Well, I guess I have just become an old
missionary! I am currently in my 6th of 16 transfers, and I have just
become senior companion! I am "breaking" (as they say in Missionese), a
missionary that is fresh out of training! His name is Elder Church, and
he is a stud! He is from South Jordan, Utah, and likes to swim and learn
languages! He speaks pretty good Chinese, super good German, and a
little Arabic! He spent a year in Germany before coming on a mission, so
he's pretty fluent! Looks like the four years of German I didn't take
in High School are about to come in handy! Ich bin ein Mann!
As
part of our transfer, we also were told by our mission president that
we are going to only be in FengLin half the week now, and the other half
we will be in HuaLian. I'm excited for the change, and to learn another
area! Hopefully we can use our time effectively and continue to share
this joyful message with the people of Taiwan in 2 areas!
Miracles
have been abounding recently in FengLin, as we have been finding new
people to teach and helping those we are already teaching progress! One
came in the form of one of our investigators, Brother Sun, finally
really committing to what we are teaching him! He really wants to get
baptized, and he tells us a lot that he really wants to be a disciple of
Jesus Christ! And after sitting down with him last night, he told us he
was willing to make the changes necessary to get baptized, and have the
companionship of the Holy Ghost! We are so excited for him! FengLin is
an amazing place!
We also had a really cool
meeting with a new investigator, and during our lesson, he asked us a
really interesting question: Does God want us to have so many churches,
and to be confused? That question was super powerful to me, and
definitely an evidence of someone who is really looking for the truth.
In our world, there are a lot of churches, and although many of them
possess the same basic ideas, or even worship the same being, their
practices and teachings can have a lot of difference. The steps that are
required, the things that we need to do, differ based on where you look
and who you ask. And for those sincerely looking to find God, and His
truth, it can be very hard to discern what is from God, and what isn't.
It can be confusing, and lead to feeling lost, stressed, and sometimes
even angry. But God does not want us to be confused. He wants us to know
Him, He wants to help us, and He has given us a way to know His plan
for us. God gave His children prophets, anciently, to guide His
children, and help them know what they needed to do to feel joy in this
life, and be saved in the life to come. Prophets were evidence of God's
power and church on the earth. Their purpose was to help God's children
know who God is, and what that means for us. But people rejected the
prophets. They denied their authority and turned away. And they lost the
truth, they lost sight of who God was. It's a pattern that can be seen
throughout history. But, our Father in Heaven, in His infinite patience
and love, has given us another chance. Just like in ancient times, God
has called prophets today, to lead us through the darkness, through the
confusion, and to show us what He wants for us. He has restored His
authority and His truth, to the Earth. God has not abandoned us, He has
not left us alone. He loved us so much He gave us His Only Begotten Son,
that we could all find our way home to Him. He loves us so much He has
given us prophets, to guide us, and teach us how to use the gift His Son
gave us. He gives us prophets to show us where we need to look, to see
the light and feel the warmth of the Gospel. Prophets are a sign that
God has not left us to be confused. But God doesn't just want us to
blindly follow prophets, He wants to know for ourselves that what they
are saying is true. And through prayer, sincere prayer, with real
intent, a real desire to know and act on the answer we are given, God
will let us know that His truth really has been restored. I know that
God's church has been restored on the Earth, and that He doesn't want us
to be confused! Through my own prayers, my own experiences, I have
learned for myself that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
is the only completely true church on the Earth. And I don't want you to
just trust what I'm saying, I want you to ask our Father in Heaven for
yourself. And get your own answer from Him. I promise He will hear and
answer your prayers, and you will feel the love that He has for you as
His child.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Shope
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