chronicle of Vasha 18

 Original Message -----

From: Naivasha Burrows

To: Mum & Dad

Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 2:41 AM

Subject: Perfect Package, Church time change, Americans, and Temple!!!

Well Hello there everyone!!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and loving the spring/summer? weather!!!

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK:

Moses 7:61

"The heavens shall quake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve." One questions to go with this....Are we truly His people? are we the ones he will recognize as His and be the ones He will preserve? It's up to us really. Are we doing everything we can to be preserve?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Joseph F. Smith

"All that we have comes from [God]...in and of ourselve we are but a lifeless lump of clay. Life, intelligence, wisdom, judgement, power to reason, all are the gifts of God to the children of men. He gives us our physical strength as well as our mental powers...We should honor God with our intelligence, with our strength, with our wisdom, and with all the power that we possess. We should seek to do good in the world. This is our duty." Wow....I never thought about this....but every dumb mistake I've made and dumb thing I've ever done, every excuse I made to not do....I was dishonouring God. That's awkward....Everything we have, and everything we ARE comes from God! EVERYTHING we do we must do in rememberence of God and our Saviour....because when we don't. That's when we do stupid things, and that when we dishonour God, and when we dishonour our royal, eternal heritage.

The temple was great! It was just one zone and we did initiatories and then one session. The session is in English, and the Intiatories are in Chinese or english...depends on how many workers there are and what time it is. I also ran into Bro Tung from my mtc branch presidency in the celestial room who happened to be in taiwan for just 2 days! Talk about a miracle! it was good to chat for a minute outside of the temple and catch up :)

The new President and wife are coming in about 3 1/2 -4 weeks? third week in june I believe! It will be different and definitely a change when they come, but it'll will be good as well! new is always good :D Sad to hear about their daughter, but yes they will definitely be understanding :) (they had a daughter who was kill when a younger daughter- got out of the vehicle when the dad was not watching and got ran over by another car. He was trying to help an older daughter with car trouble)

Daddy, Don't forget to plan a motorcycle trip for the two of us next summer when I get home! I'm planning on it! hahahaha sounds like you had fun last weekend and will have fun this weekend! Keep up the hiking too! so you can be in "optimal shape" for the renunion and high adventure :)  hahahahahahaha

I also have been taking out money from my account because my bike has serious problems and we've been working on it...trying to figure out what the real problem is! I've been riding on a borrow elders bike whose crossbar is wayyyy too high for me....and the brakes don't really work too great either....but it's an adventure!

AWKWARD/EXCITING/AMAZING/RANDOM MOMENTS!!!:

***Mum you sent me the PERFECT package! It is great! I used some of the Jello for a ward activity and they LOVED it! I also brought some licorice to church and gave it to a bunch of the kids.....they ADORE me now (not that they didn't before) and were really disaoppointed when I didn't have anymore hahahaha. It was really good, and I LOVE the picture book! Everyone loves to look and at....and honestly I don't get tire of looking at it either :D hahah THANK YOU!

***By popular request, many people have asked me what I would want if I were to get a package....I tried to think of random things that I have a hard time finding here....so here are a few:

   -boyfirend tshirts from target/walmart [size M]. I can find blouses fine, but too nice, don't fit, or wear out quickly. Just need to tshirts for the summer months 

   -random treat...but mostly just notes and pictures! love looking at them and getting updates on people!

   -Aussie licorice....don't have it here and EVERYONE loves it!

***Random question....does anyone know of a way to ride a bike that also works your inner thighs? my leg muscles are really something hahahahaha bout as good as rugby season but a little slimmer! but it just doesnt work the inner thighs! hahahaha

***Church started at 1:30 this week instead of 2:00....missed that announcment and my tongban ting bu dong'd so we showed up late....whooops! but now we know :D

***Dinner with a young, american couple last sunday! Sooo good, Sooo fun, and Soooo AKWARD! I officially can't speak straight english anymore....wonder what another year of speaking chinese will do for that! hahahah

Well no more time, but i love you all! Have a great, fun, faith filled week. God loves you all! Look for opportunities to serve others! And thank you for the love and support!!!

Love 包姐妹 :D

naivasha.burrows@myldsmail.net

-

sister mack and me.  They knew each other whent they were around six years old

chronicle of Vasha 17

Hello Everyone!!!!

I'm sorry  sooo bad at managing my email time! We only have 1.5 hrs now and getting everything done and email president takes more time than I prepare for. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Thomas S. Monson

"Our most significant OPPORTUNITIES will be found in times of greatest CHALLENGE."

This is soooo true! My chinese has improved so much this last week, it's incredible!!! The ward also loves me so much, and are SO WILLING to work with me and my comp. I was struggling a little bit with the companionship, but it too is great, and this is going to be an amazing movecall filled with MIRACLES! My characters are also improving rather quickly as well, since I have to lead and read the map in all characters, because my comp struggles with directions a little :D Overall....so many miracles and opportunities, even though it's also very hard!

 

Sounds like you had a good, busy week! My language has improved drastically and quickly this last week! It's amazing...people never believe that I've been here for only 3 months! hahahahaha They also never think that iIm junior comp. My chinese characters are also improving really quickly with having to read the map!.....yeah I get to the be the leader and navigator!!! The companionship is doing really good, and we're getting into more of a pattern. I think we'll probably only be together for this next 5 weeks....and then we'll probably both train next movecall! Scary! I'm not sure who will move and who will stay...but one of us will prbably whitewash train!

 

Oh by the way! I had to take money out of my account for two reasons. One I have to eat way healthier now which is much more expensive, and I haven't been reimbursed for the travel expenses by the mission yet, because their financial thingy is down. Also by bike is super messed up! Remember how I fixed it before and got a new tube and everything? Well i have to pump my bike up a few times a day because it won't hold air, so today I think I'm going to have to go and get a whole new back tire and just get stuff figured out....my bike is out of commission completely and i'm using a borrowed one....a boy one who's brakes don't work ahahhahahaa.

The ward is AMAZING! Fengyuan was great....but at first it wasn't at all. We really had to work hard to turn the whole ward around. Now Beitun is completely different! They all love me a lot and love to introduce me to their investigators! It's kinda awkward...cuz I'm the favorite, but it's also great. I love how strong this ward is and how welcoming they are to new people. It's going to be really exciting getting to know them and work together with the to establish the church here in BEitun. :D 

SO is ashton still living in Provo this summer then, until he leaves on his mission? Still taking classes too? Does he still have the same address? or is it different? I have a letter for him, but i wasn't sure where to send it.

This week have been fun and amazing! I already know the area so much better and can find my way around! We have a new chapel that is a bit of a bike ride away, but i was able to study the map and find it right away! We also had the highest attendance at church this week than we've had in a long time, and we were worried because the chapel is much further away and bu fangbian for a lot of people to come!

RANDOM MOMENTS/FUNNY STORIES/AWKARDDDD!

***So last Saturday night my skirt fell off! It slipped right over my bottom and I caught it just in time! Since starting my mission last November  I've lost near to 30 lbs! AHHHHH!

***A little girl found out I was from America and wanted to know if I was friends with Justin Bieber....so cute!

***We have a weird amount of earthquakes here all the time! They are really small and people here are so xi guan'd  (use to it) that they don't even notice anymore!

***I've been trying to take as good as care of my teeth as possible, because so many missionary's teeth turn yellow just because of the food....but when I ride my bike around with a big, white smile....people are just drawn in and want to know why I'm so happy....then I share the gospel!!!

***It's been amazing this week how much the Lord has helped my memory! Between remembering chinese, characters, and the ward members! I know the Lord truly wants me to succeed here in Beitun! LOVE IT!

Well I hope everyone is well and happy, and they are all looking for opportunities to serve and share the gospel with others! Sorry my emails get shorter and shorter! I love you all and hope you have a splendid week!

Love Bao Jiemei!

--

Peace be with you, keep the faith, and Godspeed. 

Sister Naivasha Hani Burrows

chronicle of Vasha 16

Oh my gosh I'm soo short on time i'm sorry!!! This week I only have time to tell about my week....so next week it'll be much more spiritual I promise!!!!

 

Oh my goodness it was soooo good to talk to you the other day!!! It's hard to believe how much I miss you all, but how glad I am to be here at the same time. Very conflicting emotions! The time has gone by sooo fast, but at the same time not fast enough. Sorry I know you have a lot of questions, but I'll promise I'll answer them. When you described the weather there for Mother's Day and I was trying to imagine it....I couldn't! Even when we have a breeze here, it's so humid that as soon as you're outside the moisture is sticking to you.....so I can't imagine what it's like to be cold or hot without sweating....even when I'm cold I'm sweating! hahahaha I'm glad you all had a good Day today though and that you were able to spend some family time together :D

 

With your youth conference, you and mum are the perfect people for the job! It'll be amazing. When I think of the last six months of my life, it's incredible how many insane experiences I've had. I feel like exactly the same person as when I left, but I know that I've changed drastically, hopefully for the better. My personality is the same, I'm still the same ol' spastic, happy, loud, talk with everyone, person that I was; but I've also seen things that will change my life forever. My spiritual knowledge has grown so much, and I have a new insight on the scriptures and how they apply to my life that I never had before. I've seen so many good and bad relationships that I now know what I want in a future husband, and family. I've lived with many different people and companions and know that it takes a lot a work and prayers to be happy and grow together, and that marriage will not be any different. Overall....I'd say that my mission has changed me completely...and yet not at all. But I still have a year....so we'll see what is yet to happen!

 

***OKAY I GOT MY GALLBLADDER OUT!!!! WOOOOOOT! the doctor said that when he went in, there was all sorts of fatty tissue and bad dongxi (stuff) surrounding my gallbladder and it was really good I got it out! When I came out of the anethesia, all the nurses were trying to speak English to me and I was only speaking Chinese! They wanted to know why my chinese was so good, so I told them it was God's help. so they wanted to know how long I'd been in Taiwan for, and they were shocked when I said 3 months. They asked what I was doing here, and I was able to bear testimony to them what missionaries were, and what we do, and that God is our Loving Heavenly Father and the gospel blesses families, and that it has really blessed mine. Then I woke up all the way and they were all just so happy and wanted to help me get better as soon as possible hahahahaha the PA also was so cute and kept checking in on me. He also like to practice his really good English on me :D

 

***Dan Jones!!! So I was released early afternoon on Thursday from the hospital and then slept for a while at the mission home...then that night I got to go help with Dan JOnes!!! and I got to do it with Amanda Burr!!! She's soooo amazing! She jumped up on the box fearlessly and bore her testimony with power, then we went and taught someone a full first, prayed, gave the BOM away, and confirmed them to come to English in 2 weeks....she did it basically all by herself with just a little help from me and sister smart! WOOOOT!

***Moved to Beitun! Amazing area and ward! I"m sooooo excited to meet with these people and continue in my WHITEWASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah yeah yeah! We live with the amazing Sister Trainer Leaders though, so they'll show us the area and help  us out a lot!

***New companion!!!! This one is going to be interesting, but with a lot of prayers and patience, we'll make it work. Her chinese is not very good though, so it'll be a great opportunity for mine to improve drastically! Yeah!

 

This will be be very exciting and a time for a lot of growth and improvement!!! WOOOOOTTTTTTTT!

 

Funny moment: an elder told me that when he first met me back in March (2nd transfer) he thought that i was on my 10th transfer and one of the older missionary sisters....WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

 

WELL LOVE YOU ALL! sorry for the sloppy email! but I'm alive and happy!

chronicle of Vasha 15

Naivasha' surgery will be today (which is tomorrow there in Taiwan) sometime. Please send your prayers to Heavenly Father, that it will be less painful and tramatic than the endoscopy. Thank you. We cannot wait to skype with her - this Friday evening - Saturday there in Taiwan, because of the transfer coming up, that's why it will be Friday.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Naivasha Burrows

To: Mum & Dad

Sent: Monday, May 06, 2013 5:37 AM

Subject: SURGERY! MOVING! DAN JONES! HAIRCUT!! TRAINING!!!

Mummy and Daddy!! and EVERYONE ELSE!!! :)

 

Also....I'M MOVING!!!! Sister Smart is going to be training this next movecall, so she's getting a new comp on Friday! I don't know where I'm going or who I will be with....but it won't be with sister smart, and it won't be in Fengyuan! :( I'm super sad, nervous, excited!!! AHHHHHHHHH

Sorry for the late email! We spent all day in the hospital! I really hope that Sister Smart gets to train Amanda Burr! They would both love it so much! I would love going to Gaoxiong, but i think that i'll be staying up in the Taizhong area so they can keep an eye on me medically....besides you don't want to be in Gaoxiong for the summer....WAY too hot!!! but the winter would be extremely nice! :D 

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK:

Alma 46:12

12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—^aIn memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

I know you've all read/heard this...but I love sharing this with people. The things that we use to inspire us in this church are amazing...it really does come down to these basic things: God, religion, freedom, peace, and family. That's all that really matters...and if we truly remember this....we can be sooo much happier!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Thomas S Monson:

"Fill your minds with truth.

 Fill your heart with love.

 Fill you life with service."

Love this because if we keep Alma 46:12 in mind then we truly can do as our beloved prophet says and be filled with truth, love, and service! It's the simple things that can bring us eternal joy! It's sad how quickly we forget them!

So medically speaking...things are really going to pick up this week! I will be having gall bladder removal surgery on Wednesday and the discharged on Thursday. (Dad right now we haven't even discussed me going home! But that possibility scares the crap outta me everyday! but everything should workout!) We actually need to be in Taizhong city for Sister Smart's trainers meeting, then she'll be with me for the day/night I spend in the hospital. Then our companionship has been invited to help out on Thursday night for the new missionaries Dan Jones experience!!! So I really hope I'll be feeling up to it, if not I'll stay at the mission home and she'll help out :) Then she'll pick up her trainee, and I'll either go into a threesome with the Tanzi sisters (who live with us) or with Sis Smart and her new comp until Monday (whatever happens though, i'll be able to skype home at the same time!)...which is when the movecall is. The furthest area away in our mission is only about 4 hours drive (car), 3 hours (train), or 5 hours (bus). So really no biggie where ever I go....but I really feel like I'll be staying in Taizhong! I think that President will probably want to keep me kinda close!  Tomorrow is my last day in Fengyuan, so we're meeting with a ton of people so I can say goodbye and bear my testimony one last time with them.

Last week was really rough health wise for our companionship, but hopefully that will all be better after surgery. We weren't able to go out a ton, but were still able to get things ready for this wednesday night's Harry Potter party for english! I'm kinda worried about the elders being in charge of it now since we won't be there... but I'm sure it will be fine haha. We were also able to meet some new friends. The one I want to tell you about is Monica! We met her on the road last week and sat down with her for a while. Turns out, she is a designer and has been on Taiwan's version of Project Runway hahaha! She is so cool, came in with her platform sneakers, lip pants, bright shirt and red hair. She saw our nametag and asked if we really were Jesus Christ's church. We happily told her that we were, and were able to share with her more about how much Christ has influenced our lives and how He can continue to guide hers. So AWESOME!!!! i'm super excited for Sis Smart and her new companion to continue to meet with her and teach her!!!

Super glad that the BYU ruggers got it in the end!!! Heard about Luke and Anna too! Congrats to them!!! And to all my other friends who have BIG and exciting things going on in their lives! I'm so happy for them all and pray for them all everyday :D 

That YMs activity of getting a tour of the football facility sounds WAY fun! I'm sure they'll all have a blast and you'll get a huge turnout!

Oh and I got a haircut!! I love it a lot...and it'll be really great for the summer!!! You'll have to wait until we skype to see it though! :) Oh and if asian people are adding me on facebook....go ahead and add them...only our investigators/RCs know my facebook name and will be adding me :D Mum maybe you can practice your Chinese with them!!!...or use google translate hahahahahahahaha :D 

AWKWARD/FUNNY/RANDOM THOUGHTS/AWESOME MOMENTS:

***I was making wands for our Harry Potter English Class Party and when I was opening some of the chopsticks...I got a HUGE (okay like .5 inch) splinter super deep into my thumb...so deep i couldn't just pull it out, but had to make an incision down to the sliver to get it out! Nothing like a quick home surgery!!! :D

***Endoscopy.....wow.....that was probably the most unpleasant medical experience I have EVER had.....including the scope of my urethra while I was awake.....It was rough! We went to the hospital and waiting in the waiting room for a while....it's amazing the people here will just wait for hours at the hospital! and then my number came up and I went to the back and this nurse came at me with a small cup and opened my mouth and poured it down my throat...then she pulled my shirt down IN FRONT OF EVERYONE and stabbed a needle into my shoulder...injected something...and walked away. a few minutes later she came back...told me to open my mouth and sprayed some local anesthesia into my throat and walked away. about five minutes later she came back, pulled me into a room, and told me to lay on my side on the bed. the doctor came in with a huge black tube with a disco ball on the end and started lubing it up! She put a plastic cylinder in my mouth...taped in down...and then he shoved the tube down my throat! I could feel it the whole time and keep gagging and burping...(and grossly thowing up inside!) He just keep saying in broken chinese..."breathe...don't swallow." and I was like hyperventilating trying not to swallow! i could feel the tube inside of my stomach poking around...the whole time i was praying they would pull the tube out. my eyes were watering and i was miserable. I felt like the world's biggest WHIMP! I'm sure they've never had someone so weeny get a scope before! :( but it's over now and no big problems down there!!! (I am sure I would be crying. I am sure Naivasha is much braver than I would have been.)

***I decided that someday I want to come back to Taiwan and other countries to teach english...I also would like to go to Africa and do Humanitarian work...I  think that would be really awesome!

***There is a new church wide thing that's going on is a calling for sisters called "Sister Training Leaders". So 6 sisters in our mission have been called to assist in training the sisters. They'll participate in a council each month with the zone leaders, assistants, and president, travel to go on exchanges with sisters across the mission, and give trainings at conferences. Of our two STLs up here in Taizhong...one is going home on Monday....so Sister Smart is convinced im going STL....which i pray i won't!!! AHHHHHH So scary! There are the equivalent to Sister Zone Leaders! It's insane! My dream calling on a mission would be like a mission-wide English Leader....who went around helping English programs and doing trainings on English Class....I would LOVE THAT!!! There is another English training coming up, and they want me to help with it...but they're worried if I do that they'll seem biased since I get to help out with so many of the APs and Operation Manager's projects ahahahahahaha! Woops!!!

Anywho....I'll let you know next week what all happens!!! I LOVE YOU ALL and hope you have an amazing week. You're all in my prayers! and please don't worry about me! I'm in good hands! LOVE and HUGS!

Bao Jiemei