2014.7.14 Tanzi Powerpuff Girls

This week was AMAZING.  This is how I feel: "And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people..... and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (4 Nephi)

This week, Sister Ko and I have a short time missionary serving with us for a week!! We met her on Saturday, and since then, we have been the happiest companionship in the world!! And why?!?! - Because our hearts really ARE filled with the love of God.

AAAHHH!!

I just can't describe HOW HAPPY I've been this last move call. God has totally set me up to have the best last transfer EVER. You know how I've been saying that my companions just keep getting better and better?! - Well, I'm going to say it again.

MY COMPANIONS JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. Seriously though.

Sister Ko, Sister Lu (our cute short-time missionary) and I feel like we were really great friends in the pre-existence. It's been amazing just recognizing how many similarities we have, and our personalities just CLICK. We get the same sense of humor, the same spiritual promptings, EVERYTHING! I have really just been blessed with the PERFECT MOVE CALL. EVERYTHING is perfect: My companions, our apartment, my bike, our area, our ward, our investigators, our opportunities, etc.

Most of all, I think my understanding of the Atonement has grown so much recently. Maybe that's what's REALLY has changed: my perspective and understanding of Christ's atonement and the idea of "perfection".

At the end of last move call, I was struggling to understand how I was to be perfect if I had so many weaknesses. I had been praying and praying, and I didn't know if God would hear me, but last week, I found my answer. God DOES hear our prayers. He DOES listen.

In this month's July Liahona, there is a talk about "Becoming perfect in Christ" by Elder Gerrit W. Gong. JUST GO READ IT. When I read this article, every single line and paragraph were exactly what I needed to hear. I recognized that we become perfect in Christ by first understanding His Atonement and understanding what it actually means to be perfect. Being perfect takes a natural process of time and patience. We are not meant to be perfect now. That is impossible. However, we can achieve perfection after an eternal progression of this life, as we enter the Spirit World, and then are resurrected.

This morning, I read an awesome paragraph from "Jesus the Christ": "For the Father is kind, long-suffering and tolerant, causing His sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sending rain for the sustenance of both just and unjust."

I know that Heavenly Father is perfect, and by being kind, long-suffering, and tolerant, full of mercy and love, we can be perfect too.

THAT is why I have been so obsessed with the beattitudes (Christ's sermon on the mount):

-Poor in Spirit (made rich as rightful heirs to the kingdom of heaven)

-Mourner (comforted as he sees the divine purpose in his grief-shall associate again with his loved ones of whom he has been bereft)

-Meek (inherit the earth)

-Hunger and thirst for truth (be fed in rich abundance)

MY FAVORITE: THEY THAT SHOW MERCY SHALL BE JUDGED MERCIFULLY

-Pure in heart (admitted to the presence of God)

-Peacemakers (try to save themselves and their friends from strife - numbered among the children of God)

-Suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness (inherit riches of the eternal kingdom)

I love God.  God loves us.  HE IS LOVE.

Oh, and to explain the title:  Sister Ko, Sister Lu, and I feel like the powerpuff girls.  We're saving Tanzi with the GOSPEL.

haha

Anyway, this last weekend was the baptism and confirmation of You Xing Yi!! :)  It has been such an amazing experience just being where I am.  Two transfers ago, I biked into her at a red light in Dakeng.  I referred her to the Tanzi sisters because that's where she resides, not knowing that she would be baptized this weekend, and that I would be able to be serving in her ward when she did get baptized!!

God is merciful and kind.  I am humbled to know that I am His tool.  

I heard from Sister Packard the other day that our investigator Zeng Gui Xiang passed her baptismal interview.  She is getting baptized this Saturday.  I might be able to get permission to go to Dakeng that night to attend her baptism.

SO MANY MIRACLES.  There's no way I can list them all, but I hope you all got a little feel of what I'm feeling.

I'm changing, and I'm happy because I trust God with my life!!!! 

Love,

Sister Verina Chen

2014.7.7 Tanzi

Dearest family,

Move call is here!!! Guess where I'm headed?! - TANZI with Sister Ko Yu-Ting!  

Tanzi, like Dakeng is in the North Taichung Zone.  I had the opportunity to go on exchanges to Tanzi TWICE with Sister Ko these last two transfers, and now we're serving together!!! :) Tanzi has an incredible ward with amazing investigators.  On our recent exchange together, Sister Ko and I found five new investigators in one day.  Next week one of our investigators You Xing Yi is getting baptized.  Last move call while I was serving in Dakeng, I had contacted You Xing Yi on the street and referred her to the Tanzi sisters, not knowing that she would get baptized, and better yet - I will be able to attend her baptism AND teach her the recent convert lessons!!

Also, I'm going back to being a facebook missionary with Sister Ko!!!  So, we'll be using facebook to work with a lot of online investigators. 

The Tanzi and the Fengyuan sisters live in the same apartment, and so guess who is moving to Fengyuan to live with Sister Ko and me?! - SISTER LESLIE MEDRANO!!! - YES.  THAT Sister Medrano, my trainee, my baby!!! :) I am SO excited to see her tonight because we'll be able to catch up on everything. 

Isn't this last move call just a BEAST?!?! - I have the best companion, an awesome ward, the coolest roommates, a golden area, and an intense zone. I'm definitely going to make it the best that I can!!

Anyway, since today is move call, we only have an hour to email.  Sister Ko and I are getting hair cuts this afternoon.  :)

Love you all!!! 

Sister Verina Chen 

6.30.2014 - Dakeng - I am not a number. I'm a believer!!!

 By the end of every day, I feel like I've given EVERYTHING that I have.  Sister Packard and I discussed last night about how we've had the lowest key indicators we've ever had on our missions recently; however, we've never been so happy and so ... filled with PEACE our whole missions.

Even though we are often coming out with a bunch of  "O's", we feel as if they are the fattest zero's ever because we put SO much faith, SO much work, SO much sacrifice, SO much sweat, and SO much love into this work.  I'm really learning about how true character and true success cannot be found in mere statistical evidences.  True success and joy is found in who you ARE.

I don't want people to ask me how many baptisms I've had, how many less-actives I saved, how many people I contacted on the street, how many lessons I had in a week, etc. And it's not because the statistic is too high or too low.  

Whatever the numerical reply, it does NOT and CANNOT reflect upon the person I REALLY am.

I believe that success is defined when we become individuals of character - people who change - people who love - people who try - people who serve - people who sacrifice - people who learn.

As missionaries, we are always reminded that the people we interact with are not and cannot be regarded as mere numbers.  Sometimes, we forget to acknowledge that we as missionaries are not and never will be mere numbers.

I am not a number.

I know that I want to continue changing.  I know that I want to continue learning.  I know that I want to continue serving.  I know that I want to continue loving.  I know that I want to continue BECOMING. - Becoming who God wants me to become.

 

Knowing this fills me with so much faith, so much hope, so much joy, and so much peace.  I know that if we have righteous desires, work diligently with faith, and have patience/long-suffering, we will truly see God's tender mercies and blessings pour out from the windows of heaven.

Let us all continue learning and growing in wisdom and truth.  This week, I really studied about "truth".

As I studied in PMG about what truth is, I found out the following:

Truth is God's word.

Truth is light.

Truth, no matter where you go or what you're called, is the same and does not change.

So, what is God's word?!

Words of the prophets (AKA SCRIPTURES)

 - the Bible and the Book of Mormon

Why do we need truth?!  

A: Why do we need light?!

- Light allows us to see.  It guides us and directs us.  It fills us with warmth.

- Similar to the process of photosynthesis in plants, truth is necessary for us as people to grow spiritually and intellectually.

In the scriptures, we learn the light is necessary for us to find our way back home to our Heavenly Father.  It's the way for us to be saved.  It is the way to eternal glory.

So, what can we do?! What does God want us to do?!

He wants us to continue finding and searching for truth, and the best thing about it is this:  No matter where we are, no matter who we are, no matter the circumstance, we can ALL find truth in our situations 24/7.

Is that not the greatest gift God has granted us?!

I think the happiest thing for me would be to see my loved ones searching and diligently seeking truth and light.  Why?!?! - Because that is how we are going to get back home!! THAT is the way we are going to receive blessings beyond our comprehension.

I hope that you can feel what I feel.  I know that you can!  

Sometimes it's hard for us to see the blessings that God desires to give us.  It's hard for us to see the blessings that He has prepared for US.  Sometimes all we can see is how He's blessing everyone around us.

For instance, I have never contacted and then REFERRED so many golden people to every area BUT my own (Dakeng) than now.  Just last night, I ran into this 20 year old cute girl who is GOLDEN - just to find out that she lives in the Beitun area.  Although, I'll have to admit.  When I found out that she wasn't our investigator, I wasn't surprised because it's happened to us THAT MUCH.

I was feeling as if God was cheating me of all these blessings... And to be honest, I was mumbling because I felt like all of the blessings we have been working so hard for have all been given to other missionaries.  

However, as I prayed and thought about this situation, I realized that this work is NOTHING about me.  How can I say that I deserve all these blessings?!? The work of God is JUST THAT.  It's not the work of Sister Chen.  It's not even the work of President Monson.  It's the work of God, and everything that we do DOES contribute to God's work.  We cannot glory in ourselves.  We must glory God.  ALL that we do and say should be in behalf of God and His work.

No matter what part of the work we are, we ALL contribute to the glory of God, and that is joy beyond measure.

God really has been answering my prayers because this morning, I ran into this wonderful scripture:

"Verily, verily I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you."

"And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.  The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of the earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

"Wherefore, do the things which I have commanded you, saith your Redeemer even the Son Ahman, who prepareth all things before he taketh you."

"And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things."

-Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-22

So, what is your assignment for this week?!?!

Read that scripture.  Ponder it.  Tear it apart, and APPLY.

Is Sister Verina Chen a believer?!

YES, I AM A BELIEVER.

So, believe this when I say it: I love you, I do!!

Love,

Sister Verina Chen