Transfers! Sister Peng is staying put! Pingtung for another 6 weeks!

Some Questions for the Week:

* How much of the people's Chinese do you now understand?  How much of Lui JM's Chinese are you understanding now?

I understand a lot of Chinese.... they just have to be a bit patient if they want me to answer. Haha! People say that my Chinese has improved a lot though.

* Do you teach the lessons as you plan them or do you teach by the spirit?  Do you have a specific lesson prepared but change it due to the spirit? 

We plan lessons, but of course they are pretty open.  We just plan a subject, a scripture and an invitation.  The rest is done by the spirit.  But if we need to change a subject, we do.  Most of our lessons change... haha!  Okay, not most, but a lot.

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Greetings from the land of thousand year old eggs, dong gua cha, and two people to a wheel chair! How is every one doing????  Guess what! I am on my 3rd move call! Crazy!!! I have been here for about 3 months!  And I have been a missionary for about 5 months!!!! Crazy!!!! Time moves so fast!  I always say that, but this week seems to have flown by sooo quickly!  We have been super busy!

So first things first.... actually... it's not a first thing.... but it is a very, very big important thing!  MOVE CALLS!!!! So, I am still in Ping Dong, but my trainer, Liu JM is currently on a train headed to TAIZHONG!  So far away!  She is also going to be a sister training leader there.  Haha! She is going to be so busy! And it’s her last move call.  In 6 weeks, she'll be heading home!  I learned so much from her and I am grateful for the chance to serve with her.  If I were to list a few things that I have learned from her I would say that she taught me to always go the extra mile, always love everyone, always be organized and ready to go, always have patience and always laugh.  She is such a great example to me and will surly make an awesome Sister Training Leader! 

And so, now you are probably asking: So, who's your new companion?  Well, right now, I don't know!  Haha! Well, I know her name.  My new companion will be Sister Shultz... I probably spelled that wrong... She's most likely American.... since Schultz isn't a very Taiwanese name....  And I know that this will be her 6th move call, and her second area, and her second time being a Senior companion.  Other missionaries who know her say that she's awesome, and I'm sure she is.  Hopefully we'll see some miracles together, and that we'll both be able to learn a ton from our experiences together!

And now you're wondering, what am I doing in an internet cafe without a companion, since my old companion is on a train, and my new companion hasn't arrived yet.... Well, thank goodness for members!  I'm here with a very awesome member named Hu JM.  She has so kindly volunteered to accompany me today as I go about on my missionary P-day business.  But today has been crazy... And I'll have to ride in a lot of taxis... which isn't cheap, and isn't refundable by the Mission Home.... But what can you do?  Luggage doesn't fit well on bikes..... Especially when there is a lot of it.... Haha!  Anyways, my new companion won't get here till about 2, so I have to figure out what I want to do till then.... Yup.... Probably go to Jia Le Fu (Carrefour) and hang out with Hu JM. :) P-days are awesome! But today is so crazy!

Anyways... Also another fun thing that happened this week was our English Class Halloween Party!  It was so fun!  We set up a "Haunted House", did bobbing for apples, ate doughnuts off of strings, had a face painting booth, and had lots and lots of candy.  We actually had a lot of people show up, and it led to us "adding" several people, which means setting up times to meet with them and share the gospel.  Yay!!!  We really need to have new investigators... we need to find people who are willing to come unto Christ and be baptized!!! Haha! :D  Anyways, the activity was very very fun.  Though, it took a lot of time for us missionaries and some members to set up.... like all day long.... But it was soooo worth it!

So, a not so fun thing this week.... I learned that the park is not a very good place to teach a lesson.  We planned a lesson with Amber, our American Investigator, who ended up changing the location to the park, since her one year old son really wanted to go.  Anyways, after teaching a very spiritual lesson about the Gospel of Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End), I realized that my legs were completely covered in mosquito bites.... like probably 100 bites.... like.... not fun!!!  Liu JM also had quite a few, but mosquitoes like me more apparently.....  I don't like them very much at all....  So lessoned learned.  Don't have lessons in a park....

A better and more spiritual lesson was taught on Sunday.  Elder and Sister Davis, a senior missionary couple who is serving here in Taiwan as Family History Consultants, came and spoke during sacrament meeting.  They spoke about conversion, and how it wasn't a one-time process.  We need to be converted on a daily basis.  This is why scripture study, praying and going to church are so important! They add fuel to our spirit tanks. Haha!  If we forget to keep adding fuel, one day, we'll run out... and then what?  We forget our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  We lose our faith... And we stray from the light of the gospel.  To be baptized isn't enough to make you be converted for life.  You have to keep working to remain converted.  That's what some people don't realize.  They are baptized, then the stop progressing.  They think that baptism is the end.... but it's not! It's the beginning!  So keep studying the scriptures, pray always, and go to church every week.  In doing so, if you are sincere, you will never lose your conversion.  Come unto Christ!

Anyways, I know this email is a bit short, but I want to see if I can add some pictures... also, I still need to write some other people... like my mission president....

LOVE YOU ALL!!! Do something good this week!  Serve your neighbors!  Smile! Be happy!

Love,

Sister Nicholle Peng

I Am Not Perfect; Yet He has Faith In Me....

 

Cool Moth that Sister Peng saw while working in a "less active's" yard

Greetings from the land where you can watch fireworks every day, see dogs riding motorized scooters along with 4 of their human family members, and eat interesting parts of animals that you never imagined people would want to put into their mouths.

Como estas? Haha! Well, the weather is cooling down, as seasons change from summer to fall.  It's nice, though still a bit warm for my taste.  The evenings and mornings have been quite wonderful.  Though, my companion says that the "comfortable" weather will make people sick if they don't wear a jacket...  but if I wear a jacket, I'll be too hot! Grr.... So, I haven't worn a jacket or sweater yet, since I will just take my chances like all the other American missionaries here.

Anyways, time is just flying!  I am nearing the end of my second move call!  I mean, this is the last week!  Also, I finished my 12 week training!  Crazy! So, now, that means I am qualified to become a trainer myself or a senior companion.... O.o Scary thought.  I hope I can keep being a junior companion for a bit longer.  I still have a lot to learn, and I don't think I can take on the responsibility quite yet.  Haha!  Everyday people tell me that I'm super young.  I know!  I still feel like a kid.  Ah well, I know all things are possible if God wants it to happen.  So whatever calling the Lord gives me, I'll do my best to fulfill it.  Anyways, with the end of my training comes the knowledge that it is very likely that Liu JM will be moving to a different area.  That would make me very sad, as she is a very good friend and example.  I am so grateful for the time that I've spent with her, and I don't know what I'd do without her. 

Anyways, I guess many of you would like it if I write more about my missionary experiences here... Because most missionaries write back about how specific lessons went, about especially spiritual moments... Well... to be honest, right now it's a bit hard to write about that kind of stuff.  I have a hard time just pointing out things...  Picking out moments where I specifically felt the spirit tell me to say something.  Or if I've seen the spirit working on my investigators... Because... well... number one, many of our investigators still don't have faith and still haven't opened their hearts yet.  Number two, I've come to the point where the spirit manifests itself quietly and subtly.  It guides me without me even realizing it through thoughts that seem to be just my thoughts that lead me to do things that help fulfill my purpose as a missionary.

To be honest, lately I have been really critical about myself.  I keep thinking how I'm not good enough to do this work.  How if I was a good missionary I would have a lot more investigators and a lot more baptisms.  How, if I were a good missionary talking to people wouldn't scare me as much.  And how, if I were a good missionary people would be moved by my words as I taught them, that they would be more willing to accept the gospel, and that they would be firmly converted to the gospel.

Well.  I'm not a good missionary.  I am an especially weak missionary.  I have so many fears, doubts, hesitations, etc.  I am bad at teaching, I am not a very good people person.  I'm young, inexperienced, and perhaps even lacking in faith. 

However, I know one thing.  The Lord has called me to this work.  He called me, an imperfect 19 year old to come and preach his gospel.  He kept giving me an urge to go and serve.  And so I went.  I've said this before, but I know the Lord has given me my weaknesses.  He knows that I am imperfect; perhaps more than anyone else knows how imperfect I am.  He knows each of my mistakes that I've made and that I will make.  He knows me perfectly, and he still called me to this work.

And I know, through scripture study and prayer, that He has given me ways to strengthen my weaknesses and combat my fears.  He has taught me how to have faith and how to love.  Because, honestly, that's all you need in this work.  You need to have faith in Jesus Christ, and you must have faith that through His Atonement you are able to change progress and grow.  You must have faith that God is your Father, and that he loves you absolutely and completely, so much so that he will forgive all of your mistakes and help you so that you can come unto Him.  And through the knowledge of his love for you, you learn the importance of loving others.  Missionary work is the work of love, or at least it should be.  In Moroni 8:16, a prophet named Mormon testifies: "Behold, I speak with boldness, having ^aauthority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for ^bperfect ^clove ^dcasteth out all fear."  When we have love for everyone, knowing that everyone on this earth is also a son or daughter of God, we want them to also know that God is their Father.  We want to share with them the Gospel, or the Teachings of Jesus Christ, that has brought us so much hope, joy, peace, and comfort.  We want them to know that they will be able to return to their Father and that through Christ they can experience a cleansing from guilt and pain. 

I like the last part of that scripture that I shared above.  "Perfect love casteth out all fear" Perfect love.  What is that?  How can I have that?  I've decided that's what I am going to focus on for my mission.  Developing a perfect love.  Developing a Christlike love for everyone I come into contact with.  I know that's easier said and done.  And that it will require a lot of study of Christ's example and diligence.  But I believe that it's something vital.

There are so many things that I've learned that I need to change about myself.  But I know that I need to have patience, because change is a lifelong process.  My goal is to return home a different person.  A better person. A person who can be relied upon to strengthen and uplift others.  A person who can truly call herself a Daughter of God.

Anyways, this week we had the chance to attend our Stake conference.  It was good, though afterwards my brain hurt, since all of the conference was in Chinese, of course.  The topic of the conference was the importance of members in missionary work.  The Lord believes this is very important, and so as his representative I also know of its importance.  I used to think missionary work was just for missionaries.  But that's not true.  Missionaries always move.  They aren't there to strengthen and support people for very long.  But members, they are friends that can always be relied upon.  They create a support system, a family.  They are the true examples of Christ's believers.  So, today my invite to you:  Be a missionary!  Be a friend!  Be an example!

Well, my time for email is limited... which makes me sad...  Since everyone knows how much I love to write, as well as use computers... but I need to go and write my mission president.  Hope everyone is doing well!  Be awesome!  Be you!

Love, Sister Nicholle Peng

The missionary's new "uniforms" to wear when it's dark.  Can you say fashion statement?

Great lessons I've learned from conference!

One of my questions for Sister Peng this week:
  
Any fun foods for the week?  Getting fed anymore?

Umm.... Bagels... I love bagels... I also made myself a peanut butter and chicken sandwhich... I've been going crazy for peanut butter stuff... other than that... nothing too fun... We haven't been getting fed... we just feed ourselves...

Now Onto Sister Peng's Update

Hello from the land of stinky tofu, weird outfit combinations, and electric scooters!

How is everyone?  I'm doing well! Especially since I can sit here and email to my favorite people in the world while drinking a nice cold class of....... Coke! Haha! I didn't get dong gua cha today.  I'm tired, so I really needed the caffeine... anyways.... :P

This week has been good, as always.  It's been very busy, as always.  Though, we are still trying to find new investigators.  Sigh... The work is moving... but right now, we've been having to push and pull it along... almost like trying to move a large boulder up a mountain... Sigh... We still have about two progressing investigators, which is good.  And yes Mom, we are still teaching the American (Her name is Amber by the way... I feel weird calling her the American investigator....)

Oh, speaking of Amber, she came to a branch/stake Activity thing with her husband and her one year old son.  The Gaoxiong East and West zones had a Yun Dong Hui (Athletic/Sports Activity).  It was super fun!  They had different competitions and relays for people of all different ages!  There was a race for the little kids, where they were pretty much picking up candy off the track while they were running.  There was a jump rope activity, where like 5 people were jumping rope together (and wards were competing to get the most repetitions). There were a bunch of running relays, one of which you had to do activities like eat two pieces of bread and drink a cup of water.  I participated in a normal running relay.  Man, I've never run so fast before... I ran so hard that my eyes went all blurry... weird...  And then I was sore for two days afterwards.  Haha!  Our bishop really wanted our ward to win the Yun Dong Hui.  And, since you have to do what the bishop of your ward wants you to do... We got first place! Yay!!!  It was so funny to see how competitive our bishop got.  He was planning out everything, and made us practice before we actually competed.  He's a gym teacher... so that probably explains why...  Anyways, it was a blast, and it was good to have a few investigators, like Amber, attend.  :)  Cool thing is that Amber even saw some people that she knew from her work (she teaches English).  Yay! It's a small world!

I guess the biggest thing that happened this week was that we finally got to watch General Conference.  I was super happy that I got to watch it in English, because there were sisters in the Ward who preferred to listen to the English version than listening to the Chinese voice over. 

Wow, Conference was amazing! I don't even know where to start! And if I wrote down everything that I liked about it... well... I would might as well write a full length novel.... Haha!  I always think that Conference has something for everyone, no matter if you are a member or not.  Every time I watch a Conference I get a spiritual boost.  I feel like we are so blessed to be able to hear the words of the prophet and the apostles!  Even half way around the world!  I always feel like they are talking to me.  Every talk can be applied to my life, and every conference I feel like my questions are answered.

So I guess... I'll share three things that I learned during conference... It'll be hard to choose... but here it goes...

1.  From Elder Ulisses Soares, I learned that I really need to work on how to be meek.  I think many people think of meek as being weak.  But being meek is being humble and being patient in all things... Yeah... these are things I really need to progress in.  So, number one... Being humble.  No matter what anyone else things... I am not humble...  At least, not completely.  I have too much pride in my heart, that I almost never ask for help... even when I really need it.  I always believe in relying on myself first... And I know that's wrong.  Especially since the Lord wants us to all rely and trust in Him in all things...  I also tend to take corrections badly...  I always feel like I'm being reprimanded for things I should already know how to do...When in fact, corrections are supposed to make us know where we can improve...   Number two, being patient is not my strongest suit...  I'm working at it...  Patience doesn't just mean waiting... Patience also means overlooking the faults in others as well as yourself... It means being quick to forgive weaknesses, and always having love in your heart.  Yeah... I'm guilty of having negative feelings in my heart... I might never voice them... but they ruin my mood... Also, they push the Spirit away... not good!

2. Okay, my favorite talk is probably the one given by Elder Edward Dube.  First off, his accent is amazing! Second, his talk was even more amazing and inspirational!  His talk was on never looking back.  I am guilty of this...  I always day dream about days that have already past, about situations that I wish I could have changed, about happy times that I wish I could relive...  Well, I'm just wasting my time.  Never look back, but always move forward.  Looking forward means always progressing towards goals.  It means knowing no matter your situation, the future will always be bright.  I like what Elder Dube said "the past needs to be learned from- not to be lived in."  We need to remember our past so we can improve upon it.  But we can't sit around wishing we could go back.  We can't change it.  But we can influence our futures by what we are doing now.  We need to do everything to the best we can, and exercise faith.

3. Elder Jeffery R. Holland's talk was also very good... Especially since I have never had so much stress before in my life.  He talked about overcoming depression.  All of us will have times were we feel depressed, but when we linger in depression we become endangered to the depths of darkness and despair.  When coming on my mission, I was worried about depression.  Something I've never told anyone about.  I know myself too well.  When faced with a hard task, I tend to close myself off from the world.  I tend to sink when I should swim... I feel that there is no hope...  And I forget something very important...  My Heavenly Father.  I forget to have faith. 

But so far, on my mission, I have not forgotten, and I think that has made all the difference.  I've learned that I need to put my faith and trust in the Lord.  I've learned to never doubt in Him and his eternal plan which he has for me.  I know that every hard point in my life, every challenge and every trial has a purpose.  Their purpose is to build me up in faith, so that I come closer to my Father. 

Live by faith.  Hold on to hope.  Never give up.

Yup, not sure if any of that makes sense, since I don't think my brain is fully awake yet... despite the fact that my Coke is all the way gone... so sad...  Anyways, I invite everyone to check out the talks in General Conference (found on www.lds.org).  I promise you will find something that will help you, and I promise that as you read/watch conference, you will feel the Holy Ghost testify to you that God is your Father, and that he loves you unconditionally.

So that's the spiritual aspects of this week... Something weird/ crazy that happened this week:  So two nights ago, there were a lot of drum pounding and loud clangs making some sort of loud music outside of our window.  Looking down from our balcony we saw at least 15 people making that... music?... along with about 5 other people dressed up as Buddhist gods wearing stilts and "dancing"- twirling around, doing weird movements.  So at first I was like... Okay... interesting...  Cool!...  Why are they doing this at 10:00 at night?  I've always been fascinated and open minded to other religions, and I was thinking that it was a pretty interesting experience being able to watch this... ceremony... from the balcony of my apartment (which is on the 13th floor... but the "music stuff" was still really loud.  And then this car pulls up blasting really loud music and had a bunch of flashing lights.  Well, the "gods" started dancing to the music... one of which was Gangam style... Yup... that was interesting....  They left in time for us to go to bed, which was good, since the music was really loud...  Interesting...

So sad story.... I forgot to bring my camera cord... so I can't share pictures... of which, I have a lot that I need to share... Next week....

Okay, well, I probably should stop writing so I can write my mission president... Hope you all have a fantastic week!  Also, AUDREY!!! OPEN YOUR MISSION CALL ALREADY!!! I NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING!!!

Love you all!

Sister Nicholle Peng

Differences a year can make!

Sister Peng wasn't able to upload any pictures this week as the computer kept shutting down every time she tried.  Sorry.

Dearest Madre and other wonderful people,

How are you?  I don't know why I ask, since I still won't know how you are all doing.... But you know, it's a question of common courtesy. Just so you all know that I do care. :)  Anyways, I'm doing good.  Still tired, but at least I am still alive right?  Also, I am understanding why people say that your mission is perhaps the hardest thing you will ever do with your life, as well as the most rewarding. Though, currently I am on the "hard" part of the mission... Anyways, I'll get to explaining why in a sec... but first off:  How was General Conference?  I haven't seen it yet, we'll be watching it next week... not sure if it'll be in English or Chinese....  Hopefully English...  Probably in Chinese... yeah.... sigh...  Everything is in Chinese... I'm understanding more and more, but it's always very hard on my brain.  I laugh whenever we have language study time, because every day/all day is language study time for me...  Wow... Side tracked! Anyways...

It's weird to think how much my life has changed since last year.  Last year's October General Conference will forever be remembered by me as the conference that changed my life.  Before then, I didn't even think I was going on a mission.  But with a few words from Heavenly Father's living representative on the earth, and from strong impressions by the Holy Ghost (which led to many hours of tearing up anytime I even thought of missionary work) I knew that I had to serve a mission.  I don't know if I can say I left on a mission because I thought it would be fun/cool experience.  I left because I knew it's what my Father wanted me to do.  My plan was to finish college as early as I could, find a job, get married... etc... But Heavenly Father knew I was forgetting a step: a mission.  I know I've only just begun my mission, but I can tell that it will have everlasting effects on the rest of my life, and even past that.  I've learned so much already!  I've grown in faith and testimony of the love Heavenly Father and Jesus has for me.  I'm learning how to share the gospel to others, so that when the time comes, I'll be able to raise my family in the faith.  I'm learning how to love everyone, and how to put their needs above my own.  I'm learning how to have patience, and how to overcome trials.  I'm learning how to be more thankful and prayerful.  I'm learning that I am truly a daughter of a King, and that this work is truly His work and His glory. 

The Lord knew I needed to go on a mission to grow and to reach my potential. Not everyone needs to go on a mission, to learn what I've been learning.  Everyone is different.  But I know for me, I needed a bit of a push to grow up and to be prepared to meet life head on.  So that's what the Lord did.  He gave me a push....

So anyways, yeah, this week has been hard... not impossible just hard.  And it's not even because of the missionary work that's made it hard... It's probably been my own attitude and mood...  Lately I've been feeling myself get frustrated more often, or lacking confidence in myself...  It's mainly because of the English Class we have to teach...  You've probably noticed that I don't write much about English Class...  For me, it's the hardest part of this mission...  So in Taiwan, as well as other places, we teach a free English Class for a service to the community.  I'm in charge of teaching the kids ages 3-12 English.  Normally we have about 35 kids who attend.  My companion and I split the kids up into two groups.  One group will first be taught by me, while the other group gets to play games with my companion.  After about 45 minutes, they will switch...  Well... I totally feel inadequate as a teacher, and I don't know how to teach children a new language...  It's also hard since many of these kids have a hard time sitting still for longer than 2 minutes....  I've tried different methods for teaching them... but no success thus far....

Every time I teach them, I leave exhausted and spiritually drained.  I feel that the Lord has placed an impossible feat for me to overcome....  but I know that's not true... The Lord would not call me to this work if he didn't think I couldn't do it... So, I've been trying to become more like Christ, the perfect example of a teacher.  Christ loved little kids...  He was patient and caring towards them...  Christ also was willing to do anything the Father asked, no matter how difficult it was to do.  The most major example is the Atonement.  Christ suffered and died for us, because the Lord needed to have a way to cleanse us of our sins... The Lord is only asking me to spend a couple of hours teaching little children...  Christ also taught so that all could understand... This is my challenge.... Since the kids are of such different age ranges...  but there must be something I can do... Sigh... Anyways, sorry, just venting... and also asking for advice and help from anyone who has some to offer.... Thanks!

A good thing that happened this week was we had a companion exchange!  I love Liu JM, but it was also fun to see how other missionaries do this work.  This time, Liu JM went to San Ming, and I stayed in Ping Dong, which means I basically got to be kind of like a Senior Companion for a day.  That was fun! And Exhasting!  I can relate to how exhausted Liu JM must be from training me and being Senior Companion... You're constantly thinking of what you have to do, and what you will have to do, and what you will have to do if the first thing that you had to do fell through... if that makes sense... :P  Anyways, good news, I didn't get lost!!! Yay!!!  So, the Sister Training Leader who spent the day with me was Huang JM.  She is super nice, and a super fantastic missionary.  Also, for being a native Taiwanese person, her English is great.  Mostly because her actual companion, Sister Smith, is refusing to use Chinese with her... so, I'm thinking of doing the same with Liu JM, since Liu JM really wants her English to improve. :P  Haha! Though, every time I try to speak, I forget about speaking English, so I'll start talking in Chinese.  And once I get half way through the sentence, I'll switch to English. Haha! It just makes us both confused... but it's fun! :D

Also, another fun thing this week is that the Single Adults and the missionaries had a combined activity making pizza!  Yum!  It was just a lot of RC's (recent converts), investigators, LA's (less actives), missionaries, and ward missionaries there.  And we made pizza- Taiwan style!  Basically, Taiwan style pizza just has pretty much anything you could ever think of putting on a pizza... from squash and corn, to broccoli and peas and carrots... yum!  Haha! :D  When I get back, we can have a Taiwanese pizza party. :D  It's really fun. :D  And interesting...

Anyways, as to our investigators... we only have a couple of people who are progressing towards baptism.  We have a lot of investigators, but most of them are only willing to meet with us and aren't willing to keep the commitments we give them... or don't even have interest in the Gospel at all.... Don't know why they want to meet with us... most of them are probably bored.... yup....  Sigh... Our Zone is trying something that we call: Family Hunting.  Since Families are blessed even more by the gospel, we are targeting families whenever we go out contacting.  If there are a lot of people, around us, but there is a family a little bit a ways, we have to go to the family first...  Yup!  It's been very interesting to try and do that at stop lights... don't worry, we're being safe! Haha! :D

Anyways, once again, I've written a novel....  Perhaps I should become a writer... Or a reporter... lately, I've been thinking it would be fun to be a reporter for a newspaper or something and write specifically on family friendly activities and events that occur... yup... Anyways...

Spiritual thought:  Moroni 7:45-46

 45 And ^acharity suffereth long, and is ^bkind, and ^cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily ^dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail

Charity is probably the most important attribute.  Work hard to develop it, and I promise you, you will find more joy and peace in this life and for all eternity. 

Well, I've got to go.  I love all of you! Be great!  Pray Always!  Feast on the Word of God!

Love, Sister Nicholle Peng