Oasis

The longer I live, the more I realize what an oasis the Gospel and Church are in my life. I don't like being away from home, and don't like traveling so far, and even though the Chinese people are very kind and I am well cared for here I just would rather not be here. But among the desire to be home I really had the gift to look forward to going to church while here. 

When we pattern our lives after the Savior, and internally decide to follow the eternal plan of happiness, then going to church brings a peace and happiness that propels you through the rest of the week. I went to the Shanghai branch again today. It was amazing. I witnessed so many examples of the hand of God in our lives. As I participated in the sacrament I witnessed a tall YM exhibit pure charity. As it was being passed there was a fussy baby that the parents were trying to calm. The mom waited so she could partake of the bread and then calmly bolted out the side door. This YM did not see that she had just taken it but in an act of a gentleman and a pure priesthood holder he immediately took his tray and follows her out to ensure she had the opportunity to take the sacrament. 

I also witnessed little children helping each other as we sat through sacrament meeting. Unprompted they just helped one another. 

I listened as they again read a statement that reinforces that no Chinese passport holder is allowed to worship with us. And stressed that no one is allowed to share the truths that we hold so dear and bring peace to our lives. No talking, no social media on Chinese sites, no documents etc. 

during the 3rd hour we had a young member of the branch presidency lead a discussion on doubts in our faith. Using Pres. Uchtdorf's talk as one of the main tools, we had a discussion about how we need to be sensitive to doubts, and to use them as a tool to build greater faith. It is a difficult thing to have real doubts of faith and we need to acknowledge them as we work to resolve them. It made me think of one of the greatest tools we have-prayer. Elder Baxter some years ago said something that I believe fits perfectly with this. He said that in moments of crisis prayer is abandoned at the very hour it needs to be intensified. And I will always remember Pres. Uchtdorf counsel to doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. 

It was a remarkable spirit today as I witnessed a handful of Rms bearing strong spiritual confirmation just in the way they shared experiences, and testified of things they had learned. It was just neat to see the external impact of the lives they led and how I could see the witness of the Gospel come through even though they did not overtly intend to do that. 

I don't know if it was just a great day, or if I was more prepared since it was my oasis for the week, but I'll take it. I consider it a blessing to have been taught the Gospel in my home growing up and to have had the chance to seek for myself the knowledge of its truth. 

I had a good week at work and learned a lot from corporate board meetings I got to attend. Then on Saturday as we began work on a critical project that was behind, I was inspired to use a certain method to get to more detailed and reliable results from the group. I followed that prompting and it worked out amazing. Many of the people there talked to me one to one during the day and said how effective the work was or how well the thought this was going to get better plans. Revelation is NOT just for church. 

The best part if each day is being able to use the inspired technologies to be able to talk to mom and home each day. It is fun to see them and hear the updates. 

It has been interesting as well as I have stayed here to have a couple small things happen that have not before. At breakfast I had the waitress say "you are Mr. Smith, right?"  I was a little surprised but confirmed and asked how she knew. She said she had seen it written on my receipt when I ate the first day and had remembered. I was shocked. Then as I left the restaurant the hostesses both said "goodbye Mr. Smith" as I left. Weird. It was very nice but very unexpected. 

Then as I checked in at the hotel in Suzhou where our engineering center is (the team I work with internal to Emerson) they got all fired up and brought me a special gift of a Renaissance backpack and told me they were glad I was now staying here for the 10th time. I told them that I had been here too often with a smile. But it's true if I have stayed here 10 times. Too many. 

Love you forever.

Dad 

3 John 1:4