NiHao, Wo Ci'Ai De JiaTing He PengYou!
This has been a busy and somewhat frustrating week for Elder Li and I, but we managed to have some fun highlights along the way.
Firstly, we were unable to get into contact with Rebecca, our current investigator, and because of that, unfortunately, had to drop her baptismal date. That was kind of a blow to me. Anyway later in the week we come to find out through members who've worked with her before that her husband attends a Catholic seminary, and should she or anyone else in her family be baptized into another church, the school will discontinue their support of their family. It very much helped my understanding and helped me to be much more patient and empathetic instead of angry and bitter, which I was feeling a bit toward the situation. We will continue to pray for her that eventually she will be baptized and become a member of this church. In the meantime, I'm learning to be content with the fact that Elder Li and I assisted the Lord in planting a very good seed!
We tried to contact Rebecca as part of a massive day we had in Chinatown on Wednesday. Because its pretty far by bus from where we live in Sunset, we really make a day out of going downtown, trying to contact and visit as many potentials and less-actives as we could. It was a lot of fun, and a very busy and tiring day. We are still on the lookout for a New Investigator, though, and pray we find one soon. Also, Elder Li, still learning how to get around on the bus, stayed on the bus at one point when I got off...I'm sure I gave everyone a good laugh as I sprinted down the streets of Chinatown after the bus in order to save my lost companion...I managed to keep up pretty good, though!
We have once again started a very good English class program in an effort to continue to find new investigators. Though only one student showed up, she really enjoyed our devised curriculum. It was a real answer to prayer.
We did have a very interesting contact yesterday, though. A homeless woman named Doris approached us yesterday, and explained that she had previously met with missionaries while she lived in Oregon, and through a dramatic set of circumstances moving to San Francisco, lost not only contact with the missionaries, but also her livelihood. She asked if we could give her a Book of Mormon, telling us that she had felt an emptiness in her life ever since she stopped reading it. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and through her tears, she asked us if it was too late. I was so grateful that I got to tell her that it's never too late, and that God loved her. This experience with her testified to me that both the comforting power of the Book of Mormon and the cleansing power of the Atonement. It became very real in my life as well s hers. I feel like God placed both Elder Li and I in her path last night to bring her some much needed comfort. I won't forget that night!
I also went on a great exchange with Elder Oliphant, one of our Zone Leaders. He taught me a lot about effective and diligent study,encouraging me to look for the "gems" of truth in every scripture I read, and search to capitalize on that "gem." It was fascinating! He also taught me a lot about persistence when it comes to finding. I hope to make some improvements in these areas!
Elder Li and I have been having a lot of fun in the kitchen lately. We've invented some cool recipes involving making soup out of Hot Pot mix. We call it "Pasta Pot!" Its basically the much more classy Chinese missionary version to Mac-n-Cheese. It's a keeper for sure.
I want to share with you all the same thing I did with Doris: God loves you, and it's NEVER TOO LATE! Have a fantastic week!
Love,
Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)
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