Shengdanjie Kuaile!

Best.Craziest.Week.Ever.

     Last week for English class in Reisui, we had a big birthday dinner for Sister Scharman. I had the feeling that this will be her last one, which was true. All week, she was fighting on deciding whether she should go home or not.  It was a really hard decision for her. It took a lot of convincing from everyone. President has told her 2-3 times that she needed to go home and get better, as well as the nurse, her parents, stake president and me, but she still wasn't sure about it. After talking to Elder Vatcher, our mental health senior missionary for about four hours on the phone, she finally was okay to go home. We got the call Saturday night to buy train tickets for Taipei the next day. We stayed up all night helping her pack. We then went to church the next day (her birthday), where she gave her last testimony, said goodbye to everyone, and went to the train station. We got there, spent the night at the mission office getting rid of more of her stuff so it would be under the 50 pound weight limit, and then we went over and slept at the temple tour sisters' house. 

   The next day, we got up, I had breakfast with my companion, Sister Scharman, her Taipei investigator friend and another Taipei friend of hers for her birthday. We then went back, took some pics, and then she went with the president's assistant and the office elders to the airport to go home. I then went with the temple tour sisters to do emails.

     Last week right after emails, I went with the temple tour sisters and some elders on a hike to Elephant Mountain. I was still in a dress since I ate breakfast with my comp and didn't have time to change. it was ok. it was a super warm day.  Later, they had to go to lunch with an rc (who had a table reservation for them), so I went with other sisters to get a haircut. 

     Taipei was the best place ever! I had so much fun, being around other missionaries, including the office elders and the assistants. It was funny, Elder Reintjes who was my zone leader in Taidong last transfer, is now an assistant, and let me tell you, he is super sassy.  Even a senior sister missionary, Sister Mcomber (president's mother-in-law) said that someone told her the office has gotten a lot sassier lately...

Funny moments

     We were going to practice the anmah (grandma) workout dance for the talent show. Elder Reinjes asked Elder Mcomber if he wanted to dance with us. He replied, "Do you wanna get shot?" It was super funny. 

     Elder Reinjes, the assistant, was so tired from the missionary Christmas conference, he said his prayer that night was pretty much," Dear Heavenly Father, sorry I'm tired so it's a short prayer, thanks for a great day, bless the mission, love you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

     A few weeks ago when we didn't know who the next office recorder would be, assistant Elder Aiono accidentally let slip it was Elder Lloyd. The current recorder, Elder Richards, overheard.  At the time, he was reading the church's 25 days of Christmas which usually says, "Jesus gives service..., and so can you!", and said, "Elder Aiono, look at this, it says, Jesus can keep secrets, and so can you!" 

     Elder Reinjes was talking to temple tour sister, Sister Lefevre, and she was like, "So who's your new companion (new assistant)?" (Tranfers are next week, but the assistants pretty much know where everyone is going but they have to keep it a secret.) He was like, "I don't know, we have like five options right now." Then she was like,"So you will be getting a new companion." And he was like, "Bummer." He accidentally told her he would get a new companion, so everyone pretty much knows. 

     On Thursday, we had the mission Christmas party. The assistants changed the central zone table up to the front, so I got to sit up with everyone. We had it at the American Club, which is next to the grand hotel in Taipei. It was fancy. (Pres. Jergensen is rich.)  We first did a talent show. I'm glad to be up in Taipei at the time, otherwise I would have missed half the talent show.

Talent Show

     At the mtc and the first 12 weeks on a  mission, we watched videos on missionary work called, "The District," about real experiences of missionaries in California. One district did a funny skit based on one video about an investigator who said she didn't want to meet with the missionaries anymore (but she was reassured by her husband that it was ok, she was just afraid of commitment and she then got baptized). In the skit, the elders were like, "Did you ever think we didn't want to do this anymore either?  We've been meeting with you for five months." They then named everything they missed on their missions, such as Star Wars, Avengers, grass (there's not much grass in Taiwan), famous songs and a Star Wars video game as well as getting dear johns to convince her to get baptized, it was pretty funny.

     The Taidong missionaries did a bunch of funny short clips of things that Taiwan Taipei missionaries never do/say such as: having clean, ready towels at exchanges, saying kneeling prayers at 7/11s, not having a ton of frozen food garbage in the freezers (in Taiwan we first put the food in the freezer then throw it away to keep bugs away), wanting to talk to a white person or any other foreigner (white people scare us), and wearing a vest reflector and falling off a bike.

     They then did the missionary Christmas concert for everyone (since we wouldn't be there). One part that made everyone cry was when an elder sang, "O Come O Come, Emmanuel." It was so cool, it was like he was singing to Christ and the choir was all looking to him, since He is our only hope.  We also had someone talk about religions in taiwan.  Then we had a fancy lunch, then a spiritual share from Sister and President Jergensen and a mission slide show.  Then we went home. 

     On Christmas Eve, I saw a bunch of members from my areas Bade and Xinzhu at the chapel in Taipei for temple stuff. it was a christmas miracle :) We also ate burgers one night, went caroling at "Babylon" (a very worldly place, like Times Square in nyc), on Christmas Eve had a picnic outside.

     I will get my new comp this Thursday, and I will know if I will stay in Yuli, which is likely.

     This Christmas has definitely been one of the most Christ-filled Christmas' ever. When I was asking Elder Aiono if i could stay for the missionary Christmas concert on Saturday night, he was saying, Nothing's better than doing missionary work on Christmas (down in Yuli), which is true, we saw some miracles. 

     I am so grateful for Christ and his gospel. grateful for Christmas too!  We celebrate Christ's birth, because He is our Savior and did the Atonement and Resurrection for us as well as a million other things.

     Very happy to Skype my family!  Love and miss you all!  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

     Sister Brinkerhoff

I'm Dreaming of a White, Hot Springs Christmas Baptism

     

Hello everybody!

     Exciting news, our investigator Ding Jie Mei (Sister Ding) is getting baptized this Saturday! WHOOO HOOOO! SO excited! It has been miracle after miracle with her. It was so cool, after she skyped a church leader in Taipei (she had to clear up some more serious stuff but she's good), we all talked with our second counselor and ward mission leader filler-in, Brother Gunn, about locations. We only have a blue tub we get out here in the church for baptisms, but we feel like we need a better location.  Revelation struck like lightning, and Brother Gunn was like, "I remember a member who has hot springs in his backyard we can use." We called him up, and he was cool with it! 

     This Saturday, we will have a hot springs baptism! We missionaries are aiming for a white, baptism Christmas in the zone. It will be the first baptism here in Yuli since July.

   

 We are moving our apartment down to the 3rd floor. We are the first missionaries for more than 10 years who are leaving the apartment. The one downstairs is bigger and more beautiful, so I'm excited! Not the moving part, but everything else. 

     It's been really cool to see all the miracles and tender mercies of the Lord.

     Here's a recap of the week:

Monday

      Ate lunch with Americans Travis and Navi, who were going back to Taipei then flying home a few days later. They were so awesome, we will really miss them. They will probably come back to Yuli in the spring, but we don't know if we will be here.  My companion and I then bought some Christmas stuff. 

Tuesday 

     Went to Reisui and taught English class. Taught winter words, such as snowflake and gingerbread house. We even made snowflakes with them. It was their very first time, and they all did pretty well!

Wednesday 

     

Went to Taidong and had zone meeting. Discussed how to teach members to do their own missionary work and how to do better street contacting. Afterwards, we ate at Sam's Burgers, an American restaurant with Peanut Butter burgers on the menu.  At the train station coming home, I met a famous Japanese Professor who I think said he invented the lights scrolling? 

     Also, met with an investigator and her friend. They are 23- and 18-year-old Americans from Oklaholma and North Carolina, who are teaching English here for a year. Super cute and religious girls. We think her friend is ready to hear the gospel, she said she was looking for the truth and tried finding it, but gave up so she believes in everything. Carmen might be a little harder (she knows her Bible scriptures and her parents were missionaries for her church in Romania for years), but we will keep trying. 

Thursday 

     Met with Ding JM, taught her tithing and fast offerings. She took it well. Also preparing her for her baptism. 

Friday  

     Companion went to the hospital (more like the doctor's office) for health problems. Met with Ding Jm again and went over baptismal interview questions. She had to clear up some more serious stuff in a baptismal interview, so she had to skype a church leader in Taipei instead of having Elder Budd the district leader do it. 

     Also, we went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. We usually go up to Hualian, but they came down here, since our area needs help (Sister Scharman has been sick for the past two weeks, so we hardly went outside and visited investigators.) It was so great to be outside and doing real regular missionary work again. I went with Sister Toronto. She grew up in Beijing, China and knew my aunt, uncle and their family in Beijing (her dad's a lawyer there). She's super amazing. She really has helped me, and even said I had the patience of Job, being inside all the time with a sick companion while the branch is struggling. It's okay, I have been feeling like I've getting better at patience and have received the Lord's help. 

Saturday 

     Continued exchanges. Met with an old investigator whose English name is Fish. She's a cute mom with a 7-year-old son, but her husband worships ancestors and protests her getting baptized so she's not willing to get baptized anytime soon. 

Sunday 

     I spoke in church. Talked about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (they loved that story) and how he used his trials (his red nose) and gifts to serve everyone. I like that story because, like the Savior, he was persecuted for being different, but in the end loved and served everyone. I  Also talked about my mission farewell talk I shared last year, which was based off of President Uchtdorf's talk last year at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. He talked about the LDS charities who went to Africa and donated wheelchairs. One African guy who lived far away heard about it and asked his friend to take him, which he did. When he came, he got on the wheelchair the charity let him use, and he flew, enjoying every moment. After 10 minutes, he came back and thanked the charity, thinking they were just letting him use it for a bit. They told him that he could have it, that it was a gift from strangers on the other side of the world who loved him. He tearfully expressed gratitude. 

     I then invited the ward to ponder this question: "What will you give the Savior this Christmas?" I then told the ward that I was giving him 18 months of my life as a missionary for my Christmas gift. I'm renewing it this Christmas as well. I invite you all to ponder that question as well and see what you can do for the Savior this Christmas. 

Spiritual Share:

     While we were packing for the move, we listened to a famous talk on my companion's USB and her speaker from Elder Holland called "Lessons from Liberty Jail." He gave it at BYU a few years ago. It was so amazing, it was about receiving revelation during the hard times. He even quoted a historian who called Liberty Jail a temple, because that's the hardest time in Joseph Smith's life (coldest winter in Missouri history, can't stand up in the jail since the men were too tall, bad food and poison in food which caused them to be sick and delirious, no blankets, all just bad things). He had to endure such a hard thing to draw closer to God and have faith that He is always there. Elder Holland then said that we all will at some point in our lives, have our Gethsemene, and that we need to prepare and be strong enough to always follow God and pass the test of discipleship.

I invite you all to read or listen to it. You can find it on past devotionals at byu.org

Lessons from Liberty Jail 

     We also listened to another one about how the adversary will not give up on trying to destroy our souls. Whenever right before, during and after something happens (sometimes when it's spiritually significant), he will try really hard to bring us down and make us fear, which is when we see the bitter pains of hell like Moses did when he feared (in the Book of Moses) after he received a really cool vision, but he remembered Christ and called on his name for help. He then invited us to prepare ourselves and be true disciples so that when the hard times come, we will be ready.

     Love you all and have a Merry Christmas!

-Sister Brinkerhoff

Hospital or DMV?

     Craziest week ever.

     But first things first, favorite text of the week from our American ward member Brother Singletary (Meng Xin's stepdad) about the church's Christmas initiative LIGHT THE WORLD:

How in the heck am I supposed to light the world when I'm having trouble lighting my stove???

     It has definitely been an insane week, and let's just say I've never related so much to Rapunzel in my life because I've stayed inside a lot. I'm so excited, let's get started:

     Quick background info: My companion, Sister Scharman, came to Taiwan the same time as me, last March. In her first few months, she got her appendix taken out, and she's been having health problems ever since, I'm not even kidding. She was put on bed rest for a while on her mission, and she gets up periodically to do missionary work. She has been an amazing example to me of enduring to the end (plus she's a soccer player, and she has learned to hide her pain really well, cause in soccer if you show pain, you get out of the game. (That is one skill I want to learn). 

     Monday night, we had another, more American Thanksgiving dinner at Brother Singletary's house. My poor comp was in pain that whole night. We made apple pie from scratch (first time ever, and it was good) and cheesecake. Everyone complimented on how delicious my mashed potatoes were :) It was funny to see the Taiwanese try gravy for the first time. They liked it. 

     Afterwards, that's when it started to get crazy. My comp recently had been taking medication for her face because it was hurting like crazy from the acne she got on her mission, but it turns out it was acutane, which is super strong. We got it from a dermatologist the week before. She was fine until she started developing side effects, which sent us to the emergency room at 11pm.

    While there, she got some IV fluids and was there a lot of the night. It was funny, she was the one getting poked by the needle and i was the one freaking out. There was nowhere for me to sleep, so I slept on benches, which was uncomfortable. At around 2 am, I made a huge mistake; I knew in the morning we had district meeting then we had to teach English class that night in Reisui (no close), so I asked the nurse how long it will be before she can go home. I thought my comp just had to finish the IV drip and we were good (I know nothing about hospitals). Because of some miscommunication, the nurse thought we were in a hurry to leave and checked us out of the hospital before my companion was ready to leave. We went home, but were locked out of our apartment since the elevator was turned off and the stairs to our apartment were also locked (it went through our landlord's home), and we forgot to tell him we were leaving. We couldn't get hold of him, so at 3 am we went to the Singletary's (they were still awake doing work). We called President at 3 am and asked if we could sleep overnight, sleep at a hotel or at the hospital. He didn't sound too happy when we called, and said just to find a hotel or go back to the hospital. We only needed four more hours til the Landlord was awake and the hotel was expensive, so we went back to the ER and Sister Singletary asked the nurse there helping us earlier if we could sleep. The nurse then took us to a back room where the doctors sleep and told us to try to hide from the ER doctor. So my comp and slept on hospital stretchers for the rest of the night.

     Tuesday we had district meeting downstairs in our chapel. The zone leaders and the Americans Navi and Travis Ely came. The Ely's were nice and went to Reisui for us to teach English class, since my comp was in a lot of pain. So we stayed in that night and let her rest.

     The next day, we stayed inside and rested. Sister Vatcher, our mission nurse, and President Jergensen called. In the mission, if you are inside for more than three days, church headquarters starts thinking about sending you home. So President set up a teleconference with  my comp, her parents, and her stake pres. to decide if she should stay or not. The result is that we will try a few more things and if all else fails, she will go home. 

Thursday, we took the three-hour train ride to Taipei. My poor comp was in so much pain. We went to the mission office, then we went with Sister Vatcher the mission nurse to a hospital called the Taiwan National Veteran's Hospital. Apparently it is so good, that even the President of Taiwan goes there. Because it is a free healthcare system in Taiwan, the hospitals run very differently. A lot of doctors work for a set salary (unlike in America, it's you get what you pay for, which increases competition, which leads to better health care), so the doctors don't have the same incentives to work fast or care too much. In Taipei, however, the doctors take more pride in their work, so they are better. 

     The hospital was huge! Taiwanese hospitals run like DMVs - you sign in for your appointment, take a ticket, sit down in a waiting area outside the office door, and wait for a nurse to come out and call your name. If the person isn't there, they skip to the next person, and if you miss it, they will let you in later. Very efficient and quick. So the nurse who spoke good English is a family doctor and gave my comp some  medication and told her to go see a doctor about her bowels.

     My comp had a cold, her chest was hurting because of inflammed muscles, her stomach wasn't working and she may have tapeworms (we still don't know), and she was really suffering all day, so we stayed the night at the temple tour sister's apartment by the mission office then went home the next day. we then pretty much stayed in all week, except to go downstairs and teach Ding jm's lesson, go to church and mm meeting. During that time , I would just read church material, since I can' t make calls and wake her up (we live in a one room apartment).

     We are so excited, Ding Jm, our investigator, is getting baptized in two weeks! She is a Christmas miracle; she has blessed our lives so much more than she has blessed ours! She is about 50 years old, divorced with two kids, and is returning to Christianity, this time to Christ's church for good. She knows it's true and she has incredible faith despite her large number of trials. The members have been incredible to her, and they teach her stuff way ahead of time so the lessons are a breeze cause she already knows and is already on her way to keeping the commandments. We are almost done with the lessons. 12 days till baptism! We are so excited, there hasn't been a baptism here since July. 

     I've been reading the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi where Lehi talks about Joseph of Egypt. I'm like, "that's cool, I should reread that story again in the bible." So I did, and let me tell you, it's amazing! I love how Joseph has faith despite trials, trusted in God and gave Him credit for everything, forgave his brothers and pointed out that his trial was a good thing that God wanted him to go through, and whatever position he was in, he did it well (even in jail when he was in charge of the prisoners). Man, he's soo cool.

     I've also was reading in the conference talks from last conf (page 20 is Jay Jay, who was in my first ward in Ba De. I've met her a few times, she has totally changed for the better). I like the one about the missionary who asked his mission president why he came to Japan despite his health problems, and his mission president said one reason was so that he can learn from him. I feel the same way about my companion.

     I also like the talks about finding hope through trials and having that eternal perspective will give us happiness. 

     Love you all! Have an awesome week!

-Sister Brinkerhoff

A Taiwanese Thanksgiving

     Hey everyone! Hope you had a super awesome Thanksgiving!

     It has been a great week! Last week for English class in Reisui, my comp had the students make "hand" turkeys and write what they were grateful for. It was so cute, a lot of them wrote that they are grateful for God, for friends, family, their country, and their teacher! I was in the back talking to a student who has advanced English. He plans on going to do a tour at the chapel by the temple. Hope it works out!

Thanksgiving Hands

English Students at Home

     Our Thanksgiving was fun and interesting. We had the stake presidency in sacrament meeting, my companion and another girl gave a talk, then the branch president. My comp and I taught gospel principles then had Relief Society. It was interesting translating for two Americans, and let me tell you, I think it's easier translating from English to Chinese than Chinese to English, because in English you know what's going on completely and you can use the vocab you know to convey the idea, whereas if you don't know the Chinese, then you're stuck. 

After church, we had a Taiwanese Thanksgiving dinner, which included two chickens with heads still intact (the members don't really like turkey), papaya, curry, eggplant, rice, potato salad, apple and custard tarts, watery soups, soda, and some other Taiwanese dishes. It was all pretty good. It was funny, we had 11 Americans at church, the most I've ever had on my mission (except for the MTC). In my previous areas, I have never seen an American at church. The

Americans were:  a visiting couple visiting (the husband served a mission here 10 years ago), a member of the stake presidency whose wife is Taiwanese, two older members who are married to Taiwanese women, a senior couple serving in Hualian, and us four missionaries. It was super fun!

     On Thanksgiving Day, it was the usual, but we had an amazing lesson with our investigator Ding jm! she is so great! can't wait to see her get baptized. 

     We also had a race for the 60th anniversary of missionaries in Taiwan down in Taidong. We went with our investigator. I got to see my trainer, Sister Bain! It was so much fun, I love and miss her. We even got the left over medals and t-shirts they gave to the runners :) I also saw a member family from my first area, the Wang family. I would love to go back to Ba De one day. 

Chen, Sis. Bain, me

Me & Race Organizer

At the Race

     Yesterday we played some games with a family who has some kids who got baptized. It was fun! 

     It's been an awesome week full of miracles and met some amazing people. I have really learned about how being grateful makes our lives better. I am so thankful for Christ and Heavenly Father, and for their love and mercy. They are seriously the best! I love them, and we all need to do what we can to return to them.

     Remember to thank Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in your prayers and actions for all that they have done, especially for Christ, His Atonement, Resurrection, and Gospel. One way to show appreciation is to share the gospel, as well as apply the Atonement in your life. 

     Love every day of your life!

     Love you all! HAPPY THANKSGIVING! LET THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS BEGIN!

-Sister Brinkerhoff

Dreams Do Come True When You Believe

Lunch Out

Thank You Note

Hello, everyone!

     It has been another great week in Yuli! Pretty eventful in so many ways! With God's help, we got 10 peikes ("lessons"), instead of four like we usually do! It is so hard to have members help with lessons since they are usually very busy, but with God's help, we did it. We try as a mission to get eight lessons every week. God really has been helping us and we are really grateful.  

     Last week, a member took us to Sanxia Shan bridge. It was a dream come true! When I came to Taiwan, I would see pictures of it in a lot of places, including stuck on train seats. I always wanted to go. Since coming to Yuli and seeing even more pictures at nearby train stations, I wanted to go see it. We could even see it from the members house that lived on the dream beach. My prayers were answered, and last Monday a member took us over the mountain to the beach house again really quick to give the members our brownies and district picture, and then drove us down the coastline for 30 minutes to visit it.

     It was soooo cool! It was an eight-arch bridge that lead from the island to some rocks. It was hot and humid, which is super weird for me in November. The area is super touristy. It reminded me of the opening scene in the movie "Despicable Me" with the tourists piling out of the bus to see the pyramid (my mom laughed so hard at that part, saying the way they portray tourists is so true). I was so glad to go when we did, because if it was busy on a Monday afternoon in November, I can't imagine what it's like in the summer.  We talked with some Taiwanese tourists, as well as some from Singapore and one guy from England who is here teaching English. Its funny, a lot of people who aren't from Taiwan that speak English don't speak a lot of Chinese, even though they have lived here for years. It was fun to walk up to people and have a conversation in Chinese, because they don't expect us to speak any Chinese. 

     Later that night, we visited the Wu family (In Taiwan, a lot of the time when people get married, the wife doesn't take on the husband's last name), which includes Brother Wu (Wu Di Xiong), his wife Sister Cai (Cai Jie Mei), and their one-year-old son. It was so cool! The wife wasn't too sure about the church at first, but she told us that she had a dream of seeing Christ praying, and she has been more solid since. Her prayers were so much smoother and with more intent. They still go to another Christian church, but hopefully that will change soon. 

     On Wednesday, we had English class in Yuli and then had a lesson with a girl from Oklahoma named Carmen. Her family is Romanian. She lives in Taiwan for a year-long program teaching English. She doesn't know a lot of Chinese. It was so weird, as my companion and I were preparing for the lesson in English, we both realized we weren't too sure if we had the First Vision memorized in English. We got it down in Chinese, but not in English. We then came with Brother Gunn (our American member), who served a mission long ago in the Mid-Western States which included a little of Indiana, to help peike for us. Let me tell you, that was a different lesson altogether.  When the elders first contacted her, she said she downloaded a free copy of the Book of Mormon the day before and started reading it on her own. She's already in 1 Nephi 10.  She asked us questions about why we needed prophets if we have the Holy Spirit guiding us, and about the Book of Mormon, and what we believe about the Bible. She would even check her bible for scriptural references. It was a good lesson, and Brother Gunn and God really helped us. It was different teaching a lesson in English to someone with a strong, solid Christian background.

     Last Thursday was transfers. Everyone in my district is staying here in Yuli. It seems like everyone else moved though. My trainer, Sister Bain, was moved down to Taidong, which is in my zone and which is exciting. I have spent, I'm not even kidding, half my mission with her, whether as a companion, as an apartment buddy/Sister Training Leader, and now as a sister in the same zone. Last transfer was the only one on my mission where I haven't been with her. She's the best. I love her so much and I am so grateful God allowed me to be with her for Christmas and before she goes home at the end of this year. I have learned a lot from her and she's really fun to be with. We have a race in Taidong on Saturday to continue the year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of missionaries coming to Taiwan, so I will see her for that, since our investigator is coming. Looking forward to seeing her.  :)

     Last Friday, for a branch activity, we watched the

full length Joseph Smith movie. It was amazing, investigators who came told us how amazing Joseph Smith was to be willing to sacrifice so much. After watching the movie, I realized how much faith he had in God, and was willing to give up everything to God. I was so grateful for his example. He's is such an amazing person, his example has blessed everyone, even our investigators. His example of reading scriptures, having faith and saying a prayer (which lead to the First Vision) has been super useful for our investigators. 

Cai, our investigator and her baby

     Afterwards, we had a lesson with Ding JM who came to the movie. She is soooo awesome! She is getting baptized on December 17th!  She is doing so great, just overcoming the word of wisdom issue still.  She has blown us away by telling us that she already knows about the word of wisdom, the law of chastity, and the temple even before addressing those topics (her friend is a member and already told her these things, which has made things 1000 times easier. It was cute, at stake conference she looked like she already fit in. Even at church people were asking my companion if she was baptized yet. God has really prepared and blessed her. 

   

 At church, we had the primary program which was so cute which included about 8 kids total (we need more families in the branch). We then had church which was good, and then, afterwards, had lunch which included good cake to celebrate November birthdays. Next week, we will have a Thanksgiving dinner after church - Yay!  Brother Gunn says that they're not going all out like years previously, but that's ok, I'm just glad we are celebrating at all. So excited for that!

Spiritual Share

     "Dreams do come true when you believe"-Tiana from the movie the Princess and the Frog. If we align our will to God's and do whatever we can to make it happen, dreams really do come true. I  would add "in God" to the phrase: Dreams do come true when you believe in God. For me especially this past week, going to the bridge, having Ding JM progress, and having 10 peikes. 

     I remember last year right before Thanksgiving, I went to the temple. Inside, I was talking to a temple worker about her plans for Thanksgiving. While doing so, I wanted to tell her to enjoy Thanksgiving while she could, because I wouldn't be having Thanksgiving with her again in this life. It's a hard time in life when you get to the point where you can't spend Thanksgiving with your grandparents anymore, because they passed away. Last year I was able to go to my Grandma and Grandpa Brinkerhoff's house for Thanksgiving. I am so grateful I was able to grow up and go to Grandparent's houses for Thanksgiving. I invite you all to enjoy every single Thanksgiving while you can, because in reality there aren't that many.

     Also, when we have studies, I read conference talks. I read the Oct. 2015 talk by Elder Bednar about why God chooses older men to be His prophets. It made me think of my companion, who has had a lot of health struggles on her mission, as well as a large number of other sisters. I have been blessed with good health on my mission. As I read it, I thought about her and how she's such a great example to me of enduring to the end.  I loved how he pointed out what he learned from the prophets.  (See his talk for details.)

     I know what he said is so true, and I have witnessed it as my companion has continued to do missionary work despite a lot of health problems. I am so grateful I am able to see God's hand in our lives as we continue to do His work.

     Have a wonderful thanksgiving everyone! Take the time to remember God and His mercies and many blessings. I am so thankful for Heavenly Father and His love (even to the point of being willing to sacrifice His Son Jesus Christ for us), Jesus Christ and His love and atoning Sacrifice, this gospel that has brought so much happiness in my life as well as my loved ones and countless others, for people and their amazing examples, and other countless things in my life, big and small.

     Love you all!

     -Sister Brinkerhoff

Octopus, Dogs, Stake Conference

 Dog-Watching

English Student's Mom

A Member's Dog

An investigator's baby

     One day, our English student randomly came up and cooked some pork, sweet potato leaves, and octopus soup. I tried the octopus, and it was very chewy with a faint fishy flavor. It was kind

of hard for me to eat, because it tasted different. One elder told him that we weren't used to seafood, which is why it is hard for us to eat the octopus. I thought that was interesting and true. 

     Elder Simonson had some friends come all the way down from Taipei to visit him (that is one goal I want on my mission: to make really good friends with the members to the point that they would come far distances to visit :)   and they brought Costco stuff that we ordered. The elders got some brownies and made them for members.  We all wrote notes, too, and put a photo with them to deliver to the members.  

     It was a member's birthday the other day, so we wrote birthday cards for her. Her husband is 
American (we have two older Americans married to two older Taiwanese women in the branch), so she can read and speak English pretty well, but I wrote her a note all in Chinese. I was pretty happy, I can read, write and text more and more in Chinese (Shen de bangzhu, "God's help"). 

     Our investigators are doing ok, but we have one that is really shining. Her name is Ding Jiemei (Sister Ding).  She is a member's friend and has a word of wisdom problem (coffee, tea, alcohol). She used to be protestant, but left because of the contention in their church; tried bai bai (ancestor worship), but that was useless, so then her friend referred her to us. Yay! A few weeks ago, she was drinking some alcohol when she heard the Spirit tell her that it wasn't good for her body. Her doctor told her a few days later that she needed to give that stuff up because of health problems. She has been going strong ever since. She is still overcoming it, but she has been flying in the lessons. We will teach her the word of wisdom more in depth the next time we see her.   She is getting baptized on December 17th. She has a testimony and everything! She gets along soooo well with the members, it seems like she is one already. She even went on the four-hour roundtrip drive to the

A stop on our way down to stake conference.

Hualian stake conference with the members!  It seemed like all the talks were meant just for her! They were all on the last lesson we taught her (Lesson 3 - Faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, endure to the end). A lot of the talks were especially on the Holy Ghost, which I thought was special to her, since she had that special experience hearing the Spirit that she keeps referring back to.  At the end, when I asked her if she liked the conference, she said she really enjoyed it. She even looked like a member as she sat on a row of our Yuli branch (the only row from our branch other than a small family from the branch).  I am so excited for her! This will be my second person on my mission and first Taiwanese person (other than the 8-year-old whose mom God helped reactivate) we will help get baptized (the first was the Filipino in Xinzhu). She is such a blessing in our lives and makes Yuli all the more enjoyable. She is such a light in  my life right now, she doesn't even realize how happy she makes me. 

     The best part of the stake conference for me (other than hearing President and Sister Jergensen speak) was when the stake president spoke. He said, 'Elders and Sisters, please stand up."  (All of us from Taidong, Yuli and Hualian, which is about 30-40

missionaries total stood up.) He then said that he and the members were grateful for our service, then told us to sit down. (It was cute; a member I didn't know sitting next to me thanked me for my service as I sat down). He then went on talking about how the stake needs to help and support the missionaries, and that he wants the members to help the missionaries reach the mission goal of having one baptism per month per missionary companionship. We were silently applauding him, we were so happy he reminded the stake members that they need to help us. 

     After zone conference, we went and talked with President and Sister Jergensen. President Jergensen reminded us Yuli missionaries that we were the last branch in Taiwan (didn't know if he meant just our mission or all of Taiwan, but we are guessing the latter), and that he has faith in us to help it become a ward, even though it's hard. 

     After the conference, the stake president had a meeting with us. He first shared his conversion story and gratitude for the missionaries who taught him the gospel, and began to point out his counselors and other members in the room who were baptized between eight years ago and eight months ago or so. It was cool how he still remembered the missionaries and was grateful for them for sharing the gospel with him and his family. I also liked one counselor (an American) who said that in a little while his daughter's friend is getting baptized, reminding us that anyone can get baptized, the members just need to remember that. After sharing his testimony, he then asked the zone leaders in Hualian, then our district leader, then the Taidong zone leader what concerns we have with the members in the area. The biggest problem for all of us is the members' lack of energy getting missionary work done. The stake president then suggested ways to help us improve relations with members to help get them more excited about missionary work.

     When he came to us Yuli missionaries, the stake president began telling us how Yuli is a hard area, especially because it has a long history of member conflict (which he said was caused because of pride), which has definitely hindered missionary work (what also makes it hard is that it is a very big, open area with little towns, which also makes it hard, as well as not having a lot of people, which makes them even more tired of seeing missionaries and less likely to meet with us). He said about five years ago, sisters were introduced to the area which made it better. It made my eyes water when the stake president told the other missionaries our struggles;I could feel the other missionaries' sympathy for us. He then suggested for us to help the members remember the gospel so that they can be humbled and can get along better. Some members have been really helpful to us. The branch is kind of at a low point right now.  Please keep us in your prayers that the area will get better.

     I know that God loves us all and is helping us return to Him through Christ and His gospel. I am so grateful for His help and for the opportunity to help Ding JM come to Christ. 

     Love you all!

-Sister Brinkerhoff

Dream Beach House/Party in Taidong/Biggest Spider...Ever!

Helloooooo everyone! (Or as they say it here, Ni hao!)

 Here's the recap:

Monday

     After the crazy eight-mile bike ride and emails, we got a call from a member to help another part-member family "move." We thought, ok, we will just be moving boxes and what not. So this member drove us over the mountain to a veerryy beautiful beach house! It turns out the moving was just dragging a heavy-waterlogged log that washed ashore up the steep hillside to their house. We then stayed inside their house, drinking some juice the wife made, having Elders Budd and Carson chat about Dou Terra Oils (one used to work there and his companion likes their products),admiring their antiques and very beautiful view from the window. Man, they are some of the most blessed people in the world to have a view like that! 

Tuesday

     We went up to Reisui  (20-min train ride up north)

Youzi (Pomello)

and taught English class. Our topic:  hobbies.  It was fun, our students are awesome! One gives us a bunch of youzi's (pomellos, a type of fruit) every week, so we have a bunch in our apartmemt, since nobody wants them. They're pretty good. 

Wednesday

     On this night, we had our English class in Yuli. Only Jackie and two little kids came. We usually have more, but it was a blessing to have Jackie only come. We were able to sit and talk to him. He's pretty unsatisfied with his life, he only works and drinks since there's not much else to do here in Yuli. He saw a friend change, and he want's to change as well. We talked to him, and now he will start meeting with the elders. So exciting!

Thursday

     This is where the fun begins! We got up at 4:30 to get ready to catch a 6am train to Taidong, which is south of us for interviews with President Jergensen and zone conference the next day, which meant SLEEPOVER WITH THE TAIDONG SISTERS!!!  :) It was crazy!  We had to cram eight sisters in a four- sister apartment (the Sister Training Leaders had to come too), with only two bathrooms and one shower. Interviews with President were so good. He is super amazing, it was great to see him! He flew down here and will take the train to Hualian (up north a bit) to do more interviews. While he did the interviews, the Assistants trained on how to get member referrals. One Assistant served here in Yuli last year, and told the story of how he set up a blue tub (the baptismal font), left the water running and told the sisters to keep an eye on it while he and his companion ran to get food, but then got a call from the sisters saying it overflowed and broke, flooding the chapel,  water leaking into the internet cafe downstairs and destroyed everything (the internet cafe is still closed to this day, the only one here in town). We also did anmah (grandma) exercises to keep us awake, which included slapping our arms (Taiwanese believe that doing so breaks the blood vessels, which brings more blood to an area which brings better circulation). 

     After interviews, we went with President to get Peanut Butter burgers (I got a chicken teriyaki instead since I'm kinda tired of burgers). I then went with two other sisters to do a lesson with them; then English boarding at a night market.  

     Last Sunday before church, right at the intersection at the church, the Taidong Zone leaders saw a guy in his 30's riding a motor scooter in front of them get hit by a truck (either the guy or the truck ran a red light). The Taidong sisters I was with on exchanges later in the week were in the church parking lot at that time and kind of saw it. They all ran over to the guy that was hit. They said the guy didn't have a helmet on, and blood was gushing everywhere. They tried everything and called an ambulance (the Taiwan emergency number is 119), but he apparently died on the spot. The Zone Leaders and Taidong sisters were shaken and couldn't function at church or the rest of that Sunday, but they seemed to be kind of okay now. I think they are all still shaken, especially since it was brought up when I was there (and you could still see the bent pole where the truck hit at the 7/11 across the street from the church). I am grateful for their example of keep moving forward, even after seeing some scary things. 

Friday

     On Friday morning, we got up, got ready for zone conference and walked over to the church. We talked about being shepherds instead of hirelings and how to have more faith in the zone.  It reminded me of the song "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd," which was randomly brought up in a talk at the MTC. I really love the lyrics and how we all are the Under Shepherds to help bring souls to Christ. We then had lunch, which included shaved ice with mangoes and sweetened condensed milk poured on top (the Taidong missionaries just called the lady who owned it and she opened up the shop for us missonaries). 

 

     We also met a fun, crazy couple the other night with their one year old son. We hope we can progress with them. 

     We went home and later that night, I saw a HUGE

SPIDER outside of our door to our room.  My

companion, after taking some pics, made me go kill it, because she couldn't do it. I'm not kidding, it was as big as my hand. It was hard, but I finally was able to get a broom on it and smash it with a dustpan, and finalized it by stepping on the dustpan to hear it crunch. We then flushed it down the toilet, it was so big it had a hard time going down. We later showed pictures to our member who works at a mortuary, and she was like, "Those are good spiders, they eat mosquitoes." 

Saturday

     We were able to have a lesson with Ding JM. She set a baptismal date for December 17! I am so excited, she is super solid! She just needs to  overcome some issues, but she is doing great! God is definitely helping her!

Sunday

     We had church in our branch which was great. We learned later that night that the Elders got a phone call from an office elder, that they needed to buy one train ticket immediately to Taipei, with no explanation, and that President Jergensen will call and explain later. Those moments are super intense, waiting for President to call back. Later that night, after branch mission meeting, President called them, but Elder Budd accidentally dropped the phone after President asked how he was doing(which is so sad and funny). He then quickly put the phone back together, and found out that Elder Carson was going to Taipei today (a week and a half or so before transfers), and that Elder Budd will have a new companion. We don't know why these emergency transfers are happening, but we trust that they are for the best. We are happy for Elder Carson (he's been here since July since he started here, it was hot when he came, he had a Taiwanese companion he didn't know English for three weeks, and it's honestly a kind of rougher area with not a lot of people including other missionaries), but sad to see him go so suddenly. He'll do great though. 

Spiritual lesson:

     I was finally able to get my other suitcase at Zone Meeting (I've been waiting for it since October 7th). Turns out the moving company in Xinzhu said they would pick it up on Friday, Saturday came and went and still hadn't picked it up, so the Assistants had to drive all the way down from Taipei to Xinzhu, probably and hour or two car ride, get my suitcase, go back to Taipei, and send it down with the Zone Leaders after they went to the Mission Leadership Conference they have to train them and the Sister Training Leaders on Zone meetings. Since rarely any missionaries go up to Taipei if they live in Hualian or Taidong (3-4 train ride one way up, pretty expensive), they bring a lot of mail and other stuff from the mission office down for the other missionaries. My suitcase had some books so it was kind of heavy. I was super grateful for them being willing to bring my heavy suitcase on a four- hour train ride down so that I could have it. It wasn't easy for them, but they did it. I bought them candy bars later as a thank you.   It made me appreciate their sacrifice and willingness to serve me without complaint. 

     I am grateful for the Savior's example, and that we can all learn from him. It's amazing, we become better people through his example and we help others because of His example, just like the zone leaders were willing to bring my suitcase because of Christ's selfless example. 

Also some quotes I like-  

     "Make everyday the best day of your life."- on a random photo album cover

     "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."- Little Prince, from Pres. Uchtdorf, Oct 2016 talk "Fourth Floor, Last Door"

     Love you all! Have an awesome week!

-Sister Brinkerhoff