da jia hao
my week has been a crazy one. i feel a lot like mom in her last letter was saying- i feel like i need to know everything (doctrine, teaching skills, be perfect) right now in order to do this work well. i am learning patience with myself. the Lord does not give us callings necessarily because we are ready for them. but as we seek His will, He can guide us and we can become the means of doing much good among His children. i am just trying to plan well and be the means of bringing many to baptism. sister Vandegrift is saying this is the hardest she's gone her whole mission. but i really feel like i can go further. we don't have many progressing investigators right now. there is a 20-ish year old woman who works and is absolutely adorable. i really am seeking to know her needs. we also had a lesson with a woman lin JM and we were almost positive she would be there on sunday.....it was moon festival and i'm guessing that's why she didn't come. i am working on my faith and believing in myself and faith that God will provide the way. i have made a mission baptism goal and i feel like that goal was given to me by God. i am still learning the ins and outs of missionary work and my trainer is really good at providing an example. i seek daily to strengthen her faith. we will be a companionship that baptises, if that is the Lords will. i am working on being a better companion. mom, we talked about this before, how i was worried about working with others. i really need to develop more patience and love for her. she really is wonderful and sweet and fun. i want us to have a better relationship. i feel like it is so often me that creates the tension. i am seeking to develop christlike attributes.
we had a few miracles this week :) we got the phone number to an investigator that was dropped about 2 months ago. she is wonderful and qinged us for dinner on sat. she is so ready for baptism but her husband opposes. her story is really sad but we have seen the book of mormon and the gospel give her hope. we also had 2 women walk into the church one night while we were contacting referrals and they asked to learn more about the Godhead. i am hoping to develop their faith because right now they seem to be very focused on facts and proof. i hope we can be able to help them understand and believe.
the wards are great! its so fun meeting everyone and visiting them during the week. i am still seeking to serve them and follow the spirit. this work is hard. my emotions are on a roller coaster daily. but i know in whom i have trusted. Christ is my rock. I seek to serve Him. i really do need more patience- my family is all probably nodding in agreement. haha.
i was so excited to hear that you are all heading to hong kong and the temple. what a great opportunity! hong kong is beautiful and the temple is always a place that brings peace. no matter where we go, the gospel and the blessings are the same. i see so many moms in the ward and i just see how much love they have for their families. moms are the same everywhere. i can promise investigators universal blessings that are only offered through this gospel. the blessing of eternal families, peace in this life, and eternal life with God.
i am humbled many times every day. i try not to let it get to me. i am seeking to have more hope and more faith in God. i try to allow Christ to gently guide me and not let myself get frustrated or upset. my pride might be a reason i am struggling.
mission life wears me out! biking is so great and i love talking to people on the street. it's interesting who God puts in your path. i loved that in your last letter mom. i ask myself many times, why am i here right now? who can i talk to? what do i say? i am striving to let the spirit guide me. when biking gets a little hard or contacting isn't going that well, i start singing hymns. they have great power and bring the spirit
so as part of language study, i am working on phase one. i passed off the first lesson with the district leader this sunday. it went really well! i love this language and i'm trying to learn as fast as i can. i pray to have a native companion at least once on my mission- haha be careful what you wish for right? haha. sister vandegrift is really great. we teach well together and comp study is usually really great :) we have fun :) she is a great example of loving those we teach and helps me remember names. that is a specific place i am using the atonement right now- remembering names. everyday is an opportunity to use the atonement in our lives. seek to let the spirit tell you what you did well, where you can change, and how to make those changes. i am learning the importance of goals. we did weekly goal setting on friday and i am excited for this week. i hope to accomplish a lot as i strive to achieve the goals we have made with God. take one day at a time. have week goals and daily strive to let those goals motivate you to work hard.
i am striving to figure out what i need to change. what i need to improve. the time i have to serve is very short but i know i can do a lot of good. i think i need to forget myself more and work work work. gong zuo gong zuo gong zuo. those times when i am not working hard are those moments my mind wanders and satan is able to have greater influence. i am striving and praying to help sister V stay focused. i know these next two months might be hard for her- she goes home in january. keep her in your prayers. i was sitting with a member and talking about missionary work. it was a tender mercy when she leaned over and said- sister newman, you don't sound, look, act, or feel like a new missionary. you are doing a great job. i love Guan JM!! she is wonderful
i think i need to go back to my MTC notebooks and relearn all i was learning in the MTC. i am seeking to learn from the spirit. this week has been a little hard. i don't doubt that God- i am just wondering what more i can do to be open to the spirit.
luke thank you for your note. i love you very much and talk about you a lot. when i show people a picture of our family, questions always come up about you. i am so grateful you are a part of our family. carli- i have read your last letter every preperation day since i recieved it. i love reading your testimony and just feeling your light. have patience in yourself as you continue to adjust. davis- i love you so much!! i can only imagine all the lives you are touching with your love. strive to remember the important things in life. figure out what's most important to you and work towards that. goals are so important (as you probably know from scoring a million of them in rugby)
dad thank you for the note. you are daily my example as i try to learn and speak the language. i have seen how much your mission has blessed your life and i am seeking to serve these people as you did and you do. tell blake i say Hi and let me know how everything is going. i love him very much and think about him often.
mom- you are and always be my best friend. i love love love you. i pray for you daily and i want you to know how wonderful you are. i realize that more and more every day. i love you so much. thank you for your letters and pictures and prayers and love.
i love you all. christ lives and loves us. because He lives, He can help us daily. we will soon be able to hear His living prophet speak to us. i love general conference. i am so grateful to be working with my family in this wonderful mission work.
yours,
sister Paige Newman
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