*belated post from 5/18/13

HOLLA! I just wrote my weekly letter to president Day and I got pumped because this week was full of miracles.

It's weird because you can have a week that is awesome and totally not at the same time. New investigators come into the picture and it's a thrilling things, but other ones sometimes leave. And it breaks your heart. That has happened recently. I just wish these people knew how much we love them and more importantly how much God loves them and how this will bless their life. I don't understand why they won't put in the effort just to know if its true. It takes effort, but it's worth it!

Anyway some of the miracles this week. We found nine new investigators. That means we had a lesson with them and they are willing (and set a specific time) to meet with us again. Every one we talk to is a miracle really.

Something really exciting though, after three months of visiting their home and teaching this girl who is now a member (who's sister was already a member) their mom finally agreed to meet with us. We met her yesterday. The lesson went so well. I love her so much!

Also, just the other day (Saturday evening) I started talking to a woman at a stop light. I eventually pulled out a tract about families to give her. When she took it she started asking questions about the church and when church is. The light turned green so I asked her to pull over. (: We started talking. She didn't have tons of time right then but said she'd like to come to church. We testified something about having a living prophet to guide our families and she asked what a prophet was. I asked if we could find a time to meet with her family. She said we could and that she'd try to come to church the next day. We got her phone number and gave her ours. She didn't make it to church the next day, but I'll call her today for sure! Miracle. A family. We're shooting for eternity here (:

Another miracle:

We wanted to find a family so we went to an area said a prayer and spoke to the first pregnant woman we found. She is due next month, but she said she is buddhist and her husband is catholic. This is their first child so they want to find some agreement when it comes to religion. She said all of her siblings are Christian and her parents told her if she wants to change too it's okay. She was glad to take a Book of Mormon and said that it looked easier to understand than the bible. We explained briefly what it was and asked if we could meet her family. She said of course, but they are going south to have the baby. She said that in August things will have settled down again and we can definitely find a time to visit. I have faith for her and her family.

Oh random news: I bumped my leg on a scooter engine at a stoplight the other day when I was walking my bike forward... burned it. It's not too bad though.

Also, my companion have started a body beautiful program. It's hard core. Cross fit. We are super sore. Between that and biking everyday we are well on our way to being super good looking and having beautiful bodies. HOLLA!

It's fun.

I wish I could explain everything that goes on out here. There's so much always. I'll send pictures. We've also set a goal to take a picture a day. So hopefully I'll have exciting things to send to you each week.

Things are busy. Chinese is hard, but I think my chinese is improving daily. Good good good.

LOVE YOU ALL! 

Cae

I love you all

*Editor's note:  We skyped with Micaela yesterday for 45 minutes.  Had a fabulous time, listening to her adventures.  Heard her speak with her uncle in Chinese and sounded fluent to me!

 I can't believe I'm 1/3 through my mission. It's really insane. I don't feel like anytime has gone by at all... at least most days that's how it feels. Other days are a bit longer. But all days are happy days. Sure there are definitely days that go by slowly (as in the work does), but it doesn't have to be a slow day. We just try to stay positive. Sister Boyer I like to sing while we bike around. So that's a huge part of my optimism.

This week it has started to get really really hot. That doesn't cause me to look very pretty, but I don't care. (:

Wow I'm so tired right now. We wake up so early to write emails.

I was thinking about the differences between Taiwan and America (because Sam had asked). My answer was lame. Honestly I don't notice differences anymore because I'm pretty much adapted to life around here, but I can tell you somethings that are quirky.

1. Toilet paper doesn't come in rolls. It's in sheets in tissue boxes (but they are boxes, they are more like bags.

2. No one has carpets.

3. You take off your shoes before you go into people's houses.

4. People drink hot water.

5. You can eat rice for breakfast.

6. People give you soy milk to drink (if they give you anything at all, we don't drink with meals here.

7. Chopsticks. Lol.

I'm sure there are more random differences that I'm not noticing. It even took some hard thinking to think up that much. The moral of the story is that I'm not in America. And probably the biggest difference is the widely accepted drug, BinLang (betel nut). It's everywhere. And it is seriously NASTY stuff.

Anyway. I loved talking to you all. 

I'll share with you some things I am learning in personal study. I read in Helaman 10:4 where Nephi is blessed because he declares the gospel with unweariness. At the time I read this I thought that maybe I wasn't doing as well as he did. I looked up what that meant and got to Acts 20:31. That really put things in perspective for me. At the time I had studied this I had just hit my 6 month mark. In acts, they talk about crying day and night for three years. I don't have that big of a task because I have less time than that. I'm not sure if you're following my train of thought here. The moral of the story is that I decided to recommit myself every morning. Every morning when I pray I recommit myself for the next 24 hours to not complain, not give up, and to give my very best. Surely I can make it a day. If you get in the habit of committing yourself to being the best you possibly can for the rest of your life, there is no way. Then you will fail and then you will think "oh, well, I shot myself in the foot already. I can't be perfect." These thoughts lead to complacency which we all know leads to complete inactivity in the church, breaking of covenants, and ultimately if one doesn't repent it will lead to weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Not a pleasant sight. Moral of the story is that you can't just decide one day to never give up for or mess up for the rest of your life. That is impossible and a set yourself up for failure way of thinking. You have to recommit daily. Make it 24 hours. If you fall slightly short, repent. But then wake up the next morning and commit yourself again. Step by step. That is how the Lord expects us to make it back to his presence. If you can say every day that you are trying your best, I know that means you are on the right track. Just be one of those people who tries their best to keep their covenants, to do their duty to God, to be the best you can at whatever role you have that day. Just do it.

That's what I do. It really helps.

My Chinese is improving because I wake up every morning and say "today I'm not going to be scared to talk to people in Chinese." And then I do it. I'm not perfect by any means, but I am doing the best I can and so I know that I'm enough. And someday I'll be complete, even as my Father who is in Heaven is complete. (That is the Chinese translation--- and I love it).

Keep going. Press on. Share the gospel. I'm so touched by Brae's story about sharing the gospel. You are an inspiration pal. (:

I know that both of you boys will really bless a lot of lives just by striving daily to live gospel standards to exactness. Don't waiver at all. The people who do are not happy. The are not happy at all and now (in some cases) they are really far from the path. Not cool. What is cool is eternal life. (: So go and get it!

Love you all,

Cae

6 months

Wow. Tomorrow marks the day of being on a mission for six months. I've just barely passed the time where I've been in Taiwan longer than in the MTC. HOLLA!

Things are crazy out here. Chinese is ridiculous. Off the hook really. I cannot believe that I actually understand what goes on and I can communicate with these people. I've set new language goals for myself and that includes reading the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price in Chinese before the end of my mission. (I'll probably start that part in about 3 months which means I'll have nine months to accomplish this goal). Totally. I can do it! Really I'm just shocked that I speak another language. It's the craziest thing. The other day an English class a student (after hearing I've only been in Taiwan for 3 months) was shocked. He called me a genius. That is more than false. I told him that I was having success because this is what the Lord wants and I pray and study a lot. He said that maybe I'm doing well because the Lord will make my brain run faster so I can learn faster. I guess that's how the gift of tongues works. The Lord works with what we already have going for us and just speeds up the learning process. He is really amazing.

Training is going well. I think. The only reason I don't know for sure is because I really have little grasp on what I'm supposed to do. Missionary work is a day by day thing. Everyday you do a little and over time you get a lot done. That's what I'm doing and so that's what I'm teaching my trainee. I don't know if that makes sense. I just hope that I'm teaching well and I pray for that often.

We've seen some awesome miracles this week. One day we had a huge space of time that we needed to fill so in planning the night before we just decided to visit people. Of course we knew that most of them would not be home, but we picked a street that had about 7 families living on it and decided to go there to meet with them all. We wrote notes to leave if they weren't home. Then we headed out. After about 4 houses (and the rain) I knew we needed to keep going. I was worried that my companion would get discouraged because we spent a long time knocking on empty doors, but we made a plan and we stuck to it. After the 6th house we were getting our bikes unlocked and a girl walked by. My sweet companion did what she usually does and asked how her day was. The girl said it was bad. She stopped to talk for a minute and immediately recognized us. She said she was Mormon 10+ years ago. We asked her when she was baptized. She told us she hadn't been baptized yet, but she wants to. We had a lesson on the street with her about prayer and met with her two days later. She came to church with us on Sunday! She is so great! I'll admit, I was shocked when we first walked into her house and saw the HUGE shrine. Her mom is VERY Buddhist, but this girl is ready and willing to learn. She has a baptismal date next month.

Also last night we met with a less active family. Back story. A while ago on the MRT Sister Daye and I ran into a lady who lived by some members so she knew a little about the church. She told us their names. We decided to visit them hoping to have a chance to get in touch with this lady. We found and address that matched the area she said she lived in. When we stopped by they weren't home so we left a note and our phone number. They never called. Just the other day I was looking through a 3 year old member list trying to find some inspiration of who to talk to and I came across a family with "Less active" written by it in pencil. I made a plan to call them. The wife answered the phone and seemed more than willing to let us come over. She even called me the day before to make sure we still had plans to see them. We went over last night and when I got there I immediately recognized them as the family whose friend we ran into on the MRT. After some talking they told us they got the note and they really appreciated it. These are some seriously nice people. When I told the bishop that we were meeting with them he was so excited. After spending some time with them I can't even tell you how much I just love them so much. They are so so so sweet and I look forward to seeing them more. We shared with them from 3 Nephi 11: 8-15 It was a good scripture to share. We bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and that Christ is our Savior. They were excited to commit to reading that whole chapter on their own a pulling out their copies of the Book of Mormon to start reading again. Such sweet people. I look forward to spending more time with them.

At the last transfer meeting, President Daye gave us all a challenge to flood Taiwan with copies of the Book of Mormon. He challenged us each as a companionship to hand out an entire case of copies in one transfer. That's 36 copies. It'll take effort, but it's definitely manageable. My companion and I gave out seven this week.

Everyday I am learning so much. It's such a blessing to be here and to be on a mission. I can of course admit that I'M EXHUASTED. And that I miss the family, but when I focus on what my purpose is here, time flies and miracles happen. I can't believe it's been 6 months already. I can't believe I speak Chinese (especially on the phone with people). I can't understand why I am so blessed to be here.

I am so grateful for my life. (:

Love you all!

Cae

Sorry no pictures this week. I took some, but I forgot to bring my adapter. Whoopsies. Next time.