i never know what to put in the subject box. i don't want to be sappy or try to be clever. and i never know how to sum up a week in like 2 words. so as they say here "suan le" which basically means "forget it"
this week has been amazing. every week is amazing. and the parts that aren't as great are swallowed up in the joy and love i feel from Christ. i am learning so much about the Atonement and how amazing it is that we can be better everyday. we are not who we were yesterday or two years ago. we can grow and progress as we are honest with our faults and allow Christ's grace to shine through the flaws in our character. i had the opportunity to translate in our ward yesterday for a Korean sister. i have never felt so inadequate. i'm pretty sure she was confused the entire time. and i just kept apologizing. but at the end, she turned to me and thanked me and said she felt the spirit. i almost started crying. despite my poor Chinese and English ( and absolutely no Korean), Christ was able to help her feel the spirit. i also got to help her obtain a temple recommend from the bishop. she is so sweet and so pure and i could just see how worthy she was to enter the temple. i was so grateful that i was able to help her in a small way. this was a very humbling experience for me and i am so grateful to the Savior for helping me be better than i am. i love the opportunities God gives me to serve. i had prayed that morning that i would be able to be attentive during church and stay awake (with 3 wards, this is something i am struggling with) and God answered my prayer. no way was i going to sleep while translating. haha i was so grateful for this opportunity.
i have sent two letters to the family in shanghai. before i send any more i want to make sure that the letters are getting there. if not let me know. i don't know how long it takes. you wouldn't think too long but i guess we never know. haha i am excited to get a package!! i love you all so much and i'm grateful for your prayers and thoughts and constant support. i am working to be as good of a missionary as i can be. i know our family is being blessed and that motivates me to work hard.
we had a lesson with our progressing sister Lin JM. we met with her and talked about the word of wisdom. she has so much faith and she is willing to obey. we then talked about her attendance at sacrament meeting and about when we can schedule her baptism. she says that the next month of weekends is booked and there is mei you banfa to come to church. my heart hurt as she was talking to us. we are continuing to work with her and help her see the need for church. i am praying and thinking about her so much. i know that God will help us and that everything is according to His timing. i am praying that we can know how to help. last Friday was a miracle as we met with her again at the bishops house. we had planned to talk about tithing but when her husband showed up (MIRACLE) we quickly changed to eternal marriage and the temple. her husband has never met with us before and we were so grateful that he came. the lesson was perfect. as the bishops wife taught about eternal marriage and the blessings of the sealing, lin JM said "i want that. i want to go to the temple and be sealed" her husband is very quiet but we are so grateful he was there. when we sang the opening song, i looked over and saw their little family of 4 huddled around the hymn book singing, i felt the spirit and love for them so strongly. they will be an eternal family and am so grateful that i have been able to be a part of their progress. we are hoping to help her use this desire for the temple as motivation to come to church. her little family is perfect and we love them. as we were leaving, we were talking about this drink "dong gua cha" which is a type of melon tea (not against the word of wisdom) and she jokingly pulled me aside and said "li jie mei, you're not drinking TEA are you?!? that would be against the word of wisdom!" i laughed so hard and i am so grateful that my investigator is helping me, the missionary,keep the commandments. (to clarify- i am not drinking tea!! dong gua cha is just a melon drink. i am keeping the word of wisdom and being obedient :)
oh next week we're going to the TEMPLE!! i am really excited. i haven't been in so long and i am so excited to feel the spirit and learn and get that boost that always comes from attending the temple. what a beautiful place. i am so grateful for the covenants we have made or will make that empower us and lift us. temple days are on wednesday and that means that our Preparation day is moved to Wednesday. so dont worry when you don't get an email. it will come late wednesday afternoon.
this week we have been working on using the book of Mormon more in our teaching. there is such power in the scriptures and they say things much better than we can. :) we are working on being better at inviting people to act and read and then following up. i think the following up part is where we are struggling. i love Christ's patience with me as i try to become a better missionary. i have been learning this week to lean more on Him and not on myself. every contact is a chance to help someone feel the spirit and i need His help to have any success. i have been praying more on the road than i have my whole mission, seeking His spirit and guidance.
this church is true. the book of Mormon teaches truth clearly and beautifully and protects us from the sorrows and harms of the world. Christ lives and lifts and strengthens. i love Him and our Father in Heaven.
yours,
Sister Newman
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