大家好！
Highlites:
-Got to utilize my comps newly bought guitar ;)
-6 week follow up went awesome! Reunited with the 朋友s again :)
-BEN GOT BAPTIZED!!
-Preparing for the insanity of Chinese New Year!!!
READ THIS PART■ Ben's story! ■
Ben has been meeting with missionaries for almost 6 years. God has been preparing him for a very, very long time :) The reason he was never baptized in the past is because he could never fully quit smoking. Addiction is real, and it is incredibly difficult to overcome--despite this truth, The Atonement of Jesus Christ is just as real and even more powerful! 3 months ago, Ben was able to quit smoking for good. Every week we met with him, he looked so much happier! His fingernails used to be yellow--I'll never forget the week when he showed us that they were starting to grow back healthy again! Ben is an incredible example to me of sacrifice and giving everything we have to the Savior. We are so happy to have him join us on the covenant path!!
■ Spiritual experience ■
This week a friend of mine from home unexpectedly passed away. My heart dropped when I heard the news. The night before I heard, there was an earthquake that happened during the night. This is truly a testament to me of the mourning that occurs in Heaven when a life is ended prematurely. It reminded me of what happened in the Americas right after the Savior was Crucified:
3 Nephi 8:6
"And there was also a great tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divine asunder"
The earthquake here wasn't anything crazy, but I feel so strongly that God was truly mourning the death of my friend. I've never felt so strongly that my Father in Heaven knew Cameron, and knows every single person that was effected by his death. I truly felt in my heart the love that God has for all of them. Its incredible how tender closeness with the veil allows us to feel a special tender love from our Father in Heaven. My testimony of the Plan of Salvation is sure. We will see our loved ones again--I know that without a doubt! I am so incredibly grateful for the chance that I have to teach people the Plan of Salvation. It is one of the most important pieces of knowledge that I have in this life! To all those affected by Cameron's passing, please know that I am praying for all of you every day!
■ Some thoughts on the Atonement ■
Life is hard. Life is heavy, at times. My life on the mission is incredibly exhausting, and I sometimes find myself asking my Heavenly Father for rest. For a break. I was reminded of something very important in our 6 week follow up meeting this week: we are not the first ones to have asked that question.
D&C 19:18
"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink--"
Matthew 26:39 -->
"...O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt"
As His disciples, we must follow in His path. When we are challenged, put under pressure, experience pain and sorrow, we are suffering a small part of what Jesus Christ experienced during that sacred prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. How else are we supposed to become more like Him?
"There was no other way--
It is the same for us." (Elder Holland)
The Lord is truly more interested in our growth than in our comfort. Don't give up! Challenges are a time for us to come to know our Savior on a deep and personal level. Allow His infinite goodness to have a profound effect on your life.
繼續加油！新年快樂：）(Keep up the good work! Happy New Year!)
再見
Sister 吳ardle
Pictures: Martty, Ben's baptism, 6 week Greenie Check up with the 朋友's
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️Rationalization
