so news flash:  today is actually not pday.  Yup.  Because we are getting new missionaries on Friday, Friday is pday!  WHOOO Do you know what this means??  It means we can go to zoos and meusums and all that great things that are always closed on Monday!!  Oh we are pumped!

In other news: I have realized that we are getting new missionaries... and in six week, or 12 week, almost all the older sisters will be going home... and then 13 new sisters will come.  Do you know what this means?  It means Sister Wawros Chinese needs to get really good really really fast. Because she is going to have to be senior companion faaaar before she is comfortable. Better screw my smile on! Or my game face. Ooo raw. 

Sister Browder dropped off stuff for me at my apartment! I SCREAMED when I saw the dictionary! I was so happy! Good Chinese dictionaries are impossible to find. That thing is worth more than gold. The sisters are making fun of me for my cereal, but haters gunna hate lol. I am also loving Doterra and almost all my ailments have been healed. Sister Browder also made a Costco run for me because there were Costco muffins and extra goodies in this HUGE costco box! Seriously, Christmas. I have  pictures at the bottom! 

We are teaching a family :). That is right! I was thinking a lot about it and about dad's family and how they joined,and how we need Preisthood and I was so tired ofbaptizing members without their families, and it is so hard for them to endure to the end without thier family! So then... we got an awesome referral from a member to teach this family! And they are darling and have two small kids and the father is so willing!  We kept bearing our testimony to him that church was good and He kept saying, "thank you thank you for that." Honestly, I wasnt sure if he meant it or it he was trying to get me to stop talking. Then we mentioned prayer and he goes, "Oh I like that!  Yes, her cousin came over and said this beautiful prayer of the food, and there was just thing amazing grateful and peaceful feeling in the air. I would like to be able to do that." And of course we were jumping up and down going WE CAN TEACH YOU WE CAN DO THAT! And then we convinced his friends, another family, to come to our English class with their family later in the week!!!!!! 

Anyways, I wrote this to president about it: 

President!! We are teaching a family!   A family!  A beautiful perfect little family with two tiny kids and a super willing husband!  We are over the moon. We were really praying for this, because in order for the gospel to really spread, we need whole families and we need Priesthood. Also, a less active came back to church and said she can’t wait to come back next week!  She's started bringing her niece!  This transfer is going to be so great. . . We set a solid baptism date with an investigator this week.  At first we were worried because our peike (member at the lesson) just started talking about the word of wisdom and giving up tea. Our investigator said, "what what? What do I have to give up? What kind of tea? Coffee too? Oh dear" and so then when we went for setting up a baptism date, she said, "oh yes that sounds like a good idea, because I have to be used to not drinking tea by then. Maybe you could explain more why next time." She has not even had a complete lesson one. 

Yes happy happy happy

Someone asked me again this week what my favorite thing about being a missionary was. I said my favorite thing is watching people change. Missionaries, members, investigators, all of us. I love it.  And then just seeing how God is waaaay waaaay too good. Adn then also, making my companion laugh. So really, I can’t pick. 

One of my recent converts (people I taught) is going on a mission! I guess she decided to postpone marrying this member she was dating/engaged to and go on a mission. Holy snap I leave her alone for five minutes and... haha. 

She sent me this note and I was fighting back tears! I tried to clip out the personal stuff but look! 

"I felt since you and Madison taught me about the plan of salvation that first day we met that I was going to be in your position one day.  That feeling was part of the reason that I felt very driven to keep learning. I thought that I'd have to choose between a mission and him (her boyfriend).  So, I kept trying to push that feeling away.  But the feeling kept coming back very strongly that I need to go on a mission.  Finally I realized that if I didn't go and we got married, I would regret it for a very long time . . . I have faith that my mission will bless my family. I think that I personally need that true refinement and testing of faith to develop a strong foundation in the church for myself, my family, my marriage, and my children.  I also recognize that without missionaries, I would not have discovered this church and I wouldn't feel this true happiness and clarity of purpose in my life, which is the most wonderful feeling ever! I feel happier on a normal day now than on my happiest days before my baptism.  It is incredible!  I just want to share it with people."

She goes on to say that her parents have gone from flat out rejecting the church to helping at institute. And... Her car was dead to go to the baptism, but her dad helped her fix it to come.  Wow.  I'm just so beyond happy.  And she is visiting the temple for the first time next week!!!!! THIS IS WHY WE GO ON MISSIONS! 

She also said, "The power of God is so evident in my life through little miracles every day.  By small and simple means are great things brought to pass!" I love her.  

Weird Food Wednesday:

Chicken Feet soup. A member made me eat it. LUCKILY I found a chunk of chicken breast and filled my bowl with broth, so she thought I ate a foot... but my companion did not get to lucky. hehe 

Five things:

1. We are going to bring the gospel to six people this transfer. Thats our goal so that what will happen. 
2. I have enough cereal to feed a third world country
3. We had a Harry Potter English party this week... They didnt really get it. Pictures below. 
4. My companion is a rockstar with street contacting. People reject me like crazy, but they'll even get out of a car for her. 
5. I had an old woman tell me my phone an text messages were lies this week.   And not to follow anyone who says to come to church for free because they are "lying people" and want to fool me since I could only speak English. I just didn’t have the heart to tell her I spoke Chinese or that I was one of those inviting people... oh well. 

And speaking of rejecting

Rejection of the Week:

I had a woman just ignore me. So I tried to hand her a paper,and she rolled her window up!  With my paper in it!  And I was like, "excuse me!  Sorry but my paper is in your window." And she just starred straight ahead and ignored me. So I told her again.  And she just shook her head no again!  And I was like, “Can you still hear me in there?" And she shakesher head no! haha. So I said, "okay well you can just have my paper then... God bless you.”  And she just keeps shaking her head and saying no no no haha.  People... 

Happy Potter Picture: 

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Lantern Festival

So I am sick! I have to wear one of those Asian masks or everybody loses their minds when I sneeze. It is an adventure. 

 

Down to business with all the stuff you want to hear about... 

New Companion: 

She is relaxed but hardworking! Basically, the best kind of companion. This is her first time being a senior companion, and I think she is kinda nervous about it, but she felt relived that she didnt have to "teach me chinese" so now she feels less stressed. Except for the fact that there have been no sisters in this area for at least a tranfer so we are basically whitewashing... ya. 

Clearly she is mistaken about my Chinese because this langauage is like the unobtainable dream and I'm drowning lol

But! I am living in a fourman! Thats right, I am living with another set of sisters and every day is a straight up paaaaarty!  This is the most fun I have ever had on a mission, and I have had some preeeetty good times, let me tell you. 

Taiwanese Disneyland

Thats right. This week I mentioned in passing to the mission office that we would love to volunteer for the lantern festival. Mostly because orgiannlly I thought the lantern festival was real life tangled. Unfortunately, it was not, BUT Elder Jiang gave us the BEST JOB. He had us "patrol" this park to look for foreigners who would need English assistant and had us wear the helping hands vests around for publicity.  Basically, I got to go around looking for giant lantern floats and spreading goodwill for the church. It was THE BEST.  I took tons of pictures for the office too!  You can check them out below. 

Also, I got PERMISSION FOR WORKOUT VIDEOS from President!  Insanity and T-25 are coming back into my life.  

About Taiwan

I do love Taiwan. Honestly, I love how hard it all is. 

Someone asked me my favorite part of Taiwan and missionary work last week.  And you know?  I think it is the language and how hard it is.  I seriously love learning Chinese and talking to people, having to bike everywhere and it being hard to find people that are open to the gospel. I just love that it is all hard. I love that we are all working together so and how much we have to rely on God. 

My aunt wrote me and said this today, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away."  I think on my mission I've seen both extremes, but I look back and already every trial I have had has made me so so grateful because... it has helped changed me, or my perspective.  Sometimes I don’t know if I have really changed on a mission, but my perspective has changed.  And maybe perspective is everything. 

Teaching: 

Well, there aren’t alot of people we are teaching right now because of white-washing, but there are some people I got to see that I have loved and missed.  And it got me thinking this week.  I think 

through our close relationships with other people we can feel more of God's love for us.  If we feel in our families God's love through each other, we are far more loving and better people.  I think , and that love changes us and gives us the strength to live up to far more. I've been blessed to see a lot of families on my mission. I've been blessed to see a lot of choices and their consequences by looking at how people's lifes ended up. And you know what?  I think we all pretty much have the same trials.  All people had the same turning points.  But they choose to react differently.  And that made all the difference in everything, but mostly in their happiness. 

The world really is a reflection of us, and who we choose we literally become.  The real question is, at the last day, will we have chosen God and the ability to be like him?  Will we feel comfortable around him because we are like him?  Or will we want to leave because we feel unclean.  Either way, we will get whatever we desire most. 

Another random thought:  

When I get home I am going to start two projects. 

I just barley thought of this two minutes ago, but I think I am going to do it. 

1. I am going to make a cookbook of all the family recipes from all the aunts and grandmas and mom and yadda yadda and all the best things we've brought to family dinners.  Sorta of a fun ways of doing family history and put in photos of old family dinners and make it a big family history project. 

2. I am going to GO-PRO our next Disney World vacation. 

The Asians are super good at documenting everything and every family experiences, so I am going to get good at it too. 

My mom sent me this this week and I really like it: 

Remember you can turn to your Father in Heaven who loves you so,   for anything.  I have felt his love so many times and felt peace because of it.  What a great blessing to know of his love and concern for your welfare.  I know herwatches over you, is aware of your concerns both temporal and eternal and is there for you always.  Rely on him, he who dwells in the heavens above and loves YOU as his choice, beautiful and beloved daughter.  It is hard to imagine that anyone loves you as much as I do and yet as I’m writing this, I know that it’s true and that he loves you the most.  For you have been his daughter much longer than you have been mine.  He knows you much better.  How lucky I am to be your mom.  How blessed we are for our testimonies and the knowledge of his kindness and love for us.  He wants us to be happy and successful.  He wants this to be an incredible experience for you my daughter.  Move forward with faith.

I think it is true. Anyways, that was my week. 

The next letter will have more stories and less rambles I promise. White-washing has left me a little scatter brained haha. anyways. I love you all! Have a good week. 

Sorry there is not much this week. It has been straight up crazy. I  cannot believe that a week has gone by.  It’s so fast that I can't even remember what I did. It feels like a day.  Holy smokes. 

Today I am moving BACK TO MY FIRST AREA!!  Whoohooo!  Now that I've had a nice little tour of four areas, it's time to go back home and guess what!  Another set of awesome sisters will be living with me! Its gunna be like a big party! I am so excited. 

And I'm so excited to see my members and investigators. And my new companion!  Okay here is the deal.  Her name is Sister Voss.  I just met her like 5 minutes ago, but I've heard from everyone that she is absolutely hilarious.  President wrote me and told me she was really hardworking and that he thought we would work well together, so it must be true!  She's from Reno and this is her first time being senior companion. Hopefully she's not too stressed about that... I don't know I will ask her when she gets off email lol. 

Here's a clipping from my letter to President: 

"Hello President! I hope you are well. Having new missionaries here is so exciting!  I have had a good week.  I really wanted to take care of Sister Medrano this week and help her with her knee and her work, but I really think she ended up taking care of me so much more. And she teaches with such love! I was so so blessed to be with her. 

All that being said- I am so ready to be back in Beituan and just WORK! I really wanted to just teach by the spirit and see miracles and consecrate and just do missionary goodness. This week I was reading D&C and I was just struck by how much The Lord wants us to ask, to call down miracles, and expect them. And He wants to ask for what we want, and to give our whole complete souls. I'm just so excited to apply the teachings of Sister Sears, Sister Cao, and Sister Medrano to Beituan and call down those miracles. 

Thank you for giving me a companion who was willing to work hard.  I've wondered if I really had the strength to motive a companion, and hearing all these wonderful things about Sister Voss has done wonders for my optimism." 

So that's where I am right now. Filled with optimism and the bright future of being in Beituan. This week we have.. ready.. MISSION ZONE CONFERENCE!  It’s going be great! I'm pretty sure its going to be about being consecrated missionaries and inviting everyone to baptism in order to find people who are prepared. .. because that's what the assigned talks were about. I don't know though. But! I feel the air of excitement and big changes. Yay. 

Anyway, Sorry, I'm sure I'll have more stories next week.  Let the adventures begin with companion #10! 

Wish me luck! 

Love you all