July 15, 2013

Typhoon and A BABY?

Hello family and friends!

I hope this letter finds you all safe and well! Things have been crazy here with the typhoon.

With the unpredictable weather we were constantly getting phone calls from our district leader telling us what President Day wanted us to do. Originally we were not going to go outside at all on Friday. Then during studies on Friday morning we get the call that we can go out. So we went and did missionary work.  Then around 3 we get a call telling us President Day wants us in by 5 pm. So that night we cleaned our house and organized our area and former books. That night was when the storm really hit. You could hear the wind and rain. We were told that night that Saturday we could leave our house after 2 pm but because the storm passed quicker than expected we were able to leave after studies! That night around 7 we get a call saying President wants us in by dark. I told my district leader it is almost dark and Sun JM and I have a lesson far away. We had a quick lesson then rushed home. He did not want us riding around after dark because there is a lot of debris on the ground.

Saturday night our phone rings and I see that it is from the assistants. I pick up the phone and it was Elder Bowler. He was like, “Hello is this Sister Latimer?” I told him yes. He then starts asking about how is Shuang He. I tell him that the work is going great! He then asks me, “Do you think that it is a good place to raise a family?” At this point I am super confused. I said, “This is a great place for families because there are lots of parks.” He was like, “Well I think it is great you think it is great for raising a family because you will be a mom next transfer!”  He was like, “President Day wants you to train this coming transfer!” I was like “Really?”

I should explain your trainer is your first companion out in the field. In the mission world we call it your mom or dad. Sister Cisney is super excited because both her daughters will be training so she'll be a grandma!

I am so excited and NERVOUS to train! I feel that I am still learning a lot about how to do this work and more importantly how to be a good missionary. I was talking with my district leader about it. He was like really the key to being a good trainer is to be humble.

I feel that this is why I had this transfer! I feel this transfer God has humbled me a lot! I have realized how much I need to rely on the Lord to do this work. My Chinese is still far from perfect. i have one investigator who every time I talk to her tells me she does not understand. So the member translates. That is defiantly humbling. It gets better each lesson but there are still sometimes she completely does not understand.

Whom the Lord calls, he qualifies. I guess that is what will happen. I could not sleep Saturday. I kept on telling everyone on Sunday, "My new companion is still in America!" I keep on thinking, “What is she thinking right now?” I reflect back on my last week in the MTC and all the fears and excitement I had.

I hope that I can make her first two transfers in Taiwan the best. That is what my mom did for me and that is what I want to do for my baby.

Our investigators are doing great!

We were finally able to meet with Lin JM this Sunday. I feel that we had a break through with her! She was telling us how she already and a lot f faith to start with. I told her keep growing it and you will know that this church is true! I feel once she knows that this church is true her kids will also grow fast. The kids already have a strong testimony they just need moms encouragement.

Jiang JM is coming along. She is reading and praying. She does not feel that she has faith and that is what is stopping her from progressing. We are praying to know how we can help her. She really is golden it is her own fear that is stopping her.

Qui JM is doing great! She is really progressing in the gospel. She is full of questions!! She has only had the BOM for 2 weeks and is already in Alma!! WOW! I was really impressed.

Zhang JM- She has such a sincere desire to change. There are things in her past.

Wang Jie Jie- We finally found a teaching method that will help her focus!!!! What a miracle. We sing to her about a topic and give her a book to read along while we sing. She then talks about the song and how it touched her. I am so happy that Sister Sun was inspired to teach Wan Jie Jie using songs.

I love you all the church is true! God loves us all! He wants to help all of his children overcome their challenges!

I can't wait to write you next week and tell you who my baby is.

Love

Sister Latimer