April 25, 2011

Dear Friends and family,

Happy Easter! And what a wonderful easter it was for us here in paradise! We had an easter party with the Taidong Second Branch and we painted easter eggs and ate dinner and had a relay race and everything and it was a ton of fun! I am just loving this place!

Also, we saw some really awesome miracles this week! We went and visited a referral from Taipei. Her name is Luo YunHua and she is so great! I swear she is just one of those that was waiting for the Gospel because she just didn't know where to find it. We met with her twice last week and she came to chruch on Sunday and wouldn't you know it - most of the members already know who she is because she works at an athletic apparel store that is one of the bes tin Taidong! WOW! She loved chruch!

And chruch was fantastic. Everyone who said they would for sure come actually showed up, which is a HUGE miracle. And it was great because it was Easter Cunday and we had all of our best investgators come. WE will definitely be having some baptisms coming up here next month! It is going to be great! I can't wait to see these wonderful people make everlasting covenants with God and start their path to eternal life. God sure loves these people! I do too!

This week we had a really interesting experience that made me think a lot. We were running late for an appointment that was pretty far away, so we had a member drive us there and drop us off, thinking we could for sure ask one of the other members inteh are to drive us home afterthe appointment. Well, it turns out that none of the members in teh area were available, so after some thought, we decided to walk back to the chruch (probably a little over an hour walk). Well, on the walk back there were two sparrows flying a little too close to the road, and a car came really fast. one of the birds made it away, but the other bird got hit and fell to the road. He was still alive, but very scared and injured. He managed to fluter off to the side of the road right in front of us. He looked so sad and scared and he couldn't fly. We decided that we could take him back to the chruch and figure out what to do. We pulled out a couple tissues and Sister Wu picked him up, but less than a minute later, he stopped moving. Her died right in her hands.

We were both devastated! we tried to feel for a heartbeat, but there was none. He was gone. What was just a moment ago flying and happily singing with his fellow friend was now lifeless and empty. Sister Wu and I found a place off to the side of the road, dug a small hole to lay his little body in, said a prayer that he could return safely to heaven, and reverently burried him.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Mat 10:29-31)

"Remember the Worth of souls is great inthe sight of God." (D&C 18:10)

Every one of us is even more precious than that little sparrow. When we stumble, God is there to lift us up. We must not give up. We must not let fear or pain pull us away from our God, who loves us so much. I learned a great lesson that day. Every sould is great. Every sould is precious. No person is too small and insignificant to be noticed by God. God has sent us misisonaries to preach this good news to the world: God loves you! You are not alone! one day, when the savior comes again, all things chall be made right. All that is unfair will be made right. God loves you. He knows you. "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36).

on this easter weekend, I just want to offer my testimony of our savior Jesus Christ. I know he lives! I know that becasue of Him, we will all live again, and that we can return to Gods presence and have eternal happiness. I am so grateful for this knowledge.

I love you all and I hope that you can all ponder more sincerely about what a blessing it is to know the saviour. "Oh Sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Love,

Sister Collyer