My companions try their best, and that is all I could ask for! Good things.
Thank you to the lovely people who sent a package and to those who sent letters. You know who you are, and you are so appreciated. I am thankful to have people who care, and it means a lot. I love you!
Congratulations, Stephen! (He can now ride a bike)!
My goal is to be able to read the Book of Mormon well in characters before returning.
P.s. How do you help someone addicted to video games? They've given up church because of their obsession to spend every hour on the computer.
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Miracles/ People
Zhang JM. We found her in the old area book, and she has a baptismal date! There are a couple of members in her PA ward who speak Mandarin and were able to translate for all three hours. A senior missionary in the ward made a huge effort to get her there and get her translators! She told us of how big a miracle the situation it was. She doesn't usually open messages from unsaved contacts (we found her number on the online ward locator), but she opened ours, because the area code was from the NYNYN mission, the same mission her son served in under Elder Rasband as Mission President. She happens to be assigned to this very ward, far from where they live. I felt the prompting to ask her to share the miracle with her son, who I then learned was inactive. The members will help to testify in our lessons and we will help her to become a part of the ward there, to then switch her off. Lovely missionaries helping with that. We want to help her have a lasting conversion, so perhaps we can get them a gospel principles book (and a Book of Mormon) in chinese.
Mariah. Knocked on her door, and she said "Can you come and teach me every week?" She asked why we knew to knock on her door. We asked her why she thought Heavenly Father wanted us to knock on her door. She then said, "Because He knows I want to learn!" It was very touching. In her prayer she asked for her friend Angel to know that Jesus Christ is real. Her grandmother would like to be part of the lessons and only speaks Spanish, so we will be giving some Hermanas their info and the opportunity to teach them!
Ryan. He is an EMT who we met near Lincoln Square. We have been trying to help him get to church for a couple weeks now, because he had seen the Temple before and loved the light we had as missionaries. He was always working on Sunday, but we told him we would pray for him to do well on a certification test he had coming up. We prayed every day for nearly a week until the test came, that he would learn well, have clarity in his mind, and know that the prayers helped him. After we followed up on his test, we were able to have a kneeling prayer over the phone together. He was so touched and made a point then to look for time to meet with the missionaries. We were able to set up a meeting with the Lincoln Square YSA Elders on Tuesday. After the lesson, he told us how intrigued with the Book of Mormon he is, and how he will do all he can to make it to church on Sunday. He is reading so fervently!
Cathy. We prepared for her lesson. Our Hong Kong miracle, Amber (her niece) showed up randomly, when she had not responded for a long time. We were able to teach them the Plan of Salvation together! We learned that Amber's mom had a bad experience with church and religion earlier in life, and that her family often asks Amber why she takes church so seriously. They don't want her coming. Inspired questions helped us to uncover parts of the iceberg! She knows who to turn to when she feels alone. The Missionaries and prayer. The ward youth are still texting her and helping her to feel loved.
Sister Li. She has a testimony of gospel blesses families. Her son loves the other kids in sacrament meeting and class (he used to be so shy and never smiled-- now he is always smiling at church!). She stays as long as she can before work, and makes sacrifices to be there every Sunday. It is so special to see the change and happiness, and the closeness she already feels with the ward. Their effort, love, and lesson testimonies have helped them to feel that.
On splits, our goal was to get a number of someone who will be interested in the gospel. We went all day and as walking home from tracting, just kept saying we can't go home until we find someone! On the last stretch before home, we kept praying in our hearts. Right before our house this lovely lady (50-60s) who speaks Mandarin was able to feel love through my testimony and our promised blessings of the Gospel (Isn't it the best when Heavenly Father blesses you with the ability to speak a language super well in a matter of a couple months? Gift of tongues is real. Thankful. Alma 26:11-12). She will be coming to Halloween FHE and is so excited for us to call and teach her. The Lord will help us to obtain our goals!
Knocking doors is so fun! It is like a language roulette, you never know which Book of Mormon to have ready.
"If we spend all day tracting in faith, the Lord will give us a referral that night, because we've shown he can trust us."
A lady came into church today asking us for family history help for her boss and herself. She only speaks Cantonese. She will come to church on Sunday and is so excited. I believe this is because we spent so much time praying about and searching so earnestly for new investigators. Sister Qian, Sister Su, and Wendy are our miracles! They are our new investigators gained through the Lord's trust in our efforts.
2 cor 9:6
Accountability. Jacob 1:19. We must always be diligent. It is important to make the most of our time to find those who are prepared, or will be prepared, to learn and change and come unto Christ. That is our purpose. We must have charity, it is everything, but we must not waste our time being best buddies with everyone, when we could be helping others earnestly make commitments and repent! Do all we can to find and teach. To preach repentance and to serve as examples as Alma also did.
What can you do to show your family member your love and heavenly fathers love for them? How would that change your relationship with them for the better! Will you do that for me?
爱你，
为姐妹
Sister Wilcox
Can you guess who is in this picture?
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