Miracles through Suffering

Letter from Sister Brinkerhoff

Sister Scharman!

I have to tell you this crazy miracle lesson with Ding JM last Thursday night when we met her. It was so amazing, I was dying to tell you all week.I even called President that night to tell  him, and he told me to email him the full story. It was such an amazing lesson, and it made me realize one big reason why Heavenly Father needed you to be sick on your mission. Literally, it was all for Ding JM. We were all crying at that lesson, the Spirit was so strong. So this is how the lesson went (you might want to get the tissues out):

(By the way, thanks for friending the Singletary's on Facebook, they really love being in contact with you, they were telling me what you've been doing lately. )

Last Thursday was the first time we met with Ding JM since her baptism and confirmation. In that lesson, she was telling us about another crazy dream experience that was fulfilled (You know about her awesome dreams that she's had lately). She said she had a dream about a coworker who was sad, because on Thursday (the day we met), she forgot to co-sign divorce papers, which left  it all a mess for her. Ding Jm didn't remember the day on the contract, but she saw it was a Thursday. She then woke up. This dream happened a few days before Thursday. On that day, she asked her coworker about it, and her coworker was like, "I forgot to sign the papers!" and then went to sign them before her ex-husband got everything. If it wasn't for Ding JM havinvg that dream to remind her coworker to sign the divorce papers, her coworker wouldn't be able to get a divorce or something. It was so cool.

So my companion, Sister Bernhardt (I'm breaking her right now, she was in the trio with Sister Althoff and Sister Munsee) talked a little about the Tree of Life, how Lehi had this amazing dream that helped his family. It then caused her to remember a dream that she had about you.

She said that one night, she was reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know whether it was true. She that that night, she had a dream that you and your great-great grandmother appeared to her in the dream, and you both spoke perfect Chinese. Your great-great grandmother looked middle aged, was wearing a beautiful blue dress and was holding your hand or shoulder as she introduced herself as your great-great grandmother. She then proceeded to testify to Ding JM that the Book of Mormon is true, and then you also testified that it's true. She then woke up, and had a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

(Can you send us pictures of your great-great grandmothers, so I can show them to Ding JM and she can tell me which one it is?)

She then proceeded to tell us something amazing. She said that if it wasn't for you being sick, she wouldn't have taken the missionary lessons with us. I asked her if you were healthy, would she listen to us, and she said no. But because she saw your pain, your sacrifice, your willingness to teach the lessons despite your severe health problems, she was willing to listen. She saw Christ's suffering and example from your willingness to do whatever it takes to teach her. She started crying as she was telling  us this. 

She even told us that she saw Christ when she saw you. I asked what she meant. She said that whenever she looked into your eyes, she saw Christ's eyes. She saw how much sacrifice, suffering and hard work you have done to help her come to the gospel, kind of like Christ and His Atonement. She was so touched by it that she was willing to continue the lessons for that reason. And the fact that she was baptized the day before your birthday, confirmed on your birthday, and you left for Taipei to go home literally hours later after church the day she was confirmed, I think testifies to me that you were here for Heavenly Father and for her to the very end. 

Afterwards, I testified that your suffering and sacrifice was for her and salvation, as well as for Christ. I admit, it was hard to fight back the tears. I then realized that that was the reason why you were sick on your mission-to help Ding JM come to the gospel. It was what she needed before she joined. She is so awesome, she is so excited to start helping us Peike, she even brought her 17 year old son to the Christmas lunch after church last week. She is a true miracle, and I believe she will be a doorway for more missionary work and baptisms here in Yuli. Thank you for your example and your sacrifice. 

I then ended by giving her an English tract with your picture on it. She carefully picked it up, gazed at the picture of you and started crying. I think that is one reason why you were chosen to be on there-to remind her of you. She really misses and loves you. You are her guardian angel. I even told her the first day we taught her and she said she's concerned about her Buddist boyfriend protesting of her listening to the gospel, I honestly thought that she wasn't going to progress. I remember, though, that you were so determined to get her baptized, you kept saying that she was going to get baptized before you left, which is exactly what happened. I was amazed at how much you were willing to do that for her.

Thank you for your love and example. It was a privilege working with you. I felt so humbled and grateful to serve with you. 

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Love you!

-Sister Brinkerhoff

PS I gave your lds email to Ding JM. Look for her email.