Week 46: Goodbye Beautiful Yilan!

DA JIA HAO!

I MOVED AND I'M A SISTER TRAINING LEADER IN SONG SHAN! (I HAVE TAIBEI 101 IN MY AREA) AND LIFE IS SO GOOD!!!! I HAVE A BEN DI REN COMPANION!!!! (Taiwanese) AND SISTER DEWITT IS FINISHING TRAINING MY OLD COMPANION'S BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND AND AND AND AND AND AND AND AND LIN DX GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! 

WOW YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I'VE HAD TO WAIT TO TELL YOU THAT!!!!!!!!!!! 

I don't really know what else to tell you now!!!!! Monday was mission conference!!!! Which was super different then the last one. Elder Evans came and gave some good criticism/advice. I learned a lot. I felt a little overwhelmed and left kinda feeling like I'm too young to be doing this haha but also left with a fire in my heart and so much desire to do better. It's pretty great. 

Tuesday was P-day and we went to the park and played touch rugby! Then we had a zhen zhu or pearl battle (these little sticky yummy pearl gummy things that kinda taste like brown sugar). Basically what that is, is that we buy a cup of zhen zhu and then use a straw to spit them at other people haha. Basically like spit wads except nicer? I don't know haha. But it was super fun and kinda messy. Good last p-day district activity. 

Then Wednesday... we found out who was moving! Sister DeWitt and I were finishing watching some things for training and Sister Wong (my Sister training leader who I go on exchanges with) called me and asked who my new companion was. I asked who hers was and she said (in broken english) Cecily Renae Roberts! I was like "WHAT WHAT WHAT?!?!?!" So we finished doing our stuff then went to the 7 to find out who Sister DeWitt's new comp was. And it turns out that my other Sister Wong companion, (the one that I was with in San Chong), was training someone, but that she was having foot problems, and needed to be moved to a flatter area, so she was moved out of that area halfway through training and moved to YiLan and Sister DeWitt is training! Finishing training someone! How crazy is that??? I'm so proud of her cause that means I did my job, and she did hers. The goal in training is to help them be able to train if so called upon by the time they finish training. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED!!! I've never heard of that happening though here in this mission! I'm so proud of her! 

Then English class was our last little goodbye and then Thursday afternoon we left. 

Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday have all just been a blur. I've never been more tired in my life. Taibei finding is so busy and I'm just so tired all the time.... maybe I'll get used to it? Or I'll just be tired all the time who knows. Might be alittle harder mentally. But this ward is amazing!!! They are sooooo good to the missionaries and we have so many qing ke's! So awesome!!!! 

I'm excited to be in Taibei cause that means I can find someone who can cut my hair haha... I think about it everyday so maybe next week I'll do it. I'm also a sister training leader which is gonna be fun. It means that I get to see all the zone's key indicators and do training at zone meeting and go on exchanges with our sisters!! FUNNY FACT I'M SISTER DEWITT'S SISTER TRAINING LEADER WHICH MEANS I GET TO GO ON EXCHANGES WITH HER!!!!!!!!! HOW COOL IS THAT???? Well I don't know if we will actually go on exchanges or if I'll go with her companion but so far it's not goodbye forever haha. love it. I'm so blessed!!! And being a sister training leader, I'll probably be here for about 3 transfers. Which is super cool. I'm also so pumped to be with a companion from Taiwan!!!! Her english is pretty good and I'm excited to help her with English! It's gonna be so fun! She's sosoooooo sweet. She serves me all the time. She made breakfast for me and just always does little things. She's amazing! 

I think that's all I got for this week......oh my goodness I almost forgot the most important part. LIN DX GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!! He hasn't been confirmed yet because he couldn't come to church, which was sad because that was the first Sunday he's missed in over a month. But next week for sure. I have never seen him smile so big. And he looked so good in white! He usually wears black and it was just such a beautiful sight! He's amazing and I love him so much! President gave us permission to go and I was soooo grateful!!!! I know it meant a lot to Lin DX that both of us were there. So great!!!!

There are a few rule changes that President Jergensen came out with. Girls are going to teach girls and boys are going to teach boys....so that's a new change. Gonna be interesting. Just glad Lin DX was baptized before haha. :) 

I think that's all I got. I'm excited for this transfer and for this next adventure of mine! And I'm so grateful for everything that has happened in my mission that has made me who I am now! I love Taiwan so much and I love being a missionary!!!!

Love, from Taiwan,

Sister Luo

Zhen Zhu war ... (the spots are the zhen zhu stuck to us)

Sisters Ruled!!

Push ups in English class (dad wants to know why)

Final Yilan district photo

Saying goodbye to wonderful Sister Dewitt

Lin DX's baptism ... so wonderful!

Lin DX's baptism

Sister Wong my new companion

Awesome members and awesome food!

Week 45: Teach Better

Hey hey hey! Da Jia hao!!!

Well this week went super fast and honestly I don't even know what happened!!! On Monday, we went to the beach and it was so beautiful and so fun!!! 

I feel like this week, I was a little frusturated with not being able to keep our schedule as it was intended to go. I felt like things kept changing and that we wasted time. But it all turned out and we saw a lot of success. 

Precious Lin DX is doing so well and his baptism is this Saturday. Well his interview is on Thursday. We went over the questions with him last night and he's ready. It's very interesting because his testimony right now is based off of others and the happiness that he sees in others. I feel like he is a little depressed because of his family situation, and right now he doesn't have many friends here, but I know that this gospel has changed him, he just hasn't realized it as much. But I'm so excited for him and I just hope that we can both be there for his baptism! It would mean so much to him and to us!!

This week aka yesterday, Elder Evans came to visit. It was very interesting. It was so different from the last general authority that came. But he basically sat there and said "This is what you are doing wrong, and how you can fix it" He said it with love of course, but it was just not what I expected. And for a lot of the time he was talking, I felt very inadequate. I felt like there was no way that I could teach someone repentance and help them be converted to the depth that he was teaching us. But I also know that we aren't really the teachers. We are the preachers. We declare these glad tidings and the Holy Ghost is what teaches them. What changes them. And allows them to have a change of heart as they humble themselves and repent. I have learned a lot about faith also. I know that 99.999% of missionary work is faith and what I've learned this week is having faith in myself. I think because I haven't had as much success as I want or others have had, that I don't believe that God wants me to baptize. That God wants me to go through this struggle of working hard and not seeing much from my labors. BUT I realized that by having that xiang fa (thought) I wasn't having complete faith.  I remember from one of my first interviews with President Jergensen, he told me I was the only one that didn't see how amazing I was. And I think I forgot that for a little, that faith isn't just believing in God, it's believing in myself. And my ability to do this work. My ability to teach, and follow the Spirit. If I don't have faith in myself, I don't have faith in my calling. If I don't have faith in my calling I can't do the work because I don't fully believe God called me to do this. But I of course know all of this and I'm just working on having more faith all around because I know that faith is only way this work can be done. It's 99.99999% of missionary work.

Sister Evans spoke and it was my favorite part. I really feel like she helped me to realize how important faith was. She said something alone the lines of "Sometime, somehow, somewhere down the line, God will let you know that He recognizes your faithfulness" She also said that He is blessing me. He is sending blessings to my family, and I believe that. I know that even though I haven't seen the fruits of my labors like I thought I would, that he is there and that he is answering my prayers. I'm just so excited to go do this work with this new faith that I have! :D So great! 

This Sunday was bitter sweet cause we said goodbye to people. I don't actually know if it's forever goodbye because we don't know who is leaving yet but just in case, we took pictures with people and such. It was pretty fun but also sad :( I love these people so much. The people in YiLan are amazing and I am so grateful that I have been here and been able to be in this beautiful city. I love Taiwan so much. I know that this gospel is real. While we were with Elder Evans (which it was the whole mission btw so I got to see all my buddies), I really felt as though he was speaking from the first presidency. He talked about the white handbook, and about our missionary purpose/focus of "Teach repentance and baptize converts", and I just really felt like what he was saying was from them. But as I was listening, I just had the sweetest feeling of truth. I just felt in my heart that Thomas S. Monson truly is God's prophet on this Earth. That He leads and guides this church, and that even though he may not be able to do everything that he used to be able to, that God works through him to guide us. 

This work is real. I know it with all of my heart. I'm so grateful for this missionary opportunity that I have and I'm so grateful to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know our Savior lives and that He loves us. I know that through the Atonement, we can become stronger. We can overcome our weakness (which are super annoying and I just wish I could rid myself completely of), we can overcome anything because of the Savior and because of His sacrifice for us. He knows us. He loves us, and He is there for us to turn to. I love you all so much and hope you all have a great week! Who knows? I may not be in YiLan anymore. The chances are 50-50. 

Love from Taiwan,

Sister Luo

Pday trip to the beach

I love this picture

TW BBQ ... all you can eat!

Bag puke ...happened too many times this week!

Beautiful Sunset

Sister DeWitt teaching everyone around her :-)

We ran into this group shelling peanuts and they let us help them.  They were so fun to talk with!

The man in our building who helped us pass out English fliers

outside the 101 building

Sister Erikson and Hughs ... my MTC buddies!!!!  I love them! 

Lin DX and our awesome members Cai Jie Mei and Cai Di Xiong who helped teach Lin DX

The trio!!!

Week 44: Home Sweet New Home

​

Da Jia Hao!

So we finally moved :) I forgot to mention that we had found an apartment and this week we moved. It's 

​not much newer but has a working kitchen. The trade off was the bathroom. It's pretty old and beat up

​, b​ut we have 4 AC units and two are brand new! I love it :) We are just still in the process 

​of ​cleaning and fixing up a few things. The washer isn't hooked up yet because the nozzle doesn't match the 

​tap and our water filter is also not

​ connected yet​. We just don't have any tools otherwise I would try to do it myself. It's hard balancing mission time and finding time to do this stuff. But it's all gonna work out. Transfers are the 25th which is so crazy. Sister DeWitt is almost done with training! TIME FLIES! I'll just say that again.....TIME FLIES!!!!!!!!! I don't know how in the world we are already done

,​

 AND I'm over halfway done with my mission....anyway. 

Just a funny side note....almost everyday, I think about cutting my hair. It's too long and so annoying. It's not necessarily hot...just sweating is annoying and having to deal with it is annoying. I'm thinking going a medium length would be good.....except that I can't cut my 

​hair

 until I get back! Well not that I can't I just won't cause I've heard they don't know how to cut American hair here.....I should have cut off more before I left. Sorry that was

​n't so ​

important. 

It's pretty hot. BUT it's amazing 

​be​

cause I keep expecting it to get hotter. It has never once been unbearable and I'm so grateful. I really think God has blessed me with being able to deal with it. 

SO LET ME JUST TELL YOU ABOUT OUR AMAZING LIN DX!!! 7 days ago, he started quitting his 11 year smoking addiction

​,​

 and guess what

​?

 Today he's smoking 4-5. He surprised us the other day. It was usually 10 for a few days. Then one night he called us and said the pain hasn't been as bad. Then when we asked how much he smoked, he said 

​"​

5." But we heard wrong and thought he said 15 so we were really bummed. But then he said it again, and he only smoked 5!!! He's so amazing!!!!!! He's getting baptized the 27th. Which is after transfers....so I'm hoping that President lets one of us come back for it. He's really 

​quiet

 and not very talkative but he asked that both of us be there!!! 

​I​

 love him so much and this gospel is amazing! I have literally seen him change! He's more happy and just happier looking! 

So funny story! We went to look at the new apartment again because there were a few changes made. But we met our new gui tai (front desk guy), his name is Chen Xian Sheng (Mister Chen) and he is this little 73 year old man with no 

​teethe

. When he talks, his mouth is so little and he is just the cutest man you'll ever meet. Especially because when we tried to ask him if he was the gui tai he's like 

​"​

no.

​"​

 Then we asked him again "No" 

​w​

ith this little smile on his face. Then we were with the landlords and they said this is your new gui tai and he said 

​"​

yes

​"​

 haha. Then later we asked him again or said something about it again and he denied it. Hahah love him! And then he's like "I get to see you everyday" In the most broken English I've heard! And we gave him an English tract and he said "A lot of people walk by here. I'll share this with them" So we gave him some more English tracts. Then we were leaving but saw an ice cream tricycle, and we went and bought some ice cream, and we look back at him, and he's talking to this mom and little girl and showing them an English tract. And pointing to us. Amazing! :D 

Sorry that was kinda off topic. I'm just telling you things now. Nothing else happened. Went on exchanges. I'm just grateful I'm not in Taibei...but who knows maybe I'll be back there soon. 

That's pretty much it. I've learned recently, that God doesn't necessarily answer our prayers in our prayers. I feel like my whole mission life I've had this mindset that I can only get answers through prayers but I learned 

​this week ​

that that's not always how it goes. I've known

​ that​

 we get answers to prayers through other people and other ways, but I just need to apply it now. 

Sister DeWitt and I had a super great talk in WPS. She opened up and just expressed things that I had said when I first got here. Words that came out of her mouth were literally EXACT words

​ to mine​

. And it was cool. I can't say I necessarily knew how to help but I just love her and 

​i​

t's super cool how similar we are! :D 

That's all. I love you all and know that this gospel is true!!! I'll write next Tuesday because we have someone special this next Monday coming for a mission conference. I think someone from the 70. Yay! :D I love you!!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Our District & couple of members

District hike to a Miao on Pday

Making wishes at a Miao

Our District & Brother Cai - he helps us pei ke with investigators

District outing on P-Day

WU XS and XJ. Our waffle friends! We go eat waffles a lot and get candy from their candy store!!!! I love them!

Our huge new balcony!

Week 43: A Week Without Focus Is....Just a Week

​​

Da Jia Hao! 

This week we didn't see as many miracles and just weren't as productive. It's sad because I really felt a difference this week from the other weeks. President has told us that there

​ are​

 four things that will allow you to be a successful missionary. Faith, Energy, Focus, and Skills. And he says if all of those are "up to par" that you'll hit numbers and be a baptizing missionary. Well this week Sister DeWitt and I struggled with Focus and Energy. We were both so tired and we just think that 

​prevented us from being 

focused. We found out on Sunday when we talked about it, that both of us had been having thoughts of home and just weren't 100% here. If that makes sense. I think it started with me seeing the Olympics

​ advertisements​

. I love the Olympics and I'm so sad I can't see it. But it's not that I (or we) have been home sick, it's that we have just both had thoughts of home

​.  We

 will see something that reminds us of home, or things like that. I think it's the thing that I've struggled with most on my mission. Is not thinking of home. Sometimes I do great, other times I do hai hao. But we'll get there. 

This week Lin DX committed to completely quit smoking and set a 

​firm ​

baptismal date

​. 

He's so ready! His faith is building slowly but surely

​,​

 and he's reading and praying, and he said his prayers have been getting better, and I just know that he's gonna make it!!! We had a plan for him, but he came up with his own plan. He said that he's gonna quit half then every day quit one. So by the 17th he should be completely done and then have a week before his baptism!!!! I believe 100% that he can do it! I'm just worried that maybe he doesn't believe

​ he can​

. He's so amazing and I know that he can do it!!! :D It's been so fun working with him and I just hope that Sister DeWitt and I can see him be baptized together, before we split on the 25th. We will see. Right now his date is the 24th. AHHH time goes so fast!!!!

Honestly I don't really know what else to say. I just feel like my head was in 

​the ​

clouds this week. It went

​ by​

 so fast. It also doesn't help that one day was wasted waiting for trains and such. We planned to go up to Su ao, another city in our area but we have to take the train. Well we've been once before and everything was fin

​e​

. But this time, we are like "Wait we've been on longer than before. Well we get off at the next stop and we are like in the middle of no where. Literally no where. It's a train station called Yong Le. (It's funny cause it's the characters for eternal and happy. SO eternal happiness train station.) But the guy tells us that we needed to switch 

​at 

a certain station. We aren't too far away but the next train isn't for another hour so we just sit there and call people while waiting for the train. Then we went to JiaoXi that night but then had to wait for that train 

​...ugh.  I

t's ok this

​ next 

week will be better 

​:-)

. 

That's basically all I've got. We had zone meeting and I learned a lot from that. 

​I g

ained a lot of confidence and just realized how much I've grown in these last two transfers. I just feel like I have more confidence in who I am as a missionary. I've also been working really hard to study Chinese. And 

​to ​

just be better

​, a

lways trying to be better. I love this work and I'm so excited to have so much more time left! I know this church is true and I know my Savior lives!!!! I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Luo 

On the Train with Dong JM

Eternal Happiness Train Station

Eternal Happiness Train Station ... I look Happy no??

Yummy Taiwan mangos ... I can't get enough of them!!!

Week 42: Book of Mormon, the keystone of missionary work!

Da Jia Hao! 

How is everything this week? 

SO this week was a pretty average week! Saw some cool miracles. Mostly from lessons!!!! 

First one, we met with Peng DX and were going to drop him (which we probably should have done earlier but every lesson he seemed like he was going change so yea) this was the last lesson with him, and we get in and he lives with his girlfriend and won't marry her until he's 50 (money issues) anyway. We go in and were just going to say "let us know when you are ready" and we shared Alma 34 the part that talks about now is the time to change and repent, and we weren't even going to say anything about him needing to get married or anything but after we read the scriptures he said "Wait so if I get married, repent, and I can get baptized"? And we explained some more but we were so caught off guard. He said that he needed a little time to ask her to marry her but that he would. And jokingly he said "And if she doesn't, then I'll kick her out hahaha". He's awesome and the Book of Mormon is real. I've learned recently that without the Book of Mormon, we can't do this work. This book is the evidence of what we are teaching. If we didn't have the Book of Mormon, we would just be another Christian church. That book is true and I'm so grateful for it!!!

Also Lin DX has made a lot of progress and it's only happened since we started focusing more on the Book of Mormon! And we had great members help us teach and it went really well. He has completely committed to quitting smoking and he received a priesthood blessing this week which was perfect and I'm just so excited! He's really private but I have seen him change. He's completely changing and is becoming a little more open and just happier!!! He was blessed in his blessing that he would see the change that the gospel is making. I am so grateful for this church and the priesthood and the Book of Mormon. Precious Lin DX! He's set to be baptized the end of this month! Pray for him!!! Right now he's working on quitting one a day.

Other than that, it was just a week of finding and such. We went to the night market and played some music and sang as we english boarded (handed out english tracts) and it was cool. I love the power of music. It just brings the Spirit so well. 

Oh funny story! SO we needed to grab Sister D's violin from our house and hou lai (turns out) Sister D forgot the keys...in our house. BUT there's this running joke that we have where every morning I ask (or she asks) if we have the keys. Every time she says "Yup but it's ok cause I'll just climb up" Well guess what she did? She climbed up.........to the second floor only but holy smokes! She's a crazy one. Well I'm probably crazy for letting her! 

This work is real. I don't know what else to tell you! I am so grateful for my Savior and especially the Book of Mormon! I know that the power of member missionary work is real and I encourage everyone to share the gospel! I think the term missionary work sounds scary sometimes. Missionary work can be as simple as inviting someone to something, or sharing why you follow a certain standard huo shen me. Just do it and I promise you'll see miracles :) I love you all!!!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Sister Luo :) 

Helping to decorate 

The Elders played a joke on us and hid our bikes ... always some fun to be had

our bikes on the train

People have been giving us LOTS of bread!

I love Taiwan!!!

us doing our emails on Pday