April 15, 2013

Funerals, Meetings, and Conference

Hello Family and Friends!

Wow! This week has been crazy! I have no idea where to start.

Well as you can tell from the subject of my email a lot of this week was spent in meetings of one kind or another. Total this week I went to 2 funerals, 1 zone conference, one specialized training and conference. I am amazed at in between all of that we were still able to have so many miracles and lessons.

Last Wednesday I was able to go to a traditional Taiwanese Funeral and more cool was that I was able to give a little talk about the plan of salvation. What an amazing opportunity I have to where ever I go stand as a witness of Christ at all times, all things, and places.  This was the grandma of our young man president in Xiang Shan ward.  He is the only member in his family and he wanted us to go speak. We went and I was astonished at the beauty of the funeral. In the front of the room there is a huge flower display! GORGEOUS!!!! We then walk in with some members from Xiang Shan ward and line up. I then gave my talk. Then we all sang Lead Kindly Light and Nearer My God to Thee. It was beautiful. Afterwards we lined up and did the customary bowing then left. I am really enjoying about the culture of Taiwan and being able to take part in some of it. In this culture they truly honor their ancestors.

Thursday was a specialized training in Taoyuan. For specialized training President & Sister Day come with the Assistants. In the beginning we talked about not being an over perfectionist. It was really good to hear. Sister Day announced our new English PROGRAM!! Us and the Taichoung mission will now be using the same program which will make it better because if someone moves to their mission from our mission they can still go to the English class there and be on the same wavelength. I cannot wait this will make English class more attractive and be a way better finding tool.

In our Zhu San ward we now have a new ward mission plan. Sister Cisney and I came up with it so we are pretty happy about that. In that ward there are a lot of part member families and we want to focus on helping them share the gospel with their families. We decided that in order to share the gospel they first need to have the light in them. This led us to think we should focus on the Christlike attributes found in chapter 6 of PMG. Each month we will pick one and the whole ward will focus on that attribute. As missionaries we will talk about it in Relief Society/ priesthood on how we can attain this attribute.

Saturday was Lai Jie Mei's husband's funeral. It was way different because it was at a Catholic church. It really felt like a mass. A couple nights before the funeral we were able to visit her but more important listen to her and lift her hopes by reminding her about the plan of salvation. It is really hard to see her so sorrowful. She really did love her husband and misses him a ton.  The bishop and relief Society president were both able to come to the funeral. It was great that they are supporting Lai JM right now. She really is touched by all the ward members reaching out to her.

Saturday and Sunday we spent watching conference at the chapel. The missionaries watch together in the kitchen in English while everyone else watches in the chapel in Chinese.

WOW! The work is truly hastening! I love being a part of this work in these last days. It will be great to have more missionaries to touch the lives of more people.

I really loved Sister Dalton's talk!!! I was shocked that she got released but then I realized she has been in for a while.  What I got from her talk was knowing who I am helps me stay on the straight and narrow. To me she will always represent my years in Young Women! I told Sister Cisney this really makes me feel old.

Elder Holland’s talk was perfect for ALL. I loved how he talked about letting your little seed of faith grow. When he said lead with what you know it reminded me a lot about our investigators. A lot of the times they focus on what they don't know and how this is why they could not be baptized.  Sister Cisney and I then help them remember what they do know and I love seeing the smile creep on their face as they start to realize just how much they do KNOW! We all need to lead with what we do know!!

Elder Bednar's was a good talk. In our specialized training we did practice teaching of Law of Chastity. We all joked that he taught the law of chastity plain and simply. It was very bold to. I really loved how he tied it into the Plan of Salvation.

President Monson is such a good story teller. I loved how his was focused on obedience. As a missionary now understand obedience better. I know that through obedience God blesses us. I know that commandments do not enslave us but set us free from heart ache pain and suffering.

President did confirm that he will be splitting  Xin Zhu. I am not certain if I will be staying or they will be opening/white washing one of our wards. I know that wherever I go it is in God's hands.  There is a huge possibility that I will be training. Everyone in the district thinks so but I am trying not to think about it. I will probably know by this Friday. I know that God qualifies those whom he calls.

Ding Jie mei is doing great! The ward has really stepped up and fellowshipped her. Her home teacher has set up that every Sunday she can come over to their house for family home evening. This is such an appropriate fit because Ding JM son is around the same age as their kids. I am so happy!!!

I love you all!! I pray for you daily and you are never too far from my thoughts. This church is true! The only way to be happy in this life is to live by its principles.

Sister Latimer