What a week. Transfer week always brings surprises! I am grateful to be staying with Sister Tan in Zhudong for her last transfer. I know this is where we're both supposed to be right now.
I had no idea what to expect going in to this week. Part of me thought I'd train in Zhudong, part of me thought I'd whitewash train somewhere in Taibei, and another part thought I'd stay in Zhudong and kill Sister Tan.
Then Wednesday came and we got no texts. I felt really weird all day on Wednesday after that. I was just a little confused and it started sinking in that I was probably gonna die in Zhudong and never train. Then on Thursday morning when I opened my Personal Study, I prayed to have strength, to know what my purpose was in these last 2 transfers, and to know that He still had a plan for me. I felt prompted to first read my favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation, then to read pages 1 and 47 of Preach my Gospel.
How Firm a Foundation has always comforted me my whole mission. My favorite verse is verse 3, "Fear not I am with thee, oh be not dismayed. For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, upheld by righteous omnipotent hand." It has taught me that God is always with me. He will not forsake me. This time though, verse 6 stood out to me. " E'en down to old age, all my people shall prove my sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn, Like lambs shall they still, in my bosom be borne." I'm old. I've been feeling old ever since I moved here, physically and just in the work. It doesn't matter where I am, what I'm doing, how far I am in to the mission. He is with me.
Then I opened up to page 1 of Preach my Gospel. My eyes immediately jumped to the first box, "Your Purpose". "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." Then I heard the spirit tell me, "Sister Oviatt, your purpose is the same no matter what. It has not changed." Immediately tears started to come to my eyes. I knew that I am still a Full-Time Missionary for the Lord. It doesn't matter where, when, or who I'm with. I'm still a missionary.
Next I turned to page 47. It was lesson 2, the Plan of Salvation. It was confirmation there is still a plan for me. It is an ETERNAL PLAN OF HAPPINESS. Then I read the box at the bottom of the page, "Helping others learn about Christ". "Missionaries are to testify of Jesus Christ and invite all to come unto Him that they might be saved." The spirit came to me again and said, "Sister Oviatt, this is also part of your purpose. Testify of Me. Teach them who I am. You know me." My purpose is still the same. Teach & testify of Him. The picture at the top of the page is of the Christus. It reminded me of my Christus statue that Sister Farr gave me and all of the times in the last year He's saved me. He LIVES! I need to use my testimony and my experiences to help others come unto Him. I am so grateful for the Spirit's guidance and the peace He gave me. I am so lucky to get to just focus on His work for the next 12 weeks and nothing else. I get to be a normal missionary!
This week our investigator, Amy, passed her baptismal interview! Her baptism is this Saturday and her theme will be John 15:13-14, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." She's really had to change a lot in her life and repent to get to the point where she is today. She's had some issues with a few different commandments, but she's humbled herself a lot. It has all been motivated by love. Love for her Mom, love for Christ, and love for her Father in Heaven. We're so excited to see her take this next big step in her progression to her goal of the Celestial Kingdom.
On Saturday we got to go to the temple with one of our LA's and her son who just turned 12. On car ride up they didn't talk to each other at all. Her son just played on his phone and didn't say a word. She asked us to sing hymns for her on the way up. We went and did baptisms with him and he was really nervous. He probably felt a little awkward and out of place. But of course the temple workers and the other youth doing baptisms there were so patient towards him. He seemed to like the peace and calm in the temple, though. Then after, we did a temple tour with him. He talked more than Sister Tan and I had ever heard before! He seemed a bit more confident and knew the gospel better than we thought. Then his Mom finished at the temple and they went out to dinner together. When we all got back to the car, they were talking and smiling together. They chatted the whole way home, and he even offered to share his fries with her! It was such a great testament to us that the temple really brings families together. It literally changed their relationship. It showed us how important it is to get these RC's and LA's to the temple. And our own families. :) Next up is Xiao JM and Amy on the 20th! :)
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-002-temples-are-a-beacon?lang=eng
Well there's your quick rundown of our week in Zhudong!
Love you!
-Sister Oviatt
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