Hey Family!! Good to see that things are going great!
Wow time is just flying by so fast! It's so crazy to think that I’m going to be seeing you all in 3 weeks. But I’m cherishing every second of my mission. It's full of trials and challenges that are testing me and I’m loving it. I know that through these trials I will become the missionary and member/servant of God that I need to become. I just love this work; I've been inspired and uplifted in every aspect of my life. My priorities have lined up, and my understanding of the importance of family has grown into a testimony that families are ordained of God. This mission has changed my life; I would be in the deep end without it. I’m grateful for this opportunity I have to serve the Lord, to preach the gospel, and call all unto repentance in order to receive the blessings of the Gospel! What an amazing calling I’m blessed to have. I couldn't be happier. I love this work, I love my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, I've grown close in relationship, and love teaching others of the reality of Him.
Well this last week was a good week. Not a ton of stuff happened kind of like your guy’s week, but we still saw many miracles and started interviews which were great. This month after discussing the mission with president, we decided that we need and would like to focus on UNITY! Being unified in purpose. Wow, this principle is amazing. I've had so much fun studying about power of unity. I've gained an appreciation for team and the importance of Unity in any organization especially the family! The one thing that rids unity is pride. We need to be humble, and be unified in direction, vision, and the way we do things. We will have differences but we need to talk them over and have the spirit let us meet in the middle and combine our ideas. It was a blast planning for this topic, and sharing it to the missionaries in Leadership Training Meeting, and in interviews. We've had many missionaries come up and thank us, also thank the mission because they feel like this is exactly what the mission needs right now. It's been really fun to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. The mission is taking off right now; it's going in the direction the Lord wants it to. You can just feel it, everyday it's getting better and better, and not digressing. You can feel the improvement in the attitude of the missionaries, and the number of souls being baptized. It’s going so great, the Lord is really blessing us a lot, and allowing us to see many miracles.
This week we went on two exchanges, one with the Central Zone Leaders and one with the Xin Zhu Zone Leaders. They were both great. I went to the Central Zone Leaders area with Elder Pan. That night was Wednesday so we had English class. We went and they put me in charge of sharing the spiritual thought at the end of the class. They decided they wanted to bring all the classes together and have one big spiritual thought. So I thought about it, and thought that teaching about the Atonement of Jesus Christ would be good for all of them to know. So I had them all come into the chapel, and set up chairs in a circle. They sat in a big circle and I told Elder Nelson to go in the middle of the circle. I grabbed candy, and said thank you all so much for coming to English class, we appreciate your participation. We have brought a treat today to give to you all for being so good. So I started on the right side of the circle. I asked the first person, are you willing to take this candy? She said yes, so I turned around and told Elder Nelson to do 10 push-ups. Everyone started laughing. Then I went to the second person, asked them. They too said yes. So I turned to Elder Nelson and told him to do 10 more push-ups, all started to laugh again. I continued to do so; until the 10th person started to question why does he have to do push-ups (he had done 100+ push-ups by now). I said because he wants you to have this candy. So she accepted it, and I turned to Elder Nelson and said do 10 more. By this time his face was red, his body was shaking a little, and the people in the room turned from smiling happy faces to worried, confused faces. The next in line to ask for candy was a little 10 year old girl. I asked her and she was the first person to reject the candy. I said OK, then I turned to Elder Nelson and said please do 10 more push-ups. People started to get mad at this point, questioning me, and starting to get a little angry at me for making him do all these push-ups. The next two accepted, and the next 5 rejected the candy, but in both situations he still did the push-ups for the candy. Then people started asking if they could help him do some of the 10 push-ups. I said no you can't sorry; he has to do them alone. I finally asked the last person if they would be willing to accept the piece of candy, she refused. For the last time I turned to him and told him to do 10 more. By this time, he was struggling to get one. He literally fell flat on his face and couldn't physically do anymore. Everyone was in awe, and the spirit hit the room. I looked at them and asked "why were you not willing to eat the candy?" They said, because he had to do push-ups, I then said "But he had to do them either way, regardless if you accepted the candy or not. " They just looked at me in a confused state. I then proceeded to explain the Atoning sacrifice of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Regardless if we accept or reject him, He suffered for our sins, and imperfections. The least we can do is allow him to help, not let Him suffer for nothing. He loves us, he died for us, and we reject him? Why? The spirit engulfed the room, and all were edified of the importance of the Atonement. Even the Buddhists in the room felt it!! I then told them, we missionaries carry the key to open up the gift of the Atonement, we invite every one of you to meet with us and feel of this power. After the class, we had 5 people that were willing to set up with us, and will be learning about the gospel. It went so well, the Lord was very merciful, and the Spirit touched their hearts. I'm so grateful for the spirit, and all that it does for us in everyday life, especially missionary work! Without it we would be nothing!
It was funny, in the Leadership training meeting, the last 15 minutes President had all those that would be going home this transfer to share their testimonies. My old companion as zone leader, Elder Clavel (I love him so much). But we were the last two, because he was translating that meeting. Right before his turn he came up and sat by me on the stand. He just smiled at me, and reminded me of the things we talked about as companions. How right when we are going to get home we are going to get a massage, and get our bodies back in alignment. ha ha, he gets up to share his testimony. The first few seconds went like this "Well Elders and Sisters my body is broken, I just found out this morning that my shoes are broken too, my clothes are in a mess. Elder Rasmussen and myself have talked about getting a massage when we get home, I can’t wait." (Everyone started laughing.) Then he went on to bare a strong testimony of the Savior. Then I got up, and this is how it went, "Well whomever has been on exchanges with me, or been my companion all know that I really want to get married. What Elder Clavel said is true, but there is one difference.".....I paused then said "Elder Clavel can go pay for a massage, I’ll just get a free one from my wife." (Everyone fell over laughing.) It was a good experience. I felt prompted to testify of Love. The power of love in a unit. I feel like that Lord has blessed me with the ability to love! I've learned what love is, and I know that it will bless me the rest of my life. This mission experience, really I can't use words to adequately express the change it has brought me. Yes I’m excited to go home, but no I’m not excited to leave the mission field. Lately it's been hitting me as reality; I can't act like it's never going to come, that I can stay in the mission field forever. But I know that I just need to keep using everyone second I have to its fullest potential. I love this work, I’m so grateful for it!
Guess what? July 31st I am going to get the greatest going home gift I could ever hope for. China's dictator’s younger brother will be coming to check out our church. He will be attending the Sacrament session of church and then we will have a question and answering session. President has asked us to come, because he'll have interest towards missionaries. He is the highest up you can go in the government, just right under his brother. This could be a huge breakthrough for the church in China, I’m so excited for this opportunity. It's going to be a great experience. He is the head of religious affairs in China, I’m so excited.
Yesterday a sweet little miracle happened too. We were walking home to eat after church, and as we were on the street a scooter drove by me. I don't know why, but without thinking I just yelled for the scooter to stop. They stopped right in the middle of the road, turned around and came and parked right by my side. I asked them we want to take them to church. They said OK, we are looking for a church. Ha ha, I just laughed inside for the set up the Lord just gave us. I took them into the church, introduced them to the temple sisters, and we went to eat. We came back an hour or so later and saw them just getting out the doors. I asked the temple sisters, did you teach them that long, they said no, but they went and attended the singles activity that was tonight. Plus they both have baptismal dates. I couldn't help but just awe, int he amazing miracle that just happened. Two souls, driving by on scooter, pulled into the church by God, and leaving committed to preparing to be baptized. What an amazing feeling that was. I know this is the work of the Lord, they is no way it's not!!
Well I love you all so much beloved family. Thank you for all that you do, I much enjoy when you all write me and share your experiences and life with me. It lifts my spirit and makes me very very happy. I’m so grateful for an amazing family!
Love, Brock
Elder Rasmussen
PS: Anything that the kids would like me to bring back from Taiwan for them? Also, Josh if there really is a golf tournament, I’m so in. I can't wait, even though I haven't played in a long time, I think that I’m better right now then I was before. I’m just excited to be with you!!
I told Wu Momma about us buying her ticket. She was like, No!! ha ha... She feels really embarrassed, because she is a big person and things that if we did that for her she would be really just not feel good. I’m going to eat with her today, so I’ll talk to her about it. But that's just her personality, she doesn't like to be taken care of, she likes to do the taking care of! She is an amazing woman!
Josh I hope that you had a great birthday. 19 Years old you are just about as old as I am too, So you are an old fart also ;D
