My hymnbook smells like binlang

Yes. My hymnbook smells like binlang. It's a nasty drug and a nasty smell. And it's my english hymnbook so I don't know why it smells that way. It's very weird. But I was singing last night and then I smelt it and thought... oh that's weird. Anyway. Fun fact.

This week has been SUPER fast. And now I'm coming up on my 7th transfer soon. So fast!!! It's crazy how time flies.

I'll tell you about what doesn't go by quickly though-- that would be reading Isaiah in Chinese. Yes I've made it to the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon in Chinese... And it's super super hard and I mostly don't understand anything that's going on. It's tough to get through but I'm gonna make it. The rest of the Book of Mormon is actually not too hard in Chinese. It's cool reading in Chinese. I learn a lot of things that I just don't get in English. It's mega fun (:

Also my companion and I discovered the most dangerous thing on the road this week. That would be old people. They like to ride bikes really slowly in front of us. And they are SUPER unpredictable. They will turn suddenly with out warning pushing you into traffic. It's not a happy combination. And I probably say more prayers on the road about all the old people that we have to bike by than anything else... slight exaggeration. But it's seriously hilarious.. .and concerning.

Also this past week I got the BEST news. TWO OF MY INVESTIGATORS GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!! They were from my last area in Xin Zhuang. I cried when I found out because I was so thrilled. I love those two ladies. So so so so much (:

Also we're having an english class party next week... HALLOWEEN PARTY!! WOOT WOOT!

This week I had a thought though. All of my friends from high school probably just graduated from college. Right? Weird. I still have a super long time left. But I'm on a mission and I speak Chinese. So that's cool (:

We taught an 88 year old woman twice this week. She did tell us we need to not cross our legs when we pray because it's rude. And she has no front teeth and she's christian. And I don't understand a word she says because it's mostly in Taiwanese. Okay false-- I understand about 80% of what she says. It's an interesting thing to teach her. Also-- she doesn't understand us. So we need a member to go with us.

Okay this week was super cool and involved probably the most memorable birthday of my life. (Don't get me wrong I love being with ya'll on my birthday but this was seriously a crazy crazy awesome birthday.)

We had an outdoor zone conference so our zone and the Xinzhu zones all got together and took busses to miaoli. We went to Lion's head mountain and hiked up it. NOT EVEN KIDDING NATURE IS SO DARN COOL. Along the trail we had different bits of training, we took pictures, ate lunch, talked and got to know other missionaries and had time to be still and ponder. It really put everything back into perspective for me-- which is something I really needed recently. I know that God created this beautiful world for us. And I know that we are His most prized creations. I feel so small-- yet so important. I know that my life has worth and I know that God has been watching out for me. At the top of the mountain we had a training by President Day. Seriously-- that man is inspired of God. He is a good man and I'm so glad he is my leader. He made an announcement that they are opening up a new zone in our mission and that people are gonna have to step up to leadership positions early in their missions than they expect. I have no idea what that means for me. I still feel like a young missionary... but apparently I'm not considered new anymore. Maybe I'll train my whole mission. Who knows. I want a native companion though because I want to speak Chinese all the time. Then I can improve a lot. After the super steep/long hike we were heading home on the bus. There was a baptism in Longtan at 7:00 that we really wanted to take our investigator to. We needed to catch the bus from our church no later than 6:00 to get there on time. I can't explain this miracle. At 5:30 the bus was driving through Longtan. We still had about 40 minutes until we would be at the place they would let us off. Then another 30 to our apartment where we could change our clothes and then another 40 minutes to Longtan. Eek. We decided to get off the bus at Longtan with the other Elders in our area. Our investigator was to meet us at the church at 5:45. We knew that this way would be shorter-- but we'd still probably be too late for the baptism. THEN a recent convert happened to drive by and arrange for us to get a ride back to our area and drive us and our investigator to the baptism. We showed up at 6:59. Wow! The Lord obviously wanted this to happen. The baptism was great and the spirit was very strong. Then in the evening when we got home, I ate cake with my companion (:

IT WAS SUCH A GOOD BIRTHDAY! And now I'm 22!! 

Then on Saturday we had temple tours all day. There was a wedding reception going on so there were a lot of nonmembers waiting for the wedding party to get out of the temple. We were able to give a tour to these two girls who were waiting. It was a really cool tour. But probably one of the coolest parts was this girl who was outside taking pictures of the temple. She lives in our zone. She and her boyfriend are Christians. She was really excited to have a temple tour and said she's interested to learn more and that her boyfriend will be too. It was super super cool. I called the sisters who will teach her and let them know all about this little miracle investigator that the Lord provided us with. Cool cool cool.

Oh and I did it. I cut my hair.  *picture to follow*

Oh and remember that creepy man from Xin Zhuang. Yes... I got three more letters from him this week. Gross. They are in Chinese though so I haven't gotten around to reading them yet. I'll get there maybe. Idk it creeps me out... maybe that's why I'm considering never getting married. SO SO SO SO CREEPY! 

Oh I never mentioned that last week we talked to a drunk man on his bike during the typhoon. He just talked and talked and talked about a whole lot of nothing. But he kept mentioning Christmas... So then when ever he would stop and scratch his head to think we'd say oh you mean Christmas?? Then he would point at us and say "YES YES THAT'S IT!! CHRISTMAS!" It was hilarious.  Please note we weren't making fun of him but he kept trying to run a red light so we kept him talking until it turned green... but then usually when it turned green he would just keep talking so we had to keep him talking through the next red light.. and the next one. etc. lol.

That's mostly it for this week. I'll try to send pictures if I have time later. (:

LOVE YOU ALL!

-Cae

I forgot to mention. We told LM about church. We told her to wear a skirt to church and asked if she has one. She said she has so many. So we invited her to wear one... then she just laughed and said "I can't wear a skirt... I have no butt!" We just laughed. Girlfriend is 75 years old and still thinking about these things. Lol. (:

Old people say nice things.

First of all. I'm obsessed with all of you. Didn't you know already?

Second. You should all learn Chinese and come on your missions here.... Okay Garrett and Brae at least <3

This week has been good. I've been focusing on gratitude a lot more in my prayers. And it's amazing how it has changed me and the way I see things. Literally all week I have been happy. And I think it's because I have been seeing what I am grateful for rather than what I need. Do it! The Lord knows what we need. And he will help us when we show our gratitude.

Also something I'm grateful is Mexican food. I'm not homesick. Which is good because I can focus-- but I have hit a point where I have serious cravings for things. It's hilarious. And super obnoxious because I eat the same thing here all the time. The end (:

Also-- little brothersssss. WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO ON A MISSION? I've been hearing that you both want to go. I think it's awesome... obv! I want to know why. People always ask why we're doing this. It's a good question because this isn't all downhill. Mostly it's uphill... but it's so great and I'm so happy. And that's because I know why I'm here. So why do you want to go?

Also-- how is the Book of Mormon challenge coming? I'm in 2 Nephi in the Chinese BOM. SO GOOD!

Oh pause. Food. Mango ice slushies. These are the greatest things in the world. I can't even describe how delicious they are. mmmm. (: LOVE COCO!

Last week we had a cool little miracle. We were walking back to our apartment and we saw this guy walking his dogs. I started to walk quickly past him considering that dogs suddenly hate me. My companion noticed. We said hi as we past him, but his dogs got a little tangled with us so we stopped to talk. He's a christian in another church from China but isn't active. He's read the bible seven times and loves it so much. He wanted the Book of Mormon. Then he asked us when we have church because he wants to come. THEN he asked us if he needed to get rebaptized. (: We told him yes and he said great. He was willing to meet with the elders and met them the next day. He told us though that he knew he had to talk to us because usaully his dogs bark and get angry at people, but when they saw us they just got really happy and wanted to follow. It was SUCH a big miracle. We were so happy to meet him. Keep him in your prayers though because he met with the elders and set a baptismal date then they haven't been able to get in touch with him in a couple days. It will be okay. This man is a good man and he's ready for the gospel.

Last monday we made pots in Yingge. Our investigator came with us-- SHE IS THE GREATEST. It was mega fun and I made the world's ugliest pot. It's a pretty shape (a football. HOLLA), but i decorated the outside and everyone knows that once i start decorating it turns as if the H-bom went off. Hmmph. Still good though.

AND TODAY WE'RE GOING BOWLING! So good (:

This week we also taught the first lesson in english to our American friend. Moral of the story: My english is the PITS. And I really should only speak chinese. Okay lesson though. The Lord works despite missionaries sometimes.

Also we had an investigator yesterday tell us she wants to be baptized. 11 days ago she was atheist. Miracle. I adore our investigators. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THESE PEOPLE! All of them (: <3

I guess spiritual thought-- reading the Book of Mormon changes people.

Also really I just want you all to know how much God is involved in this work. I realized this week that I don't do a thing. I just work and work realize that I just need to trust in God more and have more faith. Job 37:14. I testify that the power of God is real. This work is real. The Book of Mormon is true. The restoration of the gospel is real. It is a miracle. I am SO grateful that I have this. I'm so grateful that I get to share it. I'm so grateful that my whole family is worthy to go to the temple. I'm so grateful for my companions. I'm so grateful I don't have to share the gospel in English because I'm terrible at it. I'm grateful that my Chinese is bad because I learn to rely on the spirit more. I'm grateful that the Lord had blessed me with charity. It really never faileth. I'm grateful for the prophet. I'm grateful that we get to watch conference soon. I'm grateful to email all ya'll every week. You all are an inspiration. I'm grateful that grandma's surgery went well. I love you all so much! All of you <3

Hello Pookie Bears

 editor's note: I might have to start renaming her emails

I LOVE YOU ALL. Seriously each of you have made such an impact on my life. You don't even understand how much just being you helps me be a better person/missionary. I hope I can live up the the Anderson name (which let's be real here-- hold's a high standard. Perfect combo on silly and serious. Done)

Random question. who plays the voice of aladdin, timon, and pumba? I promise I'm not distracted but these things just pop into my head and I know if I don't write it down and ask then I'll never know.

Also I have come to a conclusion this week about my life. I'm gonna do a triathalon when I get home. Now before you spit up your drink (because you recognize as well as I do that the thought of me exercising is the biggest joke)-- you have no idea how much we bike here.  There is a wicked hill that we go up often (going down is also mega fun). Also my companion and I run every morning (LOL). And I actually LIKE to swim. So I shall do it. I'll be honest-- I have no idea what a tri involves. But it would be a sweet accomplishment.

Oh I need to remind Brae and Gar-- I'M OBSESSED WITH YOU TWO.. Not even kidding. If people aren't interested in the gospel I just spread family to them. I have my pictures of the family with me all the time to share with people. I'm exaggerating slightly (as in I spread Jesus more than I spread you two) but people love you here. And so do I.

Also last Monday I was having MAJOR cravings.

Chocolate milk

Cabbage rolls

Breakfast caserole

Pull aparts

Funeral potatoes

Bacon wrapped water chesnuts.

Oh so delicious. I'M SO STARVING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD BREAKFAST YET.  I love taiwan people food. It's so good. But I'm just hungry for all the food in the world right now. Also-- you learn to over eat on a mission. It's kind of the pits. Because you get stuffed and then you have to carry the recent addition to your already fattie belly up a hill. Moral of the story: I love food. I am getting fat. Rice cheeks are real. Okay-- the second two are a total lie. I'm in really good shape. But I do like food and I do like rice. And I do want the above listed food on my plate-- as in I need to learn how to make them next summer so that I never have to go this long without them again.

Also-- two days ago was my 10 month birthday. SO OLD!

I was thinking during personal study the other day that I want to send all of ya'll a message that would really make you come closer to God. I'm not good with words so I don't know what I could write to make that happen. But then I remembered who is SUPER good with words. Yes, that would be every prophet in the Book of Mormon! So I came up with this idea. You have 8 months left before I see your lovely faces again. I want to invite all my family members (especially the little brothers), and anyone else who wants to come closer to God: Read the Book of Mormon before I get home. Start now from the very first page and take it away. Do it do it! I'll do it too... in Chinese (:

LOVE YOUUUUU<3

Also I have all of your pictures on my desk and when my companion and I need to role play (everyday) we use your pictures. Shandi and Sam's engagement picture represents the majority of people we meet on the street and quite a few of our investigators. Garrett and Braeden's school pictures alternate in representing the rest of the investigators. It's good.

Also the other day during studies I put on jeans. It was so weird. I felt like a real person. Not that I'm not a real person now-- but lets be real-- normal people don't repeat outfits as often as I do here. Also wearing jeans reminds me how breezy skirts are. It's weird. Anyway the wind here was nuts yesterday and my skirt acted as a very successful parachute. It's hard to get around sometimes. But I'm just getting super fit. 

Also my companion and I have a theme song. Seize the day. We sing it all the time-- especially when biking through typhoons. I try to do my best everyday. Despite trials-- I find at least one successful thing about each day. Also my companion and I have started sharing our testimonies of something that happened that day in Chinese with each other at the end of planning each day. It's super awesome.

Last week we were in Yingge one day and we decided to stop by the Bishops house and see his wife/ ask about some of the members we wanted to visit. Well on the way there I was whistling... because my companion is teaching me how to whistle so I need to practice. Well we may or may not have ignited the angry dog. She saw it happening and slowly biked past him. And I was ignorant to I just kept whistling. Then I looked over and saw the dog. AND HE CHARGED. I booked it. After a couple of seconds he quit chasing but he did come about an inch from my leg when he first charged. MY HEART WAS RACING. He was NOT happy. And his teeth were like daggers. We got a pretty solid laugh out of that. So funny! Lesson learned though-- be aware of your surroundings and ignorance is not bliss. I'm gonna pull a dad and go all seminary on you--- Satan works like this and if you aren't careful he'll get ya. Don't just prance and whistle around him as if he is not real. The enemy is real and when he attacks you do NOT want to be like I was around that dog. Got it? LOVE YOU.

Also that evening as we headed home from Yingge (which by the way we found a new hill to get there-- it has switch backs and is really steep and awesome) we were pulled over by this guy. I was so excited. I thought it was a miracle-- we found an investigator for the elders. Or so I thought. Here's how our conversation went.

You're the Mormons

Yes.

You are females.

Yes.

You speak Chinese.

Yes

You are American.

Yes.

You are young.

Yes. Would you like a Book of Mormon? We have a free English class. (etc)

No. I'm looking for a wife. I want babies.

....

...

....

...

SO HILARIOUS. He wouldn't take the Book of Mormon. 

Also here is a big miracle. That day when we went to yingge we were taking a new direction (the switch backs) and my companion and I got a little lost so we called the elders to find out where we were going (because there was no one around us). My companion talked to elder K because her directional skills are way more refined. Then she went to hand the phone back to me and we dropped it!! We were standing over a grate in the road and the phone fits perfectly with extra space through the holes in the grate! Eek. It dropped in slow motion (along with my stomach). After flipping once and landed the fat side down just barely missing not falling to it's doom in the gutter. Eek. We said a gratitude prayer.

Lastly I have to tell you about this investigator. L.M.  WE LOVE HER SO MUCH. We found her after visiting a less active one day. We gave her a Book of Mormon and scheduled a time to go back. We've been back multiple times every week. She's buddhist and worships her ancestors but she is SO open to the gospel. She's starting to understand. We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ the other day and when we told her about repentance and baptism and that all of her sins can be washed away (etc) she just looked up and said "Really? that good?!?" She committed to being baptized the end of october. She just said she needs to have time to get rid of all of her buddhist stuff before her baptism. She is literally the cutest old lady in the world. She said she wont let me take a picture with her because she thinks she's ugly. But it'll happen. Then you can all see my Taiwan grandma. And you will all adore her. I want to bring her home and have her be friends with my America grandmas. But she doesn't speak english. Going to her house makes me feel like I'm spending time with my real grandmas. It's nice.

Well that's all. Of course the investigators are doing well. Five of them came to church yesterday. It was such a blessing. This week we're hoping to get eight at church. We totally can. And next week L.M. said she can come. SHE WILL LOVE IT!

I know this is true! I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. I wish you all could be part of this. Garrett and Braeden-- you two will be great missionaries someday. You already are. All of you-- keep sharing the gospel. Read the Book of Mormon. Don't be scared to open your mouth.

Be like Abraham in the old testament (Genesis 13), build your house on the land where the Lord can freely bless you. I LOVE THE BIBLE. I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON. I LOVE THE CHURCH. AND I LOVE YOU ALL!

Love,

Cae

Hello My Darlings~

Dajia zao an!   (9.1.13)

Good Morning my beautiful family! The sun is shining here in Bade for the first time in a few days because it's been rainy. But actually the sun means A LOT OF HEAT. Bah. Oh well (: I love this place none the less.

Also periodically throughout the week I'll make a note of things I need to say to ya'll and I wrote down at some point. "I love America." I don't remember if there was something that triggered me wanting to write that or if it was just a renewal of patriotism, but regardless, I LOVE AMERICA! We seriously are so lucky to live there. It is a blessed place and we have so much that we take for granted. So stop right now, say a prayer, and thank God that you live in America. Regardless of how wacky the government may get-- we are way better off than a lot of people and we should show more gratitude.

Last P-day was Elder Yang's last pday before going home so our district went to the chapel and played ping pong and other games. SO FUN. And i'm still terrible at ping pong. (:

That night (Monday) we had our lessons cancel so we knocked on doors in the area and we asked people if we sing to them. One grandma let us in immediately so we sang to her and four grandchildren and taught her how to pray. She said we can come back anytime to teach the whole family. She asked how this would bless her family and my first thought was that the grandkids will have high standards (because I'm sure that's a huge blessing for parents). So we shared the Word of wisdom and one of the boys jumped up and said "well I guess Dad has to quit smoking then!" It was so hilarious. We've made plans to go back this Thursday. (:

Also I rediscovered a fault of mine recently. If someone has a different opinion than me then my reaction (however much I try to cushion it) comes across as if they just shot my dog. It's bad. I'm working on changing that. Sister Hammer has been patient with me and we put together a list of things that need to go through my head before I have any reactions to people's opinions. Lol. I'm finally gonna learn how to play nice with the other kids!

This past Saturday we were in Taibei doing temple square tours. It was raining all day so really we spent a lot of time calling referrals and inviting them to come unto Christ that way. (It was good). But the best part was that my dear Sister Boyer also had temple tours that day so we got to catch up a little. And I had both my children with me (that's what we call it-- your trainee is your child). It was a happy day <3

We also got a load of new missionaries this past week. Bade now has two sets of Elders and one set of sisters. We're all in training companionships. One of the new missionaries here is from Finland. COOL! I'm looking forward to our new friends. (:

Also on Saturday I got my birthday package. I apologize. I CAVED! I was with both of my children (s.hammer and s.boyer) so I wanted to open it with them because I won't be with s.boyer on my birthday. Early birthday. So great! I love everything that is in the package! I wore one of the shirts yesterday and I felt so pretty for like the first time on my mission! Also I have a ton of pictures to send but it hasn't been working recently. I'll try again today.

Well that's pretty much it for this week. I love you all. I love our prophet. And I love the Book of Mormon.

Not even kidding I hope you can all know how great this is. The Book of Mormon is true. This church is true. We have a prophet on this earth. If Moses was on earth would you want to talk to him? Yeah I would too. I would listen to everything he had to say. BECAUSE HE'S A PROPHET. And so now we have the same blessing because of the restoration. There is a prophet on this earth and his name is Thomas S. Monson. Go listen to him (:

The end. 

I love you all!

Love,

Cae