Date
May 8, 2017
Area
Belmont MA
Companion
Elder Fisher
"Are you the IBM Team from the 90's?"
So this week was full of adventure and excitement, I'll try to summarize it as best I can. The above quote was said at costco, with the two of us in our short sleeved white shirts with name tags and glasses, so I guess we looked like that!
Monday:
Today after emailing we went grocery shopping and I ran into Sister Perry at Costco! (Someone I knew from years ago in New York). We chatted for a bit, so that was an unexpected and crazy coincidence! Then we got to walk around MIT for a bit. I went to the dome and looked around inside. It's a really cool place! After P-day, we went to Lexington and street contacted for a bit, which is one of our new favorite things to do, then we went knocking for a bit there, and met a super christian Chinese man, the most Christian one I've met so far, and talked to him for a while on his porch. He wasn't interested, but we had a good conversation.
Tuesday:
Today I had my first interview with President Miller. It was awesome. We talked about the doctrine of Christ, and how I thought I could apply it in my life, then we talked a lot about repentance, and learning to rely on the Lord to help us overcome any challenges. I learned that the Atonement and Christ don't just allow us to repent, but enable us to overcome challenges and hardships at any stage. At English class I was exhausted, but we were able to teach. It's really cool to be able to see how we're helping others right before my eyes, and to practice my Chinese. One funny thing was the students asked us the difference between 'much' and 'many' and at first we had no idea! Eventually another student figured out it was whether something can be counted or not (Ie: things vs. liquids or attributes). So I learned some English! Then we taught a Less-Active who hasn't been to church in like 60 years. We realized that even though she was baptized, she really didn't know anything about the church, so we taught her the restoration, and it was awesome!
Wednesday:
Today we taught a recent convert's wife for the first time. We taught the restoration and watched the video in Chinese. (It's kind of funny in Chinese). We extended a baptismal date and she accepted! Then we taught our recent convert Annie, and had a great lesson about always retaining a remission of our sins. Tonight we met a family who were impressed with our Chinese, and said they'd definitely come to church!
Thursday:
Today in weekly planning we realized we have 20 or so good potential investigators! that was exciting, even if we haven't had a new one yet. Then we tried to visit some members in Lexington with no success. Then more street contacting in Lexington! We met a woman who said meeting with us was fate, but wouldn't give us her phone number, but took a book of Mormon and said she'd call us.
Friday:
Today we got T-Texts! I'm going to be staying in Belmont with Elder Fischer for another transfer, but the other Elders we live with are both leaving, one to be a District leader in Westerly, Connecticut, the other to be our Zone Leader! We met with our recent convert Gao who just got a new job, but said it won't allow him to come to church! We were so sad, and encouraged him to try and come, or figure something out. Then we visited the family we met to tell them that we actually had a regional conference Sunday instead of normal church and invited them and they said they'd come.
Saturday:
Today we got up early and played soccer with some other Elders for exercize time. Today we basicaly explored our area, going places we'd never been before, and didn't find anyone, so today was kind of a miss.
Sunday:
Today we had the regional conference. We listened to the beginning in English, but the broadcast in Chinese. The family came! But we don't think they liked it too much. I didn't get much from the Chinese part, because I still don't understand that much. Tonight we talked with a woman for like 20 mins and gave her a Book of Mormon, she said she'd read it and try it out.
Basically this week we haven't had too many successes, but we keep working hard, and know that the Lord will bless us for our efforts! I hope you are all well!
Jia You!