Xinzhu # 38

Happy Birthday to Jesse, and Jason :) Old Men!! :P Yeah I forgot to tell you something last week... Elder Jeffery R. Holland came to our mission this week, and we were spiritually feasting for two hours with him on Saturday night. My heart is so full, and I feel that the experience this week will be a major changing point in my mission. Here are some things that were awesome from Elder Holland's talk: · “We only send the world’s best to Taiwan.” · In 24 months of his mission, everything was “turned upside down—or right side up” and he said, “I want that for you.” · “Don’t you ever leave anything to carry off the field.” · “We didn’t get up this morning and decide to come here and share a fairy tale.” · “I want you for the rest of your life to feel like I did about my mission.” · “This is real life. You will never come closer to real life than right here.” · “Everything you want for your investigators, He wants for you.” · “A ‘Preach My Gospel’ missionary is so in tune with the Spirit they can teach what they need to teach…” · “’Preach My Gospel’ says missionaries are to go to the people. We are going to find them where they are and take them from the Sacred Grove to the Garden of Gethsemane.” · “I think this [Taiwan Taipei] mission is poised for the hastening of the work.” · “Why is this so hard?….Because salvation is not a cheap experience.” · “God never intended a mission to be easy.” · “It cannot be easy for you because it was never easy for Him.” · “A little bit of your mission must be spent lugging a cross.” · “The road to salvation goes through the Garden of Gethsemane.” · “Don’t think you’re going to have a picnic in Taiwan.” · “You have to sign on for the whole experience.” · “Don’t spend time wondering why your mission is hard.” · “You are being shaped and molded into disciples of Christ.” · “Difficulties will make you more like the Son of God.” · “Your family has you on a pedestal.” · “Everyone wants their children to grow up and be just like you.” I want to share with you my Thursday night journal entry: "Right before I was going to bed, I had a lot of stress and was really distraught about the current state of our are, and I was sad. Then I saw my scriptures, I grabbed them and said a little prayer in my heart to bring some comfort to me, and then I opened them. My eyes fell upon D&C 111:7, which reads, "Tarry in this place, and in the regions round about;" I read this verse, and I was so full of gratitude, and peace as I pondered on the people that I have met and the experiences I have had. I read on: "And the place where it is my will that you should tarry, for the main, shall be signalized unto you by the peace and power of my Spirit, that shall flow unto you. This place you may obtain by hire. And inquire diligently... For there are more treasures than one for you in this city. Therefore, be ye as wise as serpents and yet without sin; and I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to receive them. Amen." I was so comforted to see this and I am really so excited, that as I heed to the admonition of the Lord through my personal revelation, and obtain by my own hire, the signalization by the peace and power of the His Spirit, the main, why I should tarry here. I know that to do that I must be without sin, I have lots of repentance, and need to continually use the resources that the Lord has given me to do that. To listen very carefully to the Spirit, and obey. I am so blessed to be here, and although it is really tough right now, I just want to tell you that I am all in. "I signed on for the whole experience", and I will "tarry in this place." I will do all that I must to go to my investigators, and walk the path through Gethsemane, up to Calvary. I will go to them. I will not make them come to me. I want to testify as a representative of Jesus Christ, that I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that it testifies of the Savior of the World, and that there is so much in this world that our Father in Heaven has given us to learn from. We have our trials, and we have the tools and resources necessary to have hope and peace in this life if we have faith, and act. I know that those who heed to the teachings of the prophets in the scriptures, and the Word of God speaks to our souls, and brings more strength than anything else in our lives, and on our paths back to our heavenly home. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of our souls, and He calls to us, "Come follow me". He has promised us that if we come follow him the Father will give us the Spirit to guide us in all that we do. Go and Do. Have faith and see the miracles come in your lives. Share the blessings of the Gospel with your friends, family, and make new friends to share it with!! Remember that you are also a representative of Jesus Christ. Hurrah for Israel!! Love, Elder Westover