Happy Easter Week!

Taiwan Taipei Temple

Happy Easter! This week was a good one! 

On Tuesday we were Temple Tours Sisters, which is so fun!! The temple here is so symbolic and beautiful. I want to share with you some facts about the Taiwan Taipei temple.

Trees: The palm trees are really symbolic. In the front there are three palm trees separate from the rest. These three represent the First Presidency of the church. Then there are twelve other palm trees and these represent the Quorum of the Twelve apostles.

Pillars: There are six pillars, Three at the front and three at the back. The three at the front represent the Melchizedek Priesthood, and the three in the back represent the Aaronic Priesthood. 

Roof: The roof of the temple is blue in respect for local traditions and culture. It complements the nearby Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. 

Me at Chiang Kai-Shek 

Angel Moroni: The Moroni on the temple is especially unique. Because it is the only one that faces west not east. The reason being that China is to the west and has not been open to missionary work. How cool is that? 

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

We went on exchanges to Beitou. It was close to the mountains and it was so pretty. (I forgot my camera so I didn't get any pictures..) My Sister Training Leader asked me to make former calls. Which was super scary and took me off guard because I hadn't talked on the phone in Chinese yet. But I did it. This girl answered one of my calls and I told her who I was, and asked her if she had met with the missionaries before, and then asked if we could meet with her again sometime soon! She said "jintain?" (today) I was taken by surprise so all I said was "keyi" (can) She said the time when she could meet then started speaking really fast so I threw the phone at my STL( Sister Training Leader). hahaha. We ended up meeting with her a couple hours later! And guess what! She set a baptism date. She also said I was too skinny to play soccer, that my family is huge (tall brothers) and I could be a pageant girl. But that's beside the point. I was reading  her old progress record from a year ago. The missionaries that taught her last lesson wrote " maybe she will be ready in the future" Wow. God's timing is perfect and he really does prepare his children. I am sad that I won't be the one to continue teaching her but my sister training leaders are awesome :)  I have had many miracles this week that being one of the many! 

Since it's Easter back in Utah, HAPPY EASTER. I hope you all had a good Easter Sunday and got to reflect on our Savior Jesus Christ. I know my Savior lives! I am so grateful that I have that knowledge and that I get to share it with others! (we went around saying "happy resurrection day!" and handing out cards that had the link to the Easter video that I still haven't seen) And Sister Valenzuela got the Gift of the Holy Ghost which is super special! 

Have a good week everyone! Thanks for the love!

Our investigator gave us a box of doughnuts
for giving him a Book of Mormon :-)

There are lots of fruit stands and the fruit is wonderful!

More mornings with the am mas :)

Me in Beitou with this huge asian man statue that was randomly there.
(excuse my wet, helmet hair lol) 

They were feeding birds so I tried it lol 

Week #2 Ni Hao shi wo

Sister Valenzuela's Baptism!!

Ni Hao Shi Wo,

Okay I want to start off saying that two years ago on March 16th (last Wednesday) was the day I decided to serve a mission. I've had lots of times where I think "Wow, I told myself I was never going to do this. But look at me now I am in TAIWAN" Heavenly Father really does have a plan for us, and knows what is best for each of us. 

So guess what! I got my first baptism this week!! Sister Valenzuela is so cute and so amazing. I wasn't here to introduce her to the church but I was able to help prepare her for baptism and now help her get to the Temple. She is so happy and excited :) I am so grateful for this opportunity to help and serve others. It's awesome that I am in a English ward. But all the members are not native english speakers so I can't understand them sometimes too hahaha. I feel like that is going to be the rest of my life! hahaha

The picture taking has continued. Even in church hahaha. Me and Sister Knapp get told we look like we are from France. Is that a good or bad thing? My area it's super crowded and there are lots of people. They are super nice, there are still some rude people though. Sometimes it's a blessing I can't always understand them lol. It's frustrating because you think people are interested but they only want to talk because we are different. So we explain the restoration only to find out they aren't actually interested. But hopefully it prepares them for when they are ready for the gospel. 

The roads are crazy insane here, riding a bike on them is super scary, especially when you are right next to a bus or in between two cars. I have a fun story, we were riding our bikes and I heard this little girl's voice yelling "chuan jiao shi! chuan jiao shi!" (missionary in chinese) I look back and there is this little girl holding out of a taxi window some crackers for me. Seriously the cutest thing :) We have had lots of people fight us about the Book of Mormon, usually I don't know what is going on but Sister Knapp usually sends me a hint so I know. I wish I could just shove the Book of Mormon in their face and make them accept it, but all you can do is listen, thank them for their time, then leave. And then I pray for them after. 

I have lots of funny stories lolol we met this old lady, she was 70 and she made it very clear that her boyfriend was 33 years younger than her. She said "I only like young men, not old men" and "I have a young heart" hahahah. Also I met my district this week and I got to show pictures and talk about my family fun!!! I also met a drunk lady, she wanted pictures with us so we held up the Book of Mormon in all of them, and I shared one of my favorite scriptures with her Alma 36:3 and she also took a picture of that. I hope when she woke up sober she read it. We've had lots of miracles and disappointments this week. But that's missionary life right? 

This sums up how I feel!

Alma 29:

 9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

 10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

Love,  Sister Scharman

Old people dance in the park in the mornings when it isn't raining. 

One morning we went and joined them :)

My bike broke so my Zone Leader fixed it.
When people were passing we would tell them
he liked hugging bikes :)

WELL I AM HERE AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

My companion and I after a long day in the rain. (she wants me to say she is cuter in person lol) 

WELL I AM HERE AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

I am having sooo… much fun!! My companion is awesome! Her name is Sister Knapp. Ah, I wish you could see it. It is so beautiful here. And the people are so nice. I have the best investigators. It’s amazing. I wish I could describe it to you. I want to cry just thinking about how blessed we all are to have this gospel. Actually I am tearing up right this second typing this. I love this gospel and I love my Savior. I am so grateful for his wonderful atoning sacrifice, I am grateful that I can be out here! I love sharing the gospel. I AM FILLED WITH SO MUCH LOVE. I have had so many cool experiences, and miracles. Heavenly Father really does prepare his children.

Modeling their rain gear! Don't they just "Glow!"

Last night, it was pouring rain super, super hard. It was about 8:30 and almost time to go home. We were on our last street for the night and this old man let us into the stairway that goes to lots of apartments, but he didn't want to talk to us. So we took advantage of being in there and knocked on this one door. This lady came out and told us how her friend was Catholic but their church worshiped too loudly and not respectfully, so I taught her how we pray respectfully and gave her an example. She really liked it and wants to learn more. So we are meeting with her on Wednesday! She prayed for us at the end!

They always tell me I am very pretty and I get lots of pictures taken of me and with me, but its only because I am white, lol but it makes me feel good. We have prayed with lots of strangers on the streets and I love it, and they love it when I speak Chinese. It seriously is the best!!! We are covering two wards an English one (holla) and a Chinese one obviously, so we are super busy. I gave a talk on Sunday in the English ward, and I stood up in the Chinese ward and introduced myself and shared my testimony. Agh I love it!! My Mission President is in my English ward :) Super fun!

We have lots of investigators, and most of them are preparing for baptism! It’s amazing! Heavenly Father really does prepare his children. I love sharing the gospel. I love going out and finding, talking to people on the street is so fun! We teach lots of people how to pray, and pray for them just on the side of the road. It is very special and touches my heart. It has rained everyday since I've been here, and I love it. There are lots of foreigners that visit here, and they speak English so its fun to talk to them. We met two sketchy guys that kept asking where we lived and asked us if we were married. We said no because we are missionaries. They then told us that they could fix that. If we didn't have one of our investigators with us that night I don't know what would have happened. I was extremely uncomfortable. But its okay we are safe!! I wish I could tell you every experience that I have had. They have all been so wonderful! 

I AM SO HAPPY, EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL!

After we got off the plane our Mission President (who is awesome and has the best family) took us to get our first meal. We ate street food and it was super good!! I really like the breakfast foods, I had a sandwich that was filled with fruit, it was amazing. Fruit is amazing here. It had dragon fruit in it and it was the best. I have only had one instance with weird stuff and it was a drink that an investigator gave us. lol. The streets here are insane. I might die lolol. The only bad thing about this place is that here are mosquitoes in my apartment

The first night I was here I decided that I wasn't going to let the fear of messing up the language keep me from sharing the gospel. So far so good (: I love sharing the gospel! And they love it when I speak Chinese lol, AND I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. 

Love,

Sister Scharman

Grand Hotel and Dedicatory Site

New missionaries being greeted by their Mission President
Jace Jergensen and his wife.

The street I live on :) this was taken on our morning run. 

You can't see in this but it is so green here, 

and there are plants everywhere! 

MTC - Week Nine. "We're breaking free" - hsm

This is Li Laoshi! Love him to death, he's been amazing! 

(Sister Scharman and her District.  Sister's are going to the Taiwan, Taipei mission.)

I leave for Taiwan in under 24 hours. Considering the fact that I have never been out of the United States, getting on a 15 hour plane ride to the other side of the world, knowing hardly any Chinese, not knowing what it is going to be like, and what the future has in store for me, you could say I'm feeling just about every emotion there is to feel. But I know as long as I put my trust in the Savior, I will be okay. He knows my future. He knows me personally. He knows how to comfort me. He will help me, as long as I have faith in him. It isn't going to be easy. Living in an unfamiliar place for the next 16 months of my life is not going to just be magically easy. But I know it will be worth it. I am grateful for my mtc experience because I have grown closer to my Savior Jesus Christ. And I am excited to have that relationship continue to grow stronger. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be serving a mission. And I am so excited to give it my all and lose myself in the work. 

I leave the mtc at 3:50 am Tuesday morning, and I arrive in Taiwan at 6:25 pm Wednesday night. crazy right? We ride a the tracks to the airport so I will be passing through Lehi sometime tomorrow morning. So close to my house, and so many memories there. The feels. But one problem, How am I supposed to be on a 15 hour plane ride and still look good to meet my mission president? 

Today has been full of a lot of tears, saying goodbye to my favorite teachers who touched my life in so many different ways. And I am sure I will cry lots more tonight as I say goodbye to the Elders in my district and the others in my zone. I am so blessed to know each one of them. They are amazing people and will bless so many lives. 

Something I've learned about serving a mission is that I shouldn't forget who I am. I am referred to as Sister Scharman, but I am still Nicole. The Lord called Nicole Scharman to go to Taiwan, Taipei. He called me there because of my different strengths, weaknesses, and other reasons I am not aware of. Some missionaries think that when they are on a mission they have to act like someone they're not. Yes we are trying to be our best selves and striving to be better people. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't be myself, just try to be better version of myself. That has been on my mind the past couple days, and I don't know why but I wanted to share my thoughts about it. So there you go, I'm still me! Just trying to be a better me. (:

Love,

Sister Scharman

ps... here this my companion I love her!

MTC - Week Eight

Night before Sister Money left

Pengyoumen!!! (friends!!!) (I wish I could type tones on here) 

I hope everyone is doing great!

A little update on my life, I didn't get my fight plans. Scary right? Only two people (Sister Miller!! and Sister Apsley!) got their flight plans out of thirteen going to Taiwan on Tuesday. But the travel office said my name was on the list of people that had visas so will get my flight plans this Friday! Its coming so soon! I can't believe I've been here for a full 8 weeks. Crazy! 

Sister Money left this morning for Canada! Super sad to see her go, but I am stoked for her!! Helping her take her bags to the travel office at 4 this morning made me excited to go, but the packing part didn't. I wish I had my mom here to pack me. And make me some food. 

By the way, my zone now has 41 people in it. Kinda forgot to update when we get new elders and sisters. We are massive. But we got a new fast track district this week!! They are so funny and super cool. They will be leaving the same day as me! Sister Yee is in our room and she is from Hawaii. Super nice and smart! All of the elders speak really fast to me and clap when I understand and respond hahaha I hope the people in Taiwan have the same enthusiasm that they do about my bad chinese lol. Their teacher had us teach them a lesson. Which was really intimidating because we had no time to prepare, and they are obviously good at chinese. But we did it!! And it was good! Their teacher, one of my favs Liao Laoshi told us that they were really inspired by us, because we teach with the spirit. That was so nice to hear. My best friend always tells me that the spirit is not bound by the language (: 

Our teacher Li Laoshi told us about our investigator Chen, he was someone that he had taught on his mission in Japan. They still keep in touch and he called Chen the other day and told him that about how we were "teaching him". Chen said that some days he felt Heavenly Father's love for him stronger then usual and that he believed it was because of the prayers and all the preparation we did for him. He asked if he could talk to us so we might call him during class. I hope we get to!!

It has been so nice outside this week, so we have studied and planned lessons as much as we can outside! Sister Menzies friends met her at the temple while we were on temple walk, and they are going to bring me Dr pepper next week hopefully lol 

In trc this week, we taught a girl who served in Taiwan, and her sister is in Taipei right now serving!! Sister Miller taught Willy, and she said that he talked about how much he loved me and Sister Menzie for a while, asked how we were doing, and told them to tell us he loved us. Told you we were going to be life long friends :) After they told us that we send him a little message on skype saying that we love him too and that Heavenly Father loves him. He replied with a cute message. 

My Sistas with the MTC Choir Director! He's AMAZING

The devotional on Tuesday was awesome!!! Brent H Nielson spoke. About not having fear, and looking forward not back. Super inspiring and exactly what I needed to hear! It was an answer to many of my prayers. His wife spoke too and it was a similar topic and was amazing as well!! It was my last choir, and we made it on the screen again. Also me and Sister Turner sat next to each other and it was super fun (: We only really see each other at night when we have our talking sesh. She is really going to do amazing things. I am so excited to see how she blesses people's lives!! Also her language sounds like cursive coming out of her mouth which is so pretty and fits her super well.

Also I would like to give a shout out to my wonderful parents. They are so amazing and I am so grateful for their support!! 

I know the church is true and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission. My testimony is growing so much each day. And I am trying my best to serve with all of my heart.

We have been given permission to get on email before I leave for Taiwan so if I have time I will send a quick email before I head out of the mtc (:   

Love you all have a good week!

Sister Scharman

My zone + two extras that jumped in smh 

Sister Matauta (she calls us her white family)
she left today! My comp and her are so pretty!!!