Representing Christ on Christmas

This week was AMAZING! I express to you how special Christmas was to me. I have never felt so close to my savior, who gave everything. The reason we celebrate Christmas, the purpose of His life, is my purpose. The purpose of my every action and every exertion. It brings me so much happiness! Just trying to do what he did, being imperfect, is such a journey! It's more fulfilling than anything I've yet done in my life. I feel closer to Him than ever, and Christmas isn't about much more than that. I feel like the family is a catalyst to feel that love. We have people that we are so closely related to, that we are more willing to be Christlike for them. To give and to love. To have patience and long suffering for. That is such a beautiful thing, and I appreciate my family, and the opportunity to have a family of my own someday all the more. So on Monday we taught a 23 year old girl who just came to the US this year. Her father is an inactive member, and she goes to college at MC. She first met with the elders a couple months ago when a member of the presidency brought her to the branch. They scared her with things they taught her about and so she backed off. But she continued to attend church weekly. Last month she started meeting with the missionaries again and said she wanted to be baptized and serve a mission. Then she told them she was too busy to meet until after her finals on the 19th. So I got to first meet with her last week. This week, we extended the invitation to be baptized the 19th, but she wants to do it the 12th! And she wants to be taught all the lessons this week! So she is progressing really fast. Also that other girl I told you about on the phone wants to be baptized soon as well. We are building great relationships with members and less actives. I'm starting to get to know everyone! I'm excited for the Elder at met at the MTC to come next week, and hope that we all stay here in a trio! I would be soooo lost without Elder Mclane.
It snowed a lot this morning! And then RAINED, as we went to DC.. So I got to go to the city and check out the American history museum. Not a lot of pictures though.. It was raining so hard!

Mission Tour with Elder Packer

I cannot believe it is one week until Christmas! Today I've been in the field for a month. It has literally passed in the blink of an eye. I got to go to the temple today! All I can say is wow.. It's so big and beautiful! Truly a house of the Lord. Our session was full of missionaries and the mission president. I was hoping he could take me through for the first time.. And he did! That was truly special. So my interview with Elder Packer. President just picked 5 missionaries from different points in their missions and different programs. I guess I represented the fresh Elders. We of course started speaking about the language. He told me that when he left the MTC, his teacher told him that he had the worst spanish that the teacher had ever sent out! Later in life, Elder Packer served as president over a spanish speaking mission.. He said that you learn little by little, and then you hit a wall. I feel like I hit that wall last last Sunday. Where I felt like I didn't know anything. He told me that is the very point that you start breaking through, and fluency starts coming, so I  have hope! I got a lot out of that interview, it was such a privilege. I also got to talk to Sister Packer about working with members of the branch to help them develop teaching skills. I am concerned about our investigators not getting a lot out of church. The Packers told me that this new youth curriculum is centered around that purpose. Getting people to teach the way that we do, the way that the Savior would. That is really the only way that the Lord will direct the teaching of the Saints. So I'm really siked to implement that. On Saturday we found a golden family. He has a 3 year old son and a mother interested in learning english. I am so excited to start working with them and helping them receive the restored gospel. They mentioned that they have actually been searching for a church to join. So exciting! Our Christmas party was very fun. We had a lot of investigators there, and Elder Mclane was an angel that popped out of an attic door! I feel like I am more centered around Christ this December, than I ever have been before at the Christmas season. It's truly wonderful..

Buddhist to disciple of Christ

I'm excited for Christmas! We have a mission conference and we get to watch a disney movie in the VC! The baptism this week was truly was a miracle. A famous finger painter from China, in the US on a green-card to teach art, and then not teaching because he doesn't know any English, CRAZY! We've been using the beginning of second nephi to teach a lot of Chinese people. You come from China, we come from the US West coast, yet here we are in the nations capitol, and America. They do not disagree that it is not by chance. It's not chance that I started my mission when I did! Elder Mclane was the last Elder with the same mission call as me. It's been 17 months! It's just us two, covering the whole mission. We got 9 new investigators last week, and there are so many people, so many families that we want to bring unto Christ. The most humbling experience of my life was watching an 83 year old man enter the waters of baptism.. It was so difficult. The water wasn't so warm, and he can barely walk.. yet he was immersed, and went from being a buddhist for 40 years, to being a disciple of Christ. What faith that takes.. It definitely strengthened mine. I am so excited for Ray to come join the ranks. There are so many miracles he has yet to behold. Tell him that I love him, and that he has no idea how excited I am for him. Just as Elder Anderson told me, tell him not to waste a minute. Just as Elder Brazil told me, tell him not to lose his amazing personality. And to add to that, tell him to let true love guide his every action. He will see people in every circumstance, active, inactive, nonmember, newmember. They all need his love to get to know their savior's love. Even in the MTC ;)

Run-In With Elder Russell M Nelson

I seriously cannot believe it's December already! But it truly feels like Christmas. I love the spirit of Christmas. Especially now. People are thinking about the Savior and what he taught. I think people are so much happier at this time of year because they unconsciously make an effort to be more like the Savior, just through the motions of the holidays. What a great blessing! People excercise charity, and love as they celebrate the birth of the Savior. We got to watch the Christmas devotional with an eternigator named Guillermo. I have such a strong desire to help those part member families. I can't imagine if a member of our family wasn't in this continual conversion process like we are. I am so grateful that you and Dad set the pattern and example for us to live the gospel and become more like Christ. Last Wednesday I got to do parking for a lot of ambassadors! Elder Nelson was there, and I just got a glimpse of him! That filled me with the spirit so much, I was content. Then the next day, the Assistants to the President had an investigator they wanted to take to our weekly basketball meeting, so we did an exchange. I got to go with an AP to do parking AGAIN! Super cold! But they let me do doors. And guess who walked in from the temple?? Elder Russell M Nelson! He shook my hand and looked me in the eyes and greeted me as Elder Lim! That was such a powerful experience. I know he is a special witness of Christ. I know he is a true servant. I just do. Amazing. The next day we took some nonmembers to the festival of lights performance. It was Jenny Oaks Baker, and it was so awesome! I LOVE this mission! We also did service for a nonmember Chinese! Which lead us to a contact for someone who taught English in China! So many miracles! We can't keep up with all these people to teach! We seriously need another set of missionaries. I got to get a lot closer to the Branch President too on Sunday. Last night, we got a call from the APs, they said that I would be interviewed by Elder Packer of the 70 next wednesday before the mission tour! Crazy Right?? I can't believe all the things that are happening to me. How great is God? I love teaching, even though I am super struggling to communicate, I just keep trying.