One year out -- August 3, 2014

Good afternoon! We've had a good week, and have felt the Lord's hand more as we strive to follow what he would have us do. Studies have really been fruitful this week, and we're trying to turn more to Preach My Gospel and become a by the book missionary. An increased focus on loving investigators and thinking of what they need, always, has helped us.

As we came today into the PC bang {an internet cafe, I assume{, we saw one of our investigators that we weren't able to meet with last week with a friend, who also said that they wanted to meet with us- tender mercies. Frankly, we've seen a lot of those this week. From praying and rain being held off just long enough as we meet with someone in a park to having potential investigators' mothers give their approval, we do feel the Lord's help. It's good for us to remember- there were definitely several times this week when we wished things went a little better, or that someone had showed up, but it's comforting to know that as we do our part, we are entitled to the Lord's help.

That previously-mentioned investigator came and sat down by us as we are emailing, which is not an experience that I've had before. :) We're excited for him, the first lesson went well, and he had great questions.

Elder Ahn is doing very well. He continues to show a desire to obey and to work very hard, and we're getting along well. It's a blessing to serve with him and in this area. Really, he is incredible.

We met a Chinese sister earlier this week that certainly has potential interest in the Gospel, and was very excited when she saw a Book of Mormon in Chinese, but she came with her mother, who was very diligently Buddhist, not so excited, and actually wouldn't even let her take the book home. As we meet in the future, we will continue to pray for and think of how we can overcome her mother's unwillingness to depart from what she knows and believes.

 

After several consistent rejections this week, I looked up to see a girl wearing a shirt that said, in big letters, "HOPELESS." It's not, though, we're happy and loving life. When I am weak then am I strong. We met with an investigator's family this week with the sisters, who met his little sister the next day and set a baptismal date!

As I went on exchanges this week, we discussed in particular the unique points of Christ's Gospel that we can share with others, how, in essence, the Gospel can be a blessing in the lives of others. It is a pleasure to serve with him, and always great to serve with a missionary that is willing to work as hard as they can for Christ.

My one year mark as a missionary mercilessly came and went without much fanfare this week, save maybe some rain. It did give me a good chance to think and reevaluate how things are going and how I can improve, and I have some new goals to work on as we move forward. I really am so grateful to be here and to be doing this work, there's not a better place to be! You can probably feel my haste, I apologize. I love you so much and pray for you often.