Ni Hao!
It's been a good week!
Good news! Xu Jiemei is getting baptized on Saturday!!! She is so excited and so amazing! Her testimony is so strong. I was amazed by her responses and understanding at church on Sunday. She is so prepared! I love her! I love meeting with her and I am so happy for her. I feel so blessed to be doing this work!
This week we met with a cute old man named Zha Bo Bo. He is 93 yrs old. He's been a member since 1974 but because of his health he hasn't been able to come to church for awhile. Sister Chen (my previous companion) and I went to visit him a few times last transfer. Sister Hsin and I have kept up the tradition! Well the first time Sister Hsin and I visited him he was doing so well and he was so happy but this week his health was a little down... He knew we were the missionaries but this was the first time he forgot who I was... I was so sad but happy to introduce myself again! He is simply wonderful and he is trying so hard to convert his nurse from Indonesia... 93 and still a member missionary!
We had a week full of rainstorms here starting Tuesday... And I mean rainstorms... So much rain but we are still out doing the work in our beautiful rain gear. It's so fun! With the rain came some time with clear sky... Because of the pollution, you don't see the sky much but this week there was a little bit of time when I was able to see a beautiful blue sky... Just lovely!!!
Well, I sure do love you all!!!!!
LOVE!!!
Until next week!
May 25, 2011
May 16, 2011
Week 26
Ni Hao!
It's been a good week!
As I mention last week I have a new companion, Sister Hsin. She is super cute and definitely smaller than Sonny (especially now... I'm sure he has grown so much) She's a little more than a foot smaller than me. A lot of people ask if she is really my companion because they usually think she is a teenager. It's kinda funny and luckily she just laughs about it. She might be small in height but she has big courage and she is just go, go, go. She is so great and I'm excited to be serving with her.
This week we focused a lot on finding new investigators but we were also blessed with quite a few lessons. We did a lot of knocking on doors and were actually blessed in finding and teaching a few great people. We found a really cute former investigator, Xu Ming Shan. She is so great! She met with the missionaries a few years ago but suddenly lost interest. We found out that she was worried because she still "bai bai's" which basically means she goes to the Buddhist temples with her family to honor and respect her ancestors. We were happy to hear that this was her concern because it is okay as long as she's not worshipping them. This made her so happy! She said that she has been wanting to get baptized for awhile and now she can... Oh she is so great!
This morning we had a great zone activity of hiking Monkey Mountain! It was a good time... They were so cute! They would actually come pretty close too. Good Times!
Well I'm sorry this is so short but I hoping the pictures make up for it!
I love you all!
Until next week!
It's been a good week!
As I mention last week I have a new companion, Sister Hsin. She is super cute and definitely smaller than Sonny (especially now... I'm sure he has grown so much) She's a little more than a foot smaller than me. A lot of people ask if she is really my companion because they usually think she is a teenager. It's kinda funny and luckily she just laughs about it. She might be small in height but she has big courage and she is just go, go, go. She is so great and I'm excited to be serving with her.
This week we focused a lot on finding new investigators but we were also blessed with quite a few lessons. We did a lot of knocking on doors and were actually blessed in finding and teaching a few great people. We found a really cute former investigator, Xu Ming Shan. She is so great! She met with the missionaries a few years ago but suddenly lost interest. We found out that she was worried because she still "bai bai's" which basically means she goes to the Buddhist temples with her family to honor and respect her ancestors. We were happy to hear that this was her concern because it is okay as long as she's not worshipping them. This made her so happy! She said that she has been wanting to get baptized for awhile and now she can... Oh she is so great!
This morning we had a great zone activity of hiking Monkey Mountain! It was a good time... They were so cute! They would actually come pretty close too. Good Times!
Well I'm sorry this is so short but I hoping the pictures make up for it!
I love you all!
Until next week!
May 15, 2011
Week 25
Ni Hao!
It was so great talking to the fam! Thank you so much! I sure do love you guys!
It's been another great and busy week!
Sister Chen and I were able to teach a lot of lessons this week. So great!
Yesterday, the Liu family received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was so beautiful. Brother Liu continues to heal and is regaining strength and humor. During one of our lessons this week he told Sister Chen that she is a boring teacher and that she should have me teach more because I'm funny haha and by that he means that I am white and my Chinese is funny haha It's so great to see them happy and laughing. Cute Sister Liu has so much faith and patience. She is so great!
So Sister Chen left for home today... I'm so grateful I was blessed to have her as my companion. I am going to miss her. She is so amazing! I learned so much from her. We were so blessed and we had so much fun together! I LOVE HER!
I have a new companion. Sister Hsin! She is adorable!!! She is from Taipei and she is a ballerina! She's probably smaller than Sonny :) She is so cute and I'm excited to serve with her.
This week during personal study I found some great scriptures that I love. It's Helaman 5:9-11. I love in verse 11 how it talks about angels declaring the tidings of the conditions of repentance... I feel that there are many angels doing the Lord's work. There are the wonderful missionaries, specifically companions, that I am blessed to serve with. Then there is the members. They truly help so much in the work. They are so willing to help teach and testify of the Savior. And then there is the many real angels helping this work move along. They prepare the hearts. They help give us strength. I have greatly felt that this week. Especially yesterday with it being Mother's Day. I have felt so much of her love and support. I meet people that I know she would love and that helps me love them more. I feel so blessed to feel her near....
There are angels everywhere!!!! Parents, grandparents, family members, and friends. It is so amazing!
The church is true. Our Savior lives and loves us. This is His work and I feel so blessed to be a part of it!
I love you all!!!!
Until next week!
It was so great talking to the fam! Thank you so much! I sure do love you guys!
It's been another great and busy week!
Sister Chen and I were able to teach a lot of lessons this week. So great!
Yesterday, the Liu family received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was so beautiful. Brother Liu continues to heal and is regaining strength and humor. During one of our lessons this week he told Sister Chen that she is a boring teacher and that she should have me teach more because I'm funny haha and by that he means that I am white and my Chinese is funny haha It's so great to see them happy and laughing. Cute Sister Liu has so much faith and patience. She is so great!
So Sister Chen left for home today... I'm so grateful I was blessed to have her as my companion. I am going to miss her. She is so amazing! I learned so much from her. We were so blessed and we had so much fun together! I LOVE HER!
I have a new companion. Sister Hsin! She is adorable!!! She is from Taipei and she is a ballerina! She's probably smaller than Sonny :) She is so cute and I'm excited to serve with her.
This week during personal study I found some great scriptures that I love. It's Helaman 5:9-11. I love in verse 11 how it talks about angels declaring the tidings of the conditions of repentance... I feel that there are many angels doing the Lord's work. There are the wonderful missionaries, specifically companions, that I am blessed to serve with. Then there is the members. They truly help so much in the work. They are so willing to help teach and testify of the Savior. And then there is the many real angels helping this work move along. They prepare the hearts. They help give us strength. I have greatly felt that this week. Especially yesterday with it being Mother's Day. I have felt so much of her love and support. I meet people that I know she would love and that helps me love them more. I feel so blessed to feel her near....
There are angels everywhere!!!! Parents, grandparents, family members, and friends. It is so amazing!
The church is true. Our Savior lives and loves us. This is His work and I feel so blessed to be a part of it!
I love you all!!!!
Until next week!
May 2, 2011
Week 24
Ni hao!
It has been a great and busy week with some beautiful tender mercies!
So at the beginning of April my companion and I met a cute couple, the Liu Family. They are here from mainland China. They came to Taiwan because Liu Dixiong (Brother Liu) had a stroke and Red Cross has a good program here to help those who have suffered from a stroke. Liu Dixiong lost the movement on his left side so they are doing physical therapy to help him get the movement back. They only plan to be here until he can walk again. I had a special connection with them from the beginning. We met them and started teaching. Liu Jiemei (Sister Liu) immediately had so much faith. It was like she was searching for the gospel. They were quick to accept the gospel. They were so prepared for it...A few weeks ago Liu Dixiong was in the hospital. He had an infection and wasn't doing well. We went to visit them everyday. Liu Jiemei was always by his side. We knew that they were both bored and lonely so we tried to cheer them up with singing, articles, and my bad Chinese haha... Liu Dixiong received a priesthood blessing and started to heal rather quickly. Within a few days he was eating again... He was able to go home and we continued visiting them everyday. They made friends with a family in the ward. The Huang family. Huang Dixiong had a stroke a 5 months ago and is also in a wheelchair so the 2 wives would go on walks together with their husbands....so cute. Basically they progressed rather quickly and the got BAPTIZED last night!!!!! They were so happy... Before the baptism Liu Dixiong showed us how he can stand now. A miracle.... The baptism service wasn't going exactly as planned. It started late, the Bishop couldn't make it, they had me singing, and the baptismal font overflowed (and oh boy did it overflow. Out into the bathrooms and then the hallway and into the gym then outside.) But they were so happy and Liu Jiemei just made the joke that we were all getting baptized with them. So positive! It was amazing. Even with all the chaos the Spirit was there. I have felt the Spirit at every baptism but this baptism had a special feeling... As Liu Dixiong was basically carried into the font, I felt as though he was truly going to the Savior to be healed. And he was healed... spiritually. He and his wife were made clean. It was so beautiful. They are already preparing to share the gospel with their son's when the go back to China.... Truly a miracle and tender mercy. I love them!!!!
I honestly feel so blessed to be doing this work and to be a witness of these miracles and tender mercies.
Such a good week!
I LOVE you all!!!!!
Until next week!
It has been a great and busy week with some beautiful tender mercies!
So at the beginning of April my companion and I met a cute couple, the Liu Family. They are here from mainland China. They came to Taiwan because Liu Dixiong (Brother Liu) had a stroke and Red Cross has a good program here to help those who have suffered from a stroke. Liu Dixiong lost the movement on his left side so they are doing physical therapy to help him get the movement back. They only plan to be here until he can walk again. I had a special connection with them from the beginning. We met them and started teaching. Liu Jiemei (Sister Liu) immediately had so much faith. It was like she was searching for the gospel. They were quick to accept the gospel. They were so prepared for it...A few weeks ago Liu Dixiong was in the hospital. He had an infection and wasn't doing well. We went to visit them everyday. Liu Jiemei was always by his side. We knew that they were both bored and lonely so we tried to cheer them up with singing, articles, and my bad Chinese haha... Liu Dixiong received a priesthood blessing and started to heal rather quickly. Within a few days he was eating again... He was able to go home and we continued visiting them everyday. They made friends with a family in the ward. The Huang family. Huang Dixiong had a stroke a 5 months ago and is also in a wheelchair so the 2 wives would go on walks together with their husbands....so cute. Basically they progressed rather quickly and the got BAPTIZED last night!!!!! They were so happy... Before the baptism Liu Dixiong showed us how he can stand now. A miracle.... The baptism service wasn't going exactly as planned. It started late, the Bishop couldn't make it, they had me singing, and the baptismal font overflowed (and oh boy did it overflow. Out into the bathrooms and then the hallway and into the gym then outside.) But they were so happy and Liu Jiemei just made the joke that we were all getting baptized with them. So positive! It was amazing. Even with all the chaos the Spirit was there. I have felt the Spirit at every baptism but this baptism had a special feeling... As Liu Dixiong was basically carried into the font, I felt as though he was truly going to the Savior to be healed. And he was healed... spiritually. He and his wife were made clean. It was so beautiful. They are already preparing to share the gospel with their son's when the go back to China.... Truly a miracle and tender mercy. I love them!!!!
I honestly feel so blessed to be doing this work and to be a witness of these miracles and tender mercies.
Such a good week!
I LOVE you all!!!!!
Until next week!
April 25, 2011
Week 23
Ni hao!
It has been another good and busy week....
On Thursday I received a beautiful package from the family..... THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! It was full of love! Thank you for the audio from Mom's funeral services, the slide show, and the letters from Mom.... They all truly brought so much peace to my heart.
This morning I was able to listen to Mom's funeral services.... I was so touched by all that was said. It brought such a great feeling of love and peace. It also brought some laughter (Becca, Justin, and Jason's part specifically) I truly felt that I was included and a part of it. It made me think of Mom in such a beautiful and great way. Feeling of her love and her example. Being amazed once again by her strength. She was and is loved by many.... Especially me.
This week I have been thinking a lot about timing.... It is an interesting thing. I was thinking about all the little timings and then the big timings but truly how important timing is. I have been thinking of the time that I have had here and how quickly it has flown by but I thought specifically about the time that I could have gone home... I thought back to those 2 weeks and I thought of the amazing experience I had in those weeks. I thought about the Xie family. I realized that it was during those 2 weeks that they truly progressed and changed. I believe that because I was struggling and mourning, I needed my Savior more than ever. I needed to feel of the Comforter and because I was so blessed to feel of His presence, I believe that the Xie family was also blessed to feel the Spirit and the Lord's love more strongly.... I believe they needed that.....Timing. Isn't it amazing!
This week I also thought a lot about the Savior's atonement. During some of my personal study I studied about the atonement and the Lord's resurrection. It amazes me the love that he has for us... I know that He died for us. I know that He also lived for us...so that we can live again. It is truly astounding...
Thank you again for the beautiful package. My "Treasure Box."
I love you all!!!
Until next week!
It has been another good and busy week....
On Thursday I received a beautiful package from the family..... THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! It was full of love! Thank you for the audio from Mom's funeral services, the slide show, and the letters from Mom.... They all truly brought so much peace to my heart.
This morning I was able to listen to Mom's funeral services.... I was so touched by all that was said. It brought such a great feeling of love and peace. It also brought some laughter (Becca, Justin, and Jason's part specifically) I truly felt that I was included and a part of it. It made me think of Mom in such a beautiful and great way. Feeling of her love and her example. Being amazed once again by her strength. She was and is loved by many.... Especially me.
This week I have been thinking a lot about timing.... It is an interesting thing. I was thinking about all the little timings and then the big timings but truly how important timing is. I have been thinking of the time that I have had here and how quickly it has flown by but I thought specifically about the time that I could have gone home... I thought back to those 2 weeks and I thought of the amazing experience I had in those weeks. I thought about the Xie family. I realized that it was during those 2 weeks that they truly progressed and changed. I believe that because I was struggling and mourning, I needed my Savior more than ever. I needed to feel of the Comforter and because I was so blessed to feel of His presence, I believe that the Xie family was also blessed to feel the Spirit and the Lord's love more strongly.... I believe they needed that.....Timing. Isn't it amazing!
This week I also thought a lot about the Savior's atonement. During some of my personal study I studied about the atonement and the Lord's resurrection. It amazes me the love that he has for us... I know that He died for us. I know that He also lived for us...so that we can live again. It is truly astounding...
Thank you again for the beautiful package. My "Treasure Box."
I love you all!!!
Until next week!
April 17, 2011
Week 22
Ni hao!
This week has been great! Busy, busy, busy....
On Thursday I experienced my first zone conference! It was simply wonderful! Half of the mission gets together and we're spiritually fed. I was able to see some great mtc friends (which of course I started crying either because of happiness, sadness, or because i really needed their hug...) The messages were amazing and it was a lot of fun!
Then on Saturday we had a very special experience... We were able to attend the Gaoxiong Family History Conference. It was so cool! Two of the church history recorder people came and we had a meeting about the history of the church. It was just missionaries for this meeting and basically we just asked questions and they would answer. It was so cool! They know so much and they could just shoot it off from the top of their heads with names, years, articles, books, and all this information. I loved it. There were questions about Emma Smith, the priesthood, China opening, Jerusalem and so so so so many interesting topics... I loved it!
Great news for the week! Gao didi's and Zeng Yu are getting baptized! So first there's the Gao didi's (Gao being their last name and didi meaning little brother...) They are so cute! The older one is 12 and the younger one is 9. Two of their aunts are recent converts so they have been coming to church with them for awhile but finally got their mothers permission this week! They are so cute!... Zeng Yu is 13 and is the daughter of a recent convert and has also been coming to church and meeting with the missionaries for awhile but she was finally able to have her dad's approval... Her mother is a new member but her dad didn't want her to be baptized and her mom didn't want to disrupt the family (I hope that makes sense.) So it took some time but her dad is okay with it now. She's so cute and funny! Oh I am so excited for them. They are all young but so strong... They amaze me! Tender mercies from the Lord... so amazing!
Well, it's been a good week!
I love you all!!!!!!
Until next week!
Picture # 1 My companion Sister Chen and I
Picture # 2 Our district
This week has been great! Busy, busy, busy....
On Thursday I experienced my first zone conference! It was simply wonderful! Half of the mission gets together and we're spiritually fed. I was able to see some great mtc friends (which of course I started crying either because of happiness, sadness, or because i really needed their hug...) The messages were amazing and it was a lot of fun!
Then on Saturday we had a very special experience... We were able to attend the Gaoxiong Family History Conference. It was so cool! Two of the church history recorder people came and we had a meeting about the history of the church. It was just missionaries for this meeting and basically we just asked questions and they would answer. It was so cool! They know so much and they could just shoot it off from the top of their heads with names, years, articles, books, and all this information. I loved it. There were questions about Emma Smith, the priesthood, China opening, Jerusalem and so so so so many interesting topics... I loved it!
Great news for the week! Gao didi's and Zeng Yu are getting baptized! So first there's the Gao didi's (Gao being their last name and didi meaning little brother...) They are so cute! The older one is 12 and the younger one is 9. Two of their aunts are recent converts so they have been coming to church with them for awhile but finally got their mothers permission this week! They are so cute!... Zeng Yu is 13 and is the daughter of a recent convert and has also been coming to church and meeting with the missionaries for awhile but she was finally able to have her dad's approval... Her mother is a new member but her dad didn't want her to be baptized and her mom didn't want to disrupt the family (I hope that makes sense.) So it took some time but her dad is okay with it now. She's so cute and funny! Oh I am so excited for them. They are all young but so strong... They amaze me! Tender mercies from the Lord... so amazing!
Well, it's been a good week!
I love you all!!!!!!
Until next week!
Picture # 1 My companion Sister Chen and I
Picture # 2 Our district
April 15, 2011
Week 21
Ni hao!
It has been another good week here in Taiwan...
On Tuesday we had a big mission service activity... Tomb Sweeping. Basically once a year family members go and clean their ancestors tombs... Well, seeing as it is only once a year the tomb-yard looks quite.... bad and not taken care of. There was so much garbage, weeds, and overgrown trees. We spent 3 hours cleaning up the area, pulling out the weeds, and taking down trees. It was good work. I was worried about how I would handle the day since it was mom's birthday and I was cleaning graves. But I was very blessed and able to focus on the work and do some service. I was also blessed to be around people I love and who love me (sweet Sister Smith, my mtc companion). Sister Bishop called that night to check up on me. She said that she remembered that it was mom's birthday and she wanted to make sure I was doing okay and see how I did with tomb sweeping... It is amazing how the Lord sends the people we need just at the time we need them.
The rest of the week went well. My companion and I were blessed to have a lot of lessons this week. We were just going and going and going.... It was great to be busy and so wonderful to be teaching...
One sister we're teaching right now is Zhuang Xuan Jian. She is so great. She said one of the most beautiful prayers this week during the lesson. She told Heavenly Father that she really wants to be baptized and asked Him to help her be able to come to church on Sundays because her work schedule wouldn't allow it at this time and she really wants to keep the sabbath day holy... I was so amazed by her faith and sincerity... It was wonderful.
We also ended up having one of our investigators, Li Ya Hui, teach another one of our investigators, Nai Hua. It was amazing to hear Ya Hui bear her sweet testimony and share stories from the Book of Mormon to help Nai Hua overcome her challenge at this time. After I asked Ya Hui why she isn't baptized and she said that she feels inadequate. It broke my heart... She has been meeting with missionaries for months and has been having this struggle...I know she has a testimony and that she truly has a love for the gospel... I love her and I know she will be baptized some day...
Wasn't Conference just amazing?... (we are a week later because of translation... and don't worry the missionaries watch it in english) Oh it was a great spiritual feast! I don't even know where to start...I feel that many talks were speaking just to me, my family, our investigators... I loved how Elder Holland ended it saying that those who speak, for the most part, are not given topics to speak on. It is truly guided and directed by the Spirit... It amazes me. We talked to some investigators and new members afterwards and it was interesting how different speakers spoke to us personally and how we were able to hear and feel different things as well... So amazing. The Lord knows us so well... I truly stand all amazed.
There have been many angels both living and on the other side of the veil helping me this week and I feel so blessed... It is amazing.
Well, I best be going...
I love you all.....
Until next week!
P.S. Here's a picture of the Xie Family's baptism last week! Aren't they so cute?!
P.P.S. I'll try to be better at sending pictures... I always run out of time... :)
It has been another good week here in Taiwan...
On Tuesday we had a big mission service activity... Tomb Sweeping. Basically once a year family members go and clean their ancestors tombs... Well, seeing as it is only once a year the tomb-yard looks quite.... bad and not taken care of. There was so much garbage, weeds, and overgrown trees. We spent 3 hours cleaning up the area, pulling out the weeds, and taking down trees. It was good work. I was worried about how I would handle the day since it was mom's birthday and I was cleaning graves. But I was very blessed and able to focus on the work and do some service. I was also blessed to be around people I love and who love me (sweet Sister Smith, my mtc companion). Sister Bishop called that night to check up on me. She said that she remembered that it was mom's birthday and she wanted to make sure I was doing okay and see how I did with tomb sweeping... It is amazing how the Lord sends the people we need just at the time we need them.
The rest of the week went well. My companion and I were blessed to have a lot of lessons this week. We were just going and going and going.... It was great to be busy and so wonderful to be teaching...
One sister we're teaching right now is Zhuang Xuan Jian. She is so great. She said one of the most beautiful prayers this week during the lesson. She told Heavenly Father that she really wants to be baptized and asked Him to help her be able to come to church on Sundays because her work schedule wouldn't allow it at this time and she really wants to keep the sabbath day holy... I was so amazed by her faith and sincerity... It was wonderful.
We also ended up having one of our investigators, Li Ya Hui, teach another one of our investigators, Nai Hua. It was amazing to hear Ya Hui bear her sweet testimony and share stories from the Book of Mormon to help Nai Hua overcome her challenge at this time. After I asked Ya Hui why she isn't baptized and she said that she feels inadequate. It broke my heart... She has been meeting with missionaries for months and has been having this struggle...I know she has a testimony and that she truly has a love for the gospel... I love her and I know she will be baptized some day...
Wasn't Conference just amazing?... (we are a week later because of translation... and don't worry the missionaries watch it in english) Oh it was a great spiritual feast! I don't even know where to start...I feel that many talks were speaking just to me, my family, our investigators... I loved how Elder Holland ended it saying that those who speak, for the most part, are not given topics to speak on. It is truly guided and directed by the Spirit... It amazes me. We talked to some investigators and new members afterwards and it was interesting how different speakers spoke to us personally and how we were able to hear and feel different things as well... So amazing. The Lord knows us so well... I truly stand all amazed.
There have been many angels both living and on the other side of the veil helping me this week and I feel so blessed... It is amazing.
Well, I best be going...
I love you all.....
Until next week!
P.S. Here's a picture of the Xie Family's baptism last week! Aren't they so cute?!
P.P.S. I'll try to be better at sending pictures... I always run out of time... :)
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