2-19-14 Taipei Temple Trip

About 6:30am we board a bus from the mission home. 

One of our senior couples always comes to serve during the session.

 We arrive about 11:30am!

 Most missionaries have the opportunity to participate in several different ordinances before the day is over:)

I now have the opportunity to serve as a temple worker when the missionaries attend.
It has been a wonderful, learning experience!

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2014!

St. Patrick's Day is pretty special for us. Not only do we remember President's father, but we celebrate our oldest granddaughter Finley's birthday, who is three this year! She started her day with birthday Fruity Pebbles complete with a candle:)

I was really looking forward to having Finley by my side during her third year, to remember what it was like to have a three-year-old to cuddle and love, after losing our beloved Courtney in 2001. But Heavenly Father had other plans when He called us to serve in Taiwan.

Today I got hugs from these beautiful missionaries instead!

And this golden investigator's parents prepared a delicious dinner for us. 

He hadn't even heard of St. Patrick's Day but had the perfect sweater on!

How blessed we are to know that through the Plan of Salvation and the sealing power of priesthood ordinances in the temple, families can be together forever!

Sequel to November 2013 Gangshan Miracle Story

This Sunday we were invited to speak in a sacrament meeting on the topic of "Hastening the Work of Salvation". Generally when we are asked to speak on this topic, I share the wonderful miracle story about our diligent and inspired missionaries, the less active family, the Navy seal investigator, and the recent convert soldier who befriended him. The elders spent many visits strengthening this less active family, sharing spiritual messages and inviting them to share the gospel. The father came back to activity and accepted a calling as ward mission leader. The investigator found the Savior's true church and was baptized by the recent convert soldier, strengthening his testimony as well.

However, this week I was asked to speak in the very same ward that this miracle took place! In the midst of our quarterly missionary interviews, I was so grateful to find out that, three months later everyone is still active, and the ward missionary father helped another 86-year-old investigator resolve his concerns and accept baptism. The family has been bringing him to church every week! Then, at the start of the meeting, I heard this Navy seal's name presented to be sustained for a calling in the YM organization. How awesome is that?!

Right after church ends, missionaries are hard at work teaching. Members too, hastening the work of salvation through their combined efforts. This sister has returned from serving a mission in Germany but is still sharing her testimony!

The ward has set a goal to reach 120 members, upon which they hope the high-rise complex they meet in will not suffice, their existing stake will be split, and a new stake center will be built in their area as their meetinghouse!

2-4-14 Zone Training Meeting - Taichung

Districts leading their zone in Key Indicators share their means of success:

 Zone leaders train on using the new Baptismal Tracts to contact,
then give missionaries an opportunity to practice:

 We love you!

1-28-14 Mission Leadership Council

Zone Leaders from each of our seven zones report on their monthly progress.

After Sister Training Leaders share their miracle stories, we have lunch at the mission home:

Believe it or not, Rice Krispies cereal is a rare find in Taiwan! 

I searched the island for six months before finding three boxes. Naturally, I bought all of them!

APs instruct on effective daily planning:

President invited missionaries to contact using the baptismal invitation.
Closing with the mission song:

We are so grateful for our mission leaders!

January 2014 Meetings

Taichung North Zone ZTM, 1-7-14

New missionary introductions:

(Sorry, I was burning a fever that day...not only my camera but my mind was in a blur!)

 ZLs instructing:

 And demonstrating, using the training model:

Taichung North Zone Missionary Fireside, 1-12-14

Training Follow Up Meeting, 1-15-14

New Trainers...president selects trustworthy, obedient, diligent missionaries to train our new missionaries!

Fengyuan DTM, 1-14-14

DL leading a discussion on the first principles and ordinances of the gospel:

 After using the Training Model to instruct on Baptismal Invitations, we went upstairs for an activity:

 To the kitchen on the third floor:

 Where we pretended to be fulfill Jeremiah's prophecy (Jer. 16:16)...

 ...to be fishers of "investigators":

 We love being with our missionaries!

And have fun being twinsies too:)

Taichung North Zone ZTM, 1-7-14

Introducing New Missionaries:

 ZLs Train . . .

 using the Training Model (explain, demonstrate, practice, evaluate, re-practice).

1-26-14 Hengchun Branch Conference

Starting off with Preparation Day in Kenting, at the southernmost tip of the island, with the Assistants:

 A little rock climbing:

 Wishing he were jumping into the water, but alas, it was only onto the sand:(

 Can you spot the super mini nerf football?

 Sail Rock: can you see the profile of President Nixon?

 Shades and ankle bracelets!

 After cleaning up, the branch president treated us and the elders to an exquisite seafood restaurant owned by the Relief Society president:

 Her husband owns this amazing road machine!

 The branch conference was inspiring. Many stake leaders joined us.

 This sister shared her testimony of tithing in Relief Society. 

You can find her story online in the December 2003 Liahona at LDS.org!

 Church members are always so warm and hospitable:

 This brother is a talented artist and shoemaker! 

He generously presented us with this calligraphic piece defining the attributes of Love.