你们好！你们怎么样？想港是很好！我很爱你们！
This week was great. The question that I asked myself this week is an interesting one. The question was, "Do I want to be known as a cool missionary or as a missionary who worked hard and served the best he could?" I believe that for the most part people think that I am "cool" or "fun". But I have realized lately that this isn't why I came on a mission. I came to be a servant of the Lord and do his work and therefore I need to be better than what I have been aspiring to previously. I do have a goal to never have a companion/anyone I know dislike me while I am on my mission. I believe that is a worthy goal. But I also have realized recently that I need to try harder to do the work. I'm not lazy but I don't put all my effort in. I guess the test of my character will be if I actually do it now that I recognize it.
I learned some great things during zone meeting this week. The Jinxin sisters did a great job on presenting about studies. An area that I struggle in. I learned some things that I definitely want to apply in my studies. The main thing being that I need to pray about and really ponder what I want to study for the day and then pursue that direction. Most of the time it feels like my studies are very "sui bian" which sometimes has proved very beneficial. But I also understand that having a direction will help me focus quicker which will help me a lot.
Went on exchanges with Elder Chen in xindian this week. We had a wonderful lesson with a college student named J-----. He has so much potential and will be challenged to baptism next week!
I've been in a bit of a funk lately when it concerns this amazing area of Ankang. We have just not found anyone really good for quite a long time. Since the first few weeks I arrived here to be precise. All of our other investigators are super willing to meet with us but not willing to make any commitments. I don't really know what to do about it. Contacting is nearly impossible because there are just not that many people on the streets. Our ward is very small and the members all seem so busy and inconvenienced if we ask them to help. On the bright side of things I do see the success of this area happening. I just really want to know what I can do to help it happen. I'm excited for this next transfer and the challenge it will bring us.
Elder Hales said something during conference that had a big impact on me. He said, "What is said is not necessarily as important as what I hear and feel." I know this needs to be true with missionary work. Because our Chinese is super kelian and we're not amazing teachers we need to rely on the Spirit to communicate to investigators hearts what our message is. Easier said than done in my experience out here. Learning how to use the Spirit has definitely been a challenge for me but hopefully I am still learning how...
We invited W-- D------ last night to be baptized and he respectfully declined our invitation. He informed us that he loves reading the Book of Mormon and finds things in it everyday that he can do to better his life but cannot believe in a God. He has seen for years the hypocrisy of his religious family members and friends and this has led him to a belief that religion is not where he wants to focus his life. He is a great man though. He has strengthened my testimony through his study of the Book of Mormon and will continue to bless my life as we continue to meet with him.
Conference was an amazing experience. Before my mission I never realized how incredibly important conference actually is. :P I took notes incessantly and felt like I received a lot of answers to questions I had been pondering. I invite you to listen to the counsel of Elder Nielson and specifically pray for 1 person to come unto Christ. A person you could pray for is a Brother Z-----. He is a father who is currently in the process of meeting with us missionaries. He's close to baptism but has not quite developed a testimony of the prophets. :)
Love you all and I'm super jealous you are on a cruise without me. ;)
Elder Meeks
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