Well it has already been another week, and a lot has happened. This area is still on fire! I went on my first exchanges, I had lots of mango bing sha (mango slush drink ish), lots of beef noodles, I am learning the mandarin phonetic system, coolest of all this weekend we have the Zhang family baptism!
The days run together, last Monday we got to teach two lessons to investigators, Dylon and the Tan family. Both of those went really well and we helped turn Dylon around a bit. After the Tan family lesson we knocked a few doors nearby and were let in by a man who hadn't let missionaries in before. He listened and we got through a lesson with him. Later we called to set up another time and he said his children weren't interested, well we planted more seeds.
On Tuesday we went out for a few minutes after studies before planning and found a student waiting for his friends and got through a short lesson on prayer with him before his friends showed up. When they did show up we found out that one of them was an RCLA, we set up a time to meet with him later that day, then we went back home to plan. After planning we met with Chen, he was telling us about spirits that are tormenting him and some interesting dreams he is having. We didn't get through much of a lesson beyond prayer and asking him to use it to ask for protection. Then we had dinner until our next appointment with Liao, Chen didn't have anything to do so he came with us and then was in our lesson with Liao where we taught both of them the Restoration. They both accepted it pretty well, then they both went to institute. The RCLA also showed up and we shared a message about prayer (Alma 34:17-27). We then went out and got another set up for later in the week.
Wednesday was district meeting day, so we took buses into Xin Zhu, that was cool. Sister Holm, the sister from the MTC that came out with the elders of my district is in my district now. After the meeting we headed back. On the bus I sat by myself so that I could talk to someone. The bus wasn't that full, so no one sat by me, but I prayed for someone to sit next to me. Then a 15 year old came up and asked if I spoke Mandarin, we talked and I taught him most of a first discussion and set up a time for him on Friday... He fanged us, but now he's heard a little bit, and I got to speak. Another funny thing happened, when we were out contacing a lot of people said they were 'willing' to come on Sunday but wouldn't stay and talk with us. Needless to say we didn't see many of them on Sunday... I almost forgot English class. There are a lot of cool people there, I talked a lot about me, where I am from, my family, where I have been (Zions, rappellig, cathedrals, glaciers). In the end I gave a lesson about examples and Christ's example for us shows us how to become our 100%.
Thursday, we randomly ran into another RCLA, we talked with a few students (that have tests right now) so they wouldn't set times. Also a 16 year old boy we gave a baptismal date to on the street. We ran into a many names Jimmy who is practically white. He is divorced and his son doesn't talk to him much now and he worries a lot. We invited him to church and he ended up coming. The last part of the night was a lesson with the Zhang family, we had a memeber and his wife with us. We taught about tithing, fasting and how to donate tithes and offerings. Then we discussed the baptismal interview questions, it was incredible to hear their testimonies. The greatest thing is that they are looking forward to the temple already, they understand that they will receive all the blessings God has to offer ther. I will be baptizing the youngest son. I've got to not forget wei ni shi xi (I baptize you).
Friday was exchange day, and because of the typhoon nearby there was a lot of rain later in the day. On the way out to the other missionaries area I contacted a lady who stopped who is in the sisters' area. Then no one else really wanted to talk. On our way to teach at night the rain started coming down, and the way was all up hill, I was laughing (and clapping my hands, I was loving it!). My companion (who is a native) and I were soaked.
Saturday we did some feedback and changed back. I got some really good ga li fan (curry rice) and a mango bing sha (20 kuai bing sha!). We got to teach a lot on Saturday. Chen, Dylon and Liao all came. Liao and Dylon were both lessons with members. We taught Liao the Gospel of Jesus Christ and found out he might have a little bit of a family fan dui (opposition). Chen we talked about something he learned by putting together scriptures with that he learned in institute (which was about the Pearl of Great Price). It was Moses 1:11. He figured out what natural and spiritual eyes are. Dylon had a lot of questions about the Plan of Salvation, but most of the lesson was him asking the sister that helped us about her faith and how she learned to believe (because they have similar religious backgrounds).
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. Yeah. Church was good, we had 13 non-members come, 10 of our investigators (the Tan family, 3 of the Zhang family, Chen, Jimmy, Lin Hui Min), 2 random walk ins, and a man that seems to come often. My companion and I talked about the meaning of life and everything. After we taught Chen with a memeber who's helped us a lot, we talked about Christ's ministry and gave him the Plan of Salvation pamphlet so we can teach that next time. Then with a memeber we visited a less active sister. I called her to repentance (3 Nephi 17:7) and talked aobut how Christ heals spiritual ailments too. She had some excuses, like you kong de hua (if I have time) but I had none of it basically. After we saw some punks on the street and because of the members I didn't ma them out, but I gave them a pamphlet and said that it was their salvation.
Overall it has been really cool. We watched the sunrise this morning, the mountains surrounding us are wonderful.
Until next week. I love you all,
Shen Yi Qian
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