Dear family,
Hello from paradise! Today they're playing weird Chinese music in the place where I'm writing my email, which is kind of fun. I like listening to it, but it all honestly kind of sounds the same (at least from my perspective) - a little bit of Chinese harp, a lot of Chinese flute, and you're good!
I'm doing really well. We had SO MUCH success last week!!! I told Sister Rosander it was because she was such a trooper and still worked hard even when she was sick. She's doing a lot better, and no, she hasn't touched the opium stuff since. As for me, I'm staying as healthy as ever. Growing up with five other children who got sick all the time certainly does wonders for your immune system. :) I also found out last week that I can speak Chinese with a southern accent, so I guess you could say that I'm doing better than ever.
A lot of funny contacting experiences this week. There's this lady whom we've seen a few times who always gets so excited to see us. She always waves really frantically to get our attention. So then we ride up next to her and talk to her and she always says: "I'm sorry, but I don't have time to talk to you! I really would like to just sit and chat, but I just don't have time! I've got a meeting like RIGHT NOW!" So then I'll ask her if I can write down her phone number and call her at a more convenient time, but she always says: "Um... that's not very convenient. Sorry, but I just don't have time. But, oh wait! Here! I can give you this!" And then she'll bring out something and give it to us for free, whether it's fruit or tea (that we probably can't drink) or something like that. Really nice, and really funny. She's kind of like the White Rabbit from Alice and Wonderland except she gives us free stuff all of the time. But, speaking of excuses for not being able to stay and talk to us, I've heard a lot of really good (aka bad) ones here. I remember when I was in high school and I'd hear of and laugh at all of these lame excuses for not wanting to go on a date with a boy that girls would use. But here, those excuses have been my reality. Most of the time people say that they don't have any time, but those reasons for not having any time are somewhat hilarious. So far I've heard: "I have to clean my house," "I have to cook my vegetables," "I'm watching TV," "I've got... things" (I hear that one a lot :)), and, my personal favorite from this past week: "Um... I have to go take a shower." We were in the rain at the time, so I was tempted to say that I'd be willing to go buy some shampoo from the 7-11 across the street and she could just make it work, but I didn't want to leave her with the impression that all missionaries are crazy (even if it's a little true), so she zoomed off with out too much of a protest.
Along with noticing that people have excuses that maybe don't carry that much weight, I've also noticed that it seems like the problems other people have often seem a little more (in my opinion)... trivial. It's bad - I need to try and have more empathy. I just think it's a little funny when I'm worrying about the eternal salvation of peoples' souls and then we meet someone who says that they've had a terrible day because it's raining, because of what someone said on facebook, or because their cat wasn't very hungry that day so they're worried. This mission has definitely helped me see what things are most important, but I'm still going to work on trying to see things from their side more. :)
So a little miracle I just had to share from this past week: one day this past week I met a man whose last name is "Wang." He was talking with his kids outside his car. Now, the sisters don't normally talk to men as much, because the elders are the ones who teach them, but I felt like we should talk to him... so I did. At first he said, "Bu yong! Bu yong!" ("I don't need it! I don't need it!" - we get that a lot too :)), but eventually I got him laughing and he started being more receptive and even had a lesson on prayer with us and set up for this past Saturday to come with his family to have a tour of the church. Anyway, later that day, my companion had a thought that she should call one of our investigators. So while she was calling I saw this lady down the road, so I raced down the street so I could talk to her. She was really really nice, but also really really Buddhist. She gave me her phone number (I felt like I was sort of squeezing it out of her though), and then left. Sister Rosander and I were a little perplexed as to why she would have that prompting when our investigator didn't answer and that lady didn't set up, but whatever. Friday came, and we called Brother Wang to make sure he was still coming with his kids. We asked him if he was bringing his wife as well, to which he answered the affirmative. YES! Anyway, Saturday came around, and guess who was there? Brother Wang, one of his daughters, and the lady that I had contacted while my companion was calling our investigator! They were husband and wife! I was completely shocked. They told me that it wasn't that surprising since Taidong is so small, but still! There are thousands and thousands of people here! It was a miracle. The lesson was fine - we'll see how things go this week. Regardless of what happens, though, I could see that Heavenly Father really wants this family to find the truth, and His hand is definitely in this work.
Okay, spiritual thought and then I'm done. One reason our week was so successful is because we had a ton of investigators at church yesterday. Normally that's something that's really hard for us, but we've been focusing on it for the past few weeks, and yesterday our efforts showed. That was great, but something that made me just as happy was the fact that three less actives who haven't come to church for at least a year came yesterday as well. We've been working a lot with the new converts and people who don't come to church, and yesterday they came! There was a dad and his daughter who got baptized like 20 years ago but who really didn't come to church very much at all who came, and when I saw them, I was seriously speechless. Obviously that doesn't happen with me too often, so you know that's a big deal. But anyway, the part I loved best was when we took the sacrament. At that time these people who just lack the Holy Ghost in their lives were able to renew their baptismal covenants and to have the promise of "having [His] Spirit to be with them" always if they try and do what's right. I was so so so happy, because I've been renewed and made clean again by that weekly ordinance, and I felt so blessed to see people I love and who need it so badly also have it as well.
Alright, that's it for this week. Today we're going to Yuli, a town that's in our district but that's about an hour train ride away from here. I've heard it's really really small (way smaller than Taidong), but also really really beautiful. I've heard it's even like a rainforest in some parts. Rainforests and rice fields - I love this place. :) Thank you for being wonderful - I love you and pray for you every day. Be good this week!
Love,
Sister Winters
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