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