Week 25: HELLO HAPPY SEPTEMBER 12

你好 亲友

Hi friends!! How is dà jiā / everyone? 

Sister Althoff and I have been soooo busy this past week getting everything in order and project #cleanthemoldoutofourapartment.  Okay maybe it's not mold but it is just awful and that's all you need to know. Oh and that it's getting taken care of :D So that is why there are only a few pictures this week...sorry! Next week I will do a "day in the life of sista mo" because I feel like my life here is hard to adequately describe or translate into words. So that will be for next week! Here's what happened this week:

Miracle of the Week: One afternoon last week, Sister Althoff and I began a conversation with two women. After a bit we found out that they were both from China and had no familiarity with Christianity. We asked if we could pray with them and they were so confused, thinking prayer was a only something American's did before they ate a meal.  But they said "sure"!  After the prayer, they expressed how they both felt a super "shū fu" (really comfortable) feeling and that it was really interesting to them that they both felt that. Then the coolest thing- we learn that they are from the same province that Sister Althoff was born in in China! (remember my post a few weeks ago?! Sis Althoff was born in China and adopted by her family from America when she was 5 and has been trying to find her biological mother/learn her story.) So this was sooo cool!  Where the women and Sis. Althoff are from is a very small province, so the odds of us meeting people in Taiwan from that province were just so slim. SUCH A BIG qì jī (miracle)!  We are having lunch with them this Saturday to get to know them and introduce a bit about Christianity. Ahhh it is so cool! I will let dà jiā (you all) know how this goes!

ā mā (grandma) story of the week: featuringggg XU AMA.  One night last week, it was raining SO hard as it likes to do here in Taiwan, and as we were walking along an ā mā sitting on a bench yells at us,  "hēi yú shì jiǎ wǔ suì jiù!" / "HEY I am 95 years old!"  tip/expectation: if you ever talk to an elderly person here the first thing they tell you is their age.  It's the best hahaha.  Xu ā mā then said "nǐ men hěn xīn kǔ.  wǒ qǐng nǐ men yǐn liào" (doesn't directly translate but basically means you work too hard/poor you, I am going to buy you drinks") and before we could say anything she gave us money to buy drinks from the drink stand next to us. We order drinks for her too, asking for them with no sugar. We gave Xu Ama her drink and she takes one sip and yells "bù hào hé!" (not good drink/tastes terrible!) Sister Althoff and I were laughing so hard and Xu Ama was seriously disturbed that we would drink a drink with no sugar in it. So she gets up, all of her healthy 95 year old self, and walks over to the drink stand counter to tell the man it was bù hào hé. He added like a cup of sugar and she takes a sip and just sat back down smiling. Hahahah it was so great. I LOVE AMAS. We took a selfie with her-see below.  TOO CUTE.

"Special" Moment of the Week: In Xīn ān we get to ride our bikes on sidewalks because this area actually has sidewalks! BUT there are tons of columns along the sidewalks at the storefronts so we have to weave through them. Sometimes the decision of which way to go around the column is too much to handle. Two days ago, my decision making abilities were a bit off and I did this awkward "right? left? right?" thought process, but the column was approaching too quickly and I drove STRAIGHT into it! Soo many people were around (which is part of why I met the column) and every single one of them stopped walking and just kinda stared... "HELLO EVERYONE! Listen to my message about Jesus Christ!! Trust me!"

lol fun

Scripture of the Week: I have been thinking a lot about my favorite quote- "Live life for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence known just make your absence felt." Well what does it mean? I was thinking about it and doesn't making your absence felt still revolve around you? But then I read 3 Nephi 12:16 that says: "Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven." We gotta try to live our lives in such a way that when we are with others, we want them to feel as if they are the most important person in the world because we love them as Christ loves them. Jesus told us to love others as he loves them, so that must mean that we are capable of loving that way.  How we live is then to point others towards Christ and the way we treat others to be the way the Savior would treat them. I know I've shared this in my weekly before but I'm just gonna keep on sharing it because it is so important! Lately I have been thinking so much about - why do we need personal recognition when we could help everyone feel/recognize the love that God has for them instead? 

I really love all of you and am so appreciative of your support. It means everything to me! Thank you thank you thank you.

Have the best week! Share your stories of loving others/making a fool of yourselves/anything you want with me! I love hearing about life back in the good old wherever you are.

hehe love you xoxox

mó jiē měi

 模 接每

1. I'm siiiinging in the raiiiinnnn (aka talking to people who just worry that we will get sick)

2. XU AMA- tell me she isn't the cutest person you've seen

3. so night, so bright

Week 24: Short and Sweet like the Taiwanese

WU AN! First things first: that title is not meant to be offensive in any way at all, I actually mean it quite literally hahah  so yes! This will just be a short email because shijian de guanxi  (not much time today) :D

Weekly accomplishment: I'm FINALLY able to ride my bike with no hands! YAY (i know.. @ age 19! and sorry mom and dad if that makes you nervous hehee)

This week we met some incredible people. The first I'll tell about is a woman named Zhao who had met with other missionaries before and learned some about the gospel but had not decided on baptism.  Welp after getting to know her, we talked with her about prayer and other things and when we were getting ready to leave Zhao said, "Before you go could you look over my application to BYU?" UM WUT?! Sister Althoff and I were SO confused but of course were so stoked for her!  She had mentioned that her sister was LDS but we had no idea that Zhao wanted to go to BYU.  Long story short, we helped her with her application. AND she asked us to also help her figure out a plan to quit her coffee habit.  She told us "wo you yige hen yanzhong de wenti" (I have a serious problem). haha 

Next I wanted to share about a 30 year old woman that we met. She asked me not to share her name but said that I could share a bit about her and an experience we recently had with her. She has cancer and has had surgery every year for the past 7 years. She has been estranged from her family for some time and has been really lonely. We asked her to come to the chapel so we could give her a tour and show her a video.  The video is called "Mountains to Climb" by President Henry B. Eyring. I highly recommend watching it - it's so good!  During the video she got very emotional.  It was a powerful experience.  Later that night she texted us this message (she had a friend help her type it in English):

"It's been so long since I have talked to missionaries and also to face my feelings inside. I thought I can forget how I feel about surgeries and treatments over the past 7 years. I truly faced my feelings after that video. Thinking of what I have been through made me shed tears. I have gone through all of it bravely. I am still alive. That is the best blessing! I am going to have a surgery again with the confidence I feel from my Heavenly Father. I will keep facing my illness bravely and fighting cancer. And I hope one day these challenges will make me stronger and help others. Thank you for today..."

This experience really hit home and made me think of the joy and hope the gospel brings. 

The last thing I want to share is this quote by President Thomas S. Monson: 

"We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness...we are the Lord's hands here on earth, with the mandate to serve and lift His children." 

I love this so much! If everyone realized the potential they had to do so much good every day the world would become so much more amazing, so much more full of love. 

I hope everyone has a great week spreading love (or keeping the "good gene"...see below!) 

I love you all!

all my love,

SISTA MO

1. Of course, always a food photo:  our investigator made us lunch...YUM!

2. Taiwan streets 

3. Met a super cute ama or grandma <3 LOVE HER (distorted photo or am I really that talllll?)

4. The best note ever from ama / grandma ! haha  ...keep the "good gene" everyone 

5. le temple at night  <3

Week 23: BLISS!

Well what more can I say than that I love everything and everyone? Can that just be my weekly email every week?

DA JIA My new area is in XinAN and if you wanna know where that is google DaAn GongYuan and be mind-blown. I live right next to a beautiful park and the area is very city vibey...actually that is not a word. Ummm I live in a city. There hahaha 

My first day here we went running at Daan Gongyuan in the park and it's really just so unreal. As you run around the beautiful path and look into the park you see tai chi (taiqi) groups dispersed throughout the trees. Taiwan is so different than from life back home. I feel like I'm in a another world here. Point is: google daan gonguan. 

We met with an investigator who is the cutest. Her English name is Sophie and I will get a picture with her when we meet with her this week! She came to church with us yesterday and she loved it. She mentioned last Friday that she doesn't feel like she has a purpose in life. On Sunday I shared my favorite hymn with her, Because I Have Been Given Much, and she said, I think this is the purpose of life. I tried to hold my excitement together!

My new companion is Sister Althoff and she is such a sweet person! She has been a super great example to me of kindness and generosity and I really look forward to the next 6 weeks being her comp! We have so much fun...maybe too much.

NAH

Funny moment of this week: we drove our bikes for an hour to find an Ama (Grandma) that Sister Althoff met a couple weeks ago on the street and we got totally lost. Her place is out in the boonies. We finally find her house that sits on top of at least 3 flights of sketchy stairs. Her apartment was the only one without a number on it so we asked the neighbors where 11 hao was. The Ama's daughter answered the door and I am pretty sure she had never been more confused in her life...two random waiguoren asking for her 93 year old mother.  She let us in the first door to their entryway and in the second doorway appeared Jian Ama...and let's just say that missionaries definitely see things sometimes they don't expect. The image of her in scant clothing is fresh in my mind though. I'll remember it for, well, forever. 

Other news is that we have been fed every lunch and dinner since I got here.  Our ward family constantly calls us to ask when they can feed us. (as all my photos of food with wonderful people show!)

I really cannot express adequately my gratitude to the people here and all the ways they serve others and give service to the missionaries. Their kindness blows my mind and I am constantly inspired to try to become better. I read a talk this week titled  "Fill the World with Christ's Love." (Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf) I love that idea! If everyone loved as purely and unconditionally and as genuinely as Christ did, (and like the Taiwanese people I've met) can you imagine what the world would be like? Wowza. Let's do it.  Bliss!

I gotta goooo but I love you all and appreciate every email, prayer, and the support that you give SO MUCH. 

all my love,

sista mo <3

1. We went to a love museum. this is a korean heart and everyone does them instead of two hand hearts #culture #lolz

2. What is my biggest accomplishment in life? Definitely my watch tan (thanks Heidi for my watch!) AND introducing Sister Althoff<3 she is a m a z i n g 

3. First time trying cho doufu (stinky tofu) verdict:  I LOVED IT!!!!

4. Last P-day at Danshui...is this real life?

5. Fwends 

6. Saying bye to our english class :'(((( I love them! we taught them cooking terms our last class and copied the tv show "chopped." they are the best.

7. The streets of Danshui

8. Fruit stands with fresh fruit smoothies for 50 kuai ($1.50.)

9. Eating with the Liang family and the elders. YUM!

10. Just a casual night bike ride to visit an investigator... :o

11. Sister Althoff and I behaving :)

12. The cutest crepe maker ever: Guo Xiaojie! obviously had to paijiao 

13-15. Our living quarters

16.  Where I sleep

17. how do I caption this....

18 . ....

19.This angel is named Li JieMei and she called us and said "Come quick! I made you food!" SHE WAS NOT KIDDING. Buffet style every meal. Also this woman is 60 YEARS OLD! I promise you Taiwanese woman age backwards

20. so health, so yum.

21.Last pic with Sister Bradley and Kay.. for now! Love those people!

WEEK 22: Time be Fly! & a very random email

DA JIA HAO! 

This week has flown by.   I once again got to experience being with a trio with Sister Sylvester joining our companionship! (see pic below)  As our investigator Jannifer would say: "more people equals more happy." #truth. We were so busy as we covered both YongHe District (Sister Sylvester's area) and ZhongHe District this week- the most densely populated area of all Taibei! It has been so much fun.

1. We got a call last night from a man named Yo Ren Hao, that we met my 2nd week here at a stop light, inviting us to his baptism in September!! Sister Bradley and I were freaking out. Long story short, he didn't live in our area so he started meeting with the Elders where he lived. We continued to stay in touch with him, inviting him to activities and he has become our really good friend! Sister Bradley and I had the biggest party last night about his announcement. He said "thank you for being brave enough to talk to me that day at the stop light. I have made a lot of improvements in my life already." *may or may not have cried tears of joy*

2. My hair has completely changed color. Who even knows what color it will be when I get home...red probs? (laura we always were soul sisters...)

3. I SLEEP TALK IN CHINESE! Sister Bradley tells me I talk every night in Chinese and it is just about the most random stuff! Last night was a phone call to one of our friends and I was apparently just catching up with her. CRAZY EH?

4. Everyone thinks I am from Russia or Israel.

5. We had one of the Asia area mission leaders (area 70) come to our mission and he went on and on about how great President and Sister Jergensen are.  I can't imagine how they could be more incredible. I feel so blessed to be in this mission with them. 

6. Transfers are tomorrow so I may or may not be in ZhongHe when I email next week and I may or may not be with Sister Bradley...I am so excited to see what happens! I cannot believe training has ended. I'm growing up :')

This week flew by and to be honest this week and the week before are blurred together in my mind. Something I have been learning a lot about is the potential that we each have. Alma 26:12 says, we can do "all things"if we rely on the Lord and humbly thank him for his grace and love.  If we do this, we can see the potential that our Heavenly Father sees in each one of us. Just like Yo Ren Hao.

I love you all and I hope you know how amazing you all are. 

HAVE THE BEST WEEK 

cheerz

sista mo!

1. glasses...i don't know why lol

2. APPARENTLY this is a massage technique where they literally massage you with knives!!!! chop chop choppie hahaha Taiwan I LOVE YOU

3. our member had us over for dinner and her baby was asleep on the couch like this... #dying

4. HOU GUO (HOT POT)  ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

5. our bishop and his wife. the cutest and kindest people 

6, 7. my little fwendz

8. SISTER SYLVESTER! <3

9. I am tall. these are my friends

10,11. the apartment

WEEK 21: Waterfalls & David Archuleta

Welp this week was weird. Weird in the way that you are a missionary and then your mission president tells you that the artist of one of your middle school top hits is doing a special concert for you and all the missionaries in New Taibei area? Flashback to middle school, jamming out to Crush by David Archuleta!! Hahaha seriously the weirdest thing to be going to a concert on your mission..Taibei Taiwan mission is the best in the world!! OLD NEWS.

This week we also got to visit PingXi waterfall and again my words do not do justice! We rode up a windy road through the insanely green mountains of Taiwan and ended up in this beautiful rain forest and somewhat man-made waterfall haha. It was mind-blowingly beautiful and soo nice to go adventuring! I wish that my emails could ever do justice. 

Miracle of the Week: Kay surprised us with ELEPHANT stuffed animals!!! Okay first of all Kay had no idea that the elephant is my favorite animal. Second! She just randomly decided to buy us stuffed animals to comfort us at night because we are away from our families. I feel like I have kiiiind offf become a spaz on my mission but it is kind of impossible not to when your amazing friend surprises you with an elephant stuffed animal! So yes. Hence the photo shoot below.

Next awesome thing that happened was that a man named Xie XianSheng called us a couple nights ago. He told us some other missionaries had given him a chuandan (flier) a while back and he had kept it ever since. He told us he really needed God in his life and ended up meeting with us the next day! Then get this: we say bye to him after our lesson ends and he calls 5 minutes later saying he brought a friend and wanted us to share a little message with her!! WHAT! We were so stoked. We shared about hope and read some scriptures with them. He also came to church with us yesterday! And he and his friend are going out to dinner with us and 10 other friends tonight!! SO EXCITING. It seriously was the biggest qiji that he kept that flier and called us wanting to meet. He is one of the kindest persons I've met. I will take pictures tonight for next week's email!! Ahh he is so great!

I am learning so much more about Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for all of us. I have been overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity that we all have to be forgiven of our mistakes and keep going and trying to do better. That is the most hopeful and beautiful thing in the world. President Monson said, "One of the greatest joys in life is the joy of being able to try again, for no failure ever need be final." I love this!! And I love 耶穌基督 (Yesu Jidu)

I hope you are all happy and have a wonderful week!

from taiwan to youuuu

sista mo

PICTURES

1. This is Ai Lun!!!! (whom I talked about in my last post)

2. David Archuleta!  Sister Bradley and I were at least a foot taller than him but it's ok

3. PINGXI WATERFALL. (plus my bud sister austad!)

4. My best friend here: Ting Zhun!

5. Hug$$ with my lovely trainer <3

6. Waterfall from above

7. Zhou Mama took us out to hou guo!! (hot pot) It is basically a pot of random dongxi and they had a vegetarian one with every mushroom in the world. I am pretty sure at least. It was delectable. Also can we please take a moment for her ADORABLE granddaughter! I DIE.  *note: you refer to other people as mama or baba

8. Kay's ELEPHANT STUFFED ANIMALS!! :'D