I'm grateful I had the opportunity to serve a mission in the Taiwan Koashung Mission.
The 2nd to the last paragraph of my mission call says it all, “The Lord will reward the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have ever yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.” Such truth! The promise was fulfilled and that paragraph brings me to tears every time I read it.Don’t get me wrong, I had plenty of challenges on my mission. From learning the Chinese language, eating the food (I was a super picky eater even in America, no tomatoes, onions, potatoes... let alone fish ball soup, chicken feet, cold taro soup...) some companions (I’m not saying I was very easy to live with myself), the cockroaches, getting use to the blunt Taiwanese culture, bike riding in a dress on hot humid days or during a typhoon, there were many long, hard days.But when I think back on my mission, what comes to mind are the joys and blessings I’ve received from serving. From the friendships that were formed, the amazing companions that would eat my food for me, the investigators that chose to get baptized, the silly dances on bikes we made up, the fun p-day activities , the (appropriate) pranks with the elders...How grateful I am that I have a Father in Heaven that knew me more than I knew myself and had faith in calling me to serve the wonderful people of Taiwan. I truly believe mission calls are calls straight from God.The many amazing people I met on my mission helped me learn and grow so much and have been a blessing in my life. My companions, other sister missionaries, elders, Brother and Sister Murdock and of course the Taiwanese people, members and investigators.I couldn’t have served without the love and support from those back home. My family, friends and ward family that helped by praying for me, writing to me and even the many that helped pay for my mission. And my amazing Grandma Mike that scrapbooked my entire mission book for me. It was done by the time I came home.My mission helped me grow in so many ways and in a much faster paste than possible without serving.My missionary scripture was Ether 12:27I shared this verse with my kids this evening. I testified to them that I knew the scripture is true and how I saw many of my weaknesses become strengths in the short time I served my mission. *I also reminded them that I know I still have plenty of weaknesses that I’m still working on becoming strengths.“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
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| The MTC |
