Wednesday, September 5, 2012

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

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