October 28th, 2013

Happy Halloween!!

our halloween party this past week was a total success. it was so much fun to set up and be with all the students. the loved it. we had face painting, haunted alley, bobbing for apples (sister Johnson is a CHAMP. she got it in one bite), donuts on a string, and lots of food. english parties are so fun! especially during this time of the year. i love all of the holidays. we had another activity on fiday where we made pretzels and watched the Joseph Smith movie. alot of member and some investigators came and they all loved it. being in this area is really fun and the ward is spectacular. i was talking to some of the sisters this week and was really touched by how involved they ARE and seek to be in missionary work. Chen JM was telling me about a scripture that she found to help an investigator that she helped us teach the previous week. another sister Ling JM, was telling me all these stories from this past sunday of miracles involving investigators and less active sisters. and then we have another Wu JM (who i have adopted as my older sister) and she is taking her full day off work (she only gets 6 days off every month) to come serve with us- just going to appointments and teaching and sharing. i love these members so much and i'm so inspired by their love and service. we are all involved in the same great work. 

so move call (or transfers- as blake would call them). the tainan 1st and 2nd wards used to only have 1 companionship of sisters covering both areas. about 4 movcalls ago they split. now, because this past group of oncoming missionaries didn't have many sisters coming, they are combining the areas again. SO what that means for me is that I GET TO STAY! AND i get to have ANOTHER ward to serve in!!!:) and my companion is amazing. her name is sister packard and i've been able to serve in the same district as her this past movecall. i really love being around- she's just one of those people that everyone loves. i didn't think i was going to be able to serve with her as a companion but Heavenly Father knew i really needed her. so i'm really grateful. sister Johnson is moving up north to Feng Yuan- which is right next to my old area Tanzi. love it. she's so scared because it's going to be cold. haha. last night we were packing up BOTH of our stuff AND all the stuff in the apartment and then she had to catch a train early this morning. busy. i miss her already and i'm so grateful i got the chance to serve with her. 

last week was really interesting. we made it a goal to invite each of our investigators to be baptized on a specific date. this area has been different for me because MANY of our current investigators are Christian and have been previously baptized. they love the church, they love the Book of Mormon, they love learning the gospel. but for some reason, it's really hard to help them understand authority and baptism. Lu Jm, Lan JM, Luo JM, and Chen JM. it's been special with the recent general conference to watch talks with them (bless modern technology) during our lessons and helping them feel the power of the prophet's words. i love general conference. i would love any help or suggestions. 

i've found this week that as i have written down the questions that my investigators ask and seek to answer them, i have really felt the spirit bear powerful testimony to ME that the answers i am finding are true! i have really found this week that Heavenly Father has blessed me as i have tried to help others. being asked questions all the time is hard and i often don't know and it sometimes makes you question things yourself. Heavenly Father has really strengthened my testimony this week. i love the quote from conference that says "the acorn of inquiry can turn into an oak of understanding" let questions arise, and then find the answers with faith!! i know that as we seek to help others learn the gospel, Heavenly Father will enlighten us and strengthen us and build us! serving is the catalyst for learning and being strengthened.

i love you all so much! thank you so much for your support. i pray for each of you daily. i love you. ETERNAL FAMILY!!

love

sister Newman