March 7, 2016

What a week. Pretty successful considering we went to Xinzhu and Taipei this week!!

One of our new investigators from this week was actually our investigator's mom. We found him way at the beginning of February, but haven't been able to meet with him for a while. We kept calling him every week to invite him to church and to try to set up with him, but things always came up. Normally we would've dropped someone like that, but every time we called either his dad or his mom would answer the phone. His mom sounded like such an angel on the phone and was just so sweet and patient with us. Finally last week we asked if we could meet with him at his house, because we wanted to meet his mom. She was honestly showing more potential than him. So we went out and tried to find their house last Saturday with a member, but after 45 minutes of biking, walking, and asking for directions, we gave up. We set up again for this Saturday, hoping to finally be able to meet with his mom.
We called the member again and met up with her at the church. This time her husband brought down in their car! God loves us, because when we finally found his house, they lived up 2 HUGE hills and we just never would've found it if we were on our bikes. God really needed this daughter to be found. We pulled into their driveway and she was waiting for us outside. She came right up to us and told us how grateful she was that people from the church had come to help her son. She told us more about his situation and how he'd been getting into drugs in the last year and didn't have a job any more. She really loves her son a lot and is scared for the direction his life is going right now. Right when we got into their house I felt confirmation from the spirit that she was who we were supposed to be focusing on. She was the reason we found him. We planned on sharing a lesson directed more towards the mom about how the gospel blesses families, and it was exactly what she needed. She was just like a sponge. She soaked up every word and was just so engaged and interested in every thing we said. Her son kept going off about his Taoist beliefs and how our church is just like the things he already knows from Taoism. His mom would just get a sad look on her face and say, "I think this is all from him playing with the drugs." She needs the peace and comfort that this gospel can bring her. At the end of the lesson, she readily set up another lesson with us for the next Saturday. 
I am so grateful that I've been able to see God work these miracles here in Zhudong, and my whole mission in Taiwan. Sister Tan is going home this week, and it's really hard to see. We've done a lot of reflecting and talking about our missions during our down time. She's taught me a lot about this work in our time as companions, and this last year. If I could sum up everything she's taught me it would be to never forget the essence of the gospel. It is when we lose sight of that that we lose our way. The gospel is as simple as one relationship, us and Heavenly Father. If what you're doing is strengthening that relationship, then it's a good thing. If it's not, then you should repent and get back on track. I'm so grateful to her for reminding me of this truth. It was something my mom taught me all growing up. Thank you Mom! :) Sometimes we need more time and more people for us to fully learn the lesson. I'm grateful that God is patient enough with me to let me have the time I need to learn these lessons!

I hope all of your relationships with Heavenly Father are good and you're taking time everyday to work on it. :)

-Sister Oviatt