My comp pat-patted three stray dogs

 Fun Taiwan fact, there are a mean amount of stray dogs here, especially in the more rural areas. My companion will not let them pass without giving them a good patty-pat and letting them know that they are "very good boys"-so sweet, but also, not cleansauce😆

 

 

  Besides the stray animals, it's been nice getting to know the people in this area too haha! We ran into a lot of people who are really humble and a lot who want to learn english so bad so you already know our Wednsday English group is BOPPING😆 it's been so fun to make relationships with and learn a lot from them too. OH also this week we're prepping for a Halloween party (SPOOPY season already??) so we went to a huge park and made mad huge soap bubbles to promote it! Hoping it'll bring the community a little closer and help us meet more people😊

 

  This week a girl had a COOL BEANS baptism. Our baptismal font in 頭份 is a little different from the ones we've seen before. Because this wards church is on the second floor of a building, we used a plastic assembled front that we need to lie a tarp in and fill it up with hot and cold hoses. So cool and so special! This Sunday we also got the chance to hear from Elder Dale Renlund, and his take on how to move on from here. He also shared with all the missions in Asia!

 

  To finish up, I want to share about the Holy Spirit. I'm grateful to have had His influence in my life, but it wasn't until I had to rely on Him that I found how vital He really is. The last few weeks I've felt a confidence in lessons and on the street that is so new and so good! Don't get me wrong, this doesn't make contacting easy, but we're starting to see a change in the people we meet. The Holy Spirit gives me confidence. He gives me the courage needed to face each day and through God's guidance, we can have confidence that our future is a good one.

 

Love you!蘇姐妹

ps we hit the beach this pday! *No I did not swim even though I wanted to...

"door creak"

 Yep so those rice fields I heard were in my new area? SURROUNDED by an abandoned metropolis. It's got some serious Twilight Zone vibes, for instance we were walking downtown because my bike still hadn't come and I'm pretty sure the same old man on a bike passed us four times on the same straight road. c r e e p y. That being said I'm kind of really loving the cleaner air and friendly people, it's been cool to see some new places too😊

Right now we cover Zhunan (竹南) and Toufen (頭份) area and what we're doing now is introducing ourselves to the members in these areas and prepping for a Halloween party. It's honestly been hard leaving my last area knowing that they'll be closed for 6 weeks but I'm grateful they have other missionaries that'll help them. It was also tough to leave our district and my comp, 顧姐妹，I love her! I learned so much from her and I was lucky to have her for a transfer, but I also know that she's got some good things for her waiting at home😊(我想你，顧媽媽! 尷尬的跳舞)

I've been thinking a lot about unity lately and this quote from Shanon Eubank hit me hard:

"..if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.”

Even though we come from different places, have different paths and backgrounds, we can stand to be a little more merciful with everyone; ourselves included. This kind of thinking is the only real way to happiness. Love you all!

Onion fields video

 

"Das nice dumplings"

 Whenever anything good goes down, we all look at each other and say "Das nice dumplings"

all together now...

Starting with transfers, this Sis is headed to 竹南! Sad to leave my first area and our friends and members but so excited to have a new start:)*also I here there are rice fields in my new place?!* Because not many people are able to come into Taiwan right now, we're short on sisters so it looks like my first area is closing for a transfer. Also, my comp 顧姐妹 is headed home! I'll  miss her so much but I know she's gonna do great things.

As for conference, SO many good talks and feelings... Just what the world needs right now😊That same weekend was Taiwan's birthday so you already know we went and biked past decked out presidents building whenever we got the chance! Other fun stuff, I'm an ONION farmer now, my friends. Pictured below are crazy cool fields of onions where we picked them and made onion rolls (好像抓餅，可是我覺得不是), SO COOL!

This week we've seen a lot of cool things and a lot of miracles go down. Even though there were some frustrating times, it's a nice feeling to know that I gave it everything when I served in 萬大, and that 竹南 is where I need to be. The Lord has a plan for each of us.

Ending with our Prophet's words:

"My dear brothers and sisters, as you choose to let God prevail in your lives, you will experience for yourselves that our God is “a God of miracles.” "

Love you!

蘇姐妹

You can call me Frodo

 STORYTIME.

Once upon a time, Sister Suisse got lost (ok actually happens a lot but this time was special). She didn't recognize the road and so she asked a passing sweet, little, old Taiwanese woman for directions.

This little grandma then proceeded to speak in fast Taiwanese, hopped on a MOTORCYCLE and began to speed through the windy streets. Not willing to turn down a literal quest, the sisters hopped on their bikes and quickly followed~

It's been a rockin' week, quests and all!

Still haven't watched conference (waiting for the translation, no spoilers please!) but we're already so hyped for it😆

This weekend was the moon harvest festival holiday ~中秋節快樂哦, and it lasts for 4 days! It's the time of the year where the moon is the biggest, and families all get together and eat barbeque (烤肉) which is also way different here because they barbeque tons of veggies, tofu, and pork blood cake too! 

Everyone gets so excited for this huge holiday and you can feel it in the air! Seeing people with their families made me a little homesick, but it just reminds me how valuable our families are ❤

I want to end with a quote from Elder Eyring:

"You will find some of your greatest joys in your efforts to make your home a place of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a place that is permeated with love."

 

I'm so grateful that I was raised in a home where Jesus Christ is at the center and where love is always a first priority. We have the chance, wherever life takes us, to spread this love to the people we meet~

Love you all! Stay safe❤

蘇姐妹