March 4, 2013

Customs and Traditions

My dear family and friends!

I love you all SO very much.  Time is flying by here in Xin Zhu.  I am really loving this place. There is something about being out here that takes my breath away. I told Sister Cisney that my favorite part of the day is bike riding home. It is dark and you can really see the stars. It reminds me at how no matter where we are in the world we are all looking at the same stars.

This week has been one of experiencing the culture and tradition of Taiwan. Last Monday for Preparation day we went with two single women from Xiang Shan to Zhu Bei for the lantern festival. It was a little sad because we had to go during the day so it was not as cool. The Zhu bei district is lucky because they can go at night! However, we still were able to write our new years goals and hang it on the post. It was fun. I will try to find a way to e mail pictures home this week. I have so many to send you.  It was great to be with them, but also weird because it felt like I was just hanging out with friends from home.

Song Jie mei is doing good. We just brought up baptism with her last week and her first response was that's a big covenant and you don't just get baptized just to do it. We talked about setting a date with her and she was like iffy on doing it in April. I am hoping May?! She is super li hai though she has already finished 1st Nephi!

Lai Jie mei is chugging along. We mentioned the word of wisdom to her last Monday and kind of invited her to keep it. On Saturday we meet again and she told us that she is keeping it. She said that two different people have offered her tea and coffee and she has rejected it both times!!! it is almost too easy to get her baptized. She even announced her own baptismal service in Relief Society! My companion is sitting in RS thinking you still need to get permission from you husband and pass the interview. However, we both are confident that she will pass.

Ding Jie mei!! A HUGE MIRACLE! Last Wednesday we gave her a call to just check up and she told us she found a new job!! It pays better and most importantly she has 9 days off a month and she can chose the days. She told us that she wants to go to church with her son every week! We then went to her work Friday to say a quick hello and she was glowing!! My companion and I both knew right then and there that she is ready for baptism! We set a date for March 30. I am so happy! This has been a year in the making!!

Zhou jie mei is progressing. We called her the other night and she told us that she has been praying and it is becoming more of a habit. That is a huge deal for people in Taiwan. They are mostly Buddhist and so the only pray they know is Bai Bai( this is the pray to the ancestors). The first time we meet with her she was super nervous about prayer. To me this just shows how God is preparing people and I just need to find them!!! The work will progress because as it says in PMG God will lead them to you or they will be lead to you!! I have seen this happen.

One example of this is we stopped a lady in a neighborhood and had a nice 20 minute conversation with her. It turns out that she went to a Christian HS. We prayed with her and talked with her about God and families. We couldn't get her number but she has ours. I know that we planted a seed and that seed will grow into a desire.

Another lady we stopped on the street and she gave us her address. She told us over and over again you guys are so hard working. At first I thought that she was not interested but I was so wrong. I was glad to be proven wrong!

I have been thinking a lot lately about change! For these next fifteen months I only know I will be in a place for a transfer (6 weeks) then who knows where. I am not always a huge fan of change it scary and hard and things are constantly changing here on a mission. However, the change that I love to see the most is the change in the investigators. I have seen Lai Jie mei go from a very sad state to one who now has that light of Christ. The same with Ding jie mei she was unhappy and now she has the light of Christ and more importantly has a desire to be baptized. It is amazing to be a part of this change and see how much the gospel changes their lives!

Then I think it is doing the same to me. My life was great before the mission but every day I am coming to know my Heavenly father and Redeemer more. I am changing spiritually and socially. I am way more outgoing and comfortable in my own skin.

On Thursday I went to a funeral. It was really hard, but not all at the same time. All the talks at the funeral were about the plan of salvation! It is interesting in Taiwan when they first enter they sign a book and give an envelope with money! Standing at the door of the church was Sister Cisney, Elders Chen and Kattlemen and I. It was really great to experience. The night before the bishop told my companion and I to not wear RED and not bright colors he said dark. Afterwards we went to eat with the family. It was one of those course by course meals. Those to me are the worst because no matter how much you pace yourself it is never enough.

Sunday on my own I introduced in Relief Society the ward mission plan. I even think they understood the real test will be next week when I will see the results.

Another cool story we stopped by the YW president's house for a moment to talk about her referral and how it went. We usually share a message. She then tells us do you want to see  my lesson on the plan of salvation for the young women and of course we said yes. She has a cute little two year old boy! She is doing the lesson as if she was teaching her son. She would say dui bu dui (yes or no) and he would respond! Always correct to. It's a great example to me of how even at a young age you can teach them the gospel. Her lesson was simple and you knew that he knows he is a son of God!! I want to be like her when I am a mother. I told my companion this that night!!

Live life to its fullest! Love as much as you laugh and all will be will! It is easy to get stressed out as a missionary work because this work is stressful. I have realized though God does want us to have fun too!

This church is true! Thomas S Monson is God's living prophet on the earth today. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. As it says in the introduction "a man will get closer by reading this book than by any other book". I know that God answers prayers. Remember to look for the little tender mercies and miracles every day. I know that they are there. We just have to look and then thank God and he will give us more!

Kisses and hugs to all!

Sister Latimer