First of all, we just had a HUGE miracle right here in the library. We were just about to sit down and email when we caught the attention of this man named Ian across from us. Looking at his computer monitor I could tell he was working on a research paper and so I asked if he was a student at the Lancaster Uni. He said he was. He could tell by my accent that I was not from here and I asked if we were here as students. I of course responded in the negative. Before I even said we were missionaries he said ''I assume you have something important to tell me'' and said we could talk after he was done on the computer. As soon as he finished on the computer we had a more in-depth conversation. Ian told us that he was a student and a single parent of 2 children. He ran into the Elders at the library too and told us to keep up the good work. Before he could leave, I invited him to church. Sister Lee and I were able to share our experiences at church and testify that this church is true and we also invited him to Jun's baptism on Saturday. He was touched by the things we said and he is seriously considering coming to the church if not the baptism. He will try to bring his children as well.
Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. I would not be surprised if this man ends up being the answer to my prayers and fasting to find the prepared to be baptized at the end of this month.
Jun is still on track for baptism on November 8th. We still had a lot to teach her when I first got here and I was worried she would not be ready for the 8th, but wow, let me tell you- she is so prepared! She has a deep and abiding love and faith in the gospel.
Greatest Chinese Street Contact Ever:
We were at the Uni about to head to a lesson and we stopped this Chinese boy named Bodin. We always start off in English and when we confirm that the person is actually Chinese and not Korean or something we transition into Chinese. We asked him where he was from and he told us he was from Beijing. He turned to Sister Lee and asked where she was from. They exchanged some words in Chinese. Assuming I had no clue what was going on he then turned to me and asked me in English where I was from. I looked him in the eye and said ''wo shi mei guo ren'' ( I am American). His reaction was priceless. He did the biggest gasp I have ever seen. He had to rush to class but gave us his number.
For the first time in his life, he came to church yesterday. He is so great.
I am loving the daily study our mission has on the Atonement. This week I read about how Mosiah 3:19 talks about both the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement:
''For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.''
Quoting one of the prophets ''the gospel is to help bad people become good and good people to become better.''
The Atonement is not only to help us overcome sin (putting off the natural man) but to be strengthened and grow beyond our own capacity (becoming a saint).
So how can we better apply the Atonement in our lives? Well, we are agents to act not to be acted upon. We must make a conscious choice to be changed. Once we make the choice, the Savior and His Atonement will do the rest. From personal experience, the times I have grown and changed the most were when I recognized I needed to change and made the decision that I was going to be better. We cannot walk the gospel path expecting it to change us if we do not put any effort in on our part. Asking for a change of circumstances is not the way but to ask for the strength to face our challenges is the source of power. We have the ability within us to change our circumstances if we first make the change within ourselves.
The Spirit testifies to me every morning that this gospel is true. What a privilege it is to help others have that same witness from the Spirit.
Love,
Sister Jordan
p.s- sorry, still no pictures yet!
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