Before
we begin the regularly scheduled service, I'd like to first make you
all aware of a little activity that you should absolutely, 100%, do
everything in your power as a sentient being to completely avoid if at
all possible: and that is to bike at night, through dark woods, with no
lights, in the most isolated area in your mission area. I do not
recommend it, I do not condone it, I do not even like to think about it.
But last Saturday night, we had to go visit our Group Leader to do a
coordination meeting, and he lives in this place called "ShanXing". It
is about a 25 minute bike ride through this forest-y area, and you cross
a bridge right before you get there. During the day, the ride is
beautiful, and the scenery is really nice. But BEWARE, if you choose to
make this fateful voyage at night, you may just, for a moment, enter....
the Twilight Zone.... It's spooky. But we go some cool pictures!
But
anyway, we return now to our regularly scheduled broadcast. This week
was amazing, FengLin just keeps finding more ways to be super awesome,
and we see miracles every day! This last Saturday, we were able to have a
baptism, and I was actually able to baptize him! It was an amazing
experience, and he gave an awesome testimony about repentance after he
was baptized! The Spirit of God was felt! Also, the chapel in FengLin is
finished, so we will start having church there this Sunday! I will add
pictures of it to the drive next week! It is going to be so great to
have a place for us to meet with investigators, and to hold church every
week! It will definitely help the work here, and help us feel more
established! ALSO, we met with a less active recent convert this week,
and he said he is willing to start coming to church and preparing for
the Melchizedek priesthood! The Lord is hastening the work in FengLin!
This
week we have had a lot of opportunities to talk to people about
restored truths! Restored truths are truths and principles that the
People of God knew before, that God revealed to and through prophets of
old, and then eventually were restored to our knowledge again, by God's
prophets on the Earth in these days. One of these restored truths is the
Plan of Salvation, God's Plan of Happiness and Salvation for His
children. It answers questions like: "Why are we here?", "Where did we
come from?", "Where are we going?". But it also answers the questions of
"Who are we?", "Why are we important?", "What is God's purpose?". The
Plan of Salvation is truly a comfort, and a blessing that gives our
lives meaning and purpose. I know that we have a Father in Heaven, that
we lived with Him before this life, and because we are His children,
because He loves us, He created this plan, that allowed us to become
like Him. I know that in this life, we have the opportunity to learn, to
grow, and to find joy. But because we are imperfect, because we are
still learning, we will make mistakes, and fall short of our potential.
But because of God's love for us, He provided us a Savior, someone who
could suffer the punishment and penalty of our sins, and give us a way
to overcome them. And through our repentance, through following Jesus
Christ, we can truly find joy, and we can become like our Perfect Father
in Heaven!
I love you all, and I know this
church is true! I know that God has restored these truths for the
benefit and growth of His children! Until we meet again, in 1 week's
time.
Love,
Elder Shope
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