This week we continued to work really hard to find new investigators. Everyday was filled with hours of contacting people on the side of the street. And we saw a lot of cool miracles this week! I will share what happened with us on Monday night.
We were contacting all Monday night. We talked to a lot of people, but it seemed like most people were not interested in what we had to say. Then, while we were biking back towards the church area, I saw a guy leaving a store on the corner of the street. We were turning and I just felt like I should go back and talk to him. As I turned my bike around to go back, the guy we saw leave the store turned the corner. We talked to him and as I introduced myself as "Elder Quist" he asked me why I was called "Elder." I told him it was because I am a missionary and he preceded to tell us that a few years ago he was able to attend a christian church service and he was really interested in Christianity. Because we still had about an hour till it was time to go home, I asked him if he wanted to go over to our church so we could give him a tour. He was like "I got time, where is your church?" It was awesome! So, then we walked with him to our church and shared a short lesson about our purpose as missionaries. His name is Brian and he seems really cool!
However, even though we saw miracles this week, we also had our share of trials. We worked really hard and it seemed like the people we were meeting on the street just didn't have a lot of interest and some of the investigators we already have were telling us they no longer wanted to meet with us. So, it seemed our situation was just getting worse and worse. Finally, on Sunday, we had invited at least 10 people to church and five of them told us they would be there. However, as church started we were sad to see that none of them decided to come. I was really disappointed. Even though the Lord has taught me, time and time again, what real success is on a mission, I still felt like my efforts were inadequate. Then, during fast and testimony meeting, a younger member (only 18 years old) got up and shared an experience. He told of how his parents called him one day at 3 o clock in the afternoon and told him in order to apply for a certain college he had to submit his application that day. However, since he needed his Taiwanese identification card, he had to run to his school, find it, and enter the information into the computer, all before 6 o clock. Since he was far from his school, he went to rent a U Bike (which is a bike you can rent and bike around the city). However, as he was trying to get the U bike, his yoyo card (the card you use to rent the U bike) stopped working and it wouldn't let him take out a bike. He said he kept trying and trying and finally he decided to say a prayer. After saying a prayer, the card still wasn't working. Finally, he thought God had forgotten him; however, as soon as he thought that he saw Elder Hampton and I biking down the road. He then became emotional and expressed how much he felt God's love for him at that moment. We had talked to him for a couple of minutes (oblivious of his situation) and then left. He then said after we left his card worked perfectly and he was able to go get everything done that he needed to get done. I don't know why he needed to talk with us missionaries, but it really strengthened his testimony. I remember that day.... We had contacted for about an hour with absolutely no success. I felt like our efforts that afternoon were worthless. But, as he shared that experience the spirit testified to me so strongly that our time on our missions is the Lord's time and He will use it as He needs. If we are willing to sacrifice our all to the Lord, and follow the Spirit, we can be certain that what we do each day is God's will for us, whether or not it seems to wield success.
I love being a missionary! Don't forget to keeping praying for us to find investigators with real intent! We are going to see miracles!
Love you guys,
Elder Quist
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