It's time to hit the ground running!

Okay so I've decided that I am not clever at all when it comes to creating titles for these things.

Hola Familia!

Let's be honest-- my Spanish is the pits. My Chinese is okay though. I pretty much understand everything I listen to and a lot of things that I just hear and am not paying attention too. It's the greatest! I don't know how it works though. I still remember the first time when I felt like I understood everything that was being said. I thought for sure I was dreaming-- there is literally no way to explain it. Suddenly you just understand. I still am not so good at speaking-- well I can say what is necessary and hold a conversation but I wouldn't exactly fit in going to school here because I'm awkward at making friends in English and even worse in Chinese. It's coming though.

So I made a list again of things to share with ya'll-- hope you enjoy it!

Bade is doing well. It's a happy place here-- my area is also huge! I though Xin Zhuang was a big area-- yeah not even. There's a place in our area called Yingge. We go there once or twice a week (or at least that's in the plans). It takes 45 minutes to get there. NOT EVEN KIDDING. Well more like 40 to get there and almost an hour back. The way back is uphill for a good chunk of time. It's the pits! And literally between Bade and Yingge there is nothing but some random farmy-like places and some Binlang shops. Not much for scenery-- but really it's beautiful. I love this place. And I love Yingge. There's an old road there that is famous for tourism. It's really awesome! We're gonna go there on a p-day sometime. You all would love it.

Last week we went to Yingge to go Book of Mormon boarding. Basically we loaded the box on the back of my bike with copies of the Book of Mormon with the plan to give them all out and invite people to learn more. Knowing the big hill we'd have to go up on the way back, I was double determined to give out these books. We ended up giving out 7 copies of the Book of Mormon that day. It was awesome. We saw some good miracles there too. We set up a temple tour with a man who actually live in Taibei. He said he'd be interested in doing one so we told him the days that we'd be up there giving tours and he set up. He's a retired professional baseball player for Taiwan-- aka awesome! My ward is having a softball game against my old ward in like a week-- I think I might invite the baseball player. Is that cheating? I think not!

Basically my companion and I are huge fans of giving out copies of the Book of Mormon. We've given out 10 this week. It's such a cool thing to do and share with people. Not even kidding-- if you haven't read it already, START NOW! It's a great book!

Things are getting started around here so everyday is exciting. We look for miracles and I can point out one everyday. Some seem bigger than others, but miracles are miracles. God is a God of miracles and we are so lucky to be on the receiving end. We have 6 investigators right now. Four of them have set baptismal dates. It's such a happy thing. I love these people. They are all so important to me and I know they are even more important to God. I'm glad to be a missionary!

I can't believe it. I've been a missionary for nine months. I was thinking about that this morning. It's so weird because I don't really feel like I'm experienced at all. I still feel like a new missionary and like I have no idea what I'm doing. I wondered why and then I remembered something that I heard one of the missionaries going home say. He said "It's not until the end of your mission that you feel like you might have an idea on how to do this." It's so true. I really don't know why it works that way. All I know is that we are all young people who really don't mean a whole lot in the big scheme of things. It's so weird to be part of such a great and miraculous work. The Lord can take a bunch of nobodies, stick a nametag on them, teach them a language, and create a marvelous work and a wonder. It really is marvelous. I love it!

This past Friday we had a special training meeting. We had to go to Zhubei for it. It was kind of a trek. We had to take a bus and then a train and then walk quite a while to get to the chapel there. It was cool to get to know a lot of other missionaries. However I discovered something-- I don't make very good first impressions. I'm pretty sure the missionaries in my zone just think of me as Sister Anderson-- that crazy girl who makes all the weird faces and speaks with an accent about 80% of the time. Yep-- I haven't changed a bit out here. Now I can just do all the crazy things I did before, on a bike, wearing a skirt, and in Chinese. Yep. Not a big change at all.

So something I forgot to mention last week is about our neighbor. She's such a hoot. When the movers were bringing our fridge to us she walked into our apartment and just said "Give me that box." The movers told her that she'd have to wait a week because we have to keep it for a week. I told her we'd give it to her in a week. Then when we went downstairs later all the ladies that sit around our complex all day gambling stopped us and made us promise not to give her anymore boxes. They said any other boxes we have need to go to the community. Honestly I didn't really follow it all. Moral of the story-- Badeins like boxes? Yeah I still don't know.

During my language study I made an interesting discovery. So there is a sound that many Taiwanese people make-- and so do I, consequently. If I want to say yes or agree with something I just grunt. It's kind of spelled like this: "ng." Well I was reading in my grammar book the other day and that sound actually has a character attached to it! So hilarious. Now I guess I know that if I'm writing a play in Chinese I can write that annoying little grunting noise into the script. Hilarious. I love Chinese.

Last Thursday my companion and I were heading to a member's home for dinner. I looked on the map and saw that she just lives south of us a bit. Well we got lost BIGTIME. We ended up in the middle of no where and had to turn around about a million times. We also ended up going up a huge hill. I felt terrible. We were an hour and a half late for our dinner appointment. It was kind of hilarious though. I guess you can't avoid getting lost in a new area. This was not the first time and it will not be the last. We will just keep laughing about it and singing songs while we ride our bikes-- which is a very frequent occurance.

This past week we've also been visiting the members a lot. We have asked a lot of them for referrals and sang with them and bore our testimonies to them. Every dinner apointment is filled with the spirit and we've received some really promising referrals that way. REFERRALS ARE THE WAY TO GO! So please family and friends, think of the person who is ready to be invited to hear the gospel-- then invite the missionaries over for dinner-- then feed them well because they are starving I promise-- then after they give you a spiritual thought-- or before, offer them a referral before they even ask. They will appreciate that so much. And if you aren't a member-- invite the missionaries over for dinner-- feed them, they are hungry. Then ask to hear the gospel. No one will force you to do anything you don't want to do-- but I promise that if you do this-- the Lord will open the windows of Heaven and pour out the blessings that there will not even be room enough to receive it.

The other day we had an appointment to meet a recent convert. When we got to her house (after getting lost-- typical), we realized that she wasn't home. So we did what we do best and knocked on all the doors on her street. We ended up setting up to meet with a girl who didn't have time to meet with us right then. Another woman couldn't open the door because she had a customer, but she told us she's Christian-- but not completely and said she might come to church. Then after all of that street we followed my companions spidey senses (however she's more of a superman fan). We just started walking. Then she pointed at a street and said "we need to go there." So we did. The first door we knocked on: a woman came and opened the door and said "come in come in!" She then called her grandkids downstairs (a boy and girl about college-aged). Then she left. We had a lesson with the grandkids who are actually pretty interested in the message and said we can meet again next week. When we left it was pouring rain so we did what we do second best and ran through the rain laughing about the miracle we saw and biked home. It was probably one of my happiest moments here in Bade so far.

Lastly I want to share some scriptures that I've found that have really helped me out this past week.

One of my first or second personal studies out here I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants. Section 58:3-6 popped out to me. It was the greatest and just what I needed at that point. I was so nervous about what I was going to do in Bade and felt completely unprepared. The Lord knew that and He spoke to me through this scripture to give me hope for the future. I know this is true. I love how God can speak to us through scriptures and words of our modern prophets. I know he knows us and I know that He speaks to His children. We are all entitled to revelation.

Next: Alma 12:9-10. I know that according to our desires and willingness, Heavenly Father will give us knowledge. We just have to show that we really want it and will use it wisely (Why would you give your child a large sum of money maybe $500 dollars without knowing what they intend for that money?) It's the same principle. God will give us all knowledge line upon line as long as we show him that we will use that knowledge wisely.

Next: Doctrine and Coventants 64:33. I know that this is what I am doing right now. I'm amazed that the Lord can use me to do something so great. He is using me to work miracles among his children. It's one of the greatest things to be part of.

So that's pretty much it for now.

I love it out here. I miss you all immensely, but don't worry because time is flying so you can have me back soon. For now, I know that this sacrifice will bring forth great blessings. Just keep doing what you do, and do it better and involve the Lord more.

Love love double love,

Cae

Toto, we are not in Xin Zhuang anymore!

There is so much to write. I hope I can get through it all.

Last Monday my companion and I, and the elders, and a member went to San Xia for pday. It has this BEAUTIFUL hike, which when we got there found out it was closed because of the Typhoon. Instead we ended up walking down this other trail. We took good pictures, but they are all on my companions camera. Whoops! It's because my camera is the pits and takes the worst pictures! Lol. Anyway while we were walking it started POURING rain. We walked around in the pouring rain for awhile until a couple pulled over and told us to get in their car. They drove us to the bus stop. We had a GREAT time with many laughs. Super fun-- oh but the member gave me a card before we left to go on the hike. I read it after. He's an old man. And well-- makes me feel quite uncomfortable. I read the letter later. It said some stuff about the second coming. But the gold is this part "Your suggestions are welcome. You are young. And I am old. Kind of like America and China. 200 years: 6,000 years but working in harmony for peace and prosper. Kind of like husband and wife. What are your thoughts on this. Your opinion is welcome. Please get back to me as soon as possible." EEEEEK! WHATTTT?!

Good news to this: I moved. Lol That's probably what I would do outside the mission too.

Last Thursday we had a training meeting for trainers. At the end of the evening we went out with the new missionaries to find for a bit. It was fun-- but I'll admit-- I'm terrible at finding and going out with just a couple hours and no clue what I'm doing. Anyway-- glad that night is over. Lol. When we went home we had to actually fit 4 girls in our apartment because some of the trainers came up from kind of far away. It was a cramped night. And I didn't sleep well, but that's okay. I'm still alive.

The next morning we had transfer meeting. BIG NEWS! My new companion is Sister Hammer. She's great. You all would love her. And I've moved to a place called BaDe. We're opening ad new sister area here. EEEK! I have a lot of finding to do. When we left the transfer meeting they gave us keys to our apartment and an address and said "Good Luck!" And we left. I feel a lot like the first missionaries in Taiwan--- clueless and poor. Lol. Anyway we had to take the subway. And then a train. And then a bus. And then walk. It was a long journey. When we got to the bus we had a bunch of ladies looking at our address and telling us where to go. The bus people were all really nice. I made sure to invite them all to church when we drove by the chapel. We finally made it home a little after 2:30pm. We walked into our apartment so excited to find.... nothing. It was completely empty. So naturally we went out to the store and bought.. toilet paper. Man I had to pee so bad! Lol. We came home and started weekly planning. Periodically we had moving men call us and come up and add something new to our apartment. We still have no beds though-- we're sleeping on mattresses. Also the office elders drove down and built us a closet and two desks. It was a very interesting experience. I love the outside of our apartment complex though. (The inside is nice too). But there is a major neighorbood feel to this place. It's nice. NOT LIKE XIN ZHUANG AT ALL! Look for Bade on the map (it's in Taoyuan county). 

We went exploring on Saturday and walked on one street full of aboriginals. They invited us to a party the next day. We stopped by but got a weird feel considering all the alcohol and people staring so we left. Good experience though. They were all dancing and in cool clothes.

Also on Saturday we went to the church to meet with a less active family. They didn't show up, but the RS president was there so we met her. She left the church before us and closed the gate. So we were trapped inside the church... so obviously we hopped the fence in our skirts. So hilarious. And so graceful!

When we got home that evening we were welcomed by a HUGE cockroach running around the floor. Eek. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up. Good thing we had a bunch of boxes. Sister Hammer hit it with a box.. but missed actually. It ran behind another box so we tried to crush it between the wall and that box. No use. It ran out right towards me and I screamed SO LOUD. Finally Sister Hammer threw a box again and hit it. Stunned it. She beat it a couple more times with the box. A leg fell of. I took a dust pan to scoop it up and it started scrambling again. I hit it with the pan then grabbed another box and beat it senseless. A little brutal yes. A little barbarious yes. But I do NOT do roaches. That is the PITS! We probably looked (and sounded) like crazy people. Needless to say, when our district leader (Elder Davidson) asked what he could pray for, we told him to just pray that we don't have to deal with anymore cockroaches in our apartment. We threw the corpse out the window then collected his legs which had ended up all over the room.

Mostly this week has been.. interesting. Lol. We did have one investigator come to church. We called her because the elders gave us her information. She's finished meeting with missionaries and ready to be baptized then suddenly her husband said it's not a good idea which got her rethinking and then she left. The elders haven't been in touch with her in months. I called and asked if we could meet her. She said she didn't have time but she'd see about church. AND THEN SHE CAME! Family, this is the first miracle in Bade. And they will keep on coming. I love her already.

I feel so trusted by the Lord to be training and opening a new area at the same time. I also feel very inadequate. But this is going to work. We can do this with the Lord's help. My companion and I decided we're going to fast on Wednesday to know what the Lord's will is for this area and know how we can accomplish it. I know that the Lord has big plans for this place. We just have to figure out what they are and do it. The ward is great. I'm looking forward to working with these people.

I know this is where I'm supposed to be. Although things are definitely not perfect her and I'm far from a perfect missionary, I look forward to doing what I can to get this place up and running for missionary work.

I love you all!

Another Suitor For The Princess...

Okay just kidding ^^  no more! no more suitors!

I think word has gotten to God that there are too many suitors in Xin Zhuang because I got a call on Saturday that I'm moving. I have 3 more full days in Xin Zhuang (land that I love). No seriously though. I love this place. I love these people. I'm gonna miss leaving. Those last pictures I sent with P JM where when we visited her last night. She said the closing prayer and started praying that the Lord would bless me where I go. We both started crying. She is such a good friend of mine and I'll miss her a lot. It's amazing to me that I've become so close to someone who doesn't speak my same native language. The gift of tongues is real and the gift of the Holy Ghost breaks down all barriers. And now I have a life long friend.

 

Anyway-- speaking of moving. Usually we don't find out until Wednesday night that we are moving.  BUT they called me and asked if I would train again. Yep. So here I go. I'm gonna welcome another new missionary into the field and instill many bad and good habits into her. Hopefully mostly good habits though. I can't believe I'm training again. I thought I would move, but I didn't think I'd train again. That means that more than half of my mission is in a training situation. First 3 months-- missionary TRAINING center. Second tree months-- being trained. Next three months-- training. And now I'm in training for another three. Also, not sure if you all realize that this means I'm moving to an unfamiliar area-- my companion will be unfamiliar with it too. So the next few weeks will be very interesting for sure.

 

Last Wednesday we went to the temple. It was so great. I love the temple! I'm so lucky to have one so close. After the temple though we were really tired so we came home and just napped for like maybe 3 hours. Seriously long, but so necessary. We are a tired group of people out here.

 

On Thursday during weekly planning we got a call from our district leader. He told us that because the Typhoon was coming we needed to do weekly planning the next day and go out to get any groceries or things that we need because we couldn't leave our apartment the next day. After we went grocery shopping we had a ton of time that we didn't know what to do with. Moral of the story-- if you aren't planned, then you are useless. I feel like we hardly did anything useful that day. And our lesson that evening cancelled with us. So we met with the member that came and taught her about mormon.org. It was good. We invited her to make a profile and start exploring it more.

 

The next day we were told we can't go outside. But then in the morning they called and said that we can go outside, but we had to be back in by 2pm. Then they called later and said be in by 5pm. I guess the typhoon got delayed. Anyway. Friday was weird. We ended up having our last weekly planning as a companionship that night. I didn't feel super useful that day either. I did get a call from the 27 year old's mother telling me to be safe. That was sweet.

 

Friday evening it started raining. The typhoon wasn't actually too bad in our area. It wasn't great though-- we saw a lot of trees knocked over. That night I could hardly sleep. The wind was so loud and our windows were all a little shaky. I'll be honest, it scared me a little. The next morning we couldn't leave our house until noon (which is no big deal because training companionships have studies until noon). Basically all we did was make phone calls and pancakes during the storm. Let's be honest-- I LOVE PANCAKES! But being stuck inside is a bit of a drag. I have a feeling that this is not the last typhoon we'll see in Taiwan this year though (becasue they have a typhoon season)

 

Saturday was weird too. We made a lot of phone calls and set some people up and ended up having a lesson with a woman the elder's found on the street. She's great and willing to learn more. Saturday night though we had to go home early because of how dark it is outside and all the debris in the streets. So we had to actually cut a lesson with one of my favorite investigators in the world short. That was sad, but the lesson was still SUPER full of the spirit. I love her so much. And she came to church the next day. I hope she joins the church. Then that evening I got a call that I would be training next transfer. Totally caught me by surprise. I was not expecting that.

 

Oh speaking of pancakes-- on Tuesday for lunch we're making pancakes with our whole district and having a cake to celebrate Elder Morgan's birthday <3

 

Oh I think that I mentioned-- last week my companion and I wrote a song to share with our zone about asking people for referrals. It goes to the tune of "this is the song that never ends."

 

Lyrics:

 

This is the task that never ends.

We're gonna ask to meet their friends.

We'll as the people on the street and everyone we teach.

Even the less actives and the members (while we eat)!

 

This is the task that never ends.

And if we ask to meet their friends,

We'll be just like the missionaries on the DVD.

We'll be so grand; we'll be so great!

We'll be the district three!

 

This is the task that never ends.

And when we ask to meet their friends.

We know that we'll fulfill our call to find and teach and preach.

We'll bless their lives! They'll be baptized!

And give more friends to teach!

 

etc. etc. etc. <3

 

Anyway. We like it (:

 

This past week in personal study I was reading in Alma 26. For everyone going on missions, doing member missionary work, and just being a good person-- you should read it. It's a total pump up for missionary work chapter. I love it. I think it's a good reminder that the work we're doing is not our own. We have been so blessed to be chosen to do the Lord's work with him. He will support us and we can do hard things. We need to be humble enough to do what He asks and we will see miracles. I encourage you all to ready this chapter and set goals for how you can share the gospel. You all are the key to missionary work. Through your referrals and willingness to fellowship people, you really can see miracles and be on the Lord's errand. Do it! I'm sure you can think of a good swimteam family who would be interested in the gospel. Go and do, soldiers!

 

Also I want to share D&C 46:15. This is about spiritual gifts. I wondered what this meant "differences in administration." After some study I've decided that it means gratitude and optimism and recognizing tender mercies of the Lord in all the forms they take. I think that's a great gift to have. I don't know why I've never noticed it before. That is definitely something I want to have. I want to be the kind of person that can recognize blessings throughout trials. I want to be more grateful for the blessings I do have.

 

Okay family. I love you all.

 

I can't believe I'm moving in just 5 days. Eek! I'll miss Xin Zhuang, but I know that the Lord has big plans for me other places. I just hope the people in my next area will be ready for me and my new companion. I am expecting miracles.

 

I hope you all know, I love being on the Lord's side. I love being here and I love doing his work. I love you all too. I am so grateful for the forever family that we have. That's an eternity of fun and laughter and happiness. I know that this church is true and that only through covenant keeping and temple marriage can we have these great blesssings. I am so grateful for the restoration of the gospel. Please notice how blessed you are. I love you all so much!!

 

Love love love,

Cae

7/7/13 email

Hey hey good lookin!

 

Seriously though-- I have a beautiful family. You will be sad to know though that I don't fit in anymore. Being on a mission has made me not so attractive. Sweat and black skirts don't really do much for the woman. Remembering what you all look like is my only hope for a good looking future. NOT KIDDING AT ALL!

 

Okay I have SO MUCH to write about and pictures to send this week. I just hope that I have time for them all! Eek.

 

Last Monday we went to Taibei 101 with Elder Morgan, Elder Hagedorn and their investigator. It was quite the activity. It was interesting and I'm glad I've done it, but I'll admit the real fun was later that day at one of our lessons. So after 101 we had a lesson with a mom and her son. We had run into the mom in a convenient store just a few days previous. She had mentioned that her son went to college in the US for a bit and that she was interested in religion so we set up with her. Yeah I'm not sure if they were more interested in religion or us. I seriously felt like I was on an awkward blind date. NOT KIDDING AT ALL! They were super nice people, but when we first got to the place we were meeting, the mom left to go get us fruit and drinks leaving me and my companion to talk to her 27 year old son. Well when he found out my companion was only 19 and I was 21 it was all eyes on me. MEGA AWKWARD! I wasn't sure what to say and I just kept trying to keep things focused on the gospel. When his mom came back it was kind of the same. They would bring up something random and my companion and I were all like "baptism. our goal is baptism." I don't think they got the point though. The son asked what my name was. I told him it was sister. He was like seriously, your parents named you sister? Uhh.. no. But right now my name is sister. EEK! He asked if S.Boyer knew my name. We said we knew each others names but that we just call each other sister so that doesn't matter right now. So hilarious. When we left that lesson we were laughing SO HARD! Ridic.

 

Oh speaking of names. I think being called Micaela will weird me out so much. Lol. 

Also transfers are coming up next week. I'll find out a week from tonight if I'm moving or not. It's pretty likely that I will because I've been here for a while.

 

Last week we had an awesome miracle of 8 investigators at church. It was such a blessing. We worked hard to make sure these people got invited and understood why it is important. It was a successful day. Also very busy making sure these people were all taken care of! So crazy!

 

Some news for xin zhuang is that they just opened a new MRT station by our apartment (that's the subway). Now we don't have to bike super far to get to the old station. It's such a blessing.

 

Speaking of biking. This past week we had a duan chuan (that's mini missionary). She didn't have a bike so we spent the week walking and getting taxis. Let me tell ya-- WE BROKE BANK! Literally. We spent so much money on Taxis. That was a little frustrating. And considering the taxi/walking situation because our area is so big, we had to cancel a couple lessons. Not fun at all. Here is something funny though. On Monday we hardly knew what to do because we didn't have P-day so we went finding with the elders in a big park. Elder Hagedorn brought his guitar and we just walked about offering to sing for people then talking to them about the gospel. The elder's found an awesome new potential while we were at it. Well anyway we sent our duan chuan out in front of us to ask people if we could sing for them. I went up to one man and asked him, but he looked at me confused so I sent her there to ask him in Taiwanese. He didn't hear and pointed to his hearing aid so she said it a little louder. He still didn't hear. The next thing I saw was her go right up to his ear and yell as loudly as she could "CAN WE SING A SONG FOR YOU?!?!" It was maybe the most hilarious part of that day. I laughed so so hard! What a hoot. Overall the week was... interesting. Having a native companion is hard because my chinese is really still pretty limited.

 

Here's one super fun thing we did this week though. For July 4th we went to the home of the American family in our ward for lunch. We had hot dogs and hamburgers and pickles-- it's been far too long. So delicious. It was awesome. We were all dressed up in red, white, and blue, and just had an awesome time just chatting about the land that we love! Also that evening my companion and I sang and recorded a melody of America hymns. So fun. Needless to say-- that was major culture shock for our duan chuan. Lol. WE LOVED IT THOUGH! I love America! God bless America!

 

Of course I need to share something spiritual. Missionary work is not all fun and games. We laugh hard and work hard. We have many very spiritual times. This week I just got a huge testimony of how important the temple is and to have that be our focus. We had some training yesterday on how to give good temple tours. It was enlightening. I've had some time to reflect on the temple and I just love it. I hope that you all have a temple focused goal/life. It really is the most important thing we can do in this life. Stay worthy of a temple recommend. Hold tight to your standards, even when that doesn't seem like the cool thing to do. Never forget to do the daily things that remind us of our end goal. Share the gospel with EVERYONE! These are all just basics and they are so simple. So just do it! I know that this church is true and I know with out a doubt that I want to endure to the end with you all and go to the celestial kingdom together and with our other family members. Keep going! Keep reading! Keep praying!

 

I love you all. You all are such a good example to me! Don't waver for anything. Satan is much smarter than we give him credit for and he hates us. He will not stop tempting so there is absolutely no room for wavering. 

Love Love!

 

-Cae