This week was absolutely FULL of
miracles, and we were definitely keeping busy! Thank you so much to
everyone who is praying for the missionaries, I can testify that prayers
absolutely make a difference and have been answered this week! We saw
so many miracles that prove to me that no matter who we are, or where we
are, God is watching over us.
But before I get
into the miracles, let's talk about the fun stuff! As we were making
our way up to Hualian last night on the train, it started feeling a
little shaky. We just assumed it was the train, and after a second, it
stopped. I also got a notification on my phone for something, but it was
in Chinese, so there was no way I was going to be able to read that!
Haha, but when we got to the apartment in Hualian, things started
shaking again, and we didn't know what to do! It turns out right off the
coast of Taiwan was a 5.8 earthquake! We were a little spooked, I have
never taken any earthquake safety trainings! We were fine (really, mom!
We are OK!), it was just a fun little experience for me! So, not to brag
or anything, but I was in an earthquake last night.
But more than just the miracle of surviving last night, we also had some AMAZING miracles in our missionary work! This
last Thursday, we had a member who lives in Hualian tell one of the
members who lives in FengLin that she wanted to come down and proselyte
with us one day. She used to live in a part of our area, and because a
lot of our area is aborigines, a lot of them are relatives! So, she came
down on Thursday, and we sat down and taught a lesson to her younger
sister and a couple of their friends, and they are all pretty
interested! Then, after the lesson, she stands up, and starts taking us
down the street. She took us up the street, and we started talking to
some of her other relatives. After talking to a couple people, and going
between a couple houses, I asked her if all these people were her
relatives, and she said "No, I don't know these people!" She was
literally just knocking doors with us! It was so cool! We got 3 new
investigators that day, and 3 families set up for us to come back! We
ended up with 6 new investigators! It was so awesome!
Also,
the next day, Friday, as we were still cooling down from that miracle,
we were sitting down to do language study in a 7-Eleven, when one of our
friends came in. He came over and started talking to us, and we talked
about some questions he had about the Book of Mormon. As we were
answering his question, another guy walks into the 7-Eleven, and my
companion waved at him. The guy was surprised that we were talking to
him, but he was interested in talking, andwe started a conversation. It
turns out this guy was from Mainland China! When he recognized us as
missionaries, he told us he wanted us to "preach" to him! He then told
us to wait, and a minute later he came back in with a couple of his
other friends, who were all on a bike tour of Taiwan. They sat down, and
Elder Church and I ended up teaching parts of all the missionary
lessons to them. They also wanted to read the BofM, so we went over to
our chapel and grabbed about 6. They were all very curious, so we ended
up handing out all of them! We also referred them to the website Mormons and China, where they can learn more! We ended up being in that 7-Eleven for two hours talking to them about the church! It was so cool!
There
were so many other truly amazing miracles this week with our
investigators and our missionary work that I want to share so badly, but
I'm also aware that this email has come to the length of a short novel,
and so I won't continue to drone on! But I do want to share quickly my
testimony of my Savior, and His role in each of our lives, and the lives
of our families. I think one of the mistakes (the many many mistakes) I
made before my mission, was not spending time with my family, and not
cherishing the time I had with them. But being on a mission, and not
getting to see my family every day, has taught me so much about how
important they really are. I remember in High School, I spent so much
time trying to find happiness, to find peace, but at the same time
pushing away the people and the place where those things can be the most
strongly felt. Everyone wants to feel like they belong, like they have
someone that loves them, like they're home. And God, knowing this, gave
us a way to feel that sense of belonging. Families are central to God's
plan, and He wants our families to be happy. He gave us a plan that
would allow our families to be together, not only for this life, but
forever. That would allow us, even in the trials of life, to maintain
strong and hopeful. Every family is different, and every family has its
own trials, but no matter what kind of family we have, or what has
happened in or to our families, it is never to late to allow the Savior
into our home, and feel the strength and the love that He provides. We
are sons and daughters of God, and we are all brothers and sisters. God
loves us so much, and shows us through the simple blessings and miracles
He gives us every day. And all He asks is that we show that same love
to those around us, and especially the ones closest to us. I love my
family, and am so grateful for their patience, and the love they have
shown me. I am grateful for an Older Brother, who loved me enough to
sacrifice His life, and suffer pain unimaginable, for me. I am grateful
for a Father, who loved me enough, to provide a way for me to return
home to Him. And I love my family here on Earth, who have helped me
through the struggles of life.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Shope
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