Sup ya'll,
This was a good week. I really enjoyed the specialized training that was given on Thursday. My favorite thing that I learned there was the doing temple work for our dead is no different then doing missionary work. Those of our ancestors who have died have been being taught they gospel or they haven't yet and we are kind of like the referral system or the missionary that baptizes the golden investigator. Either way it is pretty cool to think about. I am going to start teaching the members about this principle and I think it will be really effective in helping us obtain more referrals from the members.
This week I have tried to focus on gratitude. I have realized the Jesus Christ is the best example of gratitude. When he visited the Nephites he prayed so many times in gratitude to his Heavenly Father. Just think if we prayed like that on a daily basis. I have recently tried to have a prayer in my heart more often. My favorite time for this is riding bikes between appointments or on our way to finding activities. I have had said some of the most heartfelt prayers of my life while riding my bicycle in the busy streets of Taiwan. I have also had incredible spiritual promptings while doing so. We really can pray anytime and anywhere.
Elder Norris and I have recently been discussing how to help our area really start to take off. We have also decided that we have too many investigators that for one reason or another are just not progressing. They have been invited to baptism and because of reservations or lack of faith are not willing at this time to make the commitment. We have decided that our first step in helping the area improve is to find a new investigator pool. This is going to be our focus in the coming weeks. We know that it will be hard not meeting with some of our normal investigators as often but it is important that we help find some others who are willing to progress at this time.
Our closest investigator to baptism is Z----- D------. He has been in Africa for the past few weeks so we haven't been able to meet very often but he just got back. His reservation is that he doesn't believe that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of the church. Our focus in the next few visits with him is to relate modern day revelation to ancient prophets and also help him develop a testimony of Joseph Smith. Z----- D---- believes the BOM is true but has not yet made the connection between that and Joseph Smith's calling as a prophet of God. We are excited to help him along this process!
We received a referral from a member for a family that lives next door from him. This will be the first family that I have taught since coming here to Ankang and I am incredibly stoked about it. We invited this recent convert to write his testimony in the front of a Book of Mormon and then pray and ponder about who he could give it to and this is who he said was ready. They are willing to meet and he will help us Peike!!! Woohoo!
I had a dream last night about myself contacting on the street (I dream in Chinese now, it's super legit). I was using the Book of Mormon in every contact and sharing scripture with nearly every person that I met. My dream also kept flashing back to personal study and I was sharing the things that I studied in personal study with people. I don't think this is coincidence. I believe I really need to start doing this. In my dream it was incredibly successful and even if people weren't interested they seemed appreciative of it so I'm really excited to start putting this into play. I'm excited to see the success that comes from it.
Charity is the essence of missionary work. We have to have charity towards every person we talk to and meet. It is so important. I have made a goal to pray for charity in every prayer that I say.
Cool thing that happened this week. My companion and I were both invited officially to be in the traveling Christmas choir. We start practices today and will be traveling all throughout the month of Nov. and Dec. It will be super cool because I get to see every area in Taiwan! I'm really excited to use all that music that you sent me mom! Thanks!
I've realized that my letters are super long usually... I can write shorter letters if I am being long winded hahaha.
I've lost weight recently. Mainly do to eating a lot less food. It's amazing if you just stop eating so much you lose weight. Pretty awesome if you ask me. :) Why can't everyone do this? haha
Anyway I know that missionary opportunities are just waiting for ya'll. Just open your mouth and ask. You won't offend people. It's an exciting time in the this dispensation. The Lord is preparing so many people.
Love ya'll and as my dad says keep smiling,
Elder Meeks
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