1/11/2015 - Baptism Week

Hey ya'll! 

What a wonderful week it was for the Jinhua elders!!! The highlight of the week most definitely being our investigator Brother Wu getting baptized. He is such a great person who developed his faith in Christ in such a short period of time. He was definitely one of those people who the Lord had prepared for us. His girlfriend had already been having him attend church with her in Taizhong for the past few months. He works up here in Taibei and she decided one day to give the missionaries his information. Those missionaries being us! We set up with him and shared the lessons in about two weeks. He already followed all of the commandments because his girlfriend had taught them to him and he felt like they were super meaningful. He was totally willing to read the Book of Mormon everyday and finds that when he reads it he thinks clearer and his work days go smoother. He has really FELT the gospel influence his life personally. His testimony at the baptism and in sacrament meeting was super powerful. He expressed his desire to continue to develop a relationship with God and have His help with him at all times. I'm very grateful my companion and I had he opportunity to teach him. He really has reaffirmed to me that the Lord really is the one behind the work and we are just His tools. I hope I can continue to be one of his servants and in the last three months of my mission continue to help those who really need it. 

Paul is progressing faster and faster. He is reading a chapter in the Book of Mormon everyday and last week made the decision he needs to stop drinking. It will be really hard for him because his work basically is entertaining rich clients for his company which almost always has drinking involved. He is developing his faith slowly but surely. He feels the power of the scriptures and the power of living a gospel centered life. It is so cool to see such an intelligent man like him understand the temporal benefits of living the gospel. He really believes that by doing it he will see blessings economically, physically, and spiritually. He also really believes he will be able to help his family out a lot more. 

We met some new investigators this week and we are going to start working with them a lot more closely and hopefully be able to help them start to develop their faith. We are also really striving to reach the mission vision of 5 RCLA 5 Member Visits and 5 Book of Mormons handed out during the week. I really believe we can do it we just need to concentrate our efforts a little more and try a little harder. I really have faith the vision is what we need to keep and I believe the Lord will help us do it. 

My comp and I were both sick for a couple of days this week which was a little miserable but I really had a great time reading The teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. At first I started reading it just because it was in Chinese and I wanted something new to read but now I am absolutely absorbed in it. I have read about the first 150 pages already and have learned so many things that I need to do to improve my life. It is amazing how the words of the living prophets really outline the way we need to live our lives in order to be the most happy and have the most peace in our hearts. I have already seen a huge difference in myself. I also have made a goal to read through Prophet and apostle's talks in the most current General Conference issue every week which equals reading three talks a day. The reason we have General Conference is so we can know God's will. If His prophet and apostles tell us to do something we should do it. So as I'm going through I'm marking each invite that is given and at the end of the week I'll write them all down in a book and see what the similarities are and how I can apply them into my life. This is actually a goal that I want for the rest of my life. I am already loving it and have really seen differences in my ability to feel the Spirit and receive personal revelation. 

I was pondering about what becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ entails and how to become a more dedicated servant of Christ and as I was pondering all of these movies, tv shows, and youtube channels that I love watching kept popping into my head and I was super confused why. As I continued to think about it I realized that these are the things that are preventing me from becoming a more dedicated servant of Christ. All of these things are incredibly entertaining and I find it really fun participating in them but how does that show that I am a witness of Christ at all times, in all things, and in all places? It doesn't. So the big QUESTION is, How do I change these habits? I guess not necessarily even bad habits they are just useless ones. I think one of the problems with the programs I like watching is that it is just frivolous and meaningless. Also it is just an escape from "real" life. I just need to find a different outlet when I get back. I'm hoping to spend more time in racquetball and lifting. I also am going to be really dedicated in my studies. I really believe if I can avoid some of those old technology habits my spirituality will be able to remain intact and I can continue to develop my testimony just the same as I am on my mission. 

Here are some of my goals for 2015

• No candy
• No soda
• Get a 4.0 
• Apply for scholarships
• Study my can off for the Foreign Service Officer exam
• Study Chinese everyday! No matter what! 
• Attend the temple twice a week (hopefully with friends and family)
• Diligently pray to find a worthy, beautiful, loving wife who will put up with me.
• Continue to strive to be a master of my thoughts, words and actions
• Find wholesome and meaningful service opportunities to participate in. 
• Last but not least prepare and train for a marathon and in the process lose 20 lbs. :) 

I CAN DO IT!!!

Love ya all and have a great week! 

Elder Meeks

YO! Awesome week! Brother Wu got baptized! 

I made the news. ha They wanted us to do a bit on the english class and I got volunteered to do it ha. It was a cool opportunity to testify about the church for thousands of people to hear. They asked me what the purpose of English class was and I said it had two purposes, the main one being to give people an opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ and the Second learn English from native speakers. :) I thought I was pretty clever hahaha.