Dear Mom, Dad, Eric, and Belle,
Well, to be honest, the last few weeks have been rather difficult for
me. Training is a lot more than it is cracked up to be, but it runs much
deeper than that. I honestly love the training part even though it is
difficult. It's exciting to see another missionary grow so quickly.
It tries your patience, your endurance, your faith, your commitment, your
obedience, etc. A trainer's example sets the standard for the rest of the
missionary's entire mission. This is what they should expect. This
is what they should be doing. This is missionary work.
I had the opportunity to
interview with President Bishop. This happens once every other move call
and it's a wonderful opportunity to have some short face time with an inspired
man of God. I adore President Bishop. I have faith that he has been
called of God and receives specific revelation, not only for this mission and
the people on the southern half of the Taiwanese island, but that he receives
revelation for me. He knows how I'm doing through that inspiration and
blesses me life as a worthy instrument in the hands of God. In the
interview we discussed the goals we set during the Mission Tour with Elder
Wilson of the 70. President Bishop helped me to take those goals and ensure
that they have plans associated with them, that they're not just vain
wishes. We discussed Nanzi, progressing
investigators, and what can be done to further the work. The interview
was very brief to be perfectly honest, but great regardless. Sister
Bishop made cookies (something you can't seem to find in Taiwan unless
made my an American). Oatmeal and chocolate chip. Oh boy they were
good. She took my picture and sent it to you as well. To be honest,
it's an awful picture of me in my opinion, but oh well. I don't need to impress
people (beyond looking like a servant of God) for another year. We
received training on Follow-Ups, which was wonderful because it's exactly what
I've needed to improve on recently. It's sad to think that he only has
six months or so left.
I have a couple of other questions:
1. What are some quick and easy recipes (like super quick and
super easy)?
2. What are some ideas for a Christmas party (the ward has asked
us because we're Americans and they don't really celebrate Christmas very much
in Taiwan)?
Also, there was a tender mercy on Sunday. We were teaching a
less-active member who Elder Forbes, Elder Cutler, the Spirit, and I completely
returned to full activity. She even has a calling now! The point
is, we were teaching her (finishing up the basic lessons) and at the end she
asked for a blessing. I was fortunate enough to give that blessing.
I honestly had many feelings as I did it and was prompted to say the things
that I did. When I finished, she was in tears. It was a
tender mercy amid some trial recently. Elder Cutler and I also met
a family who wants the gospel to help his son. We're more than willing to
share, to say the least.
On to your email:
With regards to missionaries getting half-calls to China, I've heard it
here too. Apparently it's a big rumor in the MTC. No one can show
facts however. I'm pretty sure that the church would announce it if it
were true.
I like the pictures, they're fun.
Please continually send pictures! I love seeing you all. I haven't
seen Eric in quite some time ( I don't think creepy zombie Halloween Eric
really counts either).
We do not get to see the Christmas Devotional unfortunately. I
wish we did, but such is the way of a missionary I suppose. If you could
send copies of the talks in the Christmas package, that would be
fantastic! I don't plan on opening any of those things until the
appropriate day. I love what you said about Thomas S. Monson being a
prophet, Dad. For that, he surely is. I remember when Gordon B.
Hinckley passed away. It was a difficult transition for me, because he
was all I knew. Even after Thomas S. Monson was President for some
time, there wasn't much of an attachment. Coming here, I have read many
of his words and articles about his life. I know that he is a Prophet of
God without a shadow of a doubt. I would deeply, deeply, encourage you
all to pick up a copy of "On The Lord's Errand" (of which I recently
picked up a copy myself). It is incredibly inspiring and gives a lot of
great background into the life of our current Prophet. It's only 60
minutes, but thoroughly enjoyable.
With regards to earthquakes: yes. Often? I don't know what
counts as often. There was a pretty big one that I felt very distinctly
one night when I was at the church house. Everything shook and the doors
to the baptismal font made quite the ruckus. Supposedly there was one at
around midnight a few nights ago, but I didn't notice.
It's getting cold here. I think they're taking the cold of Utah
and depositing it here in Taiwan. I'm not used to this damp cold.
It's very penetrating.
It's strange to think that I'm almost twenty years old, no longer a
teenager. It's not a thought I much care to think about, but not
thinking about it doesn't make it any less strange. It's odd to
think that you all don't really know everything that has happened for an entire
year of my life aside from what I tell you. Thank you all so much for
blessing me throughout my entire life. I've never been as thankful as I
should have been. I have had incredibly patient, kind, loving parents for
twenty long years. If that's not consistency, I don't know what is.
Thank you all for your examples and kindness. I hope this week goes well
for you all.
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