New Companion

Family and friends!

MOM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Another quick week in Taiwan has gone by! This last week I finished my 2nd transfer in Taiwan. Crazy! I am now out of training and living it up! OH: And, I passed off PHASE ONE with my zone leaders!!! (Language study thing.) So, I am now on Phase 2 where it is 2000 random every days words. Transfer meeting was this last Friday! I am staying in TouFen and I got a new companion! Her name is Sister Cardon! She was in the MTC the same time I was so I was able to get to know her a little bit there and now we have the wonderful opportunity of being companions in the field! She has been in Taiwan for 6 months and is a huge example to me! She is amazing! I love her so much already! 

As for this week...

Last Monday, Sister Fisher and I went to Zhunan and spent the day eating Taiwan ice cream and hanging with our zone.  We were going to go to the beach but it was too windy... 

Towards the beginning of the week, our lessons with Lai Ming Jin were amazing. Tuesday night we discussed Tithing and Fasting and he was super willing to pay his tithing as soon as he found a job. Thursday night, we reviewed the baptismal interview questions with him and he was really excited to be able to have his interview to be baptized. Friday, Lai Ming Jin called wondering who my new companion was (Thursday night we told him Sister Fisher was getting transferred) and he got really nervous and wanted to meet with us on Saturday to meet her. So, Saturday, we took him to Akin's home and he had the opportunity to meet her. During our lesson with him we were just correcting any concerns he had when he said, "Sister Haacke, I need to tell you something." He proceeded to tell me that the night before, Friday night, his friend called him and asked if he would go drink beer with him and his friend would pay for it. He has been sober for 9 months and he to pushed into peer pressure and drank beer. We talked to him a lot about it and he felt really bad. He knows it is bad for his body and he doesn't even want to drink but is nervous he will lose a friend if he tells his friend no. Yesterday was the first Sunday he missed coming to church and so during lunch, we decided to call him and see why he wasn't there. He had to go to NanZhuang and his bus left during sacrament meeting but he proceeded to tell me again that Saturday night he went and drank because his faith was really really bad. He again felt really bad and guilty. He is relapsing and it is honestly the hardest thing for me. I love this man. It is so hard for me to keep inviting him to quit drinking and he agrees and then that night, he goes out and drinks. We invited him to read, pray, and call us when our faith is bad and that he needs to turn to Heavenly Father instead of drinking. This week was really sad with Lai Ming Jin. His original baptismal date was for this coming Saturday and he was so prepared until he relapsed. Because he drank Saturday night, he won't be able to get baptized this Saturday because he needs to be sober for at least a week. But, I have the faith as we continue meeting with him and helping him through his issue, he will be able to be baptized soon. 

On a more exciting, happy note...We continue to see miracles every week!

Last week, Yellisha brought up her concern about her job requiring her to work on Sunday. Sister Fisher and I were praying for a way she could find to talk to her boss and see if by chance she could come in late or not work at all on Sunday. Well, and answer came to our prayers...an answer we never thought we would get..she got fired from her job...:/ I would never wish that on anyone but when we talked to her about it, she seemed okay and she was excited that she would be able to come to church now. The job was to mostly keep her busy until she goes to school at the end of the summer. 

Friday was transfer meeting in Taipei so we got up super early to get there on time. Two missionaries got transferred out of TouFen. Sister Fisher being one and Elder Marks being the other. Elder Dixon is now training a brand new missionary straight from the MTC! His name is Elder Merrell. He is from SPRINGVILLE, Utah! He also went to Art City Elementary! But graduated High School in 2015 (a semester early). The only person I really remember from Springville was my friend Scott but he didn't know him.  I'm pretty sure he was in Kindergarten when we moved..ya? So super young. 

Friday was when the rain started and it has never really stopped. It is supposed to rain all week this week. But, we still found many miracles in the rain! Friday night, we met with Li XIanShang and he is continuing to read the Book of Mormon. We taught the 3rd lesson with him and he continues to progress each time we meet with him. His 9 or 10 year old son is now also sitting in on the lessons. He was waiting by the door for us to come. It was the cutest thing! We recommitted him to June 27th for his baptismal date due to church attendance--that will be his hardest thing. Especially because his wife is Muslim, he is really busy during the week, and Sunday is his only day he really has to spend with his family. I know the Lord will provide a way though! He always does! 

Saturday as we were knocking doors, the first door we knocked on in an area, this grandma answered the door. We told her who we were and she let us in automatically. She said, my grandson is Christian! I think he would want to talk to you! We ended up being able to have a short lesson with Chen XianShang and his grandma, Chen JM and place a Book of Mormon. Chen XianShang is half Christian and half Buddhist. His grandma (dad's side) is Buddhist so he bai-bai with them but his mom is Christian so he also goes to church with her. He is preparing to go to college, just graduated from high school, and is super willing to meet! We hope we will be able to help him come unto Christ before he leaves for College in TaiZhong. 

Church was great as always! Qiu DiXiong came to church without a wake-up call! I believe his heart is starting to soften. I think he wants to change, but he 1. doesn't know how; and 2. it will be really hard to give up smoking and drinking and he knows he needs to do that to get baptized. I think his desire is really starting to grow. Zhou JieMei (Su Jing Xuan (9 years old) grandma) and Su Jing Xuan (Less actives) also came to church today! It was really good to see them! Zhou JieMei expressed in Relief Society how she has realized she needs to become the example in her family and she wants to start coming back to church! We were able to meet shortly with Liang Man Ting after church. I am really hoping she will be able to be baptized in June! She is SO prepared but just really busy and hard to meet with. BUT, she comes to church every week! 

I love being a missionary. Despite being soaked, tracting in the pouring rain, trying to ride our bikes with yuyi on...I can really feel God's love in my life everyday. I have never been so close to the Spirit and I can honestly say I have never been so happy. I know without a doubt this Church is true. This work is true. Heavenly Father is our Loving Heavenly Father. Christ Lives. He Loves Us. Serving is honestly the best! 

I hope you all have a great week! I love you all so much! 

Sister Haacke

 Wu Mei Yu (an investigator we are working with) and I.

  

 Sister Fisher, Gan Qiu Yi (investigator) and I.

 Sister Fisher, Huang JieMei (member who is absolutely amazing and peike for us all the time) and I.

 Sister Fisher's and I last picture together right before transfer meeting!

 

Saturday night, the Elders and us went to go have a lesson at a investigators home we are both working with. It was both of our first times to his home...so it took us a while to find it. It was also pouring rain so it was really fun! But really wet! 

 

Elder Merrell, Sister Cardon, and I waiting for Elder Dixon to get instructions  outside of a 7, when we found his home!

Strengthen Your Faith

Family and Friends!!!

This week has been great! Has gone by really fast!!! 

Here's some highlights and a quick rundown of my week:

Monday: Last Monday, we went to our Mission Leaders' home with the Elders and we made huge bubbles! (See pictures) We had a great time together! 

 

 

Tuesday: Had a great District Meeting on the Spirit and using the Spirit in every aspect of missionary work. We were able to meet with Yellisha right after District Meeting and review the 10 commandments with her. She recently just got a job to save money for college and she is required to now work on Sundays so we are going to have to work through that with her. :/ We met with Lai Ming Jin and Chen DiXiong Tuesday night at Yang Jiating. They are both progressing so well. Lai Ming Jin is so smart and has totally developed a love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ it is so neat to see the changes he is making in his life. We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ tonight. Every Tuesday night we also go to the Night Market and hand out English Class tracts and invite people to English Class. 

Wednesday:Wednesday morning, it was really neat because Lai Ming Jin called us just to tell us thank you and how grateful he is to be learning about the church. He has these other Christian friends who are trying to convince them that their church is the true church and he always tells them they don't know what they are talking about and if they just read the book of Mormon they would know..haha..it's so awesome! Wednesday during the afternoon, the Elders asked us to peike with their new investigator. As we were waiting for her, Lu Pei Ling walked by and we ran over to talk to her! It was the hugest miracle because we don't really know if she still has interest or a desire to continue learning. We had a lesson with her and talked to her about baptism. She told us her concerns--her mom doesn't like that she was following the word of Wisdom because her mom and her go out and get tea or coffee together...we were able to share with her if she has the desire and tries her best, her mom will come to an understanding. She still wants to meet and learn so hopefully we can help her create the desire to follow Jesus Christ. Wednesday night we had English Class which was fun as always..

Thursday: We met with Xu DiXiong, had WPS, MM Meeting (with our mission leader) and met with Lai Ming Jin and Chen DiXiong again. That night we taught the 10 commandments, Sabbath Day, and Chastity. I was really worried because the first time we met with Lai Ming Jin, he told us he worships his ancestors every morning and night and that if he stopped worshiping them, it would be really bad. I was praying so hard he would understand and Heavenly Father would help him understand why it is no important to baibai his ancestors. As soon as he read the first two commandments in Mosiah 12, he looked up and said that he has stopped baibai his ancestors! It was honestly the coolest miracle ever. We had planned this huge lesson and scriptures to explain how we help our ancestors by doing work in the temple and how they are waiting in the Spirit world for the gospel and are learning just like he is right now but we didn't even have to get that far! I truly know Heavenly Father is well aware of everyone--Especially Lai Ming Jin as he continues to progress towards baptism. 

Friday: We did service at Zhang JieMei recycling center. We were able to break VCR and DVD players and separate all the pieces. Friday as we were waiting at the RT Mart for some members we were going to eat dinner with, we decided to contact some people. We were able to talk to this man, Chen DX and his wife, Hong JM and teach Chen DX how to pray and who God and Jesus Christ are. It was so neat! We extended a baptismal invitation on the street and he accepted for the 20th of June. President Day has invited us to be more bold on the street and in contacting and as we have been applying his invitation into our missionary work, we are really seeing miracles take place. It is so cool! 

Saturday: Had a great lesson with Gan JieMei.  We talked about temples. She still has many questions and seems content with the church she is currently going to though.  We then went and did some contacting in the park and headed over to the train station to head to ZhuBei for stake conference. 

Sunday: Sunday morning we had stake conference again in ZhuBei. Saturday night, we stayed with the Sister in XinZhu so we wouldn't have to come all the way back to Toufen and then back the next day. Stake Conference was really good. It was based off of the topics of eternal families and the importance of missionary work. Like dad said, the signs of the times are truly being fulfilled. Now is the time we really need to be spreading the gospel to all the nations, kindred, tongues, and people. 

BEST PART OF THE WEEK: FAN ZHU SONG GOT BAPTIZED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!! (He is the one that Sister Fisher and I taught almost all the lessons to and then we found out he doesn't have two houses and only lives in Zhunan so we had to give him to the ZhuNan missionaries) SO, earlier this week, the Zhunan Elders called us and told us Fan Zhu Song was getting baptized Sunday afternoon and we had permission to attend. So, we were able to attend and see him get baptized!!! It was the best moment ever. Being able to watch him get baptized and make a covenant with God was such a special experience. The happiness that was in the room was unreal. Fan Zhu Song is going to be such an amazing member! 

 

 

Overall, this week was great. It went by really fast. This coming week is the last week of the transfer. It is crazy how fast time flies. This week during studies I continued to learn more about faith Faith doesn't come by signs but signs come by faith. I invite you all to more firmly strengthen your faith in the Savior-whether that be more sincere studies, prayers, etc. 

I love you all!! 

Love, 

Sister Haacke

 

 It was Sister Fisher's birthday this last week! She turned 20! We celebrated with some ward members!!!

 

 Me and who we call KingKong. Yes, he is HUGE!

 

 Huang JM, Sister Fisher and I at Fan Zhu Song's baptism. Huang JieMei is such an awesome member. She is a member present for us in a lot of our lessons and is such a great friend!

  

Team Jesus

My dear family! 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!! 

It was absolutely AMAZING being able to talk to you this morning on Skype for Mother's Day! I am glad you are all doing good and staying busy at home! 

Bryan, I hope you are safe and your area didn't get hit too hard by the Typhoon...Hopefully you and the rest of the missionaries in your mission are able to Skype home when you receive internet again! 

Since I just talked to you all this morning, I'll just share some quick miracles!

This week was a great week!!! We were able to find 5 new people to begin teaching the gospel to. We believe some of them do not live in our area but team Jesus! I am so grateful for the experiences I have on a daily basis and the miracles I see everyday. 

Friday afternoon, we were qiaomen down a small road and we went and sat down with an older man. We were beginning to teach him how to pray when a lady came over to us and sat next to us and told us she was a Christian. Five minutes later there was another man that walked over and joined in our conversation. In all, we were able to share the Book of Mormon and how to pray with four people just on the street! As we were sitting there teaching, I was reminded of the time when Christ was on the earth and how people would gather to hear Him teach. We, as missionaries, representatives of Christ, are doing the exact same things He did-the only difference is that He was a perfect teacher.

Another neat experience was this week at church. We only had two investigators at Sacrament Meeting but as soon as sacrament meeting was over, a former investigator called us and said he was at the church. We had never met him before but he came and finished church with us and we were able to teach him the first lesson after church and he accepted a baptismal date! Also, about half way through Sunday School, a Young Women came into Gospel Principles and said there was a lady (Liu JieMei) outside that wanted us. We went out to meet her and she was a potential investigator from two transfers ago! She also stayed for the rest of church. We were also able to teach her the first lesson after church and she also accepted a baptismal date! Both of their dates are for June 13! It was really neat because when we were meeting with Liu JieMei, she kept saying how Heavenly Father led her to meet the missionaries and led her to attend church today. When we invited her to baptism, she said of course! If I know these things are true, of course I want to be baptized!!! It was a great ending to a great week! 

Our most progressing investigator, Lai Ming Jin, is still doing really well. This last week we were able to teach him the Plan of Salvation. He thinks its really cool we will all be resurrected. Everyone here thinks that is the coolest part of the Plan of Salvation. He now has a baptismal date. The hardest thing with him now is that he has a couple of Christian Friends and they are telling him false stuff about our church that is making him really confused. We told him he needs to pray for himself and just believe the things he thinks are true. But, he's been at church for the last three weeks! 

We were also finally able to meet with Liang Man Ting again! She is super cute and so prepared! Our only worry is her parents not allowing her to be baptized. He parents don't mind that she comes to church--so hopefully that is a good sign! 

I know Heavenly Father really listens to and answers our prayers. He has helped me so much in not only learning the language of Chinese but also getting out of my personal bubble and talking with all those I come in contact with-even when its' super awkward! I love my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Taiwan. I LOVE TouFen! 

Love, 

Sister Haacke

 Another picture when we were knocking doors.

 

 Zone meeting this week.

 

Sister Fisher and I while we were qiaomen.

 A huge cow in the back of a truck.
 

 Sister Fisher and I with one of our branch members-Cheh Pin Jun-She was our member present for Lai Ming Jin.

Second Chances

FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

WOW It's been a great week! 

Family, I will be Skyping home Monday morning my time around 7:30ish....be expecting a call between 5 and 6 on Sunday night! I can't wait to talk to you all!! Sounds like you all had a busy week! Staying busy at the apartments and getting ready for summer! Alexa, Sorry you have a cold! That's no fun, Lachlan-glad you are having fun with baseball! Marissa-I cant wait to play tennis with you! I'm glad you have come to love it! Keep working hard and stay focused! :) 

Funny story--we are currently working with a less-active and helping him prepare to receive the Priesthood and he speaks really good English. When we talk with him, we use half English and half Chinese in our lessons. So this week, while I was on the phone, he was telling me how he went to get bread at a 7 and he said "Earlier today as I went to go fetch some bread at the 7....." it made me laugh and reminded me of Alexa when she was doing her homework and she asked me to 'fetch' her pencil for her...:)  

Since I just wrote home on Wednesday (due to a change preparation day last week), there's not too much to say...But, the work here in TouFen is awesome! I love this area with all of my heart. The people here are amazing. This week, after working so hard, we finally got 20 LESSONS! That is the mission golden standard and its' been our goal this transfer to make it to the golden standard--I'll get to that here in a sec. 

So, Wednesday after the temple and quickly emailing home, we took the MRT and went to Shiang Kai Shek with some other Sisters-Sister Jensen and Sister Phelps. I have a picture with me when we lived in China and visiting Shiang Kai Shek with Marissa, Bryan, and I in front of it. It was cool to be there again! We were able to watch the changing of the guards too--so neat! 

This week we were able to meet with quite a few people. Lu Pei Ling cancelled on us again this week--which is really sad...she reads the Book of Mormon and feels the Spirit but is just really nervous to get baptized and doesn't quite understand why it is important to come to church. Gan Qiu Yi is doing really good! Hong JM was our peike this week and we discussed the fundamentals of the gospel and gave her the articles of faith to study this week. Liang Man Ting hasnt been to church for 2 weeks and our only way of conversation with her is through her aunt and Facebook. Her aunt has told us she has been really busy with school and her parents are making her study. Yellisha accepted a baptismal date this week for June 6th! She is very confused about the Priesthood though because she got baptized in Indonesia a couple years ago. 

This week, we also had a great lesson with Lai Ming Jin, he read 1 Nephi 1 and told us all about it. He keeps telling us he is not very smart because when he was young-starting at age 17, he would drink all the time and that made him not so smart so we have to keep reminding him he is smart. We talked to him this week about Joseph Smith. He doesn't quite know if he believes it is true--BUT he came to church again this week and brought his friend again like he did last week!!! He loves church!!! Sunday night, Yang JiaTing also invited him and his friend over for dinner with us missionaries and their family and he asked Yang DiXiong so many good questions. What is so neat (I think I said this last week...I can't remember) is that Lai Ming Jin and Yang DiXiong used to be really good friends but then they lost communication. Then through attending church, they were able to see each other again. Yang DiXiong has been great fellowship for him. 

I really am so grateful that life is full of second chances. Heavenly Father is telling me I just need to give people more than one chance to hear about the gospel--good thing I'm learning that now right? I think back though with my first lesson with him when I was on exchanged with Sister Smith and then now and he really is prepared. It might take him a while to overcome his bai-bai, worshiping his ancestors, habit but it will come slowly but surely. 

QIU DiXiong also came to church this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saturday night, we decided to call him and invite him again. Sister Fisher told me to use my 'magic fingers' to call him. Whenever she calls him, he either doesn't answer or says that he can't meet but for some reason when I call him he answers and normally can meet haha...We we called him we invited him to church and he said OK I'll be there! But call me at 8:30 and wake me up. IT WAS SO NEAT to see him there! He was 30 minutes late due to a phone call but I really hope he learned something. When I was also talking to him, he told me he feels like he has no purpose in life. I told him we can help him find  a purpose. We met with him Sunday night and started to discuss the Plan of Salvation. He believes in reincarnation and that life doesn't really matter that you are just supposed to bear through it and hope for a better 2nd, 3rd 4th and so on lives....I really hope his heart can be softened to understand the love Heavenly Father truly has for him. 

We also we able to meet with Li XianShang on Saturday night. We talked to him about the first half of the plan of salvation as well. He is Buddhist but knows a lot about Christianity. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and asks really good questions. For most of our lesson with him, we were discussing why God commanded Nephi to kill Laban. 

Saturday night, as we were doing DPS, we figured we needed just 4 more lessons to reach 20 lessons this week (Lesson is with a less-active, investigator, or someone on the street, has to have 2 prayers and a doctrine from Preach My Gospel has to be taught) I wanted badly to get 4 lessons on Sunday. Knowing it was possible, we scheduled as best we could. After church, all of our plans basically went down the drain but we were still determined to get the lessons we needed. We called Xu DiXiong since we weren't able to meet with him during the week (The one who we are helping get the priesthood) and Qiu DX and we had some plans to stop by some less actives and investigators homes. It was all looking good until Qiu DX called us and said he couldn't meet anymore....After dinner, we needed just one more and what is crazy, is literally as we were leaving Yang JiaTing home, Qiu DX called us and asked if he could meet with us right then. We quickly found a Sister to help us peike and we met with him. 

Miracles happen so often on the mission. Yesterday was a more obvious miracle but everyday, Heavenly Father puts miracles in each and everyone of out paths to keep us going and tell us that He loves us and is aware of us. I know He loves each and everyone of us no matter who we are, where we are from, or the mistakes we have made in our past. 

I love missionary work. It is so great. I know this church is true! I am so grateful I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. and now, I have the privileged to be able to bring others to the knowledge of our Savior. 

Love you all!! Have a great week!!! 

Love, 

Sister Haacke 

"Therefore, be ye strong...; fear not, for the kingdom is yours." D&C 38:15

 ShiangKaiShek:

 

 I also realized I never sent pictures of lions head mountain... (above and below)

 

Yang JiaTing, Lai Ming Jin, and his friend Chen XianShang

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.