week 67: sugar

happy dance while talking to Moira

Hey fam this week a really really serious problem occurred 

and I am not doing well. Prayers appreciated.

So we were going over to the wonderful 汪家庭 for dinner on Sunday. They work with a lot of international students and had flown in some people from good old America this week. They were so sweet and wanted to make us missionaries some authentic no-bake cookies. CLEARLY we were stoked because I haven't had a real American cookie in forever! (if we ever make sweets here in Taiwan with the ward/for an activity, we don't add sugar). 

Well I took a bite and DANG WHAT DO WE EAT IN AMERICA? SO SWEET!!!!!!! It left this super powerful, poignant flavor in my mouth from how sweet it was. But this is not even the problem. After dinner Sister J and I went to go teach our AMAZING investigator, Cai Jing Wen and that cookie came in like a 

wrecking ball. 

Man that thing came crashing down and 

I actually thought I could die my stomach hurt so bad. 

The whole lesson was an awkward stream of bearing testimony of the 

Plan of Salvation while simultaneously trying not to scream in pain for how terrible my stomach felt hahahah. Good thing Cai JM is the best and she gave me allllllll the Chinese medicine. However, the sugar in that cookie killed all of the powers of Chinese medicine and I am still sitting in uncomfortable death as I type this email to you. (also either the cookie or the medicine turned my tongue completely black so that was a lil surprising this morning.) 

Moral of everything: We eat poison in America. 加油

Okay besides food poising, there were so many miracles this past week! 

Do you remember Moira? Our golden investigator I met my first Pday here in Taoyuan? Well she is away in Longtan for a month studying but we have been having FaceTime lessons with her and staying in close touch. 

Well she came back this past weekend for a day and we got to meet with her. I absolutely can't even begin to explain the difference in light in her face! She was a completely different person!! We started with a prayer and right as we said 『阿們』Moira starts telling us 

how Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon have changed her life. 

When we met her, she was super sad and down. Like we were constantly trying to just get her to smile. But because she has been reading and praying everyday and she went off about how much easier it is 

to make friends, to love people, to have hope and have direction. 

She has the light of Chirst in her life!! 

There are no words to describe that change in people! 

Only in and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

So she went back a couple days ago and just last night I called her. She picked up the phone and goes, "Sister Armstrong, I want to be baptized the Sunday I get back. What do I need to do?" aoudfgaofsdnvgoausdfhgo can you even describe that feeling!? She moved her baptismal date up 2 weeks and she is so excited to be baptized! Also she said, "Okay I am going to hang up the phone. I found a scripture I want to share with my friends." She has also given her friends copies of the Book of Mormon after reading with them and them telling Moira that they felt that "the words in the Book of Mormon were powerful." There are so many miracles in this work!!! 

There is no greater joy than sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ!! I love that as Moira shares the gospel her personal faith has grown exponentially. I wish all of you could see the change in her eyes! 

Well another miracle- we were in church yesterday and this woman walked in from Kenya. Her bother-in-law is Taiwanese and is a member and he brought her to church with him. Guess what her name is...

JANE! 

(silent tears hehe shoutout to baby jane)  Well Jane is a walking miracle. We translated the whole 3 hours for her and at the end she said, "I have never felt this happy in my life." After chatting about the power of the gospel, Jane says to us, "How do I become part of your church?" She then asked us to be baptized!!!! WHAT! 

Ah how do I put these things into words? 

I want so badly for everyone to experience the joy of this gospel! It's so indescribable and I am so grateful for angels like Moira and Jane that exhibit the power of Jesus Christ in their lives. 

Other news: we have 10 investigators getting baptized in the coming month. Transfers are this coming Wednesday and I will probably move :'((((((((((((((((((((( 

I have loved every second of serving with Sister J and with the beautiful people here in Taoyuan! It really is the land of milk and honey. 

I want to be a missionary forevs. Good thing we all can hehe:) 

I love you all! 

Invite: do something this week to feel God and Jesus Christ's power in your life. I pray for youuuuuuuuuu

sis 莫

Eating at the world's most hipster veggie restaurant with our investigator 

(fam we are going here next summer)

Pinterest 嗎？

The cutest 吳姐妹 you eva seen

heart eyes

Best surprise EVER!!!! One of our members had us over for dinner and 蔡姊妹 surprised me there! I love them sooooo much

台灣<3 food by Cai JM<3

Mom! This is the angel that has been sending you random pics of me!! I luh her

the cookies that ended all cookies *disclaimer that Sister Jensen and I are of course soooooo grateful that they made us cookies!!! They are so sweet. I just actually got food poisoning b/c I'm not used to America

Mornings in the flat>>>

Zhong Zhong! 鍾鍾

Dior and Wendy after church~ crew

Week 66: 帥

The rice paddies are white, ready to harvest :')

Okay so it's only been 5 days but I feel like we just had a summer's worth of happenings so GEAR UP SONNY. 

On Thursday we met with probably the most prepared person I've met. Her name is 曾姐妹, 19 years old, and the biggest miracle ever! She walked into our English class two weeks ago. We finally got the chance to meet with her and dang I wish I could have facetimed you all in so you too could see and feel the power of the gospel! 

We asked her how she found out about our English class and she said that two elders gave her an invite at a stoplight a couple weeks back. Well we shared a message about Jesus Christ with her and taught her about the Restored gospel and the Spirit was really strong. At the end, we felt inspired to invite her to baptism and she said 『好啊！』which is the equivalent of "okay!!" We asked her why she wanted to be baptized and she said that she knew God led her to our English class. She said she was never coming for English but she needed someone to lift her and help her and she felt that through God the past two weeks. She said, "I need a new start." She has jumped around to churches before but expressed that she was still searching for something. That lesson though...it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever experienced on my mission! 

At the end of the lesson, I mentioned how amazing and brave she was for moving from China and how hard that must have been. She then pulled her sleeve to show us her wrist. She said "I am not brave. I have been depressed for almost all my life. But as soon as I came here I felt like I didn't have to wish to be happy, it came naturally." She came to the sacrament meeting yesterday and at the end she said it felt like there was a hand supporting her on back the entire time. She asked us "Why do I feel like crying happy tears every time we sing?" This is the power of Jesus Christ.  Sister Jensen and I are sooooo inspired by 曾姐妹。 

She is getting baptized the first Saturday in September! Please pray for her!! 

Another miracle: Sacrament meeting yesterday...my goodness Heavenly Father is the BEST. Our golden investigator Cai Bi Zhen JM was FINALLY ABLE TO COME TO CHURCH! She has been wanting to come for over a month now. She usually has to go home on the weekends to the south to take care of her parents but this week her other sibling went so she was able to come to church and she loved it. Everyone was asking her if she was a member because she understands the gospel of Jesus Christ soo well!  

I can't tell you how big a miracle it is that she was finally able to come! 

We had a pretzel making activity this past Friday and had 30 investigators show up! They loved the pretzels although they were actually not good at all hahaha. It's kind of like when you're a kid and you make a really terrible looking bracelet of plastic beads for your mom and she wears it because she loves you and has a lot of goodness in her heart. Same with the sweet Taiwanese eating the pretzels :')

I know Jesus Christ is our Savior.  He died for us.  

He restored His gospel through the latter-day prophet Joseph Smith.  

Ask God.  

Find answers. 

Much love to all of you!!

xoxoxo

sisterrrrrrrrrrr 莫

PICS

Chronicles of elephant dress: Okay this man is Brother Zhang,  張弟兄。Legend. I met his daughter in the MTC but at the time she didn't speak any English and I didn't speak Chinese. I would go down to her room all the time and we became super good friends through our lang barrier<3 well a couple weeks ago her dad and I made the connection that I had known his daughter in the MTC!  He has been SO SWEET to me and it's so cute to see how much he loves his daughter and the missionaries. Thursday night we walk into the chapel and Brother Zhang walked in 5 minutes later. He says to me "Mo JIeMei I had a dream last night that my daughter ran home and told me I needed to buy you these donuts and give them to you."ISN'T THAT THE CUTEST THING!! He drove all the way to Taipei and bought Krispy Kreme donuts.  :') so sweet!!  The members here are so good! 

I love seeeester zhooong

YAS! PLZ NO BIRDS! this sign on the bus gets me

basic bus selfie

Mornings in heaven exhibit 1

Mornings in heaven exhibit 2

These pants cost me $3 US and the shoes cost the same. reason 2398462398472983 why Taiwan is the best. 
(the plants felt right :) )

I could never tell you how happy I am

happy Buddha biking through rice field. i feel like I am in a dream.

Week 65: So Much

Another family we are teaching! The Huang/Zeng Family: the little girl is 7 and her name is Huang Yi Jie. She wanted to say a prayer with us and she prayed for 100 dogs, 300 cats, and a house big enough for all of them to live in!

SOO MUCH...

1st: Lu Jie Mei will be getting baptized in the next couple weeks! They are going on a family vacation to Japan so we have to schedule around that. She is amazing! She is reading the Book of Mormon and praying each day. I love that even though small trials will come up, because she has the habit of reading and praying daily, God helps her see miracles that clearly answer and resolve her concerns! She is so amazing! Lots of love for LuYuQi JM:)

2nd: Sister Jensen and I went on 4 exchanges the past week and a half. It was so busy!! Back to back exchanges. Every time we go on exchanges I am so amazed by how incredible the Sister missionaries are. I have learned so much from them! It's cool to see how everyone missionary's in their own way and as long as we rely on the Lord and are obedient in His work, He will be able to work miracles through us. This week we saw an amazing miracle with a mother and her daughter. We met them on the street and without much of an introduction to who we are and what we do, Sister Jensen asks, "Do you want to come to our chapel?" And before she even finished the woman said yes. Well she showed up yesterday afternoon with her 17 year old daughter and they both have already set baptismal dates for 8/26! The Spirit is incredible and was so strong the entire lesson we shared because the mom and daughter had such a huge desire to come unto Christ! Soo miracle!

3rd: Wendy and Dior, the two high schoolers I mentioned last email, set a baptismal date last Wednesday and have been praying each day for God's help to be prepared by August 15th. Seriously such a miracle! We have also been teaching the cute family in one of the pictures I sent - the woman with her sister- in-law and 7 year old daughter who loves dogs. They are developing a relationship with God. I really loved what one of them said when we asked why they were willing to meet with us. She said, "I have never had the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ before and I think this is really something that will help our family." Wow!! Literally so golden! Also, they don't work on Sunday's because they believe it is a family day. This is SO RARE here in Taiwan! Pray for them please:D

This week was just so so good and continues to be as we are about to go to the temple so #祝福.  

I was talking to a Taiwanese girl my age who is thinking of serving a mission. It made me think about how about 2 years ago (oh my gosh 2 years wut..) when I was making the decision to serve I mostly just felt so “unqualified”. I had always gone to church, prayed and studied scriptures, but I think the gospel just hadn't clicked for me quite yet. Two years later and I look back and FREAK OUT to think that it was even an idea in my mind to not serve a mission!!! I have learned so much about my Savior, Jesus Christ, and have felt the joy He gives us fill my soul for the past year+. 

It has changed my life. 

I know that change only happens through repentance through Jesus Christ's Atonement! 

I talked to the girl considering a mission about how no matter where we are at in life, no matter where our faith is, no matter what we think of ourselves, God knows best and He has a PERFECT plan prepared for our lives. He gives us our agency and all we are required to do is to faithfully use it. God presents each of us with specific opportunities in life. All we have to do is pray and move forward in faith. I am SO GLAD I didn't follow the doubts I had about serving a mission and let that prevent me from going. 

I can't even express my gratitude to my Savior! We can find happiness in this life on our own. But I now know that no happiness in this life can compare to the joy our Savior and Heavenly Father want to give us. Trust Them! One of the biggest things that hold us back is pride - if we give it up it will allow us to try to trust in our Savior. That is all we are asked to do..to try! 

I know if we take a step in faith rather then fall back in doubt, we will allow a perfect God to have a place in our life, to change it to become something so incredible we could have never have accomplished on our own. 

I LOVE THE GOSPEL! GO BE HAPPY!

all the love 

Sister 莫

On a rooftop in Taiwan. Teaching about Jesus Christ. Doesn't get better.
















Don't be a PHUBBER!


this is Leon! Our investigators cute, sassy son. He reminds me so much of you, Peyton! :)

Eating in Taiwan- straight from nature. + taiwanese ama goals>>>

selfie with the storm

Teaching Lu Yu Qi JM<3 we love this family!! they're progressing so well:) 

Exchanges with SISTER ZHONG LOVE OF MY LIFE (she's from southern Taiwan)

writing notes to investigators-Taiwan has the best stationary. also best everything.

this family thoughhhhhhhhhh>>>>>>

This is Jiu. We love Jiu.

Wendy and Dior<33333333

I bought an elephant dress....for 100NT. I will let you go convert that to USD

WEEK 64: Pictures!

Hello everyone!

This week we saw so many miracles! I have 5 minutes so I will be brief but basically we went on 3 exchanges, have 3 this coming week and we are so busy but it's the best! Our investigators are doing sooo well! We have Lu Yu Qi JieMei getting baptized in a couple weeks and Zhang Meng Yue JieMei progressing well towards her baptism in August! I have been amazed as we have been teaching families to see how much light the gospel brings to them and their home. I love seeing when investigators begin to develop their own daily habit of reading and praying! When they do, the next meeting you can notice a clear difference in how happy they are! Jesus Christ's gospel brings so much joy. I love our investigators and I love serving in Taoyuan~ the ward and the people are are so incredible. 

We had two high schoolers call us last night and ask if they could meet with us today so we gotta bike super fast right now to meet them and share the gospel! 

I love you all and I pray for you! Have a wonderful day and remember Jesus Christ is your Savior!

de banana spider 香蕉蜘蛛

hiking and our head almost gets stuck in this.....


Sister Jensen luvs meh: hiking last pday!

Breakfasts: 1 mango, some pineapple, some ice, no water, just bleeeeennnnnddddd

Okay so we are hiking and we just happen upon these insane bugs! Seriously felt like we were in jurassic park! Don't know what they're called in English but in Chinese they are 甲蟲

Observing the natures

Our angel 邱姊妹~ we had an awesome dinner and FHE at their house with our investigators last Monday!

Ricky! This is our investigator Lu JieMei's son- Ricky! We had a cookie activity at the church and invited investigators and members. Fun fact: the Taiwanese like hard cookies-never make soft cookies- so we decided to make some super soft pumpkin choc chip cookies and they all loved them!

Part of the group<3 I love these people

cookie helpers<3

Our investigators- The Liao Family's child is the cutest child in the world (besides Jane but you get me) LOOK AT HER

greetings from sister j$ and I

it was raining and sister jensen is superstitious of acid rain so naturally....

Week 63: IAN AND SAVANNAH HAD A BABY + OTHER MIRACLES

this is 台灣 3005% in love :')

So apparently it is Father's Day in America....

and apparently my brother is a DAD!!! Ahhhhh CONGRATULATIONS IAN AND SAVANNAH!!! I can't believe how beautiful she is! You two will be the best parents in the world (after mom and dad or course~) I am so overjoyed for your lil family. I can't even imagine what you are feeling but I am so amazed by the blessing that lil Jane is! You two will be incredible parents<3 The gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. It's one of the most simple and pure and precious truths of the gospel. It is so incredible to witness so many blessings in our family from an outside perspective as I have been serving in the mission. INCREDIBLE! I LOVE BABY JANE! Cutest little family in the world <3 I love you all!!

I am really trying so hard this email sesh to gather my thoughts but I feel so speechless at how good Heavenly Father is and how much He loves every single one of us! 

I want to share a miracle that happened over the course of the past couple weeks! About a month ago we were meeting with a new investigator in the seating of her apartment complex and we ran into a woman named Jessie (mom I swear all the Jessie's I meet on my mission are MIRACLES!) We felt really prompted to go over and talk to her before the lesson and she was amazing. She knew we had a free English class and said she would be there the coming Wednesday! She came and loved it and said that the next week she would bring a friend she always talks about bringing :D We tried to find another time to teach Jessie more, but she was too busy. We kept in touch throughout the week and she was set to come to English the coming Wednesday and bring the friend but last minute she ended up having to work overtime and couldn't come to class. (The working situation in 台灣 is so insane- insane hours, little no breaks, no freedom, often no super set work schedule) So we missed her at class! 

Next part of the story: The very next day we were studying at a McDonalds. (we do lang study at random public places haha we find the places with comfiest seating) This McDonalds is the most golden mcdonals in the world because every time we go we see miracles! Haha So we are studying some Mandarin and there is a super cute little girl and her mom right next to us. We started chatting with them and the mom, Liao Mu Mu, has the most friendly happy personality in the world! Seriously such a party. She had us weak we were laughing so hard. And her 2 year old daughter...oh my gosh do not even get me started on her 2 year old daughter....Sister Jensen and I DIE at how cute she is! 

     

 廖姐妹 LIAO MUMU JM AND HER DAUGHTERS<33

Liao Mu Mu recognized us as the missionaries and knew we taught a free english class and mentioned that one of her friends had invited her to come attend. Now- there are millions of people in 台灣。 Millions! And we hear all the time about how people are invited by a friend to our English class. So we didn't think toooo much of it and told her we share a message of how Jesus Christ's gospel blesses our families and she said, "You know I have always wanted my other daughter to be baptized. She isn't here right now but she is 8." Sister Jensen and I were like "uhhhhmm well can you meet tomorrow? We can give you a tour of our chapel and tell you more about why we are here and the message we share!" They came the very next day. It was such an incredible tour. The Spirit was so strong and you could feel how prepared they are for the gospel. The 8 year old daughter was adorable and she loved the chapel! I always think it's cute how even thought we don't really have toys or anything kids come in and absolutely love it. And at the end of the meeting we invited Liao Mu Mu to say a prayer for the 1st time in her whole life. We kneeled together and right after she said 『我們在天上的父』 she began crying. It was one of the most beautiful prayers I had ever heard in my life! They loved it and committed to start praying each night as a family. 

The two stories come together: As we were walking out of the chapel, Liao Jm pulls up a picture of her friend Jessie on her phone and said, "this is the friend that was always trying to get me to come to your chapel to attend english class. now i know why"

No matter:

who we are

where we are

what we are doing

Heavenly Father is 100% aware of us and loves us and is waiting to bless us! I am so amazed at His perfect plan for this amazing family-that the VERY NEXT DAY we were able to meet them and to share with them. His power is so undeniable! I hope all of you can feel it each day. Take some time to think about it, ponder it, and pray to know that He knows you. I don't think I have ever understood God's love for me and awareness of my until I began reading the Book of Mormon with the desire to know. If we read, pray, and ask God if it is all true, with a real desire to know, I know He will answer us and I know it will be miraculous! I'm just an average Joe and He has answered all of my prayers. Remember it will always be on His will and His time but remember that His will and His timing will always be better than ours! I love you all and I pray for you! Happy Fathers Day to the best dad in this world- GRANDPA NOEL! I love you so much. And I can never seem to find the words adequate enough to express how much I love you and how grateful I am for all that you do for me and our family and those around you. You have taught me so much about compassion and humility, and selflessness. Thank you for being the most amazing Dad in the world- I love you with all my heart!

xoxoxox

sista 莫

 LAST PDAY HAHAHAHAHAH I GOT WRECKED! Okay how to describe this: I actually thought I was dead at one point. I was laying on my stomach and the problem was that my hips were super out of alignment. So he puts his heel into my lowerback/tailbone, wraps my ankles together with a rope and after 3 little lifts of the rope he literally RIPS my ankles upwards so that my thighs lift off the table and I ACTUALLY THOUGHT HE BROKE MY BACK!!  I laid there and thought I was dead and then after a few moments I realized I was not. I was alive. And when I moved my foot, the pain in the back of my leg that shot up to my lower back was completely gone.....yeah I really don't know.... ! 還活著

雨衣 for dayszzz

i wuv sister j