A little out of order!

Today is the official start of my NINTH transfer. Crazy crazy. You'll be excited to hear that I'm still in the peach garden (Tao Yuan). This is my 4th transfer in this area and I'm officially grandma Tao Yuan (according to my companion) because I have been in this zone the longest. I love it hear though and I'd be happy to be here for the rest of my mission. It's a happy place. And it would have broken my heart to leave.

I'm still companions with Sister Bang (such a blessing-- i'm obsessed with her). We work hard together. We see a lot of miracles together and we are growing together.

I want to tell you about this family that we are teaching. I think I've mentioned them before. Our first week in this area, we were pretty much lost the whole time so we picked a place on the map and decided to knock some doors. Well the area we went to only had 6 doors. NOOOOO! So we knocked them and met this beautiful family. We've been over 4 times now and last night we finally really started with the teaching of the lessons. They are great-- a lot of questions, but they would like to come to church and they are really sincere about learning anything that they feel can bless their two daughters. I absolutely adore them. We took a member and her 8 year old son over with us last night. The lesson was interesting and didn't go as planned. Our lessons with them never have gone according to plan. They are very religious people and sincere about the Chinese cultural tradition of anscestor worship. Honestly-- I'm not qualified to teach them at all. But God is. He works through me and my companion (two pretty typical young American college students who struggle to articulate ourselves in Chinese) to bless this family. He knows them. And He loves them. I love them too.

After the lesson, the member gave us the world's greatest compliment. She said that Sister Bang and I teach in really good unity. I thought I could cry-- that was the sweetest compliment and I feel like if a member told us (especially because she went on a mission before) then it must be true. I LOVE THESE PEOPLE.

Also speaking Chinese is a super big miracle. I still feel like I'm learning new Chinese daily and improving and my speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. It's such a blessing.

We saw some really great tender mercies this week, but since I didn't write down what they were earlier-- I can only think of a coupld off the top of my head. Actually only one...

So most of you know that I love dogs--- but in Taiwan I do NOT love dogs... and they do NOT love me. Well there is only one path that I know to get to church (it's about a 20ish minute bike ride) and there is a big dog that we have to bike by everytime. He often is no where to be found, but when he is there he likes to bark at us and sometimes looks like he'll charge. Well yesterday on our way to church we got to that part of our trip and I watched this dog with another dog (they were obviously in cahoots) chase after a slow moving scooter. I stopped and called to Sister Bang that there was no way I was going over there. I even turned around and told her that we'd find a new way to church. Sister Bang just told me if we went really fast then it'd be fine. No. I refuse. But in reality we didn't have a choice-- we needed to go to church. Just before we headed into the death trap I said a little prayer in my heart that I would be okay-- then just as I did that a 13 year old recent convert biked up, and with out even thinking twice kept going. We biked with him through the death trap. So I guess to ya'll it may not seem that amazing-- but I know God listened to my prayer and he sent me a worthy Aaronic priesthood holder to ease my fears. We biked through and the dogs barked, but the one who usually chases people didn't come out. To me it just reminds me that God listens to EVERY prayer and that he will-- through small and simple things, work miracles in the lives of His children. 

The new year was exciting too. We were on exchanges so I was with Sister George. She's a really good missionary and friend.

Two last things because my keyboard sticks and is super annoying.

1 Kings 19:11-12

God doesn't work by shaking us or sending big miracles all the time-- He is found in stillness. Pay attention to the still moments. Cherish them. Learn from them.