April 29th Letter--On Fire!

Hello family!

Well, this week has been amazing and the hardest ever!

Sunday morning on my way to church, I got a phone call from our investigator's
daughter. She said her mom was looking like she wasn't going to be living
through the night and we should probably cancel the Tuesday evening baptism. I
cried through all of church and just kept thinking about Sister Huang and if
there was anything we could do to help. So as soon as church was over we booked
it to the hospital. Upon our arrival, I had an overwhelming feeling she needed
to be baptized and really needed the gift of the Holy Ghost. Call me crazy, here
laid our invesitgator with three IV's, a blood bag, and oxygen. I felt a little
ridiculous, but could not deny the Spirit telling me this women really needed to
be baptized. I talked to the family and the doctor in English to find out what
was going on. It turned out she had stomach cancer and was losing blood like
none other. She been throwing it up and now it was just leaking out of her. I
asked the family what they thought we could do to help. They looked at me and
said you are the missionary. I asked to be excused for a minute. I went into the
hall and just cried and prayed to know what to do. Here was a women who was so
excited after so long to accept the Gospel and now it was looking like it wasn't
going to happen. As I was praying I had the feeling, if the Lord wants it to
happen He will provide a way. I called my district leader and he came to the
hospital. He told me Sister Shaver she is your investigator--- think of a way.
We ended up calling President and finding a portable baptismal font an hour car
drive away. Her son went off in his car to go get the font not knowing if she
was going to pass away before he got back or not. He got the font and two hours
later was back at the hospital. Now where to do a baptism in a hospital. One of
the Elders said in the bathroom. So off they went filling up the font in the
bathroom sink. I stayed and helped Sister Chen change Sister Huang's clothes.
She had three IV's and a blood bag, so it was a very careful process. We got her
clothes changed. We said the opening prayer still not knowing how we were going
to do it. It was amazing to see how the Lord was leading every stage (even
changing the clothes.) It ended up taking four Elders and us carrying her into
the bathroom. Two were in the font and performed the baptism. We got her back
changed her clothes and did her confirmation. After the confirmation she said
she felt good. She said she knew that she was supposed to get baptized. We went
to the hospital yesterday and visited her and she couldn't stop talking about
Jesus. She said she is at peace and is thankful she had the chance before she
got sick to hear the missionary lessons. And how thankful she was that we never
gave up on her. She is no longer on the oxygen and only has two IV's. She isn't
going to recover, but I can see how much the Spirit is comforting her. She asked
her nurse to get baptized and meet with the missionaries and she said ok. So she
is still planting seeds. I have a feeling one day this week, we will need to go
say our goodbyes, but how much a blessing it was to know her and be able to meet
her two months ago and to help her be baptized. That is one reunion I look
forward too.

On another note, Elder Richard G Scott came and met with us! It was amazing. He
seriously is a man of God. He is pretty funny. He talked a bit about marriage-
said a wise man will look for a missionary wife. And that us as Sisters should
remember that. He taught us so much and bore such amazing testimony. Wow, the
Spirit was so strong. I don't remember what he said in his testimony, but it
changed the room. You could see and feel it. He taught us the importance of
learning from what we see, hear, and feel. He focused on the seeing and feeling.
He told us that anything we feel in a meeting takes precedence over anything the
speaker feels- no matter who the speaker is. So he challenged us to not write
down what he (the speaker) was saying, but to write down our feelings and what
the Spirit was saying. I learned more from doing that then I think I ever have
before. He told us to keep it under key and lock what we were learning. He said
it was that sacred. It amazed me. He talked about how the Brethren don't know
each other's experiences. They just know that they know that Jesus Christ lives.

Made me think about how sacred it really is. It really was sacred to me the
things I was learning and feeling. He, also, said he keeps it under key and lock
because he said a lot of the time the Lord is reprimanding him and he didn't
want people to know all that- he he. We all got to shake his hand and it was
just an amazing peaceful feeling. He even used my scriptures for a minute. Later
in his talk, he talked about how he loves looking at how people marked their
scriptures, I quickly flipped back to the scripture he had read out of mine to
see if it was marked- he he.

Today was the temple trip. AND I LOVE THE TEMPLE! It was such a peaceful
feeling. I didn't want to leave. it just amazes me the Spirit that is there.

I am getting a new companion tomorrow. And I think that was a tender mercy of
the Lord. It has been a hard move-call. Not only with my companion, but with
situations. It is hard because she doesn't understand what it means to me when
someone we have been meeeting with drops or stands us up and what not. So that
adds pressure and she thinks it is my fault. Which sometimes it probably is, but
as a missionary we already give ourselves enough pressure that it is hard when
you don't have your little junior companion's faith right there next to you
smiling and sayin we'll get her! Satan knows how to work on us and knows if we
are discouraged we are useless! so I am excited for a little bit of a burst with
a new companion! I have no idea who it is or anything. I just know that
President called yesterday morning and said help your companion pack we are
sending her home and you need to be here Thursday morning to get your companion.
Should be fun. Might be another duan chuan for the next week and a half- I don't
know, but it will be an adventure.

I think this might be one of the longest e-mails I've written in awhile. I hope
everyone has a minute to read it. Sorry, it is a novel. Just a lot happening.  I
hit my six month mark this week too and got a kick in the pants. Realized how
much more I want to do and how I need to get on it now! Shi jian kuai dao le!

So yes, I am good and loving the mission! Loving the work! Even the hard days,
who would've imagined. Sometimes when we get home at night I just giggle at
everything that has happened and think to myself- only on a mission and only on
a mission in Taiwan. The Lord knew I needed to be here in Taiwan and here
especially here in Xinzhu at this time. Oh how He has it planned!

I love this Gospel. I know the church is true because the Book of Mormon is true
and is the keystone of our religion. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.
And that President Monson is as well.  I know this Gospel has the power to
change! So let the change begin. I'm trying to let it change me... trying to not
be so intense... hehe. We will see.
I love you all and miss you.

I am not sure about my phone call and when it will be. I am going to have to see
who my new companion is and figure it out with her. I am thinking that I will
call on Monday morning here at about 7-10am. Let me know what time in there
works for you! I love you all!



Wo ai nimen!



Sister Shaver 

April 22 Letter--Thank you for the birthday wishes!

Hello,

Things are good here... Hard, but good. President Hoer told me he is proud of my
efforts this move-call. So that was reassurring. I am trying my best and really
really praying. I have had to change a lot of my expectations lately and that
has been an interesting experience.

Speaking of interesting experiences. We had an amazing baptism this week. It was
a women named Amy. She is the one in the wheelchair. It was a spirit filled
baptism. It took two brothers to baptize her and a primary chair, but it will be
a baptism I will remember forever. It was amazing to see her overcome a physical
challenge in entering the waters of baptism. It made me think of all my
investigators and think of all the challenges they had to overcome- most of them
were spiritual and weren't so plain to sight but really made me ponder on all of
the sacrifices and everything they each had done in order to prepare to enter
the waters of baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We had to help
this women change clothes, carry her to the font, and do every little thing for
her, but to see her come up out of the waters in tears and smiling was truly a
humbling experience. As she bore her testimony afterwards it was so apparent to
me her testimony of the Lord and how He knows what each one of can handle. He
knew her and knew she could handle this experience of being in a wheelchair. So
Amy Zhang is now baptized and confirmed! This was probably my best birthday
present. 

My birthday was amazing and once again strengthened my testimony in that the
Lord will provide in all aspects of our lives despite how silly and
insignificant they seem. We woke up and one of our investigators called and
asked if we could meet her by the train station and that she needed help. We get
to the train station and there she is with the member who had been to her lesson
the week before. They ended up not needing help, but wanting to take me to
lunch. The member said she wanted to take us to teppanyaki (a.k.a. a Japanese
steakhouse.) Can you belive that? I cannot! I thought this is a dream! But
really we went into a teppanyaki difang and it was good! Then we went and ate ic
ecream. Then we had district meeting and went to that. The Elders sang happy
birthday! As we were doing our little talks a member brought in a birthday cake
and we all got to eat birthday cake together. So that was just the start of the
day... it continued on and on. We had three cakes, two icecreams, and two HUGE
meals! I am still feeling full. So I was very well taken care of on my birthday.
The members in Xinzhu Taiwan are amazing!

Meg, xincu is like "hard working." Like when we are riding our bikes our big
hills people drive by and yell "xincu! jia you!" Which is like tough work and
add oil or lets go! Sometimes it is encouraging and other times it is like ahh!
you have no idea... te he he!

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. I loved my package from Kate! My
duan chuan is exciting to have tacos- she has never had them before. Liz and
girls, thank you for the little birthday cards... they are too cute. I miss you
all! Mom and dad thank you for the birthday card- the package should be here
soon. Laura thanks for the e-mail and allowing me to prolong birthday... yeah.
Meg thanks for the pictures... your hair is BLONDE. My companion thinks it is
pretty impressive. Is it still that color?

Sidenote: There is this little girl standing right next to me right now and
keeps saying hmmm hmmm... it is a little annoying and a little cute. I asked if
I could help her in Chinese and she ran away. So I guess problem solved.

Not much has happened this week. Wow, actually, kinda boring. Not much else is
new. Working hard and seeing blessings.

I love you all! I love this Gospel and the comfort it brings into my life. I
wouldn't be able to make it through this move-call on my own so I am so thankful
that I am not expected too! What a blessing.

I love you all! And miss you.                               

Can't believe it is already time again. I need the house number one more time
and need to set up a time to call. This time I think the time will be better
because it is only me calling. We are in church from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. So what
time would be best to call- before or after? I am not good at the time
difference. Just a quick time reference. Since the last time we talked till this
next time we talk is how much time I will have left. How fast it is going... I
asked President how to slow it down and he said be disobedient... but that
doesn't sound like a fun alternative. My companion Sister Flake is home and
married already! How crazy is that?

Well, I really love you and miss you. I love my mission. I was watching Called
to Serve with my companion and this translation is going to be really bad
because it was in chinese, but one of the dad's said something along the lines
of every missionary parent waits for the letter to come home where it is the
first real testimony of the missionary... like not the mom's, dad's, scout
master's or whoever. Is that true?

Wo ai nimen! We yao nimen zhidao! Wo meitian wei nimen zuo qidao! Ranhou Shen
gei wo yige tebie de ganjue--- ping an! Suoyi... ping an kuai le!

Sister Shaver

April 15th Letter

Hello!

Wow! This move-call is fun filled and like non other!! Let me just share a few
stories...

First, I had my first trip to the police station! Sister Fu and I went to help
our investigator fill out job applications at the Rt Mart which is like a
grocery store. I wasn't feeling super comfortable with this investigator. We had
had her have an interview with the Bishop- which is unusual for investigators.
He came out of it unsure about her. He suggested we help her find a job and then
go from there. So we took his advice. Well, it took her over an hour to fill out
a one sided application. She handed the application to the worker who started to
type information into the computer. As she started to type she got nervous
eyes... Right about this time our investigator takes off running! And the lady
starts yelling in Chinese. Mei Hui is seriously gone and my companion and I are
standing there stunned. Turns out she has a warrant out for her arrest. So we
made a nice little trip to the police station informed them where she is living,
her telephone number, and all that fun stuff. It was a blessing in itself that
my companion was Taiwanese and could communicate everything clearly.

Story number 2- We have an amazing baptism on Friday. Her name is Amy Zhang. She
is about 36 and paralyzed from the waist down. She was very unhappy with her
life and felt very alone. She came to church three weeks ago for the first time
and not one person treated her differently. They all were so good to her and she
loved it. She said it was the first time she felt love in her whole life. It
probably was my favorite lesson ever when we taught her about the fuhuo and how
she would have a perfect body. She got so excited just like a little kid! It was
pretty amazing to see the Gospel become so personal to someone and to really
give someone a hope that we could see in her!

Story three... We went to Zhubei to watch general conference. Which is about a
half an hour drive- which here in Taiwan is a long time. Conference was amazing,
but what was even more amazing is the number of investigators that made the long
trip to watch it and the testimonies they left with. They all want to know when
the next one is! It was pretty exciting to see them become so interested in
Prophets. That is kind of a hard principle here to teach because they believe
Buddha and a lot of other people were prophets. So it was good to hear them
talking about how Duoma Mengsun was a special man.

Story four... we have a baptism coming up that is also pretty neat. It is an 80
year old lady who has cancer. Her son and his family are members. They asked us
to visit her and she has been eating everything right up. She is ready to get
baptized. She can't walk or anything so we are going to do the baptism in her
house. We have to wait for the Elders in Zhubei to bring down the portable font
and then she will be baptized in her home. The Bishop has been taking the
sacrament to her family because they can't leave her and she has felt the power
of the Sacrament and really seems to understand the Atonement. She is cute she
says she knew Jesus when she was little. We asked her what she meant and she
said when she was little (IN CHINA) she saw a picture of Him and knew He was her
friend.

So yes, this move-call has probably been my hardest, but I have also seen maybe
not the most miracles, but the biggest! I have learned a lot this move-call and
will continue to learn for the next few weeks. It is a good experience and this
move-call will definitely be one I remember and cherish.

My companion is going home for the day today to rest for a little bit and will
come back tomorrow morning. I am going to stay with another member today and
hang out with her. She wants to go to the glass museum so we might go there...
not sure yet. It is kinda weird to be so non missionary but missionary.
President is really trying to make sure my companion is happy because if she is
not she goes home, Xinzhu closes to Sisters, and I go in a threesome somewhere.
We really just need more sisters. We are really short on them right now. So
encourage all the sisters to go on missions. A few sisters in our mission have
made a rule that no one is allowed to go home from our mission bigger then they
came out. Their thinking behind it is if we do it is bad advertisement for
missions. So guess I need to jia you in that area... te he!

Well, I am exciting for the next few days- have lots of fun things going on.
Zone conference, Lots of meals at members houses... everyone wants to treat us
out because its someones birthday. And actually my favorite member in the whole
world, Zhou Jiemei, her birthday is on the same day as mine. So we are going to
take out her friend who is our investigator and have the most amazing lesson
with her and then have her get baptized for our birthday wishes. Her friend is
amazing she goes to every activity and everyone thinks she is a member, but she
is waiting.... ai yo! So yes, our goal is to have her set a goal on our
birthdays. Last time we asked she said in six years! So should be good.

Well, I love you all and miss you so much! I hope everything is going well for
everyone! Lots of ai!

Sister Shaver!

April 8 Letter--Hello!

Hello all!

Another week has come and gone... I am here in Xinzhu with my short term. And it
is has been a very trying move-call. I am learning a lot and learning things I
never thought I would learn on my mission. And dealing with things I never
imagined possible. It is a very humbling experience. I am thankful for the
opportunity and am hoping this move-call will be the only one of its kind =).

Today is a tender mercy. The sister from Zhubei came down and is spending the
day with me. She is having some struggles with her duan chuan too so right now
she is companionless as well. So we are teaming up together. I am not sure what
this move-call is going to encompass. It should be fun and full of new and
different things. I just have to keep working hard and it will work out.

We haven't had the chance to watch conference yet. We will go to the stake
center this weekend and watch it. I am so excited to see it. It should be so
good. I think it will give just the spiritual boost I need and more! I am so
excited to hear President Monson's talks and everyone else's. Belinda sent me
the talk her brother gave about President Monson and it was kind of cool to read
it and learn more about President Monson. I feel like I have been out of the
loop her in Taiwan because it is all in Chinese and a lot of that kind of stuff
never gets passed onto the missionaries. They feel like of course the
missionaries know- they're like missionaries.

Well, I love you all. I pray for you all daily and can feel the power of your
prayers... speaking of power of prayers. We have an investigator who is from the
Phillipines. She has read the Book of Mormon through and has been waiting and
waiting to go to church so she can get baptized. Well, this Sunday after much
fasting and prayer she came to church for the first time. It was an amazing
experience. The Spirit was so strong and this is a memory I will never forgot.
Heavenly Father provides away- even if you are a Phillipina factory in Taiwan
who signed a contract to work every single day of the year. I still have no idea
how she got the day off. Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways.

I love this Gospel. I know the power of the Holy Ghost is real. I know it can
comfort us when we feel lost and alone. Because indeed we are not alone- the
Lord is right there beside us. Turn to Him!

Sister Shaver

Hard times the best times?

Anna's email this week (not posted yet) touches on the difficulties she is having this 6 week cycle. Her current companion speaks only Mandarin and is new in the field. She will also only serve this six weeks. I hope Anna keeps things going and learns to cope with a difficult time. Probably need to raise the bar on our prayers for awhile. Dad