March 31 Letter-I have no companion

Hello family!

It is a new move-call. And I didn't move this time, but I am without a companion
for a day and a half. So I am having a member stay with me today and then a
different one spending the night and then one taking me to Taizhong tomorrow so
I can get my new companion. My new companion is a short term missionary. Which
means she will be a missionary for only six weeks. I am a little nervous because
this is her whole mission. She won't ever have a different companion. I met her
when I was serving in Shalu. She was actually the first baptism I saw in Taiwan
and now she is coming to be my companion! How cool is that? So it should be an
exciting move-call. She is a new member of July. She is 34 years old. She
doesn't speak any English. So should help my Chinese a ton. Which it needs.
Lately, my Chinese has been getting worse and worse... so I need to pick it up
and start studying more. We've just been so busy. We haven't even been taking
meal brakes. We are getting good at eating at lights. We would be good at riding
and eating at the same time, but Sister Hoer just made a new rule of not being
able to take our hands of the handle bars- bet mom appreciates that.

This move-call we have a mission conference and guess who is our speaker? Elder
RICHARD G SCOTT! How amazing is that! I will get to shake his hand... and even
cooler my companion will too. We, also, have the temple trip, General
conference, mother's day, my year mark-tear, my birthday and so much more this
move-call. I am looking forward to all the excitement!

Mom asked me about General Conference. Well, to answer, since I didn't even know
this week was general conference I am not sure what we are doing for it. I will
have a native companion, so I might have to watch it in Chinese and then read
the Ensign. She asked if the church was close to our house or if we rode our
bikes... Well, now that I have a sweet odometer I can answer that- sidenote:
this last move-call we rode over 300 miles. From our house to the church is a
little over a mile and a half so we ride our bikes. We usually have a few houses
we stop at on the way and ride with them to church- it is pretty fun... It is
like a train. We stop and pick up one scooter and then another and then another.
So by the time we pull into church there are these two foreign girls on bikes
with like five scooters behind them. No wonder people self contact us.

Well, I am loving life as a missionary! I wouldn't trade it for anything! I know
that this church is true. I see the light it turns on in people and nothing else
could do that. I know that Jesus Christ is there by my side helping me. There
are times when I am talking and words are coming out that make no sense, but
somehow the investigator understands. I know it is because that is the Spirit
communicating to their Spirit. It has nothing to do with me or even any words I
am saying... how amazing a feeling is that. Being a missionary is such a
humbling experience. There are so  many things I see now that I wish I had done
differently before, but that is the power of the Atonement and change. Because
of the Atonement I personally can change and become better everyday. I have so
far to go and sometimes it is so hard, but how much better it is for everyone!

My time is quickly closing... but I love you all and am missing you all. Mom
told me she hugged the sister missionaries the other day and she felt like she
was hugging me. Funny thing is lately, I have started to hug everyone. Taiwanese
people are not huggers, so the first few times it is really awkward, but now
they know they are stuck hugging Shao Jiemei. And they are starting to love it.
Last night after our lesson, we got up to leave and I was almost to the door
when the lady asked me if I forgot something. I thought my scriptures? And she
said no. bao wo yixia! Which is hug me! So mom I am glad you are hugging the
sisters because I am hugging you.

I love you all!
Wo feichang ai nimen!

Sister Shaver...

March 25th Letter--Say Goodbye to the Parasite!

Hello everybody!

The parasite is gone, but the weight is back. I think I got into the habit of
eating a lot while I had it and now that it is gone I need to start to be
careful. But I feel so much better and have so much more energy! So that is a
huge blessing.

Before I forget this coming week is move-call so the e-mail will come on Monday
so be ready for that!



This last week has been the best and hardest week. We had a baptism for two on
Saturday. One of them ended up not showing up to her baptism. I was so excited
for the one and so upset for the other, but it really opened my eyes to a few
things. (The one who got baptised is Huang and the other is Bai.) It just really
helped me realize the power and the importance of scripture studying verses
scripture skimming and praying sincerely vereses just praying to pray. Well,
Huang Jiemei was amazing and really did everything she could to understand the
Gospel and really received an enduring conversion while Bai jiemei just went
through the motions. The difference is so apparent now and really helped me
realize how important it is for me to really be converted and to be continually
trying to become converted and not just to go through the motions. It really
comes done to desire and what our desire leads us to do! I don't know if that
makes sense at all... yeah?


It was so good to hear from everyone and hear how everyone is doing. I am glad
that everyone is starting to find their place and what not. Congrats to mom on
the new calling. I wish you were in the Relief Society here- help the
missionaries! Seriously, you don't know what a big difference it makes when
members come up to us ask "hello, who is there new here today? or who can I sit
by?" So a plea of a missionary... help the MISSIONARIES! Meg, I am excited for
you... I think you'll love it there! Kate, I got two letters today! Woot Wo!
Liz, Morgan might be the cutest little girl yet! Laura, wow, Amos is cute and
push ups? What's that about? He is already a little exerciser. Dad, to the best
missionary in the family... I don't know if everyone has heard dad's "numbers"
lately. But you might want to ask him! He is saving souls!

Well, I love you all and am working hard! Don't worry about me! I am on the
Lord's errand... what better place to be? (besides on the Lord's errand with my
family. Can you imagine family missions? Our family is pretty intense... I bet
we'd do pretty well.)

Well as they say in Taiwan "xiao xin and jia you" Be careful and add oil to it!

Lots of AI! Wo ai nimen!

Sister Shaver  

March 18th Letter--17, Parasites, and so much more...

Hello family!

I've got some excited news for everyone... I have a PARASITE! Pretty gross, huh?
Well, I have been sick for about a month. Nothing that is keeping me from
working, but just like every time I eat I feel sick and I have some "issues"
right after I eat and what not. So I was losing a little weight and some energy.
So finally I went to go see the doctor and he diagnosed me with an ulcer. I
didn't really like the sounds of that. So I took some ulcer medicine and then
nothing... still just as bad. So we went to a different doctor and he did some
tests. And they came back positive for a parasite. So right now I am on parasite
medicine. It is very annoying, but I am looking forward to being healthy again!
So now I can say I got a parasite on my mission... that's kinda cool.

Well, I set another mission record for me this last Sunday. We had 17
investigators to church! I could not believe it. When the last one came in, I
told my companion I had to go to the bathroom. And I just went into the bathroom
and cried and cried. How thankful I am the Lord's work is moving forward. He is
blessing the people in Taiwan and preparing them to return to His presence. I
have no doubt in my mind that the Lord is mindful of all of His children whether
they are in Taiwan, America, Brazil, or where ever!

There is an investigator here in Xinzhu who has been investigating the church
for a long time. She is amazing. She comes to church every Sunday. If you didn't
know you would think she was a member. We have been working really hard with her
and she kept telling us I know you love this work and the Lord and will wait for
me. Last night, we saw a miracle and she is getting baptized on Sunday! We had
an amazing lesson with her. We read Enos's experience and just discussed it with
her. The Spirit was so strong. She had a member friend who was there as well. We
just kept testifying and challenging her. We invited her to be baptized on the
29th of March and she said she had stuff. So then kind of joking around I said
ok this week then? And she said ok. The words left her mouth... and I was
bawling, my companion was crying, and the member friend was hugging her just
sobbing. It was an amazing experience. The Spirit was so strong and we get to
see an amazing baptism this Sunday. She is going to be one of those new members
who will just build up the ward so much and just run with the Gospel! Ai yo!

I saw lots of fun pictures this week in the e-mails. I am glad to hear everyone
is doing so fine. Morgan's birthday cake experience sounds like one that would
have been worth seeing. Meg and Jessie look like City girls in the pictures...
not quite the Sister Missionary apparel I'm sporting these days. Zao gao, huh?
I, also, like the Boise Chinatown one. Where is that? Is it really a Chinatown?

Not too much else has been going on... just working hard, gettign over being
sick, and that is about it.

Mom, I am supposed to tell you hello from my favorite member here, Huang Ping
Ping. She took us grocery shopping today so we wouldn't have to ride our bikes
home with all our groceries. It is such a little thing, but makes a huge
difference! Small acts of service make all the difference.

Well, I love everyone! I hope everyone has a Happy Easter... I miss you all and
serisously love you!

Wo ai nimen!

Sister Shaver

March 12th Letter--Ai Yo!

Hello family!

This week has been a good week. We have the coolest investigator right now. Bai
Zi Wei is so amazing. She has come to church every week since we met her. And
came to the first potluck in Xinzhu on Saturday and then went to the baptism
afterwards. She is going to be baptized on Saturday. I am so excited! It is
crazy how much you love all of your investigators. I didn't think it was
possible to love so many people so much! It is very emotionally demanding and
sometimes draining, but more importantly so REWARDING! SO many highs and lows...
to the life of a missionary!

So I just read the blurb you wrote about me to the ward... wow, thank you so
much. (Somehow I missed that e-mail last week. Maybe it was because Heavenly
Father knew I would need it this week.) I think that was one of the nicest
things I have ever had said about me. I really appreciate it. I love that the
Turkey Trot made it into there... ha ha. It is weird to see my life written
down... qi qi guai guai! But thank you for taking the time to do that. I
appreciate it!

Well, this week has been good and kind of quiet. Not that any week is ever
quiet, but more so... We have a lot of really awesome investigators. We have
about 6 that have been to church more times than you can count on two hands that
are right on the edge. I am praying to know what to do and say so that we can
push them over the edge with the Spirit! So that they can see the blessings the
Gospel can bring into their lives.

Last night, we had a lesson with one of them. You could tell Heavenly Father had
His hand in it and had set it up. We watched Finding Faith in Christ with Huang
Xiao Jing. And she has been sick for about a month now. She's been to the doctor
and they can't figure it out- they told her to drink more water. Well, after the
DVD our peike asked her how she would feel about getting a blessing. Huang Xiao
Jing thought that that would be pretty awesome and said she had the faith. Well,
the Bishop came gave her a blessing and she is better. After we asked her about
baptism and she said she would pray... so we are praying for her. We really want
her whole family get to baptized with her. She has the cutest little girls. They
remind me of Ali and Carrie. It just was an amazing experience because you could
see how Heavenly Father was preparing her and how He was using us as His
children as the instruments in His hands. Especially the Bishop! Bishop Huang is
amazing! 

So Taiwan is good and time is flying. This move call has been the fastest one
yet. We have combined district meeting and interviews tomorrow. I am excited for
that. I love being able to ask President Hoer anything I can... I always
struggle with finding just the right question, but somehow (the Spirit) I get
every answer to every question I have. It is something!

Well, I love that mom and Liz are having a Preach My Gospel class. You'll have
to tell me all about it and what you are learning. Who are the other people that
come? Old? Young? It seems like that would be so fun!

Glad to hear everyone is doing good! Thank you for writing and e-mailing to me!
I love you all and miss you so much! Keep going!

Wo ai nimen! Wo zhi dao zhege fuyin shi zhenshi de he zui hao de! Wo ye zhi dao
zhege fuyin hui zhufu women ranhou gei women ping an gen kuai le! wo zhi dao
yuese simi shi Shen de xianzhi. Ta zhende kan dao Shen gen YeSu JiDu. Mo men
jing shi zhenshi de- shi Shen de hua!

I love you! I know this Gospel is true and the best! I, also, know this Gospel
will bless us and give us peace and happiness. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet
of God. He Saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is
true and the word of God!



Wo ai nimen! Bao zhong!

Sister Shaver

March 4th Letter--15 Souls!

Hello family!

This last week was an amazing week. We baptized two of the cutest kids (15 and
12) in the world. Their grandma is a member, but their family is not. They'd
been meeting with us and coming to church, but hadn't built up the desire to be
baptized. The younger one had an amazing dream where she was told to "lai gensui
wo." Which is come follow me. In 2 Nephi 31:1-12, it talks to us about why Jesus
Christ was baptized and it says those exact words in it. We shared that
scripture with her and the next Saturday, they were baptized.

It is amazing to sit back and see the way the Lord works. I am so humbled to
think He is letting me see these miracles (we got 15 to church this week!) I am
pretty sure it is because He knows I wouldn't be able to keep pushing so hard if
I wasn't seeing the blessings. My faith probably isn't strong enough. Just like
we are taught we will never be tempted beyond that which we can handle.

P.S. this is a sidenote! I HAD COLDSTONE ICE CREAM! AND ALMOST DIED OF DELIGHT!
Oh food... oh yummy!

We had exchanges this last week. I really missed my companion. It was weird. I
kept looking at the one I was with and thinking where is Sister Cassens? So
needless to say, I am glad she is back. Sister Cassens just fills the spots
where I don't. I think she is the first companion that has really filled in and
we've really worked in unity. Sometimes I feel like we are having too much fun
to be missionaries! But I really have learned this move call that is the way it
is supposed to be. It is supposed to be fun! This is the message of GOOD NEWS!
OF HAPPINESS! So it is good.

Now on a different note... we had a very different zone conference this last
week. We watched the Worldwide Leadership training. And for all that saw it they
know it was all about marriage. It just was kind of different to be sitting
there with a bunch of Elders and Sisters and being taught all about marriage. It
just is so different than anything I've been thinking about lately, but it
helped me realize the things that I've been learning on my mission and how much
they really are going to help me. Weird... enough about that.

Well, I love you all and miss you so much! I pray for you daily! Keep being
good. I love to hear all about what you are doing and how things are going.
Thank you for the e-mails and the mail!

Wo ai nimen!

Sister Shaver

The Audio tape is good

Anna's tape describes her activities spread over several days, some P day and some regualar work days. She chatters 90 miles an hour but is generally coherent. It captures her mandarin is some street conversations to. Very fun to hear and learn a bit more of the day to day.