Dear Elders and Sisters,
I often hear missionaries and members use
the term “li4 hai4” to describe certain missionaries. It is interesting to note
that my online Chinese dictionary has nine definitions for “li hai”: difficult to deal with, difficult to
endure, ferocious, radical, serious, terrible, violent, tremendous, and
awesome. Only the last two would normally be thought of as desirous qualities
for missionaries. Since we hear this expression so often, perhaps we should try
to understand what it means and how it might apply to us as missionaries.
One of our recently returned missionaries
wrote this poem for her reflection:
Lihai Missionary by
Sister Courtney Johnston
A lihai missionary
is one who doesn't always know just exactly where to go,
They turn to the
lord in earnest prayer and pray the spirit will lead them there.
A lihai missionary
wants to do the Lord's will
They testify of him
without thought of skill,
A lihai missionary
has the desire to change as they help others to do the same
A lihai missionary
loves, serves, listens, and laughs with their companions
According to
President that's what makes us champions.
A lihai missionary
goes out no matter what the weather,
Typhoon or sunshine
with Christ on our side we can do this together.
A lihai missionary
doesn't ever give up on themselves or others,
Because we are all
sons and daughters of God we are sisters and brothers.
A lihai missionary
is converted every day,
Through Christ's
Gospel it's the only way.
A lihai missionary
may not always give their best,
But they do what
they can and trust that God will make up the rest.
A lihai missionary
is one who can look back when all is said and done,
And say man that was
hard, but I've learned a lot and changed; look how far I've come.
Here are some thoughts about being a “li
hai missionary” taken from two recent missionary emails:
我最近在思考一些事情，是關於如何成為厲害的傳教士，我在思考這個想法的時候發現我的方向好像錯了，什麼是厲害的傳教士？我想的是洗禮很多、很會接觸人、每天都很快樂、積極的工作沒有一絲懈怠、上慕道友的課會很勇敢問他們是否要洗禮...很多，不知道為什麼我覺得這是很屬世的想法，我當然也想成為這樣的傳教士，可能我才剛開始傳教我經驗不多不太懂...我在傳教前給自己一個傳教目標，就是要跟耶穌基督一樣愛我身邊的人、愛慕道友、愛同伴、愛成員、愛一起努力工作的傳教士們，我覺得因為愛他們才會用他們適合的方式教導他們一起學習，才會因為愛而更有聖靈的指引、更知道他們需要什麼，也因為愛才能透過我們讓他們感受到天父跟耶穌基督對他們的愛，我希望成為天父覺得很厲害的傳教士，是透過我發揮我的個人潛能，成為天父已經知道我會成為的那種傳教士。
我在思考關於什麼是“厲害的傳教士”。傳教剛開始，我也覺得有很多慕道友、很會接觸人、很會上課等等就是厲害的傳教士。可是傳教到現在，我發現沒有所謂“厲害的傳教士”。我知道每個人都是神的傳教士，所以我們都能做神的事工，在這事工中沒有高或低，沒有厲害或不厲害，在這事工中所以的努力都是一樣的。我們每個人都是神的孩子，我們都具有神性，我們都是獨一無二的。獨一無二的我們都一起來到神前為祂服務，我們不需要成為“某人”，我們只需要成為神要我們成為的樣子。我們當然可以學習其他傳教士美好榜樣，但是不需要覺得誰比較厲害，不需要比較的心態。當我們的眼光是在神的身上時，我們不會偏離身為傳教士的目的。當我們為神、為周遭的人服務時，我們也會找到自己與神的關係。我很開心我在傳教學習很多，學習如何成為快樂的傳教士，學習一個跟隨聖靈的傳教士。
I think a 厲害的傳教士 has five qualities: 1) they are obedient,
2) they work diligently every day all day, 3) they are bold, 4) they follow the
Spirit, 5) they are motivated by love for the Savior and fellowman in
everything they do.
In what way can you improve in order to be a 厲害的傳教士?
President
Blickenstaff
