HEEEEEEEYYYYY!
Classic Sister missionary selfie.
Highlights of this week:
1. Jonathan. Jonathan is the OSU basketball manager, is black, and has cerebral palsy. I don't think I have met another human soul who is as amazing as him in my entire life. He was suppose to be paralyzed and never be able to walk, but through some miracles he can walk. We taught him the restoration and he agreed to be baptized. He told us, "I know that the answers I am looking for can be found in this book." Yes they can Jonathan. The Book of Mormon Truly answers the questions of our soul. Since Jonathan knows the entire football and basketball team, we plan on baptizing them all soon. I will keep you posted.
2. Mai. Mai is from Hong Kong, and luckily speaks really great English! She started crying when we talked to her about the Savior's atonement. We asked her how she felt, and I have NEVER heard an investigator so perfectly describe the spirit in a first lesson. She talked about how she felt, "Warm, emotional, bubbly, almost sad but in a happy way." She also agreed to be baptized.
3. Lin Lin. She is from China, and we have been working with her for a couple of weeks. I have NEVER had someone ask me SO MANY questions. We struggle getting through any of the material we have planned because she has so many things she wants to know. She read thirteen chapters in the Book of Mormon last week and loved coming to church.
MIRACLES, MIRACLES, MIRACLES. They come in overabundance.
My mandarin is slightly improving. I now know five phrases instead of two. ;) When you speak Mandarin you use sounds that don't exist in the English language. I didn't even know that some of these sounds are even possible... If any of you know a native Chinese speaker, ask them to pronounce the "pin yin" word Shue. I promise, it is not a pretty sight. No, it does not sound like "shoe." I sympathize for missionaries who have to learn a language. It is not all roses and butterflies! Our trio keeps chugging along, my two companions are the best companions ever. Really. (except I still can't pronounce Sister Yeung's name correctly...)
I read an amazing talk this morning called, "The Challenge to Become" by Elder Dallin H. oaks. I recommend it.
Here is a quote which I loved...
"The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts--what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts--what we have become." I love this quote! Sometimes in my life I feel like I need to have a "good deeds" checklist. If I rack up enough good deeds, God will be kind to me on judgment day! This quote helped me understand life isn't merely about doing good things, but it is about BECOMING something good. For example, it isn't good enough for my just to come on a mission, but I need to BECOME a missionary. There is a difference! One day I can't just be a mom, I have to become a mother, a nurturer, a caretaker. This can apply to any stage of our lives! We can't just have a testimony of the gospel- we have to BECOME the gospel message. Someone who is caring, kind, compassionate, full of charity, selfless.. In short, we need to become like our Savior Jesus Christ.
I remember I was struggling in school my second semester. I had signed up for a heavy load in order to apply for the communication disorders program before I left on my mission. I still remember my all knowing mother telling me a story she had read in the ensign about a man who had inherited his fathers business after his father had passed away. The business did good for a while, but it started to tank. This son kept praying for help, and felt as if heaven had abounded him. One day his father appeared to him in a dream and said, "no one on heaven cares about your business. We just care about the man you are becoming." I realized that day that it didn't matter what life would throw at me, that God is at the head and he is changing us into the people he wants us to become.
Jesus Christ lives and loves each and every one of us!
Sister Jones
Sister Yeung had panda for the first time! She hated it.
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