Happy days are here again!

This week was an interesting mix of very good days and pretty decent days. We actually had some really good lessons and some good people come to learn more about the gospel. I think one of the coolest things this week was that 林弟兄 saying that he has set a quit date for smoking and being absolutely willing to live all the commandments we have taught him. 張弟兄 also was great at church on Sunday.
There was a man that I met on Wednesday who was watching his older brother's little boy. His name is Bryan. He set up quickly and we met with him on Friday, then he came to church on Sunday. He is a thinker and is already thinking ahead to the future. I hope that he goes and does and feels the changes coming into his life and realizes that they are incredible. We also met with several other people that are in the army right now. That makes it really hard to set up a next visit. So far it has been good.

We had a fireside on Saturday where my companion and I were able to talk about unity, in unity. We shared what we feel are the 3 key points of unity: preparation, obedience, and love. We shared parts of the story of the stripling warriors (Alma 56:47;57:21,26-27). We also ate some desserts that the other set of elders and I prepared. I made brownies...because my cookbook is 竹東 and it was the only thing that I could remember. They made a banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, and swedish pancakes. The ward also brought some good food. This weekend has been eating a lot of sweets and it is slowing me down a bit. This next week should be quick as it is the last week of the transfer and there is still member work to be done. We were able to work a lot more with our ward this weekend and we saw them more. I also absolutely on accident found a less active who had moved here from the south of Taiwan.

The oddest thing I saw this week was a security guard playing an electric guitar, it just brought to mind how many hidden talents people have. How many things go absolutely unnoticed. The surroundings were perfect. It was under a bridge in an area that almost no one goes, there is a small park near by. The song he was playing was absolutely the right mix of melancholy and determination. I don't have a picture, because we were going to a members for dinner.

I have met many people that have never thought about their purpose in live, they have never thought why they want to earn money or go to school, they just do. There are many that have never thought about a Creator or God. It is sad to see that to many there really isn't more to life than this. Luckily there is if we only grasp at it. I realized that I am just as hardened and blind sometimes as those around me. The only way to really help people is find their needs, not yours. I am very good and finding my needs and exposing them. Asking others about theirs and then truly helping and caring for them is much different. I am not quite so good at doing that. This was the major focus of my week. On Monday I went on exchanges with my zone leader, he taught me a lot about teaching people and not lessons. (lessons are very easy to teach, but they don't help people get baptized.)

On Sunday I spent my morning reading from the Old Testament, I am in the end of chronicles. Hezekiah, once he becomes king, wants to once again worship the Lord. I immediately applied these scriptures to missionary work. (2 Chronicles 29:11,15, 34; 30:8-9,11-12,18-20; 31:20-21)

I know that this is the work of the gathering of Israel, the redemption of the living and will continue to help us in the work of the dead. I know that this church is true, as I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that we are led by living prophets. I know that none will ever stop this work. (2 Nephi 9:3-4).

I have come to love Jacob once again as I read his words. 2 Nephi 9 and Jocob 4 have just opened the eyes of my understanding in so many ways. He truly taught the butter and honey of the gospel. I urge you to read it in its plainness.

Love,
沈義謙