Hey everyone!
This week was an awesome week and we got to do a lot of work, which is awesome. We saw a lot of the last week's work start paying off and we started be a little less pitiful. We were a little miffed at the previous weeks when we looked at it and thought it was a little odd that we are getting to the point where we should be the best missionaries that we've ever been, but getting some of the worst results we've ever had. I'm glad to see that it seems like things are changing a little bit.
Chuckleberry Jam: This has to be without a doubt the best jam in the world; a big shout out to my wonderful mother, the greatest jammer in the world! Tart, sweet and with unique flavor, makes me "chuckle" every time. Five chuckles out of five.
We were invited to a Christmas party this week by some other missionaries and we went over for a little bit but then thought that we needed to leave because we didn't have an investigator there. We went out and started finding for the rest of the night. It was a great decision because we saw more miracles in that short hour and a half than I have ever seen in a comparable time period. We contacted so many people who willing to meet with us and set up a time to learn more. It was an amazing night and really helped us both get into the real spirit of Christmas. My favorite was that I had this feeling to go into a little lane and talk to someone and the man I talked to had his whole family on hand and wanted to learn more this week. I am so excited! I can promise that as we focus more on the Savior during this wonderful season, that we'll see more miracles. We'll be happier. We will truly be filled with the love of Christ.
Love,
Elder Siebert
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Keeping it on the ZL
Hey everyone!
I am hanging in there in my second week as a Zone Leader. It is a lot of fun and we saw a lot of progress in the zone so we are getting super excited. We are having a blast and just going crazy over here. We joke a lot of the time that the only difference between us and the traveling assistants to the president is that we also have an area that we have to work in. We go on a ton of exchanges all the time.
Food review: Cherry Chocolate Cereal Cookies: The primary made us all these cherry flavored chocolate cookie things and they were incredible. I have to applaud all those little kids. 5 chocolate confections out of 5.
Verbatim: You come across as my Attorney General, you just go to work and get everything done. I'm like Teddy Roosevelt, I carry a big stick. --Elder Kasparian on how we work together.
You know those shoes that I said that you could take, they were actually Elder Siebert's.--Elder Kasparian on the issue of the elderhood of the traveling shoes.
Elderhood of the Traveling Shoes: This week when I got back from exchanges with Danshui (my home!) I noticed that my second pair of shoes were gone. I mentioned it to Elder Kasparian and asked if he knew where they were. He was really shocked and then said "I thought those were left by someone who'd gone home. Shoot, that makes sense why they looked so nice. I was wondering about that....I'm really sorry." It was so funny and we just laughed about it. They are coming back my way companionship at a time. Eventually I will get them back when we go and exchange with the right elders. It's been a really good joke though and we make reference to it all the time.
I want to give a big shoutout to my older brother, Presidential Coach! I know that what he's doing now will really help him in the future when he coaches other Presidents in 2028 (Kyler) on how to talk properly. Hee hee!
This week we saw some great success from working with our members and getting referrals. I thought the best though was when I got to go back to Danshui and visit a new member there, Wang dx. He is so much changed for the better! He looks like new person, a little angel. He is so peaceful and serene and is trying so hard in the face of opposition to remain strong. His wife is struggling really hard, but he's doing all he can to help her, himself and the family to be strong in the church. It was a miracle to see how he's changed from the time that I found him in front of his house until now. The gospel truly can work miracles in people and help them to turn 180 degrees and be who they have the potential to be. It was a wonderful testament of the power of the atonement for me.
I love you all and wish the best for you in this great Christmas season!
Love,
Elder Siebert
I am hanging in there in my second week as a Zone Leader. It is a lot of fun and we saw a lot of progress in the zone so we are getting super excited. We are having a blast and just going crazy over here. We joke a lot of the time that the only difference between us and the traveling assistants to the president is that we also have an area that we have to work in. We go on a ton of exchanges all the time.
Food review: Cherry Chocolate Cereal Cookies: The primary made us all these cherry flavored chocolate cookie things and they were incredible. I have to applaud all those little kids. 5 chocolate confections out of 5.
Verbatim: You come across as my Attorney General, you just go to work and get everything done. I'm like Teddy Roosevelt, I carry a big stick. --Elder Kasparian on how we work together.
You know those shoes that I said that you could take, they were actually Elder Siebert's.--Elder Kasparian on the issue of the elderhood of the traveling shoes.
Elderhood of the Traveling Shoes: This week when I got back from exchanges with Danshui (my home!) I noticed that my second pair of shoes were gone. I mentioned it to Elder Kasparian and asked if he knew where they were. He was really shocked and then said "I thought those were left by someone who'd gone home. Shoot, that makes sense why they looked so nice. I was wondering about that....I'm really sorry." It was so funny and we just laughed about it. They are coming back my way companionship at a time. Eventually I will get them back when we go and exchange with the right elders. It's been a really good joke though and we make reference to it all the time.
I want to give a big shoutout to my older brother, Presidential Coach! I know that what he's doing now will really help him in the future when he coaches other Presidents in 2028 (Kyler) on how to talk properly. Hee hee!
This week we saw some great success from working with our members and getting referrals. I thought the best though was when I got to go back to Danshui and visit a new member there, Wang dx. He is so much changed for the better! He looks like new person, a little angel. He is so peaceful and serene and is trying so hard in the face of opposition to remain strong. His wife is struggling really hard, but he's doing all he can to help her, himself and the family to be strong in the church. It was a miracle to see how he's changed from the time that I found him in front of his house until now. The gospel truly can work miracles in people and help them to turn 180 degrees and be who they have the potential to be. It was a wonderful testament of the power of the atonement for me.
I love you all and wish the best for you in this great Christmas season!
Love,
Elder Siebert
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Lobster Pot (That's what Mark calls it)
Hey everyone!
This week is the first successful week of being a Zone Leader survived through. I am excited to report that I am still alive and am not even that dead. It was fun going on back to back exchanges where I wasn't in my area for nearly three days straight! (that was facetious by the way).
Food:
There wasn't anything new in the way of food.
Verbatim:
"I'll take the bag, you're holding a lot more than I am at the moment." --Me commenting on the fact that Elder Kasparian had to take a pooh coming home from a meeting.
"They make me want to throw up, DON'T GRAB THEM!" --Elder Kasparian on me grabbing his bao1zi3's (our secret word for love handles)
"On second thought, three eggs is always better than two." --Elder Kasparian on these little dessert thingies that he had.
We spent a lot of time at the little nativity thing up at headquarters this week. We actually had a blast and I saw an amazing miracle from it. We were getting some dinner after singing in the first one on saturday and waiting for the second one to start. The restaurant was super crowded, so I saw a lady who looked like she was going to leave and I asked her if she was going to. She said no but that we could sit on the bench across the table from her. We sat down. I started talking to her and found out that she was already Christian. Throughout dinner, I talked to her about the church and she consented to come and do a temple tour and then stay for the nativity program. It was really cool because she was actually really excited to come to the program. It just proves that you just have to talk to everyone all the time, no matter what you are doing.
This week was fun because I got to go up to Luo2Dong1 all the way out in the boonies and exchange over there. It was a good exchange and I got to see one of the biggest miracles ever while waiting for a lesson at the church. We were waiting outside for the person to come when I saw a couple walking across the street. I ran across and started talking to them. The guy seemed a little hostile at first, but he gave his keys to the girlfriend and she left, leaving us alone to keep talking. I kept talking to him and asking him questions and eventually he started opening up. It was really amazing. As I tried to connect with him on a personal level, the Lord really let me know the man. As I was exchanging contact info with him, I asked him to be baptized because that's the invite we have this week from President: to ask everyone to be baptized. When I did, he looked right at me and said that he would love to. I reeled a little bit and then asked him if he would be willing to prepare for a specific date and he said once again, very eagerly, "Yes!" I then realized how much of a jem he was and I asked him to come into the church right away. He accepted and we ended up teaching him in the church and then taking him for a tour of the church facilities. It was really exciting because he told us when he was in the chapel that he felt really "peaceful" and that he liked it and that the second he had spare time he would be coming to the chapel for sure. It was a wonderful miracle where I kept the invites from President and saw huge results!
I know that the Lord inspires his servants, we can always listen to them and turn to them for guidance.
Love,
Elder Siebert
This week is the first successful week of being a Zone Leader survived through. I am excited to report that I am still alive and am not even that dead. It was fun going on back to back exchanges where I wasn't in my area for nearly three days straight! (that was facetious by the way).
Food:
There wasn't anything new in the way of food.
Verbatim:
"I'll take the bag, you're holding a lot more than I am at the moment." --Me commenting on the fact that Elder Kasparian had to take a pooh coming home from a meeting.
"They make me want to throw up, DON'T GRAB THEM!" --Elder Kasparian on me grabbing his bao1zi3's (our secret word for love handles)
"On second thought, three eggs is always better than two." --Elder Kasparian on these little dessert thingies that he had.
We spent a lot of time at the little nativity thing up at headquarters this week. We actually had a blast and I saw an amazing miracle from it. We were getting some dinner after singing in the first one on saturday and waiting for the second one to start. The restaurant was super crowded, so I saw a lady who looked like she was going to leave and I asked her if she was going to. She said no but that we could sit on the bench across the table from her. We sat down. I started talking to her and found out that she was already Christian. Throughout dinner, I talked to her about the church and she consented to come and do a temple tour and then stay for the nativity program. It was really cool because she was actually really excited to come to the program. It just proves that you just have to talk to everyone all the time, no matter what you are doing.
This week was fun because I got to go up to Luo2Dong1 all the way out in the boonies and exchange over there. It was a good exchange and I got to see one of the biggest miracles ever while waiting for a lesson at the church. We were waiting outside for the person to come when I saw a couple walking across the street. I ran across and started talking to them. The guy seemed a little hostile at first, but he gave his keys to the girlfriend and she left, leaving us alone to keep talking. I kept talking to him and asking him questions and eventually he started opening up. It was really amazing. As I tried to connect with him on a personal level, the Lord really let me know the man. As I was exchanging contact info with him, I asked him to be baptized because that's the invite we have this week from President: to ask everyone to be baptized. When I did, he looked right at me and said that he would love to. I reeled a little bit and then asked him if he would be willing to prepare for a specific date and he said once again, very eagerly, "Yes!" I then realized how much of a jem he was and I asked him to come into the church right away. He accepted and we ended up teaching him in the church and then taking him for a tour of the church facilities. It was really exciting because he told us when he was in the chapel that he felt really "peaceful" and that he liked it and that the second he had spare time he would be coming to the chapel for sure. It was a wonderful miracle where I kept the invites from President and saw huge results!
I know that the Lord inspires his servants, we can always listen to them and turn to them for guidance.
Love,
Elder Siebert
Monday, December 5, 2011
Guess I am moving up?
Hey everyone!
I am sadly, no longer a district leader. I got called by President Grimley this week and got moved up to be a Zone Leader. I am was very sad to have to leave my amazing companion Elder Chris Reynolds, but I am glad to report that I am going to be moving to ShiLin which is about two feet from my current area in Tianmu. I am going to have plenty of opportunity to see him.
This week I had:
Thai Green Curry: This was probably the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I loved it so much. The taste was creamy, deep, aromatic and spicier than pretty much anything that I have ever had before in my life. It was an amazing experience that left me gasping in more ways than one. Haha. Well, I give it 5 curried concoctions out of 5. (that was lame, sorry)
We had a great week this week and had an awesome experience with one of our investigators Zheng dx. We went to a baptism for Nei4Hu2 with him and it was amazing. First off, I got invited to talk at the baptism by the candidate, who has met me twice for baptismal interviews. It was pretty funny getting asked by her even though I know so little about her. Anyway, Zheng dx was so excited to go and he actually cried when he saw the baptism. He was so moved! He told me how much he wanted that kind of new beginning and there was a major fire in him. He is really smart (he's an oncologic surgeon) and I am pretty sure he's already on his second time through the BOM even though we only gave it to him the other week. It's a great miracle to see someone that I actually found from a street contact progress so fast and love everything about Church.
We had another miraculous meeting this week. We were meeting with a Zhou dx who has been meeting with missionaries for a long time, but I don't think that he was taught too effectively before. However, the Lord let me know what I needed to ask him and teach him a while back and since then he has really been interested in figuring out if there is a prophet and if God will answer his prayers. I asked him about how he felt reading the BOM was helping him and if he felt that it was helping him know what we shared was true. He looked at me really intently and he said, "I don't know if I am doing anything wrong, but I don't really know if my prayers are getting answered." He then went on to describe a lot of his feelings while praying and I kept knowing what to ask him to help him have revelation for himself. He recognized the feelings of the spirit and was so excited to see that God actually has been answering him. He was so thrilled. He told us that he didn't care that he couldn't see God in a vision, but that he was just so happy that God was helping him change and giving him these feelings. I know that the reason that lesson was so great was because all those questions were straight from Heaven. It was a great miracle to see him completely change from the time that I met him weeks ago.
I know that miracles happen, no matter how small they are. I want to ask everyone to think of one miracle that you saw in your life every day before you go to sleep. You will realize how much God watches over you. I promise and testify that is true.
Love,
Elder Siebert
I am sadly, no longer a district leader. I got called by President Grimley this week and got moved up to be a Zone Leader. I am was very sad to have to leave my amazing companion Elder Chris Reynolds, but I am glad to report that I am going to be moving to ShiLin which is about two feet from my current area in Tianmu. I am going to have plenty of opportunity to see him.
This week I had:
Thai Green Curry: This was probably the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I loved it so much. The taste was creamy, deep, aromatic and spicier than pretty much anything that I have ever had before in my life. It was an amazing experience that left me gasping in more ways than one. Haha. Well, I give it 5 curried concoctions out of 5. (that was lame, sorry)
We had a great week this week and had an awesome experience with one of our investigators Zheng dx. We went to a baptism for Nei4Hu2 with him and it was amazing. First off, I got invited to talk at the baptism by the candidate, who has met me twice for baptismal interviews. It was pretty funny getting asked by her even though I know so little about her. Anyway, Zheng dx was so excited to go and he actually cried when he saw the baptism. He was so moved! He told me how much he wanted that kind of new beginning and there was a major fire in him. He is really smart (he's an oncologic surgeon) and I am pretty sure he's already on his second time through the BOM even though we only gave it to him the other week. It's a great miracle to see someone that I actually found from a street contact progress so fast and love everything about Church.
We had another miraculous meeting this week. We were meeting with a Zhou dx who has been meeting with missionaries for a long time, but I don't think that he was taught too effectively before. However, the Lord let me know what I needed to ask him and teach him a while back and since then he has really been interested in figuring out if there is a prophet and if God will answer his prayers. I asked him about how he felt reading the BOM was helping him and if he felt that it was helping him know what we shared was true. He looked at me really intently and he said, "I don't know if I am doing anything wrong, but I don't really know if my prayers are getting answered." He then went on to describe a lot of his feelings while praying and I kept knowing what to ask him to help him have revelation for himself. He recognized the feelings of the spirit and was so excited to see that God actually has been answering him. He was so thrilled. He told us that he didn't care that he couldn't see God in a vision, but that he was just so happy that God was helping him change and giving him these feelings. I know that the reason that lesson was so great was because all those questions were straight from Heaven. It was a great miracle to see him completely change from the time that I met him weeks ago.
I know that miracles happen, no matter how small they are. I want to ask everyone to think of one miracle that you saw in your life every day before you go to sleep. You will realize how much God watches over you. I promise and testify that is true.
Love,
Elder Siebert
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