"We'll Bring Taiwan His Truth"

It was windy and starting to rain, but here is an awkward picture of me and my companion (: 

If I am being completely honest, me and my companion right now are trying to remember what happened this past week. It was a very good week! We just don't really remember what happened hahahah it all blurs together. 

We were Temple Tour Sisters this week! Doing temple tours is the best thing, but also the most tiring. (you are completely dead the next day) When we don't have any set ups we go out finding for tours! We had about an hour open with no tours at the beginning of our day, so we said a prayer and went out! We talked to this lady and asked her if she wanted a temple tour. She was a little hesitant at first but she said she had a spare 15 minutes! So we brought her in showed her around the chapel, and taught her the restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon. Short and powerful temple tour. 

After a long day we were back outside for the last little bit, we were tired, it was dark, and slightly raining. We were walking around temple square and there was this old couple sitting on the benches by the temple. They were not members and when we asked if they wanted a tour they said no. My two companions went and talked to her husband (he was a little bit more open to us). But I had a feeling I should talk to this lady so I sat down right next to her and started asking her questions about what makes her happy, and about her family. I didn't end up giving her a temple tour, and I will probably never see her again. But I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know her and share a little bit of my testimony. 

We had interviews with President this week!! I LOVE President Jergensen. He is is so kind and sincere. And he cries every time he bares his testimony and I love that. I will never forget him making me chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast lol. (When she stayed with them after her appendix surgery) His wife is such a wonderful example, and their family is so special. 

I love those lessons and those moments when Heavenly Father can use your testimony to help someone else. I had one of those moments this week. I found myself thanking Heavenly Father for that trial because I was able to help and connect to someone I love so much.   

Because my investigator is in the process of quitting smoking.. I am quitting chocolate until she gets baptized.. "WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER" 

We taught Zhang Xuan Ye the Plan of Salvation this week! It was such a good lesson. Me and Sister Xie teach really good together. I asked Zhang Xuan Ye what understanding he had of God's plan for him. He said he had learned it in church and simply taught me the Plan of Salvation in a couple sentences. And says it makes him really happy. Throughout the lesson he asked such sincere questions. How lucky are we to be teaching this little boy? Did me and Sister Chan really find him on the street? He has such a desire, and so much faith. He is seriously something special. 

On Saturday we went to a baptismal service with our Investigator Zhang Dx, I have been meeting with him for almost five months. He is the investigator me and Sister Knapp found the first week I got here! He is close to getting baptized, (finally) we just have to figure out how to get his family to not be mad at him when he does. That is the big concern right now. Anyway at the baptism the bishop (not my bishop) pointed at me and asked me to come do a on the spot talk hahaha He told me to talk about families and baptism together. (because her family did not like the church, but she is so brave and is getting baptized anyway. Which really helps Zhang Dx) So, I did it! It was fun. During it I mentioned I had seven people in my family. When I sad back down Zhang Dx said I was wrong, and that I had eight people.. I forgot him hahahahahah I love him. He is seriously going to be the most converted member when he gets baptized.  

We said goodbye to Sister Lu! It was a really fun week with her. She is planning on serving a mission and turning her papers in soon!! She is going to come do things on preparation day with us! I love how easily you can make long lasting friendships on the mission. 

I am praying that this isn't my last transfer with Sister Xie, I love her so much. I hope and pray we can stay in Wanda for another transfer together!! Today for companionship study I taught her how to sing, "Army of Helaman" in English. SO FUN! We changed the last line a little bit, instead of "the world" we sang Taiwan. It sounded really good. I love that song so much.

Thank you to my cousin Ave and my Aunt Judes. They sent me the cutest care package this week. And the Davies family for the letters they have sent me! (and to my parents and family because they are just so awesome and amazing and I miss them lots) 

Well this is my little memory of this past week. I know this gospel is true. And I am so grateful to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I love my water stained name tag. And I love sharing the gospel. 

When you are tired, and you have a spare 15 minutes before district meeting you make calls like this.
(Sister Altoff she's in my district)

( MOM POST: The following pictures are ones she sent us last week. She didn't send them to us for a while because they were on her companion's phone who had been transferred while she was recovering in the mission home. These are from when she was in the hospital. I am sure she is not feeling as well as she looks with a smile on her face!)

4th Transfer!

Sister Xie and Sister Lu

HEY GUESS WHAT I HAVE MY FIRST TAIWANESE COMPANION 

plus ANOTHER ONE!

My new Companion's name is Sister Xie (my mom asked how to pronounce this.. It's like ssshhhyea kinda in a way, Chinese is nothing like English but that is the best I could do.) She is so awesome!! She just got out of training so I am breaking her! We are having so much fun! She doesn't speak a ton of English so we help each other during language study, and during the day I speak Chinese to her and she speaks English to me. IT'S SO FUN. 

My second companion is Sister Lu. She is 18 years old. They have a youth program where they can be a missionary for 1-2 weeks to see what missionary life is like! So I am training her! She also doesn't speak much English, but she is really good at listening and writing English. So all three of us help each other during language study and throughout the day! It's a good thing they understand my Chinese.

Transfer day was crazy! We got a call the night before at midnight saying we were having two sisters come to stay with us for the night. So I got up and make their beds and waited for them to come. It ended up being Sister Davis!!!!! It was so fun to see her cause the last time I did I was pretty much dying hahaha 

Saying goodbye to Sister Chan was sad! She is going to do AMAZING THINGS. Sister Chan said,  "I am not dying.. I am just getting transferred to New Zealand." Say goodbye to the "walking wounded"! 

"Walking Wounded" - "At least we are not the -"Walking Dead" Sister Chan Quote :)

I have had the best companions ever. They have all been so great and I have learned so much from them!

I am still serving in Wanda! I will now be serving here for about 6 months in total, unless Heavenly Father and President Jergensen decide they want me here for longer lol. 

WE HAD THE BIGGEST MIRACLE THIS WEEK our investigator with the smoking problem is down to 3 cigarettes a day! She is so amazing and is making so much progress!!

Zhang Xuan Ye, is still special as ever. Such a special kid. He loves prayers, and church! He comes to English class every week too! 

We went to our lesson with Johnny, (Yen Dx) His parents were there! They are Christian and they loved everything we taught. They didn't believe we were 19 because of our "maturity and the way we spoke." It was such a fun lesson teaching them about the restoration. When we got up to go Yen Dx's dad shook my hand and said "I hope to see you again" So I set up an appointment with them (: 

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AND REMEMBER THAT THE CHURCH IS TRUE. 

Miracles will happen if you just trust the Lord and serve others. 

Sister Scharman

Some ladies in our english class, LOVE THEM they are so spunky.

Our church building that is next to the Temple. The flowers here are so beautiful!

Typhoon and Temple Week

We bought these so we could sleep better :)

Hey friends!! Today is temple day so my preparation day is a little late! First of all, I am so grateful I have a temple in my mission. It is such an amazing blessing. I wish I was able to go more often, but I am grateful that I get to go today!! I am so excited,  I wish I could express my excitement and my love for the temple over an email. 

This past week was so amazing! I was finally able to do some full days of missionary work!! The recovery has taken longer then expected. My companion asked me the question "what have you learned from this experience?" I honestly didn't have much of an answer. But I think Heavenly Father is teaching me patience. 

I mentioned the family we found last week! The dad and grandma are not super interested, but the 13 year old boy is so special. He is very sensitive to the spirit. His dad didn't want to come to church so we had a member pick the boy up. He loved it. And we had our second lesson with him after church. After the opening prayer he had the biggest smile on his face. So special. I live for moments like that.

Our investigator with the word of wisdom problem has gone from 15 cigarettes a day, to six. ITS A MIRACLE. We had such a good lesson about sincere prayer. She came to the realization she wasn't praying sincerely for help. The next day she only smoked six times and said she didn't even really have a desire to smoke. Prayers are so special, and Heavenly Father really answers them.

I had my first typhoon this week! We had so many warnings from our members, investigators, and leaders. They told us to make sure we had enough food and water in our apartment for two days. They told us the time of day that it was supposed to come and to be smart and safe while we were outside. We got a call from our district leader saying "DON'T LET THE TYPHOON GET YOU DOWN" We were out the afternoon before the storm was supposed to come, and there was literally no rain, or wind. Not even a cloud in the sky. It was beautiful weather actually. You would have never guessed a typhoon was coming. When we got a text from the zone leaders telling us we had to go inside I was thinking about how grateful I was for all the warnings we got because if it wasn't for them we would have been stuck out in the storm. In life sometimes we have our own "personal typhoons". When life is good and happy you don't expect a huge storm to come into your life. But they do, and they will. Just like we had our members, investigators, and leaders warning us, God gave us a prophet on the earth today, his apostles, scriptures, and the Holy Ghost keeping us safe. But only if we heed to their teachings and promptings. 

Helaman 5:12

"And now my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil sends forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation whereon if men are built they cannot fall."

We will all have our own spiritual typhoons. Heavenly Father doesn't always make it easy, but he makes it possible to be safe during our storm. If we keep our focus on Jesus Christ, and listen to his teachings. 

Transfers are tomorrow!! I find out my new companion after I finish emailing!! 

Have a good week!! 

Our cute little investigator Zhang Xuan Ye (: 

Funniest Guy!

Where we buy our fruit

Rachel our investigator. LOVE HER!



These are things that Nicole and her companion are eating!
(Mom note: Look at how healthy she is eating! Doesn't it all look so yummy!)

Love the Fruit!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AMERICANS

Hey friends!!

This week me and Sister Chan had a really good lesson with Zhang Dx. We feel like he hasn't been understanding and sincerely reading the Book of Mormon. We had invited him to read Alma 32. But he didn't read it all the way. So we read it with him, and made him draw the story out on the white board to make sure he was understanding it. Once he understood the story we asked him how he could apply it to himself. IT WORKED. It was such a good lesson. And I felt like he prayed more sincerely after that lesson that he ever has. 

Sister Chan hit her 18th month mark!!!!! So crazy! We went a little crazy and got some nice food (lasagna and cake) to celebrate (: Also... We treated ourselves to a peanut butter hamburger because we ate so healthy this week. It was good.

Another fun thing, I hit my 6 month mark in two days! I can honestly say the last 6 months have been challenging, but the best 6 months of my life.  I LOVE MY MISSION SO MUCH. I am so grateful that I have this amazing opportunity to be here in Taiwan. I have met the most amazing people, and had many wonderful experiences that I wouldn't trade for the world. 

We found a new family of three this week which I am excited for, but have no time to email about it.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AMERICANS 

Have a good week! Thanks for all the love! (and letters and packages!!)