How He helps you, how He loves you, how through Him we have forgiveness!
Copyright Tayson Meanea, 2017
Monday, 20 March 2017
Today was truly a blessing for me. There are challenging circumstances and situations for every missionary, and in the midst of one of the greatest ones I've faced yet, I was able to turn in prayer to Heavenly Father for comfort, which came as I hoped it would. So many things my family and friends said to me helped me to come up above this challenging time I had. I know they all followed the Spirit, and I'm thankful for them being an answer to my prayers. We ate with Bishop and our investigator friend named Alan at a Vegetarian Buffet, which was forgivable only in that they had free all-you-can-eat frozen yogurt. It was actually really good! There were also a lot of Buddhist monks and nuns there, so that was cool. I want a robe like that. Then we went with Daniel to a board game shop in a nearby mall, where they just let you play for 3 hours any game they have. It was super fun! We played a game called Dominion and one called Puerto Rice (I like the island of San Juan, I know a boat you can get on!) Then we came back to our area to eat some pizza a member bought for us with our sisters and the Dakeng Elders. After that, it was all contacting. And though nothing about the area has changed, Heavenly Father has really helped to change my view and my attitude, something I'm immensely grateful for.
Today was truly a blessing for me. There are challenging circumstances and situations for every missionary, and in the midst of one of the greatest ones I've faced yet, I was able to turn in prayer to Heavenly Father for comfort, which came as I hoped it would. So many things my family and friends said to me helped me to come up above this challenging time I had. I know they all followed the Spirit, and I'm thankful for them being an answer to my prayers. We ate with Bishop and our investigator friend named Alan at a Vegetarian Buffet, which was forgivable only in that they had free all-you-can-eat frozen yogurt. It was actually really good! There were also a lot of Buddhist monks and nuns there, so that was cool. I want a robe like that. Then we went with Daniel to a board game shop in a nearby mall, where they just let you play for 3 hours any game they have. It was super fun! We played a game called Dominion and one called Puerto Rice (I like the island of San Juan, I know a boat you can get on!) Then we came back to our area to eat some pizza a member bought for us with our sisters and the Dakeng Elders. After that, it was all contacting. And though nothing about the area has changed, Heavenly Father has really helped to change my view and my attitude, something I'm immensely grateful for.
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
THIS IS WHY WE ARE MISSIONARIES PEOPLE! BOOYAH. Sorry, I suppose I should let you know why you imagined me yelling just barely. We had a good day today, mostly out contacting, but we also ate Mexican food at a member's house, which was amazingly delicious, something I've dearly missed. And afterwards we went to the chapel that evening with our friend Ahui. We taught him the full first lesson tonight, and I could truly feel the Spirit testifying as we bore our testimonies to him of the restoration of the gospel and that he can know the truthfulness for himself. He seemed really sincere. Still doesn't know a lot about religious things, but he feels something, and I know it. I'm so grateful for that opportunity that was just given for Elder Jones and I to participate in his coming closer to Christ.
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
It's never numbers that make the missionaries, but we still got 3 LESSONS and 1 NEW INVESTIGATOR TODAY!!! Wooo hooo!!! The first really cool one was Lin. He met us in family mart and talked for a few minutes, then he agreed to meet again today. He had some really great questions, and we taught most of the first 2 lessons based off of that. He's super curious, and if he'll let it, that curiosity could turn into a real desire to follow Christ. Then that night we met with a former investigator. He wanted "Mormon Information" so we brought him an Article of Faith card and talked for a few minutes, after which he agreed that he "might" come to church. You can't resist the pull forever. ;-) And then that night we stopped to make some calls, and I was holding the phone, scrolling through the list of our investigators. Anyone still remember Rollins? Our golden boy from a few months ago who completely disappeared? Well, I saw his name, and he hasn't answered in months, and I don't know why, but I just dialed. And three seconds later he picked up, and told me he was super glad that I called right then, and he wanted to meet on Saturday. He's still Golden too, and told me over the phone he's so ready to get baptized. Elder Jones was doing a victory dance in the middle of the store in the background, just so you know. That was a miracle if I ever saw one.
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Most of today was Zone Conference! I always love how uplifting and exciting experiences they are! As for temporal things, we no longer use little cards we carry around called "Tracts," nor do we use contact cards, things we usually give people to write their name and number on so we can call them later. That was pretty big for our mission. Then we talked about the power of our calling, and we watched that Jeffrey R. Holland talk about the great commandment, and that truly gets me every time. I love that video so much, and it applies to everyone. Also, my good friend Elder Griffin is now serving on Magong, an island in my Zone! So they flew in for the conference and I got to see him!
Friday, 24 March 2017
Blessings on blessings on blessings! We rolled out the door right after weekly planning today, and ran into a guy waiting outside our apartment. We started talking to him, and he seems like a super cool and open guy. He had no bias, and was just curious about things like "Why would Jesus let Judas be an apostle?" And "Why did the devil want to be the devil?" And we shared a bit about prophets with him, and how we can better understand these things through modern revelation. He gave us his card, and said we can definitely meet some other time. It was a real testament to me that we are led and guided every day that we're willing. Then we went to the chapel and Elder Jones did two baptismal interviews for the Zone Leader's investigators. A great couple who both study the pamphlets and the Book of Mormon while they're waiting for their turn to go in. Super, super Golden. They're getting baptized next week! Then we came back and contacted around, and I just felt really happy to be out sharing this Gospel and Christ's Light with everyone. Some may be able to ignore our words, but they cannot ignore the Spirit that comes with us when we are worthy. It was an amazing day!
Saturday, 25 March 2017
Rollins is back, baby! Woohoo! We met with him today and taught about the Plan of Salvation. He was super into it. He is going to get baptized, no doubt about it. But I don't know if I'll get to be here for it. He gets off of his extra school in May, so he can start coming to church then. And he wants to be baptized as soon as possible. I'm so happy for him. At least I'll get to go over most of the lessons with him if I end up leaving this transfer. We have him set up to meet again next Saturday. Then we went and had dinner with the Zone Leaders at E Zhong Jie. There were so many people there tonight! There was a dance competition going on there, which brought me back a lot of years to the hours I spent waiting to see my sisters perform at their dance competitions. Only for you two. ;-) Then tonight while we were contacting, we met a guy and started introducing the Book of Mormon to him. He pulled over and we found out he is a leader in another church. He said he totally wanted to meet with us later and share with each other. So that was really cool!
Sunday, 26 March 2017
I cannot say it enough. I did not appreciate church before I came on my mission. There is always so much peace and guidance that I find while I'm there. It was a great meeting. Johnny came again, and though we don't know how to continue helping him, we're meeting with him this Friday. After meetings we went to Daniel's house with the Assistants and had Hot Pot. Afterwards we went tracting for the 4th time on my mission, and a couple let us in!!! We taught them about the Book of Mormon. The wife was Baptist and the husband was Catholic. They were super happy to talk to us. I really felt the Spirit while we were teaching in their home and am super excited to go back soon!
And thus ends another week of the exciting tale of Elder Meanea's Taiwan Mission: Season 2 - Beitun! I can confidently testify that this Gospel is true. I can feel it in me any time I get to tell someone. I live it, I love it, and I love others seeing that too. I love you all, and am looking forward to yet another week in the service!
-Elder Meanea
No comments:
Post a Comment