Well everyone hello!!! Thank you all for so many letters this week it was a bit overwhelming to read and reply to 31 emails!! But so great keep it up!! Alright so heres how my week went this week,
I had an unexpected miracle of getting to see everyone who came to Taiwan with me in a follow up meeting we all had that my companion and I did not know about until 3 days before but really it was so great to see them all it was like coming home and seeing part of my family. I am so lucky that the mission so far really has felt just like that- meeting all my family members I didnt know I had but cant believe that I am just now meeting them. I cant believe how much my heart is growing here. Also my Mission President and Wife came and directed our district meeting this week which was SO great! They really are the best and I am so grateful for them and their guidence. They are very wise in how to guide us. While compasionate they are so realistic and help us remember that yeah its going to be hard so work harder. SO great!!!! And I am definately starting to feel more loved and needed here in Taiwan.
This saturday we were supposed to have two baptisms both which did not happen becuase one wasnt keeping commitments and the others parents rejected. It is not easy to see things such as this happen becuase we want so badly for them to realize the blessings that will come. And so I learned to learn that really this is not my work. Its not my companions work its not President Days work or even the Prophets work, its God's and he alone can make this happen. And so I have rededicated my reasons for being here inviting others to come to Christ to do really that. Invite them to come to Christ and allow Him to get them to follow him and have a desire for baptism. But miracles do not cease!!! This week we spent a lot of time trying to locate LA's and try to help remind them of the covenants they have made and remember the desire to follow Christ. And... it did not seem very productive. And for my first time we had no new investigators. I was discouraged and a little sad as we walked to church feeling like no real improvement had been made. But as we were supprised by a golden investigators presence welcoming here into sacrament meeting I saw the Lord do his work. As two less actives walked into sacrament another investigator came and a recent convert was fellowshipped by three ward members. I cannot even describe the joy that I felt in that moment when I was reminded that God will do his work. And my efforts are not wasted. It was a beautiful and wonderful feeling to sit with my family in the meeting that day and remember truly why I am here in Taiwan.
Also may I testify of the power of prayer and that I know with all my heart and being that God hears them and answers them. Pray!!! All the time just do it you will never regret that you said a prayer. This morning in personal study I had asked a question in my prayer of how to create a good atmosphere when teaching and then set it aside to be answered later as I studied specifically for that when all of the sudden the answer popped out of the verse I was reading. Really. Pray. You will get answers.
So no really exciting or crazy things happened this week other than today waking up with a swollen eye which although is annoying and a little painful is more of a blessing than a hinderance. You all know I have dark eyes its just part of who I am. Well here its really weird for the Taiwanese and they comment all the time how I should get more sleep, well today I will only have one eye they can say that about as the other is so red and puffy now that theres no black even around it!!! So great!! HAhA
You all are awesome and I love you all The mission is amazing and the Lords work is going forth!
-Sister Thornley
No comments:
Post a Comment