My dearest, most beautiful family,
Guess who I'm sitting next to right now?! - SISTER AMANDA
BURR!!!!
BUT, she's NOT my companion. We're just together because
we're waiting for our new companions to arrive at the Gaoshiung station.
We decided to come email because we have time. :) Thank goodness!!
Anyway, move calls came. Sister Lai is going to a new
area, and I am taking over Zuoying with another native Taiwanese sister from
Taipei. Her name is Liu Jiemei. I've already met her and seen her
around at zone conferences, so I already have an idea of who she is! :)
Here is the email I sent to President Blickenstaff this week:
"I am both so excited, nervous, and happy for this next
move call. I have already met Sister Liu and feel so blessed to be serving with
another Taiwanese sister. I know that my language and my understanding of the
culture will improve greatly. I think the thing I've learned and developed is
charity, patience, and humility. There are so many events that have helped me
be shaped more and more into the person the Lord wants me to be.
This week was wonderful. On Saturday, our investigator Xu Nuo
(now recent convert), was baptized!!! It was my first baptism here in Taiwan!
It was a really interesting experience because it took five attempts before she
was fully immersed in the water. We were all praying so hard for the Lord to
help her have a great baptismal experience. At the end, our recent convert bore
her testimony. The Spirit was so strong, and my eyes filled with tears. When
she came down to sit with me, she saw me crying, and she started crying as
well. Our recent convert Xu Nuo is amazing. She has the kindest heart and is so
childlike. Regardless of my weaknesses and my mistakes as a missionary/person,
she has been patient and willing to meet with us, to be baptized, and to cry
with me when I cry. I feel like we are really connected at the heart, and
although we cannot communicate through the language, we can communicate with
the heart. How wonderful the Lord is! The baptism that seemed like a disaster
soon turned into the best, indescribable experience for both missionary and
investigator.
Sometimes, things like baptisms happen on the mission, and we
don't know what we did or why we ever deserved to be a part of these wonderful
people's lives. I am continually humbled and loved by the Lord. His love really
is perfect. I'm learning to put my complete trust in Him. I know there will be
trials and harships in the future, but I am so willing to be diligent in
keeping His commandments and doing His will.
I know God loves us so much. I know it with all my heart."
SO, as you can see, WE HAD A BAPTISM. MY FIRST BAPTISM
HERE IN TAIWAN.
I can't even express how humbled and grateful I am to the Lord for
allowing me to be a part of Xu Nuo's conversion process. There are no
words that can express the joy and the wonder that I felt when she was baptized
and confirmed.
Xu Nuo is amazing. She is the only member in her family,
and her relationship with her brother and parents is really bad. She
isn't able to open up to us all the time because she doesn't want us to
worry. There have been times when we've called her at just the right
time. More than once, we've called her to find her crying and in tears.
We would always sing hymns for her and share scriptures with her.
To me, Xu Nuo's baptism was a miracle. SHE is a
miracle. The love I feel for these people is beyond what I can say.
Sometimes I can't communicate or express my feelings in Chinese all the time,
but there's something so much stronger that binds me to these people. I
always think of Mom and Dad when someone here gets baptized. My heart
swells every time I witness a tender mercy of the Lord.
Which reminds me (random note: Sister Burr is also staying in
the area she was trained in and has a Taiwanese companion.) We are both
nervous and excited, but we feel like we have both really grown more and more
into what the Lord wants us to be.
I love how Elder Jeffrey Holland puts it: "Surely the thing God
enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to
those who don't expect it and often feel they don't deserve it."
When I
started my mission, I came to find my testimony. I came to find who I am, and
as cliche as it is, I feel like I really have gained my own testimony, and I
have realized that in order to lose myself in the work, I first have to find
myself.
Finding who you are isn't always easy. Well... It's NEVER
easy. I feel like God has truly humbled me with His love. There is
so much in my life that I did nothing to deserve, but God gave so many
blessings/things/events to let me grow anyway. I love the hymn
"Count Your Many Blessings" so much. I know that God has
blessed me with innumerable blessings, and I am working hard to serve Him to
the very end.
I love how Vicky told me to be a happy missionary.
Being happy involves so much more than just having a smile on your face.
It means love. It means accepting and loving yourself as well as the people
you serve. It means looking at your companions and other missionaries
with a pure, Christlike love. Sometimes I look at my companions, and
instead of looking at them from a stranger's view, I think of them as my own
sisters. haha Vicky, I know you'll love this part. I start seeing
my companions like I see Vicky. VICKY, my perfect sister. We people
aren't perfect. We make mistakes. We may be impatient, prideful,
short-tempered, hard-hearted, jealous, etc. but regardless of these weaknesses,
sisters still love sisters. I'm not a perfect person, but for Vicky, I'm
a perfect sister, and Vicky, to me, is my perfect sister. We love each
other, and we want the best for one another.
I love what one missionary said before he left. He said to
treat everyone like they were your perfect sibling. I'm starting to learn
what charity feels like. It's always been a part of my life, but its
really standing out in my life.
Anyway, we had a ton of adds this week. About 21? -
Just from contacting on the streets. We also found these two young women
from English class. They came to church on Sunday and have the desire to
read the Book of Mormon by themselves. We found a mother and her two
children. We found a girl and her boyfriend. We found SO many potential
investigators, and I give all the credit to the Lord. Sometimes we do all
we can, and we can't see the results. Sometimes we do nothing, and we see
results. Regardless of what we do, the Lord always knows what He's
doing. He knows what we can take. He knows us so well that His
timing is perfect.
I love that our family is doing well. The millenium falcon
died?! - That's outrageous!!
I will send pictures next week. I forgot to bring my
camera cord. Today was a really crazy day since we had to clean and
organize/pack, etc. for new missionaries leaving/going.
Next week, I will also email the picture of me, sis. Lai, and Xu
Nuo to the mission blog. :) We also rescued a less-active last move
call, so that will be up there hopefully as well.
I love you all. Remember God loves you for who you
are. I do too.
Love,
Sister Verina Chen
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