Frisbees, Families, and Fairy Princesses

This week was short so there isn't much to say but I'll say some things I guess. Hahaha.

Starting last Monday my companion and I have started going out early in the morning to play frisbee with the other missionaries in the district. As most of you know (after being hit in the eye with a frisbee when I was younger) i've never wanted to play... because i'm a quitter and a big baby. But we've been going and guess what--- I'm actually obsessed with it. Hahahah. Some missionaries pray for the gift of tongues on their missions. Some missionaries pray for their investigators. And I pray that I'll be able to catch the frisbee. Hahaha. Really though I love it and it's the best part of my morning. And thus family get ready--- we will be playing frisbee all the time this summer. (: (: (:

Also we're teaching a couple families the gospel right now we have the X family which consists of a Mom and her high school aged son (but the dad really doesn't want them to be baptized or meet with missionaries so we just see them at church every week). Then there is the T family who is a Mom, Dad, and their son. They are awesome and already have enough Christian background that they do well at understanding the message and they are really interested. Last there is the H family which is a mom, dad, and three kids. Right now only the mom is investigating, but the we kno the kids and the next time we go over, the dad will probably be home so we can meet him too!! Also last night we met the F Family on the street who will start meeting with us after I already leave the area.

And then on our bike ride to the church there are big taro fields that we look at while we go. I don't know if you know anything about taro but its a root that grows under swampy water and is delicious and the plant part that is out of the water are these GIANT lily pads. And every time we right by I always wish I was a fairy princess and that I could just prance across the lily pads. So great.

So last night when my companion and I got home we went up to the 28th floor of our building (aka the roof) and we looked out over the city. It was beautiful. With the lights, and the dark sky, and the river down below I felt so blessed to be in such a beautiful city. We spent the next little bit talking about everything (mostly things I've learned on my mission and my goals and plans and what I want to continue to learn and grow). It was a really cool experience. That is something that I love about my companion right now is that we can just talk about everything. She's definitely a life long friend. And she's one of those people that asks the right questions to get you to really think about things and ponder about life. It's cool. Life is cool. I still don't have all the answers to all the questions in life-- but I'm enjoying the ride and I'm pumped to keep learning.

Oh and I need to tell you about the "hua che." Flower car. Taiwan is awesome. When something great happens they pull out the hua che and when something terrible happens they pull out the hua che. It's essentially a parade with one or more cars that are covered in flowers that play music (usually every car is playing different music-- so it's just a loud ruckus). And people bang on drums and people sings karoke and it stops traffic. It's hilarious. And yesterday while we were trying to have a lesson with our investigators there we about a million hua che's driving by. Hahaha. It was so loud. It's definitely something that is not as common in America. Hahah.

Anyway mostly I just love you all. I can't believe I'm starting up my last FULL week on island. It'll be a great week. I look forward to a lot of miracles and finding a lot of solid investigators with Sister Johansen.

T-3 posts left

It's been a really long week and a half because we went on three exchanges this past week-- and thus Sister Johansen and I are EXHAUSTED!! But it's been good. I left Nankan for all three exchanges so I feel especially tired! Hahah. Last Tuesday I went to Pingzhen with Sister Chen. It was awesome and we saw some really cool miracles. I learned a lot from her!! Then just two days later I went to Taoyuan City with Sister Mao. Also super awesome! Then the next day I left again to go to Bade with Sister Singh. My precious Bade. It's always good to go back! (: Anyway I found myself missing my companion a lot. Seriously Sister Johansen is a rockin friend and we need to be friends forever and ever and ever! It's been nice to be doing missionary work again with her the past couple of days.

On Saturday evening we had kind of a cool experience. We switched back at the church after and exchange and we only had about an hour and a half to eat dinner and share the gospel so it would have wasted our time to bike back to our area just to have to bike back again after dinner to see the baptism that evening. So we decided to just eat in the area and figured we'd find something to occupy our time for the other half hour. Just as we were leaving the chapel to find some food, this man and his son pulled into the church saying they wanted to see the inside. So OBVIOUSLY we gave him a church tour. He came to church the next day too! So we introduced him to the missionaries assign to his area and he became one of their solid new investigators! Such a cool miracle! And dinner was good too. (:

That evening we went to visit the X. family and they had to cancel because their dad is not too happy that missionaries come over. But they came to all of church the next day and that was cool because that's the first time they've stayed! After church we finished teaching them the lessons. We're still praying really hard that they'll be able to get baptized on my last Saturday in town. We'll see!

This past Friday we had a member of the quorum of the seventy (Elder Wilson) and his wife come and talk to us about the Book of Mormon. They emphasized that people need to have spiritual experiences with the Book of Mormon in order to know that this church is true and to stay active in it. So we've really been working hard at reading the Book of Mormon with investigators to help them get started. Also speaking of the Book of Mormon-- I'M GETTING SO FAR IN MY CHINESE BOOK OF MORMON!! I should finish soon. How about you? Whose gonna finish the Book of Mormon before I get home?

ALSO I FINISHED READING THE BIBLE YESTERDAY!! I feel so accomplished. I can officially say that I have read the whole Bible. That's a feat. So now when people question me because I read the Book of Mormon I can say I've read both the Book of Mormon AND the Bible. Yes!

So something that really stood out to me last Friday at the meeting with Elder Wilson was actually when we met with just the Sisters and Sister Wilson. She talked about a scripture in Corinthians that talks about these clay pots. She mentioned that there are these clay pots that people have in the middle east that over time as they get old they form small cracks in the sides. She said that people put a light in the bottom of the pot and a lid on top and the only way to see the light is through the cracks. I think it's interesting. We are like these imperfect cracked clay pots. Yes we have cracks, but God allows us to shine THROUGH our cracks and imperfections. So if we spend our whole life trying to look perfect and cover up those cracks, then we will never shine the way God intended us too. So the moral of the story is that: We aren't perfect, but we must embrace our imperfections and be who we are because God knows how to let us shine even when we have cracks. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! It's so true. And I'm so NOT perfect. But I'm working on being the best version of myself that I can be.

ALSO MOM AND DAD HAPPY 29TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!! I've never committed to anyone for more that a month or so--- so I'm super impressed by you two!! Hahahah.

And Happy Easter!!!

This past Monday after my companion and I got back from our third exchange we had all day to go finding together. We actually saw a lot of cool miracles--- I think the Mondays that we don't have p-day always become miracle Mondays! So cool. But the best part is that right around dinner time we decided to sit down on this grassy ledge and say hi to all of the people walking on the path down below. This is when we realized that missionaries are SO good at breaking ice. We seriously just talk to anyone and everyone. It's bizarre. I was never like that before my mission. But now I can just go to anyone and strike up a conversation. I think it definitely has to do with the fact that I'm a representative of Jesus Christ. But it's cool.

Also on Monday evening we talked to this random man while we were sitting on a bench and when he left, another man (from China) who was so amazed that we were speaking Chinese came to talk to us in probably the thickest southern chinese accent I've ever heard. He was so hard to understand. But the best part is that he spit when he spoke and accidently got a massive piece of flem on the flyer we were trying to give him... and somehow the flem got on my hand. SICK!! But we did successfully give him the flyer. Hahah. And I washed my hands. SICK SICK SICK SICK!!

Anyway-- that's about all for this week. I still love my life and I'm still working hard!!

Defend your beliefs

I can't believe that time is ticking down to the day that I'll step off that plane and see your lovely faces again. Also it stresses me out because people out here talk about how I need to get married and then my palms get sweaty and I want to cry because the idea of going on a date just seems so bizarre to me. But what matters most is that we are hitting the streets out here. Sister Johansen and I are working so hard. Between exchanges, meetings, training other missionaries and working hard in our area we have been so busy and by the time 10:25 comes at night and I can hit the sack I'm wiped and I sleep like a rock until 6:25 when we get up and run for a half hour. Busy busy busy. And also one of the most exciting transfers of my mission because there is ALWAYS something to be done. Sister Jo is a rockin missionary and such a good example to me.

Also the weather here has been AWESOME!! And my little feet have turned to a nice shade of dark brown.. (: which is nice because I have white little toes. TWO TONED WHAT WHAT?!? But really the nice weather has been awesome. I hope it keeps up because this next week we're going on three exchanges. (And next monday is not p-day so I won't be able to write to ya'll until next wednesday after I go to the temple!!!!)

Mom: I had a thought-- my first meal home must have brownies. I've had brownies only about 5 times on my mission.

So a fun story from this week... We we're biking home from a zone training meeting in a really far away place and it was hot and BEAUTIFUL outside. My companion and I were completely stress free because we were done with the trainings we had to present. At a stoplight we saw a woman crossing the road with her adorable dog (that looks exactly like Amos, just shorter and longer) chasing after her. Poor dog was SO hot and super tired and the woman was standing on the other side of the road beckoning him to run faster because the light was about to turn green. Well here's the crazy part-- Taiwanese drivers start driving before the light turns green. I watched as this dogs path brought him right in front of a car that had already started driving forward and I saw this woman's face as she watched her fatigued little pup almost get crushed and then with out even thinking I just drove up and cut this SUV off so that he'd stop and not hit the dog. I'm not completely sure what I was thinking throwing me and my wimpy little orange bike in front of a moving vehicle to save a dog... but I felt good afterward. Hahah.

*No animals were hurt in the making of this film.

Last couple things: We're praying hard for a few people who are really close to baptism. Right now we're working closely with a girl who is almost graduated from high school in hopes that she can get baptized this month. The other is a mom and her son (the daughter in this family will wait until after she takes this big test to be baptized). They set a baptismal date for my last Saturday here. We are praying hard for them. They really felt the spirit at conference so I think they can make it. We love this family!!!!

Lastly. I loved conference this weekend!!! What were your favorite parts? I really liked a lot of things here's some lessons that stuck out to me most.

"What would Jesus do?" will not always bring a popular result.

Amidst suffering- show an increased amount of love and self-control.

We warn of the things that are not seen- not of the things that are seen.

Times are changing, but truth is not and we will not.

In the gospel of Jesus Christ there is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry.

Every day or every hour you can choose to make or keep a covenant with God.

"Oh it'll all work out."

Courage, not compromise brings the smile of God's approval.

Heavenly Father smiles on you every time you help a daughter of god press forward on that covenant path and every time you do good. He expects you to treat everyone you meet as a child of God.

Anyway those things were only from Saturday. All of conference was good. I think what I loved was the woman's broadcast and realizing that I am part of something much bigger than myself. The church is true and we have the privilege to be part of it!!!

Oh I forgot to mention. My wrist was hurting SO BAD yesterday and I had shooting pains going up my arm. So so so so so painful. It's fine now, but the hilarious part is that apparently in my sleep last night I told my companion that my arm hurt and she was like so what are you going to do? and I said "I'm probably gonna die." I guess I'm just as ridiculous and over exaggerated in my sleep as I am in real life!!

40 days and 40 nights

Have you ever considered fasting for 40 days and 40 nights? I bet it would be hard--BUT if you start today then you would finish your fast the same day I get home. what what?!

Okay not trunky though I promise. We just had transfer this past week. It's been an exciting week.

So as I helped Sister George get ready to get home I was getting SUPER pumped to come home-- and thus I know that I have 40 days left. BUT that being said-- we still worked hard and saw a lot of miracles. I'll be real though-- I was SUPER nervous to get a new companion. Since this is my last transfer I obviously know that I want to take off running and I wanted a companion that I can work in unity with because that is most important to me. Anyway I had to call and report some things to the temple sisters this week (and they know early about the transfers) so I mentioned that I was nervous and Sister Barden (one of the temple sisters) just kept reassuring me that it would be okay and would have a blast this last transfer. BUT STILL going to the transfer meeting on Friday-- I was wicked nervous and my stomach was all in knots!!!! Well I'm pleased to announce that my new/last companion is Sister Johansen!! She's so great. 

This transfer is gonna be stellar! She's the third child in her family. She's from Provo, likes to try new things, is a bomb missionary. OH AND SHE'S RELATED TO POCAHONTAS!!! What what?!?! And she blows glass. Moral of the story: ultimate cool. 

Also the first evening we had together we went out and met this guy on the street. Brother L. When we prayed with him he said that he got goosebumps. SO COOL. He's our new investigator. But later we talked to him and he said he's never felt that way before so he knows he needs to meet with us and see what this is all about.

That same evening we visited a family that we're teaching. The lesson was pretty good. AND THEY CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY!!! Well-- not the daughter because she went to the library to study with friends. But the mom and son did. YAY!!!

Also-- i just found out that a girl I started teaching with Sister Boyer and taught most of the lessons to just got baptized this past Saturday. one year later. I could cry. I'm so happy!!!!

Wow just realized that I don't have a whole lot to say. This transfer is going to be a busy one. We have seven exchanges to go on. The first one is tomorrow. And we also have out temple day, and a mission tour meeting with a member of the seventy, and temple tour training, and two missionary leadership meetings, and some other random meetings and things. So between all that and our exchanges-- S. Johansen and I realized we have 6 normal days together this transfer. BIZARRE!!! It's going to fly by.

Anyway. THIS IS GONNA BE A BUSY AND AWESOME TRANSFER!! I look forward to hearing how your fast goes ;) just kidding you don't need to fast that long (: LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Mission progress 10.6

I'm starting the last week of my second to last transfer. BIZARRO!

I honestly don't know what to say. This week was busy. We had two exchanges back to back. So on Tuesday Sister Anderson came to my area with me. And on Thursday I went back to Bade with Sister Wu. It was a good time. First of all-- the Taiwan people had a really hard time understanding that we had the same name. It was kind of hilarious. But we tried this new thing for the finding time that we had. We decided that we couldn't let three minutes pass by where we weren't talking to someone. We past through a lot of people and got ignored and blown off by a lot of people. BUT for a whole hour before lunch time (which is honestly usually the least productive hour) we talked to EVERYONE. It also felt like a really successful time. We talked to this man who is Christian who is really interested in learning more. He is our new investigator. Also-- he has two children and a wife that he says are probably really interested too. It was a successful exchange.

Then I went to Bade again. IT WAS SO GREAT! I also got to see a recent convert that I taught all the lessons too-- she got baptized after I moved out. She's great. And I had some time while I was there to write in my journal in the evening. Then all of Bade's memories came flooding back and I just thought-- "I hope the people I love know I love them." Ya'll should know, you are all included in that category!! LET'S GO TO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM TOGETHER!! what what?!

Going on exchanges is exhausting. We went on 6 this transfer. And I'm wiped. Sister Hammer says that I have a new wrinkle on my forehead. I'm getting so old!!!

Oh also-- the morning of exchanges with Sister Anderson-- before we exchanged I saw a lizard get run over and I heard his bones crush and saw his guts splatter out. AND THEN when I was out with Sister Anderson, we heard a squealing noise and turned around just in time to see another get run over. He ended up rolling a lot and then jumped up and ran away. I think he was only under the car and didn't really get crushed-- but I'm sure it hurt and probably shocked him pretty bad. So sad :(

Also this past week we went to a members home for dinner and he said that we should not call on taiwanese mothers to help us teach lessons at noon or 6 because "i don't know how it is in America, but in Taiwan mother's have a responsibility to be home and cook for their families at these times." I mean I think that's cool and all-- but I also think it sounds painful. I also think men should learn to cook-- because a woman shouldn't be restricted at those times because she needs to slave in the kitchen for her family every single day. Anyway-- I'm not like a major feminist, but I hope men in America will learn to cook too.

Also-- we run into a lot of stereotypes out here. It's hilarious. Sister George and I sang at our investigators baptism last week and a lady from another ward came up to us after and was telling other people that we sing so well because we both play the piano and so we know music really well. Hahah we just laughed and were like "neither of us play the piano." She was so flabberghasted. It was kind of hilarious actually.

  

Also nankan means south ditch and tao yuan means peach garden. So I live in the south ditch of the peach garden. It's a lovely place.

Cold Week

This week the weather was pretty typical in Taiwan... but I had a cold. That's why it's cold week. I've had a really bad sore throat and my nose has been really stuffy-- aka impossible to breath and I've been coughing a lot. It started on Wednesday night. So Thursday, Friday, Saturday. and Sunday I had to wear a surgical mask (because that's what people do when their sick out here). Today I'm not wearing one because I'm feeling a lot better. Just the remnants of a cough are left, a little bit of a sore throat (because it keeps being agitated by the coughing) and my nose is stuffy. But I can feel that I'm getting better. So really no worries. It was just really annoying.

BUT despite the cold. We had a baptism this week. Sister C. (who was going to get baptized on the 22) moved her baptism up a week so that her son could attend. It was a really good experience. My companion and I sang at the baptism and the spirit was really strong the whole time. Sister C. is an amazing woman with incredible faith. It's been really cool to teach her and see her grow.

Other than that there isn't a whole lot to say this week. Just a few random things.

First: I was curious-- while I've been gone, what kind of changes has the family gone through? Like what individual changes have you all had? How have you grown? Also what will be different when I get home?

Also-- Garrett and Braeden: Make good choices. We contacted this young kid on the street the other day. He was just sitting by himself smoking. I asked him what grade he was in. He's 14 years old and he's been smoking for half a year. I told him that he should stop because it'll kill him someday. We also gave him a for strength of youth pamphlet. He was a really nice kid-- just making a dumb decision. Well over half the population of Taiwan smokes (or at least has tried it) and everyone I know who smokes started when they were about 14. Obviously Garrett and Braeden don't live in the same circumstances as people out here-- but really it's just such a nasty thing. And we deal with a lot of people who we have to help overcome this addiction. It's a nasty habit.

In the same day that we met that boy, we were knocking doors and met another teenage boy. He looked really familiar and I asked if we knew each other. He said no (but I was wearing a surgical mask-- so maybe that's why he didn't recognize me). Anyway-- we talked to him a little about God and prayer and the Book of Mormon. He had been to church a couple times and knew missionaries from before. Eventually he even admitted that he's read the entire Book of Mormon. It was so crazy! Well after a few more questions we realized that he's been baptized (but I would've never guessed because he told us he's Atheist and also asked what is the difference between our church and other churches). He was baptized last October. He's willing to meet again because he has a lot of questions for us. It was just such a weird experience. Also-- I recognized him because I've met with him before with Sister Bang. So crazy. Moral of the story is-- the Lord leads you to the people who need to be found.

The end. I love you all.

Keep working hard. Make good choices.

March 10!

1. I'm obsessed with all of you!

2. I may or may not have scolded the boys playing video games behind me for bad language.

3. The church is true.

This week has been really good. I found out recently that the very first woman that I ever invited to get baptized finally made it just two weeks ago! I'm so happy to hear that. I still remember that day like it was yesterday--- the very first time I ever invited anyone to be baptized. The spirit was so strong. AND NOW SHE'S MADE IT! My heart is so happy!

Also thank you for all of your prayers for our investigator Sister C. She's gonna make it. She'll be baptized on March 15. We've only been teaching her for about 3 weeks. But she is so humble and in tune with the spirit. I love her. Last Monday when we were on exchanges, I brought Sister Su to our area. The two of us went to visit Sister C. Only the day before we told her that she had to quit smoking. We asked her the next day how she was doing. She had smoked three that day. BIG IMPROVEMENT! We wanted to show her a video about obedience with President Monson speaking because we wanted her to start gaining a testimony of him. She pulled out the computer to put the DVD in and it wouldn't open. But then Sister Su pulled a bobby pin out of her pocket. She poked it into a small whole in the computer and it opened. Sister Chen was so amazed! Hahah. The best part was that Sister Su told us that as they walked out of her door that day she had the prompting to grab her bobby pins and put them in her pocket. So she did. I guess Heavenly Father knew that we would run into this problem. Anyway Sister C was so amazed. The next day when we met with her she said that because of that little experience she's decided to do a great thing. She hasn't smoked since. I know that the Lord, through small and simple things can make great things come to pass. Sister C is doing great. She passed her baptismal interview on Saturday and she's gonna be baptized. This woman has such strong faith. I absolutely adore her!

Please note: In two months from today we'll all be reunited. It's a BIZARRE thought.

This past week we had two exchanges. They were good-- despite the rain. I learn a lot on exchanges and I'm happy to help the other sisters. This week we have two more and I'm leaving my area for both of them so this week will probably feel like I'm hardly home.

Also this week we had Jedi Council. I guess it's official name is Missionary Leadership Council Meeting. I like Jedi Council better. It basically is where all the zone leaders and sister training leaders meet with the Assistants and President Day and his wife all day. We talk about how our zones are doing, what we'll do to improve, our goals and plans, what President Day thinks we should work on, etc. That happens the beginning of every month and prepares us for monthly zone training meeting where we just go back and train on the things that we learned there. I feel unqualified. The leaders in are mission are all really amazing people/ good missionaries. And I'm just the weird awkward child. I hope that I can be a good missionary.

This past week we also had a baptism on Saturday. The little Chilean woman was baptized along with the other sister's investigator. Sister C came to see. It was crazy. The spirit was SUPER strong the whole time. It is definitely one of the most spiritual baptisms I've been too. I can't even describe it. The spirit was really strong when us missionaries sang "Nearer My God to Thee." We sang the first verse in English, second in Chinese, and third in Spanish. I would've never thought that I was going to be singing in Spanish at a baptism. It was nice though.

Lastly-- I think I mentioned a while ago that one evening after making a bunch of phone calls this woman called us back and talked to us on the phone for about a half hour. She had never seen missionaries before--- someone in her house used to meet with them though (according to our records). Anyway we never ended up meeting with her until this last Wednesday after English class. It was bizarre to finally meet her. Hahhah. She's willing to keep meeting with us. So that's cool.

Well that's pretty much it from this week. Time is going by faster than I can run.

One last thing: I found this when I was reading Jesus the Christ this morning. Referring to Christ clearing out the temple. "He acted in the strength of righteousness, before which the forces of evil had to give way." pg 528.

I love this. When we OBEY and are RIGHTEOUS, we will have the strength and boldness to overcome the powers of evil. We all need this-- missionaries and non missionaries. I know that as we BOLDLY share the gospel with everyone, relying on strict obedience to the Lord and His commandments, the very powers of Heaven will come down to support us and overcome the evil in our way.

I LOVE YOU ALL!