ER Adventures

This is Yuli

Hello everyone this week has been an adventure.

I am currently In Taipei right now as I email this! It is a long story so let me explain in the shortest way possible.

Ever since I had surgery in June I have had some stomach pain. I just pushed through it and was grateful for bedtimes so I could be relieved from my pain. But when I got transferred to Yuli it started getting a lot worse. I kept working as hard as I could but this week I couldn't stand it anymore. My stomach was so bad and it was really hard and painful to breathe.  A member (Xin Jiemei) offered to take me to a doctor, she is an angel. When we went to the doctor they diagnosed me with something and gave me some medicine. But it didn't help. It got so bad I couldn't eat, sleep, or even walk without feeling like I was dying. (I had to convince myself its not possible to have two appendixes lol)  So I called our mission doctor Sister Vatcher who is also an angel. She told me to make an appointment to go to a bigger hospital up in Hualien. So we were planning on going the next day when another member in our branch called (she's a nurse) and wanted to look at me. When she felt around in my stomach she was afraid that I had a hernia or something like that. (she doesn't speak any English so I was really confused the whole time) So she rushed me to the ER in Yuli. (the doctor didn't speak any English there either so I was still really really confused) They couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, so they just put me on pain medicine and kept me over night. That next morning at 5 am I was on the fastest train to Taipei (three hours). We arrived in Taipei and went straight to NTU where I previously had my surgery. I gave them the x-ray and the tests that they took in Yuli. The doctor looked at my x-ray and was really confused cause I had three metal clips in me from my appendicitis, which no one knew was there hahaha it wasn't a big deal but I now know I have metal in me. We did some tests and they still don't know what is wrong with me. Which is very very frustrating. But they set up a different appointment for today. Sister Vatcher thinks I have bad ulcers, and the doctors think I have IBS. So I am on medicine for both. I am still in pain, but It has improved a lot. I HAVE HOPE. I am praying today at the doctors we can find out more! 

But on the bright side, yesterday I was able to attend my old ward! I saw all of my member friends and my investigators! It was so much fun!! Sister Lu came to see me and told me about her mission call to Australia!! I am so excited for her to be a missionary on January 27th!!! I was hoping she would go to Temple Square so I could visit her in Utah, but Australia is just as special. She gave me my package from my family, which I loved. My family is so amazing.  I saw Zhang dx and Zhang Xuan Ye. Also Sister Xie!! LOVE HER. Also its really nice to see the temple again. 

One really funny thing that happened this week was my companion Sister Weaver on accident drank tea for the first time this week... It is really hard here because everything is in characters and when you cant read them you might mess up and eat or drink something that is against the Word of Wisdom. Like that one time I accidentally had coffee bread thinking it was wheat bread.  

Apparently there is another Typhoon coming towards Taiwan. President just called me and he doesn't know when it will hit, so we might be stuck here in Taipei for longer then expected. Who knows. All I know is that I want to get back to Yuli and start working again. We had set up with this really special investigator Ding Jiemei, but since we were not able to go the elders covered for us! Grateful for them!! 

My email is very lame this week so I apologize for that. My email might be bad, but the gospel isn't! ;-)

Be safe and have a good week! 

Sister Scharman

施姐妹

Sister Scharman and Sister Davis with Lu Jiemei! 

Our Sister Training Leaders came down to Yuli at the beginning of the week!

Typhoons and Full Moons

To start off my email this week I want to share a really funny experience I had... 

Me and Sister Weaver were waiting for the elders to give us a key, so we were sitting on a bench in front of our mm leader's house. This car drives by us... and they are blasting "hollaback girl" then they park right next to us. I am in the middle of a tiny town called Yuli, on the island of Taiwan listening to hollaback girl. Weirdest experience I have ever had.

This week started off with us riding our bikes to a different town just to have my companions bike tire completely die. So we walked back the 3 miles we had just biked to find the nearest bike shop. 

This week there was a huge holiday called "Autumn Moon Festival" Where they barbecue, and eat moon cakes. (almost like a 4th of July celebration) The full moon was beautiful, and we received lots of moon cakes.  中秋節快樂 !! 

There were two typhoons this week! On Wednesday we were told to stay in all day. It was really boring and I don't like staying inside. We decided to make some former calls to use our time wisely. I called this one former, who repeatedly told me that he loved me. Then would hang up, call back, and tell me he loved me again. 

On Thursday we were out finding and we met this guy. He had met with missionaries about 4 years ago but stopped because his wife was Buddhist. He shared that his wife recently died. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation right there. He said he wanted everything we said and felt that it was true. But that his family is still Buddist so "zenmeban" (what to do?) We asked him what was more important to him, and invited him to pray about it. He just continued to repeat "zenmeban". I hope that he can open his heart one day, and realize that you sometimes need to sacrifice little things to receive the bigger blessings. I was very heartbroken after this contact. 

We forgot our keys this week oops. So our landlord told us to go to this one store and they would come open our door for us. We had no idea where this place was. But we met this really cute girl on the street who walked with us there. She is going to school in Taidong, and told us that her and her friends were always wondering why there were so many churches. She was very willing to give us her number so we could send it to the missionaries in Taidong! I think we needed to forget our keys to meet her. 

We met this guy named Shen DX. It was late and he was just out walking so we asked him where he was going. He said that he was going to give his mom some food. (he looks really old so we were like how old is this guys mom?! lol) We asked if we could come and pray for him and his mom. He was very happy to have us come (: His mom is the cutest 92 year old I have ever met. I helped her stand up and walk to the table. I think she is deaf or she totally didn't understand me, but she would just stare at me and smile so big. We said a prayer for them, shared a little message, invited Shen DX to church, helped the ama back to the couch, then left. We were very excited when Shen DX showed up at church!! It was fun, because I actually spoke this Sunday. I talked about Jesus Christ changed water to wine, and why that miracle was important. It's important because it shows us he has the power to change us.  Then I talked about the Atonement and repentance. Obviously my Chinese isn't perfect in any way. But I think it went good! So did Shen DX because he clapped after I said amen hahahahaha. It made me feel good, also it was really funny. 

I hope you all know that I know this church is true. I am so grateful to be here in Taiwan sharing about Jesus Christ and his gospel. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, than right here in Yuli. I see the Lord's hand in my life here, my family back at home, and the people I meet everyday on the street. Every day as a missionary is a privilege and a blessing. I want to thank you for all the love and support you have given me, even if it's just a simple prayer. I can feel it! 

Stay safe and happy!

Sister Scharman

施姐妹

Hey pengyou! 你好朋友

Hey pengyou! 你好朋友

On Tuesday we were riding our bikes to English class in Ruisui. (you pronounce it like raceway) And I had this impression to stop at this one house. So we parked our bikes and then walked back up to that house. There was a man outside talking on the phone.  So we decided to go to the house next to it until he was off the phone. There was no one home so we walked back to see if the guy was done talking and he wasn't. But I didn't want to leave before talking to him. So I smiled at him then just stood there until he was done talking. He is so cool!!! He committed to coming to church, and was super excited!! He came yesterday, and brought his friend! I was so happy. He is so cool. his name is Akai. Or Lin Dx. Since he is male the elders will be teaching him. I have really high hopes for him! 

When we met with Mayah and Lin Dx this week they told us they are moving.. tomorrow. My heart shattered when I found out. I am so sad. But they are going to start meeting with the missionaries in Taipei. I am still really sad. Mayah said that before she met with us she was always really sad, but now through this gospel she has hope. And she is happy. I know that this gospel does bring happiness! True happiness! I am grateful I can see it in others. 

I found out my dad had a stint put in his heart. You never want to have that moment of your Mission President calling you telling you that your dad had surgery. As hard as it was to hear that, it makes it that much better knowing that he is happy and healthy now! LOVE MY DAD SO MUCH! 

This week I was feeling very inadequate. It was really hard. Sometimes you are so motivated, then other times you feel like you have hit rock bottom. I feel like this week I had so many weaknesses come to my attention. But I know the best thing we could ever do on our missions, or in life in general, is try our best to improve. We can never stop improving. If any of us were perfect we wouldn't need to have this life of earth to learn and grow. But we aren't. No one is. I want to quote the talk by Elder Holland in the last general conference called "Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You" It is one of my favorites. 

"Only the adversary, the enemy of us all, would try to convince us that the ideals outlined in general conference (or just in life in general) are depressing and unrealistic, that people don't really improve, that no one really progresses. And why does Lucifer give that speech? Because he knows he can't improve, he can't progress, that worlds without end he will never have a bright tomorrow. He is a miserable man bound by limitations, and he wants you to be miserable too. Well, don't fall for that. With the gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the strength of heaven to help us, we can improve."

Times get hard, we make mistakes, and we fall short a lot. But no matter how many times we fail. we CAN become better, but ONLY through our Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  

Sister Scharman

施姐妹

Waterfall we hiked to on pday

(: 

To get to the waterfall we climbed on rocks for about an hour.

Our mm leader's house. Plus our cute bikes.

Cutie Taiwanren 

It was raining so we used leaves as umbrellas :)

Sister Weaver, Sister Scharman and Mayah

Mayah and Lin Dx

KUAILE (HAPPY)

"Weiiiiii" That's how you answer the phones here. (my old district leader Elder Lin would tell me my wei is too good.)

I hope everyone is safe and happy! My mission is still happy, full of rice fields and miracles! 

I want to tell you about one of our investigators Maya. She is Filipino. She really has a desire to learn the truth. She is currently working here in Taiwan to support her 4 kids and husband who are still in the Philippines. She told us that she saw missionaries in the Philippines but she never had time to talk to them. She takes care of our other investigator Lin Dx who had brain surgery and is having a long and hard recovery. Her first language is Tagalog, but she speaks English really well! Lin Dx speaks Chinese but loves to practice his English with us. This week we met with them twice. These lessons were some of the coolest experiences of my life. Being able to share the gospel in Chinese, then repeat what I said in English was a feeling I can't really describe. The second time we met with them, Lin Dx was asleep so we focused more on Maya and taught her the Plan of Salvation. And we gave her a Tagalog Book of Mormon. Our lesson was a mix between speaking English and having her read and pray in Tagalog. Then when we were about to go Lin Dx woke up so we talked to him for a bit and prayed for him. Three languages in one setting. 

I am the new English Unit leader! So I am over all of the English classes that happen in our area. (we have three) I am super excited!! Teaching English is such a great opportunity to share the gospel! And after an English class this week we learned some Taiyu from one of our students Ben. It is really fun to try speaking in Taiyu to the old amas here in Yuli. They mostly just laugh at me and think its funny. (Taiyu is the native tongue of Taiwan)

Oh and on preparation day last week we went on a hike that is over a century old. It was super pretty, and like wow, I am in ASIA sharing the gospel. Even though I've been in Taiwan for 6 months It is still crazy to me.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I know that we can all find the strength we need through our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Through him we can have true peace, happiness, and comfort. 

Sister Scharman

施姐妹

YES I ATE THE FISH HEAD!

Asia is REALLY pretty!!  Century old hike (:

Sister Scharman and Sister Weaver

Street in YULI