Chi Dao BAO

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Sorry, I just have run out of Chinese greetings, and I get the feeling not too many people are reading my emails, so I was trying to spice things up, make it sound exciting. Because MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST! (Cool, now I have an exciting statement in bold, keeping up the excitement) This week has been super fun! Elder Kimmel, the WanDa sisters and I are all working on a strategy to update the ward list and do missionary work AT THE SAME TIME! It's more exciting than it sounds. Or maybe it's not, and I'm just desperate. Who knows.

So, we have been fed about 4 times this week, and 3 of them were at these lovely places called "Chi Dao Bao"s, which translates to "Eat until Full". Chi dao baos are huge here, the people love them. So Monday, we went to a Chi dao Bao for P-Day, and it was pretty nice. THEN, Tuesday, we had another ward member, who just got a job, take us to a Chi dao Bao! And it was THE MOST expensive place I have eaten at since getting here. When we got there, he's like "OK, we have 3 hours here! Let's get started!" and Elder Kimmel and I just looked at each other. Our dinners are never supposed to go over an hour. On top of that, it was 6:30, it took us a half an hour to get to the restaurant, and we had an appointment at 8. But the member had spent so much money for us to eat there, and he was so excited, we felt so bad. So we decided to spend an hour an a half there, and then come home. We had to call and change our appointment, which our investigator said was fine, and then we ate so much food. So much food. So many Chi dao Bao's... I'm never going to eat again. 

But not only am I full of food, (wait for it) I'm also full of the Spirit! (Boom, best segway ever.) A mission is so amazing, because you get to watch people grow, and feel the joy that this gospel brings. As they learn about our Father in Heaven, about Jesus Christ, about eternal families, they are filled with hope, and that is the best feeling in the world. And I know that through this Gospel, we can all find that same happiness. This message is one of hope, and of peace. We can look forward, and find comfort, because we know our destination. The road will still be rough, and we will still stumble and fall, but because of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to get back up, and keep going. Because of Christ, because of His Atoning Sacrifice, it doesn't matter what we've done, who we are, or where we stand, because we can still move forward. Heavenly Father just asks that we try, that every time we fall, we stand up, dust ourselves off, and keep pushing forward. I am so grateful that every time I make a mistake, every time I mess up, I can be forgiven. More than anything, I am grateful for my older brother, Jesus Christ, who was willing to take my pains, my anguish, and suffer for them, so I don't have to. Sometimes we feel like we are not worthy of forgiveness, but I can bear personal witness that it doesn't matter how far we've fallen, how low we've gone, our Savior was willing to go lower. I know that He knows us, that He knows me personally, and that I can rely so completely on Him, because He will never leave me comfortless. This Gospel gives me hope, I know where I'm going, and that where I am is not where I have to stay. I love you all, and more importantly, Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love you.

Love,

Elder Shope