July 23 Letter--Bronchial Asthma...

Hello family!


I have been sick! I have been coughing and not able to breath and what not for
the last three weeks. So yesterday, we made a trip to the doctor after much
screaming and kicking on my part. The doctor told me I needed to stop smoking. I
informed him I don't smoke and he said oh... well, it turns out the pollution
has gotten to me and I now have asthma. And have a sweet inhaler and it has been
suggested I wear a mask for the next three months. Ha ha, I don't think so! I am
not sure how that would work so well doing street contacting. Sidenote: about
the inhaler... in Chinese it is called a fat fat fish. So now our investigators
are calling me fat fat fish! They think it is FUNNY! And I don't mind now
because when I laugh now I don't start wheezing and coughing. So I am FIXED!


Today was our trip to the temple and it was awesome! I got to sit with my
friend, Sister Smith. She came on island with me and goes to BYU Idaho too. So
0Awe got to sit and talk about all the same things we are going through at the
same time and it was so nice. It was refreshing to know I am not alone!

Ｓｈｅ　ｉｓ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓａｍｅ　ｅｘａｃｔ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ．　（
Ｓｏｒｒｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｎｔ　ｋｅｅｐｓ　ｃｈａｎｇｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｒｅａｄ　ａｎｙ　ｏｆ　
ｔｈｅ　ｃｈａｒａｃｔｅｒｓ　ｔｏ　ｃｈａｎｇｅ　ｉｔ　ｂａｃｋ！　ＬＡＭＥ！Ｉ　ｃａｎ’ｔ　ｉｍａｇｉｎｅ　
ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｌｅａｒｎｉｎｇ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｏ　ｒｅａｄ．）Ｔｈｅ　ｔｅｍｐｌｅ0ｉｔｓｅｌｆ　ｗａｓ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ．
Ｉ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｎｅｒｇｙ　ｐｏｕｒｉｎｇ　ｂａｃｋ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ｆｅｌｔ　ａｎｓｗｅｒｓ　
ｔｏ　ｑｕｅｓｔｉｏｎｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｈａｄ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｗｅｉｇｈｉｎｇ　ｍｅ　ｄｏｗｎ！　Ｓｕｃｈ　ａｎ　
ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｆｅｅｌｉｎｇ．　Ｉｆ　ｙｏｕ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｐｐｏｒｔｕｎｉｔｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｏ　
ｔｈｅ　ｔｅｍｐｌ　ｇｏ　ａｓ　ｏｆｔｅｎ　ａｓ　ｙｏｕ　ｃａｎ．．．　ｆｏｒ　ｙｏｕｒ=E Fｅｌｆ　ａｎｄ　
ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｒｓｏｎ　ｙｏｕ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　ｈｅｌｐｉｎｇ！　Ｗｈａｔ　ａｎ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｗａｙ　
ｔｏ　ｓｅｒｖｅ．　Ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｉｓｔｅｒｓ　ｉｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｗａｒｄ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｉｎ　Ｘｉｎｚｈｕ　
ｗｏｒｋｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅｍｐｌｅ，　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ａｓｋｅｄ　ｉｆ　ｗｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　
ｓｅｅ　ｈｅｒ　ｏｎ　Ｗｅｄｎｅｓｄａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｓｈｅ　ｓａｉｄ　ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ
ｂｅ　ｗｏｒｋｉｎｇ．　Ｂｕｔ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｎｄ，　ｔｏｄａｙ　ｓｈｅ　ｃａｍｅ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｓｈｅ　
ｓａｉｄ　ｓｈｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄｎ’ｔ　ｂｅａｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｅｅｌｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　ｍｉｓｓｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　Ｓｐｉｒｉｔ　
ｔｈａｔ　ｓｈｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅｍｐｌｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｅｅｌｉｎｇ　ｓｈｅ　
ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｉｅｓ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｏ　ｈｕｍｂｌｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　
ｍｅ．Here is a woman that works in the temple almost every single morning and still
respects it so much and took her one day of rest to come to the temple with us!
I  love that woman.


I love the people of Xinzhu... we had combined district training meeting and
interviews with　Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ　Ｈｏｅｒ．　Ｉ　ｎｏｗ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｗｈｙ I was supposed to serve
in Xinzhu. In my interview,　Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ　Ｈｏｅｒ　ａｓｋｅｄ　ｍｅ，＂Ｈｏｗ　ｄｏ　ｙｏｕ　
ｌｉｋｅ　Ｘｉｎｚｈｕ？＂　Ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｄｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｅａｒｓ　ｔｈａｔ I loved it.Ｉ　ｈａｄ　
ｎｏ　ｉｄｅａ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　ｍｙ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｅ．　Ｉ　ｒｅａｌｉｚ
ｄ　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｒｖｅ　ｉｎ　Ｘｉｎｚｈｕ　ｆｏｒ　ｓｏ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｌｅａｒｎ　
ｔｏ　ｌｏｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｍｅｍｂｅｒｓ，　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｏｒｓ，　ｔｈｅ　
ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｒｅｊｅｃｔ　ｍｅ　ｏｎ　ｓｔｒｅｅｔ　　ｃｏｒｎｅｒｓ，I have come to love them.
Some of them have even rejected me multiple times and ask me how my family is and tell me my
Chinese gets better and better each time they see me. I wish they would come to church one of
these days, but I know that I am leaving an impression and I know that they need these
opportunities. So I had my interview with President Hoer and then prepared for planner checks.
Planner checks are something... pretty much the assistants pick up your planner. Tells you how
bad it is and that if you want to baptize or if you had faith your planner would be better.
And then throw your planner on the ground. So needless to say they are quite the enjoyable
experience. (P.S. Your planner could be perfect and that would still happen. I am obsessed
with mine and it has happened.) Well, we have a new assistant now.　Ａｎｄ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　
ｐｌａｎｎｅｒ　ｃｈｅｃｋ，I said a little prayer and asked the Lord to help me love my leaders
because sometimes it is hard. He picked up my planner and praised it. Shock number one!
He then told me he could tell I loved my investigators from it. Shock number two! And shock
number three! He told me he respected me as a missionary and said that he knew I was a Preach
My Gospel missionary.Ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｓｈａｒｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｅ　ｉｎ　Ｐｒｅａｃｈmy Gospel the
part that talks about no effort is wasted. He told me that he knew I was not wasting anyone's
time. And just went on to share with me his conversion story... so there he is crying telling
me how he was converted and how he wasn't baptized with his first set of missionaries, but he
still remembers their testimonies no matter how hard he tries to forget and remember the other
missionary's testimonies. And there I am crying because before the check I am feeling a little
bit like I have been in Xinzhu too long and feeling  a little rejected. He went on to tell me
that my testimony in Xinzhu will not be forgotten. And that I am touching these lives of our
investigators even when they chose to exercise their agency. So Heavenly Father also answered
my prayer to be able to love my leaders... hey, it is pretty easy to love them when they
are prasing you... =) But now it will really make it easier when he corrects me to know that
it is sincere and to help me be a better instrument in the Lord's hands.  So combined district
meeting was a huge boost to me! More so how I imagined them to be before my mission. So good.


Well, I love you all... and hope you don't find the font too annoying.Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅ　ｙｏｕ　ａｌｌ　
ａｎｄ　ｍｉｓｓ　ｙｏｕ．　Ｂｅ　ｇｏｏｄ！　Ｐｒａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｒｅａｄ！　Ｗｏ　ａｉ　ｎｉｍｅｎ！


Ｓｉｓtｅｒ　Ｓｈａｖｅｒ

July 15 Letter--Hello

Hello!


We are e-mailing a little early today because we get to go with the primary 
today to go hiking! They just happened to schedule on our preparation day and 
invited us! So now we get to go. I am really excited I love the little primary 
here and we have three investigators who are going... so that makes it even 
better. We are making little missionaries. So it should be a lot of fun and a 
lot of fun to get outside. With it being so hot outside it feels like we should 
be playing! So today is the day. 

Funny story! We have an investigator who is something else. We went to go visit 
her yesterday with a member so she could have another friend. We get to her 
house and she comes downstairs. She looked like she was going to kill me! She 
stared at me and told me she never wanted me to come back. I said ok lets go to 
the park and talk. So we start walking to the park. Sister McKinley is trying to 
talk to the member (it is only her third move-call so Chinese is still hard.) 
and I am trying to just smile as Sister Chen is just yelling at me. So we get to 
the park... 

Me: Can you introduce yourself to Sister Lu?

Her: No, I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!

Me: Haha (awkward laughing)

Her: (starting to bawl) Sister Shaver, I am going to have to call the police on 
you. If you ever come back here I am calling the police.

Me: Are you willing to read and pray?

Her: No way!

Me: Well, we just want to give you a fair chance so you can know what you are 
rejecting.

Her: (hitting me) I know what I am doing. 

Me: Ok.

Sister McKinley: blah blah blah blah blah.

Her: (crying and looking like she is going to kill me) But I am already 
Christian.

Our Member: (standing behind us doing yoga while complaining about the 
mosquitos) Oh, she is already Christian. She doesn't need to be baptized. They 
are all the same.

Sister McKinley and me: (eyes huge! and trying not to laugh) NO! Not the SAME!

Sister McKinley: blah blah blah blah.

Me: ( I am getting very very nervous at this point because she is threatening to 
call the police and has just hit me.)

Her: Sister Shaver, I thought you were my friend.

Me: WHAT IN THE WORLD? (Shenme dong dong.) It is really fun to say and lightens 
a lot of moods!

Her: Sister Shaver, what did you say? (followed by hysterical laughing)

In the end, she was laying her head on shoulder and laughing and joking and just 
having a good time. So wow, that was a lot of Sister Chen drama. So we set up 
the next time to meet with her and went on our way. Of course, laughing and 
joking about the craziness of it. We went through the rest of day and had just a 
good time. 

Well, we are home and I am doing follow-ups with our district leader when the 
house phone rings... Sister McKinley answers and then yells Sister Shaver!   

Sister McKinley: It is Sister Chen and she is really bad.

Me: Ok, Hello?

Sister Chen: AHAHAHAHAHAHA (BAWLING, SERIOUSLY UNCONTROLLABLY)

Me: (My thoughts: What do I do?!?! I barely understand Chinese when they are 
speaking clearly--- let alone when they are crying and hyper ventilating all at 
once.) 

Sister Chen: HE THINKS I AM FAT!

Me: (Load of relief, I thought she was like hurt or something awful was 
happening and we were going to have to go find her.)

In the end, we established that number one she is a daughter of God. And two 
that her husband loves her and that he just didn't know how to show his concern. 

And number three that she can exercise with me everyday... she didn't take me up 
on the offer... bummer. So needless to say... Sister Chen keeps us busy! Ha ha!

Let's see... thanks everyone for the pictures. They look good. The little 
buggers are pretty cute these days. Both the little girls water skiing- that is 
fun. And not sharing mom's lap is pretty funny... All need attention from 
Grandma. Who doesn't? Oh and I am glad you got the pictures. I just printed out 
more so you should be getting more this week. Sister McKinley is a picture 
taker. She says she's not, but I have taken more this move-call then any other. 

So maybe it is just us together... who knows?

Well, tomorrow is my one year on island! I can't believe I have already been in 
Taiwan for a year! Time has flown. After this move-call, Sister Smith and I are 
the oldest sisters in the mission... I still feel like I just got here. I have 
been looking back and trying to see where I have changed and I am not really 
sure. I think it just happens... and don't worry, mom, I have not lost my love 
of playing! It is still there--- so start preparing to play! HE HE!

Well, I love you all! and miss you!

Be good!

Sister Shaver

July 9 Letter--Yali hao da! Aka Pressure to big!

Hello family,

I am having some computer wentis right now. I sent a blank e-mail, just deleted 
my whole e-mail. So here is to attempt three....

This week has been really good. We have some awesome investigators right now. 
Tons of good good ones. Last night, Heva, our investigator from Argentina, had 
her baptismal interview... She passed and is preparing to be baptized on July 
29th which happens to be her brother's birthday who is the English Branch 
President here. She has moved here to stay with them these few months because 
President Moises wife is about to have a baby and needs help. She is amazing. 
She understands so much and really is one who will stay active forever! What an 
awesome thing and amazing feeling to be able to see her come to the light. It is 
neat to see her progression and neat to see how excited her brother is. He is 
really really excited for her. So she is AMAZING! 

And then we have a family who will be baptized if it is the last thing I do! I 
will do anything for them... They are the Fan Jiang family. They both smoke and 
need the Gospel so bad. They have six kids and she is only 23 years old. 
Yesterday we helped them move into a new house. They are kinda of getting a new 
start and I am so excited the Gospel is there to help them in this new start. 
Their family relations before were really bad, but they have been coming to 
church for the last month and have progressed so much. The children before 
weren't able to live with the mom and dad, but they are getting them back in a 
month depending on how everything goes in their new house and everything along 
those lines. Yesterday as we were meeting with them we were promising them 
blessings of being able to live together as a family for eternity. And promsing 
the mom the blessings of being able to be a mother to her children and how their 
family can be blessed through the Gospel. The mother cried (Taiwanese people 
DON'T cry) and really felt the Spirit. So yes, they have a lot of problems to 
work through, but with God all things are possible. And I will not give up on 
them! So much prayers needed.

Sister McKinley and I went to play basketball this morning with other sisters 
and it was so fun. I am so bad these days. I feel old and heavy! I don't think 
my feet every left the ground at the same time. Hmm... need to work on that. And 
then after that we went and ate BBQ for two hours... they have restaurants here 
where you just go and there is a little grill on your table and you just sit 
there and cook all the meat you can in two hours and EAT IT! It seriously is so 
good. And I wonder why I my feet never left the ground. And then they have 
marshmellows you roast on it too... and sweet potatoes, and vegetables... so so 
good. YUMMY! So today I got my fair share of meat! And am pretty excited for it. 
It will give me the energy to run wild all over Xinzhu.

Poor Sister McKinley... I don't think she realized what she was getting herself 
into. I asked her our first day together what she was willing to do to help our 
investigators... little did she know she would have to do that and more. Our 
area is HUGE. from one end to the other you normally need about 3 hours to bike 
it and that is keeping a pretty good pace... well, yesterday, we had an hour to 
do it. And we met every trial you could. As we were riding, Sister McKinley had 
three spokes break on her bike and her bike breaks got stuck out! She never once 
told me... I was flying up the hill and she was getting a little behind me, but 
I didn't think much of it, because it was a do situation. She got to the point 
where I had to stop and wait for her, but at this point we've already riden up 
the big hills (bigger than Hawkins and longer.) So she gets up to the top and is 
barely breathing and pouring sweat... and I say ok lets go... she smiles and 
says ok... so we keep riding and make it with one minute to spare. So we go 
through the baptismal interview and it ends up going LATE! So we fly like the 
wind home... this time it is downhill and she was keeping up better... so we get 
home barely before 10:30! And she says nothing. We wake up this morning and I 
ask her what she wants to do and she says can we get my bike fixed? I say sure 
what is wrong with it? And then the truth comes out... well, to end the story I 
rode her bike to the bike shop and barely made it... and there were no hills... 
so yes, Sister McKinley deserves a HUGE PRIZE. And she is pretty much the best!

Well, I love you all! And miss you!

Take care!

Sister Shaver 

July 2 Letter--Hello!

Hello family!

Wow! Things are good here in Taiwan right now... hot hot hot, but GOOD! Sister 
McKinley have been working hard, but having fun. Adds a lot of fun to 
everything... we have an investigator right now who is in dire need of 
attention. She calls us about five times a day to tell me she doesn't want to be 
baptized. I have started to laugh and say ok, we will see... well, today she 
called and said the same thing, but by the end of our conversation she was 
asking what kind of clothes she gets to wear when she is baptized... so in other 
words she might be a little like me and just need attention. So we have been 
praying hard for her and hope she realizes she doesn't need to tell me she 
doesn't want to be baptized if she wants attention. I think I understand a 
little bit how you all felt when I kept annoying you... he he!

Sister McKinley and I have zone conference tomorrow. I am excited. We have a 
sister's meeting afterwards. Rumor has it is to tell us that we need to dress 
nicer and be prettier. Our mission president's wife is pretty and wants us to be 
prettier. She doesn't ride a bike around in the heat with a sweet helmet on her 
head. So maybe we'll get smart cars... ha ha, I WISH! That would be amazing.

Speaking of bikes... mom and dad are so ready to bike with me when I get home. I 
am so so excited. They went for a ten mile bike ride... how sweet is that? Just 
make sure your seat and everything is high enough... don't want sore knees... 
and the sore rear end goes away fast. You get used to it. We'll have to start 
have mandatory family bike trips. Except I don't think I have a bike... and it 
would be tempting to bring my bike home except... it got run over and the back 
wheel bent so now the brake rubs everytime it turns and well, the sound of metal 
scratching on metal isn't the best. Oh don't worry, I wasn't on it when it got 
run over. I got off in time. But my shoe did get run over. 

Morgan is adorable and so is Amos... that is the first picture I have seen of 
Amos with teeth. How cute is he? He is getting pretty big... and Morgan doesn't 
look like a baby anymore she is a little toddler now... missed all of her baby 
stages... oh well, ting shuo I will have a new little baby to play with. When is 
the new ones birthdate? After or before I get home? Morgan with the shredder... 
too cute. Where are those pictures of Amos taken? Hiking? Moab? Arches?

Oh my exciting news! Laura and Eric I have an assignment for you! My new member 
is going to the BYU English Language school! I am so excited she is going to be 
in Utah. She goes there in the beginning of September. She is a little bit 
nervous because her English is not very good and she knows no one. So if you all 
are still there in September would it be ok if I gave her your information in 
case she needs a friend. Maybe you could have her over for dinner or something. 
She is really really cute! I absolutely love her! Wu Yi Ting... it is pronounced 
like "Eating"... is 18 years old so she is pretty young and fun. Let me know if 
that would be ok. I know you are busy so if not no worries. Thought it might 
just be fun. If not, when I get home I'll just bring her over to your house 
anyways... te he he. 

Kate, we are having tacos for the fourth of July! I am so so excited... Our 
little celebration for the fourth. Happy Birthday, Josh. So thank you again for 
the taco seasoning. It should be yummy yummy!

Mom and Dad, thank you so much for the package. I loved it. It came right at the 
end of move-call so it was like perfect timing because I didn't have to share 
the chocolate chip cookies. How bad is that... I ate them all! EVERY SINGLE ONE! 
And then ate the crumbs like cereal... I did share the candy. Keeps our 
investigators kids quiet in church... and makes for some very entertaining faces 
with the sour skittles. They think they are the weirdest things. So thank you so 
much. It brightened up my day. I made a package to send home, but don't get to 
excited... just know it is in the process... it should be nice and small, but 
fun.

Well, things here are so good. I am glad to hear everyone is doing so well. And 
getting in some summer playing. Swim extra for me =>! 


I love you and know that the church is true... It is the Lord's work!


Sister Shaver  

---

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