There Are No Coincidences

Family and Friends!

Before I forget, Mother's Day: I can Skype Home either Sunday, May 10th, or Monday May 11th, my time. I will tell you next week the time I will be calling home. 

And, thanks dad. haha great way to start your email...You made me cry! And then I got to the end...and it was a lie! I'm glad your healthy and not in the hospital recovering from a heart attack! It sounds like the rest of you had a great week with all the activities Marissa, Lachlan, and Alexa had. Love reading about everything :) 

The reason why our preparation day was on Wednesday today was because we were able to go to the temple this morning! It was a great experience! There truly is so much peace and comfort when attending the temple! It was super neat because there were so many missionaries there. Being able to see everyone, especially in the temple, is priceless! 

This week has gone by pretty fast. Last Monday, April 20, we were able to go to Lions head Mountain with our Mission Leader, Jeffrey, and the elders. It was beautiful! Being in the mountains is so peaceful-especially here in Taiwan because you are getting away from all the noise and craziness of town. 

On Tuesday, we were able to meet with a new investigator, Zhang JieMei. She is Christian and when she was in college many years ago attended an LDS church in southern Taiwan with one of her friends. She is so sweet. We shared with her the Because He Lives video and she told us she doesn't want eternal life. She wants that when she dies that her life is over. She believes that eternal life is just the same as earth life where we will have homework and have to cook all the time. We told her that Heavenly Father has given us a plan and in that Plan, The Plan of Salvation, we can be happy and Eternal Life is a peaceful thing. We have plans to share the Plan of Salvation with her this coming week. We have been able to meet her husband and he is also super sweet. This is both their 2nd marriages but they are so happy. He told us he wants us to continue coming to their house because he says that when we are there, he feels really good. So, there is a lot of potential with this family! Tuesday night, we also had two dinners. One was with our Landlord and their family. They had the daughter that just returned home from her mission. She actually already left on Wednesday to go to BYU. It was a great dinner where we were able to get to know her family well and create relationships with them. After, we biked quickly to Xi JiaTing where we had tacos and Apple crumb pie! We were also able to meet a family in which the Elders are going to start teaching! It tasted so good to have some American food for a night! :) 

Wednesday, we were determined to find a less active Melchizedek Priesthood holder we could start working with. We were asking everyone on the streets if they new of this road where a less active lived and everyone kept telling us different areas. A mailman on his scooter randomly came up and asked us if we needed help finding a road--he was truly heaven sent. We talked to him for a little bit on the side of the road and exchanged phone numbers. He said he has interest in learning about Christ but that he is really busy with work. It is so neat to see how Heavenly Father puts people in our paths to talk to. One thing I have learned is that nothing happens for a coincidence or 'fate' everything happens for a reason. 

On Wednesday, we got a call from a member in ZhuBei and she had two referrals for us! Another really neat miracle! One of them, we met on Thursday at the McDonalds and the ZhuBei Sister was there as well. Ye XiaoJie moved from ZhuBei about a year ago and when she lived in ZhuBei, her and Zhang JM (ZhuBei member) were neighbors. Ye XJ has previously met with missionaries in Zhubei many years ago and had just one or two lessons. She couldn't remember really anything. She stopped because she was too busy with her daughter. Now, her daughter is in kindergarten and she doesn't work so all of her mornings are open. We were able to meet with her at McDonalds and then on Monday, we met with her in the Morning. She lives in the Elders area but we are not quite sure if they will start teaching her because it is hard for them to find a member to go with them in the early afternoon. We brought Xu JM with us as a member present and it was so amazing! Ye XJ asked really good questions and has so much interest in coming closer to Christ. 

One concept I learned this week was how there are prepared people everywhere you go. The hard part is that you just have to find them. 

The rest of our investigators are doing well. We had some really good lessons with Wu Mei Yu and Lu Pei Ling this week where we figured out their concerns about getting baptized. Wu Mei Yu still needs to create a desire to come to church and come to know for herself if the Church is ture. Lu Pei Ling is nervous about getting baptized. She has noticed that getting baptized is a big promise that we make. She also needs to create the desire to come to church. She reads and prays everyday and loves the feelings she feels when she reads from the Book of Mormon. She lives pretty far from the church though and only has a bike. There are no members out where she lives so I feel like that is why she doesn't want to come to church. We were also able to meet with Yellisha and taught her the Plan of Salvation. She loves the Resurrection part but still is confused about why baptism is important because when she was 17, she was baptized in Indonesia. 

Oh, Friday, we had Specialized Training, and Elder Gong & Sister Gong (of the seventy) came and spoke to us. We were reminded of the power of the Joseph Smith experience, importance of teaching families, the gathering of the saints and importance of stakes to build temples, and to be spiritually bold. Another Stake was formed in the south mission this last Sunday. The work truly is moving forward in the Asia area. 

Lastly, as we were sitting in the chapel waiting for church to start on Sunday, we had no investigators there yet and Wu Mei Yu said she was coming and also Yellisha. I was praying for a miracle and next thing, Lai Ming Jin and a friend came walking in! He is a investigator Sister Smith and I met with when we were on exchanges and he kept telling us during the lesson he wanted to continue to bai-bai (worship his ancestors) and believe in our church. Leaving the lesson, we both thought it would be better to give him some time and maybe visit him in a couple months or so but when he came in, he seemed really happy! He ended up staying the entire 3 hours and learned so much. During gospel principles, he started talking about how coffee and beer are bad for our bodies and he doesn't know about the Word of Wisdom. Also, Yang DiXiong, in the branch presidency knows Lai Ming Jin from work or something. When we talked to Lai Ming Jin later about church over the phone. He told us how grateful he was that he was able to see a friend and then meet so many more friends. 

So, I figured maybe I was wrong, and Heavenly Father is giving me a second chance with Lai Ming Jin!  His friend who he brought to church with lives in Taipei so the Elders got his information to send to the missionaries in his area. 

Overall, this week has been really good. It has definitely had its' ups and downs. The language is still manman lai...and sometimes I get frustrated and down on myself but when I do that, I just remember Heavenly Father sent me to Taiwan knowing that I could overcome the challenges that I come in contact with! I love being a missionary. I know without a doubt in my mind this church is true. I love serving my Heavenly Father. It is such a blessing to see his hand in my life everyday. I love you all so much! 

Love, 

Sister Haacke

 

 We were able to do service for Liu JieMei (less-active) where we helped clean off her roof.

 

 Lin JieMei, a member in our branch, and I.

 

 Sister Fisher and I this morning after our session in the temple.

Fast Week

What a fast week! There has been so much that has happened this week...I don't even know where to begin!!! This week I really came to know the importance and how much I have come to love the people here in Taiwan--especially here in TouFen.

On Tuesday we had a lesson with Fan Zhu Song and when we were walking back from Akin's house since she was our member present back to the church where his motor scooter and our bikes where, I asked him if he was going home to his Toufen  house or his Zhunan house. He looked at me really confused and explained that he only had a apartment in Zhunan.  Sister Fisher and I looked at each other because we thought he said he had a house also in TouFen but we didn't have much time to talk to him because we had to go help Liu JM close up shop but we had a lesson set up with him the next day where we would discuss it to make sure he lives in our area. Tuesday night, I was so sad...I cried so much...yes... I cried..a lot. I just sat on Sister Fisher's bed and just cried. I was so sad. I kept telling her it was selfish tears. Wednesday, we met with him in the afternoon and we discussed the Book of Mormon with him and talked about obedience and prophets. We then pulled out our map and told him to find the exact road in which he lives. After a couple minutes, he found it and it is right at the border of us and the Zhunan Elders, our Zone Leaders. We informed him that he lives in the Elders area and that the Elders will have to start teaching him. He didn't quite understand why and he started crying! It was probably one of the most saddest moments I have had on my mission thus far. He was so sad. I was also so sad and I also shed a couple tears with him. What was the neatest thing was that he then turned over and said, "Will you still be able to come to my baptism?" He told him we would have to get approval but that we would try our hardest to be there. So, sadly, Fan Zhu Song is not our investigator anymore. He is someone I will stay in contact with. Having him as an investigator taught me so much. He has so much faith and his faith truly strengthened mine. The hardest thing was Sunday morning, we were sitting by Liang Man Ting waiting for sacrament meeting to start and Fan Zhu Song walked in and he was so happy! He found us and hurried to come and sit by us. He stayed all three hours and absolutely loved it. But, at the end of Gospel Principles, he turned to us and asked if we could meet on Tuesday at 4 and we had to explain that we  couldn't and he got all teary eyed again. He said he was meeting with the Zhunan Elders at 6 Sunday night so we decided we should probably go to that lesson to help him transfer over because the last thing I want to see is him not getting baptized because of the boundary situation. Sunday night, we biked over to Zhunan and met with him and the Elders. He expressed how grateful he was for us and how much he talked to us. One of our Zone Leader, Elder Huang, is from Taiwan and so he was able to explain it more easier the situation to Fan Zhu Song. Fan Zhu Song told us that we will always be his fuyin jiemei. Elder Huang insured him that we will be able to come to his baptism and keep in contact with him through letters. It was really sad, but it was bittersweet to see understand and to realize the church is the same no matter where you live. 

This week, we were also able to meet with Qiu DX!!!! We haven't been able to meet with him at all because he has been really busy with work. Tuesday night, we met with him and Huang JM was our peike. We talked to him about the Book of Mormon. He has actually read a lot of it but he believes that only us as missionaries can help him and not the Book of Mormon. He also told us that whenever we call him, he always has a temptation to do something bad but then his phone rings and its us. He said it is really weird. But we explained to him that its the Holy Ghost. I can't exactly remember what  was going on in the lesson, but he was saying something and I flat our interrupted him and asked him what makes him happy in life. He stopped, pulled out his wallet, and put a picture of his daughter on the table and just started tearing up. (This was a lesson right before Fan Zhu Songs Lesson) so yes, Tuesday was a day of Tears. He explained how his wife cheated on him and how he wasn't even a good husband in the first place and now his ex-wife is living with her boyfriend and won't let him ever see his daughter. It was the saddest thing. We bore powerful testimony though that if he has the desire, he can change himself for the better and the only way to do that is through building his relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through prayer and studying the Scriptures. 

Thursday night to Friday afternoon, we also had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. GUESS WHAT?!? SISTER SMITH CAME TO TOUFEN TO SERVE WITH ME!!!!!! I got to seving with Sister SMITH!!! I love her SO much. It has been so long since we were roommates but it was as if we never left each other. I learned so much from Sister Smith during our exchange. She has changed so much and she told me how looking back on her life, she doesn't know how she even lived before her mission. Thursday night, we met with a new investigator, Lai Ming Jin, and she made me talk like the whole time and she would come in when she felt like she needed to. Wu JM was also our peike and she helped so much. The lesson was really good but our investigator wants to believe in both our doctrines and Buddhist beliefs. He asked if he joined our church if he couldn't bai-bai. so, We explained to him that he can't bai-bai his ancestors. He kept telling us he believed both things. Wu JieMei has such a neat conversion story and was able to help Lai Ming Jin understand. We probably won't be visiting him very much though. 

On our way back to the church, Wu JieMei drove Sister Smith and I in her car, she explained a little bit of her conversion. About 10 years ago she joined the church and she had a little daughter. It is just her and her daughter in her family. Before she joined, she bai-bai her ancestors and was I guess you could say and active Buddhist...when she heard our message she thought a little bit the same as Lai Ming Jin--like why can't I believe both?  But she took the missionaries word, and started to pray herself to ask Heavenly Father if the church was true and she came to know for herself. She had such a neat experience that she wants so bad to go on a mission but she couldn't after she was baptized because she had a daughter. Her daughter now is 11 or 12 and Wu JieMei is still preparing to serve a mission one day when her daughter is grown and moved out. What a neat example to me. Friday we knocked doors pretty much all day till we exchanged back. We didn't have much success but I learned so much from Sister Smith. Some doors, If they shut the door on us, we would sing the first verse of I am a Child of God. The neatest thing was we were walking down a street and we went to go talk to this mom and her about 3 year old daughter. The mom said she talked to missionaries before and asked her little daughter if she had interest in Jesus Christ. The little girl, chi1 yu4 jie2, looked at us and nodded her head so we sat in the middle of the street and taught this little girl how to pray. It was one of the most precious things I have ever seen. We planted a seed in that little girls heart for one day when she is older, she will remember the missionaries. 

Sunday was a crazy day! Other than Fan Zhu Song, our landlord's daughter is the only member in her family and she just returned from her mission in Canada. She heads back to Utah this coming Wednesday though for school but she gave her homecoming talk in our branch and it basically doubled our numbers in sacrament meeting. There was about 80 people there! And two of our less actives came on their own! So, we were able to set up a family home evening with them tonight! Zhou JM homecoming talk was so powerful! She learned so much on her mission--a lot about faith and the importance of families in the church. It was amazing! After church, we had a lesson with Liang Man Ting and taught her the Plan of Salvation. 

One thing I really learned this week was how many people are prepared and ready to hear the gospel. it is just our job to find them. There are days, where there are no success, but those days are the days that I learn probably the most about myself and the love our Savior has. Those days are the days that give me the encouragement  to try my very best the next day to find the prepared. 

Just like Bryan said in his email last week, being a missionary is an amazing opportunity. I loved what he said, "I have come to know without a doubt that there is no better work than sharing the gospel of helping people come closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ." That is so true. We truly do have an amazing calling as missionaries! I know with out a doubt this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is true. It provides answers to our questions, comforts us when we need comforting, and allows us to know what our earth life purpose is--to prepare to return to our Heavenly Father's presence. 

I love you all SO much!!!!

Love, 

Sister Haacke

Next week, our preparation day is on Wednesday. Wednesday is temple day so I will be able to travel up to Taipei and go to a session Wednesday morning! I'll be emailing Wednesday afternoon my time! 

 Pics of Sister Gabbitas, Sister Lindsay, and I.

 Sister Knapp and I.  

Pictures of Fan Zhu Song, Akin, Sister Fisher and I.

 

 Sister Smith and I on exchanges!!

 Sister Fisher, Lu Pei Ling, and I. Lu Pei Ling is progressing well. She still has an issue with creating the desire to come to church but we are working with her! 

Love you all!!

General Conference

My dear family and friends!

This week has been amazing! General Conference was definitely the highlight!

I can't believe I just finished my first transfer in Taiwan! It is crazy! I still have so much to learn and so many areas I need to grow and develop but I am grateful for how much I have learned over the last 6 weeks! It has flown by!

General Conference was by far the highlight of the week! It was amazing! I was able to listen to all of it in English except for most of the Saturday morning Session. During lunch or dinner sometime this week, we will be able to watch it in English hopefully :)

Conference talked a lot about families and the importance of families here on the earth. I love this message. The family unit is getting attacked from many difference forces but if we stay firm in the gospel and apply the principles we learn from the gospel, we can face those forces and overcome the adversary. I'm grateful for the family I have. I love you all so much! I have learned so much from you all! You are all amazing! Mom and Dad, thank you so much for the values you taught me I look back and I am so grateful for the lessons I learned and the love and direction I received from both of you!

I also loved David A. Bednar's talk about 1. Looking to Christ; 2. Building upon a foundation of Chirst; & 3. Pressing forward with faith in Christ. Our lives need to be centered in our Savior Jesus Christ. Through him, I know we are able to overcome our sins and physical death to be able to return to our Father's presence. Elder Bednar expressed the importance of putting our fears behind us and to doubt not, fear not. His talk gave me the answer to my question I had going into conference.

Here are some other highlights I enjoyed from conference:

LIVE IT. SHARE IT. DEFEND IT! -Cheryl A. Esplin (Women's session)

A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying. -Dale G. Renlund

He perfomed the Atonement for you and me. For everyone. -Quentin L. Cook

As we enter the doors of the temple, we leave behind all wordly things and concerns -President Thomas S. Monson

Hold fast to what you already know. -Rosemary M. Wixom

Seek the Lord in every thought. Doubt not. Fear not. -Jose A Teixeria

Using the resources we have to learn of Jesus Chirst will allow us to have a fruitful life. -Jose A Teixeria

1. Never Stop rediscovering the Gospel.

2. Anchor your faith in the plain and simple truths of the gospel.

3. Seek and Cherish the Holy Ghost. -Gerald Causse

"The gospel is a foundation of knowledge that never runs dry." -Gerald Causse

The entire sequence (Plan of Salvation) is for us to have eternal happiness. -Jeffrey R. Holland

Grace unlocks and opens the gates of heaven -Dieter F. Uchtdorf. 

We obey out of love for Him.  -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

We have the freedom to live our faith! Don't walk, run! -Robert D. Hales

Study the Book of Mormon everyday, everyday, everyday. -Kevin W. Pearson

1. See our own salvation; 2. Help others seek their salvation -Jorge F. Zeballos

 

 We can learn so much from conference! I invite you all to find one thing you learned from conference that you will apply in your life. Just like Russell M. Nelson said, "How will I change because of this conference?"

 

 As for a quick run down of my week. It went really fast!

Tuesday we had zone meeting where It was focused on using the Book of Mormon in every way-finding, teaching, everything. We were invited to give away atleast 5 Books of Mormon a week.

Our investigator, Fan Zhu Song, is doing really good! We taught him the 3rd lesson this week and he understood all of it. When we asked him what he thought it meant to endure to the end, he looked back at the 4 previous steps and said, well its applying all of these! Fan Zhu Song also was able to attend Saturday Morning of General Conference. He was able to watch the Priesthood Session and part of the Saturday Morning session and then he had to leave because he was going down to Taoyan to visit his family. He said he really liked it and he learned a lot. It is pretty much like he is a member already! The only problem is his work schedule and not being able to come to church on Sunday. While we were eating lunch inbetween the two sessions Fan Zhu Song was there for, he was sitting at a temple with some members and I was eavesdropping ofcourse. (I'm a missionary...he's an investigator...haha what do you expect :)) A member asked him if he had a baptismal goal and he told her April 16 and she said oh that awesome but thats really far away! He said yeah it is but I'm really busy with work and school!. He also came to our English class on Wednesday. It was our English class party-every 6 weeks we have a party and a potential investigator in the Elders area asked him if he was a member and he told her not yet, but I am preparing to be baptized right now! It is so neat to see how he is progressing and to be able to help him prepare for baptism.

This week we also visited a potential investigator and we were able to give him a Book of Mormon. He asked us why we don't bai-bai our ancestors and he is afraid to come to our church because other people told him if he came, he can't bai-bai his ancestors anymore. He has no background in Christ or God so we will be starting really slow with him. However, we were able to get a return appointment for this coming week. Another really neat miracle was Saturday afternoon, we had about 45 minutes to knock some doors after conference and before we had to be back at the church for an activity and we met Deng XianXiang. It was raining really hard outside. We knocked on his door and no one answered. We decided to knock again and 'give them a second chance not knowing if anyone was home or not. We waited for a good couple minutes (well, it felt like that) and then he answered the door. We talked to him in his doorway for a good 30 minutes. We were able to talk to him mostly about prayer. He asked us really good questions about prayer and if God really exists. We told him the only way he can find out for his own is to pray about it. He asked us to share an experience in our lives where we have seen our prayers be answered. Right before Sister Fisher was about to share her experience, he said, Wait hold on. He ran upstairs and we were thinking oh he is grabbing like a camera, paper or pen, but then he comes back down with a cigarette and a lighter because he needed to smoke...haha thats a habit we are going to have to help him break. :) Over all, we were able to give him a Book of Mormon and invite him to read it. We called him our General Conference, Rain Miracle haha.

Also, we were able to meet with Rose and Dinosaur last night and talk to them about the first part of the Plan of Salvation. They are such a neat little family-mom and son. However, after earth life, we got really off topic because they were amazed at my chinese...I met them one of my first couple days in Taiwan and I felt so bad becuase they probably couldn't even understand what I was trying to say. Learning a language definitely has its ups and downs somedays are better than others but the progress is all that counts. I'm grateful for these small moments everyonce in a while when I feel like I'm not progressing at all but that is when others notice and remind me of all the help I am receving from above.

 Sadly, last week when we were on exchanges, Sister Fisher and Sis Su found two students and gave them both baptismal dates but they both won't anwer our phone calls after we talked to them once on the phone. We will keep trying but we believe they don't have any interest.

CRAZY NEWS!: This last week, was transfers on Friday and we got 21 NEW missionaries!! Today in President Days Email, he told us he has 18 more NEW missionaries coming in this week and there will be another transfer meeting on this coming Thursday!!! The Brethren in Salt Lake are not having missionaries stay in their temporary assignments to wait to leave on transfers now. As soon as missionaries get their visas, they are off! I think this clears all missionaries who are on visa wait for our mission now!! It's crazy! The work is truly being hastened here in Taiwan!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Love,

Sister Haacke

P.S. On an ending note, here are some pictures of our bathroom in our apartment at the moment--yes we have no tub, no sink, no toilet...they are finally fixing the tub that has had a huge crack in it for over a year! When they took the tub out, it was so gross. there was so much water underneath it and the water was moving there was so many leach looking like bugs in it...and the mold...yeah it was great :) haha 

 

 

 

 We also got locked out of our apartment because we went out a door that goes to the apartment below us one morning to use their restroom instead of going out our main door so we forgot to take the deadbolt out...It was a great bonding moment with our landlord (nonmember and his daughter returns this friday from serving a mission in Canada) where Sister Fisher was hanging in the small window above our door with a broom wacking the deadbolt to try and move it over...what memories we have :)

 DAD...I found the Melaleuca Store in TouFen!!!! Do you know anyone's name that works there? I'll stop by today or next Preparation day!

 

 I found tennis courts in TouFen!!!

 

Sister Fisher, Akin, and I.

Hot and Sticky

Man, today has been a crazy day! It is a holiday here in Taiwan today and so all the internet cafe's are filled with school students playing that League of Legends game so currently, we are in this extremely loud cafe, with cockroaches and the smell of cigarettes. But its all worth it to hear about how you are all doing!  The key board isn't very good so sorry in advance for all my mistakes :)

Yes, I received the Easter package, family history stuff, and picture! Thanks so much!! I can't believe Alexis is pregnant! Tell her and her husband congratulations for me! I am excited for them!!

This last week has been the hottest week ever! The stickiness is never to go to go away. I am always sweating. haha To top it off, the AC unit in our apartment broke on Wednesday and we don't have a fan and we have to wait to get permission to buy one so it's been some warm nights! haha 

Here's a quick run down of my week:

Last Monday: we went to Zhunan to spend some time with our zone leaders and the missionaries there. Most the missionaries from our zone came. One of our zone leaders, Elder Stewart has been called as the new assistant to the president so he left Zhunan on Tuesday to start getting training from the AP that is going home at the end of this transfer. After p-day was over, Sister Fisher and I got on a bus to head up to Taipei because we were supposed to go on a mini exchange with the temple sisters but it ended up not happening because we didn't get there till 8:20. 

Tuesday: We had the 1 month trainee, trainer meeting in Taipei where all the trainees and the trainers have a meeting and we discuss how our first month on the island has been. This last month has gone by so fast! It is crazy!! We got some really good training about stress, setting a vision for ourselves, and to always be fully dedicating ourselves to the work of the Lord. Overall, it was a really good meeting! Tuesday night after we got back from Taipei, we went tracting and talked to a guy making those flower bouquets in his garage. He was really nice and hopefully we will be able to go back and talk to him sometime! 

Wednesday:We had district meeting and met with Fan Zhu Song. He is progressing really well. We had a good lesson with him about the Atonement of Christ and the Book of Mormon. He is still a little confused of the concept of the Atonement though.  I always look forward to the lessons we have with him! He is so prepared and so interested in learning more about the gospel. Wednesday night we had English class. We got together a little bit before because it is Elder Marks birthday today and a couple members that help us with English class wanted to have pizza and cake with us for his birthday. They also bought the behind of a chicken for us to all try. So yes, I have now tried chicken butt...it tastes very slimy. Overall, English class was really good. We discussed almost the whole time about a, an, the and when it is appropriate to use each word. I gave them homework so hopefully they will be able to complete it.

Thursday: We had our weekly planning session and it was super hot! haha. I hope I adjust to the heat quickly! After WPS, we met with a couple less active members. We met with Xu DiXiong. He is having a really rough time right now. Everything in his life seems to be going downhill and he doesn't understand why. He tells us he is following the commandments and then things go wrong. We talked to him more about relying on the Lord and not only for asking for things in prayers but also giving gratitude for the things that we are given even in times of trial. Thursday night we also met with Huang Qi Wang and she talked our ears off. I didn't understand most of her stories but the main jest was about church and other churches she has been to. When we were walking out, she turned to us and said, I think I am going to come to church on Sunday! We were really excited but then she wasn't there yesterday.  So when we meet with her this week, we are going to have to follow up and see why she didn't come. 

Friday: We had a normal day of service of tearing up bikes and also breaking apart window seals. We met with Wu Mei Yu and reviewed the Plan of Salvation. She remembered most of it. She is looking forward to her baptism and we hope that she will continue to progress. She needs to gain a habit of coming to church though. She still is struggling with that. We had MM meeting and then the Temple Sisters came to Toufen for us to exchange with them. I took a bus with Sister Graham up to Taipei and spent Saturday serving there. 

Saturday: Taipei is crazy! We had a really good morning of studies and I learned a lot from Sister Graham. She is amazing! Her life as a temple sister is absolutely crazy!! I can't believe how much they do! We were able to do some service with a referral from another set of sister missionaries and we were able to set a baptismal date with her! We also had a lesson with a new investigator. Crazy story: Friday night Sister Graham and I were trying to hard to find a member present for her lesson and no one could help us. Saturday morning while I was in the shower, Sister Graham pulled out some pages the relief society gave her of pictures and names of all the sisters in the relief society and she said a prayer asking Heavenly Father who He wanted to be the member present for this lesson. She opened her eyes and had this filling to call Ye JieMei. She had never met her before but when she called her she was so willing but nervous because she had never been a member present before. It was totally meant to be. We were able to meet with her and get to know her for about 10 minutes before the lesson.  We also told her how we picked her to ask to come with us. We went and met with the new investigator, Wang JM and then at the very end, Ye JieMei bore her testimony about the gospel and she told the investigator how we asked her to be a member present and then she started crying and talked about her sons and how one of them is being really rebellious. The investigator talked to her for a little bit. It kind of turned into a lesson for our member present and our investigator was the member present instead, but it was really cool and the spirit was totally there. When we were walking back to where our bikes were parked, Sister Graham talked to Ye JieMei more and asked her what we as missionaries could do to help her and Ye JieMei said, "Do you think you could come to my house sometime and have a lesson with my family?" Sis. Graham told her of course! It was so crazy! Heavenly Father truly knows who we are supposed to make contact with!! We exchanged back Saturday night. 

Sunday: We had church testimony meeting was really good other than the fact I couldn't really understand. There was a bike thing on Saturday where all the youth biked a super long distance and so they all bore their testimonies about it. Sunday we did a lot of tracting. We were able to talk to a few people but most weren't interested. Sunday night, we went to a members house. She is 102 years old but can still do most things on her own!! She doesn't speak any Mandarin only Haukinese but she still comes to church every week just to feel the spirit. Her daughter translates for her from Mandarin to Haukinese. She is super neat! We talked a lot about families. Tan JM, the daughter, went off and talked to us about the importance of getting married when we get off our missions and having lots of kids to make our parents happy...haha.  It was really cute! 

Today is Elder Marks birthday so we went out to eat with the Scheese Family and Jeffrey at this all you can eat hot pot place. It was really good and I tried some new food---intestine and Shark Skin...the intestine wasn't too bad but the shark skin was really slimy and a bit disgusting. haha 

Also, Brother Scheese also served in Taiwan but was in the Taizhong mission. Dad, he was also born in 1971 and served his mission 1990-92. He said he was in the MTC September of 1990 and came on Island Nov 1990. He said he could have been in the MTC with you and mom! His name is Thomas or Tom Scheese...could you have by chance ran into him?? 

AND I lied last week...This month starts MANGO SEASON!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you all!! I hope you have a great week this week!!! 

LOVE, 

Sister Haacke 

黃姐妹

Last Monday with the zone.

I LOVE the Taipei Temple.

Tuesday morning after playing Ultimate Frisbee at an elementary school. 

 

Temple Sisters-Sister Su and Sister Graham and Sister Fisher and I at a place we ate dinner at when we were exchanging back Saturday night.

 Me and the shark skin I ate.

 

Hot pot place this morning with the group.

 Meeting with the 102 year old lady last night.