Week 16

Family! 

I was so glad to hear from you all this week! :) It is so weird to think that school will be starting soon! The whole summer is pretty much gone. It seems surreal being on the mission. 

This week has been a lot better than last week! Last week I felt pretty overwhelmed but this week I was taught that with the help of Heavenly Father I can do hard things. We were able to have some really good lessons! We met with S, T and a few other investigators. Unfortunately not all of them, but we will keep on trying. Both lessons we had with T this week were really good. He just gets it. And he asks amazing questions! We were teaching him about prophets and he asked how a prophet was chosen. When we explained it to him he thought for a minute, nodded his head and said "That makes sense. I want to meet one of these men who are so experienced." (Referring to the Quorum of the 12 and First Presidency). We also taught him a whole lesson on prayer and it was was cool because he came up with his own analogy in the middle of the lesson about prayer and aligning our will with God's. And it related to the NBA too, which is his favourite :) 

S has set a baptismal date for Sept 15 and we are still working with him to quit smoking and come to church. S has so much to gain from the gospel of Jesus Christ, he just needs to have the courage to do hard things and the faith that God will be with him as he does this. 

This week Sister Sopi and I got to know one another better and I think we are going to work well together. We have had quite a few laughs too. 

Two funny things: On Saturday night we were headed home for the night and going to do a little finding around our flat (it was around 8:30) when I gave a pass-a-long card to 2 men sitting on a bench by a pond. We ended up having a twenty-minute conversation with them! They were drinking unfortunately (everyone drinks here!) but they weren't too drunk. Regardless, it was a really great chance to practice teaching on the street and we actually had a really good conversation about the Plan of Salvation, the purpose of life and the Atonement. It was really interesting, but I found it really exhilarating because I was fulfilling my purpose as a missionary. I was able to teach and testify of Christ to someone who would listen. And even though they were drunk they recognized us as servants of God and stopped swearing around us. I can't fully put into words the experience, but it was cool.

So, we have a lot of Chinese recent converts in our ward (they are all amazing!) and after a baptism on Sunday (the other sisters had a Chinese university student be baptized) we were talking to them. One of them said, "What is the significance of your ring? All of the missionaries have them." He was referring to my CTR ring on my right ring finger. There were four others standing there, and they all asked too. I started to talk about how CTR meant choose the right. I came to find out in China they wear the wedding ring on the right ring finger so all of the Chinese converts thought all the missionaries were married! haha 

Also, I forgot to tell you, but two weeks ago, I ate sheep liver! Aren't you proud of me? I didn't gag or anything. It was actually pretty good! 

Heavenly Father has helped us out a lot this week! As I have humbled myself (and been humbled) I have been able to listen to the promptings of the Spirit more and say things in lessons that people really needed to hear. I think this week was the first time I have felt the spirit literally put words into my mouth as I have taught and testified. It was a really cool experience, and I hope that I can strive always to live so the Lord can make me a better instrument in his hands. 

I was reading in Alma, in the war chapters, and in Alma 43:9-12 the Nephites were preparing to go to war against the Lamanites. The Nephites (especially Captain Moroni) knew what they were fighting for, and they knew what they had to lose if they lost the fight. So I made a list of the things I am fighting for as a missionary, and what I have to lose if I do not keep the faith and continue to war against Satan. It was an enlightening experience. I have so much to fight for than I thought I did! I invite you all to do it if you get the chance. but instead fill it in with something relevant to you. Like what do I have to fight for as a mother, father, sister, home evening mom, member of the church etc. It really motivated me and helped me focus on why we keep fighting against Satan, and what we lose if we stop.

I am so grateful for your love and support! 

Sister Roscher

And here's some pictures:

This is our "family" picture. In the mission the trainer is the mother, the trainee the child etc.

So, Sister Mueller who has been out 9 months trained Sister miller for 2 transfers. Then she trained sister Dodds. Sister Miller trained me and now sister Dodds and I are both training. So it started with Sister Mueller and now she has two children, two grandchilren and a great-grandaughter! (Sister Sopi) 

Abbey road... not THE Abbey road, but A Abbey road :)