Thursday, February 26, 2015

What it means to be tired

sent 2/23/2015

You ever hear about those big gang fights in Denver? Well, apparently, they all tend to happen in Montbello...which is in our area.

We had a good lesson with an investigator this past week to see if she has a true desire to change or not. She's gotten herself into drugs, alcohol, weed...you name it and she does it. When her and her friends "party" they do all 3 at once. Every time she or her friends said, yeah, I drink, or yeah, I smoke pot, they always say, but other than that, I'm a good person. There is something deeper than just what's on the outside. They know they can change and stop doing all of those abusive substances, but they're stuck. They're bound to their addictions and they don't know how to get out of it. .

As we left our lesson with her, there was an argument going on between 4 or 5 hefty men right outside the apartment complex...in the middle of the beginnings of the snowstorm. I wouldn't have been surprised if I heard a gunshot go off or something.

We taught so so so so so so many people this week. I know what it means to be tired. And each and every one of them has a story. I have had so many experiences on my mission with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, but nothing like what I know I'll get out of being in Denver and Aurora. These people here are just torn down to the gulfs of humility.

I've always contemplated, ever since my high school years, why it was that I've lived such a privileged life. And I see people here now and can't even imagine if my life was like that. They go through so much. I wonder sometimes, why did I not go through that? I just wish that I could take their pain away so they could know what it's like to really live life. All we can do is offer them the message that will change their lives.

"Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee." (Acts 3:6).

But we can never be tired enough to stop. Even when the Savior, Himself, thought the journey to be difficult, He never once thought it was too difficult. He continued on. So when He was so tired and continued on, so can I be so tired and continue on.

Endure to the end!

 Sister Wen

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Sweep all the areas!

Sent 2/17/2015

Short post this week because of tight schedule we have today. Because of the slimming number of sisters going on missions, they've had to rearrange the sisters a LOT throughout the mission. Unfortunately, the Webster Lake ward was affected and we were the last sisters to serve there for a while. Sister Tu'i went to Westminster and I am now in Aurora with Sister Packer! Sister Packer is amazing! I'd served around her for one transfer in Parker, so I already knew I was in for a good companion. She actually goes home after the transfer at the end of March so, in mission terms, I'm killing her! I am very lucky to have her because she's like my second trainer. I have been called to be a sister training leader and she will be "training" me, in a way, on how to be a sister training leader. (For those of you who aren't familiar with this term, it's like being a zone leader for sisters. We kind of watch out for all of the sisters in the zone and see how we can help each of them in their work out here in the mission.)

The High Point ward is actually mostly in Denver, but it's in the Aurora stake. There is so much work to do here, left and right! Like always, I'm excited to serve in new areas and learn new things!

Sister Wen

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest

Sent on 2/9/2015

What an eventful week. You know how I always say that Satan will do whatever he can in order to stop someone from being baptized? Well, he sometimes tries to get those surrounding the target.

Let's begin with February 3rd.

This day was my one-year anniversary of being in Colorado. I didn't really celebrate because of what happened. But it was also the day I woke up feeling like I needed to rid of some acidic material from my body via my throat. My companion thought I was dying. After trying to teach S one last lesson before her baptism, we went straight to Grandma and Grandpa R's. They were out shopping but allowed us to go into their home. I laid on their couch and starting breathing heavily in an attempt to cope with my achy body. Well, I guess I was breathing a bit too fast to the point where my body started tingling and my hands began seizing up. I cracked my eyes open just enough to see that my fingers were distorted and I couldn't move them.

Luckily, Grandma and Grandpa made the call to 911 and a gorgeous (really) team came to rescue me from my attack. They told me how to breathe slowly as they stuck me in the back of the ambulance.

After being hooked up to machines and needles for 5 hours, I left the hospital and began my adventurous journey of recovery via pills (that made me throw-up everything I ate), electrolytes, and sleepy, all of which amounted to 3 1/2 days of lying in a basement. My heart and mind were yearning to go outside and talk to everyone about the gospel of Jesus Christ, but my body said no flippin' way, Jose.

In the midst of all the craze, we had to move houses. I was literally physically incapable of lifting a water bottle and we were told we had to move all of our belongings into a new house. Grandma and Grandpa were trying to notify the mission office, but no one responded. I felt like no one understood what was happening to me.

And, yet, Someone knew. I was never alone. I prayed so hard and so long. If I wasn't kneeling down in prayer, I was praying in my heart. I asked for comfort. And I could feel His presence near me. I never doubted that He wasn't there with me. I knew that even if I was in the middle of nowhere and no one knew where I was or who I was or even cared about me, I would know that there is ALWAYS Someone watching over me.

"For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9).

Fortunately, I was at least 80% strong enough by February 6th to attend S's baptism (and not throw-up during my talk!). It was a great way to end this humbling experience. You have no idea how big she smiled. I've really never seen her smile so big before! Many people came to see her take this big step. We tried to tell her how many people were there, but because of she could not see, she really just could not comprehend how many people were there for her. So, what did Bishop do? He had everyone in the room say their names and say any words of congratulations to her. And she heard every one of them.

It was just a beautiful baptism to witness. Her sins are washed away and she is one step closer to living with Heavenly Father once more.

Oh, how I cannot wait for the day we see Him again. I will probably give Him a great big hug.

Sister Wen

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Spiritual Highs Actually Require Effort?

Sent 2/2/2015

S IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS FRIDAY. Talk about spiritual highs (no, not in the Colorado way). But, also, talk about stress of the stresses. It's pretty stressful figuring out all the logistics of her baptism requires a lot of coordination with the right people.

Last Saturday, we had a ward activity, the International Potluck, where members of our ward brought foods from different countries for everyone to try. There were even some members who were on the BYU International Folk Dancing team who taught us so steps. (Let me tell you, it's not too easy in a skirt and church boots.) Two less-active families showed up and one of them even participated in the preparations of the food! S showed up with her friend R AND her daughter! Many members went up to talk with them and get to know them. Things were going great.

Then, the stake building coordinator told us she wasn't able to reserve the building for the time that S's baptism was.

Oh, man.

Just before the night ended, we scrambled around trying to figure out a good time that would work out for S. And before we retired to our beds, I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help this all work out for S. And, you know what? He almost immediately answered my prayer through the feelings of His Spirit. I felt comforted. I somehow knew it was all going to work out.

By the end of Sunday, everything did work out and I almost felt ridiculous for thinking it wouldn't. Everything is set for S's step towards exaltation.

Even though it was a lot of work to put everything together, I'm glad we had to work through all of that just to make sure S's big day is ready to go.

There really is no greater work than the work of salvation.

Sister Wen