Week 8

Dear family and friends,

This last week has been crazy as well as very informative. The new elders have been really wonderful, they live up to the standards that the mandarins are know for. I am only in the MTC for 4 more weeks from today.

Elder Andersen spoke last Tuesday (this is our 3rd member of the 12). He spoke about how as we come to know the Atonement we will be more willing and able to teach our investigators. He talked about the Merits (the power of the resurection, our ability to live again), Mercy (the Power of repentance and our ability to become clean again), and Grace (our ability to become something we are not; eg. a mandarin speaking little 'a' apostle). He started with a quote from Preach My Gospel about his topic then talked about the parts of the atonement with scriptures, then ended with the same quote and his witness. I know that he is an Apostle of God and that he knows our Savior lives.

We had so many opportunities to teach this week and to change our plans, Amy (situ Lao Shi) went out of town so we taught Wang Di Xiong some more, then he 'left.' Tao Lao Shi told us his story and helped us to understand that those that are prepared will have a sincere desire to change. Allan had a baptismimal interview this last saturday, we need to help him understand that this is the one true church before saturday, Hopefully we can do that so that he will not have to wait for Baptism, because he has a testimony of everything else. Besides that each of the teachers were great and they prepared us in different ways.

TRC last saturday was wonderful, the gift of tongues is real. As we are willing to turn to the Lord and are willing for his help, he will pour out his spirit upon us.

On Sunday I sang 'Israel, Israel God is Calling." I started out accapella (and then restarted but only about midway throught the first line) luckily singing in church invites the spirit and everyone is willing to over look that. I continued till the second line of the second verse then Elder Wing (who was playing the piano for me) until the begining of the first fourth verse and I sang accapella to the chorus where Elder Wing again joined me. Everyone enjoyed it. Elder Phelps called speaking this Sunday, so he ended up doing it, and all the talks were on faith in Jesus Christ. Both of the missionary speakers were good. Brother and Sister Bullock (1st counselor and wife) then both spoke and it was very good.

I hope all is going well with you, and hope that you are all willing and prepared to receive the blessings that the Lord has ready for you. I know that The Book of Mormon is true, I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God;he, his counselors, and the quorum of the twelve all know that our Savior lives as do I. I know that Joseph Smith, through the power of God, restored the true Gospel to the earth. I know that this church is true and that this is the Lord's work.

I love you all,

Shen Zhang Lao

Also Happy Birthday Grandma Dilley.