Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

This is my last mission entry.

I apologize for my lack of blog posts recently.  As some of you (or all of you, depending on what my mother has shared from her letters) might know, we have had a mission Christmas devotional that I have been preparing for, and this last week we performed.

It was incredible.

I don't think I have ever participated in a more spiritual devotional where people testified so clearly through the music they performed. Every song seemed to build upon the last, until we reached Elder Murray's incredible arrangement of Joy to the World which was performed by all the participants in the program. (That includes three violins, two flutes, a viola, a cello, an organ, and four-part choir, by the way. It was a LOT of fun to conduct.) Four measures in, I could feel the Spirit so strong, pushing us forward in the performance. The song built and the choir hit every entrance just right - it was incredible.  At the end of the song, the choir sang out their final "joy!" followed a measure later by the instruments to fill out an incredible chord, and then there was silence.  During the closing prayer, I could hear sniffles throughout the entire congregation.  I was probably the worst offender, though, sobbing on the stand.  I don't think I was too loud.   No one said anything, at least.

The entire performance was so moving, so inspired, and so exactly what our mission (and I) needed.  I was caught between grinning and crying for the rest of the day as I said my goodbyes and reflected on what had happened.  Elder Hurst did wonderfully singing "O Holy Night" (and singing two A4s to boot), "In the Bleak Midwinter" bore incredible testimony of giving ourselves, consecrating ourselves, to the Savior, and every piece in general just brought the Spirit so strongly.  Especially Joy to the World.  I was so happy.

The next night we took all the small groups to the Olmstead chapel in the Bronx to perform at their Christmas open house.  It was a humble evening.  There were about as many missionaries there as members (they have a lot of missionaries there, like Chinatown), and the numbers performed by the ward were not necessarily in tune, but they were honest.  The people were bearing their testimonies through song, which was incredible.  I was especially touched by a man who was not even a member of our church, but wanted to participate in some way.  He asked if he could play his trumpet and sing for us.  I don't remember the song, or even the tune, but I do remember the Spirit that entered the room as that man bore his testimony of Christ to us.  The entire night was so sweet, so wonderful, all because the only thing any of the performers or listeners were there for was to bear testimony of the Savior.  I hope I will see many more Christmas programs like that in the future.

Along with the Christmas program, we have been fitting in as much missionary work as we can.  I love being a missionary so much, and I have learned so much in the past year and a half.  I am incredibly grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me this chance to serve in Chinatown, NYC.  This place, these people, and this work are where I have had many of my most cherished memories and experiences.

At the end of one's service in our mission, the elders and sisters commemorate the returning missionaries' service by singing "Each Life That Touches Ours for Good."  I have grown to love this song, and I think one verse in particular applies to the friends I have made here in New York:

What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, 
Whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

To the many people I have met, and to all who have supported me over my last year and a half, I love you.  I love my mission.  I love the closeness I feel with the Lord.  I am grateful for the chance I have had to grow closer to my Savior and to know of His love for each of his children.  I know He lives, and that His work and His glory really is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).  Thank you, all of you, for helping me to have this experience through your actions and prayers.

With love,
Sister Beer

Welcome to the Chinatown Ward!

That's right, everyone, we are officially a ward!  This is a big step for us, since we have been a branch (a smaller congregation) for about 10 years. We are the first Chinese-speaking ward in New York, which is pretty awesome, and we are looking forward to lots of growth in the future.  In Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, President Buckner (our stake president) challenged us to grow a stake from our new ward.  Can you imagine that? A Chinese-speaking stake in New York City!  That would be awesome.  We have a lot of work to do before that can happen, but we are ever hopeful.

Other fun things that happened this week:  Brother Wang was confirmed a member of the Church on Sunday, we had a zone conference this week, and we got to hear the Christmas Devotional on Sunday as well, which was excellent.  If you haven't had the opportunity to hear it, I would highly recommend going to www.lds.org and checking it out.

Zone conference yesterday was awesome.  Elder Paul V. Johnson came to speak to us, and gave some great counsel on how to be more effective missionaries.  One of my favorite things he talked about was becoming a low-maintenance, high-yield missionary.  As we learn to solve problems on our own and receive personal revelation from the Lord, we become more effective missionaries with stronger testimonies, who see more success as we work.  This applies to any member of the Church (or any person, really); there is nothing a church leader likes more than to see someone actively working to strengthen themselves and magnify their calling.  As we do so we also have opportunities to serve and build up the people around us as well.

Something I have been thinking a lot about recently, what with the surge in new missionaries we are anticipating (we will have increased our numbers from 150 missionaries to 250 missionaries in the field by the end of my mission) is that I will probably be training someone in the near future. Training a new missionary is a bit of a daunting task, in my opinion.  As a trainer, you are the first companion a missionary has in the field. You are the one they look up to to know how on earth they are supposed to do missionary work in this new, not-MTC environment.  Yesterday President Morgan addressed us on this subject.  He told us that it is likely that we will all train, possibly multiple times, on our missions.  He asked us to prepare ourselves for this work, to fill our proverbial lamps (see Matthew 25) now with charity, love, service, and obedience.  I want to be the trainer a parent prays their child will have.  After yesterday I am more excited to have the opportunity to train, and I hope that I am preparing well to do so.

I hope you all are having fun gearing up for the Christmas season.  Good luck to all you university students on your upcoming finals.  Remember that even though school is hard, the Gospel is still true. :)

Love you!

Sister Beer