chronicle of Vasha 30

Dear Family and friends,

 

This could be Sister Burrows last email from Taiwan. They have not been able to get her the medicine to help control the pain in her stomach. In her letter, you would never know, but she has been in tremendous pain for the last three months, some bleeding, vomiting, etc. but she keeps working, she refuse to slow down because the work is so important to her and God. They want to send her home to get better, look after, and rest and get well. She might be home as soon as next week. We will know more closer to the weekend of next week. If she gets well soon, she can choose to go back out for the last eight months or not. She is being honorably release as of the time when she gets home. Thank you for all your prayers and fasting. Unless a miracle happens, we will see her next week. It will take a miracle to keep her there.

 

 

On Aug 18, 2013, at 10:05 PM, Naivasha Burrows <naivasha.burrows@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Hello everyone

Well we had an exciting week! but i don't have a lot of time, so i'll just tell you some highlights and give a better update next week!!!!

ADVENTURES/AWKWARD MOMENTS/COOL THINGS of the WEEK:

 ***we spent monday in the hospital trying to find some medication and talk to a doctor....we found one and tried a medication, but meiyou yong it did not work;( then....it was good we went on monday and I got to know the hopsital so well because sister W ended up having to go on Tuesday because she got a really bad ear infection! oh no! so we went and we saw an ENT, he gave her some meds, and now shes all good! 

***Tuesday we had an awesome ZTM up in Shihzhong so we got to metro up there and see some peeps. it was awesome because I got to see Carson Jardine again! It's so weird seeing him now he's all grown up. Definitely not a sophomore in HS anymore! it makes me feel old like my baby is all grown up....except iIm not that old and he's not my baby....hahahahaha

***Wednesday was English Class! We're now the next Advanced class teachers and it was sooo fun! We had a good time teaching about Health and I think some parts I got a little to excited and a little too advanced talking about anti-inflammatory medication and stuff, but it was good and they like it! We had a lot of fun!

***Thursday we had lunch with an LA and ate some delicious food at a cheap little place and then met with some awesome RCs. They're so amazing! That night a family in the ward also had us and the Elders over for dinner and it of course was DELICIOUS! yummmm thank you Lin Jiating! :D

***Friday we had our Weekly Investigator/RCLA FHE! So much fun! Snoopy, the one from last week who like to look at my FB told me that I look just like Catwoman (halle berry) and that my personality is the same....he meant it as a compliment...came off a little creepy....but hey if it leads to his baptism and eternal conversion...keyi! hahahahaha

***Friday also received a blessing from Elder Gish to make sure that I was doing what I needed to be doing, and all I can say is that God loves me so much and will guide me in all things if I just trust in him!

***Saturday...we met with our LA Cherry Song THREE TIMES!!!! hahaha first time we just ran into her, set up with her for later because we had a lesson, then we forgot something she tried to give us at her house, so she came and found us at the park while we were having language study and calling phones, so we had Sis W practice teaching her the Plan of Salvation.....we found out a lot of her needs that day. 

***Sunday we started the morning off right by going to the Comic Convention (cosplay?) and handing out tracts for english and church! then we rode with Cherry to church on our bikes. She showed us a shortcut that was NOT A SHORTCUT! hahahaha but it was fine and we still got there early! Church was great and our convert Amber Chen got a calling! She's now one of our ward missionaries! She's gonna be soooo great! love her so mucH! Eternal conversion baby!!!!!!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

well that's all I can think of right now, but just know that I know that this church is true. more so I know this Gospel is true. and that only through and with our Saviour Jesus Christ and His Atonement can we be made whole. but we really truly can be made whole...and come back from ANYTHING! I love this work so much, and these people so much! I'm so honored to have this opportunity to serve with and for them and to help them come to the knowledge that they are all literally children of God! I also know that when we trust in the Lord and follow his ways, when we align our will with His, He will tell us what we need to do and how to do it. What we want is not always what it right. God won't give us what we want, he will give us what we need. So to get what we want, we need to know what He wants for us. This gospel message is so AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you all and hope you have splendid weeks. thank you for the love and support! Hope on. Journey on. and Don't stop believing EVER!

Love Bao Jiemei!!! 包姊妹<3 <35C.gif> Vash

Chronicle of Vasha 29

Well hello there Everyone!

I hope everyone had great weeks and i just wanted to say thank you for all the prayers and fasting. They were felt and appreciated! :D

 

Also thank you Burrows Clan for the AMAZING package and cute notes. It made my day and came at a really good time. THANK YOU!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Boyd K. Packer:

"Now, fathers, I would remind you of the sacred nature of your calling. You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary’s mischief will be that power. You will receive direction from the Lord by way of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The adversary is not actively disturbing our Church meetings—perhaps only occasionally. By and large we are free to assemble as we wish without much disruption. But he and those who follow him are persistent in attacking the home and the family. The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children might be happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood. Every law and principle and power, every belief, every ordinance and ordination, every covenant, every sermon and every sacrament, every counsel and correction, the sealings, the calls, the releases, the service—all these have as their ultimate purpose the perfection of the individual and the family, for the Lord has said, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

This last week was 8月8日 so in Taiwan that's baba day, or in other words: Fathers Day! during my personal studies this week, I came upon this quote  and I loved it so much! I haven't thought so much about my future, especially future family, more than I have while on my mission, especially lately. I just have seen and learned so much that I want to apply to my future family, so that I might have a strong marriage and children that stay strong and steadfast in the Church. While i read this quote i thought about my father and how amazing he is, and yes there will be "times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary’s mischief will be that power." I know that i am incredibly lucky to have such an amazing father who was/is a wonderful example to me and my family. He's always remained worthy to hold not just the Authority of the Priesthood, but the Power as well. He and my mum have been so amazing in keeping our family centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyday when I bear testimony of families and their eternal potential to people, I'm so glad that I can tell them of the good relationships that I have with my family members and of the amazing up bringing that I had. Thank you to all those, especially my parents, who've always been incredible examples to me!! :D

Scripture of the Week:
Proverbs 4:7, 14-15
"7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.14 ¶Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."

I truly believe that we have an obligation to get wisdom and to be able to decipher for ourselves what is good, what is wicked, and have the mental, emotional, and spiritual maturity to be about to "avoid, pass not by it, turn from, and  pass away" all evil things. I had somewhere else i was hoping to take this thought, but i'm having a really hard time focusing so i'll just end with that. 

AWKWARD/FUNNY/WEIRD/AWESOME MOMENTS OF THE WEEK:
***Every week we have an Investigator Activity/FHE for all our I's and RCLA's. This last Friday, Snoopy, an investigator, came up to me with this ipad and showed me my facebook that he had pulled up. He was talking about how beautiful he thought I used to be, then asked me why I was less pretty now! hahahahaha I told him it was because I am a sister missionary and we can't be too beautiful or it would be distracting to people hahahaha he also told me my brothers are incredibly shuai (handsome) and that my didi (little brother) looks just like Taylor lautner! hahahahahaha
***There is a little boy in my ward named Yi Hao. He's one of our amazing/golden RC's son. he is 3 1/2 and loves to run around like crazy at church and home and stuff. He's super cute, just super active and loud....but I've compeletely got him trained now! I bring fruit snacks and treats that my family sent me...the only problem is that now at any church event/meeting he will not sit with anyone but me. hahaha but when he sits with me he is very quiet and will draw and play with the pens, paper, and cards I give him. I figure his mum appreciates the break sinces she's 7 1/2 months pregnant and her husband is a non-member. Who says we can't figure out ways to serve young mothers while still keeping within the rules? yeah yeah yeah!
***Xiaogang's Got Talent!!! Wow I was invited to perform in a RS talent show so I figured why not? get to know the sisters in the ward, etc. Then I show up with music that I planned on just sight reading, no practice and what do you know.....It's a ward-wide talent competition!! Wow I was NOT prepared, but I performed anyways and it was fine...THEN they invited us missionaries to do an impromptu musical number/talent. Good thing Elder Gish is pro at the guitar and Sis W is good at singing! We hurried and pulled together a duet with us singing and Elder G on the guitar to Howie Day's "Collide"....and it was TERRIBLE!!!! but the ward loved it so no worries!!!
***Our investigators that have been progressing along nicely came to church! and one of them was from the Philippines and speaks no Chinese....so i had to translate! wow I didn't know how much I really actually understood...and how much english I'd forgetten how to say out loud until that moment! but yeah....it's good I guess!

Yeah. I guess the point is I'm not in control. I just have to not be so weak and just continue on.Trying not to fall off your bike and trying to continue on may be all people like Parley P. Pratt could do some of the time when things got hard and he was sick. I'm not sure how productive he was at times either. Not sure we would know today what it was like then. Also, I'm not sure what my point is either. Just rambling. I love you. Dad

Mommy and Daddy, thanks for all you are trying to do. just so you know....just because you pray for something and you don't get it, doesn't mean God is ignoring your prayers. it just means that's not what is best for you at the moment.  I guess being healthy is not what's best for me right now. but that's okay. God will do what he wants and help me out in his own way. hope you have a great week! love you both so much! continue to have fun with the YSAs :D 

 

Well that's all the time I have today, sorry for the unfocused and scattered thoughts! Hopefully next week will be better! I love you all and know that God and our Saviour love and know you all as well. Strive to find opportunities to continue to serve those around you and remember that you are His beloved children. LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Love Bao Jiemei!!! 包姊妹<3  Vash

chronicle of Vasha 28

Hey Everyone!

Sorry I have exactly 15 minutes to type this....I'm super bad at managing my email time apparently....so I've you've emailed me lately and I haven't responded....I'M SOOO SORRRRY!

 

Hey mom, I've been doing a lot of experimenting with diet and stuff. I eat things everyday (like veggies) that I never would have eaten before. Don't worry....we'll actually be able to eat salad and healthy food when we go out now! I eat that stuff now.....the horror!!! *gasp!* haha just kidding :)  really I''ve been trying to figure this out on my own for about 3 months now.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

If life was like Pokemon, Humility would ALWAYS beat out Pride. - Sister Burrows

Wow.....everyday, every week i get humbled more and more. No one can control their situation and circumstances, but you can control how you react. I've had a few struggles with my new companionship, but it's okay now. Because the Lord has got my back like always and I pray a lot. like all day everyday. Because I really need his help if I am to survive, if I am to do his work with success. You cannot do the Lord's work without the Spirit. And you cannot have the spirit if you are prideful. Jiuduile!(truly) Good thing my parents taught me the beautiful art of always saying sorry....even if you don't know what it is you've done or what you are sorry for....always be the first person to apologize! Always be the first person to say sorry! That is what I learned this week. (that it is more important to say sorry or apologize so that the spirit can be present than to be right.)

Well this week has been super interesting. Relations with the ward are great, and it's all been working out amazing. I love this area so much and the ward so much! Oh also....I'M TRAINING!!! yeah! also.....i'm really really bad at it apparently! I didn't even know how bad i was at it until i was informed by my trainee. yeah.....But it's okay. we're working through it!

Also Sister Haupt has obviously moved.....bummer! Because I love her so much! We had some really good times together. My transfer with her is exactly how I imagined a transfer was supposed to go. Obedience, Love, Patience, Hard work, Success, Fruits of your Labors...and all that. A mission never goes how you think it will, but it's usually pretty magical. Things are never more up and more down that on a mission! but you also never feel the Spirit and the Lord's support so strongly! It's amazing! I'm so grateful for all the experiences I've had thus far and for many more to come! 

So surprise movecall announcement! Elder Gish is STILL here in Xiaogang! He's officially the King of Xiaogang and by the end of this movecall...he will have been in his first area for 7 1/2 months! SOOOO LONG!!! Also he's going District Leader and Senior Comp this movecall! Soooo GOOOD! He was my DL in the MTC and I know he'll do just as amazing out in the field. Also my favorite ZL I've ever had is going home today! He's finished up his mission and is headed back home to Alpine, UT. His name is Jeff Stark and apparently we went to Lone Peak together....but never knew each other! huh! So our new Zone leader is going to be Elder Hellburg. He's soooo freaking tight! I served with him when I was up in Beitun. He's gonna be amazing....probably will be my 2nd favorite ZL ever!!! This will be the best district ever!!!

FUNNY/AWKWARD/STRANGE/ADVENTURE MOMENTS:

***People here in Taiwan will be like...."I'm going to go take the dogs for a run!" (there are a gazillion stray and not stray dogs here) and then they'll go get on their little motorized scooters (mopeds) and ride around while the dogs run around....hmmmmm good exercise!

***I accidentally punched my ward mission leader in the head.....at ward correlation....while he was discussing with the elders their investigators! He had a whole swarm of mosquitoes above his head, so I went to swat them away....really miss-aimed and maybe had some depth perception issues....and instead punched him in the head! his response: "Ni da wo!"(You hit me) hahahahaha he started laughing....I started awkward laughing and apologizing! hahaha he's 26 and just got home from his mission last december from Taibei. He's super cool! and knows how to take a punch! ahahahaha

***I got hit by a BUS! it was speeding by me....my tire hit a pothole and I got caught into the slipstream of the bus....iIstarted to almost go under and I did the only thing I could think of....I stiff-armed the bus (must be rugby reflexes) and pushed myself off and was fine! but it was all so quick that I didn't even have time for an adrenalin rush! Scary! hahah when I told Elder Gish he asked me if I broke the bus.....hahahhahaha such a good rep I got!

Well I have no time, but I love you all! I hope you all have splendid weeks and know that the Lord loves each and every single one of you! He knows exactly who you are! The church is true. God is our Heavenly Father. Jesus is our Saviour and elder brother. and through the Atonement, we can overcome ANYTHING! Be worthy of the Spirit and strive to be humble! Hope on. Journey on. BElieve on. I LOVE YOU ALLL!!!!

Love Bao Jiemei!!! <3  Vash

naivasha.burrows@myldsmail.net