SISTER MARTINA THOMAS: The Day Where I Served in China

September 26th

My grandma sent me some homemade brownies

THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!!!!!!

HI EVERYONE,

OHHHH what a beautiful week. FALL IS HERE AND I LOVE IT. The trees are starting to change, the weather is getting a little chillier and man we are so happy.

Highlights of this amazing week:

* After everyone and everything cancelled on us for multiple days in a row, we were finally able to see Sabina our amazing and wonderful investigator. Her car broke down and the charges to fix it were three times what she was expecting, and with three kids to take care of, she was left not knowing what to do. But as she continued talking about this trial she was having, her tone of voice moved from the depressed and sadden tone to a happier and lighter tone as she talked about how we have to face trials and difficulties with a humble heart. She said that she knew that God would help her through this, and that each obstacle we face is a learning experience. She was testifying to US of the reality of opposition in all things. It was amazing to see her perspective on such a crummy thing to be so positive. One of her common phrases is "you have to become better, not bitter." She is truly amazing.

*Then yesterday we had a MIRACLE OF MIRACLES. Half way through Sacrament meeting, a Chinese women and her two children walked in, and I turned to Sister Morgan immediately because I knew I had recognized them. Rewind to a month ago as we were visiting a less active member in the ward, we were leaving their apartment building as we ran into this family. We started talking to them and we found out they had moved here from China just a week beforehand. They didn't have a phone so I couldn't get their number, but I gave them a pamphlet in Mandarin (because I always carry them because we meet so many Chinese people) and we parted our ways. So you can imagine how shocked I was when I saw them in church! We went up to them afterwards along with another member of the ward who just got back from his mission to France. His family is from Taiwan and Mandarin is his second language so he was able to translate for us and talk to them and help them feel welcomed. Then we went into a classroom and started teaching the family a little more about the church, and what we do as missionaries. It turns out, the grandmother of the children (their father's mother) is a member of the church in China! And so the mother of the kids wanted them to be taught and baptized. We, of course, told them we would like nothing more than to help in that process. But we also explained, with the help of the Mandarin speaking member, that we would need to teach them a few things. She readily agreed and then we started teaching them about prayer. The kids had never prayed before, but after we taught them what it was, and what it meant, they all prayed at the end of our little lesson, and we committed them to pray together as a family. YAY! And now we have an appointment with them for tomorrow, and our member friend, Justin, is going to come and help us translate. YAY!

* But the Chinese fun doesn't end there! Later that evening, after church and all that excitement calmed down, we were walking around and found 3 more Chinese people and contacted them. Two of them were a couple that again JUST moved here like 3 weeks ago, and the husband, who spoke more English, said that he wanted his wife to go to a church. And when we asked where they lived, it turns out they live in the SAME apartment as the Chinese family that came to church! We got there information and they told us they wanted to come to church! Then as we continued walking we ran into two young Chinese men who were just sitting on a park bench. We starting talk to one, who's name is Richard and he was an exchange student studying here in Canada. He said he grew up reading the Bible in Mandarin but that he was getting "kind of bored with it," and that he "wanted something new" and we were just like HEY WE GOT IT. It was awesome. The people of China are ready to hear the gospel, everyone!

Thank you for your prayers and your support, it means the world.

I hope everyone has a beautiful, amazing, fantastic week,

With all the love in the world,

Sister Thomas