Peterson's In Taiwan: October 2018

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

10/21/2018 Qiji! God's tender mercies and miraculous planning!

10/21/18
Dear Family and Friends,

Tonight my heart is filled with overflowing for God's tender mercies and miraculous planning. We had the joy of welcoming our last three Visa waiters (6 months!)--missionaries from the Philippines who have been waiting since April to come to Taiwan! They finally arrived! We met them in the MTC in Provo back then with their entire group who have been in Taiwan now for a couple of transfers. Two of them--Sister Enriquez and Sister Pangang-- were waiting in the Ogden, Ut mission where our nephew Adam (Elder King) is serving. Sis. Enriquez had Adam for her District leader ! Small world! Anyhow these Filipino missionaries are the sweetest, happiest, humblest, brightest, smartest and converted souls. "They are going to change the mission" as one of our office missionaries, Elder Christiansen, said and I agree. Sis. Enriquez is about 4 ' tall and a dynamo. She is excited to learn to ride a bike and asked President to please find her some training wheels. (Adorable!) Otherwise she is happy to take the bus! :) Sister Pangang has such a strong spirit about her. She is also learning to ride a bike! We received Elder Gorgonio told me his story and it moved me to tears. You would never imagine the sacrifices he's made nor the sorrows in his life because he has the biggest most happy smile and strong spirit of joy. He has so much faith to be here. He baptized his younger brothers before he came. He comes with just what he wears but he is happy! He is 23 and already graduated with a Business management degree. He was engaged to be married but the temple presidency member told him when they went in for an interview that he should serve a mission first! So they put everything on hold and he is now here. As we spent time with them last night after their arrival and today, we felt so humbled blessed to have them assigned to come to the Taiwan Taipei Mission. They have so much to teach us and many have been waiting for them to come--and not just us or their fellow missionaries! This afternoon after feeding them lunch, we had Elder Church and Elder Vernon come pick up sweet Elder Gorgonio and then put these two darling sisters on a train to Hualien to go work with Sis. Caten and Sis Meeks since it's right before the transfer and Sis Meeks is nursing a sore foot. I called a few hours later to see if the two new sisters made it safely to Hualien. Didn't hear for awhile. Finally, Sister Caten called. I got on the phone with the other sisters and the conversation seemed a bit reserved and they were kind of all quiet. Finally Sister Caten said, "Sister Peterson, these sisters got here safely and it is a miracle they were on that train because the train just after it derailed and of 300 people on the train, 171 were seriously hurt and 18 have died already. Many more are still trapped in the train! Nine of a family of 17 on their way to a wedding were killed. I was IN SHOCK! I couldn't believe it! They could tell I was in shock and they said, "Sister Peterson, could we sing you a song?" I said,--please! So these four darling sisters sang me "I am a Child of God". I felt so in awe of Heavenly Father's mercy in sparing these sisters' lives and overwhelming sadness for those lives who were lost all at once. The music truly soothed my soul and calmed my shaking legs. Truly a miracle. It has been all over the news and so tragic. Fortunately none of our other missionaries were on that train either. That was scary, calling all the ZLs to be sure. I am still praying all day with all the gratitude for his watching over our missionaries and also asking for comfort for those suffering from the tragedy in losing loved ones.

Last week leading up to receiving these new missionaries we had the most amazing interviews and Zone Conferences. We heard some wonderful inspiring conversion stories...Wonderful stories about how the missionaries are finding success using Family History! We have felt so inspired to introduce our new tract on BRINGING HONOR TO YOUR FAMILY through doing Family History that I've mentioned previously. Well at the Taoyuan Recent Convert Fireside on Sunday, nearly every convert shared how learning about Family History was what ignited a spirit in them that they hadn't felt before. One sister who has been taught for 3 years by numerous sets of missionaries had struggled with Word of Wisdom issues. But when Sister Fisiahi and Sister Crockett took her over to the Church and a woman showed her how to find her family names, she said: "I want to be baptized for MY ancestors!" Our sister missionaries said: "You can! You just have to be baptized yourself first, so she said Ok I want to get baptized!" Learning of her family history changed her because she felt the power of the Spirit knowing she was not only part of a long line of family but most importantly part of the family of God. So many stories about how people aren't interested in the gospel until they learn about Family History. It's changing our missionaries' lives too! One Sister, Sister Lee shared at ZC how learning about her own family history helps her know she's not alone and she's surrounded by angels every day who are helping her in the work. I loved reading a passage she referred to as she testified from PMG Ch 9. She said she loves this... "Ancestors eager for their ordinances are praying for their posterity on earth to accept your teachings and perform those ordinances vicariously for them in the temple." I love thinking about angels --those family members beyond the veil who are relatives to our missionaries and those ancestors of those seeking for the truth--surrounding our missionaries--guiding them. I'm so happy the missionaries are gaining a testimony and feeling the Spirit of Elijah as they serve each day.

So if you wonder what I do when I'm not preparing or giving talks, I get to be the Mission "nurse", and I do enjoy it more than I thought I would. Not that I enjoy them getting sick or hurt, but just because it gives me a way to serve these sweet Elders and Sisters and helps me get to know them. So far this month has been a bit crazy with medical! Maybe too many opportunities for "bonding". ...
So this month we've had two sisters get hit by cars within a matter of 24 hours on their bicycles and get pretty scraped up--One bless her heart was a new missionary here on island less than a week! (Blessings they are both okay other than scraped up and shaken.) Welcome to Taiwan! A sister with an allergic reaction that made her eyelids swell up so huge she couldn't see for several days! Two with infected ingrown-toenails! Ouch! We also had an Elder get bitten by a black squirrel (never put your finger in an animal's cage no matter how sweet they seem! Luckily no rabies shot needed), three sisters with varied serious female issues, one Elder with a male issue, (Which I know nothing about--thankfully Mike helped me with that!) Five sprained ankles (we love to play basketball and frisbee on pday here!), an injured wrist, three injured knees, a smashed finger in a door (finger nail, black and cracking open) and last night a poor Elder got poked in the eyeball with the metal end of an umbrella! He was so cute--he said "I think Heavenly Father is just trying to remind me to keep my EYE Single to the work!" haha. Fortunately the doctor said it will heal and no serious damage done. Scary!
And then of course there are ongoing stomach aches, colds and flu bugs . Today I learned about how to clean ear wax build up for an Elder who says he can't hear out of one ear! I'm learning a lot I tell you... Mostly I'm learning how devoted and sweet these missionaries are. Most just keep working unless they truly physically can't, and I have to say, you need to rest, but they are incredibly tough! Most of what I do is just be a Mom and tell our missionaries what I would my own children. It really is an honor to try to watch over them all in this way. And they are always so grateful and express that. Truly sweet. Mike and I pray so hard for their safety every night and day! Feel free to pray for them too! We need all the angels surrounding them we can get!

I had a missionary medical miracle today! We have arranged with that sweet Dr. Liu to give flu shots here in Taipei during next month's Zone conference and we had a separate clinic in Hualien lined up to do the shots for the missionaries down there. Two days ago they called and said they are all OUT of shots in Hualien! So now I was thinking what do I do for them? Dr. Liu does not have enough extra to service all of those missionaries. I texted our sweet sister missionaries in Taitung and asked them if they could ask their RS president there for a clinic I might contact there. They got back to me and said to try Mckay Medical Hospital there, which has a nice lucky name so I thought okay worth a shot! no pun intended :) I called and they actually have an English speaking woman who helped me arrange all the 19 shots we need there! Truly a miracle. I got off the phone and hit my knees. The Lord is helping me find solutions when I have no clue --which is all the time! Such a great blessing and such a kind woman too. God Bless sweet Mae at Mckay! You made my day today.

Zone Conference was perfectly timed for the week following General Conference--Actually it was two weeks after it, but for us it was the following week because we have to watch it tape delayed.
We talked about URGENCY, and how President Nelson is our example--literally sitting on the edge of his seat inviting us to help Gather Israel. It was amazing to me how many of the talks were applicable to missionary work! Mike shared on those. Becoming Shepherds, Wounded but never giving up, Serving FOR HIM! Love that talk, and Christ -centered service (aka the Chocolate cake talk) and using the name of Jesus Christ more deliberately--talking and rejoicing in Him!
I spoke about Urgency using Pres Nelson as an example and the example in Mos 28:3 of the Sons of Mosiah in feeling such urgency to share the gospel that the very thought of anyone not having the gospel made them to "quake and tremble". Then we discussed how we can develop that kind of love--to become shepherds, that the sons of Mosiah had by Sis P's three P's: Praying for it, Practicing love in our companionships and Preparing for the spirit.) One sister wrote this week--Sister Psieh (Sheh) said as she was riding her bike after ZC she passed by a man and she said she turned around and went back because she didn't want him to not have the chance to hear the message she had. These missionaries are so humble--they go and do what we invite/ask them to do. Miracles continue to abound because of their sweet diligence and urgent willingness to go and do the things they are asked to do. I continue to marvel at their obedient spirits!!

Speaking of quaking and trembling like the Sons of Mosiah, we've had two 5.7 earthquakes that have been "unsettling" this past two days! It's making me quake inside for sure and I will say, this place was shaking and rolling for several minutes. The second one was right as we were in bed trying to fall asleep. That pretty much ruined any attempt of sleep for a good while for me. Mike was snoring in seconds! Ha ha. He's living right I guess!

This week we started rehearsing for the missionary Christmas fireside to be held the Sunday before Christmas! Eddie and Win (Ping Baba and Ping Mama) are in charge of it and have written a beautiful program with gorgeous music. The hours they've spent! Wow! The narration is not just a re-telling of the Christmas story but a powerful testimony that He is our Savior and an invitation to Come and See--declaring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church restored to the earth in these latter days. Taiwan get ready because we are so excited to share this glorious message through song and word! Getting to both hear and sing with the 70 missionaries at our first rehearsal on Monday made me so happy! Literally my arms had goosebumps and I felt all tingly up my spine. I just love Christmas and the music will always remind me of home and family and Danville! I am so grateful we are doing this because Taiwan doesn't celebrate Christmas! (Nobody told me that before I got here-- best kept secret from the girl who can't sleep she gets so excited about Christmas) so maybe I can share my joy with the world that Christ HAS COME and that His birth and his mission is the most precious gift we have every day! Singing these Christmas carols in Chinese truly warms my heart! They are not familiar to the people here and not even to the members. Most of our Bundi-ren choose to call home on Guo Nian (Chinese New Year) instead of Christmas as that's their biggest family celebration. It is a celebration of new life in a way! I can't sing these hymns nor look at these beautiful slides of Him that we are showing without being truly humbled that we get to be here and serve Him in some small way. I know He came for me and for all these precious sons and daughters in Taiwan and all of China still waiting to know Him. For that we pray every day! Wo feichang ganxie Yesu Jidu he ta yuanyi lai dao shishang chengwei women de jiushizhu!

Ai nimen!

Ping Jie Mei

P.S. I found out today that there were 100,000 viewers of the Danshui Cultural parade we got to participate in, counting people actually there and viewers on TV! Elder Hogge said many people they speak to now or approach say "Hey I saw you in the parade!" and because of that they listen to their message! So amazing!

A Miao in Taitung. Praying all the way home from interviews bc I lost my phone/wallet. Missionaries offered to pray too. When we got back to hotel we got a phone call from front desk. It had been found in the elevator!! Miracle!

Our cute Taitung Zone Ldrs and Sisters invited us to beef noodle/ Ruo mien! So good. We provided bananas for dessert and they were thrilled.

The infamous black squirrel that bit Elder Swensen

This one made top ten of our Black n blue injuries of month

Our other two Taitung Sisters Chen and Chen or “the Double Chen’s” haha and they point to their chins.

Watching Sisters Meeks and Caten Chuan the jiao with a truck driver right after ZC

Dinner w Sisters Meeks and Caten over noodles in Hualien

ZLs Huang and Bradshaw w Sisters Larson and MacCabe after our ruo mien.

Riding the train to Hualien. Freaky that same train was the one that crashed this week.

Hualien interviews: Elders Raymond and Patterson

Fengling trio Elders Crimm, Johnson and Lin

Sisters Zentz and Lee

Famous smiler Elder Johnson! He extended three weeks and just gave it his heart and soul! His advice as he departed? Smile! Just smile and it opens doors.

Next group coming ...group of 20!!!

Our sweet new friends The Christensen’s had us senior couples over to their ama Inc place at the Palace. We had burrito bowls and guacamole and played games. So much fun!

ZC role plays on Taoyuan w zLs Elders Fernandez and Shops

Taoyuan and Xinchu Zone Conference!

Speed teaching at Taipei ZC

Bday boys Shaw, Wetzel and Otani

Bday girls Susters Smith, Psieh and Monsen. We added Monsen in last minute even though her bday is in Nov bc she goes home this transfer. She said I was praying you’d remember! So grateful we honored her!

Role plays on shepherding

Taipei zones!

W my sweet twinned Sisters Bennett and Huang

Sunday, October 7, 2018

October 6, 2018 "Meng Shen Zhaohuan Qu Fuwu!" Called to Serve--Full time!

Dear Family and Friends,

Hou jiu bu jian? I have been on the mission treadmill 😛 and I am jumping off today to write! I guess I'm realizing that we too are truly are on a full-time mission. It is full-time and that time is FULL of something every minute. But it is a privilege and a great blessing to serve. I do wish I had the luxury of keeping in touch with you, my friends and family at home better, so I want to take this opportunity to tell you that I love you and I miss you more than I can communicate properly. I pray daily for you and for future opportunities to be together and share experiences. For now I am the Lord's and must be about my Father's business! In the mission president's seminar Elder Brent Nielsen jokingly yet seriously said --"you know the Primary song "I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"? That's now more than a song-- it's a reality. Ha Ha. You do "Belong" to the Church and are Church property right now! He was also gently reminding us that we are consecrating all our time and talent to the Lord full time for this time. We couldn't do this without all the support and love we feel from home. Recently I received a package from my Pinegar extended family! Xie Xie nimen! Ai nimen! I can't tell you how emotional I got reading each little note from the children and adults too. I still have them out where I can look at them. Each word lifted me and the timing was incredible. It felt like a big group hug and I do know Family and Friends ARE everything! Being remembered as a missionary in the field is SUCH a lift. I now know how important that support is and hope that you my friends and family won't feel abandoned if I can't always communicate a lot. So please remember, I love you, no matter what I'm doing or where I may be! That love is yours, and has no time zone! 💌

Today we watched a few sessions of General Conference delayed and I can hardly wait to watch the rest! I know we are led by a prophet who receives revelation from Jesus Christ for this IS the Church of Jesus Christ restored in these latter days. I so appreciate all the changes and know they will help us individually and as a church. It touched my heart deeply to hear the choir of young women sing the Army of Helaman song because they are future missionaries! I loved hearing all the messages specific to women and our innate gifts to nurture and be sensitive to the needs of others. I wept watching this because I had just been with Sister missionaries for President's interviews and been able to sit in on a lesson and go chuan the jiao at a Seven with them. I felt like and I know I was among angels sitting and visiting with them and hearing how they feel their missions have changed their lives. It reminded me so much of the conversations I've had with Lauren and Anne about their missions and how they can't imagine what they'd be without those experiences that changed them to the core. I'm so grateful for their experiences that shaped them. I see how missions change each Sister and Elder in our mission here as well. Elder Brough's talk touched me to tears hearing about the courage his daughter had to decide to serve after serving with her family on a mission for 3 years. The sacrifice of these missionaries refines them. Our sweet Sister Love told me from her mission she now understands the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how to repent and how it blesses every aspect of our lives and brings us joy. Sister Phillips told me how coming on a mission has changed her in so many ways! She can't imagine how her life would be if she hadn't come on a mission and learned how to not hold back but to talk to people and share her light with them. She said she used to never talk to people and be inward. She now is so bold and I watched her go right up and talk with a woman at a Seven. She and Sister Love had asked me to help teach a lesson on tithing with a sister named Kate--mother of two who is investigating. because she was coming from work, she called and said she'd be a half an hour late so.....the Sisters said well Sister Peterson, we need to use this half hour to go talk to people--want to come?? So I walked outside with them in the dark in the pouring rain down a block to a Seven/11 or "Seven" as they're known here. It was perfect timing because we walked in and there was a woman there about 26 years old from Indonesia sitting alone at a table who looked up and broke into a big smile as we walked in. Sister Phillips walked right over to her and said hello. They asked if she spoke Chinese or English and she spoke a bit of each and Indonesian. So without wasting a second Sister Phillips pointed to her nametag and I thought she was going to show her her name but instead she pointed to JESUS CHRIST on her tag and said--do you see this name? This is Jesus CHrist--that is who we teach about. Could we share a one minute video with you about Him? And we can show it to you in Indonesian! Within a split second, they whipped the video "Because of Him"open, changing the language with a smooth swipe and began playing it. The woman was mesmerized. After the video Sister Love asked her How did you feel as you watched that? You could see by the look on her face she was touched but she just smiled not knowing what to say. So I felt impressed to touch my heart and ask, Did it make you feel good inside? She then nodded and said YEs! I said "When we feel something is Good we can know it is from God." She nodded and I knew she agreed. Then the sisters asked her more about her situation and found out she is a caretaker for elderly here in Taiwan. They asked her if she had ever been to our church and if not if she'd like to come or learn more. The woman said yes she would be interested! SHE then asked the sisters, "Can I get your contact info?" It was amazing! IN the few minutes we had to spare, we met and "set up" this sister to learn the gospel. I marvelled at the way it all happened because the sisters used every minute to do his work. Just as we finished talking to this sister named Kaka, the sisters got a text from Kate saying she was at the church now and we could go teach her. I really couldn't believe how it all happened within the time they/we had before the lesson with Kate. It was as if the Lord choreographed the whole thing--and I'm sure He did because He loves all His children including these obedient missionaries. The meeting with Kate was a special opportunity for me to share my personal testimony of tithing. I shared with her something I've never really talked about but had pondered when the sisters asked me to share a personal experience about tithing. I told her that 15 years ago when we were in good financial times I wasn't working but felt an impression and a desire to do something to bless others and a desire to pay tithing from money I had earned myself so I could feel the sacrifice. So I started teaching piano lessons. A few years later in 2008 when the market crashed (including Mike's hedge fund), I was grateful I was doing something that could bring in income to defray grocery costs. Looking back at that experience, I know were blessed because of following that prompting and that the promised blessings of paying tithing are real. We had what we needed when we needed it. The Lord also guided Mike to get other employment that has sustained us well since. And this blessing of serving a mission right now is literally an outpouring of God's blessings to us that is a way I can understand the scripture in Malachi. I know paying tithing is one small way to give back to our generous Heavenly Father who has given us everything. I know He blesses us in return with blessings unmeasured not only financial blessings but temporal and spiritual too. I was grateful I could share this experience in English with this sister and that her English was good enough to understand it. She said she was touched by the part of the story when I told her I felt the Holy Ghost tell me I needed to teach piano. After I shared, she said that while paying tithing was going to be difficult for her, she was willing to commit to doing it! Aw! The Spirit is the best teacher and testifier! I love missionary work!
While I was with the STL sisters in Xsinchu, MIke went out with the ZL's--in the pouring rain on bikes! They were out for a few hours teaching teaching teaching! He came back soaking wet and exhilarated at the opportunity to share his testimony as well. The ZLs Cooke and Turpin took him up hills and onto college campuses for exciting lessons. I texted them afterwards to thank them for bringing him back alive. I got to DRIVE back to the hotel--my first driving in Taiwan! I was so proud of myself--in the dark and in the rain! But I did it! Baby steps!

We loved our visits and interviews in Zhubei with Elders Beus, Sorensen, Nielsen and Zhung. Such an inspiring miracle they had just experienced the night before we saw them for interviews that they shared with me. Elder Zhung has only been a member for two years and is one of our brand new Bundi-ren missionaries from Pingdong. So amazing to find out he was prepared by a great missionary named Elder (Jackson)Wightman from the Danville Stake back home in California. He and his siblings and mother joined the church but his father has not joined yet. Unbeknownst to President Peterson, Elder Zhung's nonmember grandfather lives in the Zhubei area. The Zhubei Elders live in the same apartment as Elder Zhung and so E Zhung told Elders Beus and Sorensen about him. Unfortunately where the grandfather lives is an hour and 45 minute bike ride up mountainous hills! But these fine Elders --determined to go find Elder Zhung's grandfather, rode an hour and 45 minutes in pouring rain on bikes to the farthest point of their area to do so. When they arrived at the home, it didn't seem anyone was even home, but they were not going to turn back or give up after that long ride or disappoint Elder Zhung! They walked through a jungle like back yard (even past a huge banana spider web! with spider in it! ) to see if they could find him in the back of the home and they spied him through a window. So they went back around and knocked on the door! The 87 year old grandfather answered, very surprised to see them. They told them who they were and that they live with his grandson. They phoned him and got him on skype. Elder Zhung was able to share his testimony about what his membership in the church means to him and how it has changed his life and that of his family's with so much joy. Elder Zhung thru skype invited his grandfather to be taught and to come to church. Grandfather agreed to come and not only that but to bring Elder Zhung's uncle with him! Miracles!!! I am so excited for Elder Zhung and I know the Lord leads and guides His servants to do miracles. We can expect them as we do his work. That is a quote from Sister Johnson who told me that is their District's chosen theme: "Expect Miracles!" She told me of a miracle she had had. When she learned she was getting a new companion at transfers, she had a prompting to send her companion Sister Cajilig a copy of her over 100 contacts for her to start calling while she was in transport so they could hit the ground running when she arrived. The next day some malfunction happened with Sister Johnson's phone and ALL her contacts on LINE app were deleted and not retreivable. She said she shuddered at the thought that if she hadn't obeyed the prompting to send those in advance to Sis Cajilig, all those people and all those contacts --from hours of missionary work--would have been lost! The Lord has our backs! As we listen and obey his promptings. While we were visiting with Sis. Johnson and Cajilig, they asked Pres. Peterson to "perform a miracle"--to try opening a can of jam that they'd had for six weeks and no one--no other Elder had been able to open it! With a try or two, and with their faith in President Peterson, the jar popped open! :) PHew! They were elated!

After the last zone conferences we welcomed two new batches of missionaries: a group of Bundi-ren all from Taiwan from the Phillippines MTC (they go there for 3 weeks) and a group of American missionaries--all but a few had been Visa waiting in other missions for a transfer. Because they arrived on two different days we did the New missionary training/train the trainer trainings twice in one week! Then we bid a fond farewell to nine lihai missionaries: Elders Hyde, Donalson and Lin and Sisters Birch, Nolan, Christensen, Nielsen, Keeney and Jensen. We will miss them all! Elder Lin has been an amazing assistant. He is 26 years old from Tainan Taiwan--has already served in the military and finished college education. His welcome and training to US with the other assistant as we arrived on island and in these first few months will forever be appreciated. Sister Nielsen was a STL whom I spent my first real day as a missionary with in Danshui with her companion Sister Hurst. They will always hold a special place in my heart as I watched them that first day in awe of what they do here as missionaries. Her leadership in the mission has been amazing and such a great example as I've watched her be joyful no matter what challenges she was facing personally on her mission. We will continue to pray for these amazing missionaries as they adjust to returned missionary life and pray for the new ones as they adjust TO mission life. The trainings I get to do with the new missionaries and follow up six weeks later are about that Adjusting to Mission LIfe and using the inspired booklet with the same title. I highly recommend using the principles in the book to all of us and you can find it on the LDS app under Missionary. I love the breathing and relaxation exercises on PP. 18-19 (highly recommend) and the self assessment pages on pp 12-13. I love the General resources for managing stress Pp 17-22 and the section on resources for Managing emotional Demands. I love the admonitions to think of scriptures and hymns that will uplift as well as seeing the humor and the miracles in each situation. I love that the overall principle taught is Ether 12:27. Bring the Lord your weaknesses and He will turn them into strengths. We can't do His work without being humbled and recognizing where we are weak. As we do and as we bring those to the Lord, recognizing our dependence on Him, we seek and access the power of the Atonement in our lives.
We challenge our missionaries to remember the three H's: Humor, Hymns and Holy Writ and to BREATHE. It's amazing how these tools given the missionaries are tools we can use for LIFE! One of the rotations we do is the "happy cup" station with President Peterson. He talks to them about a principle he taught the missionaries at the first zone conference--to drink from the "happy cup" daily. He says we have two cups we put our thoughts in and drink in daily--some of us fill our negative cup and drink from that all day--My Chinese isn't as good as my companion's, it's so so hot outside, that lesson didn't go well, etc. We need to put a hole in that cup or we will always feel discouraged. Rather we need to drink from the HAPPY Cup. He reminded them to think of Scrooge drinking from the cup of human kindness and how delicious that was and how it changed him--we need to put good thoughts and happy thoughts in our cup and drink from that happy cup all day. We need to remind ourselves daily we are beloved sons and daughters of God, that our mothers and fathers love us, that we are doing a great work for the Lord, that He will always be with us, we need to look for the miracles and rejoice in those and we need to sing happy songs in our head or whistle away the negative thoughts. It is now a catch phrase in the mission to "drink from the happy cup" or simply say"happy cup" in zones and district text reminders. I love that !
We also go over Safeguards for Technology and commit them to live by those safeguards with their phones. As the missionaries help each other stay obedient, great sorrow and sin are avoided. Missions teach us such amazing habits of happiness and of reliance upon the Lord.

For New Leader training of District Leaders and Sister Training Leaders I get to share thoughts on effective exchanges and for MLC I give a spiritual share on a topic I feel is needed. With all the speaking assignments I've been preparing for on Sundays, I had been so busy I hadn't had much time to prepare for these trainings. I had had a lot of medical needs of missionaries to manage with phone calls/follow up with them or the Area Medical Advisor. I literally didn't know what I was going to say when I went to bed the night before the meeting with the new leaders and for MLC. I prayed and begged the Lord to help me know. In the morning I woke up early and turned to the scriptures. I knew the one I needed to share was about Christ's example. "He who would be chief among you, let him be your minister/servant." I shared about thinking about our exchanges as ministering opportunities and based our discussion on specific ways to minister as we do effective exchanges. I know the Lord truly blessed me with that and I remembered training I received from Elder Brent Nielsen and his wife in our pre-mission trainings that whenever you wonder what to talk about, always talk of Jesus Christ and you can never go wrong. It is true. He is our Supreme Exemplar and Teacher in every way. I loved Sister Michelle Craig's talk about ministering and her story about Camilla Kimball telling the woman bringing her husband a tie to "never suppress a generous thought!" I know as we have those "generous thoughts" those are the Spirit's whisperings to urge us to minister and do good. I loved the counsel by Joy B Jones "to do all things with an eye single to the glory of God." I know when I try to do this, I feel so much joy and at peace.

Yesterday was the topper! Missionaries on Parade! We were invited by the Danshui missionaries to participate in a cultural parade there. The Danshui ward was invited to make a float and have up to 20 missionaries come walk or bike along with it! What an opportunity to give exposure to these amazing emissaries of light! One sweet brother who is a ward member commented to me about the float that looked like a new MRT train (which was part of the celebration) with a Book of Mormon and Bible on top and said "Ping Jie Mei" did you know ONE person designed and made this whole float? I responded: "Wow" that's amazing. I want to meet this person. Can you introduce me to them? He smiled and said "That person was me!" Ha ha. So cute. He had every reason to be proud. Picture all these darling ward members dressed in Book of Mormon type clothing! They walked beside us too and their children--also dressed up, were in the float! As we walked along or some were on bikes as music was playing, it was so amazing how the people clapped and cheered --just looking at these missionaries! We had wondered if we should hand out tracts but as people looked up at us and smiled, we HAD to take that opportunity to share what we know! so We high fived and handed out a few hundred tracts --nearly all we had! Some inviting to English class, to receive a copy of the Book of Mormon, find out how to do jiapu/Family History or other messages. I teared up watching all the faces of these beautiful people just looking into our eyes and I kept hearing these words in my head from President Nelson: "Let the Love and the Light of the Lord beam from your eyes!" I told the missionaries that as we started and truly they did it! I saw so many people literally light up as they saw the missionaries coming and they wanted whatever they were giving because they could tell here comes something very special down the street! I told the missionaries, it's not every day that people will line the streets to meet you--what a chance to let hundreds of people feel the love of the Lord and hopefully respond to an invitation to learn more about Jesus Christ. I felt so much joy walking as one with this band of missionaries, trying to let the love and light of the Lord beam from our eyes. I felt the Lord's love so powerfully I couldn't help but smile and beam!! I can testify these missionaries are the Lord's angels here on earth sharing His gospel with all their heart, might mind and strength and with the Love and light of the Lord beaming from their eyes and their smiles. I invite all to hear the glorious message of the Restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel to the earth that they share and learn how to Come Unto Christ through the grace of His atonement. He lives! and while it is so hard to be away from those I love, I know I'm having experiences here that I couldn't have anywhere else or in any other way. Wo hen ganxie you chuan jiao de jihui!.

Ai nimen!

Ping Jie Mei

Senior missionary FHE group! Last one for temple Pres and Sis Liu. How we will miss them!

First missionary package from family! Yahooo! Sent by my Sisters and nieces and nephews and their families w the saying Distance means so little when family means so much!

And this Apron kristen made w all our family’s faces on it!

Family IS everything!

We had all eight stake presidents and their wives and families over for dinner Sat night. It was a true test of our cooking skills and our Chinese!

What amazing people we are so blessed to get to work with here!

Welcoming our 11 new Bundiren (native Taiwanese)on 9/20!

Two darling sisters—Lin Jie Mei and Chen JieMei

Dedication to the work at the Dedication spot

Huanning Breakfast at the Mission home w President

Chen Mama comes to welcome new Missionaries and give them all gifts. Her generosity and love for the Missionaries is Lihai!

American group (#3) arrives two days after Bundiren.

Singing Called to Serve at Dedication spot

Awesome group! Elders Engel, Ciminski, Morgan, Brady, Nelson, Davies, Gonzalez and , Young

With darling Sisters Hayden, Jensen and Crockett!

President’s home for Breakfast!

Shanghai Friends reunion—Sisters Hayden and Larsen

Chen Mama was back for Second welcome in one week!

Xie Xie ni Chen Mama!

Trainer Trainee training—always exciting to see their first meeting of their trainers

Jensen and Larsen

Hayden and Psieh

Then we had to say Zai Jian to this amazing group

Early morning departure!

Sister Nielsen’s Parents came to her!

Sweet reunion!

Gonna miss this sweetheart! Spent my first day in the mission w her and her comp In Danshui! Never forget it.

Saw this tree and had to photograph it. Looks like arms are wrapped around it to give it a hug. This is what I call a tree hugger tree!

The three amigo Assistants! Elders Raley, Lin and Petersen. Amazing each one! Hard to believe Elder Lin is leaving us. We appreciated his warm welcome to the TTM!

Mike was thrilled to reconnect w old friends James Wei and his wife Yang. They came over for dinner and brought us this Ana ing cake from Sunmerry bakery. Yum!!