Ni hao!
It has been another good and busy week....
On Thursday I received a beautiful package from the family..... THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! It was full of love! Thank you for the audio from Mom's funeral services, the slide show, and the letters from Mom.... They all truly brought so much peace to my heart.
This morning I was able to listen to Mom's funeral services.... I was so touched by all that was said. It brought such a great feeling of love and peace. It also brought some laughter (Becca, Justin, and Jason's part specifically) I truly felt that I was included and a part of it. It made me think of Mom in such a beautiful and great way. Feeling of her love and her example. Being amazed once again by her strength. She was and is loved by many.... Especially me.
This week I have been thinking a lot about timing.... It is an interesting thing. I was thinking about all the little timings and then the big timings but truly how important timing is. I have been thinking of the time that I have had here and how quickly it has flown by but I thought specifically about the time that I could have gone home... I thought back to those 2 weeks and I thought of the amazing experience I had in those weeks. I thought about the Xie family. I realized that it was during those 2 weeks that they truly progressed and changed. I believe that because I was struggling and mourning, I needed my Savior more than ever. I needed to feel of the Comforter and because I was so blessed to feel of His presence, I believe that the Xie family was also blessed to feel the Spirit and the Lord's love more strongly.... I believe they needed that.....Timing. Isn't it amazing!
This week I also thought a lot about the Savior's atonement. During some of my personal study I studied about the atonement and the Lord's resurrection. It amazes me the love that he has for us... I know that He died for us. I know that He also lived for us...so that we can live again. It is truly astounding...
Thank you again for the beautiful package. My "Treasure Box."
I love you all!!!
Until next week!
April 25, 2011
April 17, 2011
Week 22
Ni hao!
This week has been great! Busy, busy, busy....
On Thursday I experienced my first zone conference! It was simply wonderful! Half of the mission gets together and we're spiritually fed. I was able to see some great mtc friends (which of course I started crying either because of happiness, sadness, or because i really needed their hug...) The messages were amazing and it was a lot of fun!
Then on Saturday we had a very special experience... We were able to attend the Gaoxiong Family History Conference. It was so cool! Two of the church history recorder people came and we had a meeting about the history of the church. It was just missionaries for this meeting and basically we just asked questions and they would answer. It was so cool! They know so much and they could just shoot it off from the top of their heads with names, years, articles, books, and all this information. I loved it. There were questions about Emma Smith, the priesthood, China opening, Jerusalem and so so so so many interesting topics... I loved it!
Great news for the week! Gao didi's and Zeng Yu are getting baptized! So first there's the Gao didi's (Gao being their last name and didi meaning little brother...) They are so cute! The older one is 12 and the younger one is 9. Two of their aunts are recent converts so they have been coming to church with them for awhile but finally got their mothers permission this week! They are so cute!... Zeng Yu is 13 and is the daughter of a recent convert and has also been coming to church and meeting with the missionaries for awhile but she was finally able to have her dad's approval... Her mother is a new member but her dad didn't want her to be baptized and her mom didn't want to disrupt the family (I hope that makes sense.) So it took some time but her dad is okay with it now. She's so cute and funny! Oh I am so excited for them. They are all young but so strong... They amaze me! Tender mercies from the Lord... so amazing!
Well, it's been a good week!
I love you all!!!!!!
Until next week!
Picture # 1 My companion Sister Chen and I
Picture # 2 Our district
This week has been great! Busy, busy, busy....
On Thursday I experienced my first zone conference! It was simply wonderful! Half of the mission gets together and we're spiritually fed. I was able to see some great mtc friends (which of course I started crying either because of happiness, sadness, or because i really needed their hug...) The messages were amazing and it was a lot of fun!
Then on Saturday we had a very special experience... We were able to attend the Gaoxiong Family History Conference. It was so cool! Two of the church history recorder people came and we had a meeting about the history of the church. It was just missionaries for this meeting and basically we just asked questions and they would answer. It was so cool! They know so much and they could just shoot it off from the top of their heads with names, years, articles, books, and all this information. I loved it. There were questions about Emma Smith, the priesthood, China opening, Jerusalem and so so so so many interesting topics... I loved it!
Great news for the week! Gao didi's and Zeng Yu are getting baptized! So first there's the Gao didi's (Gao being their last name and didi meaning little brother...) They are so cute! The older one is 12 and the younger one is 9. Two of their aunts are recent converts so they have been coming to church with them for awhile but finally got their mothers permission this week! They are so cute!... Zeng Yu is 13 and is the daughter of a recent convert and has also been coming to church and meeting with the missionaries for awhile but she was finally able to have her dad's approval... Her mother is a new member but her dad didn't want her to be baptized and her mom didn't want to disrupt the family (I hope that makes sense.) So it took some time but her dad is okay with it now. She's so cute and funny! Oh I am so excited for them. They are all young but so strong... They amaze me! Tender mercies from the Lord... so amazing!
Well, it's been a good week!
I love you all!!!!!!
Until next week!
Picture # 1 My companion Sister Chen and I
Picture # 2 Our district
April 15, 2011
Week 21
Ni hao!
It has been another good week here in Taiwan...
On Tuesday we had a big mission service activity... Tomb Sweeping. Basically once a year family members go and clean their ancestors tombs... Well, seeing as it is only once a year the tomb-yard looks quite.... bad and not taken care of. There was so much garbage, weeds, and overgrown trees. We spent 3 hours cleaning up the area, pulling out the weeds, and taking down trees. It was good work. I was worried about how I would handle the day since it was mom's birthday and I was cleaning graves. But I was very blessed and able to focus on the work and do some service. I was also blessed to be around people I love and who love me (sweet Sister Smith, my mtc companion). Sister Bishop called that night to check up on me. She said that she remembered that it was mom's birthday and she wanted to make sure I was doing okay and see how I did with tomb sweeping... It is amazing how the Lord sends the people we need just at the time we need them.
The rest of the week went well. My companion and I were blessed to have a lot of lessons this week. We were just going and going and going.... It was great to be busy and so wonderful to be teaching...
One sister we're teaching right now is Zhuang Xuan Jian. She is so great. She said one of the most beautiful prayers this week during the lesson. She told Heavenly Father that she really wants to be baptized and asked Him to help her be able to come to church on Sundays because her work schedule wouldn't allow it at this time and she really wants to keep the sabbath day holy... I was so amazed by her faith and sincerity... It was wonderful.
We also ended up having one of our investigators, Li Ya Hui, teach another one of our investigators, Nai Hua. It was amazing to hear Ya Hui bear her sweet testimony and share stories from the Book of Mormon to help Nai Hua overcome her challenge at this time. After I asked Ya Hui why she isn't baptized and she said that she feels inadequate. It broke my heart... She has been meeting with missionaries for months and has been having this struggle...I know she has a testimony and that she truly has a love for the gospel... I love her and I know she will be baptized some day...
Wasn't Conference just amazing?... (we are a week later because of translation... and don't worry the missionaries watch it in english) Oh it was a great spiritual feast! I don't even know where to start...I feel that many talks were speaking just to me, my family, our investigators... I loved how Elder Holland ended it saying that those who speak, for the most part, are not given topics to speak on. It is truly guided and directed by the Spirit... It amazes me. We talked to some investigators and new members afterwards and it was interesting how different speakers spoke to us personally and how we were able to hear and feel different things as well... So amazing. The Lord knows us so well... I truly stand all amazed.
There have been many angels both living and on the other side of the veil helping me this week and I feel so blessed... It is amazing.
Well, I best be going...
I love you all.....
Until next week!
P.S. Here's a picture of the Xie Family's baptism last week! Aren't they so cute?!
P.P.S. I'll try to be better at sending pictures... I always run out of time... :)
It has been another good week here in Taiwan...
On Tuesday we had a big mission service activity... Tomb Sweeping. Basically once a year family members go and clean their ancestors tombs... Well, seeing as it is only once a year the tomb-yard looks quite.... bad and not taken care of. There was so much garbage, weeds, and overgrown trees. We spent 3 hours cleaning up the area, pulling out the weeds, and taking down trees. It was good work. I was worried about how I would handle the day since it was mom's birthday and I was cleaning graves. But I was very blessed and able to focus on the work and do some service. I was also blessed to be around people I love and who love me (sweet Sister Smith, my mtc companion). Sister Bishop called that night to check up on me. She said that she remembered that it was mom's birthday and she wanted to make sure I was doing okay and see how I did with tomb sweeping... It is amazing how the Lord sends the people we need just at the time we need them.
The rest of the week went well. My companion and I were blessed to have a lot of lessons this week. We were just going and going and going.... It was great to be busy and so wonderful to be teaching...
One sister we're teaching right now is Zhuang Xuan Jian. She is so great. She said one of the most beautiful prayers this week during the lesson. She told Heavenly Father that she really wants to be baptized and asked Him to help her be able to come to church on Sundays because her work schedule wouldn't allow it at this time and she really wants to keep the sabbath day holy... I was so amazed by her faith and sincerity... It was wonderful.
We also ended up having one of our investigators, Li Ya Hui, teach another one of our investigators, Nai Hua. It was amazing to hear Ya Hui bear her sweet testimony and share stories from the Book of Mormon to help Nai Hua overcome her challenge at this time. After I asked Ya Hui why she isn't baptized and she said that she feels inadequate. It broke my heart... She has been meeting with missionaries for months and has been having this struggle...I know she has a testimony and that she truly has a love for the gospel... I love her and I know she will be baptized some day...
Wasn't Conference just amazing?... (we are a week later because of translation... and don't worry the missionaries watch it in english) Oh it was a great spiritual feast! I don't even know where to start...I feel that many talks were speaking just to me, my family, our investigators... I loved how Elder Holland ended it saying that those who speak, for the most part, are not given topics to speak on. It is truly guided and directed by the Spirit... It amazes me. We talked to some investigators and new members afterwards and it was interesting how different speakers spoke to us personally and how we were able to hear and feel different things as well... So amazing. The Lord knows us so well... I truly stand all amazed.
There have been many angels both living and on the other side of the veil helping me this week and I feel so blessed... It is amazing.
Well, I best be going...
I love you all.....
Until next week!
P.S. Here's a picture of the Xie Family's baptism last week! Aren't they so cute?!
P.P.S. I'll try to be better at sending pictures... I always run out of time... :)
April 5, 2011
Week 20
Ni Hao!
It's been a good and busy week....
My new area is BEAUTIFUL!!!! City, mountains, beaches, and we have a cute little island in our area...We have the beautiful love river in front of our apartment... I love it! And there are so many great people. The wards are awesome. The members are very supportive. The investigators are so great... My companion is amazing!!!! She is so sweet and helpful. We're already such good friends, which helps so much because we have fun while doing the work. I just love her!!!!
So story leading up the Xie Family's amazing baptism...So Elder Vernon was the district leader in my first area and he is currently the district leader in my new area... He's great! Well the Xie family asked to have Elder Vernon baptise them so we both needed to receive permission from President Bishop to go to the baptism. President Bishop said yes but then we had the problem of English class... If both of us and our companions went there would only be 2 missionaries left to teach 3 classes and have 1 at the door... So we needed some fill in companions... Elder Vernon found someone fast but I could not find anyone to go with me... I finally found someone at 6:45 and we needed to leave at 7 so it was a little stressful. Her name is Judy and she actually just put in her papers.. she's so cute! Well we started our bike ride that is usually 45 min knowing that we needed to do it in about 20 minutes... AHH!!! It was so crazy! My legs felt like jello when I got there... but the bike ride was more than worth it!
The baptism was so wonderful! So many people came to support them. They were so happy! Xie Dixiong (brother), who was raised Christian, bore a strong testimony about Joseph Smith, the restoration, and the Book of Mormon. It was so great. And Xie Jiemei (sister) bore a beautiful testimony of prayer and receiving answers to her prayers. It was amazing. It bore testimony to me that the Lord does all the work. I open my mouth and say what I can but the Lord is the one that opens and touches their hearts. It truly is amazing...They are such a beautiful family and they have the testimonies and support to stay strong in the gospel... Oh it was so amazing....
It was a great week! So many tender mercies and sweet miracles. I truly feel so blessed and recognize how aware Heavenly Father is of me and how much He loves His children. It is wonderful!
I love you all soooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!
Until next week!
It's been a good and busy week....
My new area is BEAUTIFUL!!!! City, mountains, beaches, and we have a cute little island in our area...We have the beautiful love river in front of our apartment... I love it! And there are so many great people. The wards are awesome. The members are very supportive. The investigators are so great... My companion is amazing!!!! She is so sweet and helpful. We're already such good friends, which helps so much because we have fun while doing the work. I just love her!!!!
So story leading up the Xie Family's amazing baptism...So Elder Vernon was the district leader in my first area and he is currently the district leader in my new area... He's great! Well the Xie family asked to have Elder Vernon baptise them so we both needed to receive permission from President Bishop to go to the baptism. President Bishop said yes but then we had the problem of English class... If both of us and our companions went there would only be 2 missionaries left to teach 3 classes and have 1 at the door... So we needed some fill in companions... Elder Vernon found someone fast but I could not find anyone to go with me... I finally found someone at 6:45 and we needed to leave at 7 so it was a little stressful. Her name is Judy and she actually just put in her papers.. she's so cute! Well we started our bike ride that is usually 45 min knowing that we needed to do it in about 20 minutes... AHH!!! It was so crazy! My legs felt like jello when I got there... but the bike ride was more than worth it!
The baptism was so wonderful! So many people came to support them. They were so happy! Xie Dixiong (brother), who was raised Christian, bore a strong testimony about Joseph Smith, the restoration, and the Book of Mormon. It was so great. And Xie Jiemei (sister) bore a beautiful testimony of prayer and receiving answers to her prayers. It was amazing. It bore testimony to me that the Lord does all the work. I open my mouth and say what I can but the Lord is the one that opens and touches their hearts. It truly is amazing...They are such a beautiful family and they have the testimonies and support to stay strong in the gospel... Oh it was so amazing....
It was a great week! So many tender mercies and sweet miracles. I truly feel so blessed and recognize how aware Heavenly Father is of me and how much He loves His children. It is wonderful!
I love you all soooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!
Until next week!
March 28, 2011
Week 19
Ni hao
Thank you to everyone for all your love and support. I truly appreciate all of the words of encouragement and sweet prayers. I have felt so much love and comfort from Heaven helping me each day... It has been amazing. I know mom is one of the angels helping me and I have truly felt that this week.
So.... You Jiemei and Xu Jiemei's baptism was amazing.They had so many people there to support them. The room was full and there were people standing both inside the room and out in the hall. It was so great! They both bore such sweet testimonies. It was amazing to be a part of their special day!
Good news! The Xie FAMILY is getting baptized on Wednesday!!!! A FAMILY!!!! So wonderful! They are so great! They are former investigators and just wonderful. The family loves church. Both the mom and the dad are so strong. They had their own personal concerns and things they had to overcome but it has truly been a blessing to see them change... Seriously a miracle! They have 2 children. Angel 4 and Louis almost 2. So cute!!! I just love them and I'm so happy for them.... It is amazing! A FAMILY! This is the dream!
More news... move call! I have moved to a new area... I'm still in Gaoxiong (Koahsiung) I'm just in the area next door to my previous area (I hope that makes sense) but I have a new companion that I just met today. Her name is Sister Chen and just is actually a local (aka native) She is so great and I love her already. I have heard so many good things about her and already showing me so much love and comfort... I was sad to leave our dear investigators and members (oh the amazing members) but I know that the Lord knows where He wants me so this change will be good!... I'm hoping to go to the Xie family's baptism because I'm so close and its a FAMILY!!!! So great!
Well I love you all so much!
Thank you again for the love, support, and prayers!
Until next week!
Thank you to everyone for all your love and support. I truly appreciate all of the words of encouragement and sweet prayers. I have felt so much love and comfort from Heaven helping me each day... It has been amazing. I know mom is one of the angels helping me and I have truly felt that this week.
So.... You Jiemei and Xu Jiemei's baptism was amazing.They had so many people there to support them. The room was full and there were people standing both inside the room and out in the hall. It was so great! They both bore such sweet testimonies. It was amazing to be a part of their special day!
Good news! The Xie FAMILY is getting baptized on Wednesday!!!! A FAMILY!!!! So wonderful! They are so great! They are former investigators and just wonderful. The family loves church. Both the mom and the dad are so strong. They had their own personal concerns and things they had to overcome but it has truly been a blessing to see them change... Seriously a miracle! They have 2 children. Angel 4 and Louis almost 2. So cute!!! I just love them and I'm so happy for them.... It is amazing! A FAMILY! This is the dream!
More news... move call! I have moved to a new area... I'm still in Gaoxiong (Koahsiung) I'm just in the area next door to my previous area (I hope that makes sense) but I have a new companion that I just met today. Her name is Sister Chen and just is actually a local (aka native) She is so great and I love her already. I have heard so many good things about her and already showing me so much love and comfort... I was sad to leave our dear investigators and members (oh the amazing members) but I know that the Lord knows where He wants me so this change will be good!... I'm hoping to go to the Xie family's baptism because I'm so close and its a FAMILY!!!! So great!
Well I love you all so much!
Thank you again for the love, support, and prayers!
Until next week!
March 22, 2011
Week 18
This weeks letter home might be a little different... and I'm sorry if it doesn't all make sense...
I decided to share something from my personal study a few weeks ago that has brought me great peace at this time...
A few weeks ago, as I was studying the Plan of Salvation, I had a question... What happens to us after we die? What is the spirit world?... I would like to share a few things I learned and what I know to be true.... I learned that after we leave this life we are taken home to that God who gave us life. Those that are righteous live in a state of happiness, a state of rest from all troubles, cares, and sorrows. A state of peace... As I was studying there was a line that stood out to me in Preach My Gospel about the Atonement. It says, "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." I realized then how the Atonement truly makes the plan of salvation possible. It covers life and death and into eternity. The Savior suffered not only for our sins but for our every pain and sorrow. His Atonement stretches to those in the spirit world.. to give them comfort and peace and to also help them strengthen their relationships with the Savior and become more like Him.... "All that is unfair can be made right..." That includes us here as we cope with the loss of mom.... To know that this is part of Heavenly Father's plan... That she is in a place of peace and happiness. That she is with Missy and Grandpa Sonny and other loved ones that have passed before her... That she is watching over us and that she'll continue helping us through out our lives....... This loss is hard but I know that we will see her again...
The decision to stay was a very hard one...... I knew that if I came home I wouldn't come back..... I realized that even though my family might need me, the people here need me more and that the blessings my family would receive for my service would be worth so much more than coming home...
I am so grateful for all the many beautiful lessons my mom taught me that has made me who I am today. I am grateful for the time we were able to spend together just before I left... She is truly amazing. My mother and my friend. I love her so much and miss her dearly but I know that we will dance together again......
I love you all.
Until next week...
I decided to share something from my personal study a few weeks ago that has brought me great peace at this time...
A few weeks ago, as I was studying the Plan of Salvation, I had a question... What happens to us after we die? What is the spirit world?... I would like to share a few things I learned and what I know to be true.... I learned that after we leave this life we are taken home to that God who gave us life. Those that are righteous live in a state of happiness, a state of rest from all troubles, cares, and sorrows. A state of peace... As I was studying there was a line that stood out to me in Preach My Gospel about the Atonement. It says, "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." I realized then how the Atonement truly makes the plan of salvation possible. It covers life and death and into eternity. The Savior suffered not only for our sins but for our every pain and sorrow. His Atonement stretches to those in the spirit world.. to give them comfort and peace and to also help them strengthen their relationships with the Savior and become more like Him.... "All that is unfair can be made right..." That includes us here as we cope with the loss of mom.... To know that this is part of Heavenly Father's plan... That she is in a place of peace and happiness. That she is with Missy and Grandpa Sonny and other loved ones that have passed before her... That she is watching over us and that she'll continue helping us through out our lives....... This loss is hard but I know that we will see her again...
The decision to stay was a very hard one...... I knew that if I came home I wouldn't come back..... I realized that even though my family might need me, the people here need me more and that the blessings my family would receive for my service would be worth so much more than coming home...
I am so grateful for all the many beautiful lessons my mom taught me that has made me who I am today. I am grateful for the time we were able to spend together just before I left... She is truly amazing. My mother and my friend. I love her so much and miss her dearly but I know that we will dance together again......
I love you all.
Until next week...
March 13, 2011
Week 17
Ni Hao!!!!
Another great week here in Taiwan!
BIG news!!!!!
You Jiemei and Xu Jiemei are getting baptized on Friday!!!!
Story time....
So You Jiemei has been meeting with the missionaries for about 3 months... She is so great! When I arrived she had been taught almost all of the lessons but was just slowly progressing... We had been trying hard and praying hard to find ways to help her... Well all she needed was Tina. (Tina is a wonderful, solid recent convert. She is amazing!) After our lesson last week Tina invited You Jiemei to attend institute with her. She accepted. After institute Tina talked to her about baptism and shared her conversion experience and her testimony of the gospel. Then, Tina gave her the little push that she needed and invited her to be baptized on the 18th... You Jiemei said "YES!" We were rather surprised since I'm sure she has heard about baptism (even attended a baptism) and had the commitment extended quite a few times... But she needed it from Tina... It was so amazing! I'm so happy for her! SO amazing!
Xu Jiemei is a former that we have been meeting with since I got here... She is so great! When she met with the missionaries before, her parents didn't want her to receive baptism until she was 20... Well she's 20 now :) At first she was progressing pretty slow and mainly had a social interest... Well about 2 weeks ago she jumped on the happy train! She was trying to get her friend Lai Dixiong involved and asking us ways to help him... She talked to her parents and resolved their concern of ancestor worshipping... Before we met with her this week we weren't sure if her goal was still this Fri or next Fri but after she heard Sister Koay and Elder Vernon (our district leader) practice a musical number for a baptism last week she was like "hey, will you play at my baptism next week?!"... SO great! Resolved that question... She is so excited and said that she has wanted to be baptized since she first met the missionaries, she just didn't want to upset her parents... SO amazing! I'm so excited for her! She is so great!
So as you can tell it has been an exciting week once again full of tender mercies....
I feel so blessed to be a part of this beautiful work....
It truly is magnificent (aka amazing)!
I love you all!!!!
Until next week!
P.S. Here is my mailing address:
Sister Elle Kauaohilo Bray
Taiwan Taichung Mission
498-11 Wu Chuan Road
Taichung 404-46
Taiwan, R.O.C
Another great week here in Taiwan!
BIG news!!!!!
You Jiemei and Xu Jiemei are getting baptized on Friday!!!!
Story time....
So You Jiemei has been meeting with the missionaries for about 3 months... She is so great! When I arrived she had been taught almost all of the lessons but was just slowly progressing... We had been trying hard and praying hard to find ways to help her... Well all she needed was Tina. (Tina is a wonderful, solid recent convert. She is amazing!) After our lesson last week Tina invited You Jiemei to attend institute with her. She accepted. After institute Tina talked to her about baptism and shared her conversion experience and her testimony of the gospel. Then, Tina gave her the little push that she needed and invited her to be baptized on the 18th... You Jiemei said "YES!" We were rather surprised since I'm sure she has heard about baptism (even attended a baptism) and had the commitment extended quite a few times... But she needed it from Tina... It was so amazing! I'm so happy for her! SO amazing!
Xu Jiemei is a former that we have been meeting with since I got here... She is so great! When she met with the missionaries before, her parents didn't want her to receive baptism until she was 20... Well she's 20 now :) At first she was progressing pretty slow and mainly had a social interest... Well about 2 weeks ago she jumped on the happy train! She was trying to get her friend Lai Dixiong involved and asking us ways to help him... She talked to her parents and resolved their concern of ancestor worshipping... Before we met with her this week we weren't sure if her goal was still this Fri or next Fri but after she heard Sister Koay and Elder Vernon (our district leader) practice a musical number for a baptism last week she was like "hey, will you play at my baptism next week?!"... SO great! Resolved that question... She is so excited and said that she has wanted to be baptized since she first met the missionaries, she just didn't want to upset her parents... SO amazing! I'm so excited for her! She is so great!
So as you can tell it has been an exciting week once again full of tender mercies....
I feel so blessed to be a part of this beautiful work....
It truly is magnificent (aka amazing)!
I love you all!!!!
Until next week!
P.S. Here is my mailing address:
Sister Elle Kauaohilo Bray
Taiwan Taichung Mission
498-11 Wu Chuan Road
Taichung 404-46
Taiwan, R.O.C
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