DaYu

My dear family and friends,

What a great week...full of miracles and memorable experiences. Everyday I am so grateful for all I am learning on my mission. It is purely true joy being able to share the gospel with those hungering to receive it.

This week was spent with a lot of finding time. Monday night, we went out to a place called DaYu. We met a mom, Li JM, and her son, Michael. At first when she saw it was two missionaries, she said, We a 'baibaide' but as we continued talking, she opened up and told us her and her son attend a Christian Church together and Michael's grandpa is pretty religious!  We were able to have a short lesson with them about how the gospel blesses families and the Book of Mormon. And she was willing to let us come back again! We are planning on going over tonight! What I really learned from this experience tonight was the power of bearing testimony can bring. Like it says in Preach My Gospel, bearing testimony is SO powerful! Because we bore testimony to Li JM and Michael, Li JM was willing to talk to us and allow us to share a little about the church. AND Michael came to English class on Wednesday night AND he came to CHURCH yesterday! Li JieMei couldn't come because she had work. What a HUGE miracle!

Thursday, we also spent a day out in an area called RuiSui. We spent our entire day finding and we saw so many miracles. We met a lady who just became Christian about a year ago-Zhou JieMei. She was really hesitant to take the Book of Mormon because she has been taught that we only need the Bible. But, from bearing simple testimony, she was willing to accept it and for us to come back this next week. Our only concern was that she told us she is going to ask some people in her church about the Book of Mormon. We promised her that if she did her own studies and relied on her own prayers, she would get an answer for herself. We also met a lady who moved to RuiSui from down South a few months ago and has yet to find a church! She was leaving for a meeting so we couldn't teach her anything but she told us to come back this next week! And my favorite, we met a 謝家庭(Xie Family). They are amazing. They attend a different Christian Church (I have never met so many people in one day here who are already Christian) but were super open to listening and hearing more. They have what seems to be a pretty hard life but they rely firmly on their relationship with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and know that in the end, everything will work out. We shared with them mostly about the Book of Mormon and they asked how much it was. When we told them we want to give it to them for free, they were shocked and so grateful. The neatest part of the entire visit is that the dad said the closing prayer in their aborigine language (there is like 16 different aborigine languages or something like that here). It was crazy. At first, it sounded like he was yelling and talking very harshly but the Spirit was SO strong. After the prayer ended, his wife translated some of it into Chinese for us and he thanked Heavenly Father for allowing us to be directed to their home, giving them a Book of Mormon and inviting the Spirit into their home. Also, when the prayer was ended, we looked up and Xie DiXiong was in tears. It was such a neat experience. One I will never forget. I LOVE spreading the gospel. Bringing light into individuals eyes is the greatest thing in the world.

While in RuiSui, we also met a young mom, Chen JieMei. She has previously been to a Christian Church but doesn't know very much. We are excited to visit her again this week!

Yesterday at church, we had 3 investigators come! IT was a HUGE miracle. All 3 were children.  5 of the Elders investigators came for the first time and they were also all children. We literally almost doubled our numbers in Sacrament meeting due to how many children were there. It was crazy!! I love working in 玉里. I have learned SO much here in this cute little town. I am so grateful for the many blessings and miracles Heavenly Father has allowed me to see while I have been serving my mission. I love who I am. I love who I am becoming.
Transfers were this last week AND Sister Coleman and I are staying together!!
My Scripture for the week is found in Mosiah 5:15:
Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Have a great week!!!

Love,

Sister Haacke

 It was 玉美's birthday this week and she turned 8! She is a part member family. Her older two siblings are members and we are hoping we can now start teaching her the lessons. Sister Coleman and I are sportin' our rain gear!

 

 We also had zone training and Sister Coleman and I have the same coat from DownEast so we matched for the day!

  

 We also had English Party this week! This is one of the kids, Pablo...he is ADORABLE!

 The weather is still super warm here!! And the clouds were beautiful! 

 

  

 Sister Coleman and I with 6 year old twins. They are our investigators daughters! They are the cutest and have the cutest personalities!  Our arms are supposed to look like hearts. :)