New companion, Sister Sumko, from Bountiful, Utah

Week 12 - Assigned new companion, Sister Sumko from Bountiful, Utah

September 24, 2012

 

I have been here for 12 weeks now. It is crazy! Some big things have happened in the last week... Move call came and took my old companion to Gaoxiong, and brought me a new one from Fengyuan. She is so great! We have only known each other for about 2 hours now, but her name is Sister Sumko and she is from Bountiful Utah. I bet we'll get along great! I attached a picture of her and will keep ya'll updated on the wonderful work here in Zhanghua. Looking back on the last 12 weeks of my life... woah. Hahaha I have grown and changed  SO much. My chinese has improved dramatically. I mean, I'm still lousy, but so much LESS lousy than before haha! I can understand what most people say most the time, but it's buyiding. I've started learning characters which is really hard but fun. I eat way more than just ice cream, don't worry. Chocolate and peanut butter too... heh heh, just kidding!!! I eat tons of rice and vegetables too, fruit of course, and noodles sometimes. I also eat lots of jelly stuff. It's like normal jello but way better and a million flavors, including peanut. I have definitely gained weight, but hopefully its more muscle than anything else haha. Oh well, I am only in Taiwan once, right? Haha

 

This week was really great. Sister Wainright and I were able to have a 3rd companion, Sister Tanner for the last few days since her companion is training. We were able to get a lot done and talk to almost 400 people last week! We have seen this goal really bless our work and we've been finding so many new people to teach. The wards are growing so much. We went to a kaorou, or bbq, but it is not like a normal bbq at all haha. First we ate noodles and toast, then was tofu, then came corn, and then came meat. Everyone just sits around little fires and there is a karaoke machine. It was so much fun!!! I also put a picture of some adorable little asians. The work is great!

 

Momma, so you're teaching classes now?? You are so LEHI!!! (chinese: awesome) Yes, it's pronounced like Lehi in the Book of Mormon, but kind of like you're yelling, LEE HIGH. How did you get started doing that? In Chinese I'd call you Song Laoshi (Teacher Smart!)

I'm glad you and Mary had a lot of fun, and I'm sure she misses you too. Seems like you've been getting to sew a bit more lately, that's great!!! You and Andrew did great on that Trick or Treat one!!! I'm SOOO glad you were able to have a missionary moment!!! I can't tell you enough how great it is to have members accompany the missionaries to lessons. I hope you get to do that often, because it makes all the difference in the world. I wish I would have been a better missionary in our home ward, the members help really makes all the difference. I was just so zoned in on whatever I was doing, I didn't even really realize when missionaries had investigators at church. That will be a huge change when I get home. I hope you both continue to help out the missionaries and their investigators there whenever you can!!! It is the happiest kind of work, and we can do it together!!! I feel like the personal experiences you shared with her were absolutely perfect. You are quite the missionary!!! I hope you and dad are still planning on going next year :) I am so happy for you both.

 

I can't believe Ryan is a month old... Rachelle and Sharalyn will have babies when I get back too! Man I am missing out on some important stuff, but this work will allow other families to have these same kinds of wonderful experiences! Absolutely worth it! Let me know how the backpacks turn out! I SOO wish I could watch Mama Mia with you and eat really buttery popcorn, but we've got a date for that next November :) I'm sorry I've been really bad about writing snail mail, but since my previous companion Sister Wainright is going home in a few weeks, she wanted to go out and do things every p-day. We can only write letters during that time, so I was rarely able to write you guys. You should be getting some soon though. This move call will probably be more relaxed.

 

About your talk, I am so pumped you get to talk about the restoration. That is something I get to teach every day. My first thought is to tell you to read Preach My Gospel chapter 3, lesson 1. It is a WONDERFUL explanation of the restoration and the many miracles behind it. One of my personal favorite aspects of the Restoration is that it is what stands our church apart from any other. All religions have really great parts! We know that for sure, but when Christ came to earth and established His church, only one church, why would there be more than one now? The message of the restoration is not a "here, let me tell you why you're church is bad and mine is good" NO. That's not it! Our purpose is to add to the truths people already treasure. We are all striving to do good things, help others, and become better people. The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us those tools. I forget where it is, but in D&C, there is a scripture that talks about how this gospel helps us have peace in this life, and eternal life in the next. The Church not only gives us immediate blessings, but those blessings are eternal and lasting. Because Joseph Smith restored the gospel, we have a living prophet that guides our families. Because Jospeh Smith restored the gospel, we have the Book of Mormon, which gives us all answers to life. Because Joseph Smith restored the gospel, we can all have all the blessings God so wants to give us. I know he is a true prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is our true and living prophet. I'm SO excited for general conference in a few weeks. I hope you are all planning on watching it! Sorry my thoughts aren't too organized but I know you're talk will go wonderfully!

 

Well I don't have much time this week since we need to go home and unpack and such, but I will write more next week!!!

 

Love always, Sister Smart

Liang Mama Baptism

Week 11 in Taiwqn!

September 17, 2012

 

I write to you with a full belly. I just ate more food than I think I ever have in my entire life... Including 12 scoops of ice cream... don't worry! It's a mission rule to work out everyday... hahaha. Since our zone has been working really hard these last few months, our zone leaders got permission to have a zone activity at the world's most glorious all you can eat hot pot. Hot pots are pretty common here. It's basically like a pot of soup that they put in front of you with a fire underneath (it's built into the table). You go get tons of raw food and then put it all in, eat it, and and go to it again. I did that like 8 times. Well actually, just like you Momma, I started off with dessert, THEN ate a ton of stuff... then dessert again. I am still so full.

 

This week I want to send lots of pictures again. The first few are of today (I'm looking quite USAish in my red, white and blue outfit)

 

1806:Tan JM, me, and Wei JM at shapu shapu, the all you can eat place. Tan JM is companions with Su JM and they are the only other sisters in my zone. 

 

1788: This is our beloved ice cream. They had about 6 different flavors, ice cream cones, fondue, and a dozen other types of ice cream and popsicles. It was a dream come true.

 

1786: Here's a close up of my masterpiece. Also shows you kind of what a hot pot is like. That silver thing in the picture is the bowl and it goes down into the table. That's where you put your food in to cook, and then you dip it in sauce or something and eat it. 

 

1766: I LOVE THIS FAMILY SO MUCH! This was Saturday night at the Liang Mama's baptism. They were baptized a few months ago and have truly found so much joy in the gospel. We meet with her every week and their daughter Rose is a cute little stink pot, but I love her so much! Ahhh, I love this family. 

 

1720: Last Monday we went up to Bagua shan, or in other words, Big Buddha Mountain! We got super sweaty on the way up because it is indeed a mountain, so sorry for the gross appearance. I'm sure you are used to seeing sweaty me in these pictures though, so oh well.  This was in part of the garden.

 

1709: Kissin buddha.

 

1672:This is the HUGE buddha, along with a cool looking dragon fountain.

 

1657: This is a lovely view of my beautiful busy Zhanghua. Millions of people flood these streets and I get to share the gospel with them!

 

1651: This is just funny... Remember how I said 7-11's are everywhere? YEAH. I guess the one on the corner wasn't enough, they needed a new one just a few hao's down. p.s. there is also one just down the street.

 

Oh I love Taiwan. This last week has been really wonderful. We were able to have Liang Mama's baptism (the pictures on my camera didn't turn out so I need to get them from my companion but she is using her camera so I'll send them next week) She is the cutest little lady and I'm so grateful I was able to witness her make such a special covenant with Heavenly Father. We were able to have 6 investigators come to church which felt really great! I was also able to go on sister exchanges this week, but instead of going to a new area, Sister Xiong came to my area and I took her around. It was really great and I learned a lot from her. I'm sorry I don't have more time, but I love you all so much!!! You are all in my prayers :)

 

Love, Sister Smart

Hola familia! - Another one of my favorite investigators is 77 year old Liang ama

September 10, 2012

Buenos dias familia! Isn't it weird to think that it's Monday here, but Sunday where you are? Just a random thought. Anyways, hello hello! This last week has been full of miracles and having lots of exciting things happen and being really exhausted at night yet being so unfathomably happy. alksjelfaj!!!! I wish I could put it into better words but I just can't haha. Here are some highlights.

On Monday we met with one of my favorite investigators- Liu Jiemei (the one who was supposed to be baptized last week but had the husband fandui.) We read with her the story of King Lamoni's father and how he objected his son following Christ and being baptized by Ammon. His father even tried to kill his son and Ammon, but Ammon stood up for Lamoni and wouldn't let him be killed. Once his father saw that Ammon really loved his son and just wanted to help him be happy, his heart softened and he eventually was also baptized. When we read this with her, we tried to help her see that while the Lord can bring about great and mighty miracles, we still must do our part. Liu Jiemei's husband still hasn't met us, but she is scared that he'll get even more angry about the situation if she lets us meet him. However, Wei Jiemei and I are practicing our big manly small talk about TV and stuff. We are not afraid to talk to him and help him see that we love his wife and just want to help their family have eternal joy! My chinese is not that great, and I have no idea how to have small talk with an angry man while eternal salvation hangs on the line, but I know that the Lord calls weak people to do large things so He can show His power. I am certainly weak, so this is a great chance for Him to do exactly that!

Another one of my favorite investigators is 77 year old Liang ama (grandma) (p.s. Mom & Dad: when I have kids, they are going to call you Ama [ah-mah] and Agong [ah-gong] Be excited.) She is the oldest investigator we've seen in a really long time, but she is more full of life than just about anyone I know. We try to teach her lessons but get pretty much nowhere since she interrupts us the whole time and brings up the most random stuff haha. She is the only Taiwanese person I've ever known to brag, she tells us the same stories every single time we visit, and she loves loves telling jokes and being sarcastic. Visiting her is always a good time. She is the funniest old woman! She mainly speaks Taiyu and doesn't understand some of what we say, so getting through lessons is really hard. Lately she had been saying that she was too old to be baptized and it was really no use. "I'm about to die anyways" she always said. We went there last Monday with the intent to help her set a baptismal goal and see the importance of it, however she just carried on as usual and wasn't willing. We visited her on Thursday night and started off with a prayer and hymn as usual. Immediately after she said, "So I want to get baptized this Saturday. That's alright, isn't it?" WHAT??!! Hahahaha it was so great. However she had only been to church twice (need to go at least 3 times before you can be baptized) so we set a goal for this saturday instead. While we had been meeting with her for quite a long time, she still hadn't heard many of the lessons. In order for her to be baptized the 15th, she needed to hear all the lessons and have her baptismal interview by last Saturday (which was only 2 days away from when we set the goal) When we went home that night, we thought of ways we could help her hear the lessons and understand what we are saying while also keeping her attention so she didn't get distracted. The next morning we got out 3 white pieces of paper and taped them together, creating a long blank timeline. Then we drew the plan of salvation really large, drew pictures to go along with it, and wrote out all the parts in characters (characters are really hard by the way) We also took several pictures from a gospel art book in case that didn't work. It kind of felt like planning to teach a class of 6 year olds for an hour. The time for her lesson came and it was a smashing success! We were truly blessed to all be able to communicate with each other, and were also able to help her understand the plan of salvation. It was one of the most fun lessons ever. We then met with her the next day and did the same thing for the Doctrine of Christ. prophets, and some commandments. That night she had her interview, and the next day she came to church! Everything is set for this saturday and she is so excited! Ahhh!!! So are we!!! It's great to see that even someone older and rooted in traditions can have a mighty change in heart and have a desire to follow Christ. I'll be sure to send pictures next week :)

Yesterday at church my companion and I noticed how the gospel really brings all types of people together. Looking around, I could see 77 year old Liang Mama talking to 14 year old Luo JM (a young investigator who dearly wants to be baptized but parents wont let her), a woman with 2 kids discussing her baptismal goal with a ultra successful business woman who is being baptized the same day, a normally silent teenager talking to an older woman about the Book of Mormon and so many more... People who, if not at church, would probably never meet. However, they HAVE met and they strengthen each other every sunday. It's so great!!! Why is the world so great!!!?? Sometimes it can feel easy to get discouraged when you see all the evil around, but we can always have hope through Jesus Christ! We know that through Him, all that is unfair in the world will be made right one day. I know that with my whole heart and am so grateful I get to help others come to the same realization.

Our mission president came out with a mission goal this month to talk to 100,000 people collectively about the gospel. I don't remember what the mission normally hits, but this is MUCH much higher and a huge goal. Our zone set a goal to be 10,000 of those. Further more, our district set a goal to be 5,000 of that 10,000. Lastly, my companion and I set a goal to be 1,500 of those 5,000. That equals out to 375 people a week, which is higher than we've ever done. We still want to hit all of our other goals too, so that means we need to be working smart and diligent. It's a little daunting, but very exciting!

To answer some of your questions Mom, YES. It is as hot as everyone says, if  not hotter. I can't believe how hot it is here haha. My clothes are suitable. I brought a few that I won't need till winter though, but I have enough to get me through till then. I bought 1 dress and 2 shirts that are better for the weather. Clothes are SO cheap here. It's hard not to buy some buy I am excercising some nice self control haha. I bought 1 pair of shoes here and then am using a sister that went home's old rain shoes which are great. I still kill cockaroaches daily, sometimes they are in my bed. I sweat more than humanly possible. We bike for hours a day. We eat tons of ice cream. And we get to preach the gospel. It's a great life that I love so much! I'm so happy to hear Shari is having a girl!!! You are all in my prayers! I miss you and love you! Have a great week and I shall write more next Monday.

Love, Sister Smart

Sister Smart and Wainright at the Taiwan Taipei Temple

Trip to the Taiwan Taipei Temple

September 5, 2012

 

Welp folks, it's photo time! Sorry the files are so big dad, but I finally switched it over today! However, these were all taken before that haha.

 

The first one is on the way home from Tapei today. That's the 101... I think. Anyways if you zoom in you can also see a bunch of homes in the side of the mountain. 

 

The next is beautiful Tapei Temple!!! Right there in the middle of a huge huge city is a little place of beauty and refuge. So clean and pure. Even looking at it makes you happy!

 

After that is matchy matchy day! My companion and I like to match sometimes... We get a kick out of it and so do most the women here. It's a nice little conversation started and also, its just fun.

 

The next is a typical breakfast for me these days. Mangoes are officially out of season :/ but there are still plenty of other good fruits. I don't know what that weird looking one is called, but its mushy and each little section has a big seed you spit out. The other I call water apple. I think it's a mix breed (breed... is that only for animals or can you say that for fruit too..?) anyways, the last is kiwi but yellow! It's so so much better. Breakfast sometimes also consists of mini honeydew melons, guava, watermelon, lemon jello, dragonfruit, or other stuff like that. It's a good life.

 

Lovely Wei Jiemei is modeling a nice goose egg. People give us these sometimes. They're not that great, but we eat them anyways. We just felt like taking pictures with them one time.

 

The random one on the street is my companion and I in Lukang! I can't remember if I told you we went there 2 weeks ago or not, but we did! It's a REALLY old city with lots of cool little shops. I saw Davido's brother Trevor in a picture on a wall in a fan store! That's why there's also one with me in front of a picture. Look for Trevor!

 

My companion and I at the temple today. Yes, we are matching again heh heh.

 

Well that's about all the pictures I have for you all as of late.

 

Time is running short, but I really want to tell you about my experience at the temple today. We woke up at 5 this morning and rode to the train station, there taking a bus to Tapei. 2 1/2 hours later we were there! The temple is so beautiful. It's smaller than other temples, but just as purty! We all had to take off our shoes before we entered, just like most people's houses here. After checking in, I take a look around and feel an immediate feeling love and peace. Even though my family is thousands and thousands of miles away, it was as if I had just come home. It makes sense since it is the Lord's house and He is our Heavenly Father, so it really was coming home. In the temple we make sacred covenants that allow us to return to Heavenly Father's presence with our families forever. After we have gone through for ourselves, we have the wonderful opportunity to go through for those who have passed away without a chance of hearing the gospel, and they have the choice to accept it or not. There are people who help us perform these sacred ordinances, and who talk us through some things. There were a few english speakers, but not enough for all of us... I somehow got a chinese speaker and had the opportunity to do it in Chinese! It was an interesting experience, because I didn't understand all that was being said, but I certainly felt the spirit of what was happening. I loved it so much and hope I can go back to the temple soon. Well my time is up, but I love you all and hope you know that Heavenly Father loves you so much. He watches over us and hears our pleas. Take care and hope to hear from you next week!

 

Love, Sister Smart