4-28-18 Newlyweds from Taichung!

Last week I received a message from our favorite mission recorder in the Taipei Mission. 

He is here with his wife to study at BYU's ELC program. 

Whaaaat? I didn't even know he had married! I was so happy to be able to meet his new wife:)

 Sealed together for time and all eternity on March 3 in the Taipei Temple!

 Then when I saw this picture, I realized that her mother was a sweet friend of mine and
awesome Relief Society president during our mission! And now her parents are serving as the senior couple over the Taipei Temple patron housing in the Taipei Mission:)

 And remembered that her brother had been dating one of our missionaries...

and so happy to find out they too were sealed in the Taipei Temple last year!

 So happy to see more of our missionaries together!

Spring 2018 Graduates!

Look who has graduated this spring!!! 

Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistics and Data Analytics:

From BYU, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation:

 Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, and headed to University of Utah School of Medicine:

Last year (oops) from BYU Hawaii, with a liberal arts degree in 

International Cultural Studies and Intercultural Peacebuilding & Communications, with a minor in Chinese.

On the left she walked with her parents when they got their degrees, and on the right her parents walked with her when she got her own degree! This fall she's starting a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at BYU!

From BYU, Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology:

From University of Utah, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration:

From BYU, Bachelor of Arts in Chinese:

Bachelor of Science in Economics, Minor in Business Strategy:

 Bachelor of Arts in Chinese, Minor in Communications:

 Bachelor of Science in Math and Economics:

From Utah State University, Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, and starting out with Reagan Outdoor Advertising:

From Utah State University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Chinese:

 From Utah State University, Bachelor of Arts in Communications Disorders, Minor in Chinese:

 And this is my very favorite BYU graduate...my son-in-law!

Bachelor of Science in Economics with a Minor in Business:

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL!!!

4-24-18 Last Transfer of Missionaries

You know you've been home a LONG time when all of your missionaries have been released! 

A couple of these elders were among our last transfer in Taiwan!

 And now they're on their way home!

 Father and grandparents picking him up at the Taipei Temple:

Together again with his trainer...father and son! 大楊和小楊！

Home again in Alabama!

4-18-18 Got a Layover at LAX? Come Visit Us!

Driving down instead of taking a connecting flight to LAX was a more economical way for this RM to catch his redeye flight to Taiwan. So he called us up to see if we could spend some time with him. 

Just so happens that he loves to mountain bike...just like President!

 These guys rode like animals on the trail!

 With all the rains, the hills have been gorgeous! 

Out to the coast for a gorgeous sunset:

Come drop by any time you're around LA...we'll make time for you!

4-15-18 Taichung Missionary Receives Distinguished USU's Woman of the Year Robins Award!

We are so proud of Emily Turner for receiving the Woman of the Year Award, 

at the 60th annual USU's distinguished Robins Award ceremony!

"This award is presented to a female student who has made broad significant achievements and contributions to the University during their time at USU and has exemplified those traits, which set her above other classmates." Sister Turner "has earned as many degrees as many years she's been in college." During her four years at Utah State, [she's] majored in International Business, Economics, Political Science, Asian Studies and minored in Chinese." Go Girl!

Emily, in all modesty, responded:

 "I was so surprised to win. I know all these girls and they are all amazing. I just try to work hard and be nice to people." That's exactly the kind of missionary she was too!

4-14-18 Salt Lake City Temple Sealing

We are always so happy when we're able to attend our missionaries' sealings!

 Dipping the beautiful bride!

 We're so happy for this awesome couple!

 The temple grounds were so beautiful that day...

 The flowers were brilliant!

 The next day we attended the BYU YSA First ward, of which my brother, David Chao, was just called to serve as bishop! I'm so happy for him! We met a couple of our awesome sister missionaries: 

 As this brother greeted us, I thought, oh dear, I don't recognize him as one of our missionaries! Then I remembered, it was one of our Mandarin trainers in the MTC when we were preparing to enter the field!

 This sweet sister told us she had started her mission in Taichung the transfer after we were released:

 And this sister served with our daughter while she was in the Korea Seoul South Mission:

Lots of our missionaries on campus at BYU on Sunday! 

A Glorious General Conference!

What a glorious General Conference, to sustain our new prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, our new First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles, including newly called Elders Gong and Soares!!! What a privilege to participate in the worldwide solemn assembly!

One of our missionaries was SO THOUGHTFUL to offer us a couple of tickets to the Sunday morning session of General Conference! We are so grateful to him!

Met the bishop of Wufeng and these Taiwanese saints Outside the conference Center!

Ran into President and Sister Barrett, who presided over the India Bangalore Mission while we were in Taichung. We enjoyed serving with them together in the Asia Area. They must be SO excited to hear the announcement of the new temple in India!

I'm sure all of you were so excited to hear of Elder Gong's call to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles! Only minutes after the announcement, my mother, Sister Chao, texted me, "I told you China is going to open up!" She is hoping to see the work of salvation go forth to her homeland during her lifetime! During the conference, the parents of Elder Gong's niece, who served with us in Taichung, came and greeted us! We were blessed to meet both Elder Gong and Elder Soares after the conference. Elder Soares had set me apart as mission president's wife almost five years ago!

What a wonderful talk by Elder Brian K. Taylor. Every soul on the earth needs to understand they are a divine child of God! During his talk, I kept thinking how much Elder Taylor looked like my husband, only perhaps about a decade younger. So so funny, while we were exiting the conference center, a kind brother came up to President and said, "I really enjoyed your talk yesterday!" President  told the brother it wasn't him that spoke, to which the brother replied, "Yes you did!" We had to explain there was just a close resemblance, hahaha!

Love to run into our missionaries!

And during priesthood session Saturday night!

3-30-18 Taichung Mission Reunion Time!

Lots of great helpers showed up early to set up...

...while my daughter and son-in-law were at Costco picking up all the pizzas!

This RM's mom sent several trays of baklava to Taiwan while he was serving as assistant to the president. He generously shared an entire pan with me, and it was the best baklava I'd EVER tasted!

Knowing that he would be attending our reunion, she SO thoughtfully baked a fresh batch the evening before, and sent three trays from northern California up to Utah for us to enjoy! 

How amazing is that?!

Dinner time...zone conference style!

 My granddaughter is eyeing that pizza!

 She's going for it!

So great to have so many come that had served most their mission with President Bishop. 

We inherited some great elders and sisters!

 This couple came and visited us while on their honeymoon in Taiwan!

 Cousins who both served in our mission!

 Son and father:

 This RM has been called to be a Young Performing Missionary in Nauvoo!
He'll soon be wearing a name tag again...oh those glorious days!

 I remember my first interview on the island with this native Taiwanese RM on the left. He had stitches in his lip...the day before he'd been in a bike accident with a dog! He told me although his wrist was sore and his tooth was loose, he was grateful nothing was broken and he felt he had been protected by his name tag.
It really is a privilege to bear the Savior's name on your chest!

 Lots of couples coming up!

 These two are getting married in a couple of weeks!!!

More waiting anxiously to tie the knot!

Proud parents of a beautiful baby boy!

And soon to arrive bundle of joy...also a boy!

 Love the brotherhood!

 And the sisterhood!

 Fathers and sons...

 Mother and daughter...and our special guest from Yuanlin, here awaiting his son's departure from the MTC!

 My brother came by to say "Hello," and pointed out his daughters mission plaque to me.
She's serving in the Taiwan Taibei Mission! So proud of her!

 LOVE OUR SENIOR COUPLES!

Being goofy!

 And goofier!!!

Then there were those that wanted pics with us:

We were thrilled to have lunch with President and Sister Bishop. And another beloved missionary who wasn't able make it to the reunion was able to join us!

Have to show off our granddaughters!

Also so happy to meet this RM the night before the reunion, who was literally on his way out to Nashville to pursue a career in music. 

He and his companion "trained" us as our first APs...we'll miss him!