This week we had the chance to visit a part member family! The lady we met is super nice, and as a tactic to meet her, we brought over some cookies unannounced. She let us in super fast, and made us hot Milo, and brought us out dessert, and sat and talked to us for a really long time. She is mostly active, but says she has a hard time going to church when she has housework to do. She said she just likes to stay at home and do that instead. However, when we explained to her that we need people to share lessons with, because it's hard to find new investigators, she was more than happy to let us come over again this coming week! She said she and her husband and 3 boys would love to hear our message about family. Hopefully we can meet them this week! It was a miracle she was home and was able to let us in and talk to her.
This week, we made oragami bow book marks for the ladies in our ward. We really wanted to tell them thank you for all of the hard work they are doing to help us, and for all the Christmas presents we received. We have a drawer full of chocolate - still full - from Christmas. We are so loved in this ward! So, we are trying to show them our appreciation.
Besides that, it was a pretty normal week! We met members for dinner, and have a goal and vision for our area to strengthen everyone's faith. We are trying to do that in a couple ways, but a big one that I know came from the spirit, is to share the Book of Mormon with people in every appointment. We are trying to get them to strengthen their faith in the Book of Mormon!
Also, we met some investigators this week that are all on the brink of being ready to be baptized, they just need a little bit of work!
Two other random thoughts from this week...on Sunday, our Bishop got released and we got a new Bishopric in our ward! I'm really sad, even though I only got to work with Bishop Foo for a few weeks. He was so good. I broke down in tears during sacrament meeting because of how much love he seemed to feel for his ward. He was Bishop apparently for 7 years, and was Bishop of a brand- new reorganized ward, which is really hard. He couldn't even sing as he looked out at the congregation. I don't know why it touched me so much, but it really did. I just hope I can have that love for all the people I serve my whole life. I'm noticing myself developing that type of love here as a missionary, and I want to carry it on forever! The other people that live in my apartment are two American sisters - Sister Alfrey and Sister Schriever. Sister Alfrey is the most loving person ever. She does so much for me, and I'm not even her companion! I'm so grateful to have her in our house. I feel so loved right now! It's really nice when people are willing to serve you and look out for you.
Also, this week there were times that I felt like I wasn't doing any good at all. Sometimes it's hard to try and fill your time, and when you can't really contact, and you don't teach all the time, it can get discouraging, and you can feel like 'why am I even here?'. I had a couple tender mercies this week to let me know that all the little things I'm doing matter. I got a voice note from the Chinese Elders just last night letting me know that some man who I had contacted is on date to be baptized! Contacting him about a month ago was crazy, and it was hard, and I almost didn't do it because we have a language barrier. However, he was talking about 'Jesus, Jesus" so I tried to tell him that I could tell him about Jesus. I got his number, and told him friends who can speak Mandarin would call him. It was just such a testament to me that God looks out for us, and that our little efforts do make a big difference, even if we don't see them immediately. Someone came up to me and asked me about my nametag this week! It was a complete miracle, and we're meeting him this week. He has had a lot of things happen that are setting him up for the message of the Restoration. He is Christian, but is looking for a church. He has slipped away from religion for about a year or two because of work, but recently switched jobs so he could attend church. He's nice, and I hope that he is accepting of our message! It would be really, really cool!
Finally, my invitation to you all, is to not only read over the Book of Mormon, but feast on it. Study it, love it, and PRAY to know if it's true. We had an investigator this week tell us that she doesn't need to pray and ask if the book is true, because she already knows. She said so many people believe it's true, she can just trust it is because they say it is. However, I KNOW that asking God is crucial. If we don't ask Him, we will never be able to have the ENDURING CONVERSION we are all striving to have. Conversion is a life long process, one that starts with every little choice you make every day. It's not easy, but it's worth it!
Love you tons!!!
Have a fabulous week! Thanks for all the prayers and support!!
Love,
Sister Crabb
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