Helllllooooooo da jia hao!?
This week was AMAZING! We started it off in the best way by going to the unbelievable Taipei 101. It is bigger than....a lot of things. Most things actually. The elevator that took us up to the top goes 600 miles per minute and it kills your ears, but it is part of the experience. I cannot even describe the view from the top! All those buildings you thought were skyscrapers look tiiiny and you can see the entire city of Taipei. I don't have the words to describe it! Pictures also don't do it justice soo you can take this as your 584th reason to come to Taiwan. ;)
This week we met a lot of amazing people on the streets and got to know our awesome church members. Yesterday, a member we call "Lu Baba" had us and the Elders over for lunch and fed us homemade vegetable gali (curry). I was seriously trying not to cry it was THAT GOOD. (Side note: We also have had gali for 6 other meals this week... #XINGFU. I have decided heaven must be full of gali.) He learned how to make it specifically for the missionaries so he could feed us and told us it is the only thing he can make. HOW CUTE IS THAT. He also told us his story of joining the church and it blew my mind. It was in Chinese so I may have ting bu dong'ed a little but the gist of it is this: He was a devout Buddhist Monk for many years. One day, on his way to a Buddhist temple in Taipei he saw a Christian church next to the Buddhist temple and wondered why they were different. He knew Christians prayed so he went to the Buddhist temple and said a prayer to know why. Then two days later he said "two weird, young waiguoren in white shirts" talked to him at a stoplight and super quick invited him to come to our church that next Sunday. WELP he took that as a sign from God and showed up to Church a few days later. He ended up getting baptized a couple months later and is now one of the mission leaders. He said how much his life has changed and how much hope he feels now. He inspires me soo much. He is one of the most humble, generous, and Christlike people I know. I love Lu Baba.
I also wanted to tell ya about Cai Ai Lun <3 She has been meeting with missionaries for a while now and just told us she wants to be baptized! She told us she reads the scriptures every night & prays every day and that it has helped her find a lot of hope and peace since her mom passed away. Ai Lun really reminded me how amazing it is that we always have scriptures and prayer to help us through any trial in life. A lot of people here do not know who God or Jesus Christ are and the most incredible experiences I have had here have been helping people understand that they are never alone!
I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! It has taught me so many lessons I didn't even expect to be taught haha. I think- actually I know- I take a lot for granted. I don't know what it would be like to never know God exists and I am so lucky to be able to say that! (THANK YOU Mom and Dad!) Even at times in my life when I didn't have a lot of faith, I still knew God existed and I could pray to Him. The mission has taught me how much I need the Lord's help and how much hope and peace the gospel has brought me. I have also learned so much from the people. Ahhh the people! They are the most selfless, gracious, kind, and humble people I know. They go out of their way to make sure people around them are taken care of. For example: My tongban and I were stopped at a crosswalk looking at the map (cuz we got lost for the 329478930th time hehe) and this car turns, finds a parking spot like 200ft down the street, and this woman speed walks towards us. Turns out she speaks perfect English and asks "Where are you trying to go let me help you." This sort of thing happens multiple times every day. Then when we told her how perfect her English was she was like "I am still learning." I love that. That is the greatest view on LIFE! So humble and SO kind to pull over and go out of her way like that to help us. She has inspired me to take on that "I am still learning" attitude and apply it to everything I do.
I really can't explain how much I love this place. I miss you all like crazy but I love every second I get to be here doing the Lord's work. I love you all so much!
JIAYOU wode pengyoumen<3
xoxox
sister mo
PICS
1) Taipei 101 building
2) ""
3) ""
4) This giant ball keeps the 101 centered during earthquakes!! SERIOUSLY EPIC go youtube taipei 101 big ball during earthquake. be ready to be amazed
5) awful pic of me but cute of my luv sister DENISON
6) MY ANGEL COMPANION
7) NIGHT MARKET madness
8) they sell drinks in lightbulbs....WUT
