Finally Some Pictures!

The one of a lot of people was my district in the MTC. They all are such awesome people. I am sure they are doing great things as missionaries. My teachers are in it as well. Sister Kao and Brother Moore. They were so awesome!

Painting my bike... it is a mission rule that you have to paint your bike ugly
because too many missionary bikes were getting stolen. So it was a sad day, but
my bike is sweet. It is so horrible looking. I doubt anyone would ever want to
steal it!On my way home from the grocery store... all loaded up or should I say down!
Glad the grocery store isn't too far away!
At the temple last week. It is so beautiful. I am not sure this picture does it
justice. It has an amazing blue roof. It is so cool, it is a temple, but still
has the Chinese twist to it.

My MTC companion, Sis Azure and I, with our teacher. Still the most amazing
person I've met. She has such a sweet spirit and is so humble. She is from Hong
Kong. She speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese(as her first), and portugese. And
I am having trouble with Mandarin... 

August 29 Letter

HELLO FAMILY!

So I brought my journal with me today so I could remember some of the fun things
that happened this last week. But before that I have two questions I want to
answer first. One is from mom and one from Kate.

Kate's first... in her letter this week, she asked if I rode my bike a lot or
the bus... Well, there is no bus! We ride our bikes a ton. We average over 30
miles a day! One of our investigators who is supposed to be getting baptized
this Saturday lives a 1 1/2 ride from our house. We ride there every other day-
it is killer, but it is all about the work. The most quoted analogy in our
mission. Is the one about Lance Armstrong and how he does everything for the
yellow... eats, sleeps, works all for the yellow. Since we spend so much time on
our bikes, we can feel we can relate to him (ha ha) except our yellow is
BAPTISM! It is pretty sweet. I use mom's story she told me about rowing  for
past on ancestors... and use it a lot 100 (my chinese counting is getting way
good!) more pedals for Grandma Margaret and so on. Mom, can you refresh my
memory about that story a little bit more. I tried to explain to my companion,
but it didn't really work. 

The next one was mom's "Do you get many interested in the gospel? Is the field
white and ready to harvest?" It is so white and ready to harvest. It is an
amazing thing. I don't know what is that is so special about our mission, but it
is special ( I know everyone thinks that about there mission, but mine is!) It
is the highest baptizing Asian mission. We baptize twice as many as Taipei and 4
times as many as GaoXian. And it has one of the highest retention rates. The
joke in the other two missions is because we have cell phones and they don't.
But I know it runs a lot deeper than that and has to do with who Heavenly Father
is preparing to receive the Gospel! The work is good, we could use a lot more
member involvement, but that will come with time as we work with members and
show our appreciation for them. Everyone just needs a little encouragement.

So journal stories... Well, the best one is probably the most inappropriate
one... but oh well, I think it is worth a share. So there are native Taiwenese
people who are like Native Natives... I can't think of the word in English. They
aren't modernized and are pretty out there. Well, we have been trying to meet
with this family who keeps contacting the Elders. So finally, we got out of them
where they live. They don't live in a "house" so they don't have an address. It
took us forever to find this place where they live. When we got there, only the
grandma  and the kids were home. She said that everyone else would be home soon.
So she invited us in. So in I walk... la la la la... AHHH! Stop dead in my
tracks because standing right in front of me is a naked man! He was about 35 and
was like, oh welcome. come in, come in. Not even flinching at the fact that he
was naked. He then told us I am going to take a shower, you can wait here. So he
left. Well, two seconds later he walked back in with a bucket of water. And
asked if we minded if he took a shower and talked to us while he did. My
companion and I stared at each other and told him that wasn't neccessary ad we
could wait outside. So outside we went. Well, shortly his wife came home and we
taught them a Gospel lesson. IT WAS CRAZY! It was my trainers first contact with
a native... so I guess I am pretty "unlucky/lucky" to have that one in my first
move call!

So this week is move call... I am a little sad- actually a lot! because three of
the people I met contacting are getting baptized next week. Maybe I won't get
transferred and will be able to still be at their baptism! It is pretty cool.
They call the missionary who initially contacted them their Gospel Sister. It is
an amazing feeling to be someone's Gospel sister.

Does anyone know of where I can get a picture of the following people...
Grandpa Ward, Grandma Margaret, Grandpa Bob, Grandma Audrey, William Ward
Shaver, L Halldorson, Robert Addie Stewart, Margaret Dornes Barr, Earl Deran
Young, Hilda Olive Morehouse, Arthur John Erickson, and Pearl Evelyn Peterson? I
am trying to finish my "My Heritage" book... it is so cool! I love it!

I love you all and am going to try to attach pictures to a different e-mail.
Don't want to lose this one if it doesn't work. I love you and miss you. I pray
for you everyday! Thank you for being such an awesome support! I don't know what
life would be like without you all!

Wo ai nimen!
Shao Jiemei!

August 22 Letter

Hello family!

Well, I am home from the temple and it was so amazing. I can say it was probably
my best experience in the temple aside from my first trip there. There was just
really something special about going through the temple for a Chinese sister. I
had so many questions answered and could feel the Spirit so strong. It was truly
a house of refuge and a dwelling of peace. Go to the temple... even if you can't
or don't have time to go through the temple... go to the temple. Feel of the
Spirit on the temple grounds. Take the little girls there so they can see and
feel of the Lord's house.

I just want everyone to know Satan is real and don't leave room for him in your
life. Don't get even close to the line- it is not worth it. When I first got
here, my mission president asked me what would be the biggest thing to distract
me from my mission because Satan would make it flashing neon lights (that
happened today when I saw Elder Anderson at the temple. Don't worry, I AM STILL
A FOCUSED MISSIONARY- but only because of the miracle of the Atonement and the
ability we have to overcome our weaknesses because of Christ) I have felt this
so much as a missionary. I have seen it in the lives of my investigators. Satan
knows our weaknesses and that is why we have to come unto Christ so we can
recognize our weakness and overcome them. I love that part of Ether 12:27- I had
never noticed it before... but the wording of when we come unto him he will show
us our weaknesses. So in order to recognize our weaknesses we need to come unto
him. So my invitation to everyone is take five minutes and read Ether 12:27 and
apply that and recognize a weakness you need help with! And after you've done
that rely on him and then read Jacob 4:7 ba!

Well, I am sorry this is so short. Know I know...this is the Lord's work! I am
doing all I can to help others recognize and know Him! The church is true. The
Gospel is restored!

I love you all!

Sis Shaver

August 15 Letter

Family! WO AI NIMEN!

I AM SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO GOOD! I've never been this tired and so happy at 
the same time! It is such an awesome feeling. I was reading the Message from the 
First Presidency in Preach My Gospel and it said they challenged us to rise to a 
new sense of commitment and so I took that to heart this week. AND IT FEELS SO 
SO GOOD! But seriously, I am so tired. If I stop moving for a second I am out! 
Good motivation to keep me going. It is going to be nice when I am passed off on 
the language lessons so I can sleep in until 6:30 instead of 6:00. I am sure my 
companion is going to appreciate it too. I am passed off on 2 of 5--- tonight 
hopefully, will be the third. My zone leader told me he has never had anyone get 
passed off in the first move call and that is the path I am on right now, so we 
will see. Keep praying for me!

So I got nine letters this week from family and Aunt B! It was so awesome! Thank 
you everyone... it was so so nice to get your letters. It made me happy and made 
me grin from ear to ear. Mom, you remember how you were saying Meg practiced her 
smile to have gums show when she smiles... guess what? I have gums show! Never 
thought that could happen with my tiny little mouth- but it does. And people 
think I am Asian when I smile and then when I speak Chinese they ask if my mom 
or dad is Asian. Random, eh?

So guess what? I didn't tell you last week because no need to worry, right? 
There was typhoon warning last week. It was pretty cool. It started raining on 
Wednesday and has been raining off and on since. The rice fields were cut 
through were flooded. I was soaked... through raincoats, clothes, everything. 
Even my bed was wet from humidity... it has stopped raining now and I am slowly 
drying out.

I love the mission! I love the adventure! I love sharing the gospel. I love 
smiling and having no idea what the other person is saying. I love when I know 
they are saying they don't want to hear the message and I just keep bearing 
testimony! I love when they come up to me and stare... I love when the little 
kids come running to me screaming "mei guo ren" aka American. I love when the 
little kids take me to their houses and we then get to share with their parents! 
So in case you were wondering... I LOVE LIFE! I love the gospel! I love my 
family! I love the hope I can have because of the Gospel and the Atonement! I 
love the trials I am having! I love the learning I am doing! I love the Book of 
Mormon! I love the Bible! I love this life opportunity! I love it!

Well, I have a few questions for everyone...

One of the tools we have in this mission is an awesome family history book. It 
is so cool... it is Chinese/English! It works really well here because people 
are very interested in people's family history and people's life stories.  I was 
looking through it and need some things from you to get it to work. This 
includes everyone this e-mail is forwarded on to...
1. A picture that you want to be remembered by forever!
2. Your birthplace
3. Marriage place (if married)
4. A story that sums up your life.
I think that is it. So if you could mail these to me that would be awesome! And 
so so appreciated.

Before I forget, we are going to the temple in Taipei next preparation day. So I 
don't know if we will have time to e-mail or not. But I will have time on the 
bus to write letters. So if there is no e-mail next week don't worry! It is 
because I am at the TEMPLE IN TAIWAN TAIPEI! It is arranged so we will go there 
every other move call. That is way awesome especially since it is out of our 
mission boundaries. We are a special mission- we even have cell phones. 

Well, I love everyone. The e-mails this week were so awesome. I don't know why- 
but they were just right. Kept focus, but still let me know life was good for 
everyone and everyone was moving forward! Keep writing. I love the e-mails and 
letters. I am going to call Laura and Eric out for a second, I was looking 
forward to seeing another picture of pregnant Laura. Where are you two? Ok ma?

Mom or dad, I don't know how Ensigns work... but we only get one between 
companionship and for some reason all of us missionaries are Ensign hogs. Is 
there any way you can send me the Ensign? If you can, that would be awesome. And 
if it is do able maybe it in English and in Chinese. I would love to share with 
my investigators and the members from it. Don't worry about it if it is too much 
work. 

Wo ai nimen!
Be good!

Shao Jiemei!

DVD on the Dan Jones box

Pres Hoer sent a video of Anna and the new missionaries preaching in a public mall. Anna looked so good, Mom and I cried to watch. She is on the Dan Jones box and also singing with the group. A must see for generations. DAD

August 8 Letter

Nimen hao! Zem ne yang?
Hello! How's it going?

Wow! I didn't know that President was sending you the video. That is pretty
awesome- you'll have to make sure to keep that so I can watch it when I get
home- the projector was broken when we watched it- so we didn't see the whole
thing. Glad to hear mom cried--- Sister Hoer told us that was our goal for our
mission to return home to our mothers and have them weep because they know we
gave our all to serve the Lord. So mom, prepare to cry! Wow, that was such an
awesome experience. The more I think about it the more I want to go back and do
it again. I want to get back up on that box and declare so much more- my
testimony (especially about the importance of this work) has grown so so much!
If you serve in that area, you get to do it once that move call. Pray that I get
to serve in that area!

Well, it seems like just yesterday I was sitting in this chair e-mailing home. I
hope the whole mission doesn't go this fast! I don't think I would like that
very much!

Wow, so zone conference was amazing! President and Sister Hoer are amazing and
the missionaries here are so so amazing! It is such a honor to be here on my
mission- I am glad this is the place for me. I strongly disagree with people
saying that people who go Chinese speaking just come home from their missions. I
don't think I will be the same person when I come home- I am not the same person
from my first day on island.

So finally a story that doesn't have to wait till I am home to tell--- just
kidding- kinda. Well, I broke my fourth watch. My companion and I were
contacting. I saw a lady on a scooter so I ran beside her and tried talking to
her. She seemed way interested so I was really focusing on making sure I go the
Chinese out. At about that time, I realized that a car had just run into me. I
didn't really feel it at all. And then I realized why I didn't feel it was
because all it had hit was my watch. So needless to say, my watch was shattered,
but I got a new investigator.

Well, I am going to try and attach some pictures to another e-mail. Don't want
to lose this one in the meantime... it is all a guessing game because all the
directions are in characters- so we'll see if it works.

Well, I LOVE YOU FAMILY! I know this is the true church! I know that Joseph is a
prophet of God. I know that through him Heavenly Father restored so many truths-
as the commercials say "Truth Restored."

Wo ai nimen!
Sister Shaver.

p.s. Our preparation day is on Wednesdays... so the e-mails will probably come
at about the time this one and last weeks came...

July 31 Letter--Settling Down in Taiwan

Hello family! And friends...

Well, I am in Taiwan and starting to get into the flow of things. A mission is
an amazing thing- it is the most trying and rewarding thing. Mom and Meg, so
remember when I said I didn't know why anyone wouldn't want to go on a mission
with all the promised blessings they have... well, I am finally realizing how
desperately I need those blessings and rely on them. They are a necessity! And I
am so thankful for them. I am so thankful for Jesus the Christ and all He has
done for each one of us. I rely on Him so much and can feel His love for me,
Sister Shaver. I know this is where I need to be and I know I am only having
these struggles and challenges so that my patience and faith can be tried and
can grow so I can be a more effective messenger of truth!

The language is a hard thing. I am studying 24/7 and working so hard and some of
it is sticking. It is pretty exciting when you study words in the morning and
than you hear and understand them during the day. I may only understand one
word, but I learned that word and worked hard for it!

I should probably explain two Chinese phrases, because I have a feeling I will
use them in this e-mail sometime. The first one is "ting bu dong." It means I
hear what you are saying, but I don't understand it. The other one is "ting de
dong." Which is I hear what you are saying and understand it. In a sentence I
usually "ting de dong" about two or three words and "ting bu dong" about twenty.
But I can feel Heavenly Father blessing me and see his tender mercies all around
me.

One day, when I was feeling rather humbled and really was seeking to know if
Heavenly Father was pleased with what I had been doing, I received confirmation
this is the Lord's work and I am doing His will. We were at the grocery store
contacting and I had prayed that morning to be able to say at least one thing to
one person that the Lord had prepared. Well, there was a mom and her baby
getting off their scooter. I hurried over there to share with her. I told her
who I was. And that I was so excited to be in Taiwan and share a message about
the gospel of Jesus Christ. I got the usual response of "wo shi fojiao, bu yong"
or in English "I am Buddhists and don't need." I smiled and said that is good,
but the message I have can bless you and your family. She turned her head and
seemed to be interested for a second. I told her about Joseph Smith and stumbled
through the first vision in Chinese. It was about this point I realized she was
listening and not walking away. I told her we can live as a family for eternity.
And that I would love to come visit with her and her family and share this
message. She said ok. And hesistantly gave me her phone number. (Sidenote: I
should've challenged for baptism, but I forgot. I know--- how do you forget
something like that?) Well, my companion called her and we went and met with her
(since then a few times). She has set a baptismal goal, is reading the Book of
Mormon, knows it is true, and loves the different feeling she gets when she
prays! I am so thankful for Heavenly Father and the opportunity He has given me
to be an instrument in His hands. Wanting to share the Gospel with others is a
good motivation for learning the language... there is no feeling quite like
feeling the Spirit burning within you and have no way of getting it out in
spoken word. It is a very humbling experience and a very motivating one. It is a
hard feeling to explain and one I hope I have only for a short period of time. I
have learned the power of the Spirit in unsaid words and feelings felt. As my
companion teaches sometimes I "ting bu dong" everything, but sitting there
smiling and saying a prayer in my heart, I really believe I add my testimony to
the words spoken.

So to make a long e-mail short! The mission is amazing. The language is hard.
The Lord is blessing me! And I am ready to learn, learn, learn and share.

I love all of you! I love this church. I love this work. I know it is the Lord's
work. I love the people of Taiwan. And I love the fact that I am a MISSIONARY!

Wo ai nimen!

Shao Jiemei.