June 22 Letter--Still in Xinzhu

Hello everyone!

I am still in Xinzhu... I think all of the members were pretty surprised when 
they find out I was staying... the seemed pleasantly suprised for the record 
(dad, I could hear you snickering.) So I am excited about that and, also, a 
little sad. My new companion is amazing! She was the one I went on exchanges 
with this move-call, so she already knows me a little and knows our area a 
little, so that is a huge blessing. Her name is Sister McKinley. She is fun and 
guess what... she is a traveler! She has lived in eight different places... 
including Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and many more... so we have a lot in 
common minus the fact I have never lived in any of those places or been to those 
places. She told me she is ready to be pushed and ready to be 100% obedient... I 
told her no problem with that! Ha ha... I am excited for a little push... I have 
been feeling tired this last move-call and just feeling like my body is 
quitting, so it will be good to have a little spark lit under me! Sidenote: her 
first name is Hannah... kinda like Anna. Cool bu cool?

Last night was the fireside for the Elders going home... it was weird to see 
them leaving... two of my previous district leaders went home so it was fun to 
hear their final testimonies. They have progressed a lot--- made me kinda wonder 
what I am doing. If I have progressed at all... it kinda doesn't feel like it, 
but at the same time I think that is silly. Speaking of progression... The New 
Era this month has an awesome article about deafeating our Goliaths by President 
Monson... I think everyone should read it. And in it it quotes a talk of 
President Hinckley Overpowering the Goliaths in our Lives. If someone has a 
second to look that talk up and could mail it to me that would be awesome! I am 
all about defeating our Goliaths these days! So mainpoint of this paragraph is 
to make sure we are progressing. I have learned a lot about goal setting on my 
mission.

The main lesson I have learned about goal setting wasn't even my goal, but I 
have benefited from it. So Kate made it a goal to write me every week of my 
mission and has done it... I was going through my old letters to send them home 
because well they are getting heavy and Kate had written me more letters than 
weeks on my mission... how that works I am not sure... there were a couple of 
Christmas stories. But really, I was thinking about it as a missionary it is 
easier to set goals and hit them because well, that is what 100% of our time is 
devoted to, but it made me think if Kate can do that just think how much more I 
can do and how much more we could do at home. I am so happy to have such an 
amazing family that has taught me the importance of hardwork. President Hoer was 
asking me where I learned to work and why I was so hardworking... I had to think 
and said that's just what you do, isn't it? You just do it. And he politely 
informed me that not everyone was that way I needed to be sensitive to that. He 
he... So pretty much, I learned I never want to lose work ethic and have been 
called to repentance in goal setting and how much we really can accomplish... So 
start setting goals! Anyone can set a goal and hit it with the help of the 
Lord--- just make sure they are righteous goals.

So this e-mail has kinda been random, but sometimes that is what you need... so 
hope it was bearable. 

Steve, thank you for the e-mail about earth science education... kinda sounds 
like fun... maybe a geologist... I could camp, hike, and study rocks! Doesn't 
get much better or dorkier than that.

We have been blessed to see the work pick back up again. I think we are going to 
see some mighty miracles this coming move-call. Lots of people who are prepared 
and are making all the right steps towards the waters of baptism. Yesterday we 
had a sister not come to her baptism. So I went with a sister to go find her. We 
found her at home in bed at 1:30pm. There was something missing in her eyes, she 
seemed empty and wasn't responsive to the Spirit at all. It tore me apart... I 
broke down and tears and told her how much Heavenly Father loved her and wanted 
her to be part of His family and she just flat out said I don't want to. It was 
very humbling experience to know we can't change people's decisions and to 
recognize that everyone has their own agency. How hard it must have been for 
Heavenly Father to know that by giving us the gift of Agency, He would lose some 
of us, but at the same time how exciting it must have been for Him to know by 
giving us the gift of Agency some of us would progress and prepare to return to 
live with Him again one day and enjoy all that He enjoys. His plan is truly 
beyond comprehension.

I am so thankful for this opportunity I have to be on a mission and to be 
sharing this plan with everyone. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and has 
sent us here to learn and grow and to return to Him. He hasn't left us... He has 
given us the gift of the Holy Ghost (as long as we live worthy of it) and the 
gift of the Atonement. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I am 
beginning to understand how He really is my friend.  I know the church is true!

I love you all and miss you!

Sister Shaver

June 18 Letter--Catastrophe!

Not really, I am a little short on time today because we had a zone activity and 
went to a theme park. Everything has been falling apart in our zone lately... so 
they thought this would be a little boost for us. Well the day was going just 
fine and than we went on the last ride... and of course it broke while we were 
on it... leaving us stranded in a little "river" thing... We were stuck for 
about fifteen mintues and ended up having to climb off and walk out of the 
ride... and no joke admist it all it started to rain... so things in the Xinzhu 
zone have been, well, when it rains it pours.

Move-call is next week so e-mail will come on Monday... so nobody forget! I am 
hoping to move, but since I said that I probably won't. So should start 
preparing now. There will be a new companion so that is exciting. VERY VERY 
VERY! 

So we have two sisters who should be getting baptized this weekend so that will 
be very exciting. They have been ones we have been working with since I moved 
here so it will be an amazing day. Nothing better than seeing them come unto 
Christ through the waters of baptism and then being confirmed a member of the 
church and receiving the Holy Ghost. 

Sorry to be so short this week and for not writing everyone back individually. I 
love you all and am so glad we have the chance to e-mail. I know this is the 
Lord's work and He has His timing in everything... just remember that... The 
Lord's timing is not always our timing. 

I miss you all and time is going to quickly... pray for me to use every moment I 
have! And to continue to be diligent in sharing this wonderful message of the 
Restoration. 

I love you all!

Sister Shaver 

June 10 Letter--Hello Everybody.

Hello all!

Things have been good here in Taiwan. It has been so hot lately. Starting to be
like it was when I first got here. You are always just wet and dripping with
sweat and of course with amazing helmet hair. It is time to make sure we are
drinking enough water. We run every other morning and the route we run would
just happen to have a community pool at it, so that is always a bummer to look
at it... one day.

This move-call has been an interesting one. I never realized all the politics in
a mission. I thought in my mind we would find people, teach them, get them to
church, and then baptize them. I had no idea about all of the numbers and all of
the stress behind them. I am pretty sure before my mission I had never heard of
a district leader or a zone leader( I had at least heard of the assistants). And
I am positive I had no idea I would be calling them every night and reporting
all these numbers to them. It is good preparation and really holds us
accountable to what we do. And I have gotten good at taking scoldings now... he
he. One of our zone leaders had a goal to make every sister in his zone cry. Oh
he did it...

Mom and Dad, thank you so much for getting all that BYU Idaho stuff taken care
of. Declaring a major, you probably could pick just as good could. I guess I'll
say a pray and hopefully, the doors of revelation will be open. We will see.
President said I could have a little extra e-mail time... so hopefully, it comes
in my extra time. Ha.

Dad, thank you for the pictures of your camping trip. It looks fun fun. Sand
dunes are pretty fun... how far were those from our house? I didn't really know
there were sand dunes close.

Wow, Laura, I am so proud of you. Getting up and walking is not an easy feat and
especially while being pregnant and having a little baby. Baby #2 is not allowed
to come early, however. So just wanted to make sure you know.

I don't have much news lately. Things have been quiet. Oh to answer a question
of moms... Yes, we teach English class in every place we are. The Sisters have
to teach because we have to teach the children's class because they can't have
Elders do it. So yes, we teach the wild and crazy children. (P.S. I used the
Thundersticks to maintain some order the other day. The kids thought it was the
best thing ever. Never had seen them before.) I have been teaching the
children's class the last three move-calls all alone and am hoping next
move-call I get a companion who can teach. I never thought someone wouldn't be
able too... for some reason I thought it just came natural to everyone, but
nope, it doesn't. My companion broke down in tears in the middle of it the first
week and ran to the bathroom and hasn't come back into the classroom since. It's
ok with me, gives me a break from the tears.

Well, I have to get going! I love you all and miss you! Time is flying so
quickly... say some prayers so it slows down... ok!?!

Wo ai nimen, wo ye xiang nian nimen.

Sister Shaver

June 3 Letter--Hello!

Hello family!

First things first, Happy BIrthday, dad. Hope it is good/ was good! Sorry, I
have been busy lately and a little distracted so I didn't tell you earlier! But
hope it is good.

Everyone sounds to be doing good. I think it is funny that mom and dad have
cows, but no, little horse for Ali. What does she think about that? Has she
asked if she can ride the cows yet? She might have a Kate complex and never know
which is which. He he.

Time is going so fast. I can hardly believe it. Yesterday we had our combined
district training meeting. The part our zone leaders taught was good. It is a
little weird because one of our zone leaders and I hung out whenＩｗａｓ　ａｔ　
ｔｈｅ　ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ　ｏｆ　Ｕｔａｈ．
All about getting the fire back and being as excited as when we first got on
island. It was good. Helped me realize the time is short and need to pick it up.
When the assistants did our planner checks, he didn't even look at my planner.
He said I was an old missionary and knew where I needed to improve my planner.
These terms of old are not  very fun. Ｉ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｌｉｋｅ　Ｉ　
ｊｕｓｔ　ｇｏｔ　ｈｅｒｅ．　Ｓｔｉｌｌ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｉｎ　
ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｌｄ　ｌｅｆｔ，　ｒｉｇｈｔ？　Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ　
Ｈｏｅｒ’ｓ　ｍｅｓｓａｇｅ　ｔｏ　ｕｓ　ｗａｓ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ．
He doesn't want us to forget that we are people and not robots. He said when Elder
Scott was here that Elder Scott said to make sure to teach us some things
besides missionary work so that when we head home we know what is next in life.
He said a lot of missionaries get home and have no idea what is the next step is
for them. So it was all about families. And the four things the First Presidency
wants us to do in families.
1. to have family prayer (two times a day.)
2. to have scripture study ( once a day at a set time.)
3. to have family home evening (one night a week)
4. to have wholesome family recreational activities.
He said as we do these things we would be in the 10-25% of members who actually
do these things. And that we would be amazing parents. He also talked a lot
about if we do these things and then have a child fall away we can have peace of
mind knowing we did all we could. Pretty important. He, also, said the reason
why the Presidency keeps telling us the same thing about families is because we
aren't doing it yet. He says as soon as we start doing this we will receive knew
revelation. So it seems like we better start doing it! 

Ｓｏｒｒｙ　ｍｙ　ｆｏｎｔ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｃｈａｎｇｅｄ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　
ｋｎｏｗ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｏ　ｃｈａｎｇｅ　ｉｔ　ｂａｃｋ．So sorry for
the difference. Oh and it just changed back. Oh to these 1980's  computers and
everything being written in Chinese so I have no idea how to do anything.

We have a baptism this Saturday. I am pretty excited. She is a good person. And
will make an awesome member. One of those ones you know will stay not matter
what. That her faith will carry her for trials. I am not sure why, but
I　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｔｈｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｒｅｔｅｎｔｉｏｎ　
ｌａｔｅｌｙ　ａｎｄ　ｈｏｗ　ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｆｏｒ　
ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｉｅｓ　ｔｏ　ｄｏ　ｉｔ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　
ｂｅｇｉｎｎｉｎｇ　ｓｏ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ｒｅｔｅｎｔｉｏｎ．　
Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｗ　ｍｅｍｂｅｒ　ｇｅｔｓ　ｂａｐｔｉｚｅｄ　
ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｉｅｓ　ｋｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｇｅｔ　ｐｈａｓｅｄ　
ｏｕｔ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｐｈａｓｉｎｇ　ｏｕｔ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　
ｓｔａｒｔ　ｏｎｌｙ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｒｅａｌ　
ｍｅｍｂｅｒ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄ　ｔｏ　ｈｅｌｐ．　Ｔｈａｔ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　
ｂｅ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｉｎｇ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｇｉｎｎｉｎｇ
　ｉｎ　ｈｅｌｐｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｉｅｓ　ｔｅａｃｈ　
ｌｅｓｓｏｎｓ　ｉｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｈｏｍｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｉｎｖｉｔｉｎｇ　
ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｆｈｅ　ａｎｄ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　
ａｃｔｉｖｉｔｉｅｓ．　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅｓ　ｗｅ
（ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｉｅｓ）　ｇｅｔ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｎｄｓｅｔ　
ｔｈａｔ　ｏｈ，　ｓｈｅ　ｉｓ　ｂａｐｔｉｚｅｄ　ｎｏｗ．．．　ｎｏｗ　
ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｒｄ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｙ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　
ｈａｖｅｎ’ｔ　ｄｏｎｅ　ａｌｌ　ｗｅ　ｃａｎ　ｔｏ　ｍａｋｅ　ｓｕｒｅ　
ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ａｎｄ　ｅｖｅｒｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｅｌｓｅ．
Ｓｏｒｒｙ，　ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｓ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｒａｎｄｏｍ，　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　
ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｏｉｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｙｏｕ　
ｃａｎ　ｈｅｌｐ　ｕｓ　ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｉｅｓ　ｂｙ　ａｓｋｉｎｇ　ｕｓ
ｈｏｗ　ｏｕｒ　ｔｅａｃｈｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｉｆ　ｗｅ　
ｈａｖｅ　ａｎｙ　ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｏｒｓ　ｗｈｏ　ｍｉｇｈｔ　ｎｅｅｄ　
ｔｏ　ｈａｖｅ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ．　Ｉｎ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｗｏｒｄｓ，　ｙｏｕ　
ｃａｎ　ｍａｋｅ　ｕｐ　ｆｏｒ　ｕｓ　ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｙ’ｓ　
ｗｅａｋｎｅｓｓｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅｌｐ　ｕｓ．．．　ｔｅ　ｈｅ，

Ｎｏｔ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｉｎｇ　ｌａｔｅｌｙ．　
Ｌｏｔｓ　ｏｆ　ａｄｄｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　ｎｅｗ　ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｏｒｓ　
ａｎｄ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｂｕｓｙ　ｌａｔｅｌｙ．　Ｉｔ　ｉｓ　
ｋｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ｓｏ　ｂｕｓｙ　
ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ｎｏ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｄａｙｄｒｅａｍｉｎｇ　ｏｒ　
ａｎｙｔｈｉｎｇ．Ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｆｏｕｒ　ｏｒ　ｆｉｖｅ　
ｏｆ　ｗｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｃａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｔｅｒｎａｌ　
ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｏｒｓ　ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ｗｏｒｋｉｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ．　
Ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｓｏ　ｃｌｏｓｅ，　ｂｕｔ　ｎｏｔ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　
ｗｉｌｌｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｔａｋｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｓｔｅｐ．　Ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　
ｔｈｅｍ　ｉｓ　ｓｏ　ｆｒｕｓｔｒａｔｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｍｅ．　Ｉ　ｍｅｔ　
ｈｅｒ　ｍｙ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｗｅｅｋ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｉｎ　Ｘｉｎｚｈｕ　ｓｏ　
ｂａｃｋ　ｉｎ　Ｆｅｂｒｕａｒｙ．She was set to get baptized next week. But then
this week when we went to go visit her, she said she didn't want to get baptized. She was
crying as she was telling me and I also was crying. She knows it is true and is choosing not
to accept it. And all of her reasonings are just excuses. She knows she is going to be held
accountable and she is ok with that. I don't get it. So I was a litle bummed
about her and expected not to see her at church on Sunday. Oh no, guess who
should up to church all on her own.  She says she will go to church from now to
the day she dies (she's only 40.) But she won't ever be baptized. It kinda made
me laugh. Because I know if she continues to go to church, pray, and read she
will be baptized. So I know one day she will be baptized and can't wait to hear
from her on that day. Just wish she would do it a little faster so she could get
the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. All in the Lord's time,
right?

Well, Iｌｏｖｅ　ｙｏｕ　ａｌｌ！　Ｔｈａｎｋｓ　ｆoｒ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　
ｙｏｕｒ　ｐｒａｙｅｒｓ．　Ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｔｈｅｍ．　Ｉlove you
all and miss you.

Sister Shaver

About 6 months left

Anna has about six months left in Taiwan, she is working hard and having good success finding people ready to be taught. We received a letter from her Mission President, Pres. Hoer, telling us to not distract her from the work with thoughts or home and planning for her return. We are supposd to do all the arrangements for her university registration, etc.

He also reminded us again that the Church strongly discourages picking up missionaries in the field. In Taiwan the members all want to host lavish dinners for the missionary and her family and it is a financial burden. Having family coming disrupts the missionary's focus on work and finally, having a released missionary touring the mission disrupts the companionships. It seems reasonable to me, I would like to go to China and Taiwan someday though.

I have noticed Anna mention in her emails that she feels our prayers of support, I had prayed that she would feel our love so this is an answer to my prayers. Here is a list for Mom and I of what she needs from us:

"As for things I need before I go home...
1. Invite and see twenty more souls come unto Christ through the waters of baptism.
2. SOUR CANDY!
3. lose about ten-fifteen pounds... not sure how that is going to work out... see above, but do notice that sour candy is in higher priority.
4. Crest white strips... I want to come home with some pearly whites... not dingy yellows.
5. Feminine products... I just ran out and probably will have four more while her in Taiwan. And there is really no place to buy them! AHH.
6. Lots of love! included in the form of prayers! letters. packages. He he.
7. Garments, but not for here. To have at home so when I get home I have clean ones.
8. My build a bear or stuffed animal of the similar. Need something to hug that has hugged by you all.And I think that is it.

Just thoughts, so if it happens it happens, if not no worries. "