Week 10: First week in Taiwan - Missing Captain, Lugging Luggage & Merry Christmas

Hey Everyone!!!!

Oh my goodness....this week though..... I don't even know where to start!!! 

So if you haven't heard yet, we left the MTC on Monday super early in the morning. We got to the airport just fine. I got to call home which was fantastic! I love my family :) Then we sat on our plane for like 3 hours....while it was still in the airport....what? So annoying. We had to wait for the captain to get there (delayed cause of the snow). When we first heard the announcement, the guy was like "We don't know where the captain is. He should be here in 10-15 min". Then 10-15 min later it would be the same thing....then we had to wait to get de-iced. After we finally got de-iced, they were like "Oh actually, there's something wrong with the plane". What??? So we went back to the gate, and actually got on a "bus plane?" and we went to San Fran. But because of the delay we missed our flight to Taiwan. So we ended up having to stay the night in a hotel. It was fun though. We got to talk to our family four about an hour. There was a really nice young man on the plane that let us use an extra phone of his. #blessing. 

So we finally arrived in Taiwan. (Btw the flight was so short. It was 14 hours, but I slept for most of it. I guess that's what happens when you're tired. #lifeofamissionary.) It was a little overwhelming, but mostly I just didn't know how to feel. We were thrown right into work. But not the work you think. We sorted missionary's packages into alphabetical groups because the transfer meeting was the next day, and you only get mail when you go to Taipei. Thanks mom for the package, I won't open it until Christmas.

The transfer meeting was the next day, and my trainer is Sister Beeston! She's so great! She's from Utah and is awesome! The Lord definitely has blessed me. Oh and my area is Taitung. Which literally is the furthest away from Taibei that you can go!!! It's a 3.5 hour away or 5. Depending on the train. But Sister Beeston, we get along great and she sounds Taiwanese when she speaks. Kinda haha I don't know. She has great Chinese though. So after the transfer meeting, we had new missionary training stuff with our trainers. Then we like ran around Taibei (kinda) trying to get to different ATMs so I could pay for my bike. Well my card didn't work. So I spent the next 20 min calling them (with permission of course). Calling Chase bank I mean. Anyway, after that we had to catch our train. But we didn't have time to go the 5 hours all the way to Taitung, so we lugged all my luggage around the train station. Then onto the train to Hua Lien, which is about half way. We stayed the night with the Sisters in Hua Lien. Then the next morning we woke up (at 4:45 am) to catch a 6:30 train. So we were sitting on the train before it left, (on our way to Taitung) and Sister Beeston goes "The train hasn't left yet...." She asks the person next to her where our train was going. And it was going to Taichung. (Out of our mission), so we literally ran off the train. Although technically we couldn't run cause of my luggage... anyway :) I jumped off the train right as it started moving. Which was a blessing but what an adventure!!!! 

We finally got to Taitung at like 10 or 11 a.m. We arrive at the apartment and just start doing studies. I met the other Sisters in the apartment, Sister Child (who knows Sister Hughes from Bountiful) and Sister Lafevre. They are so so so sweet and their Chinese is fei chang hao. It's really motivating because they haven't been out TOO long, and I know I can learn Chinese. 

So I will admit, that by this point (of all the traveling, and just not knowing how to feel), I was really, really overwhelmed. We finally got to the apartment and started our studies and I broke down. First time I've cried though, and I probably shouldn't tell you this (haha) but I doesn't matter. I don't even know why I broke down. I really was just so overwhelmed. I was upset because the past couple days had gone so slow, and I was like "Oh my goodness I'm going to be here the rest of my life" Not really, but that's just how I felt. I got through it and was fine. They have this awesome Chinese study program. There's phase 1 and 2, and 3. And I didn't know where to start for Phase 1, (which btw I have a goal to finish and pass off in 10 weeks). Anyway, I was just overwhelmed and didn't know how to learn Chinese, and didn't want to fail and it all just kind of built up. That's basically it. I got over it really fast, and things are great now. I'm still feeling like I'm going to be here forever because this week was honestly the longest week of my entire life....I just hope it doesn't go this slow al the time. Not that I don't love it :) 

So I really actually do love being a missionary, and once I got into the swing of things, I was fine. Oh btw, everyone told me that I was so lucky to be "born" in Taitung. I know that Heavenly Father knows me. Because 1) I hate cities, 2) I love the countryside, 3) This area is the countryside, but isn't too big of a city. It's not too big of a city, but I can see the sky, and I love it!!!!! I'm so blessed.  Random note, all the buildings have hard floors. Makes things feel less homey, but I understand why. The floors would be gross because of all the humidity :).

So let me tell you about biking....in a skirt....um no. It's not fun. It's not awful, but I have yet to figure out the best way to do it.  Contacting is actually really fun. I love standing out from the crowd, and I love waving and smiling at people. I sometimes start the conversation. I like talking to people, i just can't keep the conversation going because i don't understand what they say J. But we've had two or three solid contacts. And I'm so excited. I really do love talking to people and sharing the gospel. Most have rejected us, but everyone is so nice about it!!! Sister Beeston said that I'm great, and that I just go for it (Which was my goal). She's so nice. 

We had a ward Christmas party on Saturday, and the missionaries sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". But it was hilarious because we sang over the voices of the recording. So it was just a normal song, but they had us sing over it J. So the whole party was just a huge play, and I gotta tell you, I have never seen so much work go into a nativity play. There was everything. The costumes were amazing, there were spotlights, a great sound system, a legit stage, a beautiful background painting, everything. I was impressed. We even got to dress up like angels (because we were angels). And normally costumes aren't allowed but we got permission. 

I think that's all I've got for you this week. I really do love being a missionary, and I'm excited to learn more, and learn a lot of Chinese. The ward is great, the people are so sweet, and it just always amazes me that the church is the same everywhere you go. 

Oh my goodness I almost forgot!!!! So I had to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting (because I was new), and after sacrament meeting this lady comes up to me (speaking English :) ) and she introduces herself (Sister Liu). She said that she lived with me and my family in China! And that I knew her sons, David and James!!!! I was like "Oh my goodness yes!!!!!!!!!!!!" We went over to her house for dinner and Oh my goodness I found this one picture of all the boy scouts in China!!! Brother Sevy was the scout master and all the boys my age were in the pic! Ethan W., Mitchell C, Paul L, Sam and Joe O, etc. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!! And then, there was a shadow box kinda thing on the outside and people had written stuff on it, and i look and see "Rod" And I look at the message and IT WAS MY DAD'S HANDWRITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT!?!?!?!?!? I can't tell you what a miracle that was to me. I'm in Taiwan, in the furthest city away from Taibei, and I meet someone that I used to know??? And who has a part of my family in their home/??? AHHHHHH SOOOOOO COOOLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!! Obviously I am so excited about it!!!!!!!! It was just so good to see a little bit of home and my past!!!! I made friends with their youngest son, Michael. So fun!!!! And the food was delicious

I love Taiwan food....seriously, I just want to eat all the time hahaha. I've had some pretty normal things, and I don't know what they are called but I had dong gua cha, which is tea but it's missionary appropriate tea. I also had this spicy ginger drink....which was weird and awful. It smelled like ginger which was fine, but wow it was like spicy as you swallowed it. It was so weird and I never want to drink it again. Other than that, everything has been normal. Oh I did have steamed corn. They just passed it out after church which was so random. But it was a little strange because it was chewy. You'll have to try it sometime. 

Okay, now I'm just rambling.... :) I love you all! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be here and to be in Taitung with these wonderful sisters and these wonderful people. I hope I didn't sound like I didn't want to be here. My heart burns with testimony of this gospel, and I'm so excited to help others come unto Christ. Speaking of which, we have a baptism this week. I'm an awful missionary for not making that the first thing on my list :) She is so prepared and we taught her tithing this week (well Sister B did haha, but I added my testimony), and I was seriously so amazed that she was so willing. The conversion process is so amazing and this gospel has to be true. Nothing else would change someone's life so dramatically (for the better). I know that God knows all of us. I know that we are all in the place we are for a reason, and that through everything we do, He is there next to us. He has His arms wrapped around us during times of need. He loves us, and we are His children. I feel like I always bear testimony about that, but it's just because it's the most simple and most important I feel. To know who you are, and to know why you are here. It's such a blessing. 

I love you all so so much! And I'm sorry for not taking more pictures!!!! I will this week I promise!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Luo Jie Mei

Cumfy blanket in the hotel

Layover in San Francisco

Sister Beeston my Trainer

The angels

The nativity

Steamed corn after church

Memories from Beijing - YM from our Branch

Week 9: Crutches/Chopsticks/Sympathy Sticks & Packages

Hey everyone!!!

This week was full of a lot of different emotions. And packages!!!! Thank you so so so so so much for all who sent me a package. I got three one day, and two the next, I can't tell you how much that means to me!!! Seriously! I am so blessed and thank you so much! I love you!!!

Monday: We had a TRC Skype lesson. Which if I haven't explain before is a lesson with a member in Taiwan. The member we Skyped was so fun and so silly. He spoke English so occasionally he would slip an English word here and there. The lesson was so fun though. He was sad that we weren't going to Taichung, and he took a picture of us, got our e-mail (so we could follow up with him), and told me I looked like a certain actor. We taught about faith and trusting in the Lord, and it was amazing because we had specifically prayed to know what to teach in this lesson, and we truly felt that it was directed and intended for this young man. 

Tuesday: The few days before, I had this pain in my foot. It was a sore on the bottom of my foot, and I didn't know what it was. Since I was leaving soon, I wanted to get it checked out. Plus it was causing me more pain because I was walking on the outside of my foot trying to avoid the pain. I hope that makes sense. Long story short, the MTC doctor didn't know what it was, so he sent me to a foot specialist. So I got to leave the MTC. He also gave me crutches so that I could allow it to settle down, and to get off my foot. The foot doctor did an ultrasound and diagnosed it as a cyst. Gross I know, sorry :). He then stuck me with a needle (to numb my foot) which I have to say is the absolute worst shot I have ever had. Then he stuck a bigger needle in and proceeded to try to get the liquid out. Maybe I shouldn't be so "graphic". Sister Hughes wanted to watch, which I thought was crazy because she hates needles. She said that she doesn't mind them on others, but when she saw the second needle go into my foot, she got all pale, and lightheaded and had to sit down. Silly Sister H.

 Oh I forgot, before I went to the foot doctor, the lady who was scheduling it, had to call Mom because I forgot Dad's birthday (for insurance). And I got to hear her voice!!!! So so so awesome! I'm just grateful it didn't make me homesick. It really made me so happy! The lady said that she (mom) took it really well. I asked her what that meant and the lady said 'Usually they freak out, and ask all sorts of questions". I said "Yea, my mom's pretty cool", the lady then said "You must be the youngest", I said "No actually I'm the oldest" Kind of a funny conversation. But I gotta love my mom! 

I left the foot doctor very grateful for crutches, and I went back to the doctor the next day for a recheck, and the doc told me to stay on the crutches. So I was on crutches all Wednesday, and Thursday. It was miserable. By the end, my arms and hands hurt more than my foot did. But I'm perfect now :) I kept wanting to call my crutches chopsticks, and one Elder called them sympathy sticks. I didn't use them all the time so he would kind of get on my back about it and say "Luo Jie Mei, where are you sympathy sticks? Go get them".  It was fun. He also said something along the lines of "Wow Luo Jie Mie, look at you go, you should be in a marathon or something, you just fly". Because I hate going slow, so I continued to book it everywhere. :) Silly me. 

Wednesday: So I just need to say again that my Taiwanese teacher Wu Lao Shi, is hilarious. She had us do an activity where we wrote down our "weapon of war" as talked about in Alma 26:32 (my favorite chapter btw), and she had us literally go outside, and bury the piece of paper in the ground. Gotta love her. It was actually pretty cool though. 

I don't really remember anything else that happened on Wednesday, other than being in pain and hating my chopsticks/sympathy sticks. And being a little discouraged because this happened right before I left. 

Thursday: Sister Hughes had to go get her hand checked out by a hand specialist because her hand wasn't healing as fast as they though. So Thursday morning we had to miss gym (worst thing ever...) and leave the MTC...again. :) There was "real" music playing in the waiting room, and I gotta tell ya, I had to try so so so hard not to sing and not to listen. They took x-rays again, and determined her thumb had been broken, so she has to keep her brace on for another three weeks. She's not supposed to take it off except for showering, and washing her hands. But of course, being Sister Hughes, she takes if off to type, and write. Silly her. She doesn't everything so fast, and she hates being slowed down by the brace. Gotta love her. 

Oh my goodness we had the most amazing lesson with our investigator!!!! We committed him to baptism. Finally! We didn't know if he would accept, but it was awesome!!!!! The spirit was so strong, and it was even more amazing because I got a little taste of what it will feel like when these people that I love accept baptism, and even more so when they are actually baptized. I loved it! And am so so so grateful. Our teacher/investigator gave us a thumbs up for the lesson, which has never happened so it was a good confidence booster too! :D So happy!

Friday: Friday was in-field orientation. It was so long. It started at 8 am and went to 5 pm. But it was a bunch of workshops and stuff preparing us for the field. It was good, and I don't remember much of it, but I just remember feeling like I can do this. 

This week Wu Lao Shi had all the mandarin teachers come in and bear their testimonies and share advice and such, and it was awesome. Because the Spirit testified to me that I can do this. I don't have much confidence in myself in learning Mandarin, but I know (as I'm sure I have said before), that God has called me to do this, so that I can share the gospel with His children. And as long as I do my part, I will not fail, and that I will do this. My confidence is in God and Christ, not so much in myself. 

So we have three elders in the other zone who have this inflatable Olaf that sits in the hall by their room, Sister Hughes and I went and deflated it and left an anonymous note. Then acted like we didn't do it. Then the next day, we stole it and left another note. Kinda childish but we gotta do something to have a little fun!!! 

Saturday: Full of goodbyes to all the teachers, and a lot of pictures! It was fun though. Elder Ramanlal also had a bunch of leis from Hawaii, (he's from Hawaii) and we gave them to our teachers. We went around the room, and we all put one on their neck. It was great. I love my teachers and am so grateful for all of the other mandarin teachers. They have taught me so much and I have grown so much from their examples. 

Wu Lao Shi gave us individual interviews and it was really nice. She told me that I was going to be great. She told me she and Ge Lao Shi could tell that I had been blessed with the ability to talk to people, and to really love them. And she said this is such a great gift and that the people in Taiwan were really going to love me. She also gave me some tips about learning Chinese. She also told me that both her and Ge Lao Shi could see that I had the very important trait of pushing myself. She said they never had to help me improve or anything because they know that I am always looking to improve myself. It was really nice to hear, because that's definitely how I feel I am, but hearing it from someone else was a bonus.

Packing hasn't been stressful at all, and I really should be more freaked out. Last week I was more afraid, and I wasn't sleeping or eating well, but this week, I have only felt peace, and I can't tell you how much of a miracle that is. If you think about it, what I'm doing is crazy. I'm 19 years old, and I've given up everything in my life to go to the opposite side of the world to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, in one of the hardest languages to learn. From someone else's perspective this is crazy, but I can tell you with all of my heart and soul that I know I am doing what God wants me to do. I know there isn't anywhere else I am supposed to be, and that there isn't anything else I am supposed to be doing. I have been called of God to teach His word. To wear Jesus Christ's name next to my heart, and visible for the world to see. I am His representative and I have His power to find and teach those who are ready to hear the gospel. I know that this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel, and although it may sound a little crazy the way it happened, it's true. I know that it is, and I encourage all of you to find out for yourself. God loves every single one of you, and He knows you by name. He cares about you, and in your life. He wants you to be happy, and as long as you turn to Him you can be happy. He trusts you. He has confidence in you. This has brought me so much hope and happiness. As I said, I should be so scared, but I'm not. I'm completely at peace, and I have felt the Spirit testify to me that I can do this,  that I can and will learn Chinese, and that I will make my Father in Heaven proud. 

I don't have an invitation for you this week, sorry, but just know that I love you all so much. Even if we aren't close, it's amazing because I can truly say that I love you! I miss you all and I wish you the best of luck. I will admit, I am scared, and I know this is by far the hardest thing I've ever done, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, and I'm ready for the challenge. I hope you have a great week!!!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Luo Jie Mei

Foot doctor

Ge Lao Shi

Gifts, gifts, gifts

Merry Christmas

Injured Companionship

"Borrowing" Olaf

Saying goodbye

Showered with gifts

Sister Hughes always having fun

Wu Lao Shi

Week 8: End of the Beginning

Hey everyone!

So I've decided that I need to put my companion in a bubble. Or do something to protect her from ever doing anything again. She broke her thumb playing volleyball. Well technically she fractured it. Or jammed it so bad that there is a slight fracture … the point is that she is a problem child J. But seriously, there has never been a dull moment with Sister Hughes. 

This week was great! Although I have to say I'm really getting nervous to go to Taiwan. You'd think I would be itching to get out of here, and I was last week, but this week, with getting my Chinese name tag, and flight plans, I realized how easy I've had it here at the MTC, and I realized how much harder everything is going to get. BUT, I am surprisingly so excited and I'm excited for the challenge, which is something I never thought I would say. The only thing I'm really nervous about is the language. I feel like I have hit a plateau and it's not a fun feeling. I just feel like I never got into a swing of memorizing flashcards, and things like that. I'll be ok though haha. 

I finished a whole journal while I was here! All the devotionals were so good and I just have so much to write about. I've always loved writing in my journal though. 

So I had a really cool experience. It was Tuesday night and we were in devotional review (where we are with a member of our branch presidency, and we review the devotional as a district), and we were just finishing up, and I was a little full of emotion. The devotional made me realize that I wasn't sure how to put my whole heart and soul into my mission. I want so badly to make my Heavenly Father proud, and also my family, and so I was worrying a little about it. As we were finishing, I had the very distinct impression that I needed to ask for a blessing from my branch president. I was like "ok", but then I had the impression again. "Ask for a blessing tonight" I was like "ok I will" again. (This is all in my head btw). We said the closing prayer and I had the impression again "Ask for a blessing from President Newell". And again, I said "Ok, I will". SO I asked President Newell for a blessing, and it was amazing. For a few reasons, I have never had the Spirit talk to me so distinctly, and two, I didn't realize that I needed to hear what the blessing said. But it of course was exactly what I needed. It was such a testimony builder of the priesthood, and I "cried" a little because of how much love I felt for and from God and my Savior. I know that they know us personally. And I know that if you ask to know, and ask to feel God's love, that they will give you that witness. You will feel a burning in your heart and peace in your soul. That's one of the Holy Ghost's favorite things to do, is testify that God loves you. 

Sister Hughes and I had a really good lesson this week. Our "investigator" played a scenario where he lost his grandpa. The following lesson that we gave (after we found out about his grandpa), was the amazing lesson. We asked him to pray in the lesson to know if God was there, and the spirit was so strong. It was really awesome because even though this was our teacher and it wasn't a real investigator, the Spirit was still there, and the Spirit testified to me that this gospel is true, and that I am truly doing God's work. It was so so so great. 

I also learned this week a powerful lesson about reading the Book of Mormon. Every time I've read the Book of Mormon in a lesson, I felt like I was reading a book about what we believed. But I learned more fully that we aren't just reading a book, we are reading God's word. It's something I've always known, but it was a very powerful moment for me. We did the MTC training thing again, (where we are an example district), and it was amazing because the teacher helped us to feel the power of the Book of Mormon. Basically she told us a little bit about herself, and then she said, "How do I feel the power of the Book of Mormon? Everyone always says it is so personal to them, but how do I feel that?" And she "picked" on Elder Ramanlal and put him on the spot and said, "help me". We ended up reading Moroni 7, just starting at the beginning, and the Book of Mormon truly spoke to her. It was amazing. I know that didn't describe it very well, but the Spirit was so strong, and I realized that it is so important to have our investigators experience the power of the Book of Mormon for themselves, and not just when they are reading it by themselves, but in the lesson. Clearly I learned a lot this week. 

I also learned a lot from Sister Hughes this week: She loves to freak people out. And she has really good scary faces. Quote from her "I like to freak people out, it establishes power". She's a weirdo, but that's why we get along. We truly were a match made in heaven. 

This week, I'm working on having more personal prayers, and truly talking with God. I invite all of you to pray sincerely. It doesn't matter if you need to get to bed, or don't have a lot of time. Talk to God, tell Him how you feel. Express gratitude, report your day, tell Him about your day tomorrow, pray for others by name, pray to overcome temptation, and to have humility and charity. God has given us a way for you to communicate with Him. The creator of this world, this universe, our souls, has allowed us to talk to Him. Isn't that amazing? The least we could do is take a good 5,10,15 minutes to TALK with our Father in Heaven. He wants to help you, and He wants you to be happy. But the only way He can do that is to turn to Him. If you have PMG, go to pg 93-95, or the section about praying with faith. Do the evaluation on your personal prayers. I know that if you do, you will feel a difference in your life. You will be more patient; you will feel God's love. You will be happy. I love the temple! I know that it's the house of God and I love the spirit and comfort I feel there!

Love, 

Sister Roberts

Luo Jie Mei

Chinese Name tag

District with President Newell

Special handshake with Sister Erickson

Sister Hughes with cast

Care package from Grandma and Natalie

Mandarin Elders

Roomies with Christmas cheer

Singing Hymns at Temple with Abby & Chase Toronto