Transfer Week

 Zone pic

 Good bye, Xiao JM! :(

Man, I was so bummed when I found out I was moving.  I'll miss Yilan so much! But I guess this is Heavenly Father saying that my work there has been done.  I did get a nice pouring rain my last night in Yilan, and as we left it was sprinkling, and I got to see a beautiful rainbow! I love the simple things that Heavenly Father gives us. 

 Our first English lesson.  This is Guveline, from the Philippines,

and her English is awesome!  Xiao JM got to teach

her first English lesson and did great.

 Our last lesson with Steven and Carly!  I hate good byes...

 ELDER FACER!!!

Alright so my new companion is... Sister Wright! I'm now Sister Training Leader with her, serving in Beitou! (bay-toe) I made it to TAIPEI!!! I'm so stoked to be here, and it was nice to come home to somewhere I've already been, from exchanges.  We have been sooo busy!! In Taiwan, the STL's do a lot more than we did in Georgia, so that means a lot more time and responsibility.  I'm excited for it though! 

 Sisters pic (:

Sister Wright is so awesome! Her Chinese name is Ren JM, if I ever say that haha. She grew up in Florida, then moved to Vegas in high school.  She's way outgoing and loves to talk. She goes home in 2 transfers, though. We were in the MTC at the same time but we were in different zones and she was one transfer ahead of me.

We celebrated our companionship with ice cream bars (:

Beitou is so different than Yilan.  There are millions of people here!! Haha I feel like I'm back in Atlanta; star struck from so many people, except for they're all Asian here.  Beitou is famous for its hot springs, but that also means that the whole city smells like sulfur. Maybe one day I'll get used to it! I love the city life though!

 Haha, McD's bathroom selfie with a random girl (:

 I found Hanny at the transfer meeting.  She's the Elder's RC

             Sister Hill's last zone conference.  We met at my first temple tour.  I'll miss this girl! 

We got word that Elder Stevenson, the newly called apostle, will be visiting our mission on the 24 of November, which is so soon! I'm very excited to get to meet him and hear what he has to say!

Lately I've been thinking about the fruits of my mission.  A sister just this transfer had to go home because of sickness, and Sister Sagisi, our STL that I took her place, just went home. So I'm not trunky or anything, but I've just been thinking about what my mission really means to me.  When I'm standing in front of Heavenly Father, what will I be able to tell Him? I hope I'll be able to tell Him that I did everything that I possibly could to find and bring His children back.  That I talked to everyone I could, and bore my testimony with all my heart.  I want to know that I found everyone I needed to, everyone I promised I would find. I want to be a better disciple of Christ, more able to serve in the kingdom of God.  I want Him to know He can trust me; that I'm willing to do anything He asks of me.

 A little boy gave us a big leaf...

Well, I'm excited to see what this transfer has in store! I'm loving every day, and trying to make every day the best day of my life.  Who knew this life could be so amazing??!

Love, Feng Jiemei

 I'm obviously Lys' sister.  I broke my toenail while hauling my luggage around :(

Celebrating in My Heart

We got to ride on a golf cart while visiting the hospital

Happy Halloween e'rybody!

Sadly, in Taiwan, that means nothing. So I celebrated in my heart, and ate a Dove chocolate bar that a random guy gave me because it's too sweet for him. Zan! 

Quick shout out to Scott—Love ya, big bro, and happy birthday on Tuesday!

 Steven's baptism--Best day ever!! (he's on the left)

Chen Bo Han (right) helped him be baptized

Man, this week was the best.  First of all, Steven got baptized!! I'm so glad I got to be there to see it, especially since I've been able to teach him from the beginning! It's been really interesting to see his learning process.  He's always struggled knowing he has faith.  He questioned himself a lot. But he finally found the faith to move forward! Haha his favorite scripture is Alma 32:21, and I think it fits.  For whatever reason just lately, he's been all in.  He's been reading every day, coming to church every week, and so renzhen about the word of wisdom! He was definitely ready.  Ah, Steven.  As he was sharing his testimony in sacrament yesterday, he shared that he questioned about the WOW (word of wisdom) and why we can't drink tea and coffee.  But he said he would obey, even if he doesn't know the reason behind it.  He just wants to follow Heavenly Father's commandments.  That was great! He'll have better understanding eventually.  And then even better, pretty much every one after him bore their testimony on the WOW! Haha our ward is great.  Hurrah for Israel!

 temple day with Lin DX!  What a happy sight.

Secondly, we got to go to the temple and do baptisms Lin Xian Shan DX!! Oh man, it was great. I think that totally fulfilled one of my goals for the mission.  Go to the temple with our RC's! Guo Jiating is still trying to find time that they can all go together, but I have no worries about them.  They said maybe even this week.  Haha Lin DX was so excited to take his family names though, and we helped him at the family history center afterwards so he can do the ordinances next time.  What a beautiful thing.  As we were teaching him about the temple beforehand, you could just tell he understood how sacred the temple is.  He was so astounded by it.  This is what I am here for, like President Jergensen always says, "to make covenants." We help people get baptized to make covenants with God.  Then we help them get to the temple to make more covenants with God.  We help LA's come back, to renew their covenants with God.  That's what we're all about as missionaries!

 Ate chicken heart this week... and enjoyed it

One more little perk, I saw Sister Strong in the temple! She was there with an RC too.  It was so good to see her! I love those little temple-reuniting moments. I feel like that's how the Celestial kingdom will be. She was very happy to see Lin Dx and to hear about Steven, as well.  She's in Zhongli now, and she's doing great! 

                                            Look who I found in the temple--Sister Strong! 

As we were English boarding this week, we were able to talk with a person from China! I'm telling you, every Chinese person I've talked to is SOO prepared! When China opens, I just know that missionary work is going to burst on fire! I'm calling it: my kids or my grandchildren will go on a mission to China.  Let it be known.  I’ll have to start ‘em young learning to speak Chinese so they’ll be ready!

We had a really cool miracle last night! Haha sometimes I feel like people not from Taiwan are more prepared than Taiwanese.  But anyway, we found this awesome Philippine woman! She's here taking care of an ama, and she'll go back next month.  Her English was awesome though! I think it's when I find English people that I really remember Heavenly Father's hand in my life. I know how to do missionary work in English and relate to people.  In Chinese, I still struggle a bit.  There's talking to someone, and there's relating to someone.  There's teaching, and there's teaching by the spirit.  I'm still trying to find  the difference between those sometimes when I speak Chinese.  I know it will come, but it was just a nice reminder that I do know how to do missionary work.  The Lord will qualify me, and I just have to show my faith and act. 

 I had to climb up to our balcony again for the 4TH TIME!

One day, we will remember our keys.

Luckily, this time is wasn't raining.

This week's ponderizing scripture: Alma 5:27.  Right after my favorite, verse 26.  have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could you say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? So this kind of has two parts.  Haha I always love a good self-check call to repentance and being humble.  I can always improve on that.  The second part though, is relying on Christ's atonement.  we just read a talk this morning for zone meeting prep about teaching the atonement more.  Of course, it was by Elder Holland, and he just said we really need to make sure that our investigators and our RC's have a firm testimony of Jesus Christ and his Atonement. Thus, I was humbled again.  We'll definitely nuli this week. 

Well, that's all for now.  I love you, I'm praying for all those that I love at home, and I'm thankful for your prayers (:

Love, Feng Jiemei

                                            These are the elders' investigators...CREEPY. 

Just a Waiguoren on a Bike Wearing a Skirt

I guess it's p day again! You would think I don't have anything to write about, but we had quite a busy weekend. I did get the package, be sure and tell Pres Hughes thanks so much for bringing it! I almost forgot that it's Halloween time, but the treats were a nice reminder, and I've already got to wear my new outfits! Thank you! Haha and Xiao JM loves the kit kats and twix, by the way (: she'll eat one a day and then it gets too sweet for her.  Hope everyone has a fun Halloween weekend!

Our temple day last Wednesday was wonderful. That morning, our district all went to Costco!! Man, it was like stepping into America. The elders bought loads of stuff, but I was totally satisfied with Costco muffins and a hot dog. Haha the samples were all Asian noodles and weird 'healthy' stuff. 

 District COSTCO trip!!! Seriously, the best day ever

Mom, your friend, Sister (Alice) Xiao found me in the temple, and that was just the capstone of the temple trip. And yes, they did pray for the missionaries in the temple (: they didn't have a Chinese session at the same time, so poor Xiao JM had to come to the English one with me. What a trooper! 

We also had temple tours this weekend, and Steven was able to come, and of course, he had a lot of questions, which was great.  He can't wait to go to the temple! Believe it or not, we got to use the new iPads! That was a weird feeling. It definitely brings the spirit more when you use videos and stuff though.  Everyone thinks that the whole mission will get iPads for Christmas, but I won't believe it until I see it! Speaking of Christmas, mom, I honestly can't think of anything. Haha sorry I know you hated when Brigham and Joseph said that, but I'm happy with anything you send me.  I've still got the cute little stocking from last year, so that will be enough if you don't want to go through the trouble!

This was quite the week for my stomach.  I ate clams, pig's blood, shrimp, and octopus! I didn't even get sick! I would definitely eat them all again, except maybe the pig's blood, and now I'm motivated to eat this barbecued squid stuff that's always at the night market.  Haha Xiao JM says that my Chinese is getting really good because I will eat any Taiwanese food.  If that's what it takes, then I'm all in! 

Happy temple day (:

On Sunday during Relief Society, they played a song from Saturday's warrior! haha I'm sure everyone else ting bu dong since it was in English, but I quite enjoyed a little flashback to our Sunday mornings listening to 'Soft Sunday sounds" on FM 100.3.

This Sunday was another 'proud missionary/mother moment'.  Guo dixiong blessed the sacrament for the first time, Guo jiemei said the prayer in sacrament, and Ming Yuan and Lin Xian Shan DX both received the Aaronic priesthood.  I am so humbled to see them so active and just loving and embracing the gospel. I'm glad I've got to see them grow for at least one transfer more! 

 I'm not sure why pics with Guo jiating

is such a frequent thing. Well, here they are again!

This week’s ponderizing scripture is Alma 27:27.  “They were distinguished for their zeal towards God and men.  They were perfectly honest in all things, and firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.”  Haha just last night, we heard people whispering at the traffic light, "tamen shi momenjiao!" "They're Mormons!" Okay, it was probably just a waiguoren on a bike wearing a skirt that gave it away, but it's got to be more than that. I want to be distinguished for my zeal towards God and Taiwanren, have integrity, and be firm in my faith of Christ in order to let other people see our light.  It is there, and people do notice.  I'm thankful for the light that the gospel has brought into my life, and for the people I've been able to bring this light to.  I hope to see them all in the gaorong guodu!!

Love, Feng Jiemei (:

Temple Day--Does It Get Any Better Than This?

Happy temple day!!

We woke up early today to come email before the temple, but not as early as last time, thankfully.  our session is at 1 today, so we won't really get to do anything else while we're in Taipei. Going to the temple is worth it though! Man, this week was awesome. I feel like I became a new person!  

 Exchanges--back with Sis. Sagisi

Dinner with Carly.  The literal translation of what we're eating is "coffin"

We just finished with exchanges yesterday (with Sis. Sagisi again!) and she gave me a talk from Elder Bednar about the redeeming and enabling power of the atonement.  I feel like this week I have truly seen the enabling power of the atonement working in my life.  He strengthens us when we have nothing left.  He doesn't change our circumstances, but he gives us strength to get through anything! Just like in the BOM when the guy (yes, I can't remember who it is, don't judge) is wrapped in cords, and the Lord gives him strength to break free.  I love it!

 This is my usual breakfast-Passion fruit, kiwi, banana thing

of some other random fruit, and orange jam and toast--yum!

 Guess what I ate this week--Tofu and...pig's blood!

We had some great success with our investigators, and even our RC's this week, and we had a miracle lesson with Steven.  He said he wants to be baptized, for sure.  He's a little nervous about having to always keep all the commandments, but we taught him about the temple and how we have to be worthy to enter, and he's all for it! His baptism date is next Saturday, the 31st! Prayers for him would be awesome! Ah, he's wonderful.  

With our Lin Xian Shan DX, he's getting the Aaronic priesthood this week, and we'll go to the temple next Saturday with him! Wow, I just realized that will be a busy day! All the better. He's been so excited to go and just learn and be with the members. His latest thing that he learned is that Jehovah was actually Christ in the pre-earth life.  Haha oh the life of a recent convert (:

I really should have stuck with ballet...

Guo Jiating is also doing good! They had a death in their family last week, so we're holding off on getting MingYuan the priesthood for one more week. They can't wait to go to the temple though! Ahh, and neither can I (:

 Today was beautiful.  Had to capture this Kodak moment.

Haha okay, Xiao JM is so funny!! We've been really focusing on baptism this month, and we were trying to think of a good biyu (comparison?). She thought of a sneeze! Like before you sneeze, you're all uncomfortable and something's not right. Then you sneeze and you feel so free! So of course, before baptism, you may have sins and guilt and stuff, but then you get baptized and you're clean and free.  Not a bad biyu. 

 Kaorou--District BBQ!

We also had interviews with President Jergensen! I love that man. Hahah and he's as on board with Guo jiating as I am! We didn't really address anything too serious, but I'm definitely going  to gang hao with helping Xiao JM learn English! It will definitely bless her for the rest of her life, so I want to do all that I can to help her learn. 

The view from the mission office--*sigh*

Sorry, today's got to be quick! Oh I almost forgot this week's ponderizing scripture! Mosiah 3:19 for the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been since the fall of Adam, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and becometh a saint through Christ the Lord,and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, willing to go through anything that the Lord sees fit to put him through (paraphrase) and to be patient. It goes along perfectly with the enabling power of the atonement talk! It will be a great week for ponderizing.  

Love you!!
FengJiemei

 

 I just love Xiao JM (: