曹鵬弟兄 Brother Peng Cao

人生充滿各種選擇，人可以選擇任何一種作為自己的生活方式。

就好像過馬路的十個人，也可能有十種不同走法。我很幸運,我在2013年5月12日那一天遇到傳教士陳姊妹。雖然當時我有很多聽不懂,但是我被她的熱情和執着給吸引住了。我想這應該是天父預備的道路,讓我們每一個人做的抉擇都是我們為時間所定的功用。

在一個沒有標準參考的世代,有人認為自己就是標準,這種生活方式被命為「自由」。但是如果自己的感受就是標準的話,自己真的可靠嗎?後來我想到自己之前遇到傳教士，可以尋找他們的幫助。剛開始他們跟我說家庭可以永遠在一起和永恆的快樂時,我還不怎麼認同,只是覺得還不錯。因為我以前從來沒有接觸過基督教和神!但是這並沒有中斷我繼續了解神的話。最重要的事，是我去了解傳教士們的經歷,讓我大為震撼。我不知道他們付出這麼大的犧牲,離開自己的家鄉,離開自己的家，和放棄自己的學業,來到異地去傳教。而且是每一天。我以前以為他們只是一個禮拜一天去傳教,沒想到是這麼無私的奉獻和去完成神的事工！讓我明白他們這麼偉大的付出,這個教會應該會是真實的,我有了繼續來到教會的興趣。

我從第一次到教會直到現在差不多有八個月了。這個過程中雖然有很多困難和挑戰,也有很多開心和難過,也有要我放棄去教會的念頭。但是這些都讓我的生活很充滿,不再是單調,讓我覺得每一次去教會都是值得的,也都有很大的收穫。

這裏每一個人都很有愛心,讓我覺得這是自己家一樣很溫馨。傳教士也跟我分享神的福音,教導我福音的重要性，和幫助別人可以帶給自己真正的快樂!後來我選擇加入他們，就接受洗禮,我受洗加入耶穌基督後期聖徒教會。她改變了我的生活。

Life is filled with many different choices. We can choose the kind of life we would like to have. It is just like when 10 people are crossing the road, there are 10 different ways of walking. I was very lucky to have met Sister Chan on 12 May 2013. I did not really understand much of what she said, but I was attracted to her
enthusiasm. I think that this is the road that God has prepared, allowing all of our decisions work out for the best throughout time.

In a world without a standard to look towards, some people say that whatever way they feel like living is the right way. They call this type of lifestyle "freedom". If you say that the right way to live is just whatever you feel like, is that really something that you can put your trust in?

After thinking about this, I remembered the missionaries that I had run into. I went over to ask them to help me understand. In the beginning they told me about how families could be together forever and how we could have eternal happiness, but I didn't really believe them. I just thought that it was pretty cool. That's just because I've never come across Christianity or God before. This didn't stop me from learning more about God.

Most importantly was understanding the missionaries' experience. They really impressed me. I didn't know the great sacrifice they make by leaving their homes, leaving their families, and putting aside educational pursuits in order to come out to a foreign place on a mission. On top of that is the fact that they do this missionary work every single day! Previously, I had thought that they were only doing this once a week. I had never thought that they have been this selfless in dedicating themselves to the work of the Lord! Understanding the sacrifice that they gave made me think that this church has got to be true. I continued to have a desire to keep coming to church.

It's been about eight months from the first time that I have been to church. This journey has had a lot of challenges and afflictions. There have been many ups and downs. At one point I even had the thought of giving up on the church altogether. All of these experiences have filled my life. I'm not just going through the same old, monotonous, daily routines anymore. I actually have a brighter hope. I think that every time I go to church it is always worth it. I always get a lot out of it. All of the people here are filled with love, and make me feel like I'm home. The missionaries have also shared the gospel with me, its importance, and how helping others is the way to find true happiness. Finally, I decided to become part of them by getting baptized. I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It has changed my life.