He Is At the Helm

Hello from Taiwan!

 

This week has been just awesome! Elder Relyea and I have really be able to see miracles as we have done our best this week. The Lord lead us to the places and people that we needed to help.

Of first note, Brother Rong came to church yesterday for the first time, and he brought his three kids!!! We were so excited. After spiritually-filled sacrament meeting Brother Rong came up to us and said "As long as I have faith, I can do it!" His meaning was to be able to give up things that have been holding him back and be able to be baptized! It has been so awesome to watch his desire grow over the past month and a half. We will be heading over to their house tonight with our Branch President and another member to make a plan with them on how they can over come their problems with the Word of Wisdom. It may take a little time, but we know that as they rely on the Lord, truly, all things are possible. We really hope to see them be baptized at the end of September!

Another miracle of the week happened on Friday night. We had decided to head over to a kids house that we had met on the street to see if we could set up a time to come back and as we got to the house and knocked on the front gate, we ended up running into his older brother who will be starting his senior year of high school this week. Their family seems to have a lot of challenges, but they are so humble! We began talking with his brother and were actually able to teach him about Heavenly Father right on the spot. Tears came to his eye as we talked about the peace, comfort, and support that He can give us as we develop our relationship with him. We were able to go back the next day have another great lesson and then he came with us to church on Sunday! We will head back to his house on Tuesday and hope that his Mom and little brother will be able to join us too. They need the gospel so much!

Last cool story that I would like to share... On Tuesday night, my companion decided to tract in the neighborhood of a less active member in our branch. We were going door to door and nobody seemed to have any interest, some were even a little rude. My companion was starting to feel a little frustrated, but then we rang a doorbell and the whole night changed! A lady came out and says "Oh Elders! Hello!" We were shocked, she quickly invited us into her home. As we were walking in she told us how her son used to be a missionary for our church. We were able to sit down with her and her husband and they told us all about her son who went to Australia on his mission and who is now in Texas working with an active family of three. As of now they are not super interested in hearing the gospel, but I know that we have established a good relationship that i believe over time will be nurtured and turn into an opportunity for them to hear the gospel. It was a cool little miracle as im sure no one in our branch has ever heard of this family.

This past week I have come to know more deeply and personally of the reality that this work we are doing is truly the Lord's work. He is at the helm of this ship and is leading us as we seek to do our best. I know that He lives, He loves us, and we will all be able to return to Heavenly Father as we turn towards his Son, Jesus Christ.

That sums up much of this past week. I wish I had more time to tell more! I hope that everyone has a great week as summer is finishing up and everyone is getting ready for a new start at school.

Love you all,

Elder Bastian