Dear Family and Friends!
Happy New Year! 新年快乐Xīnnián kuàilè We have had an exciting few weeks and felt great blessings here in the mission field. Thank you for sending your love from across the miles. Each remembrance whether it be a gift, note or card, text or email was greatly appreciated and cherished. To feel remembered is an amazing gift as a missionary!
The next Day was just as hectic as it was Monday, Christmas Eve and since a lot of the mission had traveled to Taipei for the music concert we decided to have Zone Conference that day after the concert. Again, bless our sweet girls who participated in the ZC, sharing their testimonies. As a theme we had each missionary study the many names of Christ in response to President Nelson's challenge to the YSA's at the beginning of 2017 to do so, and come to ZC prepared to share about one of the names of Christ that was personally meaningful to them. Mike and I shared talks in the beginning on the topic and shared our favorite names as well. I spoke about my memories growing up and hearing the Messiah played on the record player and hearing "Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace before our father gathered the family in prayer and before opening gifts. I was so grateful to Mary and Travis Neal who shared a video of this music with me that I could share with the mission with beautiful pictures of the life of Christ. In studying His many names the promise of then Elder Nelson have come to pass in my life: He said: "If you proceed to learn all you can about Jesus Christ, I promise you that your love for Him, and for God’s laws, will grow beyond what you currently imagine."
This study truly is increasing my love for Jesus Christ. It causes me to reflect on my life and the various ways He has succored me through His various roles--especially Prince of Peace. I shared with the missionaries about going through a time when I had hepatitis B and was later healed but the Peace I felt through Him, even when I didn't know how things would turn out. I know sometimes we are healed completely or NOT but given the strength to endure the trial. I experienced both forms of healing and once again feel in awe of our Savior's healing power. I appreciated hearing Mike share about the role he loves is "Father" and how being a Father is the greatest of all titles. After his talk he sang "Man with many Names". I love the lyrics: "There is One who to this garden comes, Like a most unusual rain--Drink it in and never thirst again; Living Water is His name. There is One who comes to find each one Who has lost his way again. He will lead the way back to the fold; the Good Shepherd is His name. There is One who, when your crying's done, Gives the gifts you've never known. He'll give fruit because He is the Vine and Life, for He's the Living Stone. He is known by , oh, so many names, and will be forever more. Hope comes from the One with many names, And He's not forgotten yours. No, He's not forgotten yours!"
I am so grateful for His many names and to know He knows our names and our sorrows because He suffered in our behalf. I was touched when Lauren and Anne also shared about Christ as the Prince of Peace in their lives. President Peterson called on various missionaries to share and some came up on their own to share. One Elder, Elder Ethan Larsen shared that his favorite name was "Wonderful" because that is how I feel when I repent, partake of the Sacrament, how I feel with my family, how I feel being a missionary. This work is Wonderful!" These testimonies were all so wonder-full! I absolutely loved this ZC as one of the most spiritual and powerful ones we have had.
We then had lunch and a fun talent show. In one Zone Conference talent show, Sister Concardas from the Philippines did a Bamboo dance and she taught two Elders and her companion how to do it too. It was the cutest thing I ever saw and so happy to see her hopping happily between these bamboo poles and the Elders in Santa suits trying not to trip over them! Oh how amazing these missionaries are. We had hula dances, cello slap jazz, gymnastic routines and Sleigh Ride duet! We even had a district act out their version of the Christmas Carol. So fun to see their creativity and have fun. We ended the TS by showing Mr. Krueger's Christmas video which our office Elders labored late nights to put Chinese sSubtitles on for our Bundi-ren missionaries from Taiwan. Many hadn't seen it and they loved it! It isn't Christmas until we see that! WE had treats while we watched of Shortbread cookies, Reeses PB trees (from the States) and we handed out ornaments of the names of Christ. Then Mike sang O Holy Night and we reminded them to have a great time talking with their families on Christmas and to remember that tho they miss them there's nowhere else they would rather have them be than on a mission. We love each one so much. So much joy with them at ZC! As hard as it was to be apart from all our family, I felt "at home" being there with them in Christ..
For Christmas Eve we were so exhausted from ZC that instead of making pizza like we do traditionally we just ordered pizza from a great shop just a few doors down and we watched White Christmas and worked a puzzle. So fun!
Christmas Day was really special! Graham was our little Christmas elf in his striped red PJ's. The girls had brought so many sweet thoughtful gifts from "home"--boxes of jello for our traditional rainbow jello, our favorite candy bars, licorice and chocolate cinnamon gummy bears from Spen n Mcken and GG toffee ! and also Wheat Thins for Grandpa Eddie among other rare commodities. It was so fun! We laughed so hard at a book of cheer Spencer made us with funny memes! I thought we might lose Gpa Eddie he was laughing so hard! Thank you Spen and Mcken for the gift of laughter you brought us! We enjoyed also having the office Elders over for Christmas turkey dinner with rainbow jello! It was such a joy to introduce our family to them and share mission stories!
We had fun the rest of the week touring the island with the family. We took them to Dongmen market, walked around Yongkang and had zuabings and Coco drinks with Bobas, hiked in the rain 1,000 steps up Xiangshan Mountain to see the view of Taipei, took the MRT and up to the top of the 101, did a daytrip to Danshui and dipped our feet into the hungry fish tank and left with smooth feet, visited/toured the CKS Memorial and National Palace Museums--where blonde baby Graham ended up being the main attraction--! and then meandered through the gorgeous Palace Gardens, my fav was going to Pingxi and launching a family lantern. Amazing! And the food! now the list of all we sampled would take another page--but some favs were YongKang Beef Noodle and Dongmen Dumplings, Golden Chicken garden for Xiao longbau and Shilin Market we had the best MANGO BING of our lives! incredible! . We definitely had some delicious fare as well as an incredible homemade meal by Dad on Sunday for Anne's bday. He made his famous salmon with dill sauce!
Chandler flew in just in time for her bday the night before. That was really a sweet reunion to see and to finally meet this very tall and very fine fellow who has swept Anne off her feet! It was a joy to get to meet him and see all the great things Anne has told us about him are true! Welcome to the FAM/Huanying lai dao women de jiating Chandler Bruce!
Lauren and Brandt overlapped a day with him here and then we got to have another week of fun with just him and Anne. The highlights with them were Anne's 22nd b'day dinner, New Year's Eve watching the fireworks at the 101 in the rain, going to the 101, Dongmen Market and driving to Jiufen and Keelung to see the beach. That night, January 3rd he popped the question after they went on a date to ride the Miramar Ferris Wheel in downtown Taipei. We didn't know until they came home and Anne had a little cute smile as they got off the elevator at our apartment. I said "Wait--let me see your hand--and there was a beautiful diamond ring on it! Without expecting it I impusively hugged them both and started screaming and jumping up and down--the door was open into the hallway and Mike was down in the 4th floor office with the Assistants and they all came running when they heard me screaming. It was so funny! The Assistants were so excited for them they grabbed Chandler and hugged him and then turned around and realized they couldn't do the same for Anne so they shook her hand! HE HE HE. It was really fun and so exciting for us and for the missionaries and hopefully for Anne and Chandler. Then we all had Martinelli's to celebrate--including the office Elders. Mike's parents didn't have their hearing aids in so they missed the yelling but we knocked on the door of their room and went in and told them. It was so wonderful to see Anne's joy that night and to see their love for each other as a couple. I will be forever grateful for the effort and love Chandler showed as he was willing to travel across the world to make her the giddiest girl on the globe (and her mother too) as a close second. I will also be forever touched and grateful that that they plan to return here to be sealed so that Mike can attend. #missionblessings all around. Friday night when we went with Chandler and Anne to the Taipei temple to do a session that is just across the street from our apartment, I marveled at the great blessing that the Lord has given Anne in meeting such a fine man and I believe it is in part a blessing she received not only for choosing to serve a mission but for willingly giving up her parents and home to serve a mission as well.
God is so good and merciful and kind. Here's to a wonderful 2019 ahead!
Jia you!
Ping JieMei/Sister Peterson
