This week was another one of progression and adjusting. Looking back to where I was at this time last week, I can see how much better I did this week. I can see myself getting more and more used to the culture of Taiwan and this new mission. I'm starting to love the people and the culture even more.
This week we visited a Less Active who's Mom is not a member. She's really elderly and doesn't have very good eyesight so we read the Book of Mormon with her when we visit. She still hasn't been to church, so we emphasized that with her this week. We taught her how repentance is willingness to follow God's commandments and give up our past habits. She agreed and nodded her head the whole time, until we asked her to come to church. Then all she'd say was, "Bu yao. Bu yao qu." (Don't want. Don't want to go.) The miracle part of this story was how much I spoke up to try to help her see why church is important. I was able to testify of Heavenly Father's love for each of us. I told her I could tell that she has a lot of faith in Heavenly Father and in Christ. She nodded her head and agreed. So I said if we have faith in them we're willing to do anything they ask us to do right? Again she nodded her head. So then I asked her, "Will you come to church with us this Sunday?" Same response! We asked her if she wanted peace in her life. She said yes. Then we testified that by going to church and taking the sacrament we feel increased peace in our lives, but she still responded that same way! It was pretty frustrating. But I was grateful for how much I was able to communicate with her and bear my testimony of church and the Atonement to her. Any testimony born of the Atonement is not wasted. Through bearing testimony my own was strengthened, even if maybe it wasn't well received by the investigator. But who knows. Maybe it was received, and she just isn't showing it, or we won't know the impact until later. All I know is that bearing testimony of the sacrament and the atonement is NEVER a bad idea. Good things always come from bearing testimony of church and spiritual truths.
Saturday was such a crazy day! We biked probably about 7-8 miles finding less actives most of the afternoon. IT WAS SO HOT. I only got a little sunburn though! :) We were also fasting on Saturday for our Branch leaders and our less actives so that in the next few weeks we can get a Hualien stake. The first stake in eastern Taiwan! How cool! But anyways. It was a really tiring day!
Then that night we get a call from the Zone Leaders that we were all giving talks the next day in sacrament meeting on service! A 10 minute talk on service in Mandarin after 2 weeks on island?!?! Zenme kuazhang?!?! (HOW CRAZY?!) So then later that night we get another call... PRESIDENT AND SISTER DAY will be at all of the Taidong Sacrament Meetings. WHAT. That's when I really started freaking out. We were sooo worn out from that day and we had to prepare talks for the next morning's 10am sacrament. WOW. We woke up at 5:30am to get them ready. I am SO GRATEFUL I have a native companion that helped me translate my talk!!
Everyone said it was really good and our Branch Mission Leader even asked if Sister Mao wrote it all for me. He didn't believe that I wrote it and she just translated it. haha Yesterday after sacrament I was the most tired I've ever been in my life. I was so worn out! But no Sunday naps for missionaries! :( haha Well somehow I made it through another crazy week on a crazy island.
I'm so grateful for everyone's support and prayers for me. I can feel them everyday push me through the tough times! I'm grateful for this Gospel and the peace and joy it's brought me. I'm grateful for the plan of salvation and the knowledge that I have that I will be with my family forever. I'm grateful for the words of our prophets and apostles to guide us today. So excited for conference in a few weeks!! Most of all I'm grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who truly suffered for all of us individually. He knows me. he knows you. He loves all of us so much more than we can comprehend. I'm so grateful for the testimony of the Atonement I've gained from my mission so far.
Thanks again!
JIA YOUUU!
-Sister Oviatt
-Ou Jiemei
