Miracles through Suffering

Letter from Sister Brinkerhoff

Sister Scharman!

I have to tell you this crazy miracle lesson with Ding JM last Thursday night when we met her. It was so amazing, I was dying to tell you all week.I even called President that night to tell  him, and he told me to email him the full story. It was such an amazing lesson, and it made me realize one big reason why Heavenly Father needed you to be sick on your mission. Literally, it was all for Ding JM. We were all crying at that lesson, the Spirit was so strong. So this is how the lesson went (you might want to get the tissues out):

(By the way, thanks for friending the Singletary's on Facebook, they really love being in contact with you, they were telling me what you've been doing lately. )

Last Thursday was the first time we met with Ding JM since her baptism and confirmation. In that lesson, she was telling us about another crazy dream experience that was fulfilled (You know about her awesome dreams that she's had lately). She said she had a dream about a coworker who was sad, because on Thursday (the day we met), she forgot to co-sign divorce papers, which left  it all a mess for her. Ding Jm didn't remember the day on the contract, but she saw it was a Thursday. She then woke up. This dream happened a few days before Thursday. On that day, she asked her coworker about it, and her coworker was like, "I forgot to sign the papers!" and then went to sign them before her ex-husband got everything. If it wasn't for Ding JM havinvg that dream to remind her coworker to sign the divorce papers, her coworker wouldn't be able to get a divorce or something. It was so cool.

So my companion, Sister Bernhardt (I'm breaking her right now, she was in the trio with Sister Althoff and Sister Munsee) talked a little about the Tree of Life, how Lehi had this amazing dream that helped his family. It then caused her to remember a dream that she had about you.

She said that one night, she was reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know whether it was true. She that that night, she had a dream that you and your great-great grandmother appeared to her in the dream, and you both spoke perfect Chinese. Your great-great grandmother looked middle aged, was wearing a beautiful blue dress and was holding your hand or shoulder as she introduced herself as your great-great grandmother. She then proceeded to testify to Ding JM that the Book of Mormon is true, and then you also testified that it's true. She then woke up, and had a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

(Can you send us pictures of your great-great grandmothers, so I can show them to Ding JM and she can tell me which one it is?)

She then proceeded to tell us something amazing. She said that if it wasn't for you being sick, she wouldn't have taken the missionary lessons with us. I asked her if you were healthy, would she listen to us, and she said no. But because she saw your pain, your sacrifice, your willingness to teach the lessons despite your severe health problems, she was willing to listen. She saw Christ's suffering and example from your willingness to do whatever it takes to teach her. She started crying as she was telling  us this. 

She even told us that she saw Christ when she saw you. I asked what she meant. She said that whenever she looked into your eyes, she saw Christ's eyes. She saw how much sacrifice, suffering and hard work you have done to help her come to the gospel, kind of like Christ and His Atonement. She was so touched by it that she was willing to continue the lessons for that reason. And the fact that she was baptized the day before your birthday, confirmed on your birthday, and you left for Taipei to go home literally hours later after church the day she was confirmed, I think testifies to me that you were here for Heavenly Father and for her to the very end. 

Afterwards, I testified that your suffering and sacrifice was for her and salvation, as well as for Christ. I admit, it was hard to fight back the tears. I then realized that that was the reason why you were sick on your mission-to help Ding JM come to the gospel. It was what she needed before she joined. She is so awesome, she is so excited to start helping us Peike, she even brought her 17 year old son to the Christmas lunch after church last week. She is a true miracle, and I believe she will be a doorway for more missionary work and baptisms here in Yuli. Thank you for your example and your sacrifice. 

I then ended by giving her an English tract with your picture on it. She carefully picked it up, gazed at the picture of you and started crying. I think that is one reason why you were chosen to be on there-to remind her of you. She really misses and loves you. You are her guardian angel. I even told her the first day we taught her and she said she's concerned about her Buddist boyfriend protesting of her listening to the gospel, I honestly thought that she wasn't going to progress. I remember, though, that you were so determined to get her baptized, you kept saying that she was going to get baptized before you left, which is exactly what happened. I was amazed at how much you were willing to do that for her.

Thank you for your love and example. It was a privilege working with you. I felt so humbled and grateful to serve with you. 

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Love you!

-Sister Brinkerhoff

PS I gave your lds email to Ding JM. Look for her email. 

I'll Be Home For Christmas!

Hey everyone! You all know by now, but I am home! I have been encouraged to go home and focus on getting healthy. This is very hard for me. Definitely a trial that has and will take lots of faith and prayer. I missed my family and all, but I would have liked to finish my last six months. So that's hopefully going to happen! I am going to take a step forward, remember that Heavenly Father has a plan for me, and hope for the best. 

The past week I couldn't have asked for anything better. Besides having that endoscopy.. that was a weird experience to feel a tube go all the way to my small intestine. Good thing Sister Vatcher was there. Anyway, on Tuesday in my Ruisui English class we had a birthday party for me. I have the best class!! I love them SO much. Ruisui English class was something I looked forward to every week. I have a video of them singing happy birthday to me that I will send. :) 

On Wednesday we had a lesson with our two american investigators. I left that lesson beaming. We taught about the Plan of Salvation. We felt like we should focus on how we lived with our Heavenly Father before this life, and what happens after. It was the coolest conversation. I love our lessons because we have the best discussions. When we were talking about the three kingdoms our investigator really strengthened my testimony when she told us her thoughts about what we shared with her. She told us that she believed it, and that she's always been confused on why there is only heaven or hell. She didn't understand why someone who lived a good life, but chose not to live God's commandments would go to hell, but also believed that they shouldn't be in heaven. It was an amazing seeing that doctrine become true to her. 

Thursday we met with Ding Jm to help her prepare for baptism!! She is the strongest lady. This gospel has really helped her find peace and happiness. Its been a blessing to be with her throughout this whole experience. I am grateful I had the chance to help her come closer to her Savior. AND SATURDAY SHE GOT BAPTIZED. Wow my heart is happy for her. In Yuli we have a small kiddie pool as a baptism font, but it was definitely too small. So we baptized her in our members back yard!! The water was nice and warm because it was a natural hot springs! (its a good thing too... because she had to get baptized four times hahahahaha her feet and knees kept coming up) (but she was really funny about it)  It was a joyful day. And then on my birthday she got confirmed. Best birthday wish I could ever have. I am grateful Heavenly Father made it possible to see her be baptized and confirmed before it was my time to leave. So many blessings.

On Sunday I had to stand up and tell the branch I was leaving and share my testimony. It was hard to hold back the tears. I love that place. I learned so much in Yuli, I hope I never forget the lessons I learned there. After we had cake and sang happy birthday and I got showered with gifts and notes and facebook accounts. Talk about feeling sad about leaving especially after you feel so much love lol. After that I was off onto the train. I got into Taipei I sat in the mission office with Zhang dx and Lu jiemei, weighing my luggage and waiting for my interview with President!  I love President Jergensen so much. I am really grateful for him. I really trust his council and I know he is called of God to the Taiwan, Taipei mission.  It was a neat experience to run into one of my mtc teachers this day too!

The plane ride home was fun, I didn't sleep at all.. so when I was home and finally went to sleep Monday night I hadn't slept in 38 hours.. Jet lag is so real. When I asked the assistants to the president what time I was going to be home.. they said "Monday, December 19th at about 1:30 pm... So in like two hours.." hahaha the time difference is crazy. I took a 2 and a half hour flight to Tokyo, Japan. I sat next to this guy from seattle. We became friends and he actually bought me sushi when we landed. So I have eaten Japanese sushi. It was really good. (yes I like sushi too) Then I was on a 8 hour flight to Portland, OR. Then took the plane from there to Salt Lake. It was bitter sweet to see my family, eat cafe rio (twice already), and watch Star Wars.

I am so grateful to have served in Taiwan. It was easy for me to absolutely fall in love with the people, the culture, the language, and missionary work. I love my mission. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have really come to know that  the gospel is not just a part of our lives, but the gospel is our life, and every righteous choice shapes us to become who Heavenly Father wants us to become. My mission hasn't been easy, but through all of it I have come closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I am so grateful for my Savior and his atonement. Before my mission I knew that the atonement was for everyone and it would help us return to our Father in Heaven, but this past year I have learned how to use and apply the atonement to me individually. And it has changed my life! We all have trials and challenges and trials in this life. We are supposed to! Through Jesus Christ we can overcome these trials, and become better from them. Sometimes we will make mistakes, and our Savior can help us overcome our weaknesses and sin if we are willing to do what it takes to come closer to him. I know the Plan of Salvation is really a plan of happiness. Sometimes our plans don't line up with the plan Heavenly Father has for us, but his plan is perfect. Honestly, right now I don't see the reason for my situation. But what I do know is that if we submit ourselves to his will, we can find joy in the journey.  I had the best year of my life. I will now focus on getting better and have a hope of returning to my mission. 

Thank you for all of the love, prayers, fasts, and support. They mean the absolute world to me. 

Sister Scharman

施姐妹

Ding Jm's baptism!!

 Yuli relief society ladies :) 

Me and Lu Jiemei waiting for my interview

Zhang Dx, Lu Jm, and Sister Brinkerhoff trying to get my carry on full of books closed! LOL

Our mini Temple Square :)

The only person who is left on the poster is Elder Hansen, who is going home next week.

Pictures of my English classes & Videos :D

 Elders singing "Happy Birthday" to me on the way to the Airport! LOL

Lu Jm

I love this Temple!

Sister Brinkerhoff

Lu Jm

Hong Kong - Japan

Homecoming!

Left to Right: Mom, Dad, Travis, Natalie, Ryan, Me and Tyler  (:

December is Hot and Sunny?

Hey friends! 

Yuli Hospital

I want to first start off telling you about our morning.. We woke up really early and started packing our house because we are moving down to the floor below us! Packing has been so hard because there have been missionaries in our apartment for over 10 years.. and they have left a lot of junk. We are the lucky ones who get to clean it out :) Our new apartment is absolutely gorgeous so I am not complaining.

Then we went to a GI doctor and scheduled my upper endoscopy for tomorrow. (I will be awake for it yay) We then went and got lunch, and headed home. But on the way home my companion stopped to talk to someone and they grabbed her food off of her handle bars and walked away lol. The lady needed it more... I guess. 

Going to the hospitals here in Yuli have been quite the experience, and good finding opportunities. Me and my companion are becoming good friends with all the Ama's. 99% of the people in the hospital are Ama's, and the other 1% is me and my companion lol.  (Ama's are Grandmas)

We have been sharing the #LightTheWorld video like candy! I get so excited to watch it every time. It's so magical. Especially since it doesn't feel like Christmas is in two weeks. There are no Christmas lights, no snow, and it's still 80 degrees outside. I hope you all are able to participate in it :) 

DING JIEMEI PASSED HER INTERVIEW!!! You don't even know how happy I am. We are so excited. Satan really has been working hard on her.. like really hard. But she is so strong. She is super excited to get baptized! We had a really amazing lesson where we got to see the spirit working with her. I know I was supposed to meet Ding JM, not so I could teach her, but so I could learn from her! Here in Yuli we have no special baptismal font, we have the famous blue tub. Its a small baby pool. Since Ding Jm is very tall, we have planned a very pretty place outside. Perks of it being warm and sunny here :) 

This week we also met with our American investigator! She brought her friend! (who is also American)  (Americans in Yuli are a rare find) And we had the coolest lesson. We really got to know them and their religious background and how they came to know that God was their Heavenly Father. We all really connected so well, and I loved hearing about how Heavenly Father has blessed them through every part of their lives. It's fun to testify in English!

I have witnessed a lot of Buddhist parades here in Yuli, but recently there has been a ton! They basically take HUGE statues of their gods and parade them around the street while playing loud music and yelling stuff. We even had one going on right outside our church building during sacrament meeting a few Sundays ago.

Well, this week we have been continuing to see miracles. I am really grateful I am able to testify of my Savior. He is my best friend and I find joy while sharing His gospel. 

Thank you all so much for the prayers, and all of the love. They mean the world to me and help me more than you know! I haven't emailed you all back. But know that I love and appreciate every single one of you. 

Sister Scharman  

1 Ding JM and her Book of Mormon :-)

2 Yuli hospital - Picture fail! The longer my hair gets... the frizzier it gets. So it grows in width not length! LOL

4 light the world cards!!! each has a code on the back to go to that day! 

#LightTheWorld

Well pengyoumen, I am pretty sure you all know that I have had some health problems on my mission. (starting with my appendix yikes) This week it got worse. Like really bad. So bad that I had a three way phone call with my Mission President and my parents about me possibly going home. (btw I loved talking to you mom and dad) And the rest of the week was traveling up to Taipei, going to doctors, and trying to rest. I have tried to not mention my health in my emails but I have had these problems for a long time, and they are not going away. I have desire to stay on my mission, so I am fighting to stay. This is definitely a huge trial in my mission that has needed lots of prayer and a some tears. (With all this added stress my acne has skyrocketed hahahahaha yay!!!!!) 

Other then that we met with Ding Jm and she is so close to baptism!! 12 DAYS!! She is doing great. Ding Jm has been a huge blessing in my life. I honestly think she has helped me more than I could ever help her. She has strengthened my testimony, and fulfilled promised blessings about my mission. I am so grateful to have met her and have the opportunity to teach her. She is so sad there is a chance I won't be there for her baptism. During Relief Society we were talking about overcoming trials, and my sweet friend Xin Jiemei looked at me and said, "Sister Scharman you are currently having a trial, would you care to share with us how you face it?"  After I shared a little bit, she went around the room asking everyone how they overcome their trials. When it was Ding Jm's turn, she just looked at me and said "I just need to be like Sister Scharman" hahahaha I got a kick out of that. 

For my home ward they had all of us missionaries send a short video of us bearing our testimonies. Which was just for fun, but this is what my mom sent me today:

"Your testimony was wonderful!!  The Bucks brought two Chinese couples and their kids and another Chinese man that Randy works with at Adobe and they got to hear your testimony!! THEY AREN’T MEMBERS!!! Your influence is felt here too! One of the Chinese men said he was amazed at how well you spoke! He said that you speak so well! He only noticed a little American accent to the way you pronounced some words.  Jenny Buck said you speak really really well!! It was so sweet to hear your testimony. Jenny did subtitles so everyone knew what you and Olivia Phillips were saying"  

Super cool! Sorry about the american accent ;)

If you have not been participating in the #LIGHTTHEWORLD program you better get started!! It is so cool! Since there is no Chinese version of it, the elders here in Yuli spent a day, and translated the whole thing... they are so crazy smart. We now have little pass out cards for each day, with a code on the back to watch the video. And it is so cute in Chinese. I hope you all take the time to do something Christlike each day! 

We finally got a conference liahona for our apartment and I have been living in that thing the past few days. I am so grateful for prophets and the leaders of the church. How lucky are we to have their guidance? We as humans get impatient and want to know all the "whys". That makes it hard for us to see the eternal perspective. If we look at our lives through Heavenly Fathers eyes you can truly see that everything has a purpose. Sometimes prayers go unanswered, or things don't end up the way we want them to. But that doesn't mean Heavenly Father doesn't love or care! If we learn how to trust in Gods timing, in His plan of happiness, then we will be able to make it through whatever adversity we are facing, and even become grateful for them. I know that Heavenly Father loves us. He loves us Individually. He knows us and He understands us. He wants us to pray, it doesn't matter if its a two hour prayer on your knees or if it is just a simple prayer in your heart. I know everything is the way it is because He wants us to be happy, and return to live with him again. True happiness comes to those who love and trust in God. 

I hope you have a good and safe week! I am grateful to be in Taiwan!

Sister Scharman 

I didn't take any pictures this week.. so here are some old ones of me with a cow statue when I first came down to Yuli. 

Some pretty flowers, and a picture of Elder Simonson as a child lol

Mom Note: I have added pictures she sent to me of her Christmas Package and the Video she did for our Ward Christmas Party

Thanksgiving in Taiwan

HAPPY THANKSGIVING I hope it was full of being grateful, sleeping, and eating. 

Well this week started off in a really good way... I got binglang spit in my face. Binglang is a type of drug. The English name is beetle nut. When I first came to Taiwan I thought peoples mouths were bleeding.. but nope. They were just chewing binglang. And I got the stuff spit in my face. 

This week in English class I taught them Thanksgiving words, and we made turkey hands! They LOVED IT. I had them write what they were grateful for on the fingers of the turkey hand, and they wrote their teacher.. they are too kind to me. LOVE THEM. I left beaming. 

There is a couple here visiting Yuli, their names are Travis and Navi Ely. Travis served here in Yuli ten years ago!! They are staying here for a little bit and they are so fun. I love being around them and we are going to help Travis get in contact with his old converts! Goals. He is giving us so many good ideas from when he was a missionary.

This Thanksgiving was like any other day of missionary work. We didn't have any special party, no special dinner. I did love to yell at people while I rode past them "GAN AN JIE KUAILE" (happy thanksgiving) almost everyone yelled "kuaile!" back. That made me happy. But no one really celebrates it here, unless they are apart of the church and they are familiar with missionaries. We did have a Thanksgiving lunch after church this Sunday. We had rice, and other Taiwanese foods. It was good. 

This weekend was really busy and really tiring. Thursday night our smoke alarm went off at 2 in the morning and we couldn't get it to stop beeping and yelling "FIRE FIRE". Then the night after that we only got five hours of sleep because we had to wake up at 4 to get to Taitung on time for our 60th year anniversary activity!! Its so special that I am able to be in Taiwan serving at this time. I also was able to go to the activity that was in Taipei when I was serving there. Such a fun experience! This activity in Taitung was a 5k and a 10k. It made me miss running so much (the 30 minute "exercise" isn't quite enough. It was so cool to have one of our investigators go, and to meet so many people there! There were members and non members from all over Taiwan! We got to pass out Book of Mormons and fliers. They even had us missionaries run a little lap lol. OH and Sister Xie is in my zone now!! I got to see her on at the activity! Love her to death. 

This Sunday was a fun one, the stake presidency came, and I spoke again. Have I mentioned that I also have a calling to teach gospel principles class? When they asked me to speak I decided I was going to plan my talk during language study so I could get it really good. Which I did, then Saturday night I felt like it was all wrong. So I prayed changed the subject and planned it really fast. Yikes. But it went really good. I talked about who the Holy Ghost is, and his role in missionary work. I shared some scriptures and I shared my experience with my convert Lan Jiemei. Our branch president, who spoke after me, used part of my talk in his. So hopefully that is a sign that I did alright. Since Navi Ely was here, I got to translate for her during Relief Society. It was a cool experience remembering when Chinese just sounded like funny sounds to me. But now they are actual real words. 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to be in Taiwan. I am grateful to have the knowledge of the gospel and to share it with others. I am grateful for my Savior and his infinite atonement. I know that through his atonement we can be healed from sin, physical pain, and heart break. I know that no matter what is going on in your life right now, you can find true happiness through Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary in Taiwan! 

and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TYLER I LOVE YOU BUDDY

Sister Shi

Banannanananananas (they are so cute and tiny even though you can't tell from this picture)

My english class. I love them so much I can't explain it.

Streets in Yuli 

A little boy in our branch, it was his birthday!! 

The birthday party, this is our branch president barbecuing seafood for us, and chicken butt. yes I ate the chicken butt.

The race! 

(the trees are broken from the typhoon not too long ago) 

Our investigator, a family in our branch finishing, and some cute kids! 

The video, we are all warming up together for the race! 

 Another adorable baby from the race I can't leave out!

If you zoom in on this picture you can see the pure joy between me and Sister Xie. I love her so much lololol "we endured to the end together" is it possible to be companions twice??

Branch Thanksgiving Activity

 A part member family we had family home evening with! we were playing the game spaghetti. THEY ARE SO CUTE !