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.

Preview to an interview with God

     I keep thinking about how I remember Nick leaving like it was yesterday.. Time is so short! I don't want my mission to end! A lot of missionaries have the attitude of counting down the days, but every day that passes for me is a joy, and I don't want them to end.
     This last Thursday I had my first interview with President since the start of my mission. It was such a wonderful experience.. It was just like how I hope my judgement with Heavenly Father to be. We sat down and talked about everything important to me. He expressed how grateful he was for my service, sacrifice, and talked about my special talents. And then we talked about moving forward! I loved it! He said that I will most likely spend a long time in Chinese, but not the rest of my mission. But we'll see ;) You never know what the Lord has in store! We're getting that Elder this week, which means me and Elder He will be a team already! I'm really excited for that. It's even more difficult to be unified with three people! But since I've gotten back into the area, I've organized it a lot. I feel like that's how you need to prepare to work effectively. The zone leaders checked them and asked us what they can do better with theirs! Hopefully this next week we're able to pick up a little more and start working with more people.
     Sarah's confirmation was on Sunday. It's the first time I've stood in for a Chinese blessing. It was so beautiful and powerful, I feel like she is going to make such a difference in the Lord's kingdom. But my mission is just beginning! There are so many more hearts to touch, and people that need the light of the gospel.

Best start to a new lunar year!

     

Isn't time just flying by?? That feeling kinda makes me more patient. It makes me feel like this really is just a small part of an eternal progression, that I can bear it well, and be happy now! And ohh how full my joy is. The New Years party was a huge success! We had so many people come, as well as the Virginia Chinese branch. I got to meet the Elders from there and get some ideas for finding. A lot of the people we're working with also came. It reminds me of how activities are really the most naturally effective tool for helping people join the church. Not only do we need to help them convert to the gospel, but they also need to be comfortable being a part of the Lord's people, and that is a reason that many are not active. We also got to do the Lion's dance, because not enough young men showed up! Elder He and I were the golden dragon. You can look at the pictures! I'm not sure if I gave you the blog site.. It's montgomerybranch.blogspot.com. There are also a lot of pictures of the baptism of Sarah. I told you a lot about her in our Christmas call. It's been so amazing to return and see how much she's grown. She gave a 25 minute talk in Sacrament meeting on conversion.. And it was awesome! She is so extraordinary and I feel so blessed to have seen her entire progression. During the service, brother foulger spoke, and I was just awestruck. Heavenly Father sent me here, to this specific place, to these people, with a purpose, and I really felt like I was fulfilling it. Her parents are so wealthy. They took us to a french restaurant on friday. That was the best tasting fish ever! At dinner, her mother who we've been working with for a long time, was defending god and the bible to her husband and his friend who do business in China. They were talking about being baptized and building a temple in China. That just blew my mind! Where else in the world would this be happening?! How lucky and blessed I am to be here.

Short lived in DC 3rd

     Last night I was really anxious.. I felt like I learned so much in DC 3rd, would it all just go away when I returned to where I came from? I know that going there was part of Heavenly Father's plan, but was it really time to go so soon? I don't think growth is something that fades that quickly though. I have been changed, and that is sure. I've learned how to be a missionary for people. A missionary for anyone that crosses my path. I know how to relate, connect, love and share so much differently, I would have never learned these things in Chinese. What a blessed opportunity, I feel overflown with the Lord's love. It's so humbling to be back in Chinese. We have such a comfortable apartment, and a big bathroom, and it's clean, and we have more food than we can eat, I can appreciate that so much more! I feel full of faith and confidence, and hope for the work here. From what I can tell, things are going pretty great here, but I'm about to turn it up even more ;) apparently, we're getting ANOTHER Chinese Elder halfway through the transfer. Also, this is a worldwide 5 week transfer to adapt to the cut time in the MTC. So many crazy changes were made in transfers today. And I know so many more Elders because of my area last transfer. Elder Synelnikov has a new trainee that will NOT go home. He looked pretty solid! But if he does, President knows who to call! I am kind of heartbroken to leave my area.. I had two final great experiences with two very special children of God. Both of them are miracles, and I hope they make it to baptism! I love both of them so much already. On Sunday we took a lady from Nigeria to the VC. We had an AMAZING tour. The only issue is that she believes the Holy Ghost has come in the flesh... These false doctrines are way out of hand! But Sarah, the girl we were working with before I left Chinese, is getting baptized this Sunday. I am so excited I made it back just in time! And our new years party is this Saturday!

Eyes on the Temple, testimony in the Book of Mormon

     What a great week! I had the most amazing trip to the temple today. I love the temple so much, and I am so grateful that I have one so close in my mission. I could conceivably bike there! Our roommates didn't join us today, and I just thought what a shame that is! A temple so close, and we only get one chance a transfer, and they stayed home! But the work is really tiring, and so it's kind of understandable.. It just recharged my soul. I felt so close to Heavenly Father the whole time, I just didn't want it to end nor to leave! President and Sister Matsumori were there. I have been feeling so much love and support from them lately. I had an awesome experience at zone training. I gave the spiritual thought, and shared how relevant the end of President Monson's priesthood talk is like directly to me. It talks about missionaries today and it even quotes our mission scripture! But I felt like I didn't leave everyone with an increased desire to do something more, so I was kind of mulling over what I could do better. After the first workshop, President had to leave, so he went to the back to get is stuff. As I was kind of beating myself up wishing I could speak my heart better, I felt a hand on my back, and I heard president tell me good job, as he briskly left the meeting. I was filled with the spirit, and I knew that was an inspired action. That comforted me so much, and he even mentioned it again in the Temple today. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father called such a great man to be my President, I know he is called of God. And I know this is exactly the mission I was supposed to go to! Which reaffirms my testimony of the Prophet.

     Yesterday just felt so awesome. As I'm getting more and more practice approaching people, my faith and confidence are increasing. People actually stop to listen, and then I pour my heart out about how true I know this message is, and how I know the Book of Mormon will change their lives. I don't want to leave this area! This is such a unique opportunity, truly a gift from Heavenly Father. He is definitely looking out for me and providing me with so many blessings!
       So when I came to the area, one of the first things I did was get the area book super straightened out. It has everyone we're working with all sorted into their appropriate stages, particularly the less actives and the returning members. There's this brother, who was baptized 3 years ago, who is only considered less active because he has to work some sundays. He is such a cool guy! He got a brain tumor several years ago, and is just the sweetest spirit, he loves to laugh. I noticed that no one had marked that he had received the priesthood, which is supposed to happen soon after baptism. Someone neglected that! So we asked him about it, and he said he hadn't received it! So we taught him about the priesthood, and worked with the bishop, and he's going to be ordained on sunday! Last night at FHE I was talking to him about it, and he asked me if I would ordain him.. That touched me so deeply. I love him and I'm so excited for him to be making this progression, and I'm honored that he would choose me, who has only known him for a short time..
     The weather definitely affects the work! There is a difference between talking to people in the cold and in the warm! We have so much more success on warmer days, so I pray for those! I'm glad that President Anderson is reemphasizing the book of mormon. That will truly make a big difference, because the book of mormon does. It makes all the difference, and is truly a key to conversion. Imagine a whole stake converting together! Lasting conversion, something that the world and the adversary cannot shake. I am definitely experiencing the same thing over here. I spend most of my studies in the book of mormon, even for language study.
     
I don't know if I'll go back to Chinese! Whatever the case, I truly know that God will put me where he needs me. Wherever that is, he can count on me to do my very best. I like how you put acceptance and rejection. People must choose either one before that day, and it's better for me to offer it to them sooner than later!