You Xinxin! You Banfa! (If you have faith, there is a way!)‏

This past week was Christmas!  Last P-day, I got my first street adding.  Basically, I explained my purpose and asked for her number if she wanted to know more, and she gave it to me.  Although today I know that she actually has no interest, because we called and ultimately have not yet been able to set up a time with her, but, no worries!  The Lord has his timing for everyone.  Not sure if I mentioned it last time, but last Sunday, we got our very first member referral.  It was a wonderful little Christmas gift and miracle, because it was the first one we've gotten since I've bee here.  The next best part?  We have a time set up to meet her.  I'm praying that she doesn't fang(basically not show up) us.  Speaking of being fang.  I experienced my first official fang this week.  We had two appointments in a row that didn't pull through.  The first called last minute and said something came up and the second one just didn't show, and then didn't answer our calls.  Experience!  It's golden.  Haha.  

I was given a tender mercy from the Lord on Christmas Eve.  It was an unusually hard day for me.  I on the brink of irritation for the majority of the day and the fact that the day had once again left me with very little language study time was definitely grating at my nerves and was giving me an increased amount of stress, but, we headed back to our apartment to get something Chen Jiemei forgot (which in all honestly also annoyed me a little)  But when we arrived, the guard said I had a package.  It was the one my mom had mentioned sending several weeks ago.  I assumed it was just some more winter stuff, but when I opened it I found the Christmas stocking that I had made as a child and it was filled with little candies, chocolate, etc.  But the best part was when  opened the attached envelope I found several cards written to me by my family.  It was so sweet and put a smile on my face.  I was suddenly humbled and remembered my purpose and the love of the Savior.  I know that He knows each and every one of us and that he suffered death on the cross so that we can through Him become able to change, and overcome sin and death.  I love him and will continue to do what I can to help the people in Taiwan to also know of his eternal sacrifice.  

Another little miracle is the rate that one of the less-actives that we have been visiting has been progressing.  She hasn't been to church in a very long time, but she did go to the Christmas party.  We visited her later in the week and she really opened up to us about the deeper reasons for why she can't bring herself to go to church.  After hearing her thoughts we were able to share some scriptures and experiences that could possibly give her some extra strength to overcome her trial.  Granted, she is still not quite ready to come back.  But we fully believe she will make her goal which is to attend at least once before Chinese New Year.

Something I discovered recently:

Member missionary work is KEY to moving the work forward.  I realize there is a bit of a misconception about what missionary work is.  I'll admit that prior to coming on a mission, I held the same misconception.  That is that a missionary's call is to find.  That is not really the case. Our call is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel.  The time of a missionary is best spent with investigators and teaching them about the gospel.  We can knock on doors and talk to every person we meet for hours of the day, and end up with only a handful of phone numbers of which only a few end with appointments.  Ideally, members of the ward can begin to share and see which of their friends or family are ready and willing to hear the gospel.  I encourage all of you to seek for the opportunity to share your faith in this gospel and to help prepare or discover whom among the people you know have been prepared by the Lord.

3 Nephi 2:1

"And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts,and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen-"

My goal for 2014 is to be able to recognize the miracles of the Lord.  I think to many times I write things off as coincidence or luck.  I want to be able to recognize. appreciate and thank the Lord for the miracles He puts in my life.  To track this goal, I will have a journal completely dedicated to writing down the miracles I see or experience.  I hope that by the end of the year it is a completed journal and maybe even have a second or third one done as well.

I encourage all of you to make a goal for yourself that will help bring you closer to the Lord.  

I want to thank everyone for there love and support.

Sister Hsu

P.S. 

We bought a small heater last week.  Yay!