Week 54: Miracle Melodie

Hello! 大家好!!!

"Hello everyone".

Well this week was pretty short. There's not much to say. We saw a really cool miracle since Wednesday. We were finding and we just had this incredible feeling about the area. Like I've never felt the Spirit so strong about an area to find. Well we were finding and shi jian dao le. The end of our time in that area came and we hadn't found anyone. We had planned to go visit this LA and we prayed to know if we should stay or go. We felt we should go. So we went and the LA wasn't home, she was on a business trip. We were kinda bummed but decided that before our lesson we would find. But we get a call and our lesson cancels. At this point we are a little discouraged. Not discouraged just a little disheartened. But we prayed and asked if we should stay in this area to find. I had the thought to go to an MRT station. So we did. Well we ran into a former investigator named Melodie. I've never actually met her before Friday. But she was on a Giant bike that looked just like a missionaries giant aka mine. And I was like "Wait I remember Sister Kitchens gave her bike to someone" Then I saw in her bike basket, Sister Kitchen's helmet, and made the connection that this must be Melodie. She's from the Phillippines and one of the most prepared people I've met. We haven't been in touch with her which is why she was a former investigator. Well we ran into her and she said that she told her family about the church and that her niece and nephew (maybe others) were baptized two weeks ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And they always ask her if she (Melodie) is going to church or not. She says no because of her work. And they are like "We will pray for you". Well Melodie has also been sick. She said that the morning we met her she had surgery and she said that she prayed beforehand and said "Heavenly Father, you know my heart and you know my desires. I want to go to church but right now it just isn't possible. If this is what you want me to do, please let me know. Please let me run into Sister Wang tonight." Well Sister Wang already left and is in Taoyuan, but she ran into us instead at the MRT station, and it was such a miracle. I was really gan dong (moved) by her telling me this because I know God is watching our for her. I was also very touched that God put us in the right place at the right time, and even though it seemed like nothing was going right that night, that God knew what He was doing, and led us to Melodie. I was also really grateful because I had been feeling that we weren't having success because we didn't deserve it.  But this experience really helped me to understand that God will lead us to His children as long as we are doing out best.

Sad story though, she fang'd us on Sunday night but that's ok... hopefully she will answer our calls. And if she doesn't answer now, it's just because her work situation. She will get baptized it's just a matter of when. But I'm just so grateful for this experience. 

I've been thinking a lot about how I only have 6 months left and thinking about my mission. I feel like I've had a pretty pu tong (normal) mission. I haven't had too many miraculous experiences like you hear some other people have. But I had the thought this morning while I was praying that maybe it's just because I don't need it. Sister Miller and I were talking before bed and we were talking about how the most important convert on our missions is ourselves. The mission is also about us and changing us and making us into who God wants us to be. But the funny thing is is that we only change if we focus on ourselves and give ourselves to God and this work. Because only through our selflessness and only through doing this work, will God help us have the necessary experiences that will allow us to be the disciples he wants us to be. I'm just so grateful for my mission and for everything that has happened or hasn't happened. When i had the thought about "Maybe I don't need it" I was just thinking that maybe I don't need those kind of experiences to be converted to God. All I need is the opportunity to show my faith. Which I've had plenty of those. Again, I hope that made sense. 

I think that's pretty much it. We don't really have any progressing investigators. We've seen a lot of miracles but they all seem to fall through...and we don't know why. Just no one that we are finding is sticking... but we've made goals to just use our time more effectively and be more obedient. We always have room to improve. 

I know this church is true. I have never been more at peace and had more joy in my whole entire life. I have never felt closer to Him and I know I am doing His work. I know that He is aware of every single person. And that He has created the perfect plan for us. Our purpose on this life is to prepare to meet God. And the only way we can meet God is through Christ. We are all fan ren (mortal) we all sin and make mistakes, and we know that no unclean thing can live with God because He's perfect. Well we personally can't just make our sins or that guilt go away. Which is why we need Christ. He came to Earth and He paid the price for our sins. He took upon Himself our sins, pains, sickness, sorrows, etc. He's met every single persons's life, and He knows how to help everyone. No matter how hard it may seem, I know that He can help us. If we pray and read the BOM, and go to church. And do what God has asked us to do, we can receive a remission of our sins, we can have Heavenly help in our daily lives. I know that as we live a life that is line with God's will, we can have eternal families. Our families will not end at the end of this life. We will be together forever, and we will live with God again. I'm so grateful for this plan and I can't express how much it means to me. I know this church is true. It's complete and it's perfect because it's God's church. It's also the same exact church that Jesus Christ established when He was on the Earth. And because of Joseph Smith, we have Christ's church in it's fulness. Words cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity I have to serve the Lord and to share the joy and peace of the gospel. I love you all and I hope you all have a great week. 

Until next time!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Sister Luo

羅姐妹

Yummy drinks.  

I'm drinking a chocolate drink with pudding in it.  My favorite!

Wonderful friends from Yilan!

Wonderful friends from Yilan

Facial masks ... I finally got to be a fox

Beautiful Effie!

Sister Trouble's daughter Cindy

Week 53: 時間(Time) Goes So Fast

Hello :) 

Well I officially am an old missionary.... only have 6 months to go....yikes where does time go? For my year mark we went up to the bu for a training and I got to see Sister Erickson from the MTC which was super super fun! We went to eat peanut butter burgers together for our year mark :) Super fun! Other than that it was a pretty normal day so not too special. But just a lot of reflecting. I've come a long long way. From speaking Chinese, to loving myself more, to having more faith, to a strong testimony of this work, etc. Just a lot of things have happened and I just can't believe that I'm here...a year later. Dad sent me a picture of the day I was set apart and I just can't believe it....it was a tender moment to just reflect on how a year ago I said goodbye to them and gave up my life to the Lord. It's been a journey and one that I would do over and over again. 

This week was super good :) Basically a lot happened from exchanges, to temple tour training, to interviews with president, temple day, Serene was confirmed, we lost our phone, I hit my year mark, etc. Lots of fun things. 

We went on exchanges with Sister Fenlaw and Sister Li and it was super fun! Sister Fenlaw and I just talked a lot and we saw some cool miracles. I was kinda stressed out because of the short notice of finding out when temple day was, we didn't have any lessons planned for Monday so it was just finding all day but I didn't feel completely good about anything that I had planned. I was just stressed because I wanted to have a good exchange but just became overwhelmed. Anyway, Sister Fenlaw arrived and we talked about the plan and decided to go visit a few LA's. Well we get to one house and she isn't home but it turns out her roommate was and her roommate said that we could meet with her. Her name is Xie XJ. It was just a quick contact but we hope that it turns out. Then we were heading to this other place (to go english boarding) but it was a little far away and I started to question whether or not we should go. And we decided that we needed to go to this other school, to go english boarding. So we did and we had one ama who came up to us and asked if it was really free so we said of course and talked to her and got her number etc. Then this other lady comes up to us and waves at me like she knew who I was. I waved back and she's like 'I met you over at ____ mRT station and you showed me _______" And just talked about how she had seen me before and we knew each other etc. Well I have never seen her before in my life but I pretended like I had. She didn't have the other person (that she actually met)'s number and she didn't give them hers so basically no one will ever know if we actually met but she gave us her number and she set up with us and is coming to scripture class!!! WOOHOO!!! Miracles! I learned again that I need to follow the spirit and not worry so much. 

Our RC, Eago taught me a very important lesson this week. I asked her why she was so happy and she said "Just don't be nervous/worry. Just let God do His work" and I was so stunned by her answer because it applied to me sooo much. I was like "yes I just need to worry less" :) I love her. 

Temple day was awesome and I'm so grateful for the Spirit. I don't understand the temple completely yet but I am so grateful for the peaceful Spirit and the incredible feeling that accompanies the temple. I felt so strongly that God loves me and it made me tear up and I don't know how to explain how I felt. Basically it just feels good and right. 

We also had interviews with president this week and it was super great. Basically he sat me down and said "what's on your mind?" So we just talked. I told him how I was again feeling like I wasn't an amazing missionary and he invited me to ask God how He felt about me. And he said something that really struck me. He said "When you believe in yourself, God will be able to do more through you" or something like that. I think that's something I'm going to remember the rest of my life. I just need to be more confident. I've changed a lot and am a lot more confident but I'm still working on it :) 

We don't have many progressing investigators right now, so we are working on it. We have a lot of great potentials that we are meeting with this week. We are meeting with this cute girl, Qian XJ. She has a baptismal date and said she will read the Book of Mormon etc. But she can only meet once a week because of work. We will see. 

I think that's basically it :) I love you all. I know with all of my heart that God lives. He loves every single one of us, and I know that He is in the details of the details of the details of our lives. I can't express my gratitude for Him and for all that He has helped me do and helped me to become. I love Him and I love His work. 

I also learned one other thing I want to share, someone shared this and it really hit home. "There's three reasons someone goes on a mission. 1. Out of fear. Fear of what others will think if they don’t serve. 2. Duty. Where they feel it's their duty to God and to others. 3. Out of love. Love for God. Love for the gospel. Love for His children" This is something I will share with others the rest of my life. I realized (or at least I feel like) the reason I came on a mission was mostly #2. Which isn't bad but the best is love. And I know that I'm there now. I love God. I love this work. I love His children. I go finding because I love God. I go out on the streets because I love knowing I am an instrument in His hands and knowing that through my efforts God is going to bring the happiness of this gospel into someone's life. I want to do this work because I want others to feel the joy and peace that comes from Jesus Christ. The feeling of being completely clean. No guilt, no pain, just joy and hope. Other's agency frusturates me sometimes because it hurts knowing they are turning away the greatest thing in the entire universe, but that's ok. That's just part of God's plan. 

I love this work so much and I can't wait to just soar this next 6 months!!!! Shi jian guo de hen kuai (time goes fast) Just believe in yourself more. Have a little more faith, and pray all the time. And life will be good :) I love you all!!!

Love,

Sister Luo

Sister Roberts

My package from home and a water bottle the Weddle's got for me

An example from our English class

How sister Miller felt when someone stole  our phone

Sister Erikson and I celebrating our year mark together

funny English menu

I found this photo in our apartment of the Liu family!

Moon 

hot pot

At the temple for temple days

I got to see Sister DeWitt! We happened to be kind of matching

Week 52 - Year Mark & Transfers

Holy smokes,

So first of all.....this week is my year mark. It was kinda crazy watching general conference because I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing last last year during general conference...and that I only had a couple weeks before I left to serve the lord for a year and a half...and look at me now. 4th area, 7th companion, and a lot of faith later, I just know I wouldn't be who I am without this opportunity to serve the Lord. Words cannot explain how grateful I am for this incredible opportunity and...I just don't know what to say other than I'm so grateful and I'm also grateful I still have 6 months left. This will be the best time of my mission I can feel it. I have more faith than I ever knew I could have and I didn't even know I lacked faith. But hou lai (turns out) God gave me all the necessary experiences to make me into who he wants me to be and here I go. 

This week was good! Sister Wang was transferred and is now in Tao Yuan. But it was funny cause we originally didn't get a text telling us we were moving so she was kinda bummed that she was staying because she's already bene here for 3. Well we were calling people and had a question so we called the AP's and she jokingly asked "So I'm not moving huh?" And the Elder said "What? Yea you are." So we took a little while to figure out what just happened. So she got moved and my new companion is Sister Miller. She's super cute! Looks half Taiwanese (I've had a lot of those haha) and is just super beautiful! She is an amazing missionary and I've already learned so much from her! She's two transfers behind me and we are just so excited to be here. 

We were doing WPS and we were praying about our baptismal goal for this transfer. As Sister Miller was praying I had the thought of 4, and my heart started to race...literally race. And I don't know if it's just because I'm super excited but I can't tell you how much I believe in this number. I know that if it's God’s will, we will have 4 baptisms this transfer. I'm feeling like we are going to baptize a family and we actually met someone who may or may not be it BUT if it doesn't happen in this transfer it'll happen while Sister Miller and I are together. AHHHHHH I"M SO EXCITED!!!!

So about this family, we were at a park the first day we were together and we were trying to find a LA's house, so we asked someone and then started talking to her. She set up with us, and the next day ching'd us Starbucks! (not coffee) and she became a new investigator (the way we suan (count) investigators just changed). So they don't suan as a new investigator until we meet with them once and then set up again). So yea she's a new investigator and we are really hoping that we can baptize her and her whole family, (family of 4). :D :D :D 

Serene was baptized this week!!!!! Not confirmed because of general conference (which side note she watched by herself, she's amazing) but yea! It was so awesome and I performed Redeemer on the piano (by Paul Cardall) and it was really awesome. She's so sweet and just an incredble example!!!! 

This p-day we went up to the Weddle's house with a bunch of other missionaries and just hung out with them. They fed us lunch and originally we wanted to go hiking but then it rained....I've heard it's supposed to rain a lot more in the winter and I'm nervous....cold and rain? Yikes.... jia you. 

General Conference was awesome and I just feel like I know how to be a good misisonary. I'm so grateful to be here and I loved hearing the comments the general authorities made about missionaries and missionary work. I have really felt so much gratitude to be a missionary and hearing general authorities talk about the gospel, just confirmed that I truly am God's missionary and that they support us. I don't know if that made sense. I JUST LOVE TAIWAN, AND THESE PEOPLE, AND THIS AREA, AND THIS GOSPEL, AND I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!! 

Side note, I also realized how awesome it is that I don't have to worry about anything except the people. I don't have to worry about money, school, dating, etc. I'm kinda free! And involved in the most amazing work in the world! How great is my calling?

I love you all and am so grateful for all the support I've had. I love yoU!!!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

羅JM

We ran into our investigator Claire at Dan Shui university

District outing on P day

Serene's baptism

General Conference ... can you find the girl that looks like me :-)

Watching General Conference

Outing with the Weddle's and friends

Pday at the Weddle's ... Sister Toronto and I got to hang out together!

And we saw the Sevy's!

Abby and I wth the Sevy's!

So fun to see the Weddle's

Week 51: Typhoon Ma? ... Typhoon :-)

HELLO,

First of all, I'm alive haha. The Typhoon was super fun actually. It was on Tuesday and we got to stay inside all day. Our house just leaked a little bit but it's all good. I just taped a bowl to the window to catch the drops. :) Pretty creative. Sister Wang laughed at me. Anyway, the Typhoon was pretty fun to watch and I just love Taiwan because they take Typhoon's like champs. In America everyone would freak out, but here they just tell everyone about it, tape their windows, put things inside, and then just watch the Typhoon. Actually there were a lot of people still outside, at least here in Taibei. Not a lot but a few. Then after the typhoon, they just clean up and fix all the trees and things that need to be fixed and that's it. Then prepare for the next one that might be coming this week haha. Love it. I love them :) 

We just stayed inside and called people all day. I loved the "break" but I never want it again. It was so unproductive and just I was more tired from a day sitting and talking to people then i was out and walking...weird.

Wednesday we had district meeting, and before that Serene had her baptismal interview and passed :) Of course! And then afterwards, Chen Yeye had his baptismal interview and passed but then we found out that he had a super unique life situation so actually he has to get permission from higher then president to get baptized. So we will see. Serene was going to be baptized on Sunday but then her mom took her out of town so now she is getting baptized on Tuesday. YAY!!!!!! 

Thursday we went on exchanges with Nei Hu sisters which was fun! Our schedule kind of ended up being weird but Sister Peck and I saw a cool miracle. We just arrived to this LA's house (that we've never met before) and I was like "oh darn, actually she might have moved." Sister Peck says "well maybe there's someone here that we are supposed to meet." I was like "You're probably right" so we turn around and start talking to this women and she accepts and almost set up with us but didn't because she couldn't promise us a time and said it gave her stress haha. Next week though :) 

Friday, we had MLC. Missionary Leader Council.  It was basically all day and I'm just so grateful I get to be a STL. I love being trained from President and Sister Jergensen. They are incredible and so in tune with the Spirit. Our key indicators are changing this week which will be fun. 

Saturday, we did temple tours. We were at the temple all day doing tours which was fun. I saw the Seevy's again!!!! And I was there when Brother Seevy found out that Paul got his mission call!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! SO FUN!!!!!

Sunday was fast sunday and I feel like for the first time I really felt the power of fasting. Probably just because it meant a lot to me. I had a lot I needed God's help with and I know that God is there. My testimony is always the same but I know He lives. He loves us all, and that the plan he has for us is real. It's so real. Like 100% real. :) 

I am so happy. I really feel like I'm doing alright as a missionary. And it's crazy to think that this time last year, is when I was preparing to go on a mission....wow. Time flies. Let's just not think about it haha. 

I love you all I know this work is God's work and I know that we see miracles here everyday. President said something at MLC that I loved. God is in the details of the details of the details of our lives. I know that's true. Trust in Him. :) I love you!!!! have a great week!!!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Typhoon Tian :-)

Eago's baptism

I got to see members from Yilan!

Melissa goes home this week!!  Typical Abby :-)

I was able to see Lin DX at Fireside!!!

Taipei Temple