August 12, 2013

Sadie Hawkins’ Dance

Hello my dear family and friends!

This week has flown by. I feel as if so much has happened I do not even know where to start.

Last Tuesday was our zone conference! I loved it so much. It was the spiritual boost that needed. This month our mission president is raising the bar in a lot of areas!! It is really pushing me more and more to be a better missionary.

One of our goals is that this month our mission can have 80 baptisms!! Breaking it down means that every companionship needs 1 baptism. When you look at it that way it is not nearly as intimidating. Another goal is that every companionship every day can give away one copy of the Book of Mormon.  That has been a really good motivation to work harder and harder every day. I am grateful for the challenges that he has given us.

Wednesday and Thursday were a day of getting fanged  (not coming to lessons). In those two days we got fanged 7 times! I could not believe it!  It was really sad. Sister Koch said at one point "It is High School all over again. I ask a boy to the Sadie Hawkins and then he doesn't show. (This is her exaggerating not a real story) . When the Elders asked us how is your day going we just gave them he look of don't even ask. Our lowest point had to be when not even our cute 2 year olds came to English class. We were like not even two year olds want to be with us.

The good thing about Sister Koch and I is we handle disappointment really well. We can just laugh it off. There are moments that we are truly but overall we can handle it well together. we tend to make up song parodies to Taylor Swift songs. That is therapy for us. Laughter and chocolate are the cure for sadness. I totally believe it now with all my heart.

Elder Farrell told us that in English class he taught his students that ice cream can fix anything especially the broken heart. Sister Koch and I full heartedly agree!

Friday was AMAZING we were able to go on exchanges with the temple sisters!! The temple sisters are the top sister Training leaders in our mission. They go on exchanges with all the sister training leaders and first transfer trainees. I went with Sister Edger who was with me in Hsichun Zhu too! It was a blast from the past.

While on exchanges she helped me so much. I know that she receives revelation to know what counsel to give me. I picked her brain about training because she trained twice. I just told her I love it but there are lots of times I do not feel qualified to train. She then reminded me to relax and enjoy the ride.

We have seen so many miracles big and small!

I feel that one miracle is that I am finally willing to be humble. I always felt that i was really good with directions. Then God sends me to another country where I can't read the map as well because I can barely read the characters on the map. Then when I ask people for directions I only understand about half of what comes out of their mouths. Last week it took us an hour to get to one of our members house but on the way back it to 15 minutes. Humility is the key here.

Sunday we had an appointment at 6:30 with a member referral. We are sitting at the church and 6:30 comes and goes. I called her 3 times and no answer. I told my companion that we need to say a prayer. We say a prayer asking God that if it be his will she would remember her appointment and come. At 6:55 we decided that we had officially been fanged. Last night there was a single adults activity at the church which we were invited to. We went and started mingling with the ward members there. Then around 7:15 Wu Di Xiong comes to me and is like your investigator is here!! I was so surprised but happy all at the same time. We go out and see this beautiful mom with two kids.

We had a beautiful lesson with her. She is actually from Vietnam but moved here with her family.  She is divorced with two kids. Her kids are so CUTE!! They are 7 and 8 year old!

We taught her God is our loving Heavenly father, BOM, pray and Jesus Christ. When we shared with her about how she is a child of God and he loves her something clicked and her eyes just lit up. We originally wanted to give her a BOM but we did not have it in Vietnamese. We are getting one today. At the end we invited her to church next week and she said yes I will come!!!

We have not been able to get a hold of Qiu Xiao Jie. We talked with her member friends. She told us the mom is really confused about our religion. I then asked her to ask the mom to arrange to meet with us and her. I am afraid we will scare the mom off. The mom wants her to meet with us but does not want her to be baptized. Which is hard because that is our purpose as missionaries.

Zhang JM is doing great!! Sadly she is moving.. However, on the bright side she is moving to Hschin Zhu!! I was like can I come with you. She did not get it. I am sad to be losing her but hey it’s all team Jesus.

Zhen li is doing GREAT!! We have gone through almost all the commandments. She is one of the smartest 11 year old I have ever meet. She was like I know what the Ten Commandments are and then started to list them for us. She has her baptismal interview next Sunday. I have no doubt in my mind she will pass.

Tina is a new investigator. The Elders contacted her on the street one day. The elders prayed with her and the next day all the things that were asked for in the prayer were answered. Then on Friday night we had just finished a lesson and were about to go contacting when I hear Lei Jie Mei. I turn and there is Tina with her dog. She was like you would never believe what happened today. I was like what. She told us another one of her prayers was answered and then told us. We then sat and had a lesson with her.

Last time we invited her to baptism but she did not accept.  We then talked about baptism again. She responded with I decided a long time ago I need three signs. I am thinking you have had so many! She then pauses and was like I have another sign. She then tells us this story afterwards she looks at us and goes I gave I had had all my signs. We then invite her to baptism and she was like one more thing. She told us open up the BOM to any page and pick a scripture. Which we do and we end up in 3 Nephi 12? It is the scripture about built upon the rock of my salvation. We were able to tie that into how baptism is the first step in building your rock upon Christ. She ACCEPTED!! I am so glad that we were able to see that miracle.

That's a wrap for the week! Miracles do happen we just have to look for them. I saw many more but no time to write them all.

I know this church is true! I know that we are ALL God's children. I know he loves us and wants us to return to him. I know that through sincere prayer we can communicate with him. I know that he hears our prayers and in his time answers them. I know that through Christ Atonement we can be healed spiritually and emotionally. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that families can be together forever. I love you all!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Sister Latimer