Week 6: Dearest Family, God is Near You

Song of the post: "I Am a Child of God" ... I might as well put something in for my blog, or maybe I just want to help you get a sense of what the week was all about. You may never know. I sang this song a lot this week though, and I used it for a couple of the lessons that I ended up teaching. There was a lot of cool stuff that happened this week.

It's interesting that missionaries have a vibe, just something that you can feel about them. I've gone on exchanges with lots of missionaries, because my companion is the district leader, and everyone feels different. Sometimes it feels like they're draining my energy and sometimes it feels like they are adding to the fire. I hope I'm one of the missionaries that just gets other missionaries pumped up.

Wow, the week since week 4 Wednesday ish.

Highlights include the Zhang family still being awesome (the daughter, oldest son, and mom all helped us peike this week), they also ging'ed us lots of chi. Their home teacher/the ward has asked us to help teach their new memeber lessons (YES!) so we will get to do that over the next few weeks. English class on the 13th I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon (which I did last night as well for a less active memeber. I think I got my point across on that one =) here comes the xiong (fierce) Elder Andersen). I have become somewhat fed up, I hope in a good way, with excuses. I've heard more "I'll try my best" or "If I have time" than you could imagine and so when I hear it from anyone they get to keep talking to me until I get a straight yes or no. Liu Laoshi isn't ready yet. He in our previous lesson with him we finished everything he needs to be baptized. The last thing we had to teach was fasting... it was more or less the straw that broke the camel's back. He said something to the effect of he'll keep commandments until they effect his life. Needless to say he needs more time and a real testimony. He needs to actually be keeping the commitments that we give him to read and pray.

As for some other good and bad news. Wu Jiemei, a memeber referral ish (a priest brought her to English class and to some other activities that we have been doing and she started meeting with us). She is full of faith and preparing to be baptized as soon as her father's heart is softened. Lin (the super golden boy that I invited to the church with the desire) said that he isn't so sure anymore. We did ask him to keep praying and we have seem him at some of our other activities since then. He's going to figure it out sooner or later. We found another boy who is super busy, with class, work, cram school, taking care of family. He plays the guitar, he was really cool and has found time for us even when he really hasn't had much time. He also is trying to help his friend find this (he prayed about it in his first prayer with us). Hopefully he can find more time and get more of what we are really offering him. Probably best of all right now is Huang (28, single, working, wanting to know God). He was a referral that we got from a missionary that finishes his mission next week. His prayers are incredible and his desire is all there. We gave him a date (9/10) and he is excited to work for that. He finds time for us in his schedule too. He like all of our success here is a blessing from the Lord. I hope that he finds exactly what his soul is seeking for as we keep meeting with him.

Best of all is our upcoming baptism on 8/6, then confirmation on 8/7 for Liao. He has changed so much. I can see how he has been prepared and how much this gospel has brought life into his life. He loves the commandments and understands that all they are for is to bless him, not to hinder his life. He has talked to his parents, and he realizes that he is 26 and can make his own decisions. He's the first person I will be able to see from the first lesson to his entering the church (that is assuming move calls don't take me out of here after 1 transfer). I hope I can see several of our investigators to the end.

My time has come yet again. I learn as each day goes by that nothing happens without dedicated consistent work. That is a basic principle of the gospel. There isn't a time to rest on one's laurels. Faith is hope in action. The Lord protects and provides for his servants. The gospel is the truth (then what else matters?). I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

Love,

P.S. I hope everyone is telling others to read my blog and that this email is getting to a lot of people. Also don't be afraid to write me back. I don't mind hearings about what is going on at home.