A Glimpse Into A Day Of Missionary Life of Sister Peng

Hello Mum! Hello World! How are you doing on this lovely spring day? Well, it's actually feeling a lot like summer now....  Can you believe that this is the last day of March?  I can't! I can't believe I passed my 10 month mark this week!  I've been a missionary for 10 months!!!!  Weird.... I still feel like I'm running/biking around and not knowing what I'm supposed to be doing...  Ah well.

I've been doing really well lately.  Though, I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with the heat.... cuz... it's HOT!  And the mosquitoes are really happy... I'm thinking about cutting my hair... like making it short.... Like, to my chin short.... Perhaps it would be easier to manage than the mass of tangles I try to put into a pony tail every day...

As for things needed to be reported... Well, we have 4 baptismal goals (we gave 4 people baptismal dates).  One looks like she might hit it... she just has fan dui (opposition) from her mother.  But thankfully she is over the age of 20, so if she wants to be baptized we don't need parental permission.  Two of the others have spouse and/or in-law fan dui... Taiwan is very traditional, so what the husband's side of the family says must be obeyed....  And the last one is Kathy.  She's still waiting on her answer, and is very busy.  She doesn't want to be baptized and then not go to church regularly.  She says she would feel very bad if she became inactive, so she really wants to make sure this is the right church before she gets baptized.  We are just encouraging all of our investigators to have faith, and to pray always...

Oh, also, this week we had companion exchanges, and so I got to lead the area here in Tainan 2nd ward.  Sister Adams, I was with her last time as well, came down and we had a blast and a day full of miracles!  She is truly an example to me as a fantastic missionary!  She gave me some advice because I shared with her my feelings of being inadequate as a missionary. "Have confidence in yourself." I was also praying that night, thankful to have Sister Adams' help when a sentence kept running through my head.  "Thou wast made to be a leader, but thou must first have confidence in thineself."  I know I need to work on confidence, in myself but also in the Lord.  He is my Father.  He knows me, he knows my potential and he loves me.  I know that if he has faith in me, I should also have faith in myself so I can become the person he wants me to be.

So this week, I thought I would do something a bit different.  I'm going to give you a rundown of an average day as a missionary in the Taiwan Taichung Mission.  Enjoy!

6:15 The Alarm goes off.  I'm already awake.  Light pours in from the window and there are birds chirping outside.  It's hot.  My covers seem to have gone through a war and are tangled around me.  Apparently our air conditioning unit is not doing its job...

Ugh, I'm already sweating and I haven't even done anything yet.  I roll over onto my knees and try to focus my thoughts long enough to pray.

6:30 I'm outside running.  It's hot and humid, making running almost unbearable.  I'm sweating like there is no tomorrow.  I muse on the fact that even if I decided to sit down on the tract, I could still sweat enough to feel like I got an adequate work out....

7:05 Back at home and in the showers.  I love showers!  The cold water feels so good.  I dread leaving it behind.

7:15 Ugh.  I'm sticky again.  Why can't I have more time to take another shower?

7:30 Breakfast time.  My breakfast contains a concoction of oatmeal, apples, bananas and some sort of flavored calcium drink powder.  Yum!  My companion on the other hands is munching on a mix of calcium, apples, bananas, kiwis, tomatoes and cereal....

8:00 Personal study.  I rummage around my stack of Liahona Magazines, trying to find an article I've yet to read.  Then I turn my attention to my Book of Mormon.  I'm studying 2 Nephi which contains the words of Isaiah.  Nephi says that the words of Isaiah are plain and easy to understand.  I pray for the day that I can actually relate...  I start preparing for the days lessons.  I think about the people I am going to meet that day.  I pray for them and pray for guidance to know what my companion and I can share with them to bring them closer to Christ.

9:00 Companionship study.  Sister Park and I sing a hymn, pray, and then recite from memory (using Chinese, English(me) and Korean(Sister Park)) our mission scripture (D&C 50: 13-14), the missionary's purpose, and Joseph Smith's First Vision.  We read from our handy dandy white rule book, refreshing our memory on the many rules and guidelines.  Then we begin to share what we studied and planned during personal study.  I try and explain what I learned from Isaiah in Chinese.  Sister Park goes off on a speech about how she is grateful to be able to read the scriptures in Korean and about how much she loves me.  Time is up.

10:00 Language Study.  I stare at my Chinese set of scriptures and a stack of flashcards, hoping that I can make sense of what they are saying.  If I focus I can pick out the main ideas of what the scriptures are talking about.  If I don't focus it looks like a bunch of ancient writing that can only be interpreted with the help of the Urim and Thummim or the Rosetta Stone.

10:30-9:00 pm Time to work!  We bike all over town going from house to house teaching lessons.  Sometimes we teach in the Chapel or at restaurants and cafes.  The Sun is so hot!  Sister Park is worried of getting a tan, so she insists on wearing long sleeves.  We pull up to stop lights and start talking to the people riding the motor scooters next to us.  A mom with a child is willing to take a free English class flier and another flier about families.  A college aged girl receives a message about "New Beginnings."  A nice lady tells me that she doesn't talk to Mormons.  Ah well, you can't please everyone.  I love teaching lessons and meeting new people.  I'm making new friends.  I'm sharing about something that has truly blessed my life and brought me happiness.  It's when we are teaching that my own testimony grows and becomes strengthened.  I know this is the work of the Lord.  I know the messages we share are true.  I may be tired.  I may be hot.  But I'm happy.  I'm grateful to serve.  And I love my God.

9:01 Home.  We collapse onto our knees and pray, ready to begin planning for the next day.  Planning is easy if the next day is already filled with scheduled lessons.  Other days we stare at blank pages and pray for miracles.  We plan ways to try and find people to teach.  We think of ways we can serve others.  Finally our plan is filled.  We get back onto our knees and pray for the Father's help and guidance for tomorrow.  We share with him our gratitude for the day's miracles.  We are so blessed.

9:45 Prepare for bed.  It feels so good to wind down.  I take a quick shower, brush my teeth, read another Liahona article, stretch and finally pray.

10:30 ZZZzzzzZZZZzzz

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this week’s letter.  I took a long time typing... my typing has digressed... grrr... It's going to be bad when I go back to college and have to write reports....  

I love you guys so much! Thanks for your support and your prayers!  I hope you all do something amazing this week! Jia You!

Love, Sister Peng

Baptism!!!

1). Way are your plans for the day?

umm.... eat shaved ice.... and shop.... I want to buy some summer dresses.  I'm too hot wearing all of these sweaters!

2) what specifically is Kathy feeding you?  I know it's Vietnamese food.  But what things exactly? Ae you loving Vietnamese food?

Umm.... We had Pho and we had other stuff that I don't know what there name is.  Next week we are eating spring rolls!  Also, we found a really yummy Vietnamese food place that has pretty good prices. :D

3). Is Kathy still a strong investigator?

Yeah, though she is still not willing to go forward with baptism till she get's an answer from God... Which is a good thing.  And also she is super busy this month and the next with her master's degree and traveling.

4). Is your mission ever planning on going online and getting mini iPADs?

We have a few missionaries on FB.  And I'm not sure about iPads, though I saw an elder with one the other day.... I think they are test driving things to see if it's effective.  I would love to be on FB, because I have some people in Ping Dong I want to keep in touch with and work with.

5). Are your thoughts in English or Chinese?  Do you dream in Chinese or English?

Both and both. It's just easier to do everything in chinglish

6)  Violet wants to know whether you have met any cute elder missionaries there.

Ummm.... they are elders.... so.... I haven't been noticing. :P

7). Are you still staying healthy?  How do you like the  exercise programs that I sent you?

Well, I cant do most of the exercises, because they would make our downstairs neighbor complain.  She already things my morning yoga is a bit too much (I pretty much just do planks and read Ensign articles...... ) She says we are too noise and we shouldn't wake up so early or go to bed so late....

8). Any new things that you find that you enjoy about Tainan?  Is it growing it you yet?

I like Tainan.  There are some awesome people, and I like the parks and the food.

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Dear Mum, fam, and friends,

Well, Zao An!  Good morning!  I hope all of you are having a good day.  This morning was a bit frustrating (we had to mail in a baptismal record and the post office was busy.......) but we finally have the chance to come and email.  I am especially happy right now since I have a nice glass of passion fruit juice.  For those of you who have never had passion fruit it's sweet and sour and it's middle is filled with seeds that you eat (like a pomegranate) and they look like frog eggs.  But seriously, it's very enjoyable. :D

Anyways, this week was great.  It went by super quick and so everything still feels like a blur.  So I'll try and at least report one thing from each day (and I'll report more if more needs to be shared.)

Monday was relaxing... ba... Sister Park and I were on the lookout for a pink skirt (Sister Park wants an outfit to match a pair of interesting shoes a member gave to her, but to no avail.  Ah well, I bought a super awesome pair of pants that you can only find in Taiwan or Indonesia because they are so interesting....  And they were only about $6! Yay!  So that made me happy.  Also, I got to cook, which always makes me happy.  I also sent a package home, which Mom says already arrived?  If so, that was really fast.... O.o  So that made me happy, hope you all can feel my love, though I wasn't able to send that much stuff....

On Tuesday we had a Zone Conference in which we got to go to Jia Yi (about an hour north) and have a meeting with the Jia Yi Zone and President and Sister Blickenstaff.  That was really fun.  They finally gave us new rule books, since they've been changing rules up the ying yang.... not really, but it's just nice to keep things updated. :)  Also, they shared a lot on the importance of making ourselves reach for higher expectations and also the importance of working with members.  But my favorite part... was.... LUNCH! Haha!  We had Costco Pizza and Beef wraps (If I remember correctly it's kind of like the Chicken bakes at Costco...) It was sooo yummy! Though by time we ate dinner, I was still full and felt guilty about eating anything not healthy, so I ended up eating a salad at 7-11.  Also, after the Conference my companion expressed to me her frustration at not being able to totally understand whenever we have meetings since she can't have things translated into Korean and when she listens to Chinese translations she has to really focus and she only understands half of what is being said.  I keep trying to think about how I can help her...  I've been translating our DTM's and ZTM's for her.... but I know she still gets frustrated... so.... we're still working on that....

We met with an investigator named Li JM who is very awesome.  She met with missionaries about 3 years ago and passed a baptismal interview, but wasn't baptized due to her mother fandui-ing (opposing). So, now we are just reviewing with her and trying to figure out how to help change her mom's mind.  Her mom is Christian, but doesn't want Li JM to be baptized until after she is out of school and married....  We're trying to invite the mom to church.... but Li JM also can't come to church since she is busy with school and work....  So we are praying that we'll find out how to remedy both of these challenges.  Also, we had English.  English was okay.... everyone knows how I feel about teaching English.... Ah well, I just keep pressing forward and do what the Lord wants me to do to serve... I learned something in last week's English class though.  It was about how to spell the word: exercise.  I always misspell that word....But thanks to a Chinese to English dictionary I can now spell it correctly. Haha!

Thursday.... I don't remember much exciting things happened....  Oh! We met with a Qiu JM who is an inactive member and she said she could come to church.... and she did! Yay!  Most of the time she says she can come and then she doesn't.... so that was a miracle. :D  

Friday was nice.  We had a great lesson with an investigator, Chen JM.  She's pretty much had all the lessons, and so we went over with a member and shared about how the gospel blesses families.  Chen JM doesn't come to church because her husband is only home on Saturday and Sunday due to work in Taipei.  She feels if she goes to church her husband will feel like he doesn't get to see her.  He's gone to church with her before, but he didn't really like it.... so... we are trying to find out ways to get him to come to activities so he can start making friends with ward members and to introduce him to the gospel....  Also, we met with Su JM, who is a less active.  She is AMAZING! She's pretty much active now, she just needs a calling!  We shared about Temples, which made me miss going to the temple... I can't wait till I have the chance to go... but I might have to wait a long time for that, since I'm too far south in the mission to go.... I have to move north in order to be able to go to the temple in Taipei.  I'm pretty much one of the only missionaries who has been out for longer than 6 months who hasn't had the chance to go to the temple yet.... sad....  Ah well, it makes me so much more grateful to live close to a temple in Utah.  I am hoping to go to the temple once a week when I get back!

Saturday was FANTASTIC!  We were sooo busy!  And we had a BAPTISM!  I was sooo happy to finally have a baptism!  Though, I know that I had nothing to do with the success of Huang JM being baptized.  There were other missionaries before Sister Park and me and also, her husband has been waiting for about 20 years for this event to occur.  Huang JM was so happy and she kept crying.  It was so awesome that her whole family could be there, including her son who is serving as a missionary in Taipei (he came down to baptize her).  All of the talks were about how their family, after a year, can go to the temple to be sealed!!!!  I am sooo excited for them!  And I know that Huang JM will be truly blessed for her decision to follow the example of the Savior. :D

Sunday was great as well.  We got to go to church and see Huang JM be confirmed as a member of the church and receive the Holy Ghost!  She was crying and smiling and the ward was so happy that she finally joined them as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. :D  Also on Sunday we got to meet with Anna (a less active who is Brazilian) and Kathy (who is from Vietnam).  It always makes me laugh to think of us missionaries (an American and a Korean) sharing the gospel with people who are also not native to Taiwan using Chinese.  Sometimes it's a struggle and we don't really know what we are all saying, but the spirit is always present.  I've really learned the importance of the universal language of the Spirit and of Love.  So it doesn't really matter that our Chinese isn't up to par, or isn't fluent.  All that matters is that we have the spirit in every lesson and that we truly believe in the Gospel.  :)

Oh, also on Sunday, Gravity decided to remind me of its presence.... I biffed it on my bike after my foot slipped off the pedal (my pedals have no traction) while I was "bike running" (standing up and pedaling.)  I was trying to catch up with my companion who left when I was still putting on my safety gear (she often forgets about me when we are biking.  Sometimes, if I can't go because of a stop light or because of cars she just keeps on going... and going... and going... and going.... She's not used to being in front and leading... ah well).  Ah well, my knee and calf just got scrapped up a little bit, and nothing else was injured.  :D

Sorry, I'm not sure my heart is really in this email today.  I'm a bit tired and also my elbow is very very itchy due to a mosquito bite.... 

So for my spiritual thought today I recommend you all read an article called It's Better to Look Up.  I read it this morning and I thought it was pretty good.  When we are in times of trial, it is better to exercise our faith and Look Up to our Father instead of allowing ourselves be dragged down into the pits of despair and self-pity.  Life wasn't meant to be easy.  It was meant to try us and help us grow.  By relying on the Lord we are able to see our true potentials as his children.  He will not give us a trial that we cannot overcome.  But some of the trials are impossible to overcome without his help and his guidance.

Well, this email is shorter than most, sorry, I can't focus.  But before I go, I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS TO JARED for being BAPTIZED!!!! I am sooo happy for you!!!!  CTR!!!!

Anyways, that's about it! I love you all!  Be strong! Live True! And Always "Look Up"!

Love, Sister Peng

I Got Mail & We Will Have A Baptism This Week!!! Happiness!

1). Are you ever planning on doing any sightseeing in Tainan?

I want to, but my companion thinks everything is too far or too inconvenient.  And she won't go with me to go see Buddhist temples.  She thinks that's not an appropriate activity for missionaries- though I know other missionaries have done it....  I also want to go to the beach.... but apparently 45 minutes of traveling is too far...

2)  Are the ward members warming up to you guys yet?

Hai hao (Okay).  I mean, they are nice and there are a few who are willing to pei ke (meet with the investigators).

3). Baptism still gonna happen this week?

Of course!

4). Anyone feeding you guys?

Kathy- our investigator

5). Wat is your favorite thing to eat in Tainan?

Umm.... Sushi?

6). How's the Chinese learning?  Have you passed off any additional phases?  Are you feeling more Chinese?  

Chinese is coming along.  We don't have any other pass offs.  I've always felt Chinese....

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Hello Mum and the World,

Well, I had a nice list of all the things I wanted to write about or that I wanted to remember written in my planner.... and then I realized that my handy dandy planner is still on my desk at home... sad... So now I have to rely on my less than stellar memory and hope that whatever I write makes sense and is not too jumbled.... :D

Anyways, first things first:  Thank you to everyone who sent me cards and letters in the last month or two! It seemed that mail system was slowed or something, since I just got about 10 things of mail this last week, which made me very happy.  I would type out names, but I'm afraid of forgetting one, so know that I love you all! And if you haven't sent mail, don't worry there is still time to change your ways. Hahaha!  I'm working on getting letters written and things sent off... I made a list (I love lists!) but then I reached 37 names of people I need to write things to.....  I think my hand is going to fall off.  Thank goodness most of you can just read this email and know that I'm still alive and kicking here in Taiwan!  

So... where do I start?  I can start with the fun things I guess...  I bought a case for my glasses! (I've been wearing glasses lately because my eyes turn a lovely shade of blood red if I wear my contacts for a full day... not really sure why.... they don't hurt though, it just scares people away.... ba....).  Anyways, I bought my glasses case because I love puns and I love Asian misspellings.  So, when you put them together it makes my day! :D

 Also, I tried a yummy new drink the other day.  No one but my mom would really understand it.  So mom, what you do is you scoop some grass jelly into a cup or a bowl and you mix it with milk.  Then you drink it!  It's sooo yummy!  I just like grass jelly though. :D  Oh, I also found a place to get sushi for a pretty good price, though sushi here isn't like sushi in the states.  It's still yummy!  Oh, I also love drinking "di gua niu nai" which translates into Sweet Potato/Yam milk.  Yum!  I just like food in general.  Though, lately Sister Park and I have been making home lunches, to be healthier.  She mainly eats carrots and tomato every day with an egg.  I am a bit more afraid of my insides and outsides being dyed orange so I've been eating a mix of sautéed carrots, sautéed cucumbers with scrambled egg, sautéed tomatoes and egg, yams, pumpkin, bok choi, tofu or sandwiches.   I can't eat the same things over and over again because I'd get bored.  Of course, this is a bit less convenient because I have to find time to cook....

As to the work, everything is just rolling on, with minor bumps and detours along the way. Sister Huang is definitely getting baptized I am sooo excited.  Also, originally she was going to get baptized on Saturday and get confirmed a week later (due to her work schedule) but, she was finally able to find a coworker to change shifts with her (she's been trying for over a month to find someone!)  So, as planned her son is coming back from the Taipei mission to baptize her and he and his companion will stay the night and attend church the next day to be a part of her confirmation!  It's bound to be a great blessing to Sister Huang and her family! Because after one year, they can all be sealed in the Temple!

We've been visiting Kathy, our other investigator, lately.  She's been very busy with tests and such, and is only home on Saturdays and Sundays.  She is awesome!  And she is still waiting for an answer from Heavenly Father concerning baptism...  Her faith is amazing though, so I have no doubt she'll receive promptings from Him.  Also, lately she has been concerned because she says we eat outside too much.  She wants us to eat at her house every week on Saturday or Sunday.  She is sooo funny!  But she cooks very yummy Vietnamese food. :D

We have other investigators, but some of them are progressing at a snail’s pace and others are just stuck.  We are working on finding more investigators, but right now we also have our hands full with our less actives.  I love working with less actives in Tainan because they actually progress and change!  This week during church we had 5 less actives come and about 4 of them are very close to being changed back to active member status!!!!  I am sooo happy!  They are all so great!  

I also still love being able to visit Sister Wu, who lives in the hospital after having a car accident a long time ago.  She is super awesome and is truly an example.  Every week we are able to spend an hour and take a walk with her and share messages with her.  She is also able to come to church every week because of the service of another member who goes to pick her up every Sunday morning and drops her back off at the hospital after church. You can really see the love Heavenly Father has for her, as well as for the others who live in that hospital (they are all long term patients).  I am so grateful to be able to go there every week to sing with them and make them happy!

Anyways, as to spiritual thoughts this week, I read a great talk called "Come What May and Love It"  Lately I've been flipping randomly through Conference editions of the Ensign and it's been interesting to see that this week I keep coming across ones that emphasize the need to have trials and "opposition in all things."  But I loved this talk!  It really reminded me of something that my mom always taught me about.  It's the fact that you may not be able to choose your situation but you can always choose what kind of attitude you want to have.  Our lives aren't meant to be a breeze.  It's meant to be difficult and a learning experience.  I know that sometimes it might be hard to "choose to be happy" but we can always choose to have faith.  We can chose to rely on the Lord and know that tomorrow can be a brighter day.  We just have to press forward and endure to the end!

I think back to the story of Nephi and his broken bow in 1 Nephi 16.  When faced with the reality of not having food his family all began to murmur and complain.  Something that is a natural reaction for us humans when faced with adversity and trial.  But Nephi chose to do otherwise.  He acted with faith.  Instead of complaining, he thought of how he could make his situation better and he went to the Lord for guidance.  The Lord is always there for us and is willing to help us if we just put forth a little of our own efforts.  

This week has been so good!  Not necessarily because anything hugely miraculous has happened but because I have seen the Lord's hand in the small things in my life and I am forever grateful.  I love you all and miss you! I can't believe that my journey in Taiwan is already half way over.  But I am so glad that I still have these next few months to live every day to the fullest in serving the Lord. 

With Love,

Sister Nicholle Peng

Miracles & I Do Believe That My Chinese Is Improving!

Hello Mom, Family and Friends:

Well, another week has flown by.  It was pretty good... though now thinking back I don't remember much of what has happened... I remember it being cold....  And I remember that we did have some miracles and good experiences.... Thank goodness for planners!  I have learned to love planners and my gratitude journal.  Without them, I would most likely forget everything...  I really want to continue using planners when I get back home.  I'm thinking of buying some cute Taiwanese planners, since they are ADORABLE and very convenient. :D  You'll all be jealous! Heehee!  

Anyways... I guess I'll just go in chronological order of cool/miraculous experiences we had this week.  

So, on Wednesday we had a less active invite us to lunch along with two other members.  We went to this really cute restaurant that served food so delicious Sister Park and I didn't care how much calories were in it. :D  Haha! Anyways, after having a very lovely time eating and sharing an uplifting message with them Sister Park and I left to go and do some contacting.  So as we left the restaurant we took a small road when suddenly Sister Park began exclaiming in Korean and suddenly turned down a road full of houses.  I was a bit confused, but quickly followed her lead.  Well to make this experience make more sense, Sister Park has been trying to remember the place where a former investigator worked for about a month.  (Since she had only visited once before with her previous companion and we couldn't find the records for this investigator AT ALL- this is why we as missionaries need to make ORGANIZED and COMPLETE records... anyways...)  We had biked many neighborhoods and streets looking, and were pretty much consigned to the fact that we would probably never find it.... Well, Sister Park saw something about the street that kick started her memory and we found the investigator's work (a really cute second hand shop).  So, now we have a new investigator! I don't know how things will turn out with her, but she seems pretty awesome and willing to learn.  Also, Sister Park is excited because this investigator can speak Korean. :D

Second good thing this week is that English Class went smoothly, well, my teaching part went smoothly.... We had a little bit of an upset due to the fact that one of the little girls started throwing up her dinner of noodle soup and seaweed.... uhh.... yeah....  Her mom felt so bad, but we got things cleaned up, and the other kids stayed well behaved. :D  I like it when I can teach English and not feel too stressed afterwards... 

Talking about languages.... Funny fact... Recently I've been having people ask me if I'm from China, since my Chinese is very standard.  Or I've had people look surprised when I say I'm from America.... So.... I guess my Chinese has improved, though I just need to work harder on grammar patterns and remembering new vocabulary. Also, apparently I still don't look like I'm full Chinese....   Everyone just assumes I'm half Chinese and half something else....  Mostly because my eyes are too big and my skin too dark to be Chinese. :P

Anyways, Third good thing.... Sister Huang passed her baptismal interview!!!!  So, we are going to have a baptism!!!! Sister Huang's family are so excited, since she is currently the only one who is not a member.  Her son in fact is serving in the Taipei mission, and has received permission to come down and baptize his mom! How cool is that!!!  Anyways, we are working hard on building Sister Huang's faith.  She is pretty cool with all the commandments, but she has a bit of hesitancy about Tithing.  But an elder gave us a good idea to do an object lesson with her, so I'm excited for our next lesson. Basically, we are going to give her 10 M&M's and then ask her to give us one in return.  And when she gives it to us we are going to give her a WHOLE BUNCH OF M&M's. I was planning on just giving her an unopened packet, but Sister Park wants to dump a ton of M&M's on the table, because it would look more dramatic.  Haha! 

Regarding Tithing and people who have hesitancy about it, since it is dealing with money and we all need money to live here are two scriptures that can help.  Read them, pray, and ACT IN FAITH:

3 Nephi 24:10

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 

3 Nephi 13: 31-33
 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
 32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Anyways, as to miracles... that's about all that I can remember....  We had a good time last night eating at an investigator's house.  Her name is Kathy and she is Vietnamese, so her food is really yummy!  Also, she is super sweet.  We are going to move back her baptismal date though, since lately she is really busy with her graduate school stuff and she will be out of town next month due to some class trips.  She is super awesome, and she is sure to be a life time friend!  She is still thinking about baptism.  She knows it's a serious decision and she isn't willing to act until she has guidance from God, which is all us missionaries could ever ask for.  So we are praying that she receives an answer.  She has a lot of faith, and I really admire her for her kind heart and her willingness to follow Christ.

Anyways, I had best close this email before it grows too long.  I still have a list of people I need to email and write to.... I'm so bad at writing to people, but know that you are all in my heart  and that I think about you all and pray about you daily. 

This week my theme has been to "forget myself and go to work."  I have found great power in the simpleness of serving others throughout my life, and I am so happy to spend this time devoting my whole self to the act of helping others- whether it is of a spiritual nature through teaching them about the Restored Gospel- or if it is through helping them on a more temporal basis- such as helping people move or teaching English.  Service is one of the greatest ways we can give back to God.  He has given us everything, and all he asks of us is to follow his commandments.  When asked what the greatest commandment is, Christ answered that the first greatest commandment is to "Love God" and the second is likened unto it: to "Love thine neighbor."  All other commandments can be related back to these two important commandments.  The Lord has asked us to love.  By following Christ's example and by striving to be more like him, love is one of the first attributes we must develop in ourselves.  And when we love God and we love others we are lead to do acts of charity.  Never forget to serve others and act in charity- ALWAYS. To close I'll just share one of my favorite scriptures:

Moroni 7:45-48

 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, 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

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth

forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I love you all!  Keep on Serving!  Until Next Time!

Love, Sister Nicholle Peng