LIFE IS GOOD!

 

Hello family and friends,

Life is good. This was another incredible week with so many miracles.

I got to go back to XinZhu, my first area, on exchanges with Elder Gray who is a Zone Leader there. It was super fun. I taught English Class and that was a blast! I haven't taught any English classes for about 6 months. Even better than teaching English was seeing lots of members that I haven't seen in over a year. Oh man I love these people. 

This week we had the new District Leader training meeting. We have about 10 new District Leaders. Being a District Leader is one of the coolest opportunities. I loved serving as a District Leader so I am so excited for these missionaries to have that opportunity to serve. President Jergensen shared a cool analogy of Peter sinking in the water when he was walking towards Jesus Christ. But he stressed to all of us that, "Christ will not let us sink. He will always be there if we only turn to Him." I love that. We all need to just humble ourselves and reach towards Christ. He will catch us! 

One other pretty cool thing going on in our mission right now is Temple Tours. We have 2 new Temple Tour Sisters and they are really advertising Temple Tours here at the chapel. Mormon.org is even going to make a video and do a fly-over the chapel. So that is pretty cool. Also, these 2 Sisters have iPads. So we've been using the 2 iPads to skype in missionaries on the East Coast to be a part of meetings. (Unless absolutely necessary missionaries serving on the East Coast don't come into Taipei because of the travel time.) 

Elder Huntsman and I have really been praying hard for our area. We really want to magnify our calling in our area. We saw some incredible miracles! This week when we were able to go out finding, we had baptism ingrained on our brains. We wanted to teach anyone and everyone about baptism because that is our purpose. We feared no one and we prayed that we would be able to help one soul set a baptismal date. 

So off we went out and the first girl we talked to was incredible. Her name is Sister Su. She told us that lately she's really been wanting to learn about Christianity and become closer to God. Soon her little sister came up and started talking with us too. We shared the "Because He Lives" video with them and taught them all about baptism. Elder Huntsman and I both shared our own baptisms and bore simple testimony to these sisters. We then invited them to read Ether 12:4 

(Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.) 

They read this scripture out loud and at the same time. It was like a choir of scripture reading. It was cool! Then we invited them both to be baptized. They both paused, looked at each other, and then said, "Yes" this is what we want! These sisters don't live in our area but they are planning on meeting with the Sisters where they do live, going to church, and I really believe they will get baptized on November 21st! A SUPER BIG miracle. 

The Su Sisters with Elder Huntsman and Elder Willes

Last night I went on exchanges in my area with Elder Okeson and we met a college-age girl and literally the same story. She's been wanting to get baptized and set a baptismal date for November 14th. She is super prepared and is coming to General Conference. Sister Zhang1 lives in our area! We are really excited about her. Pray for her. There are prepared people ALL over. We just have to follow the spirit, show the Lord we want it, and go plant seeds! 

Also, tomorrow the temple sisters are having a baptism! They are baptizing Bian1 Mama who Elder Stewart and I found on the street 2 months ago! Woohooo! She's 80 and was a big miracle for Elder Stewart and I. I am so excited about her baptism tomorrow. Super blessed week!

Last night on our way home we hear this voice, "ELDERS!" in ENGLISH. Someone seeking us out and someone speaking English. Crazy. Turns out it is this guy from California, a convert of 2 years, who had just moved to Taiwan for a few months. He told us he didn't know how he was going to find the church but literally the day he got here in Taiwan and we found him! He's coming to Conference tomorrow! 

A week full of miracles! I couldn't be more pumped and excited to be a missionary. 3 Nephi 5:13 "I am a disciple of Christ. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they may have everlasting Life!" I am also so excited to hear General Conference today and tomorrow. Awesome. Love you all!

Keep on keeping on!

Elder Willes

Last week at the new member fireside I got to see some of my favorite people Sister Xiao and Sister Cai4.
They are incredible and doing great! (And of course, Elder Tan.)