哈嘍
Any dog inside a fence will bark and clamor to get out. But once they are get out, most dogs run around for a while, sniff out the territory, then sit down by the fence. This is because they focused only on getting out and never thought of what to do after they got out.
Many humans are the same way. We say “I can’t wait to get out of high school,” or “I’m just going to get through college as fast as I can,” or ”when I finally get that dream job, I’ll be happy.” In a missionary sense, we might say, “I can’t wait to get home/ out of this area,” or ” just wait until I get new companion.”
But what are we doing now? Are we planning what to do and preparing our souls for the trials we’ll encounter on the other side? If not, then are we any different from the dog?
Abby’s trials came. She just kept waiting for God to send her a sign that it was all true. She has been a convert for a few years, but she wasn’t actively seeking answers to questions she had. She was just expecting God to give it to her. So when questions and outside influences started to shake her faith, she disappeared. She went back to what she thought was easier. …And then I invited her to help fellowship someone we are teaching. Now, why would I ask someone who had a struggling testimony to help someone else who also didn’t have a testimony? Because I knew they could seek for the light together.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “Nevertheless, spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in darkness waiting for someone to flip a switch. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the Light of Christ.”
We have to implement the acts of faith now. We can’t just wait for our knowledge to come or for one day to be delivered from the current circumstances we might not love. We have to actively seek the light of Christ.
So let’s talk about some of the people we’re teaching that are actively seeking the light.
Dolly. She is trying to find what’s missing in her life. This week she texted us and told us that reading the Book of Mormon has given her the strength and ability to handle school and life’s challenges without getting as nervous as before. Now, this girl was a little ball of anxiety when we met her, so this is a big change for her. She came to church two weeks ago, and at the end of the meeting stated that she knew she needed to come every week. She has come every week since.
Barbie. She is a friend of a recent convert in our ward. She has a baptismal date, and told us she knew there were commandments she needed to start living, but she wasn’t quite sure what they were yet. Our next lesson taught most of the commandments, and she started freaking out about the inability to drink tea. With the testimonies of us and her best friend, she decided she could do it, but she told us we had to text and remind her every day haha
Lin JM. She is one of the only people I’ve taught that has so actively (sought) for truth. Every time we teach a lesson, she takes the pamphlet home and studies every last word and scripture reference. Her scriptures have been marked up already with cross-references, themed tabs, and personal thoughts to the point that they look like the scriptures of a long-time member. She is trying to figure out how the Spirit talks to her, and it has been a blessing to help her in this process!
Spiritual light doesn’t come to those waiting in darkness for someone to flip a switch just like happiness doesn’t come to those just dreaming of things to come.
That’s definitely something I’ve been learning. This past week I realized I have been living in Taiwan for a year helping people actively seek the light and know that even though things aren’t perfect now, we can still be happy. Wow, it’s been hard, but it’s been absolutely worth it! As one of my favorite missionary songs puts it, “The hardest thing I’ve ever loved to do!”
Funny things that happened this week:
1. Did face masks at district council haha (The Elder’s idea)
2. Threw a Halloween party and played the donuts on a string game. I haven’t laughed that hard in a very long time hahaha
3. We moved one morning, and when we got home that night, our house smelled terrible. We walked towards the kitchen and realized it smelled like soy sauce. Turns out when the people helping us move chucked food in the fridge, the cracked our enormous bottle of soy sauce. The entire fridge and floor surrounding the fridge was covered in soy sauce hahaha that was an adventure to clean up! Haha let’s just say the house still has a faint soy sauce scent.
That’s about it from me!
I love you all so so so much!!!
安姐妹
Sister Kara Andersen 