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