Monday, May 7, 2012

Happy Birthday to me!!:D


Hello!
 
Thank you all for your wonderful Birthday wishes! It was a fabulous birthday that actually was not focused on me very much- which was kinda cool! We had a 3 hour planning seesion, then lessons, dinner at Subway, a slice of cake and that was it. Oh! I forgot the bithday cake pancakes that Sister Gibson made me with frosting as syrup. So yummy and smart! We don't have an oven so she just used the batter to make pancakes. So smart huh! I think a tradition might have just started!
 
This week was seemingly uneventful besides my birthday, Sister Gibson getting sick, and us finally having some investigators coming to church! On Sunday morning before our first ward we only had one investigator confirmed for church and she ended up cancelling. But the Lord came through for us and we ended up having 3 investigators that we weren't really planning on coming there! I love miracles!
 
This week we had a really cool first lesson with a He Jia Wen. It was the first time we met with her so we were going to do some beginning teaching phrases and then a simple first lesson overview. But as we were discussing God and life, we realized that she had some great questions that would easily be resolved by understanding the Plan of Salvation- so Sister Gibson and I made a quick decision to go ahead and teach her that instead. All throughout it she kept asking us more great questions but still it didn't "hook" her. Until we told her that in the Celestial Kingdom we can live with our families forever. She then told us that her mom passed away when she was 9 and she has always kinda wondered what exactly happened to her. Immediately the Spirit was so strong in the room as I was able to testify from my own experience the hope and comfort of knowing our parents are not lost from us forever brings. Her heart and reservations literally melted away as she let what we were telling her sink in. It seemed that her other concerns didn't matter nearly as much. She was genuinely interested in coming to church and being baptized, both of which she told us "we'll see" earlier. I am so grateful for the Plan of Happiness that Heavenly Father has created for me and for all of the other children out there that have lost their parents. There is a special connection and hope that I find in the Plan of Salvation knowing that even though I didn't have the chance to develop a relationship with my father on earth, I will one day have that opportunity. I love this gospel, this 'happy news'. I am so grateful I have the opportunity everyday to share it with those around me.
 
I love you all! I am excited to possibly talk to some of you next week. Be safe and remember who you are!
 
I love you more than all the delicious, fresh pineapple I am going to eat this week! YUM!!
 
Sister Amy Reece

Monday, April 30, 2012

Rain, rain, go away!


Dearest Family and Friends- Da jia hao!
The rain goes on and off like someone is playing with the hose in heaven. It wakes us up in the morning, then is completely sunny during studies, but as soon as we get on our bikes to head out it is pouring again. And then that just continues all day long. Which then leaves everything really humid and hot- almost like I am on a tropical island! :D I love it! I love being here in Tawain- it truly is an adventure everyday.
And boy did we have some adventures of the books this week! On Tuesday during our District Training Meeting all three of our companionships were so excited because we all had investigators set to get baptized in a combined ward baptismal service on Saturday afternoon- and us sisters actually had 2 investigators all ready to go. We were so excited and proud it just seemed too good to be true... and unfortunately it was! :( One of the set of Elders' caught their investigator smoking while driving through a super random place in their area on Thursday- which meant he was out. Down to three baptismal candidates. Then on Saturday morning we got a call from our Single's Branch investigator who told us she decided that she was actually not ready to get baptized. Sister Gibson and I both tried talking it through with her, but with doubting questions of her family she wasn't ready to make the commitment. We were then down from 4 invesitgators to 2. And because of the rain we Sisters were worried about our investigator Sister Lin actually showing up. I am happy to report though that SHE DID!!! That in and of itself was the first of many other miracles preceeding her actual baptism. I am not sure exactly why, but our President Bishop told us that he and his wife and their visiting family wanted to come attend our baptism. We didn't really think anything of it as we are close to the mission office and he likes to attend baptisms when he can. But aparently the Lord knew more than we all. After a beatiful musical number and talks we all made our way to the baptismal font where the Elders' Brother Wang was first baptized. Then it was Sister Lin's turn. Let me tell you a little about her real quick- because of a work related stroke she can't really use her left arm or leg and walks with a limp. She is such a trooper though. We knew that she was going to need special care to be baptized but we didn't really think through what that meant. The poor man that was trying to baptize her had never baptized anyone before and was trying so hard! But despite his best efforts each time she went down Sister Lin managed to swallow a ton of water but not get completely immersed in the water. She either couldn't hold on with only one hand, or her leg would unknowingly pop out of the water. After about 4 or 5 times President Bishop decided to come to the rescue. That man changed from his suit to a white jumpsuit quicker than Clark Kent changing into his Superman suit! In one try he was able to stratigically hold down her leg, completely support her body and push her into the water all in one swift movement. It was so wonderful! And through this all Sister Lin kept a smile on her face and was just trying so hard to make it work. We found out afterward that she is even scared of the water! She said that because she had swallowed down so much of the water that she was truly clean inside and out! That was definitely the happiest and most spiritual baptism I have ever attended- all in one!
I am so grateful that I have been able to help others come unto Christ. Although most of them have a very, very basic and simple testimony here at the start they are all willing to take that step of faith out of known and into the unknown. It was been an experience of a lifetime to be able to help someone start from ground zero and build a testimony. I know that the work that is being done my missionaries and members all across the world really does matter. These converts truly are making life-changing decisions that are putting them more in harmony with the Lord's will. But they are not the only ones that need to repent and change. We all do. No matter if we were just baptized, baptized years ago or never have been baptized we all have areas that we can improve one. "This life is the time to prepare to meet God." Whether we like it or not that is what we have been sent to this earth to do. How are you doing? You of course are not perfect, but are you doing better today than you were yesterday? last week? a year ago? I know that through the love of Jesus Christ we can change. I know this because I have felt and seen it in my own life. I know that Jesus Christ born in Bethleham truly is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that He knows more than we ever can (Mosiah 4:9) and because of that knowledge He wants to help us through this life.
I love you all and am so grateful for you!
I love you more than all the water that sweet Sister Lin chocked down!
Sister Amy Reece
Pictures:
1. Our view from our apartment one night when it was down pouring. Beautiful, huh?
2. Lin Jiemei is the one in the baptismal clothes :D. The other lady is her member friend/coworker that referred her and basically taught her all of the lessons during their lunch brakes.
3. Her all clean- inside and out!
4. Happy Sister Lin getting her hair blow dryed after her baptism. I love her!
5. President and Sister Bishop and us. I am so grateful they were there!





Monday, April 9, 2012

I love Conference!


Hello to one and all!
 
This was a crazy busy week! It involved cleaning graves, General Conference and me moving, just to name a few things! Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time today to give many details on all of those fun events though. But here's a quick rundown.
 
I don't know if you remember me telling you last year about going and cleaning the graves. It's an actual natural holiday here in Taiwan where everyone goes back to their "hometown" and cleans their ancestors graves. For most of the country this also involves worshipping them, but we missionaries stick with just cleaning. :D This year our district went by ourselves to clean one of the local graveyards in Wu Feng. It was on the side of a hill and had a ton of people there. We were able to sucessfully clear off two graves as well as make friends with a couple of our fellow "workers". It is great service opportunity that I am pretty sure most missionaries in other parts of the world don't have an opportunity to participate in. As great as it is that so many people go at and show such respect to their ancestors, it breaks my heart that they have no idea about the Plan of Salvation. How blessed we are to know that their graves are just a resting place and not an end.
 
General Conference. Fabulous, as always! One of the greatest parts for me was that we had six investigators that went with us to listen to the Prophet's voice! Two of the girls came to all four sessions and loved it! Ya! As for the messages we heard they were all fabulous! I can't wait to contintue reviewing my notes and studying their messages. I absolutely love being able to have 8 hours of such enlightening and uplifting messages! My testimony that Christ's true church really has been restored was strengthened so much! I am so grateful for this Gospel and this Church and all the blessings they both have brought to me. If you didn't get a chance to watch all of the sessions I strongly urge you to, they were all fabulous!
 
And last but not least I moved. Yep. I got moved on my last move-call. And yes, I am super bummed. My last area was just starting to grow and flourish and see baptisms. But, I trust that the Lord has a plan bigger than mine and needs me here and out of Dali. On a happy note though I am actually still really close to my last area, next door really. And because of that President Bishop actually gave me permission to go back to Dali for Viann and Jenny's baptism this weekend. Ya! I love them and am so excited that they are actually getting baptized!
 
I know that this gospel is true and that the message we all have inside changes lives. In your own way "open your mouths" and share with others that Christ has once again Restored His complete Truth. I love you all so much! Be safe and CPR!!!
 
Sister Amy Reece

Monday, March 5, 2012

HEY!


Da gei he! 大家好!
 
There's some Taiwanese and Chinese for you! Wow, this was quite the week- unlike any I have ever had. We had fewer lessons with investigators and new members than we have had in a really long time, yet we broke my mission record for both investigators and recent converts at church. We had 8 investigators and 10 out of 14 recent converts! YA!! It was so cool. A lot of the times are lessons are quantity not quality, but this week we really focused on quality rather than quantity. We were able to find out the needs and concerns that have been on their minds, and they were prepared spirtually and physically for church. It was so cool when the ladies were introducing themselves in Relief Society and the Relief Society President mistook them for members visiting from other wards cause they fit in so well. I was such a "proud mom"! I think for the first time in a long time I am finally figuring out the secrets of missionary work. But you know what, they're not really "secrets"- it's all about focusing on the basic, simple doctrine as is found in Chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. We've found that in the past I have taught "fluff" lessons a lot. We were still teaching doctrine, but it was taking a lot of visits before the investigators has actually heard the full PMG 1-4 lessons. And because of this my investigators for a long time haven't progressed toward baptism. I used to think that I was doing it "right" because I was- or I thought I was- focusing on the investigators needs. But as Sister Liston and I have been studying PMG Chapter 3 more in depth, we have learned that most all of their needs really can be solved when they know and understand the doctrine contained therein. I am here to bear witness that the creation of Preach My Gospel really was inspired by God. Each person has the same basic "needs" spiritually- it doesn't vary from one place to another. So wherever you are trying to "invite others to come unto Christ", take a little gander at PMG. It's awesome. Sister Liston and I are learning together- me things I feel I should have learned a long time ago, and Sister Liston things that are paving the way for a successful mission. I love it and am so grateful that I am being blessed to finally be learning the "secrets" of missionary work that aren't really "secrets" at all. We hope that this week we can still see as many people at church, but also more lessons taught. I love being a missionary! You really do learn something new everyday.
 
I think this will be the month that we baptize! We have been blessed with some awesome investigators that are so prepared. We pray daily that the Lord will not only bless them to repent and change, but bless us missionaries that we can do the same in order to better help them. This last week our President Bishop invited all of us missionaries to repent of whatever it is that is keeping us from being sanctified and consecrated servants of the Lord. . I know that as I was praying for forgiveness and strength this week the Lord was able to use me better to help move His work along. I have come to love repenting! I still have lots to change and improve, but I am so grateful that I can repent when I mess up. We all can! Elder Christofferson said in a Conference talk recently that repentance is a happy thing and there "should be a smile on our faces as we talk about it." Amen Elder Christofferson. Actually his last two conference talks are both on repenting and letting the Lord change us. Check them out- they're awesome!
 
Oh- have you all heard the hype of a one Jeremy Lin. I don't know if he is actually that big in the states, but EVERYONE in Taiwan is talking about him. In case you don't know him, he is an American-born Taiwanese guy that just recently got big playing for the New York Nicks basketball team. He is from an area close to me here. Apparently he is pretty hard-core Christian and is making this Buddhist based country of his interested in Christianity. One of our really golden, already prepared investigators we found this week told us one reason she wants to pray is because "she sees Jeremy do it before each of his games and he plays really well so it must work!" Thank you Jeremy for your great example! I love it!
 
p.s. I won't be emailing till Wednesday next week cause we are GOING TO THE TEMPLE!!! Ya! Finally- I feel like it has been forever, but really it hasn't. :D
 
I love you all so much! Thank you for your love and encouragement. I am so happy each week to hear that you are all safe and well. Please keep it that way! I know that this is Christ's true church on the earth. It really does change families and makes every day better. If you don't believe me, try it. CPR. Go to Church, Pray, and Read. It works.
 
Loves!
Sister Amy Reece

Monday, February 27, 2012

Fire Alarms and Bike Crashes


Hello my dearest family and friends!
 
No, my subject is not just a "cool phrase the kids are using these days", it is a five-word summary of my week. Yes. It has been an adventure since I last wrote. On Tuesday morning I was trying to warm some bread up in the microwave when before I knew it, it was completely up in flames. Yeah. To spare you all the details, it resulted in our entire complex being evacuted and five Taiwanese fire-fighters in my living room. The actual fire itself was small enough that I just blew it out with one big "huff", but there was lots of smoke. All is fine now, and a week later there is only a lingering smoke smell. :D
 
Now about the bike crash. That too was as a result of... well, me really. I was standing up and pedling when my foot slipped off my pedal. I tottered for a minute while trying to stop my bike. I failed though and ended up falling over and my bike falling on top of me. Again, all is okay except for a sore leg and shoulder and a gash on my bum. I don't feel like I was this much of a dunce before my mission. But in the last 16ish months I have had more little accidents than my whole life combined I feel like. I am very grateful though that they have all just been minor occurances. It is a testimony to me that the Lord really does protect His missionaries. Everything could have been serious but has turned out all right.  Oh, as I was ending the awkward phone-call with my Mission President telling him about the fire he said, "Well Sister Reece, do you have any more burning questions?" ha. ha. ha. He thinks he is so funny!  Apparently he was none for his "jokes" in the hospital where he worked before.  :D
 
Other than those two humbling events, this was a pretty good week. I learned a lot from my companions wonderful example. She is so great at just accepting my mess-ups and loving me anyway. She doesn't judge and never has an unkind look or word about anything. I am learning from her the importance of love. Both giving and receiving love. I feel like in my last six weeks with Sister Liston I have figured out so much about missionary work and being a good disciple of Christ that I never knew before. I think a lot of it has to do with the extra time that we have in the morning to study Preach My Gospel and the Scriptures (for her first 12 weeks we get 2 hours of companion sutdy instead of just one), but also a lot to do with our companionship. I love it! We're only halfway done with our time together and I can't wait to see what the next six weeks have in store for us.
 
This week we had a really great lesson with two of our investigators that we have been working with for awhile- Viann and Jenny. I don't know if I have ever mentioned them before, but they are great. They own a breakfast/brunch restaurant and because of that being open on Sunday haven't been able to come to church yet. A couple of weeks ago we commited them to keeping the Sabbath Day holy and they were willing to give it a try. After a couple weeks of prayer and discussion they have now commited to closing their store this Sunday and coming to church! A lot can change in a week though so we will be continually praying that they do end up coming. This week when we went to visit them with the Relief Society President we shared with them about the Law of Chastity. They had heard a little about it before but we hadn't actually "taught" it or commited them to living it. I was so grateful to have Sister Peng there with us testifying of the importance of chastity and families. Viann and Jenny are both 31, unmarried and have steady boyfriends. To them marriage and a family isn't something that they have ever really wanted. I hope that these two amazing women will come to understand the potential that they have as women and eventually as mothers. Both of these two big commandments are going to take Viann and Jenny's faith to live, but I know that once they start to see the blessings from living God's commandments, they won't want to turn back.
 
Yesterday at church we got stood up by most of our investigators that were "confirmed". That is the worst thing ever! But, on a happy note we had an investigator there that had never come before! She is a referral from a young women in the ward that we met with last week and then invited to church. I haven't had a teenage investigator for a while now. I love it! The young men/young women program in this ward is stronger than I have ever seen in Twaiwan! Yay!
 
Okay time is up for me and probably you too. :D Sorry to have taken so much of your day. I love you! I know that Christ lives and that our prayers really are heard. Even on the days when we may not feel like there is someone on the otherside, He is always there.
 
我愛你們!!
 
Sister Amy Reece

Monday, February 20, 2012

Hey!


Hello family and Friends!
 
Hello from Dali! Life is... going here in Dali. Unfortnately though we are not seeing as much progress as we wish we were. I still feel like I am doing lots of missionary things but not seeing the results. I hope the problem is not that is not that the links on my "missionary train" are not connected but rather this is just what the Lord has "set up" for me right now. I am not so sure though. We're getting a pretty good number of lessons each week, but it's not really showing with investigators coming to church and setting baptismal goals. So we are teaching lessons, but something is going wrong in that those we are teaching aren't showing real progress. Sister Liston and I have been discussing this and we think part of the problem is that we haven't done a very good job of helping our investigators and new members understand what real repentance is. This week as part of the First 12 Weeks (the new in-field training program we use) we studied the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we did so I came to better understand how essential daily repentance is in all that we do- not just we as missionaries, but we as sons and daughters of God. We hope that as we focus more on helping those we teach truly repent we will begin to see real progress here in this area. I can feel in my heart that there are so many prepared souls around us each day. We just need to find and help them.
 
Yesterday we had a cool experience while visiting an investigator. This particular investigator likes to talk a lot and makes it hard for us to get solid doctrine in during our visits. But yesterday she said, "Sister Liston, you don't talk very much. I want to hear you speak Chinese." That opened a perfect opportunity for Sister Liston to bear a beautiful testimony about the Plan of Salvation and our Savior Jesus Christ. And the investigator listened intently the whole time. The investigator wanting to hear Sister Liston speak was a small, almost unnoticeable miracle. We have been wanting to really be able to share the Plan of Salvation but haven't been able to get her to listen much. But I know that yesterday she was touched by the simple, yet strong testimony my companion gave. It was awesome.
 
All in all I love this area and everything about it. And I love being a missionary for Jesus Christ. There really is no cooler thing than telling everyone about our Savior. There is a lot a still don't understand, but there also is a lot I do know. I know that families really can live together forever. But we don't have to wait till we die to experience "heaven". That can be created right now, in our homes on earth. Where ever we live we can have more happiness than we thought possible. If you're not sure how, ask your local missionaries or your friends LDS neighbor. I know they'll all be more than happy to help you better understand.
 
I love you all! Continue in the faith!
 
Sister Amy Reece

Monday, February 13, 2012

hello!!


Everyone-
 
I don't even know where to start this week. After reading the record-breaking 23 emails in my inbox I am not sure what to say. Thank you so much for all your emails and letters! Even if I don't address your letter personal I am very grateful for it.
 
First, Kevin and Reece are such an adorable little pair! These are going to be some treasured times for them. So fun!
 
Second, the family reunion sounds so fun. I don't know if knowing the plans is going to make it harder or easier to concentrate. Now I don't have to guess as to what we're doing, so maybe it will be for the good. But I think it would be best if you go ahead and leave me out of the loop on the rest of the logistical stuff and more details. I know I can't be of much help now, but I'll be ready to work when I get home so save a job or two for me. Oh and Kim- is there a China Town in the DC area? If there is I would love to take the family to try some authentic Chinese food.
 
Third, I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!! It is the best thing ever. We get to see miracles daily, and a ton of them. I love it. This last week, as I said we had our power week. Our power week was powerful in some areas and not so powerful in others. Some of our key-indicators increased while others decreased. One thing that we loved this week was the number of other-lessons taught. We were trying so hard to be looking for people to teach everywhere we went- and the Lord put them there. We were able to have some really cool lessons and meet some really great people. The unfortunate part though is that almost all of them either don't live in our area, were men or weren't interested in meeting with us again. So while we taught a lot of lessons it didn't reflect in a lot of new investigators. But we are still really grateful that we were able to find some investigators for some other missionaries. We joked a little bit this week about how we "planted lots of seeds". I like planting, but harvesting is a lot more fun! This area hasn't seen female baptisms in quite awhile and we all want one so badly. We're trying hard but still feel like we're trying to swim upstream a little bit. We have some really great people that keep progressing then degressing but still aren't progressing to baptism. Help! But we have the faith and determination to work hard. We know the prepared people are here.
 
Sister Liston is doing wonderful! Her confidence in finding and teaching is growing daily. She doesn't see it but I frequently try to help her step back and look. I can see her growing spiritually, emotionally and physically each day. It's so fun to watch! We're both doing great health wise and in all ways actually.
 
I've recently been studying the Bible and am gaining a stronger testimony, appreciation and understanding of it than ever before. It's been cool to see that as I have been gaining this added knowledge the Lord is giving me more and more opportunities to apply it in our teaching. I feel like we have more Christian investigators than I ever before have had. And even with the non-Christian investigators am I learning how to use the bible and the Book of Mormon to support each other. I love them and know that they both are the words of God for us to read, study, and apply in our lives today. Don't be like I was before and take them for granted. Gain your personal testimony of them. I was telling Sister Liston the other day how it has been so cool to learn how to use the scriptures to answer people's questions- both gospel questions and personal life questions. I didn't know how to do that before. I am so excited to take this (can I call it a skill?) blessing and use it to receive personal revelation in my life. It works! The answers are there, I promise!
 
A quick experience about that- yesterday we went and met with a mom that we had met at a convenience store a couple of weeks ago. I've kept her card with me during this time, but haven't really felt like it was time to call her. But on Saturday night I finally did it and she set up for us to meet with her on Sunday. When we got to their apartment it was obvious that this family is really struggling financially- there is little more than a couch and a tv in the front room. As we talked to this lady she started to weep as she told us of all the struggles and hardships she has been going through these last couple of years. Watching her cry and say she feels abandoned by her parents broke my heart. It was so wonderful though to read with her in Mosiah 24:13-15 and tell her that God really will, "ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage." I know that this scripture is a true promise to the people of the Book of Mormon, to our investigator, and to each on of us. The Lord is always there and willing to help us even when it feels like the rest of the world has left our side. Turn to Him- He's there. And help there's that don't know Him find Him.
 
Now that I have finished my novel for the week, I will wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day and be off. I love you!
 
Sister Amy Reece
 
p.s. this is a shout-out/request for some cute Church and/or American souveniors. The people here in Taiwan and specifically in WuFeng are SO amazing to me and I don't really have any way to show my appreciation. If anyone is able I would appreciate it more than I could explain if you would be willing to send me a couple small things I can share with these people to show my love and appreciation. Thank you in advance- and I'll swap you some Taiwanese souveniors for the Church/American stuff. :D Thanks!