Sisters for Zone Scramble!!!
With Sister Belnap
With my companion, Sister Watterson
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Ultimate Miracle
I had a little bit of extra computer time because as a part of my departure procedure I was asked to write a miracle story from my mission. Sorry I don't have much of an update from this week because I spent all my time writing the story, but I hope that this story is meaningful and inspiring. It sure was a huge testimony to me.
Lin Jiemei's conversion story is the most miraculous I've witnessed on my mission. We met her at her son's baptism. She was already Christian and since she had just moved into the San Min area she was looking for a church to attend. She welcomed our invitation to come to church but was pretty insistent that she wouldn't get baptized because she already was! As we kept talking with her she told us that she had cancer so she felt sick a lot of the time and she wouldn't be able to come to church every week. But she was willing to have us come visit when she was feeling well. We set up with her and started teaching her the Restored Gospel.
Lin Jiemei already understood a lot of the principles we taught because of her strong Christian background but still kept getting caught on the question of why she had to get baptized all over again. We had already taught the first lesson, but it didn't seem to click. She also struggled with some of the commandments, not because she wasn't willing to keep them, but because she was worried of committing in case for any little reason she had to make an exception. She just kept finding all these unrealistic "What if?"s and we didn't know how to help her not be afraid to commit. But we knew she was sincere in her desire to learn because of the way she prayed. Because of her health situation she had a really tender heart and often would plead in tears for Heavenly Father's help, to feel His love and to have ti2 li4.
Our District and Zone Leaders all knew about her and her situation, and one night as we we were discussing with our District Leader how Lin Jiemei didn't understand why she had to get baptized again, he said that the Zone Leaders had advised to teach about the Great Apostacy again. My companion and I got the same impression the day before so we knew that's what she needed. As we re-taught her the Great Apostacy she finally understood why she needed to be re-baptized. The problem then was finding a time her health would be good enough and she would have enough strength, since she was undergoing chemotherapy. She chose a particular weekend that was far enough after her next treatment that she should be recovered enough and committed to that date.
As her date came closer and closer she was progressing a lot but was still struggling to commit to the commandments do to all the "What if?"s she could think of. We were trying so hard to help resolve her concerns but she'd always come up with more. I felt like she wouldn't be completely ready to meet her baptismal goal because of this little bit of heard-heartedness, but my companion kept reassuring me that whenever she prayed she felt we needed to all we could to help Lin Jiemei meet that date. Frankly I didn't see how it could happen that fast and I seriously didn't want to baptize someone that wasn't ready yet! I told Sister Gibson how I really felt and what I knew from my "experience." I remember clearly stopping my bike, turning to her and saying, "I've seen a lot of baptisms and I know there's A LOT that still needs to happen between now and her baptism in 2 weeks. She's not converted yet." Sister Gibson responded, "I know.... but I can't deny the impressions I've gotten in my prayers to help her meet that date." Humbled by my trainee's response I felt I needed to trust those impressions too, even though I still felt uneasy about it. "Ok, then lets start thinking about how we can help her meet her goal instead of thinking of how she can't." As we kept talking we felt we needed to teach her about personal revelation and how the prophets teach the commandments, but through prayer the Holy Ghost can help us understand how to apply them in our own personal situations. To our surprise, after we taught that lesson she never had another problem with the commandments!
Suddenly Lin Jiemei's health took a turn for the worse and her chemotherapy schedule got changed meaning she was scheduled for chemotherapy 3 days before her baptism. I could hardly believe her change of heart over those few days. She was even more humble and really desired to have the blessings of baptism. Both Sister Gibson finally felt she was ready and couldn't believe just a week before we had had the conversation that she wasn't ready yet. It was truly a miracle that the Holy Ghost was able to change her heart in a matter of days. We knew we had to get her in a baptismal interview before her treatments so that as soon as she was feeling well enough she could get baptized.
After her first interview we found out she needed a second, but there was a possibility she was going into chemotherapy the next day. We were all on edge of what would happen and if she'd be able to meet her goal.
kai gong zuo." Finally we got it worked out and when I visited her she said she could do her second interview the next day. Wednesday morning President Chen interviewed her and she passed no problem. The amazing thing was that President Chen was a survivor of the same kind of cancer she had so he was able to comfort and encourage her a lot. He also gave her a tender Priesthood Blessing. President Chen then turned to Sister Gibson and I and gave us specific instructions that we were not to ask her about when she would get baptized, but that when she felt well enough, she would tell us. We were a little bit nervous about that, but trusted President Chen's counsel.
We went back 2 days later and knowing we couldn't bring up the subject of her baptismal date ourselves we read a scripture that Sister Gibson had felt impressed to share. To our amazement she said, "You know, I've been thinking that I'm well enough to get baptized tomorrow." She then explained how that whole week she had been feeling better than she had ever felt the whole time she had been struggling with cancer and said, "I think that's the Holy Ghost telling me I need to get baptized." When Sister Gibson and I left the lesson we immediately offered a heartfelt prayer of gratitude that the Lord had led both us and her through through the Spirit to make things work out the way they did. It was almost too miraculous to believe.
We called the Bishop (who was aware of the whole situation) and he arranged the baptismal service for the next day. It was a really moving experience to see that even though her body was weak, her faith was strong and this baptism meant a lot to her. She wasn't scared of death anymore because she knew she had done what she needed to do.
She passed away a few months later, during my last move-call. Even though I was heart-broken when I heard of her death, I was filled with peace that we had been able to help her prepare for eternal life while she was still on this earth. I know the Plan of Salvation is true, and I can't wait to see my sister again in the Celestial Kingdom. Lin Jiemei's conversion was nothing short of a miracle.
I love you all!! See you soon!!
All my love,
Sister Morey
Lin Jiemei's conversion story is the most miraculous I've witnessed on my mission. We met her at her son's baptism. She was already Christian and since she had just moved into the San Min area she was looking for a church to attend. She welcomed our invitation to come to church but was pretty insistent that she wouldn't get baptized because she already was! As we kept talking with her she told us that she had cancer so she felt sick a lot of the time and she wouldn't be able to come to church every week. But she was willing to have us come visit when she was feeling well. We set up with her and started teaching her the Restored Gospel.
Lin Jiemei already understood a lot of the principles we taught because of her strong Christian background but still kept getting caught on the question of why she had to get baptized all over again. We had already taught the first lesson, but it didn't seem to click. She also struggled with some of the commandments, not because she wasn't willing to keep them, but because she was worried of committing in case for any little reason she had to make an exception. She just kept finding all these unrealistic "What if?"s and we didn't know how to help her not be afraid to commit. But we knew she was sincere in her desire to learn because of the way she prayed. Because of her health situation she had a really tender heart and often would plead in tears for Heavenly Father's help, to feel His love and to have ti2 li4.
Our District and Zone Leaders all knew about her and her situation, and one night as we we were discussing with our District Leader how Lin Jiemei didn't understand why she had to get baptized again, he said that the Zone Leaders had advised to teach about the Great Apostacy again. My companion and I got the same impression the day before so we knew that's what she needed. As we re-taught her the Great Apostacy she finally understood why she needed to be re-baptized. The problem then was finding a time her health would be good enough and she would have enough strength, since she was undergoing chemotherapy. She chose a particular weekend that was far enough after her next treatment that she should be recovered enough and committed to that date.
As her date came closer and closer she was progressing a lot but was still struggling to commit to the commandments do to all the "What if?"s she could think of. We were trying so hard to help resolve her concerns but she'd always come up with more. I felt like she wouldn't be completely ready to meet her baptismal goal because of this little bit of heard-heartedness, but my companion kept reassuring me that whenever she prayed she felt we needed to all we could to help Lin Jiemei meet that date. Frankly I didn't see how it could happen that fast and I seriously didn't want to baptize someone that wasn't ready yet! I told Sister Gibson how I really felt and what I knew from my "experience." I remember clearly stopping my bike, turning to her and saying, "I've seen a lot of baptisms and I know there's A LOT that still needs to happen between now and her baptism in 2 weeks. She's not converted yet." Sister Gibson responded, "I know.... but I can't deny the impressions I've gotten in my prayers to help her meet that date." Humbled by my trainee's response I felt I needed to trust those impressions too, even though I still felt uneasy about it. "Ok, then lets start thinking about how we can help her meet her goal instead of thinking of how she can't." As we kept talking we felt we needed to teach her about personal revelation and how the prophets teach the commandments, but through prayer the Holy Ghost can help us understand how to apply them in our own personal situations. To our surprise, after we taught that lesson she never had another problem with the commandments!
Suddenly Lin Jiemei's health took a turn for the worse and her chemotherapy schedule got changed meaning she was scheduled for chemotherapy 3 days before her baptism. I could hardly believe her change of heart over those few days. She was even more humble and really desired to have the blessings of baptism. Both Sister Gibson finally felt she was ready and couldn't believe just a week before we had had the conversation that she wasn't ready yet. It was truly a miracle that the Holy Ghost was able to change her heart in a matter of days. We knew we had to get her in a baptismal interview before her treatments so that as soon as she was feeling well enough she could get baptized.
After her first interview we found out she needed a second, but there was a possibility she was going into chemotherapy the next day. We were all on edge of what would happen and if she'd be able to meet her goal.
kai gong zuo." Finally we got it worked out and when I visited her she said she could do her second interview the next day. Wednesday morning President Chen interviewed her and she passed no problem. The amazing thing was that President Chen was a survivor of the same kind of cancer she had so he was able to comfort and encourage her a lot. He also gave her a tender Priesthood Blessing. President Chen then turned to Sister Gibson and I and gave us specific instructions that we were not to ask her about when she would get baptized, but that when she felt well enough, she would tell us. We were a little bit nervous about that, but trusted President Chen's counsel.
We went back 2 days later and knowing we couldn't bring up the subject of her baptismal date ourselves we read a scripture that Sister Gibson had felt impressed to share. To our amazement she said, "You know, I've been thinking that I'm well enough to get baptized tomorrow." She then explained how that whole week she had been feeling better than she had ever felt the whole time she had been struggling with cancer and said, "I think that's the Holy Ghost telling me I need to get baptized." When Sister Gibson and I left the lesson we immediately offered a heartfelt prayer of gratitude that the Lord had led both us and her through through the Spirit to make things work out the way they did. It was almost too miraculous to believe.
We called the Bishop (who was aware of the whole situation) and he arranged the baptismal service for the next day. It was a really moving experience to see that even though her body was weak, her faith was strong and this baptism meant a lot to her. She wasn't scared of death anymore because she knew she had done what she needed to do.
She passed away a few months later, during my last move-call. Even though I was heart-broken when I heard of her death, I was filled with peace that we had been able to help her prepare for eternal life while she was still on this earth. I know the Plan of Salvation is true, and I can't wait to see my sister again in the Celestial Kingdom. Lin Jiemei's conversion was nothing short of a miracle.
I love you all!! See you soon!!
All my love,
Sister Morey
Monday, March 12, 2012
Eternal Blessings
I just LOVE being a missionary! This week truly was such a joy as I was able to accompany the Peng family to the Temple for their sealing. Oh my goodness, what an incredible blessing!! I wrote a note to them especially thanking Sister Peng for all her love and service. It was the hardest time during my mission when I was serving in that area, but every time I met with them I had a different feeling, a glimpse of hope and joy. They were one of the families that made me want to push through all the toughest times, and it was all worth it! I remember watching Sister Peng in the sealing room as the sealer was giving them counsel and she was just nodding her head, taking it all very seriously. I could just see in her eyes her bright desire to establish a celestial home, and to have that tradition carry on throughout their posterity. I can't wait until their second baby comes, and when they both grow up and serve missions and have their own righteous families! Ah!! This gospel is so amazing, and it blesses families more than anything else can!
Another joy of the week was being able to teach so many wonderful investigators. I just love them so much, and they're progressing a ton! The Liang family, a member family's referral (Wu family), has been loving praying daily as a family and studying the scriptures sometimes with their neighbors, the Wu family. They also committed to live the Word of Wisdom. We had no idea Sister Liang has a smoking problem, but it was so tender to see her daughters' reactions as they said they'd help her quit. After the lesson I felt the need to give her a little more encouragement so as my dear companion was racing with the kids I shared a scripture with Sister Liang (2 Nephi 32:9) to help her know that she could overcome this temptation through prayer. She found hope in that and said she'd pray for the help! As Sister Watterson and I were saying goodbye to the Wu and Liang families to go home for the night I took each of the daughters individually into a hug, looked into their eyes and asked if they'd be willing to pray for their mom, and each of them said yes. That was also a tender moment, and I'm so grateful for their faith!
We also had an incredible member missionary work fireside last night for our ward. It's so crazy because the work has been exploding here! I remember when I got called with Sister Chu to open this area for sisters President Bishop gave me the mandate to help split the ward so they could get a new chapel (we're in a "da lou" right now). The ward has been growing since then, but I seriously can't believe the blessings that have come over the last 2 weeks as we've had an outpouring of member referrals and awesome investigators. Sister Watterson and I have a lot of work to do, as well as the 2 other sets of Elders that serve in this ward as well! President Bishop is such a visionary man to send so many missionaries here.
The fireside last night was so inspiring. There was a panel of ward members who had either been referrals themselves or who had provided referrals that became members of their ward. I was soooo touched by their stories and was given so much courage to keep working hard as a missionary, and then to be more like them when I go home and keep doing missionary work for the rest of my life! It was really special because He Jiemei (who just got baptized a month ago) and her daughter were on the panel, so I got to hear all the "inside" stories of how they felt throughout the conversion process. I just can't believe the Lord's work in each of their lives to prepare them, and then to send us Sisters to this ward just at the right time! I love them both so much, and they're both so faithful! Another one of my favorite parts was hearing Zhuang Jiemei's testimony. She's what we call the "Sister Missionaries' Best Friend" because she is willing to go with us to teach whenever we need someone, and she loves to provide referrals! Seriously, about 1/2 of the GangShan ward are her referrals! She shared her testimony about how we shouldn't be afraid to invite people to learn more because even though she's been turned down several times (and the member sitting right next to her on the panel had rejected her invitations for about a year!), she had still experienced a lot of joy because many of the people she invited DID accept the gospel! She said the first person she ever invited rejected her (and has for the past 7 years) and if she had become discouraged from that and got afraid to ever invite anyone again, she would have missed all the opportunities to help so many people--so we can't and must not get discouraged even when our first try turns us down! People will listen if we keep inviting. President Chen, the Second Counselor to President Bishop also came and spoke. She gave us sister missionaries a special assignment to sit down with Zhuang Jiemei and make a "family tree" of all the people she's helped to baptize and the people those people have brought into the church, and that he'd include it in the Liahona! It's going to be so amazing to put all of her missionary efforts into a visual, and it's true, the fruits of her labors have been great!!! AHHHall! We're actually working with one of Zhuang Jiemei's referral's referral. That's a special treat for us. Anyway, the members here are so amazing! A few came up to me afterwards and said they had a some people on their minds and they were excited to go home and act on the promptings they received. I was so touched by their faith, and the whole fireside just got me so pumped up to keep helping this ward! They're all such amazing members!
OK, so I could go on and on with how much fun we're having, how many miracles we're seeing and how much faith we get to witness... but the email time limit doesn't allow! Just know that this work is so amazing, especially to see the effects of your labors beyond the baptism. This gospel truly brings eternal blessings to all those who live and share it. Families can be sealed together forever. We can help our friends and family members receive the same eternal blessings we've received in our lives, which in turn brings even greater joy! "Behold, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God... And if ye should labor all your days and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy in the Kingdom of my Father!" If that's not real happiness, I don't know what is :) The gospel is real. The gospel is true! I love it with all my heart, and I'm going to work hard the rest of my life to help others be as happy as me through the gospel :)
I love each of you so much, Mom, Dad, Adam, Jake and Jordan. Just remember the importance of these things! Oh, I can't wait till I can share more of the blessings and miracles with you when I get home. But for now, just know that I love you with all my heart, and that I know that nothing but the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring true, lasting, eternal happiness.
All my love,
Sister Morey <3
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
So Many Miracles!!!
Wow, what a week!!! It was full of ups and downs and twists and turns and SO MANY MIRACLES!! I wish I could just jabber away and give you all the details of everything that happened, but you'll have to wait till I get home for that. But I am seriously just in awe at everything that happened in just 7 days! And Sister Watterson and I are just exhausted from working soooooo hard! But that's just the best feeling ever :)
So, the week started out with that crazy adventure of Sister Watterson and I getting lost on the train on the way back to our area, but we knew from that instant that this move-call was going to be full of adventures. :) That night we went to go visit one of our recent converts, XinYin (her and her dad got baptized in December) and the miracle there was that her older brother (who's about 13) prayed with us! Both of her older brothers completely ignore/disregard the missionaries presence, but this time he stayed and actually said the closing prayer! I was shocked and knew that Sister Waterson was sent to serve here in GangShan as my companion for a reason.
Later we had planned to go visit someone Sister Ju and I had met on the street a while back, but it was kinda crazy because somehow I felt really drawn to go visit a certain former that lived on a street near by. I had randomly (although not by chance!) found the record and noticed that the address was on the road we'd be traveling that night, so I took it with me, just in case, and when the time came, I just felt like that was where we needed to go. So, we found the house right away, pulled out the teaching record and reviewed her investigation of the church nearly 3 years ago. Turns out she's the mom of a returned missionary living in another ward and it was amazing that the lesson plan we came up with as we quickly discussed what we could share was exactly what she had been wondering about. The lesson was completely led by the Spirit as she opened up to us and asked a ton of questions about faith and how to understand answers to prayers. She was willing to start praying again and we were super excited to come back again to answer more of her questions. As we left, rushing to get home on time, Sister Watterson and I were BEAMING with so much happiness, gratitude and excitement that we were able to find her, answer her questions of the soul (or begin to) and we were, and still are, completely confident that she's going to be one of our strongest investigators and new members. We love her so much and we're going to help her make it all the way!!
So many other miracles happened as Sister Watterson and I were searching so hard for new investigators. One time I called the Assistants for an unrelated purpose, but Elder Peterson asked me how many baptisms we were planning on having that month and I jokingly, but in a longingly, hopeful voice said, "like five!" and then told him that actually, we were going to work as if it was another "goal of 10" month like Sister Brownell and I had last summer and saw so many miracles from it. Sister Watterson is so sweet. She could sense the longing in my voice and when I got off the phone she said, "Sister Morey, I want you to be able to have those baptisms. I know you've worked hard throughout your mission, and I want to help you find those people. We're going to find like crazy this week so we can have people prepared by the end of this month." Tears came to my eyes as I expressed my gratitude and said, "yes, I want to find them! Ok, we're going to work so hard!" And the Lord answered our prayers in miraculous ways this week as we found SO many new investigators... more than I think I ever have in my whole mission! I'll tell you about a few more of them.
There was a miracle last Sunday night as Sister Ju and I were leaving a member's house. They had just told us about a family down the street that they were hoping to invite to church and meet with the missionaries but they said it'd probably be a few weeks till we'd be able to meet them, BUT as we were leaving, it just so happened that the mom was outside and we set up to meet with her and her family right then and there! So, we came back on Thursday night and when we got there a little early Sister Watterson and I were chatting a little bit and I said,"this street just has a special feeling, doesn't it?" She agreed, and it was so crazy because the investigator mom was still busy when we got there so we decided to meet the neighbors, and we shared about the Book of Mormon with 2 of her neighbors, one of which was from China and said that she had just become Christian 6 months ago but still wasn't sure if it was the "right" church. When we shared with her Moroni 10:3-5 she immediately responded with, "hao, shi shi kan." We didn't even explain it and she already said herself that she'd try it! We were just blown away.
shu fu" so we promised they'd be able to have the same feelings if they said family prayer every day, which they agreed to do! We immediately knelt together to say the closing prayer and they all held hands. Their mom said a really sweet prayer, and when we invited them to church right afterwards they all got excited and said yes! They all agreed to baptism, too. Seriously, I have never seen a family respond with so much faith! And sure enough, they've been praying every day since, and even made the trek to Stake Conference this week! Ahhh! The Lord is helping us so much!!
OK, so I don't have time to tell you about the rest of them, but I'll just say that each one is just as much of a miracle, and there's SO many of them! We're sure going to be busy!
Of course with a mission comes the ups and downs, the joys and the deep sorrows. This week, although it was filled with countless joys, was also filled with one of the saddest moments. I got a call Tuesday night that one of my recent converts, Lin Jiemei, the one with cancer passed away. I was so sad and just started sobbing. I miss her so much, and I was going to have the opportunity to call her really soon, but then she was gone. I was so sad, but at the same time completely comforted in the fact that she had completed her life's mission and that she had had the gates of the Celestial Kingdom opened to her through baptism, and that Sister Gibson and I had been able to take part in that miracle before she passed away. The interesting thing was that I had just shared her miracle story with some members earlier that day. It was kind of a tender mercy because I got to "re-live" that miracle one more time before she left us. She will always be so dear to me, and I can't wait till I can see her again! I got to attend her funeral on Saturday morning and sang a solo verse in "Nearer My God To Thee." It was such a special experience.
The gospel and the Plan of Salvation are just so perfect. My testimony has been strengthened so much throughout my mission of these precious truths. I'm just so grateful that I've had this incredible opportunity to serve here and be on the front lines in witnessing these miracles. I love the gospel, I love the Lord and I love being a missionary, more than I can say!
I love each of you, so much, too!! Please know that I'm sending all my love in this email!
Your Sister and Daughter, Sister Morey :)
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