Monday, February 2, 2015

Hello Everyone!

How's life?

Something big I’ve learned this week is the importance of working your hardest and when you do your part God makes up the rest.  So, for the past two weeks we’ve not been able to find a SINGLE new investigator.  It’s kind of been a slap in the face because we really are working hard and trying to do the invites.  We’re by no means perfect. But it’s a work in progress.  So, this past week we called potentials and tried to set up meetings with them, but none of them wanted to do anything with us.  They next day we went to a part of our area that we haven’t been to yet and were in the middle of praying for God’s help to find His prepared children when we got a phone call.  After the prayer we call the phone number back and it was one of the potentials we had called the day before telling us he had a little bit of time before work if we wanted to meet with him.  We set up to meet him and frantically called people to peike (to go with them).  It was such a testimony to me that God answers prayers.  This guy has met with missionaries before and was almost baptized.  He has a major Word of Wisdom problem and because of that he stopped praying and reading the Book of Mormon because it made him feel guilty.  So close!!  He was SO CLOSE!  After we said an opening prayer with him he said, “Same feeling…same feeling.”  I don’t know if this is his time, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to teach him and help him get closer to Christ.  God answers prayers!!

Something else I’ve been reminded of near the end of the week and I will be working on it next week is opening my mouth and LISTENING!!!  I know I’m not supposed to but when I’m in a first contact lesson I focus too much on what I’m going to say rather than what the investigator’s saying.  And then when my companion stops talking so I can say something I freak out and don’t know what to say.  This doesn’t happen all the time, but an extreme example.  Something I’ve really gained a testimony of is the promise we have as missionaries that if we open our mouths it will be filled.  If we open our ears and speak, we will know and be guided on what to say.  It’s a promise, and God doesn’t break His promises.  I’ve been reading the New Testament and it is AMAZING!!!  Holy moly, Jesus is such a perfect example of EVERYTHING!  I could read a chapter for an hour and still get things from it.

I've been so behind on my journal it's not funny! I've been working on that because keeping a journal is a commandment from God...it's a way for us to report and follow up with God on how we did that day and how we can do better.  

Yesterday I realized how much I've grown in the past 6 months.  It's like someone sprinkled miracle growth on me.  But I'm still the same crazy me as before.  I still have the same personality, it’s like someone took my style and personality and added some crazy good spiritual things to it. I didn't believe Aunt Linda when she told me I wouldn't want to come home.  I know I still have 11 months left and even though I miss you guys  I LOVE being a part of the Lords work and seeing how the gospel changes people's life!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Fish sister

New companion Sis. Singh and 101 year old member

Being silly at the recycling center

Cam and the KFC man.

"The Claw" at the recycling center.

Monday, January 27, 2015

NINE mosquito bites on my right arm, 6 on my left arm, and 10 on my face and neck.  Man, oh man, is it hard not to itch! Why, oh why, were mosquitoes created?! Anyway, we have lots of mosquitoes in our apartment.  My theory is they're coming from the hole in our tub that nobody's doing anything about.  So we've been trying to sleep with our head under the covers because the mosquitoes high pitched whining when they fly wakes us up, and it looks like I have really bad acne :(

Also, I'd like to make a disclaimer because I'm writing this at 4 in the morning :)  Since today is Temple day and we're going to Taipei we decided to wake up early and do emailing.  We're also going to 101 today hopefully so I'll let you know how that goes next week.  

This week was a crazy week.  We had specialized training on Tuesday where they talked about looking for the rainbows after every rainstorm.  Kill all the Giants in the land, or get rid of our weapons of rebellion.  Bike safety, and many other things...oh yea, and WE HAVE FACEBOOK! I was excited about it but then they told us we had to close down our old ones and create new ones! NOOOOOOO!  Me and my rebellious side was on overactive drive and I did NOT want to close down my old Facebook.  How are the people I meet here going to find me? Also, we can ONLY have people in our area and in our ward as our friends, which means when we're transferred we have to delete EVERYONE and add all the ones our new companion has.  But in the end I ate some humble pie, took a step of faith and closed it down.  It was super hard because I saw that I had over 20 friend requests and notifications on there...but don't worry! I'LL BE BACK! When we get off our missions we can open them back up again :)

So this week one of our recent converts has this door and we have this competition to see if we can open it without her noticing because it is SUPER loud.  The other day we almost made it, but the door gave us away :(

 

This week is a little rough, but I'm trying to look at the bright side of thing.  Me and my companion are getting along splendidly.  

We met with this lady this week who is Buddhist (everyone here is) and when we told her about the resurrection in the plan of salvation she flat out said it was impossible and wouldn't even pray about it! it was like a slap in the face.  We’re telling you about this amazing thing and you think it's impossible and you won't even pray about it.  

We also met a guy who kept asking us why God allows extremist Muslims to kill people...and then wouldn't listen to our answer. 

But I'm trying to look for the rainbow in every rainstorm :)

I'M ENGLISH LEADER AND I'VE NEVER TAUGHT ENGLISH! In Taidong we didn't have English class in my area because we were too far away.  So I'm starting from nothing and I’m the leader and have to get numbers and set everything up. Fortunately my companion knows how to do it so she helps me. 

This week we decided to look for the Rainbows in the rainstorms and we were definitely tested this week because it was a pretty rough week. I got transferred this past week to the opposite end of the island.  I didn't realize I was living in a bubble in Taidong.  Our zone of 6 companionships made up about 20% of the whole mission's findings.  So now I'm in Toufen and it is crazy up here compared to Taidong.  But on the upside I have an awesome companion.  She's breaking me and I'm killing her because this is her last transfer. 

Also, I've been reading in the New Testament lately and man oh man it is good! It's amazing how much you can learn from the Savior and his ministry and example.  So Good!

Well, good luck over there! God is there with us, even in the rainstorms when we can't see him. I read a conference talk by President Monson titled, "You Never Walk Alone" In every one of our trials the Lord know our needs and what we're going through.  He is helping us overcome our challenges and fears.  As we rely on the Lord we learn how to trust him and how he communicates with us.  My challenge for this week is to look for the rainbows.  Look for the little things every day that is God's way of telling you he's still there and loves you!

Love you all! 

Fish Sister!

Monday, January 18, 2015

Alright everyone...transfers this week.  But a little bit before I get to that. We all knew that one person from every companionship was leaving and I was pretty sure it was going to be me.  We pretty much spent the couple days before Transfers with the Elders going to members homes, less actives,and investigators.  I love our Elders...they're awesome.  We also spent Wednesday serving one of our LA's (investigators)...her service projects are always super interesting. They're hard, but then mix in weird implements of death and it makes it REALLY hard.  So we were chopping up tree roots pretty much with a butter knife and a screw driver...so much fun.  That night we found out I was indeed transferring. I really really really don't like packing...lets leave it at that.  

Wednesday night we were supposed to have dinner at our Branch President's house but they invited people and moved the location and it turned into a goodbye party for me and Elder Mansell, because they were pretty sure we were going to leave.  It was a blast and really good food.  My companion tried to eat a chicken head...there's NO meat on that thing.

Thursday we all met at the train station.  Since we're in Taidong we have to leave a day before and our companions aren't allowed to go with us. So, we all had three pieces of luggage to handle ourselves.  Imagine 6 waiguoren (white people) each with three suitcases, getting on the train, off the train, and on and off the subway station...in the middle of Taiwan. It was an adventure that's for sure, but we looked out for each other, so nobody got lost or died ;)

So, transfers!!!! My breaker issssss.......Sister Singh!!! She's from San Diego and this is her last transfer as a missionary.  So, I'm killing my breaker! (last companion before she goes home) And we are in Toufen.  Pretty much the other end of the island.  Completely opposite from Taidong.  Colder, windier, the chapel is in the second story of a bus station. But, I LOVE MY COMPANION!!!! She's awesome! And besides the hole in our bathtub our apartment is pretty cool.  

Yesterday we had a chinke with a member family and they said something that made me stop and think.  They said that we, as sister missionaries, are angels.  Usually when people say this I kind of smile and am like, no I'm not.  But this time it made me think how much we, as missionaries, are angels, and that's kind of scary, with all the responsibility that comes with that.  However, it is not really us, it's our calling.  Our part is to live up to that calling.  That's where the missionary invitations come in.  As we strive to live up to the missionary invitations and be worthy of our calling as missionaries, people WILL see us as angels.  And as angels, the Lord's servants.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to carry this calling and teach the people here.  Except for the hole in the bathtub, I'm super excited to work in this area and with this companion.

We have this LA (investigator) that is a hoarder...and has 16 dogs, and never takes them on walks.  It's super sad because he used to be super smart and worked with the Taiwanese government with launching missiles and stuff.  One day he saw a girl that he thought he knew so he went up and talked to her.  Her boyfriend got really mad and beat him with a metal bat.  So that's why he is the way he is.  According to Sister Singh he's come a long way since he first started meeting with the missionaries.  Our goal is to get him up to full member status.  It'll be a challenge, but it'll still be awesome.

Yep, well, that's about it for this week! See you next week on Wednesday!

Yu Jie Mei

Lunch with Sister Chu

Being silly, I guess.

First transfer.  On the subway heading to Toufen.

Branch farewell party for Cam and Elder Mansell.

Monday, January 12, 2015

So, funny story about my shower...well, not really funny... you'll see.  So our shower has a HOT setting and a COLD setting.  No in between.  You turn it on hot and inch it down to the cold and it's hot hot hot...then cold cold cold. It's super fun!

 

Taiwan is SO funny sometimes...and ingenious.  For example, why take time getting up and actually walking your dog when you can attach a leash to your mo-ped and ride along side it. I wouldn't do it, but you can if you want to.

 

Guess what?! I'VE BEEN OUT FOR 6 MONTHS!!! I ONLY have a year left! Where has the time gone?!

 

We've been meeting with this 王 同學(investigator, Wang Tong Xue) and she's pretty awesome.  She has a baptismal date for the end of January.  She just gets everything we teach her and LOVE coming to church!

 

Also, we've been working with a  楊姐妹 who's a LA and we've been trying to get her to come to church this Sunday and she usually makes up some excuse why she won't come.  Well, we called her on Saturday and told her it was probably my last Sunday and I was singing in CHURCH so she should come watch.  She was a little flimsy so we gave her this pep talk and told it to her straight...then we called her again on Sunday and invited her.  We got to church and she wasn't there.  They passed the sacrament and I just said a prayer in my heart.  If she comes after the sacrament she won't be counted as an LA at church so I just said in my heart I don't care about the numbers. I just want her to come.  Right after the first speaker got up she came literally running into the chapel.  HAHA!  Miracles happen every day.  A lot of times it just takes a trial of our faith.  Afterwards, she went to the other branch and took the sacrament.　　

 

Well, that's about it for this week...my computer is doing something weird with my letters so sorry about that.

 

Good luck everyone!  Have a fantastic week!

 

 

Love, 

 

魚姐妹　：）

 

Having fun

She's been out for 6 months!!!