November 4th, 2013

Hello all! 

This week has been so busy and so full of miracles. combining the two areas has been such a blast! i love serving with sister packard. we have the opportunity to work with so many people! and i absolutely love it. our wards are amazing- full of so many strong families. some of them have three generations of members now. we went to family home evening last night at the chen family's home. Guo Baba is the grandfather (who pulled out a picture of BYU nursing students that came to tainan back in april. i knew some of the people!! i'm totally coming back :) and his daughter and their children. i loved being there and just feeling the power of the priesthood and eternal families. these families are such great examples to me. i love working with them.

this week, we had one investigator Lu JM ( i think i've talked about her before) set a baptismal goal! she has previously been baptized in the baptist church and when we invited her before, she was hesitant. just not really sure that she needed it. she called us monday night and told us about some personal problems that she was having a really hard time with that day. she asked for some chapters in the Book of Mormon to read about forgiveness and love and faith. when we met with her the next day, she shared a little about what she had read. and then she asked "what else do i need to read before i get baptized" when she said that, i was totally shocked! she said that previously she had been really confused and not peaceful when reading the Book of Mormon- she has shared that with us. but she said that these past couple of weeks, she has prayed asking Heavenly Father to help her know. She said that she told Him to either 'mix her up' or to give her clarity, depending on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. as she has continued to read, she has felt like God has given her a 'filter- filtering out all the confusion and the doubts." she has felt a clarity and love start to develop as she has read the Book of Mormon. and now she wants to get baptized. i am so grateful that Heavenly Father answers prayers! i know that He does. for those that are seeking to know and change and draw closer to Him, He will guide them.

we had a really great first lesson on thursday. it was a girl we met at the park and she just hasnt really every learned about Christ or Christianity. we were waiting for her to come, with a recent convert in the 1st ward, Ling JM (who is adorable! i'll send pictures next week) the investigator Hong JM was late and so we just started talking with Ling JM about christmas- i know it's a little early but we were just all really excited for it. as we were just about finished being with Ling JM, Hong JM walked in! i'm so glad that we had stayed at the chapel and been there when she arrived. i'm so grateful that Ling Jm was also there to share her testimony with Hong JM. Hong JM asked her how she developed faith in God and how she decided to join the church and LIng JM bore a really powerful testimony of prayer and God's love. Hong JM said the closing prayer and i could just really feel a change in her already. i'm excited to keep meeting with her. i am so grateful for the tender mercies of Heavenly Father

being with sister Packard is such a blessing and a boost. she is everything i could ask for in a companion. we are laughing all the time. i feel like we are sisters. She is really helping me learn the principle of accountability. We have been fasting to know what is keeping us from feeling the spirit more fully- what we need to specifically start or stop doing. For the next movecall, we are going to "spiritually fast" from these things. i gained some insights into very specific things that i need to change. every day, i am asking the Lord to help me change and i am seeking to be accountable to the Lord for how i do THAT day. I have strengthened my testimony of the Atonement as I see specific changes occuring in me. I am so grateful that through the enabling power of the atonement, I can change! It's been really great. sistr packard is inspring me. we are also two peas in a pod in the kitchen- we like to expirament :) life is just really good.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGE!! I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVED EVERYTHING IN THAT PACKAGE!! the bike light was much needed as was the granola. we love it!! so much. the candy was great and the letter was the cutest thing ever. and thank you mom for the adorable photo album. i carry it with me everywhere! i love it and it is perfect. thank you so much for that special gift. i love love love it.

 i love you all so very much. i am grateful that we are an eternal family and that i have you all for forever.

you are my heroes!! i am praying for you all. keep the faith

love

sister Newman