Monday, June 24, 2013

chronicle of Vasha 22

Well hello one and allllll!!!!

First order of business.....I've moved to The GAOXIONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yessssssssssssssss!!!!!! 

This is the coveted zone of my mission: Gaoxiong West is the BEST!....hahahaha okay maybe i just really wanted to be in this EXACT area since I did the English Training back in February/March....can't remember when that was....bahhhhhh! I'm also in Elder Gish's ward/area/district! (He was in Sister Burrows MTC group) Remember him?  So last Sunday/Monday we were waiting on edge all day for the phone call to find out if Sister McKay or I would be training....praying that we wouldn't. Houla (good thing) neither of us got the call so we were SUPER excited! then on Thursday morning we got the call inviting us to Dan Jones with the new missionaries! I was so excited because I LOVE DAN JONES-ing!  So before we were going to head over to Yi Zhong Jie for dinner, we were at the Mission Office picking up supplies and President Bishop came in and was like "Can I talk to you two for a moment in my office?" 

We were like "oh oh ...DANG IT!" so we went in and sat down...I was trying to figure out what I did wrong THIS TIME and he was like "I just want you to know that I know that I told you in Interviews that one of you would be training this next movecall, but we only had 4 sisters come in so we did need that many trainers it's not because I think you are inadequate." I was thinking I'm actually really glad I'm not and don't feel bad at all!!!! Then, "also I'm really pleased with what you have been doing building up Beitun and I'm going to keep you two together to prepare it for training next movecall. I don't know for sure that you'll be training with the new president, but it's most likely." So we were like alright....so we're gonna stay...YESSS!!!! I absolutely LOVE Beitun! 

So we went and bought food and were getting reading for the next movecall....THEN Saturday morning during personal study I was out with my Liahona and scriptures making my breakfast and I hear our cell number being recited in the other room, Sister Hsiao came out and I was like who are you giving our number to? She said, its President Bishop!  I GRABBED all my dongxi and fled into the bedroom yelling to my comp "He's calling! He's calling right now! PRESIDENT IS CALLING!"  so she answered and I was convinced that he was calling to tell her that she was emergency training, because one of the trainers got really sick and is going home but NOOOOO!!!!! "I've tried everything I can, to arrange it to keep you two together, but.......I need Sister Burrows to be Da Tongban (Senior Comp)" NOOOOOOO! then he couldn't remember where I was going or with who. I had to wait until 10:15 that night to find out! Now I'm in Xiaogang with Sister Laurie Haupt! And I'm her "breaker,"  her second companion in her 3rd movecall.....I'm way young to go senior so everyone is like shocked!  but everyone is going senior earlier now, especially the sisters because of all the new missionaries. luckily....her Chinese is PERFECT!!!! YESSSS! She's from Springville, and she's studied Chinese since she was like 13. She's also a professional pianist and has toured to Asia....Super Lihai (amazing. Sister Burrows and Sister Haupt can have fun playing duet on the piano).

Sorry this email doesn't really fit the usual mold, but it's been super crazy today and this last week! Everyone in Beitun Ward was really upset that I was leaving and I'm sad to leave, I loved them soooo much, but I'm excited to be in a new place and getting to meet new people!!!
I'm so scared to go senior comp, so prayers sent my way would be appreciated! Also I need to super nuli (work harder) and just be a good example to other missionaries....one of our zone leaders in my old area told me I need to be a better example hahahah , well the work is good, my mission is crazy (but what's new?!), the gospel is true! Also I've seen 47 cats since iIve gotten to taiwan, but apparently there are way more down here in the south, so I'm going to have to pay special attention!
Hope on. Journey on. and Never stop believing!!!!! Thank you Grandpa and grandma for the money. I am very grateful.  I will write you a real letter.

LOVE, Bao Jiemei <3


P.S. Daddy, we mostly get new investigators through English, Streeting (Street Contacting), and depending on the area, Housing (or tracting). In Beitun we went Housing a lot because we didn't have a large investigator pool, but here in Xiaogang, Sister Haupt says they don't go housing very often, but we'll see! We also get self contacted sometimes by random people. 
Hey Mummy, I don't know if this is possible, but if you could put some money in my account tomorrow, that would be great. Sorry. This has been an expensive transfer/movecall. I have to pay to ship all my stuff down, and they'll reimburse it all, but that takes a few weeks and I hve to have my stuff shipped down here.

Hey I just want to say Thank you for Everything...and I LOVE YOU! I hope you both have splendid weeks! LOVE LOVE LOVE you both!!!!

Sister Burrows has become quite adept at fixing bikes 

After fixing her companion's bike, and going uphills to their destination.  I am sure sister Burrows is quite in her element.

Monday, June 17, 2013

chronicle of Vasha 21


Subject: Dedications, Baptisms, and Amazing Fathers

Hello EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! 

Before anything else, I just want to say thank you and Happy Father's Day to all you amazing men that have been father figures and examples to me in my life. Thank you all for blessing my life with the power of the priesthood, and being worthy to use the power thereof! I'm especially grateful to those family friends, ward members, leaders, bosses, co-workers, schoolmates and all others who have been and have become amazing fathers. Never forget the affect you have on the lives of those around you!

Daddy I want you to know that I love you eternally and I'm so grateful to be your daughter. Thank you for your example of ALWAYS being obedient and full of integrity. Mr. Integrity...I'll never forget what an inspiration you are to me and many other youth and people you have touched throughout your career and your priesthood/church callings. You and an incredible man and I hope that someday I can marry a man half as great as you, and raise sons to live up to their grandfather's example. I LOVE YOU DADDY!
 
Sorry we're emailing so late mummy! Sis McKay called her Daddy/family today and so we didn't leave until later! It was really good for her to talk to them, and they're all happy and were sharing tons of missionary experiences with her and giving her advice and stuff! so that was good!
 
Mummy, Well I love you very much and hope you have a splendid week! Thank you for the amazing package! The skirts are really cute! and the treats and teeth stuff and very appreciated!! :D also the shirts fit perfectly! but because of their color, whenever i sweat....they show every drop of sweat hahahahahaha....oh well....everyone here is sweaty and gross anyways! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!



SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK:
Jacob 7:25
"Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies."
I love this, I think that if we remember to trust in the Lord and remember he is indeed our Salvation, that we will never fear, and we will always be able to come off as conqueror! yeahhhh sons!  Ne 22:2

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
"The restored gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives not just when we believe it-but much more when we live it." 
This is sooo true. We can believe something, have a testimony, without the faith and action to follow it, we cannot deserve and receive all the blessings that God wants to give us. He can only bless us as much as we let Him. How much are you allowing Him to bless you?

This week has been much better than last! It helps that I came to the realization that I needed to get over myself! hahaha so I did. and our numbers were much higher, we had more lessons, and it was overall more happy. :) don't you LOVE when the Lord tries to teach you a lesson....and you actually are able to tune in and figure it out?! SOOOO BOSS! (awesome

 
This week we had a special experience....our chapel that we started meeting at in May is the new stake center, and last Saturday we had a Boss Baptism and the Dedication! YEAHHHH! okay they didn't actually call it the "Boss Baptism" that's just what I called it.....it was a big baptism though, and we had I think 8 people baptized from the various areas that live in the stake! It was sooo great! The youngest was a 9 yr old girl, and the oldest was a 82 yr old man! sooooooo AWESOME! 

FUNNY/RANDOM/ADVENTURE STORIES:
***The kids in the ward now call me Candy Sister in english, or Tanguo Jiemei! in Chinese! Most of the little kids in the ward speak English actually...it's kinda strange but really great for them! They'll get to go a lot further in school and work if they have good English!  They are soooo cute! They always come up to me and ask if I have candy....one of them, Jaren, asked me and I gave him a piece of candy that our investigator gave me and he knelt down, lifted it above his head and said/growled "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" in a Batman voice....it was the funniest, cutest, kinda creepiest thing ever! hahahaha he's 4 years old and probably my best friend in the Beitun ward!
***One of our RCs Lu Jiemei LOVES me! hahahaha she says that everytime we meet with her, she gets to understand me and understand the way I think a little bit more. She says that she really likes my prayers because I say whatever I want in them, and that when we discuss gospel principles, she always knows exactly where I stand because I'm so up front and blunt. that's all great, but she as well as others have also said that they love me so much because I 'm just like a 小朋友 xiao pengyou.....aka a CHILD/Young friend ! hahaha they say that I'm just like a little kid in everything I do, so everyone loves me like they love little kids....GREAT.
***I've made a totally 有辦法 you banfa sign for the back of my bicycle for our English class in Chinese characters and two English words on it: Free English. I made one when I was in Fengyuan and I just made a new one for Beitun....on Saturday no less than 5 people pulled me over during our travels (total space of about 1 hour) and asked me for more information and if they could me with me! SOOOO CRAZZZZZZZZZY! so great! love it when the Lord blesses you for your extra efforts!

Well I hope that everyone is doing spectacular and loving life! Remember that everything you do, needs to be done for the LORD. What are you doing today to serve others and further the work? Hope on. Journey on. And never stop believing. 

The church is true, the work is good, and God will never leave us!
教會是真實的,工作是好,神將永遠不會離開我們!

Love Bao Jiemei 包姐


Monday, June 10, 2013

chronicle of Vasha 20

招呼家人和朋友!HELLO FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

I hope you've all had a spectacular week and plan on having another wonderful leading up to Father's Day!!!

STORY OF THE WEEK:
Shane M Bowen "Agency and Accountability"
There is a story told of an old Cherokee teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil: he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good: he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
I love this story, and I read it at a very good time! I feel like this week, i have been feeding my Gaddianton Robber Wolf a bit more than my Ammonite Wolf. And The lord helped me to see it. I knew that i was getting prideful, I knew that i needed to check myself before I wrecked myself, but I didn't, and now I know that the time to be humbled is at hand. We were doing really great, our numbers were progressively getting higher each week, and we were improving. Then I got prideful, not in anything that i said or did, but inside my heart and mind. It affected my ability to work well, and this week the numbers are not so great. Now I understand exactly what I was doing wrong, and I will not be making that same mistake again....at least anytime soon hopefully! I always need to check my pride. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Bill Forrest: "Two men can do anything as long as one of them is the Lord." 
LOVE THIS!!! and it can definitely tie into my pride thing....as long as I remember that I am "about my father's business" and always involve Him in it, asking for feedback and accounting back to Him daily, I will not forget him. I will forget myself and only remember the Lord and his precious children!

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK:
3 Nephi 5:13
"Behold, i am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God, i have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." 
I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD. What a great calling! What a great responsibility. We have all been called, but are we chosen right now? Are we living our lives in a way that others can recognize us as Christ's disciples upon sight? This is important to remember as we go about our days making decisions and in the way that we interact with others. 

I hope that all made sense....it takes a lot of work and thought to write these emails in full english each week! Which is super weird to me! hahaha and i look back and realize that what I wrote was super rambly and confusing. hahahah so sorry!!!

This week has been good, except of course being prideful and not getting as high of numbers as we were hoping! But mei guan xi i learned from my mistakes and this next week will be incredible I'm sure! After the Lord is on my side!
 

I am going to have to get into cycling when I get home, I love my bike so much! I feel if I had a mission that used cars, I would struggle a lot being trapped inside and always sitting. Blegggh! Bu xi huan! 
 think that i will grow my hair out....just not this summer....because it is just way tooo hot! I do like having really long hair, and really short hair (because it's super convenient i can let it dry it by itself! When it's long i cannot, because it's too humid and doesn't ever completely dry.) It's also really thick....and one of the sisters who left right before I came had really thick long hair....and it grew mold! Even though she washed and dried it everyday! Gross!!! I sweat way to much to have long hair here! Anyways.... The guy who cut it is a RC from down in Gaoxiong and next time he comes up or I go down there he'll figure how how to cut it to grow out I'm sure. I'll probably get an a line bob next or something...thats how he cut it for when it grew out!
FUNNY/AWKWARD/RANDOM/ADVENTURE MOMENTS:
***Awesome Zone Conference on Wednesday!!! Favorite quote from Sister Bishop: "Figure out what stories you want to be able to tell your children and grandchildren about your mission, then go our and make it happen!" BOOM! Soooo good, i love this so much, and now i have to think about the stories i want to tell you each week, and then go make it happen!
***We met with a new investigator Zhen Jiemei! She's so great and super friendly! She's really funny and was very concerned that i'm not allowed to date while on my mission because "what if you fine a nice Taiwanese boy here!? And you cannot date?! Taiwanese boys are very bu cuo! THey are very nice....if they're Taiwanese....not Indonesian or Philippians....but Taiwanese.....no boy is going to wait for you for 1 and a half years....no matter how beautiful you are or how good you Chinese is! Zenme ban?! Zenme Ban?! What then?! What will you do?!?!" She was very concerned for my future! hahahahah i told her when i go home i can date and that i'll probably marry an american....then she asked if  i could come back and marry a Taiwanese boy when i finished my mission. "My son is 30 and very handsome! He has a good job and takes me out to eat all the time! He's not too fat and not too skinny!" i was like good for him! hahahahaha she also really wanted us to go out drinking with her....she said she'd treat us "for free!" then showed us pictures of her and her friends partying and doing shots. Oh btw she's 52!!! Hahahaha we told her countless times we could not drink...and she just kept offering to take us out anytime we had free time....So excited to keep teaching her!!! hahahahahahha
***Random moment: I met the asian version of Orlando Bloom (Mum, he's Legolas in Lord of the Rings and Will on Pirates of the Carribean) when i was doing English Proselyting. It was super weird and i was super thrown off for a second!
***The Elders' new investigator really likes me....like really likes me....and always comes up and talks to me in between classes and meetings at church hahahhaha and I awkwardly have to be nice and then stop the conversation and walk away. hahahaha
***I've also seen 39 cats since I've come to Taiwan!!!

Well that's it for now, i hope that you all have splendid weeks! The Gospel is true, and if we remember to always keep the Lord in our hearts, we cannot stray! I love you all!!! Remember to look for opportunities to serve others and bear your testimony to EVERYONE!

Love, Bao Jiemei 包姐妹!


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

chronicle of Vasha 19

Nimen hao!?

Well this has been an interesting week, but also really great! We have a few new investigators which I'll tell you about in just a moment!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
"Often the deep valley of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can't see the Lord's hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness." 
This is such an awesome quote that i found while reading the April 2010 Conf Issue of the Liahona. So true! We truly are shaped by the events of our lives, and also the way we react to them. The way react and the attitude we have can help us to identify the Lord's hand in our lives, and to develop and build our testimonies!

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK:
2 Kings 6:15-17
"Alas, my master! how shall we do?
"And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
"And  Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, i pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he say: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
Psalm 91:11
"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all they ways."
I felt like these scriptures were very appropriate, especially since today is the day that my older brother McKay entered the MTC 4 years ago, and two years ago today about, he would have returned home. But although he is not here on earth with us now...I know without a doubt in my heart that he is one of the angels given charge over me. I also know that he is leading an army of angels by my side, helping me with my missionary work. I have seen so many miracles on my mission thus far, and been protected in many dangerous situations. He has guided me, and protected me throughout it all. I know that the Lord is mindful of ALL his children, and that he has given me a special guardian angel, my older brother McKay, to help give me strength, protection, and guidance as i go throughout my life. Thank you Heavenly Father, Thank you Jesus, and Thank you McKay!!!!

We had a great Sunday yesterday! 5 Investigators to church! It was sooo great! We took over the investigator pool from the last sisters, but only two investigators right now are the same. One has been investigating for 2 years and is 16 yrs old. She really wants to get baptized, but her mum won't let her....so she's just going to keep going to church and investigating with us until she turns 20...which is how old they have to been here to be baptized without parental consent. 

English is great! I'm not a teacher, I'm actually doorman now! I like it better :) I get to greet/meet everyone as they come in, and when they do, we have them fill out a form with their contact information, how they heard about our program, and then we actually ask them if they would be interesting in meeting with the missionaries and learning about the gospel. some are some aren't, some change their minds after class! The class is 1 1/2 hours long, the first hour is straight English, the last half an hour is spiritual share, where we share some part of the gospel...using English of course! It's a really good program, we even have a really nice textbook that we've compiled and sell if they want it. Super cheap, and the class itself if free...so really a good deal! 
 
I'm getting my bike fixed today! don't worry...i'm safe on the elder's bike....I actually have grown very attached to it! hahaha except now he's on a giant bike that's wayyyy too tall for him....so I'm more worried about his safety!

How was the motorcycle trip? I bet Torrey is absolutely beautiful! 

ADVENTURES/FUNNY/RANDOM MOMENTS:
***This last week we also got lost on the way to English!! I lead in our area, because since the first few days, I've been able to remember all the streets and etc (God has truly guided me!) and I was leading us to our English class/mtg from the mission home. I decided to take us a new faster way, but we forgot to bring the map, so i decided to go by memory. we got LOST! It took us an hour and a half, because i took us out of our area, out of our zone, and and we were in a super sketchy part of town apparently where a bunch of women keep getting kidnapped from the last few weeks.....WHOOPS! Don't worry.....WE ARE SAFE and nothing happened....what did we learn? To always have our map...also go the longer way that we know! The extra 10 minutes are worth it!
***We had another big earthquake during Sacrament meeting! And no one even reacted! it was really funny...the earthquake wasn't even quite over when the Aaronic priesthood just continued and started blessing the water. I think that every Sunday I feel at least a small earthquake, but this one was big this time!!!

Well I'm out of time, but I hope everyone has an amazing week and looks for opportunities to serve others! LOVE YOU ALLLLLL!

-Bao Jiemei! 包姐妹