Guonian Kuaidaole! Chinese New Year is here soon! One transfer more!

 

Guonian Kuaile! Happy Chinese New Year!    

     Hellooo, everyone! Chinese New Year begins this Friday! Super excited - the lanterns are lit up around town. Surprisingly, members and an investigator invited us over for lunch and dinner! Most of them will be out of town, so they are trying to feed us before they leave. Guess I can't escape Guonian and the dinners that every missionary must experience.

     In the movie Les Mis, there's one song that is the theme for me lately: While prepping for battle, the people are singing how in one day they will see "what our God in Heaven has in store. One more dawn. One more day. One day more!" For me, it's "One transfer more!" We are so excited to see where next transfer will take us. Transfers are on February 9th. I feel like I will stay here in Yuli for one more transfer to get the ball rolling on baptisms. This past transfer has been more about finding investigators, starting the lessons, and establishing relationships with members. I just need one more transfer to see the baptisms.

     Our branch is doing so awesome, they are on fire and ready to help.  Love them to death!  Fun adventures coming ahead this week! 

     People from all over the world come and bike here, it is so beautiful with so many bike trails. I can't tell you the number of times I have seen foreigners here. So President Uchtdorf's Mexican Doppleganger, Jorge Alonso, came to bike around Taiwan in 10 days (literally, he's been all over the world).  He's from Mexico but lives in Seattle, has been traveling around

the world for three years (is a landscaper), is single (lonely), and interested in the gospel. He will go to Thailand next week.  I really hope he see's my brother, Charlie!

     Meng Xin (served in Indiana) came to town again this weekend. Seriously, whenever he comes, it's like Santa comes to town or something. He has only come down from Taipei three times since October. He's here for two weeks for Guonian since classes in Taipei are over. 

     We had God's Recent Convert (as well as my recent convert) Ding JM help us peike (teach a lesson with a member present) for the first time since baptism! I was SO proud of her, I felt like a parent who's child was the superstar of a football game. Seeing her teach the gospel really makes me happy! Her life has changed completely! She used to be unhappy, not interested in others, and sad about life, but now she is so funny, full of life, strong and unselfish. Plus, she has a light in her countenance. I really hope I can go with her to the temple to do baptisms next transfer. I want to be with her for one more transfer.

     

     My comp and I live a floor right above the chapel, super awesome and convenient! Our landlord owns a big house. I guess he trusts us missionaries because he keeps the door to his house open, and you can look in and see all his expensive stuff. We live in one of the four apartments in his house, and the chapel is on the second floor. There's a ruined internet cafe downstairs.  How did it get ruined?  Two years ago, the missionaries were filling up a blue tub for a baptism in the chapel, but the elders didn't set it up right, so it collapsed and the water seeped through and ruined the computers in the internet cafe right below. It's been closed ever since. 

     

     For one of the days for Chinese New Year, people clean out their houses, getting rid of the bad of the old year. So this Saturday our whole mission will spend the time deep cleaning our apartments. Gratefully, Sister Scharman and I moved downstairs recently, it will be a lot quicker this time.

     At church, everyone at sacrament meeting is talking about how it's a new year and how they want to start fresh. Some people even started becoming active again because of it.  I am so glad that through Christ and His Atonement, every day can be a new day. It reminded me of what my boss at Wendy's said to me at work one day when I was upset that someone tricked me and took my money the day before, "Today is a new sunrise, it is a new day." He said don't let the past take over, enjoy the moment. 

     Love you all! CPR - Church, Read Pray! Have an awesome week! 

-Sister Brinkerhoff