Welp transfers came this week and I took the long way by first going to TAIZHONG!
HEHE for those that don't know it's outside our mission boundaries (and ya don't leave the mission boundaries)
Here's the story: on my way to my new area...頭份! - pronounced: tow-fun - I was traveling with another Sister named Sister Calderwood. Together we had 5 pieces of luggage. Well the train stops at the stop we needed and we are awkwardly pushing all our luggage off the train. Sister Calderwood got her first piece out of the train and then...drumroll...THE DOORS START CLOSING!!!! So we are pounding the red button that apparently does nothing because the door just kept on closing and the train just started rollin'. Sis Calderwood was freakin out because her luggage was chilling on the platform and we were in the train waving bye bye to it. Also we didn't have a phone. BUT luckily we were prepared and had all the numbers we needed. We asked the worker how to get back to the station and she said since we were on ziqiang (the train that makes the fewest stops) it would be another 40 minutes to the next stop.....in TAIZHONG! Hahahahahah so we went to Taizhong, took some rebel pics (oh man so rebel lol #mishlife) and then headed back to zhunan. I LOVE ADVENTURES!
btw we will never live that one down. forever the 壞妹 (means rebel sisters lol)
Made it to 頭份 safe and sound and I don't have words to tell you how much I love this city, the people here, and my comp Sister Olsen!!! Here's all you need to know/all I have time for :')
1. Sister Olsen is a real-life angel. The most Christlike, loving, gentle, kind, and fun-loving person. And such an amazing and dedicated missionary! Oh and I met her sister in a class in college so we got that connection. Also many other (almost frightening) connections including: her dad is a podiatrist. We have the same nuts. (Mama, do you remember how you sent me those Orchard Valley Harvest nuts? Well her mom sent her some too...#orchardvalleyharvest hahahahah) Also Ryan (my cousin) went to homecoming or prom or something with Sister Olsen's sister so basically we were DESTINED to serve together. I AM SO GRATEFUL seriously this is going to be the best transfer ever!!
2. The members in 頭份 are incredible. They are literally asking us how to help their friends get to know Jesus Christ! We have been doing tons of member work and it is really inspiring me to see how they would give anything to help their friends find the joy they have found. It is so amazing!! We are meeting with a member and one of his friends on Tuesday. She is a woman who recently got divorced and has a 1 year old daughter and is having a really rough time. Please pray for her!
3. The work in the countryside is soooooooo WORLDS different than the city and I have served in the city my entire mission. I can't explain the feeling of being able to see more of the sky and to breathe fresher air and to see GRASS! Can you believe it....grass!!! I love this area so much and I find myself feeling extremely refreshed and grateful that Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to serve here. The work is so different and the feeling and everything! It is crazy to think that I lived at such a fast pace of life the past 7 months. I don't think I even realized what a hippy I was till I got here and saw all the green!! (it is a lot different than the google images hehe) and oh man the people here. Always the people! They are so humble. I really really love 頭份 and I really really love Sister Olsen and I really really love being a missionary and sharing the gospel every single day. #感動
4. I have gotten really REALLY white (no I'm not using bleach don't worry)
5. We had 3 investigators at church on Sunday which was huge!!! (apparently the area has been struggling in finding and teaching and getting people to church)
6. We are currently working with members on 8 different referrals!!
7. Sister Olsen and her mom have a teacup collection just like my mom and I <3 :')
8. We ate eggs cooked in brown sugar water
9. Our investigator TINA got baptized and our mission president, President Jergensen, baptized her!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! I got to skype her since I wasn't able to travel back to Taipei and man I wish everyone could have seen how happy and bright her smile was. Her testimony is so strong and she has the light of Christ in her eyes!
Well I love you all so much! I could never tell you enough how much I love this gospel or our Savior Jesus Christ! It is so exciting to see huge changes in people and the changes in their smile and faces. It's so real and it's so beautiful.
all the love,
sista 莫
