Return with Honor

     It feels like I never left! One week has felt like a lifetime. But I'm diving into the work with the fire of conversion blazing! I feel like I have become what the gospel of Christ is. I'm always thinking about the doctrine of Christ. How it has given me access to the atonement, how it has changed me. I didn't know that such an experience would or could make my testimony any stronger... But when I talk of Christ, when I preach of repentance, I feel such power and confidence in my words. I feel like a true messenger sent from the Father. Just as He has always reached out to His children, I feel called of God as I declare that I am a missionary, and that I represent the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't think I should share the difficulties and opposition that I came to when I entered my area, but know that they have been utterly overcome. I prayed so much and so fervantly for my companions, for the work. And a miracle happened! Heavenly Father always pulls through for me. He just loves His children so much! Especially the Chinese people. I feel His love for them as I meet them, and see the light He has given them. I know that there are many prepared. The field is white. That doesn't mean that I'll be weeding out tares for 2 years! It means that there are many willing to accept Jesus Christ and repent. We have a few legit new investigators, but the really sincere one is moving back to taiwan next month! Ah! Chinese people are too quick! ;) Last night I had dinner with President Cooke! He is such a wonderful man. So humble, so genuine about the work. He has a lot of great new ideas! He's really open about them too! We were talking about some upcoming changes and he was telling me specifics and asking what I thought about it. I felt so respected and valuable! We had PF Chiangs with his wife, 2 daughters, and a new Elder from the Ivory coast. What a diverse mission. I am greatly looking forward to working with President for the rest of my mission. This week I felt like we really need more emphasis on getting the members involved in missionary work. Our branch mission plan is great, and has awesome ideas, but it's really long and no one looks at it! So the ideas are dead. What we came up with is that we need a simple plan with specific courses of action for the members that can help them to actually share the gospel, to teach with us, and to fellowship less active and recent converts. The potomac bethesda ward has a bookmark with the goals and initiatives that they put in a bucket in the foyer. Isn't that awesome!? What a great way to increase awareness and to initiate accountability. I feel like dad does that well in Elders quorum when he asks for a missionary moment. This truly must be a focus if we are to prepare the kingdom. I came to the mission just in time to go to a Nationals game! It was sweet! But mostly because I got to see Elder Synelnikov for the first time! I talked with him the WHOLE time! I could not stop laughing. I had such a great experience in the city, and he is such a great man. I am so grateful I chose not to remain upset at him in times of difficulty. It is always better to increase in love and patience for another, or you could miss out on an eternal friendship!
Become a better missionary!
Upon arrival to the Washington DC North mission, (the greatest mission on Earth!!!) I discovered that we are doing a mission-wide Book of Mormon reading. I have always loved the Book of mormon! And I know that it is from God. At first, I decided to do a read through in Chinese. I was moving through it so slowly, and my comprehension of what was being talked about was not that great. At the time, I felt the work was slow, and I kinda felt unenthused about working though the difficulties of missionary work. After getting 10 chapters in, I was told that we were actually supposed to be looking for specific things! The doctrine of Christ, evidences of the atonement, and examples of the missionary purpose. So I restarted. As I studied intently, for the purpose of finding these truths, everything changed. Such a simple act! Studying purely from the Book of Mormon. I feel excited about the work! I feel hope, I feel happy in the moment, and in all my actions. I feel fulfilled, and great gratitude for my many blessings that I can more easily recognize. I know that the Book of Mormon makes a difference. It is a gift to us in this day, because we truly need those blessings. 15 minutes a day could make every aspect of your life 115% better ;) Want more power? Try an hour.