I'M HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE!

Hi Mom!! 

Thanks for the fun email!

Everyone says that a mission is like 18 years of life experiences packed into a year and a half. Sometimes I would have to agree with that. With all the weight I have gained, the wrinkles somehow appearing on my forehead that hopefully will go away and sometimes my knees hurt really bad from all the bike riding. It's all really worth it though, I'm having the time of my life.

Well, I MOVED! I was actually really sad about it. Sister Anderson is just too amazing and was asked to train this move-call, so I got kicked out of beautiful Nantou. I was only there for 6 weeks which is really sad. I was in my first area for 6 months and my second for 6 weeks, but it was just as hard saying goodbye after 6 weeks as it was 6 months. I really loved that place. And saying goodbye to our investigators, especially Hong DX and Zhang JM, was really hard. I moved on Friday morning, so Thursday night Hong and Zhang called and said they were outside our apartment, they wanted to give me a gift. So we went and grabbed it and opened it back up inside and I started crying really hard. They had printed out a picture we had taken together earlier that day and put it in a nice frame. They also printed out some pictures from Sun Moon Lake to give to me.

 It was so nice of them. I'm going to miss them and some really other great people in Nantou, including Sister Anderson (it was harder saying goodbye the second time than it was the first).

BUT. I have moved to Beitun, which is actually really really close to my first area, Xitun, in Taichung. So I'm back up in the big city! Lots of people to talk to, lots of people to introduce the church to! Yay! And I am with Sister Mancilla! She is so cute! She just barely finished being trained, so I am now a senior companion (whatever that means). The area is extremely small, so it shouldn't be too hard to learn the area. And the ward is really really great so far! We have to ride our bikes about 40 minutes to get to our church which is kind of a bummer, but I just practice teaching lessons during that long bike ride. 

It's pretty amazing how much I've already seen Heavenly Father helping me since moving. I was a little bit nervous to become senior companion because I was a little doubtful about my language skills, but I've been praying really hard and I have already noticed a big improvement. As we have been teaching together the past 3 days or so, I've been amazed at how naturally and easily I have been able to speak this language. And I know that as I continue to work hard and be 100% obedient, He will continue to help and bless me, allowing me to improve more and more each day. Heavenly Father really does qualify those He calls, and it's a good thing because there is really no way I could do it without His help. I'm really learning how to rely on Him and to trust. It's pretty humbling. 

Oh, also. I live in a 4 man apartment now and it's a lot of fun. Also, I can't tell if I'm turning Taiwanese and think that anything under 80 degrees is cold, or if it really is getting cold. Either way, I went and bought some long sleeve shirts and a cardigan today. As for Christmas, I will never turn down clothes. (I asked her what we could send for Christmas) I'm so sick of my clothes. I will also accept anything you are willing to give me. I don't really need anything. Fuzzy socks? I like those. 

Love you!!  Have a good week!