Tuesday, March 31, 2015

#BecauseHeLives

Sent 3/30/2015

As we approach this upcoming Easter Sunday, I challenge all of you to study more in depth the life of Jesus Christ, especially the days leading up to and the days of His Atonement and Resurrection. Although, we celebrate the sacrifice He made for us on that Good Friday, we celebrate and remember even more the third day in which He rose again.

Watch this video about why Jesus Christ is such an important person in a Christian's life. #BecauseHeLives, if you reach out, call out, cry out, He is here, then, now, always. He is here during the good, the bad, the in-between. He is here. No matter who you are or who you were, He is here. No exceptions, no lost causes. At all times, in all places, He is here. He rose on the third day. He lives today. Find Him.

Because He lives, I can overcome heartache and sorrow and replace them with pure joy and peace. Because He lives, my family can be together for all eternity, not only 'til death to us part. Because He lives, I can be happy. Because He lives, I will live again, too.

Celebrate Easter. Celebrate Him.

Sister Wen

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Yo se que...

Sent 3/23/2015

Nosotras somos misioneras de La Iglesia de Jesu Cristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias!

This past week, we went on exchanges with another set of hermanas and, this time, I got to go to their area! Even though I had absolutely no idea what anyone was saying, I could still feel the Spirit. Crazy how that happens? So many miracles happened, though. The morning began with not being able to find the apartment of a lady they'd set up an appointment with. But, we met another lady who actually talked with us and let us into her home. We sat down and Hermana Freeman practically taught the whole first lesson about the Restauracion de el Evangelio de Jesu Cristo (mostly because she had to...she was the only one who could hablas Espanol). Half-way through the lesson, Hermana Freeman asked me if I wanted to say anything I'd learned just that morning. I said, in my broken Espanol, "Yo se que...Jesu Cristo...es...nuestro Salvador y Redentor." And the woman smiled and fondly said, "Yo se, yo se."

We left her apartment and met a former investigator that Hermana Freeman taught when she was last in the area and set up an appointment with him. Then we finally found the apartment of the lady we were looking for. All within the same hour. At the end of the day, we'd found two new GOLDEN investigators and filled our stomachs with some truly deliciously authentic Mexican sopes and tacos.

Back to the High Point area....Since last Sunday was stake conference, M was not yet able to be confirmed. So, she was to be confirmed the next Sunday (yesterday). Well, the sacrament service began and M was nowhere to be found. It was already 15-20 minutes to 9 and we'd already sang the opening hymn and announcements, which is when converts are typically confirmed. So, they continued with the sacrament service. M was still not there....And all I'm thinking is what do we do? What do we do!? just naturally freaking out. And then, in walked M and she was able to be confirmed as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. What greater gift is there in life than that of the Holy Ghost?

Yo se que Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial y yo se que Dios le ama. Tambien yo se que solo podemos salvarnos por medio de Jesu Cristo. Yo se que Jose Smith es un profeta y La Iglesia de Jesu Cristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es verdadero. Yo se!

Love, Sister Wen

I'm doing good!

Sent 3/16/2015

M was baptized! What a joyous occasion! Whenever we ask M how she's doing, she always says, "I'm doing good!" For some reason, though, I foolishly thought that the week leading up to her baptism would be smooth-sailing....But, boy, I was wrong.

Just a couple of days before her baptism, something bad happened and M was absolutely distraught, lost, and confused. We visited her that night and had brought our ward mission leader and his daughter. The Spirit was telling me so strongly, she needs a priesthood blessing, she needs a priesthood blessing. So, I asked M if she needed a priesthood blessing. She accepted and our ward mission leader agreed to give her one of comfort right then and there.

I am so grateful for the priesthood power. I am especially grateful for those priesthood holders who are worthy to hold that authority from God and can give priesthood blessings when asked right on the spot to do so.

Right when he said M's full name and began saying the words that Heavenly Father was telling her, his voice changed and the Spirit was so strong, you could cut it. She heard the words she needed to hear and all those who witnessed that experience knew that there had to be another Presence in the room.

After the blessing, M's face was just lit up! You could just feel utter peace. I asked her how she felt. A big smile spread across her face and she said, "I'm doing good!"

Hilary, the woman who met M in the back of the ambulance vehicle, was the one who began it all. If she had not followed the prompting from the Holy Ghost to talk to Mary about the church, M would not have been offered the gospel at such a critical time in her life and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and by His authority. To Hilary, I say, "if it so be that you should...bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" (D&C 18:15-16).

I love that sometimes Heavenly Father allows us to witness the fruits of our efforts on our missions. M was already prepared to receive the gospel and because she has it, her children may now receive it as they grow and develop. It's a generational thing!

So, I hope you're all doing good, too!

Sister Wen

Saturday, March 14, 2015

It's Getting Real!

sent 3/9/2015

M, the investigator from South Sudan, is officially going to be baptized this Saturday, March 14th! She is just so prepared! If we didn't have to teach her all of the lessons, she would've been baptized in a heartbeat anyway!

Almost every lesson we have with M (which is almost every day....Don't worry, she actually wants us to visit her every day), she bears her testimony of the gospel. She just knows it's true. Some people are already prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel. This is what keeps me going. But, let me tell you, daylight savings is a killer! I am just exhausted. And I'm pretty sure I say that in almost every email.

One morning, the alarm went off at 6:25. I was just soooo tired. I thought, maybe just this one day, I'll sleep in juuuuust a little bit. Then the alarm went off again at 6:30. Moment of truth. Then one of the most bizarre things happened. A couple of days ago, a sister missionary friend of mine got the "trunky call" where the mission office asks what airport you fly into. I dreamed that I was on the phone with the mission office and they asked me what airport I will fly into in August. I then realized how little time I have left and just about freaked out (literally). I jumped out of bed and said my morning prayer.

I love the work!

Sister Wen