Hsinchu - Week 60 - One Member at a Time
"Judge this next transfer by how much you love these people."
That's what President Peterson said to Sister Phillips and me when he called us last Wednesday morning. He had been worried about the response we gave him the day earlier when he told us over video chat that we both would be staying here in Xinzhu新竹 for our third transfer together. This is a rare occurrence in our mission; most people only stay together for up to two transfers. We must have sounded distressed to him or something, but really we were merely breathing out a relieved-yet-not-surprised breath, glad to finally know that we had guessed right: Sister Phillips and I have more to do as a companionship in this area, and President Peterson was not going to pull Sister Phillips out until we have completed the work God has for us to do here.
Lately, though, one of the areas in which we have been really struggling is finding new people to teach. With the recent push to spend 80% of our time with our ward members, we have been doing all we can to strengthen them and train them in missionary work, but so far they aren't ready to introduce us to their non-member friends and family for some reason. And we still talk with people on the street, but most of those that set up with us meet once and then we never see them again. The weeks go by, our teaching pool has been slowly drying up, and it's admittedly caused of a little bit of stress and frustration for our companionship.
So. President Peterson gave us some direction and words of encouragement. He told us to try all sorts of different things. Visit members who haven't been to church in a long time accompanied by their active member friends. Stay for 10 minutes, tell them we love them and help them to really feel the love of God. Leave. And then come back later and show them more love. They will have friends and family that need and are ready for the gospel. Through these efforts we will strengthen the church in Taiwan. This is part of our vision.
President also said:
• Keep the edge sharp and in 20 minutes between appointments find new people to teach.
• Worry about people coming back to sacrament meeting.
• Quit worrying about the numbers. Worry about the process of loving these people.
So a couple of days ago as we sat with a generous member in a bakery and sipped Japanese-style chocolate soy milk that she bought for/請'd us, we thanked her and told her we wanted to discuss less active members she knows. She said "Actually, last week I set up with my friend who hasn't been to church in a really long time. Do you recognize her name?" And she showed us her Line account. It just so happens that that less active member she contacted is the very member we wanted to ask her about-one we had visited a week before-because we knew the two of them were friends! We explained that we wanted to reach out to that woman too. "Well, I set her up to come meet with me in this bakery in a couple weeks," said our member. "Do you sisters want to come join?"
Both this member and our companionship had felt inspired to reach out to the same woman at the same time! All of our faith was sparked. And our member, just like that, got excited about missionary work.
It was then Sister Phillips and I had the realization that we just need to help one member at a time to build their faith and get them pumped about ministering and inviting others to come unto Christ. One member at a time. That's our new motto. That's how Jesus Christ did it, He helped people one by one! And He loved them. We intend to do the same.
We have spent three months developing relationships with our members and we are excited to just really get in and work, help the members invite their family members and friends to be taught by us. I have faith that if we love them, they will feel it and be moved to act! Last night we met with an amazing family with four sons and set a goal that within the next two weeks they will each invite one of their friends to our special Christmas sacrament meeting on Dec 23, to another activity, or to meet with the missionaries. Regardless of whether or not their friends accept their invitations, the act of inviting itself is a success.
This Christmas season, I invite you to think of who you know that would be blessed by the message of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Then go and love them! And as a result of your love and the love they feel from God, they may want to learn about what brings you true happiness.
That's what President Peterson said to Sister Phillips and me when he called us last Wednesday morning. He had been worried about the response we gave him the day earlier when he told us over video chat that we both would be staying here in Xinzhu新竹 for our third transfer together. This is a rare occurrence in our mission; most people only stay together for up to two transfers. We must have sounded distressed to him or something, but really we were merely breathing out a relieved-yet-not-surprised breath, glad to finally know that we had guessed right: Sister Phillips and I have more to do as a companionship in this area, and President Peterson was not going to pull Sister Phillips out until we have completed the work God has for us to do here.
Lately, though, one of the areas in which we have been really struggling is finding new people to teach. With the recent push to spend 80% of our time with our ward members, we have been doing all we can to strengthen them and train them in missionary work, but so far they aren't ready to introduce us to their non-member friends and family for some reason. And we still talk with people on the street, but most of those that set up with us meet once and then we never see them again. The weeks go by, our teaching pool has been slowly drying up, and it's admittedly caused of a little bit of stress and frustration for our companionship.
So. President Peterson gave us some direction and words of encouragement. He told us to try all sorts of different things. Visit members who haven't been to church in a long time accompanied by their active member friends. Stay for 10 minutes, tell them we love them and help them to really feel the love of God. Leave. And then come back later and show them more love. They will have friends and family that need and are ready for the gospel. Through these efforts we will strengthen the church in Taiwan. This is part of our vision.
President also said:
• Keep the edge sharp and in 20 minutes between appointments find new people to teach.
• Worry about people coming back to sacrament meeting.
• Quit worrying about the numbers. Worry about the process of loving these people.
So a couple of days ago as we sat with a generous member in a bakery and sipped Japanese-style chocolate soy milk that she bought for/請'd us, we thanked her and told her we wanted to discuss less active members she knows. She said "Actually, last week I set up with my friend who hasn't been to church in a really long time. Do you recognize her name?" And she showed us her Line account. It just so happens that that less active member she contacted is the very member we wanted to ask her about-one we had visited a week before-because we knew the two of them were friends! We explained that we wanted to reach out to that woman too. "Well, I set her up to come meet with me in this bakery in a couple weeks," said our member. "Do you sisters want to come join?"
Both this member and our companionship had felt inspired to reach out to the same woman at the same time! All of our faith was sparked. And our member, just like that, got excited about missionary work.
It was then Sister Phillips and I had the realization that we just need to help one member at a time to build their faith and get them pumped about ministering and inviting others to come unto Christ. One member at a time. That's our new motto. That's how Jesus Christ did it, He helped people one by one! And He loved them. We intend to do the same.
We have spent three months developing relationships with our members and we are excited to just really get in and work, help the members invite their family members and friends to be taught by us. I have faith that if we love them, they will feel it and be moved to act! Last night we met with an amazing family with four sons and set a goal that within the next two weeks they will each invite one of their friends to our special Christmas sacrament meeting on Dec 23, to another activity, or to meet with the missionaries. Regardless of whether or not their friends accept their invitations, the act of inviting itself is a success.
This Christmas season, I invite you to think of who you know that would be blessed by the message of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Then go and love them! And as a result of your love and the love they feel from God, they may want to learn about what brings you true happiness.
I love being a missionary and I love you all. See you next week (Christmas day!).
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