conference weekend!

hello all! 

conference weekend!! we don't get it till this weekend, but as i am preparing i am feeling the spirit with me so strong. i am thinking of what questions i have. i am so grateful that everyone is enjoying conference. the new news is amazing. i am so grateful for this call for more laborers. the first names that came to mind were kelly and kathryn and stephanie maynes. i am praying for all the women all over the world that are now seeking inspiration on serving missions. what an amazing experience. i am learning that so much i am doing on my mission is changing who i will be the rest of my life. being a missionary is going to help me be a better member of the church, more ready to fulfill my callings and keep my covenants. more ready to be a mom and raise another generation of missionaries. it is wonderful being a sister missionary. we are able to touch people and love people in a different way that is needed just as much as the elders service is needed. in relief society, we were reading from daughters of my kingdom (what a great book!!) about pioneers and the strength they received from their covenants. they had faith and hope because they knew the power of their covenants and they had trust in God. i could not help but relate a little to these women. all of us are on a journey- mine brought me to taiwan. the Lord called me to leave behind all personal affairs and serve Him, to travel to an unknown place and help establish Zion. missionaries and ward member all over the world are like these pioneer women. we can have faith in our callings and in the source of our callings, even Heavenly Father. the covenants to which we are true can enable us to complete anything He asks and nothing is impossible for us. we are pioneers and, even though the trials and challenges are different, the result is the same- eternal blessings. God loves us so much.

i have been seeking to be a better missionary. i am praying hard. we have many first lessons this week and i am striving to be a better teacher. i want to help these women see the power of God in their lives. and help them grow closer to Him. Christ has done so much with my life. i think back to the 12 year old sister Newman (...paige) and i think of how far i have come since then. carli, you didn't really know me back then, but you are a much better 13 year old than i was. you are my example of faith and dedication. i think about how Christ has shaped my life and helped me change. and the wonderful thing is that we are not done changing!! with Christ, we can have hope that we can be better daily. every day can be BETTER than the last. He can continue to change us and those things that we struggle with can be made light with Christ. I am praying for more faith. sometimes, it is easy to get discouraged or doubtful- but were those emotions are, faith cannot be. i am praying that Christ will help me be a better missionary and that as i strive to do His will, He will prepare me for what needs to be done. i am starting from the beginning of chapter 3 in pmg and treasuring up the doctrine in my heart. i know that as i do this, God will give me the words and the spirit that i need.

i am trying to get better at planning. there are so many different things we as missionaries could be focusing on. the key indicators give us some sense of reference but it is still hard. we have many responsibilities and we can only do so much in 16 hours. i am trying to relate everything i do back to my purpose- how is studying this/eating this/doing this helping me fulfill my purpose of helping others come unto Christ? Goals and plans are so important, especially when you only have 18 months to serve. i have been praying for how to help the wards- we have three. with one of the wards, we came up with a plan and we're working on it with the elders and ward missionaries. with the other ward, we were really having a hard time thinking of what to do. as i have been praying to know, the story of the Brother of Jared came into my head. the Lord asks BoJ what HE thinks God should do. im sure touching 16 stones was not perhaps the BEST way to light ships, but the Lord took the BoJ's idea and created a miracle. that story is full of faith and miracles. so with that in mind, we came up with a little plan and we're praying for the Lord to consecrate our efforts. we hope that through us, He can touch and bring 'light' into the lives of souls here in taiwan.

we are meeting with all the bishops in our ward this week. we are hoping to be able to serve them and help them build up the wards. we really want to use family history to help members come back to church and help them see the blessings of the temple. if we can help people get back on the road to salvation, then we have helped the Lord with His work. i have a desire to baptize but i also know that every soul is precious in the eyes of God. those that have made covenants but are no longer living them need our help too. i am learning how vital it is that we all work together. missionaries don't need to do everything alone- we can have the support and love of the members and leaders and as a team, we can do much good.

there is a line in pmg that use to make me laugh. it says that the best way to help people change is to invite them to change. before i kind of thought- well, duh. but i am realizing the truth of that statement. people dont know WHAT to do to help them draw closer to Christ or what to do to help them feel peace. as we teach them and guide them, they can learn for themselves the blessings that come from obedience to God's laws. but first, we must invite them!! so i have an invitation for all of you. for you home teachers and visiting teachers, prayerfully seek what more you can do to fulfill your callings. these methods are the way of the Lord in helping retain members. i know that as we are better home and visiting teachers, we can be the Lord's hands in serving and blessing those we have been given stewardship over. we can save souls. i have been thinking about the story of Ester. "who knows but that you were saved for such a time as this?" the Lord places us in certain places and gives us certain responsibilities because He KNOWS us. He knows the good we can do and all that we can learn from the opportunities He gives us.

one of my friends wrote me a letter this week and in it, it said " when we are doing good, when we are living worthy of the spirit, when we are striving to obey, we do not need to worry if the thought or impression we are having is from God or is just from us. when we are righteous, the first thought we will have will be from the spirit. but because there is opposition in all things, other thoughts follow. these might be good thoughts and ideas, but they are not what the Lord needs at that time. follow those righteous first impressions that you receive." i have been striving to follow the spirit and be obedient to that power within me. i am loving this missionary work. it is HARD but it is good. i am seeking to allow these next 18 months be the best years FOR my life. i am changing and i am seeking to let the Lord make weak things strong

davis- i am praying for you every day. i know that you are such a wonderful young man and i miss you everyday. let me know how rugby is going. are you going to be able to get any sports scholarships? you are good enough that i'm sure you could. BYU hawaii?? ;)

luke- send me more pictures when you get the chance. i want to see your skateboard that went into the canal. i want to see your friends, room, and school!! i loveyou and i'm grateful for your support.

carli- i have a written letter headed your way :) i love you very very much and i think about you everyday. tell me what you think about the announcement in general conference. i want to know your thoughts and ideas about missionary work.

mom and dad- i'm glad hong kong was such a great trip!! i love asia and all the opportunities we have been given to live and serve in asia. i keep thinking of the story of ammon, when he goes to serve the lamanites and says that he desires to serve and live there the rest of his days. dad, i bet you didn't know what you were getting into when you chose to accept a mission to taiwan. but you are a wonderful example of livelong dedication to your mission. you are still serving the people you started serving so many years ago. i am grateful everyday for your service. mom, you are always an example of getting involved in service where ever we go. i have seen you bless many people in every place we have lived. i am so grateful that the Lord needs you in china and that He is able to trust you there. how are the lessons with kitty and jim (?) going? i see in your service the fulfillment of the prophecy that this knowledge shall go to every nation and be proclaimed in every tongue. you are on the Lord's errand. i am so proud of you. 

blake- i love you very much. i miss hearing from you but i am sure that you are doing well. i am so grateful to think that i am here in taiwan, eating the same foods, riding the same streets that you were a couple months ago. that brings me comfort and strength. i am praying for you everyday. you are a wonderful example of hard work and service. tell kenzie hi/iloveher/imissher

wow- i am so overwhelmed with love for you all. our family is eternal. i am grateful for the prayers from EVERYONE and the love and confidence i feel from you. the Lord truly is blessing me because of your prayers\

Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God. His words are the words of God. we can know for ourselves that what He says is true through study, prayer, and application (1 nephi 10:17-19 i think...) We are able to receive personal revelation and guidance as we seek it. this church was established because one boy was seeking God's will, with faith and real intent. the gospel is restored and we are able to know God's will for us. i am so grateful for that. 

i love you all.

sister paige Newman (Li Jie Mei) my chinese name is beginning to sound more natural than sister newman to me. haha. i love this.