September 26 Letter--Moon Festival

It is Moon festival this week. Everyone has work off and is busy with family. So
we aren't having much success. They don't want to be bothered during their
holiday.

We went to a ward BBQ yesterday... "Eric and Laura" gave us a ride. It was crazy
how much Chiu di xiong was like Eric... he even did a song and a dance like Eric
does- except it was in Chinese. They have a little girl about one so he sang
Dora the Explorer for us. I can see Eric doing that for the little one on the
way.

Well, no other news- I love you all. 

Anna is Safe

Hello family!

I got an e-mail from Kate asking if I was safe- I am safe.

It was pretty crazy. All of Taiwan had the day off except for the missionaries. We still went out proselyting- and it was probably one of our most successful days. We went tracting and everyone let us in because there was a typhoon and it wasn't safe to be outside. So we taught a lot of families- we will just have to see how they respond now that there isn't really still a typhoon. (Sidenote: Mom, don't read this... I have been in Taiwan two months and have had two typhoons and one earthquake! I've got pretty good odds.)

The work is going well. Having a native companion is hard work- my Chinese isn't so great and I miss speaking English. S Kang is very intense too- it has gotten to the point were she wants to pick my clothes in the morning and I have to wear my hair a certain way because more people ask her about me when it is that way. I am kinda struggling a little bit with that, but Pres Hoer taught me a very important principle. He said 99 percent of personal conflict is due to violated personal expectations. And that we have two ways to respond- one is to change the persons behavior or two is to change/ clarify our expectations. It has helped a lot to think of it that way. And any time I am feeling frustrated I ask myself "what personal expectation is being violated and realize that most of the time it is a personal wenti and I need to change. I am finding that I have been humbled a lot on my mission. If I learn nothing else on my mission- it will be so worth it because humility does amazing things- I have learned so much!

Well, I am loving the work. We have a baptism this weekend and then a baptism of five next weekend! It is pretty exciting.

Well, I have to get going, but I love you all! I am missing you all and love the chances I have to hear from you. Thanks for being so good about writing!

Wo ai nimen!
Shao Jiemei.

September 12 Letter--New Area

Hello all! The new area is amazing. It it a city- with millions of people. Ok, I
don't know if there are millions, but there are so many people. It is a little
bit hard because they are all so well educated, but a little on the prideful
side. We've learned that if they will let us meet with them they probably will
get baptized. We have a baptism this weekend and then a family the next! It is
so awesome. I love to see their lives change- I love to see the light turn on
inside of them. I never have really seen the light turn on before--- you can
actually see it in their eyes. You can see a difference in their countenance.
When we go to meet with investigators, you can tell by looking at them if they
have been reading and praying. It is exciting when they have been!

My new area has every American restaurant- pretty much. My companion, Sis Kang,
really wants to go to Outback Steak House. She has never been to one before-
being from a small town in Taiwan. So I am sure we will probably be going there
sometime in the next six weeks. It is crazy how fast time goes.

Opening the area hasn't been to hard--- our ward mission leader doesn't like my
companion. He refuses to talk to her and talks to me in English so she can't
understand. So that is a little awkward especially since I can't talk to him if
she isn't involved in the conversation (mission rule.) There are a lot of people
who have seen the missionaries in other areas and self contact us. So that makes
contacting pretty easy when they just walk up to you and say "shenme shi?" which
is like what are you/ who are you? We are having a hard time getting members
involved. We have two wards of about 25 people in each so we have to go on
"fenkai gongzuo" (splits?) on Sundays. Makes my communicating interesting- I did
understand that I had been asked to say the prayer in R.S. and bear my testimony
in Sacrament so that is an improvement.

Let's see... what else? We have a cultural center in our area. So a lot of
people from all over Taiwan come to it. So we get lots of referrals for other
areas. We actually are going to go there today so we can see what's inside. It
should be an adventure... President Hoer told us that is what preparation day is
about. Learning about and loving the culture. We have been encouraged to site
see--- so no complaints here! I can work hard for six days and then rest for
one- no problem!

Thanks for the e-mails this week. I appreciate them and look forward to my hour
of e-mail. I will send some pictures... Sorry they all are random pictures. It
is hard because we can only take pictures on preparation day, so it isn't really
an accurate portrayal of everyday.

I love you all and prayer for you daily!

Sis Shaver

September 3rd Letter--Woot Wo! I Am So Excited

I only have five minutes--- I love you all family. And you will be excited to
know the reason why I only have five minutes is because I have a NEW COMPANION.
I tried to stay very positive last move call, but it was hard. I got a call from
President saying... you passed your test. You have been called to open a new
area with Sis Kang, a native! And she is the highest baptizer in the mission!
She is also the hardest worker and President told me I'd have to pick up the
pace! So I am so so excited. This is how I had envisioned my trainer so I am so
lucky to have this opportunity my second move call. I am so excited and think
this move call will bring lots of growth and progression. My Chinese has already
gotten better in day.

Well, I am sorry this e-mail is so short, but I really love you all. And I am
forgetting myself and getting to work! I will e-mail not this Wednesday, but
next! I think it might be Tuesday for you- just the usual day!

Wo ai nimen!

Sis Shaver.