MEG WILL BE HOME NEW YEARS EVE!!!

And just FYI  Meg will be home New Years Eve at 3:40 pm.!!!!  (here's just a few more pictures of her in Beitou.

Best Spiritual Experience Ever plus picture at temple

 So MIRACLES. Let me just talk about our beloved 許姊妹. She is incredible!!! So last week we shared tithing with her on Wednesday. Which she had some problems accepting.

So it was hard because we didn't know what to do. So we decided to fast on Thursday. My friends, fasting really does have power and it's a real thing. We fasted for her to receive an answer about tithing (because we invited her to pray about it). Well Friday night we were able to meet with her again and had one of the most incredible spirit filled lessons I have ever had on my mission. So we get in the lesson and we had decided to just talk to her and figure out how she felt about things and if she had recieved her answer and resolve her concerns. The spirit just led us in this lesson. At the very beginning she said, "I have been thinking about tithing, I am worried that they just want people to be baptized to pay tithing and get money. But I don't think that is what this is so I just want more understanding." So it was cool because we had been on mormon.org the day before and I had been looking up tithing so I could give her the address so she could go read about it. So I had written it down. So our peike pulled it up just right there and she read it, so then she knew exactly where the money was going. Which helped. 

But that wasn't like the cool part. After that we just started bearing testimony about how this gospel has not only blessed us but our family as well. Her family isn't a member. And as we were bearing testimony I sort of compared it to how I am serving a mission. How me being here isn't just effecting myself or the taiwanese people, but it is blessing my family at home, even though we are so far apart. I remember mom telling me a story about how the gas pipe had a whole in it or something but she had a feeling to check it and something. Anyway, something dangerous and how at the end of that letter mom told me I know we are okay because you are on a mission. Anyway so we were just bearing testimony that as she joins the church she will be an example and it will change her family as well. And after we bore testimony the spirit was so strong and she looked at us and started to cry and we asked how she felt and she said, "我有一個相信的感覺" (I have a believing feeling). And the spirit was powerful. So powerful. And then we continued to share with her about fasting and about fast offerings (which we were a little worried about because it's also dealing with money.) But she loved fasting! And after that we asked her again if she would be willing to live the law of tithing and fasting after she is baptized, and she said she is! It was incredible. I know that fasting is real and it works. I know it because we were able to BE THERE when she recieved her answer. 

Sorry that was such a long story. But it was so cool. And it was one of those times where I just knew that the spirit was directing Sister Koch and my words. 

Anyway, other than that we have just seen so many little miracles that we have been able to see. It's just been really incredible and Beitou is just doing good. I love it here. I loooooooove the members here.

President Day and Roger the worm

 Anywho, this week we were able to do one exchange with Yilan Sisters! SO MUCH FUN! I love Sister Howell. She came here with me in Beitou. We had a blast and saw so many miracles.

This week we were also able to have interviews with President Day! Super awesome! I love president Day so much! Our interview was pretty fun and chill. He is probably one of my favorite people in the world to talk to, also one of the most Christ-like people. I love it. So those were good. So as we are emailing right now, I have a cute little friend that decided to hang out with me. He says hi. His name is roger. It's like an inch worm or something. I am also pretty sure some are living inside of me...

OUTDOOR ZONE CONFERENCE!!

What is up!?

Well last week was fulllllll of meetings! It was so crazy! We didn't not have much time to find or have lessons, but it was SOOOOO good(: 

Tuesday we had temple square tours. It was full of miracles!

FRIDAY- OUTDOOR ZONE CONFERENCE(: SOOOO GOOOOD! We went and hike AliShan. It was soo fun. So that is where it was our zone with one other zone and we all go and hike together with President and Sister Day, the assistants and temple sisters. We had so much fun. They had some really good training there as well. Something that stuck out to me was President Day had us remember our second day on Island when we prayed with our companion that day. I thought back to when Sister Roy and I went to pray. I couldn't remember what exactly I prayed for, but I am sure it was something along the lines of giving it everything I have. My heart, mind, work, everything to the Lord. But I loved how he told us to rededicate ourselves. That is something I want to do every day in my morning prayers. I think it is important every day to give to the Lord. I just really enjoyed outdoor zone conference. It is super fun! 

Saturday we helped a sister in our ward move. Us and the elders and her boyfriend. We were all POURING sweat, as she lived on the sixth floor with no elevator! And then had to take it to her new house. It was so fun though! It was pretty funny, Elder Nasman (the one from my mtc district from finland) his pants were completely a differenct color from sweat. It was hilarious. 

TYPHOON AND SPRAINED ANKLE:(

Hello everyone, yesterday there was a typhoon! Exciting, isn't it??! Haha just kidding, it just rains a lot and get's a little windy. I think the biggest part of it came last night when we were sleeping. 

But not a lot happened this week. Actually it's sort of like all of our investigators all of a sudden decided to stop answering their phones or be Buddhist or just sort of dropped off the face of the planet... So this week we spent a lot of time FINDING.  

 I thought I broke my foot again... YIKES! Haha we were getting ready to go to English class and I fell of my bike and sort of crumbled to the ground. So then we decided to walk to the church because my foot was hurting pretty bad. And it felt very similar to when I broke it in 7th grade and in the same place. Anyway long story short, it was sprained, thank goodness! But it was pretty not that fun because I couldn't walk fast at all and was just in pain. But thursday night I got a blessing and it was so goood. I love the priesthood. I am so grateful for it. One part of the blessing said, "according to my faith I will be healed. Not just right now but in my whole life I will be able to be healed acccording to my faith, physically, spiritually, or mentally." It was something along those lines. But it was just a really cool blessing. By Friday I was walking pretty much back up to speed again. It was cool! That was a miracle!

If I were a rich man...

I hope after reading that title you were all doing the dance with me... by with me I mean without me because as President Day says, "missionaries don't dance". Haha But last Saturday we got some move calls, and by get a move call I mean: we didn't get a move call because we are becoming eternal companions for one more transfer and both staying. 

That's right: Shout out to cute Liz Bond who was my other eternal companion. Sorry you aren't the only one anymore:(

But anyway. Yeah I will probably end my mission here in beitou which means I will probably have two areas my whole mission. But hey, that isn't a bad thing. Especially because I love it here! And bu yiding. You keneng I will move. We will see what happens. 

Our ward is doing really good. I really love our ward members a lot. They really take care of us and just help us so much. they love to feed us. We are always getting food. Usually it's either fruit or cake or mantou (steamed bread) or something like that. I have never had members qing us chi as much as they have.  I love that I have been in both of my areas for so long, because I Really feel like I have made eternal friendships in both places. I love it. 

I love you all so much. I know that this is God's church and I know he is in control of this plan. I love my mission and I love being a representative of Christ, it will be a hard day when I have to take this name tag off. But I also know that every single member is a missionary. So keep up the work family and keep adding oil (jiayou)!!! 

Haha my favorite moment this week? I think it was that one night at a park we got to teach a cute family sitting there. I love teaching families. I just want more than anything for them to be baptized. They were so cute and hopefully we can go and teach them again. 

PICTURES FINALLY!!!

MISSIONARY MEMORIAL AND KIRK'S WEDDING!

What in the world?! KIRK IS MARRIED.... It sounds like it was such an amazing day! I am so glad everything went so well. I am so excited for you kirky and Jenny. Jenny welcome to the family, you have just entered the best, craziest, dramatic, funny, BEST family in the world. Haha okay, I am a little biased... :) You have probably gotten to know our craziness now, so hopefullly you like it. Haha Anyways, congratulations you two. I am very happy for you. I am excited to meet you Jenny!

 

Anyway, this week in Taiwan was sooo good. So about the two elders who passed away. There was a memorial service just for our mission on Thursday. So every single missionary no matter where we are serving all got to go to the service. It was so amazing. It was so good and the spirit there was so strong and so real. The spirit that our mission brought to it was just so tender and sweet and it just was an amazing program. So President conducted and we had two Quorum of the Seventies elder's there. It was really cool. So president had some of their companions speak at the memorial. And it was cool to get to know them better. So their companions were able to share some stories about them and they both just sounded like amazing missionaries. Elder Xiong was just so funny. I still remember some stories from when we were in the same zone. So stories about him were just so funny and it was good to just celebrate their lives. They were hard workers and loved this work. I didn't know Elder Thredgold at all so it was cool to learn about him and learn from his example. He sounds like an amazing harrrrrrrd happy worker. So it makes us all want to be a little better missionaries to follow their examples. It was just a really good thing for our mission. Also I think it gave us some closure which was much needed. It was really special and a tender experience. I never expected anything like this to happen on my mission. But I really have learned to turn to the Lord. And to trust God and trust his plan for us. Thanks for all of your prayers as well.(: I love you.

SAD DAY IN THE MISSION

So a lot of you heard about what happened two those two elders in my mission. If you didn't hear about it, there were two elder's who passed away last Saturday in there apartment. They think it is from carbon monoxide, but still aren't sure. Hoestly we haven't heard much about it. We only found out about it through one of our investigators Saturday night on our way to a baptism for the Danshui sisters. When she told us about it we still didn't know who the elders were. But that night our district leader let us know. I have a lot of different feelings. Sunday we went to church and we just felt weird. I think sometimes we hear about things like this happening but then all of a sudden it hits pretty close to home. I knew Elder Xiong a lot more than I knew Elder Thredgold. Elder Xiong was in my first zone for a while. I know that this is part of God's plan and it has become more and more real to me how much God is in control of things. Don't doubt that this is his plan, because I know for a fact that it is. I know that they are okay, ina  place a whole lot better than we are right now. And I know that they are still doing missionary work. I know that God is in control. I also know that there are a lot of people really in need of comfort and peace right now, so please pray for them.

 

So on a happier note Kirk is getting married this week! WHAT?! I seriously can't believe it. 

 

Transfers are coming up. They are early this transfer because president has a big meeting. So next week will be mind and Sister Huang's last week together! My baby! It really has been sort of like being a mom... Haha but it has been so fun and I love her so much. We have become like best friends and I just am so excited to see what will happen in her mission! Haha Last week it doesn't seem like a lot happened... or I just can't remember because the situation with the two elder's has been on our minds. Our ward has been so kind to us and I am sooooo grateful to be in this ward. I really love Beitou a lot. I realized that a lot this week.

OUCH!! BAD DAY:(

Ok this week was pretty interesting... Haha. I will start off with after I was done emailing you last week. This is the part of the week that's like, "really? Did that all just happen in one day?" It's suuuuper funny looking back on it now.  So it was p-day and we went to a members house. So then when we were coming home, we still had to buy food and we were running late because p-day ends at 6:00. So we bought all of our food and were rushing home with all the food on our bikes. I was carrying everything heavy, for example: The HUGE water jug (our house still doesn't have good water), two things of milk, some juice, and some other things. So I was riding and riding and there is a car in front of me. It stopped, so I slowed down. Then it started going so I started going. I looked down for 2 SECONDS and looked back up and WHABAM! I ran smack dab in the middle of the back of this truck. Eh... oops. So then I was gonna tell this guy I might have dented his truck... but he was just like, "are you okay??? is your bike okay?" and just making sure I was ok. So then we were like yeah I am fine. and were on our way... Hahaha how does that happen?? So then we go home and quickly put away our food and gather our garbage so when the garbage trucks come buy we can dump it. So we walk outside and my companion looks at me and is like "Sister Smedley, did you bring the keys?" I was a little quiet. I knew what had happened. She asked again and I was like no. No I didn't. Then we realized we were locked outside. So then we call the bu operations and ask if they can bring our extra key.. they said they could. So then the garbage people wouldn't except our garbage. In taipei you have to have "special" bags. Haha it's a special place. So anyway we buy the special bags, throw away our garbage, and we go where we wanted to find. And I say, "Huang JM (jiemei=sister), I just need two minutes to say a prayer." So I start saying a little prayer and I hear a text message go off and then Sister Huang on the phone. Then I realized she was talking to president Day. I quickly ended my prayer. Then he wanted to talk to me. Turns out, he is going to bring us our key. I was like, "I'm so sorry president.." She was like, "Oh, I'll make up for it when I get there!" then I asked, "what does that mean???" Haha then we both laughed a little. Then he asked what happened. Then later he brought us our key. So a nice unexpected visit from President Day! But it was good. He was laughing and telling us funny stories. I love him. So that was my crazy monday. But it shows that even when we are having a hard day, it can still end really great! Just trying to be positive and learning to laugh. Yeah it took me til seeing president to be able to laugh about it... But it ended up a great night!

PICTURES!!! MORE ABOUT BEITOU! AND COMPANION

My companion is the cutest! Haha we get a long so well. We are ourselves and we are happy! She and I are pretty different I think but we just get a long really well. I love her! Beitou is beautiful. Remember when we went to new zealand and saw hot springs everywhere. And the smell? Yep. That's my life right now. Haha they are everywhere and it smells like them everywhere. But I love beitou! And there are hills everywhere. So much trees. So much green! It is beautiful! Our ward is good. The bishop I have heard doesn't like foreigners. So we are working on that.  We got a new MM leader though so IT is going great(:

PICTURES:  One of my companion and I at the temple. One of me, last week right before english class meeting, we were racing there, my tire completely blew. I heard a big bang and thought I was getting shot at. But thankfully it was my tire. So I had to find a place to buy a new one. Needless to say, I didn't make it to English class meeting:( Good thing one of the elders was willing to take over!

TRANSFER!! TO THE MOUNTAINS!

I moved to Beitou! It is the most beautiful place in the world my friends. Seriously I love it so much. I live on a mountain. The church is on another mountain. So hopefully I will be getting skinnier right? Haha My companion is Sister Lin another Taiwanese companion! YAY! I love her a lot.

Last week we were able to see Song Dixiong baptized! So that was really great. I live on a mountain. I know I already said that. But seriously I think we counted five or six mountains we went up last saturday to different places. But at the end, I couldn't do it anymore! Haha it was pretty crazy. But I know that everyone has mountains to climb. Whether real life mountains on a bike, or whether it is our own trials and challenges. God will help is climb them, and when we get to the top we can look back, getting to see everything we accomplished. So I think that is a really special experience. I love you all so much. 

Lesson learned:   I realized that before my mission if all of that happened in one week, that would be really hard. And I wouldn't know how to handle it. And I would probably be mopy, and just let myself be sad. And you know, sort of the pity me idea. I think last week I was confused Wednesday as to why I was still so happy and not so sad that my grandpa passed away. I was confused why I was fine, because before I wouldn't be. But I have realized one of the biggest things I have learned on my mission is how to handle trials and adversity. On our missions we are so busy and we are always working and always caring more about the people we are around. Which in return allows us more happiness. I was still so happy last week because we were sharing the gospel, because we kept working so hard, because we were focused on others. That is the key to happiness. Serving God and focusing on others, and working hard. It's crucial! So I also think it is a key to overcoming our trials. They will still be hard, but when we stay so close to the spirit, he can comfort us and give us the strength to just keep going!

Oh I almost forgot, WE HAD AN EARTHQUAKE LAST WEEK! Haha very little, but it was in studies. My companion and I thought we would die because we live on a mountain and it was pouring rain as well. Eh, what can you do? Haha it was very small though. 

FIRST OF MAY--END OF PINGZHEN

May 5:  You know you have lived in Taiwan for a while when.... your favorite study time snack is seaweed. Haha really though so good!

 Anyway, this week we really have been blessed to see a lot of miracles!  We have been so blessed with our investigators and ward and everything in between. So I have a couple I want to tell you about! 1) So Friday night we were on our way to an appointment that was a little far away and we were already running a little late. So we are riding our bikes and Sister Chen says, "we need to go talk to them!" So I turn around and see a man and his son walking. So we instantly turn and go talk to them. We find out his 10 year old son goes to church every week, he is Christian. So we are talking to them and they are very interested and we have a lesson with them. This 10 year old boy prays every day and they both were just amazing! So we invited them to come to church that Sunday. The dad said he couldn't because of work, but his son could. He said he could just ride his bike there. So we got there information so set up again and were so excited! Well as we were sitting in ward council the elders ran out really fast. When they came back they said, "I think you have investigators here. A Xu Jiating." When we went out after ward council guess who actually came to church? Xu dixiong (remember how he said he couldn't???) and his son! It was a miracle to have them there. And our ward was so great to guanxi them and introduce themselves and sit with them. It was really amazing. 

ELDER HOLLANDS VISIT

FEB 23, 2014--Well this week was pretty crazy! It was packed filled. Monday was p-day! that was great! The whole district went out to lunch to a stake place for my birthday. Then on Wednesday we had interviews with president! It was so great. I love interviews so much. It's just a cool time to be able to just talk to President Day and set goals and just chat. He is amazing! Then on Friday we did a missionary Tsunami to help the yangmei elders find some investigators. So we were in Yangmei all day. Then on saturday we had a missionary devotional with Elder Holland.

 

It really was so amazing. So we got to Jin Hua chapel at about five to get ready to take a picture and shake his hand. So we all lined up in the culturaly hall to take a group picture. Then as he walked in we all sang Hark All Ye Nations (which president had us memorize) and he walked in with his wife, president and sister day, Elder Wilson and Sister Wilson, Elder and Sister Haulstrom. And he listened to us sing for him. After he said Bravo! haha  Then they all went out in the hall to shake our hands as we walked into the chapel. So I finally got to shake his hand and look into his eyes and thank him. The spirit was so strong. He really is incredible. He put his hand to my head and held it for a second and looked into my eyes while shaking my hand. I can't even describe the feelings I had being in his presence and all the people that were with him. It was really incredible. Then we went in and they all spoke. Elder Holland is so funny. Also pretty intense sometimes. The spirit was so strong though.  But just some personal revelation I got was how short my mission is. It isn't a lot of time and I really need to give it EVERYTHING I have. Because I can rejuvenate when I get home. Now is the time to give everything I have. All my energy, thoughts, time, strength, and efforts. He just was amazing and set how proud he was of us. He gave us some great counsel. And I just want to be better after it.

 

Sorry my time is so short. But I am so greatful for the chance to serve here. I love it here, I love these people, I love the culture and the language, I love being a servant of the lord. It is literally the hardest thing I have ever done in my whole life, I am sure everyone who is or has been a missionary can testify to that. But I know it will be worth it. I love you all a whole lot. Keep serving the Lord(:

 

Love Sister Megan Smedley ( Sister Smredruily: as chinese people try to read my name... yikes. Hahaha I tell em it's right no matter how they pronounce it.)

GUONIAN AND ELDER HOLLAND IS COMING!

 Guonian: Everyone is out of school and so happy! Haha there is more food that we could eat in a week in one meal. And we would have to eat as much of it as we could. Haha everyone get's fat. The floating lantern festival is next week, that is not part of guonian. There is also a lot of red everywhere. And there are lanterns everywhere, it is really prettty! Also the Buddhists temples are usually swarming with peole and food and fruit and stuff to give offereings to worship. But it's a pretty happy time of the year for them! It is six days long of being with family and eating more than you should in a week for every meal(: 

I have started trying to read the Book of Mormon in Characters and it is hard. I can't read it but I'm still learning... Haha slowly but surely. So then we had to pick up some stuff for our zone leaders and sister training leaders so all in all, it made today pretty jammed pack! Also I am going to be sending my scriptures home soon. I bought some new english ones in taipei to have as mission scriptures because mine are literally falling apart and I don't want to ruin them more and more.. So today was really great! Got to see president and sister day and some other missionaries. IT was fun(: Met some really cool people on the way and on the way back. It was cool(: Also I got your package mom. Thank you! I am getting old fast... yikes!

 

 AN APOSTLE IS COMING ON FEBRUARY 22!!!!(:(:(:(:(: I am so excited! Guess who it is?? I will give you a hint: Dad will be preeeeetttttty jealous he isn't here. Did you guess? Haha Elder Holland is coming!(:  Also a president of the seventies is coming,I am verrrrry excited! also member of the presiding bishopric. So it is a big deal.  

 

The work is going well here. We have lots of investigators and are just trying to get them progressing towards baptism. Thanks for prayers and love. Til next week(:

 

XINNIAN KUAILE!!!

Xinnian Kuaile! (HAPPY NEW YEAR!)  February 2, 2014

 

Well this week has been crazy! I am pretty sure I have gained 500 pounds like I said I would last week. YIKES! We have eaten ssoooooooooooooooooo much. Feasts for every meal. From last thursday until tomorrow, members are feeding us for lunch and dinner! That is 10 feasts in 5 days!!!!!!!! SO MUCH FOOD. Today we went to Shi Jiatings and they wanted it to be American for us.. Haha (usually when people say this they buy us pizza, so we have had a lot of pizza) so we get there and there is mashed potatoes! Theey were like mom's funeral potatoes, they had fried rice, meatballs, banana cake, and marble cake. And fish and pasta and "pumpkin" pie... it wasn't pumpkin though. I don't really know what it was. But it was so good! Also Bishop's house made us American food as well. They made mashed potatoes (this is rare in Taiwan), Chicken, and brownies and salad. It has been so much fun getting to be with our ward members and spend time with them. I wish we had more than an hour with them, but alas, we don't:

 

Anyway's. This year is the year of the Horse. Just so you know. I was born the year of the dog. There is a story about animals racing to heaven which is how they know what the years are. So every twelve years it starts over.

I hope you are all doing good! Lately we have been sharing Mosiah 24:13-15 a lot with the members. Read it. I think it is a good reminder to know that the Lord will visit us in our afflictions and he will help take the burden from our shoulders. He wants to help us. I love you all a lot and I'll talk to you next week!

 

Love, Sister Megan Smedley

MEG'S BIRTHDAY IS SOON!

Hey, a note from Meg's mom--Meg's birthday is coming up.  February 17 she will be 20 years old!  My baby....  anyway, she would really love, I am sure,  to have a few birthday wishes sent her way.  If you want to mail a letter to her, you should do that this week as it takes a good two weeks to get to her.  You need an international stamp to do that--Not sure how much they are-- I will put her address below.  If you would just like to write her an e-mail, her e-mail address is megan.smedley@myldsmail.net.

Thanks.  I know it would be a huge lift for her to hear from you!
Shelley
Meg's address:

Sister Megan Smedley
Taiwan Taipei Mission
4Fl, #24, Lane 183 Jin-hua St
Taipei, TAIWAN  ROC

You can also write her at www.dearelder.com  Taiwan Taipei Mission   Thanks:)

FIRST BAPTISM!!!

Well what a week it has been! :) So last week on Friday we have a zone training by President and Sister Day, the assistants to the president, and the temple sisters. It was so good! We got our area split. So we are in PINGZHEN and the elders are in Yangmei Xinnu. So this means we have to have peikes because now we are teaching men as well. YIKES. It is pretty strange. But I feel bad because they elders had to give all of their investigators to us. We only had a couple people for them. So now we have ALOT of work to do! It will be very exciting! 

 BAPTISM DAY(: My companion was sick. YIKES. Throwing up and tearing her throat so then throwing and coughing up blood. YIKES. So then we called sister Day  She said she needed to stay home and rest. My companion was like, here's the deal. We have a baptism today. So then sister day said, "Well I think going to that baptism will help you feel better so you better go to that(:" Hahaha Then she said they would still try to come! Then a half hour before the baptism she called us. She said they were stuck in pretty heavy traffic and didn't know if they would be able to make it.   we started the baptism and ten minutes into it, guess who showed up??? PRESIDENT AND SISTER DAY! YAY!!! We were really excited to see them. They are seriously the greatest. I love them a lot!(:

 

So the baptism. Jocelyn is amazing.  I have never been so happy as watching her in the font, just praying they will get it right the first time, and just watching her be baptized. After the second time they got it right and when she came up out of the water my companion and I were just so happy. We couldn't contain it. We ran to her, went into the bathroom and gave her the biggest hug! It was beautiful. Then when she bore her testimony at the end, she said that people ask her, why do you want to be baptized? She told us how it's because she wants to change and she knows this is the way to do it. She was just so happy and it was cool.  She is amazing!

 

So this week starts guonian! Tomorrow is guonian eve(: So that is like the most important day of guonian. So for thursday friday saturday sunday monday and tuesday, our ward has scheduled out all of our lunches and dinners! So guonian everything shuts down. So they are feeding us for ever meal except breakfast! YAY! It will be insane. I heard you just eat soooooo much! So here's hoping I don't gain five hundred pounds in five days. Uh'oh. We will be eating a lot. 

Always. I am so grateful for this gospel. I am grateful for the savior. Who allows us to come to him with our mistakes and weaknesses and even though he sometimes won't resolve it right away, he will help us have strength to overcome them. In a world that is becoming more and more evil, don't forget that means there is also more good! The church is building and building it's kingdom. Don't forget how precious this gospel is(: Help out the missionaries in your ward! They would love it!(: I love you all!

 

Love, Sister Megan Smedley (Mai jiemei(:)

Eating strange things?

They don't eat dogs or cats. Well they might but I haven't yet.

I have eaten everything weird lately. Haha I am pretty used to it though. I think at guonian, (Chinese New Year end of january) I heard that is when the crazy food starts! I am terrified. But that's okay. Twice we have gone to a members house and we ask what is in the soup, she doesn't have any idea. So that is always scary... Haha but I haven't died yet.

 

Transfers! January 6

Soooooo. TRANSFERS. GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?????? My companion and I both stayed in Pingzhen! So here we are and we are both way happy because that means we get to see Jocelyn baptized and keneng Hong JM but maybe not her. But we are pretty excited. Sister Call (our roommate Zhongli 1 sister) got a new companion. Her name is Sun Jiemei. She is a Bendi (native) So that is super fun to have in the house because then we speak Chinese more at home.

 

Last week we saw the most amazing miracle of... 12 NEW INVESTIGATORS. TWELVE! We were so thrilled! We found at least one every day. And on Friday we had the sweet experience of teaching a family. We went to find and LA and knocked on the door. Then someone answered and said they had moved. And she continued to say that they were Buddhist. So we gave them a pamphlet and the grandma told her to let us in. So we went in and taught a FAMILY. It was the first time either of us got to teach a family. So we got five new investigators that night that we are meeting with Friday. They are all 8 years old and older. It was a huge miracle. I know that it is because we have been so focused on obedience that we have been able to see this miracle. 

 

Also remember Jocelyn????? I hope so because she is INCREDIBLE. At our lesson with her last week we asked her if we could move her baptism date up. She said YES! So she is now getting baptized on the 25th of January!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! It will be my first baptism here and it is someone Sister Bond and I found and have gotten to teach all the way through. 

But spiritual thought of the week. I have been reading Jesus the Christ since the MTC and this week I got to the Garden of Gethsemane. And I really had a moment to just ponder that sacrifice. It goes into a lot of detail about Judas and what was going on with him and with the Lord's last talk to his disciples before he was betrayed. But I just know that his sacrifice was for us INDIVIDUALLY. He loves us so much. I kept wondering, Why did he do that? He knew at that exact moment that one of his apostles was betraying him to his death. He knew how wicked some of the people in the world are. He suffered for  them too. I kept wondering why. But I realized, don't forget this, God is a fair God. A chance that he gives to one of his children to return home he will give to ALL. So even though he suffered for those wicked people he gave EVERY SINGLE PERSON an equal chance to return home. He loves us. I know this is true. He suffered for us so individually and I couldn't be more grateful for his loving sacrifice. I hope all of you ponder about the savior this week and his role in your life. Get to know him a little better. I know I still have a lot to know about him. Everyday we can all learn more and more.