A Busy Week!

Yes, it was a busy week, an exciting week, a good week. We taught more lessons this week than we did any other week of the move, which is good, because we're supposed to be full-time teachers (so say the general authorities/church leaders, and I believe it). The point, of course, is not to keep score of our success by counting our lessons, but to spend more time teaching because that's what we're called to do, and teaching with convincing and converting power is essential to accomplishing our purpose. So part of the process is learning to teach, and another is finding people to teach; both are necessary.

But I see you're all very anxious to know about my move call (well, at least two of you, *coughcoughparentscough*). I'm still here in dear Ping Dong, but my beloved Sister Chen has left me for Tainan. I will miss her. My new companion is Sister Lin (yes, another Sister Lin besides my trainer; I can think of four Taiwanese sister missionaries with the surname Lin in our mission off the top of my head). She is from "Zhong Bu" (the middle part of Taiwan). Her parents' home will actually be within our mission after the change in July. She's the only member of the church in her family, and she was baptized about two years ago. This is her third transfer. Good things will happen this move.

A Return to Power (or, in Better Words, an Opportunity to Serve)

I am once again the English leader. I don't know if I ever talked about being the English leader before. I know I've talked about English class every Wednesday. There is a weekly English meeting before English class that all the missionaries attend at their respective chapels. The English leader conducts these meetings, as well as collecting weekly numbers for total students, new students, students that set up to meet with us, etc. I was the English leader my first three moves (I think sometimes the leaders like to give new missionaries their own responsibility, so they get invited to be the English leader). This move's original English leader moved last week, and I have once again been given the opportunity to reign. I mean, serve. Actually, I'm quite looking forward to it. My former companion, Sister Stratford, gave an excellent share on English class last Zone Conference, and I feel refreshed and recommited. The thing about teaching English class as a missionary is that you end up with a group of people who have voluntarily walked into the church and are sitting at least somewhat attentively in front of you. It's amazing. And on top of that, once you really believe in your heart that God will lead you to prepared people, it suddenly seems very obvious that at least some of these people who motorscoot themselves to the church are among those you're supposed to be finding. So I'm excited to be the English leader and think about how we can make use of this opportunity, even if it's only for a few weeks.

Blog Mama Failure

I neglected to post anything last week. Sorry! Here's last week's installment:

Today we took a trip to the National Aquarium in Hengchun. President Hsu decided to organize this for the mission, with half going this week and half going next week. It was a rejuvenating change. I never cease to be amazed by the variety of aquatic life on earth. And, firmly believing in a world created by Christ under the direction of Heavenly Father, seeing the spectrum of things on earth gives me some insight into the character and creativity of God.

I've decided to enjoy the simplicity of my life now as much as I possibly can. It feels like part of my responsibility to focus my thoughts on the work at hand, which can sometimes be difficult, but overall is a huge blessing. I don't usually have to think much further than a few weeks down the road in terms of making concrete plans (aside from occasionally pondering on my eternal goals and what matters most in life in general). I know this will not always be the case, but maybe there are some lessons to be learned that will carry over (Sermon on the Mount, anyone? "Take no thought for tomorrow...").