5/27/2013

WAAAAAA!!!!! Holy cow!! I got like 20 emails this week from friends and fellow missionaries serving all around the world, so I'm super excited right now!! PLUS, this week has been so amazing. 

I have to tell you all.  The first week here was hard, but now I feel like the time is going faster and faster every second.  My mission life is filled with so much JOY right now, and I am living every second to its fullest.

  

Alright.  So, This week was full of miracles.  TOO MANY MIRACLES. I don't think I have enough time to explain all of them, but I guess I'll try.

First miracle:  This week, my bike lock was super rusty, and after a lesson with an investigator, I tried to open it up, but the key hand broke off, and I was like, "Zou Gou Le"!  (OH MAN!) WAIT, but first, that morning, I had been reading in 1 Nephi and read about all the visions that Lehi and Nephi got to see, so I said a prayer asking the Lord to let me know sometime that day if my faith was sufficient to work miracles.  So, when the bike lock wouldn't open, I was like, "Great!! I'm going to say a prayer, and it's going to open like butter!" - So, Sister Lai and I said a prayer right then and there, on the road next to our bikes, and after the prayer, guess what?! - IT WOULDN'T OPEN.  So, I thought to myself, "Why isn't God helping me open my bike lock?! Is my faith not strong enough!?" - So then, Sis. Lai walked around the corner, and guess what we found... A key smith!! - A lock smith! * I don't even know what they're called because I can't read Chinese characters, and even if I did, I wouldn't know how to translate it to English... Anyway, I lugged my bike right around the corner, and the man helped me crank my bike lock open with some pliers.  Anyway, he didn't even charge us a dime, and it took me some time later to realize the full meaning of this small but meaningful miracle.

The bike lock is like our investigators, recent converts, and less actives.  We as missionaries hold the keys and have the authority to preach God's gospel and soften their hearts... Likewise, sometimes the hearts/locks of these people are hardened and too hard for us to unlock/soften by ourselves alone.  Here comes the role of the lock smith.  The lock smith is like Christ.  He's the one who actually softens the hearts of the people, who helps them listen to and receive the gospel.  Without Him, we are nothing! BUT, before He opens their hearts, we must try our best, work our hardest to help these people, and it's not easy.  We must pray and we must search, and we must put all of our heart, might, mind, and strength within the work.  Only then will He soften the hearts of the people in HIS OWN WAY and in HIS OWN TIME, and how much does this all cost?! - NOTHING.  Through the Atonement of Christ, we can all be partakers of divine exaltation and eternal life for FREE.  All He asks is for us to be open, to humbly and sincerely desire to open our hearts and do according to HIS WILL and not our own.

Anyway, that little event answered my prayers this week.  I know that God loves us and knows us.  He knows me so well to know that such a small event would help me realize something even greater.  He knows me well enough to know that I pay attention to little things, little details, and He knows me well enough to answer my prayers in His own way.

So, this week, my faith has grown.  It's bigger than a mountain, and I am happier than ever.  I know that the gospel brings people together.  It's power is unfathomable and unconquerable.  If we have the faith to follow Christ and His example, study the scriptures, pray, and be diligent in service, love, and compassion, He will bless us with uncountable blessings. 

I don't have too much time left because I still have to email Pres. Bishop, but I know that my testimony is enough!! I hope you feel my love for you all! The church is true, it's growing, and we all are so important to the work. 

REMEMBER ALMA 31: 6-7

THROUGH SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS ARE GREAT THINGS BROUGHT TO PASS.

Also, on a lighter note, I curled Sis. Lai's hair today and made breakfast.  We are going to see the sea later with some recent converts today and are taking the MRT.  I can't wait!!

PS I'm so much better at contacting now! I went on an exchange with the sister leader trainer in Nanzi, and we contacted a lot.  I feel completely comfortable now and talk to everyone.  I love you all and think/pray for you everyday.

If there is anything I can do to help, let me know!! I'll write you a letter! :)

Love you all so much,

Sister Verina Chen

Sorry no pictures this week, my camera is out of batteries... I forgot to charge it!!

It's ok.  That means more pictures next week: There's a picture of me eating the yam honey stuff ("Mai ya Tang") that Mom and Dad used to feed us when we were little kids.  It's so good.

Then, there's a picture of me in my yellow poncho.  It rained a lot this week.  It's so much fun.  Sister Lai and I love singing hymns while riding our bikes every night on our way home/to places.  We love it.  :)

We also met an amazing prepared man on the street that self-contacted.  He asked us about repentance and forgiveness.  We give a lot of referrals like this to the Zuoying Elders.  We're still working on finding new investigators!!

Shalin is a new investigator.  She's 10 and comes to English class and church every week by herself.  She's amazing. 

We laminate dried flowers we pick over here and give them to investigators.  Sister Lai and I are experts at making little cards/gifts for the members/investigators.

Sorry for all these little notes!! If I had more time, I'd elaborate, but you know I don't!! :) LOVE YOU ALL!!

Taiwan Zuoying- 5/20/13

Hey family and friends!!

It's already been a week and a half since I've been here in Zuoying!! It was so good to skype and see all your faces, especially Jon Jon's.  haha JK.  I loved seeing all of you!!

Ok, so the first few days here in Taiwan were so crazy!! I think I was really anxious about the language and the people, and basically everything.  Things have settled in here, and I am SUPER comfortable now.  I feel like I'm at home.  The food is great, my companion is amazing, and the members here are so awesome.  There are so many cute Asian children over here.  It's so fun to give them little letters and candy.  They love that I'm from America and have a weird sense of humor.  ahhaha I also love all the adults and members in our ward.  They always give us doujiang and all sorts of Asian delicious treats.  I think I'm gaining a lot of weight... Don't be surprised if I come back and look like Santa Claus...

Just kidding.  I'm not that fat... yet.  So the miracle story for this week is as follows:

Sister Lai and I were sitting in our apartment, very studious, when I decided to look outside the window. It was so dark outside and looked like it was going to rain, so I said, "Lai Jiemei!! It looks like it's going to rain!!" (in Chinese) and then a SECOND later, LITERALLY, it started POURING rain.  It was hilarious.  We just looked at each other with the biggest eyes and started laughing.  It was "Shen de anpei!"  (God's timing/doing/planning... something like that).

Anyway, everything has been doing very well.  I passed the first chapter of phase 1 yesterday to our district leader.  I have made a language plan and have an hour to study every day.  Sister Lai is teaching me to write Chinese, and so whenever I write letters to thank members for food or to cheer them up, I write a line in English, Sister Lai translates it, and I copy it down on the line below.  It takes a long time at first, but I'm getting faster and recognizing characters even better now!

Every night when we bike home, I like singing hymns with Sister Lai.  It's such a fun thing to do!!! I love riding bikes around Zuoying. 

Also, I've been able to play piano at church every week for relief society.  Yesterday, I was playing some hymns and decided to improvise a little.  Before the mission, I had a hard time improvising, but now, it's so easy, and my improvisations actually sound good!! It's so crazy.  I feel like God has really blessed me with a better understanding for music now that I am serving Him and putting Him first.

I know that God loves us and is aware of each and every one of us.  This week, I've realized how important it is to keep a journal and record everything that happens.  It's also really important to write down your goals.  A goal written down makes it easier to remember and then to accomplish.  I know that the time we have here on Earth is short, but that makes it even more essential that we cherish every moment and work hard to bring the world His truth.  God is REAL.  He listens and answers our prayers.  I see His mercy and love every day, and I know that we ALL can witness the same things. 

I love Taiwan and the people here.  I love you all so much. 

Love,

Sister Verina Chen

PS Sorry I didn't have a lot of pictures this week.  We only take pictures on P-day or in the apartment, and we haven't done anything exciting yet for P-day since we've been busy settling in.

PPS I cleaned the bathroom today and mopped the floor/reorganized the apartment.  I think I'm the first missionary to every actually CLEAN the bathroom... haha I've noticed my OCD coming out a bit more on my mission.  I LOVE CLEANING.

Ok, so a lot of the pictures are from last week.  For the ones from this week:

Me taking out the trash!

The fish that I say good morning to every morning outside our apartment!

My companion taking out the trash.

Me looking and pointing to Vicky's email address that is in my companion's book.

Taiwan-5/13/13

Dear Jon Jon (and the rest of the family) and friends,

It was SOOOO good to skype/talk with you all on the phone today!

  

Ok. Guess where I am?!?! -I already told you... - ZUOYING.  It's the smallest area with the most people here in the Taichung mission.  - Am I blessed or what?! Holy cow. 

And Sister Lai is awesome.  She's 25 and is a convert, born and raised in Tainan. I love her so much.

The 2nd night we were here, we did DAN JONES where all the new missionaries went to the night market, sung a hymn, and one by one, stood up on a stool to bear testimony and preach the gospel!! It was so fun.  Sister Burr was the cutest.  She got up on the stool and was swinging her arms everywhere.  It was great.  When it was my turn, my heart was beating so fast, but I started yelling (in Chinese), "HELLO TAIWAN! LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY! I KNOW THIS CHURCH IS TRUE! I KNOW THE GOSPEL BLESSES FAMILIES! - waving Book of Mormon around - I KNOW THAT IT CAN BRING BLESSINGS TO YOUR LIVES TOO!! I KNOW GOD LOVES YOU!!!"

And then we were each paired up with a senior missionary to go talk to EVERYONE we ran into at the night market.  I handed out a Book of Mormon, talked to a grandma selling plants on the street (SO CUTE), and said prayers with about 4 people.  It's great to see the looks that we get as missionaries.  :)

Anyway, today it rained cats and dogs.  The good thing is I got to wear my bright, neon, yellow poncho and bike through the city soaking wet behind my companion.  It was so fun.  I think I was laughing the whole time. haha Also, I learned something really important: DON'T WEAR MAKEUP THAT'S NOT WATERPROOF IN TAIWAN.  Seriously, man.  It's hazardous... Makeup in your eyes plus acid rain doesn't go well. It was so funny because we stopped at the light, and I looked at Sister Lai, and she was like, "oooh!" - And I was like, "Shenme?! Hei Hei de, ma?" (What? - Are they black?!) And she was like "Dui!" (Yeah).  Hahaha So, I rubbed my mascara off with one hand while steering with the other.  When we got to our destination, there was no more mascara.  haha It's like taking a shower in the rain. :) SO FUN!!!

haha I just looked like a crying bright banana riding a bike in the rain in the streets of Taiwan.  - BEST EVER.  Is the rain over here really acid?!

Sowhenever we hit a red light, we always talk to the people on scooters next to us.  The first day I got here, I was super shy and didn't talk to nearly anyone, but then I started talking to people because I figured, the worst thing that could happen is they could reject me and I'd probably never see them again since there are so many people here anyway, right? - RIGHT. I still have a hard time initiating contact, though.  - Working on that.

The Taichung mission is so different from the Spokane, Washington mission.  It's true.  People here are much nicer.  The weather is so crazy.  Today was the first really intense rain.  It's so beautiful here.  I love the people, the buildings, the food (MANGOES), the fruit (MANGOES), the weather, the church.  I love my bike.  That's my favorite.  It's so much fun. 

Being a missionary in Taiwan is so much fun.  It's like riding bikes all day with your best friend and talking to people.  It's only been a few days but we've already been able to visit a lot of people who need our help.  They are people who I am learning to relate to and open up to.  I love sharing my testimony, experiences, and the gospel with those who need it over here, and I can't wait to teach English on Wednesdays!!! :)

Ok.  I'll try including some pictures.  I hope you are all healthy and happy.  LOVE YOU ALL!!! (ESPECIALLY JON JON!)

-Love,

Sister Verina Chen

The pictures: My custom made bike!

- A picture I already forgot that I uploaded... I think it's of me and the other arrivals.

- Me and my home!

- Hot pot - Dad, we eat everything here.  It's the best food.  YOU NAME IT!

- Me and Sis. Graham (We arrived at the same time.  She was Sis. Burr's comp in the MTC.)

-SIS. Burr