Invitation

My dear family and friends!!

A transfer has come and gone already! The last 6 weeks have gone by SO fast!! But, this transfer was extended a week so transfer meeting isn't until this Thursday. I am praying Sister Wright and I can stay together for at least another transfer. I have absolutely loved being with her!! And in this cute, tiny town of YuLi! This transfer ended off on one of the best weeks we have had here in YuLi!! Sister Wright and I ended this transfer with giving out 105 copies of the Book of Mormon!! At the very beginning of this transfer we thought, how cool it would be if we got 100 and we handed out our 100th yesterday + some more! How great it is that Heavenly Father sees our diligence and efforts and rewards us!!

Gao JiaTing has set their Temple Sealing for October 17th at the 11am session I believe. It is so neat to be able to have the opportunity to help this recent family prepare to be sealed for time and all eternity. They have the cutest 2 year old who they will also be sealed to.

This week was full of miracles in and of itself. Our investigator, Zhu JieMei, she doesn't even have a desire to drink alcohol or chew binlang any more at all. She has completely broken her 30+ year addictions. What a miracle. She ate the nut part of the binlang this last week on accident more of just out of habit but quickly realized the mistake she made, prayed, asked for forgiveness, and has promised to never for the rest of her life drink or chew!! She even leaves her home every night for hours to go exercise to avoid the temptations of her husband and his friends as they drink, smoke, and chew in and outside their home. The change in this woman is absolutely incredible. What a privilege Sister Wright and I have had to teach her the Restored Gospel and see how this gospel has changed her. I love her!! 

We also began teaching a Mao JiaTing a couple weeks ago--the mom and daughter--and they, especially the mom, is very prepared. This last week, they didn't keep their commitment to read the Book of Mormon and pray so, we read the beginning of the Book of Mormon with them. Mao JieMei understood it all and understood how to relate what we learn into our daily lives. We expressed the importance of her coming to know the truth for her own. She knows she needs to read and pray everyday. It will just be something she is to slowly adjusts to.

Do you remember me sharing about a Ba JieMei last week, well we went and visited her this week because she has decided to move home and work at the hospital here in YuLi and we started reading the Book of Mormon with her again. At the beginning she asked if we could stay for 3 or 4 hours and read with her which we told her we couldn't but after about 30 minutes, she was getting really bored and asked if we could switch books. haha She is changing though--slowly but surely. She grew up in China and still won't say her own prayers unless we tell her exactly what to say. We hope this week that that will change.

This week we also had the opportunity to visit a former investigator and her two daughters who are 7 and 2. Her husband is in the army and stationed in TaiDong so only is able to come home every couple of weeks a couple days at a time. Ma JieMei was raised in the Presbyterian Church and the reason why she had to stop meeting with missionaries last year was that her grandparents and parents found out she was meeting with missionaries and forced her to travel up to HuaLian every weekend to attend church with them. When we visited with her this last week, she explained that her husband knows she is meeting with us again and she just really wants to know more about Jesus Christ and His teachings. So, we will see what happens!! I'm telling you, this area is exploding right now!!

As for myself, I am loving my mission. I can't believe another transfer has already come and gone. The time seems to go by WAY TOO fast! I am grateful for the companion that I have. We work well together and I continue to learn from her everyday. She is an amazing, inspired missionary. I love her. I am also grateful for my personal growth in learning the gospel, listening to the Spirit, and helping those in YuLi receive the Gospel. What a special privilege it is to serve in this great day and age. I am grateful for personal study every morning in which we can base our studies around our investigators but also learn for ourselves. This week, I did an activity from the back of Chapter 4-Recognizing the Spirit in Preach my Gospel. As I continue to learn how the Spirit speaks to me, it has been easier for me to allow my feelings to be expressed in lessons and talking to people on the street. As we learn from the teachings of Alma in Alma 5:45-46

 45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

 46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

The Holy Ghost has a very powerful and important role in each of our individual conversions. There is always more to learn in the church. Remember the simple things, 1. Pray daily: Heavenly Father truly wants to hear from us. He loves us and is concerned for our welfare. 2. Read from the Scriptures DAILY: No matter if you are on vacation, busy with work, busy with the everyday living of life, we need to remember to study the Scriptures. I can promise you, every time you open to read, you will learn something new. 3. Attend Church every week.

As Missionary, I invite individuals to do these three simple things everyday. Yes, if we are not in the habit it can be hard to start. But, I invite you, diligently strive to fulfill these three things and adding a fourth to attend the temple as much as possible--whether it is to do baptisms for the dead or an endowment session. The temple truly is the House of the Lord where we can be filled with his love, care, and comfort.

I love you all so very much. Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and love I feel from each of you!!

Sister Haacke

  

We love Selfies...Bike ride coming down from ZhuoXi.
  

 ZhuoXi

After Church.  A member bought us some new clothes.

Taroko Gorge National Park

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

I know the start of my emails are always the same...but I never know how to begin...It was an amazing week! And I absolutely LOVE being a missionary!!

This week was filled with some amazing experiences.
First, this past Tuesday, we had OUTDOOR ZONE CONFERENCE!!!! And the best part is that we went to TAROKO GORGE NATIONAL PARK!! It was BEAUTIFUL!! 2 Zones went together so my zone--台東 (Taidong) and the 花蓮 (Hualian) zone came together. We met really early at the Hualian Chapel all got on a bus and went up to Taroko Gorge National Park. And can I just tell you, it is so beautiful here in Taiwan. The trainings were absolutely amazing. I loved every part of it. The real focus was on who we are-Disciples of Jesus Christ and what we do. We also discussed the importance of being happy and enjoying the time we have on our mission. We would hike a little, stop, have a training, and hike a little bit more. the Pictures don't even do it justice but it was such an amazing experience. 

  Toroko Gorge
  

We were able to set a new baptismal date with one of our investigators, YuZhen. She is 14 years old and has a really strong desire to get baptized but coming to church is the hard thing for her. We had a really spiritual lesson about our purpose and the steps we need to take to reach our potential and enter the Celestial Kingdom. She was really moved and personally set a new goal for October 17th--the week of her birthday. We had a really neat experience this week visiting with a less-active. She is about 70+ but literally acts like she is in her 30's. She is full of energy and takes care of her two small grandgirls. Her son lives with her and her daughter-in-law works in FengLin which is about 45 minutes away from YuLi. Her daughter-in-law, Ba JieMei, is a former investigator and from what I have heard, when she was taught the first couple of times, she told the missionaries she had absolutely no interest and basically said religion was dumb. BUT when we went to go visit Li JieMei this last week, Ba JieMei was there and sat in and PARTICIPATED in our lesson!!! It was a HUGE change. The thing that was also really cool was that Ba JieMei came to church with Li JieMei last Sunday-September 13. Ba JieMei husband is also a less active and the entire lesson she was telling us we need to help her husband come back to the church!!! What a huge change of heart this woman has had. So neat. The only hard part is that where she lives in FengLi there are no missionaries--it is part of our area--and so we wont be able to teach her very often--only when she comes down to visit her kids which is about once a month. Friday while finding we had a really neat tender mercy. We went knocking for about an hour or so and had no success. As we were heading back to our bikes to leave to go have dinner, we both felt like we needed to go talk to this lady holding a baby and playing with her children on a little park in front of a Primary School. On our walk across the street and then onto the grass, we saw this other mom who was sitting being a scooter (she was blocked from our view when we were standing by our bikes) pulling out a cigarette. We both walked straight to her, sat with her and talked. She used to go to a Christian church several years ago but left it because they were changing some things in the church and she thought it was really weird. We prayed with her and taught her simply some of our church's teachings. The Spirit was so strong and I know she felt it very strongly. She is going through some really hard times right now--infact, in her prayer, she listed all these things she is struggling with--raising her daughter, a health issue, something with her home, not having work, etc. The Spirit literally came pouring onto all of us. This woman is so prepared to hear the gospel. I can't wait to continue to be able to help her. We never had the opportunity to talk to the lady we were originally planning on talking to but I know Heavenly Father told us we needed to walk in that direction to meet this sweet lady.  This weekend, we had Stake Conference in Hualian.  It was the FIRST EVER Stake Conference here on the East Coast. Right before President Day went home a few months ago, he came and organized the Hualian Stake. It was neat to be able to be a part of it. I had to translate the last talk on Saturday night to Rebecca--from Ohio teaching English in Hualian. It was so nerve racking but it was neat. Even though I didn't understand everything I really could feel the Spirit helping me help Rebecca understand what was being taught at Stake Conference. 

This is an investigator from Taidong and we met each other at stake conference and she changed my life. I will probably never be able to see her again but she is amazing!

 
 Most of our Branch that was able to go to Stake Conference.

 

Sunday afternoon we had exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders--both of us staying in Hualian. I exchanged with Sister Belnap!!!! (I played tennis with her step-mom the summer after high school) and I LOVED every second of it. We saw so many miracles and had a BLAST together!!
  

Us and the sister training leaders.
   

 Last preparation day.

 

  

Challenge

MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

This week was absolutely AMAZING?!?! When it is not, when you are serving in the most beautiful area with the best companion!?!?!

But first, Casey is home?! Where did the last two years go? That is crazy. It sounds like he had a great homecoming talk. Also, MARISSAAA!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!! You are going to be so FAMOUS. I am proud of you! and I loved reading all about the crazieness of your life this last week. Lachlan, another big HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! One day, you'll get a tall trophy too :) Just keep working hard!! Alexa, youre getting SO tall! I am so glad you had so much fun at the fair. Mom and Dad, thanks so much for the detailed email.  Yes, I did read the entire email and I loved it so much.

Bryan, I LOVE also reading your letter from last week. You and your companion are working so hard and doing your best to build up God's Kingdom there in Amulung! Sure LOVE you ALL!!

Where do I even begin, this week was absolutely amazing...I'm going to change things up a bit and use mostly pictures to share my week..so bear with me...with all the emails for today!

But first, as I continue to grow closer to my Father in Heaven, I have really come to realize how grateful I am of all the many blessings I have in my life. Someone shared Mosiah 7:33 with me this week;
"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." Mosiah 7:33

I know when we serve our Heavenly Father with ALL purpose of heart no matter if we are serving a full time mission or not--this can include attending the temple, doing family history work, monthly fulfilling our visting teaching, hometeaching, and church calling responsibilities, reading the scriptures and praying daily, having FHE every week, etc., we are promised we will be DELIVERED and FREED from bondage.

This week, my invite to you all, serve the Lord with ALL purpose of heart, might, mind, and strength. We are given only one opportunity here on earth, to show our worthiness to our Heavenly Father that we want to return to His presence. When we serve our Heavenly Father first, everything else falls exactly into place. I know this to be so true. 

Everyday when I get out of bed, I feel like I am in a dream. Doing this work makes me so happy. I love it. I know this church is true. I LOVE you ALL!!!

Last monday, we went to another beautiful beach here on the east coast of Taiwan--San Xian Tai (三仙台). 林弟兄 was so willing to take us again. We had a great time. The beach is so calming, peaceful, and can I just say, TAIWAN IS BEATIFUL!!! 我愛台灣！！！！！

 

 

Tuesday, we took our last trip, to the hosptital to check on Sister Wrights reports and everything came back good.  Can I just say, the hosptials here are so convienent!?!?! All the doctors are in one place and you just use your medical card to wait in line for a doctor.

 

 The weather this week has been so beautiful. We spent some of our lunch time sitting out on our balcony enjoying the view and of course, eating ice cream.  (Above and below.)

 

 

 AND this week we spent some time up in the mountains spreading the gospel to the people in ZhuoXi. What a beatiful place this is.

We had to climb a pretty big hill up, but the miracles we totally worth it. We originally went up there to visit a potential investigator 高姐妹 who is 10. On our way to her home, we stopped and talked to a family who were sitting out enjoying the evening and we set up for Sunday afternoon to go visit them, had an amazing lesson with 高姐妹, and on the way back, knocked a couple doors and met another 高姐妹 who is in her 60s and so hungry for the gospel.

The 10 year old 高姐妹 (gaojiemei)'s dad was extremely drunk the whole time we were there. It was so hard for me to watch as this 10 year old girl had to literally push her dad inside their home and help him lay down on the floor. Even though he was extremely drunk, he was really nice to us and told us he wanted his daughter to be baptized into our church. it makes me so grateful we have the Word of Wisdom.

Anyways, Sunday, we went back to ZhuoXi. First, visited the 林家庭. We met with two sisters and their cousin. Most of the people where we went finding in ZhuoXi are surprisingly Catholic because there is a Catholic church right there but they are so open to hearing about our gospel. We simply taught the message of the Restoration and they paid attention so well. The oldest, 15 year old, asked so many good questions and we could really tell she was really wanting to understand and know for herself.

We went to go visit the 10 year old 高姐妹 but she was shopping with her mom so we had some finding time..We met a cute girl who we are going back to meet with later this week, and ran into the Jehovah Witnesses. It was my first time today where I got to experience us knocking on doors and the Jehovah Witnesses basically right after us. :) but, we of course stayed our distance and said hi to them.

Lastly, we went and visited the other 高姐妹. What a neat lady. about a year ago, she suffered from a stroke and ever since then, her husband, 黃弟兄, has had to take care of her. She talked so highly of her husband and we told her we really wanted to meet him. Literally 5 minutes latter, he gets home and we were able to sit and talk to them, hear some of their life stories and share the first half of the Plan of Salvation. 高姐妹 already says the most powerful prayers. What a privileged Heavenly Father as given me to serve in this beautiful area. I love this. SO much.  (Above and below.)

  

And last, a random picture while finding this week.

Working in the Rice Fields

My dear family and friends!!

First things first....a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LACHLAN!!! I hope you have a great day on Tuesday?!?! YOU'RE TURNING the big 11!!! WOW that is crazy!!!

What a great week this has been. The miracles are amazing. Times like this have made me really realize how much love Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us-In every point of our lives, we can feel His love towards us as individuals!

This week started off by us heading to Hualian for Sister Wright to go to the Hospital. We spent most of our day there getting checked out and we will head back tomorrow to check on the results. She has been sick the last couple of weeks but we have been able to see so many miracles through the hours we have been able to work outside!!

Every week, we continue to have great lessons with 朱惠鈴(Zhu Hui Ling). She is still working really hard to give up her Word of Wisdom addictions and set a new baptismal date for September 30th. She has a really hard personal family life, but she has seen the power from relying on God to help her through her challenges. She has so much faith and knows through the power of prayer, Heavenly Father can help her overcome her 30+ year addictions. She continues to attend sacrament meeting every Sunday! Her daughter is also one of our investigators and can't get baptized due to her dad. Her dad says that as soon as he sees a bigger change in her, he will allow her to be baptized. So, we are working on that with her. This week, her younger brother has started noticing she is being more patient with him! And, this week we helped her write a note that she put in her moms scriptures encouraging her and telling her that Yu Zhen wants to work with her together to prepare for baptism. A couple days later, we were meeting with the mom, (we meet with them all separately--they all have different challenges) and her mom brought up how she found a note from Yu Zhen in her scriptures. Her mom teared up and talked about how moved she was by her daughter :)

On Friday, we went to go visit a potential investigator in the afternoon and it was really weird because I knew she didn't get off work until 5:30 but I had the strongest feeling we needed to just at least go knock on her door. So we did and her 17 year old daughter was home, let us in, and we shared the first lesson and the video Because He Lives with her and she became a new investigator! She leaves for school down south next week so we wont be able to teach her for very long before we transfer her records to her new area but, this experience was another testimony to me of the importance of listening to the Spirit. This has been one thing I have really had to learn on my mission. It definitely isn't easy, but when we get in the habit of listening and following, God provides us with miracles.

Saturday, we got permission to go and do some service for a member of our branch in a RICE FIELD! Let me tell you! It was the funnest, greatest experience of my life. It was really funny because when Sister Wright and I were coming home from the hospital on Tuesday, we were talking about how great of any experience it would be if we could go work in the rice fields for a couple of hours--just for the experience. And, we had the opportunity!. We walked up and down the rows and picked all the weeds in between the rows of rice. We did it in bare feet with gloves and we had a great experience. Elder Aiono couldn't help because he has a pretty bad grown in toenail right now, so he became our photographer..See the pictures attached.
 

 

 
Sunday night, we also saw a really big miracle. We were finding on 大同路 and visiting some former investigators we found in our area book on the way. One of the last houses we knock, it was supposed to be a former investigator, but, as soon as we knocked on the door, the sweetest young lady answered and invited us right in. 李姊妹 is a single mom (I believe) of a 1 year 9month old--who is adorable. And her 19 year old sister also lives with her. She just moved into the house we knocked on a couple months ago. She is Catholic but was really willing to learn about the church. We shared the first lesson with her and she thought it made a lot of sense. She said it might take some time because she has never really investigated another church but that she is willing to meet with us and continue learning more!!

There are miracles and experiences that occur everyday. I wish I would have more time to write about all of them. But, these are a few. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. I love serving my Heavenly Father and helping others come unto Him!!

I love you all so very much!!!

We ate dinner with Zhu JM and her kids Tuesday night. We had snail...it was actually pretty good! 

 Where I serve is beautiful!!