us. Jesus is the Christ, and the only means by which we can receive perfect happiness and eternal life or exaltation. He lives!!!!! I know he lives!!!
I’m so happy for the Lord's help in setting you guys up with this new business opportunity. This is a wonderful blessing that the Lord is giving our family, we need to be thankful and every prayer thank the Lord for the mercy and help he is giving our family. I’m so grateful for the Lord's help and guidance in our lives. Keep working hard your guys are literally the best family in the world.
Well our transfer just ended. Today is the start of my new transfer. On Friday night we were awaiting transfer calls, I was freaking out because I absolutely love my companion we are having so much fun together. We ended a dream of a transfer and were hoping and praying we would stay together to be able to finish the work that we have started here. So we got the call, and the assistant toward my companion was like, how’s the work going? How'd your day go? Do you like it there? Haha we were freaking out, but then he called my companion to be the new district leader, and then we asked if I was staying with him, he said yes and we freaked out. We are so stoked to start this new transfer. Something that is way crazy to think about, the middle of this transfer I will hit my 6 month mark on my mission, man time flies, we need to make the most of all the time we have, because time is short to prepare to meet the Lord after this life.
We ended the last week of our transfer with a bang, we had 42 set ups, and ended with 34 lesson, 18 of which were member present lessons. We also were able to add 5 new investigators with baptismal dates which is awesome. The Lord just continues to bless us, and allow us to have unheard of success. But this is what missionary work is supposed to be like, it shouldn’t be any other way. Just going out every single day and giving yourself to the Lord and having him bless you in return with success and happiness. This is amazing!!
Wu (18 years old boy) He is doing amazing. Almost every day he comes around with us and does missionary work. He actually contacts people and invited them to church and stuff. He went up to a mom and 2 kids the other day at the park and invited them to English class, they came. Haha he was so stoked that they came, and then we set them up and taught them the next day. They are doing awesome and we are teaching them the restored gospel, all because the Lord, through a not even baptized young man, helped talk to this family and invite them. This just proves that there are a ton of prepared people all around the world. It was the coolest experience to see unfold. He is a stud, he is going to make such a sweet member. He wants to serve a mission so bad, it’s awesome. Haha because his parents are split up, he said in 2 weeks he might go get his dad to sign the papers, we aren't really for it, but it's his choice I guess. We’re going to talk to the mom first though and see how that goes.
Zoey (25 year old, girl) she’s been coming along pretty well. But we had a absolute break through lesson with her. I wasn't there cause we had 2 investigators come, so went and taught him in the hall. But we watched the restoration and talked about the divinity of the Book of Mormon, my companion said the spirit was very strong. Then she set a baptismal date. She has the best ward support system right now, it's amazing, they hang out all the time. So she is doing so well right now, it is awesome. She is progressing a lot, and is really, really excited about getting baptized.
The guy in the hall was a really good experience for me. It was just me, him and the Lord. I taught him the 1st lesson, I’ve never taught so simply, with scriptures and good examples as that. It was amazing. The lord was by my side the whole time. I understood him and then taught according to the spirit. It was an amazing experience. I absolutely loved it. I know the Lord is ahead of this work, because I know I wouldn't have been able to do that without the Lord's help. This work is so true, and the savior lives.
Wakeeny (from Indonesia, married to a Taiwanese man has a little girl, 29 years old) Oh my gosh, she is the sweetest girl in the whole world. She has been so prepared by the Lord is unbelievable. We taught her the first lesson about baptism and how she can have a new start. She was smiling the whole time. Then the next night, my companion gave her a follow up call, and asked her if there is anything we can help her with. She was like yeah "really help my know Jesus Christ" haha that was the sweetest answer I’ve ever heard. Then, we set a baptismal date with her no problem, after we invited her on a date, she was like actually whenever I can, any day and like gave us her whole schedule, haha it was amazing. Then we taught her again, it's amazing teaching someone with a ton of faith, because the spirit is always so strong. Then she called us one night, just to thank us for helping her know Jesus Christ, she was like I’ve been looking for the truth for a long time, and I want to thank you guys for showing it to me, you've blessed my life so much. Haha she is amazing, and doing great.
Wu Mom (she’s the one we ran into, that knew my companion's sister when she was here on a mission.) But she's been really not interested and it's been really hard to meet with her. we were getting kind of worried that she would drop off. But we were able to find a time to meet with her. So we went to her house and taught her. She's already been baptized and everything so she didn't care to again. But we taught her the whole lesson, and it was all just alright, and at the end of the lesson, my companion and I were about to just give up because she wasn't going anywhere. So there was a little quite silence for a minute, and I don’t know what happened (well I do, the Lord's help) but we just starting talking about baptism, and pretty much told her that her baptism didn't count. And she immediately changed, I mean she was pretty hard hearted, but in an instant she flipped. And was like oh I need to get baptized again, and she connected us meeting her again to God telling her to finish the Job and get baptized into his church. And we set a baptismal date with her. I mean went from Hard Hearted, to a Baptismal date in 3 minutes. It was amazing. We are going to have some Word of Wisdom problems and stuff to overcome with her, but she's progressing. It was such a miracle, we were so happy it was amazing!!!
So yeah our investigators are doing amazing, we have 8 that are in the pool, to get baptized this transfer. So we are just loving all of the results, miracles, and blessing the Lord is allowing us to see.
On Tues night we had our little institute class that we now teach. We decided to do a really powerful lesson on the atonement. We did a game to help everyone understand the atonement. We went and bought candy. And we had all of the people in the room pick one of us missionaries to do the pushups. My roommate Elder Duff was on exchanges with us that night, and is way strong, so all the people picked him. So we started one by one and went around the room, asking if they wanted this candy. We started and asked, the first person said yes, so we gave them the candy and had Elder Duff do 25 pushups. Then we asked the next one, they said sure, then we had him do another 25 pushups. Then the next said no I don't want it, then we gave it to her anyway, and had him to 25 pushups. We went around the whole room and did this same thing. People started getting up and trying to do their own pushups but couldn't do it, we had one lady that did 3 then was like ok you only have to do 22 because I did 3, but then we were like nope he has to do 25. People starting crying because he was really struggling trying to do these pushups, it was very powerful experience. Then after we went around the room, I said I definitely want some. So he did another 25 for me, everybody hated me for saying that, and was mad at me at the moment. Then after we did that for everyone, and Elder Duff was literally dead, he could barely do half a pushup we sat everybody back down. And were like, whether we accept the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ or not, he already did it for us. So it's up to us to accept or not accept this perfect gift that has been granted unto us. So then everyone was like yeah we are supposed to eat this candy huh? Haha it was an amazing experience, everybody really understood, the Savior already suffered for our sins, so if we don't use the atonement and accept the suffering of our Savior, we are mocking him and making him suffer for no reason, just like Elder Duff when he had to do the pushups anyway even when the people didn't want to eat the candy. Then, we watched finding faith in Christ DVD, Then after the last 20 minutes of class, we went around the room and had a little Testimony meeting thing. Oh my heck, you could have literally cut the spirit with a knife, it was the thickest spirit I’ve ever felt. Our investigator was crying and it was a great experience. It was a really good class, and the Lord was present for that I know it!!!
ps-Our investigator that was there that cried, just barely and I mean barely as I’m typing this letter, called us and was like I want to get baptized. She set her own baptismal date, and we are planning this Sunday if we can get special permission to baptize her. The first miracle of this new transfer, we can't stop smiling we are just looking at each other and loving life. The Lord is giving us so many blessings! I swear we don't deserve them! Haha but yeah baby!!! A great way to start off the new transfer!
I’m absolutely loving my life! This is the best thing I’ve ever done. I love being so close to the Lord and feeling of his perfect love for me every time I kneel down and pray to him. This work is real. God lives and loves each and every one of us. Jesus is the Christ, and the only means by which we can receive perfect happiness and eternal life or exaltation. He lives!!!!! I know he lives!!!
More Info on the Miracle Call Just Now...
I sent it in the big letter but I'll share it again. I contacted a lady on a bus about 4 weeks ago, she showed up to church. I totally forgot who she was, because we contact a ton of people very day. She started coming to everything and all the ward activities and stuff. We've only sat down with her 2 times, and haven't really taught her much. But the ward has really taken her in, and she has a couple of really good friends in the ward right now. So it's like a perfect situation. (In the big letter I sent, she was the one crying at the institute class.) We were sitting here emailing, and we got a call. It was her, and she told us she wants to be baptized. So we set a date for this Sunday to baptize her, if we can get permission, and teach everything quickly, she'll be able to get baptized this weekend. Haha oh my heck, the Lord just allowed us to see a miracle!! What a great way to start out a new transfer. I love my life!
Update on our Marriage Therapy Results
I don't know if you remember the family that we went and visited a long time ago, that were about to get divorced, then we met with them and literally poured our soul out to them in love. We went and visited them again, they look and sound like they're doing a lot better. The daughter was like hugging them, and was in with us talking and they were interacting and smiling. It was a great sight, haha I'm so grateful for the Lord's help in life.
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