4/28/13

One really cool miracle this week happened when we went to visit Sanxia. We don't often have too many opportunities to visit Sanxia since it's so far from the church and we basically have to have an emptier schedule to be able to make the time to go there or have investigators who want to meet there. Thanks to one of the elders and one of our members, we had 3 people to meet with this week in Sanxia! Well, every week the Sanxia elders ask where their referrals are but since we rarely meet anyone from Sanxia we never have referrals for them. So, my companion said she wanted to find them a referral that day and as we were trying to take a talk to an investigator's house we said a prayer we'd be able to find someone we could refer to the elders. We had problems finding her house and were just standing there trying to figure out where it would be when a man comes up and asks "How I can help you?" Yes, it was in English. It was really awesome because we found out the elders had given him an english class tract but he'd lost it so as he was telling us this, he told us how badly he wants to go to English class. Then he told us "Give me, give me!" So that he would know time and place and everything :) We also got his information for the elders to be able to call him and remind him of english class on Wednesday and try to set up. It was an awesome experience. This week I also have a really funny story for you. I've decided, if you ever need to just hear that you're pretty or good looking, just go visit another country since in Spain they seemed to call all the American girls "guapa." Well, Taiwan more or less does the same with the men since they're all "Shuige" (not sure if I spelled that right, but you can't get the full effect without hearing it anyway...) and constantly calling the females "cute" or "pretty" in chinese. Well, to go along with that, my funny story happened on the way back from temple tours on Saturday. Since it was Saturday temple tours we were exhausted since we were there basically all day and we hadn't had any set-ups so we got to basically spend all day contacting people. Well, we were on the MRT headed back to Tu Cheng and this older gentleman came over and started talking to my companion since he was amazed she spoke Chinese. Out of the blue, he starts speaking Spanish! My companion told him she didn't understand since she doesn't speak Spanish but that I do. So he comes to me and starts singing this Spanish love song! So funny! I don't remember most of it and it was really hard to hear him but all I mostly heard from it was that the song repeats "Besame! Besame mucho!" a lot! So I can officially say I've been serenaded by an older Taiwanese gentlemen on an MRT with a Spanish love song. Never thought I'd see the day! lol! The cool thing about it was that because he did that, after he got off, we had two ladies start speaking to us that we got to share a little about the gospel with. I'm not sure anything will come of it but it was still cool :) As you can tell since I came back to Tu Cheng on Saturday night, I didn't leave for transfers. However, after I'm done training this transfer my guess is that either my companion or I will be moving since basically every companionship of sisters will be training this next transfer. It's so cool to see how much this work is progressing! We got 13 new sisters in the field this last week to begin this transfer! I knew 10 of them in the MTC but it's still way cool how much this work is progressing and Heavenly Father is preparing people to teach this gospel. Think of how many more people he's prepared for those people to teach His gospel! It's like that tomato plant analogy someone shared in conference, you never know how much can come from 1 little seed! It was sad to see people go home though. I got to know two of them rather well, since one was my District Leader and the other was my Coordinating Sister. I'm sad I only got to spend 1 transfer with them but glad I got to know them at all. They're awesome people and I feel like I still got to learn a lot from them. Oh, and happy news! We might be moving this next week! YAY! No more loud apartment with a Buddhist temple behind and to the side of it (yes, we have two in our immediate vicinity) so between those and the traffic, our apartment is obnoxiously loud and it's often difficult to feel the spirit, not to mention the yucky mice! I'll be glad to leave though miss it some since it was my first home in Taiwan. The work is progressing, I've seen so many miracles in just the smallest things and I can't wait to see it continue! I'm so blessed to be a Taiwan Taipei missionary! I think I'm about all out of things to say, not to mention that I think this novel is long enough :P Wo ai nimen! Tang Jiemei

4/23/13

Wo de jiating! As I think about my first transfer here, I've realized the miracles I've been blessed to see. Yesterday and Monday I especially noticed. Within those days, we were able to meet with 3 people that I would greatly consider to be miracles, placed in our paths. One's a mom of two kids and came to our English class a few weeks ago. At first, she showed interest but then it seemed like her interest was only in learning about another religion which had me a little discouraged. But as I have learned her story and had more opportunities to meet with her, I'm learning how prepared she really is! Heavenly Father sent us this miracle who is so ready for this gospel! When we met with her last week and tried to set up a new time, she had no time she could come so our peike suggested we could go to her house and I was so happy we did! Her answer was instantly "I would love that! I'd love to bring you to visit me!" She came and met us at the church so that we didn't get lost finding her house and visit her we did. We have a set up next week to eat dinner with her family and teach them a little about what we believe. She wants to know how our church focuses on family and it's perfect since we're to Plan of Salvation this next time! We can't share a long lesson with them because her husband doesn't have much interest, but I'm praying this lesson will touch his heart and he will want to learn with her! It's been incredible to see how truly prepared she is! She wasn't sure about coming into our church but she has a friend that told her if she wanted to, she should come! And she told her we'd love to teach her about the gospel! I love how many people are involved in this work and we never know who might be receptive, who we might touch that day. Another miracle was a girl we met towards the beginning of my time here. We set up for yesterday but weren't sure if she'd come since it was a good month or so in between. Well she did! And it was a great lesson! She was tired but just wanted to keep learning more. She asked so many good questions and had so many great things to say, we didn't have time to teach her about the Book of Mormon but she was asking us about it and wanted to know what it was and everything, she was so excited to learn about it next week! Another investigator, She's so ready for this gospel! I can already see the changes in her and her life and I'm loving seeing them! Yesterday we shared the Word of Wisdom with her, well she had absolutely no problems with it! So we ended up moving on to the law of chastity, also has no problems with it! And she's told us in the past she wants to know if this is true and she knows if she truly wants to know, she has to do her part and read the Book of Mormon and pray! I truly feel she's so prepared for this gospel. She's already been talking to her mom and one of her friends about it and asked us questions they had. Even better, she said her mom may be interested in learning about the church too! I love seeing the progress of this work! Another miracle was with a less active family we've been working with lately. We got to meet with the daughter Monday night and I think it was really helpful for her. I know it was truly a blessing from Heavenly Father. She was able to talk to us about some challenges she's experiencing, especially with listening to her parents fighting sometimes. So we had the chance to teach her about turning it over to Christ and being a good example for her family, which she already is. She has so much love for this gospel, I just hope her family sees that and comes back with her. She said she'll come to church on Sunday so we're really hoping for it! We also hope to bring the Elders with us to visit her family next week. We think that'll help since they first had Elders teach them, so we're hoping the elders will know what to say to help their testimonies spark again. This work truly is incredible, I see how much the members have an affect so please don't forget the effect you can have. You may never know that you're having it but I know you are because I know what our investigators tell us about their stories. Thank you for the prayers in my behalf. I'm truly trying to just give my all to this work and I've been so blessed and seen so many miracles already, in only one transfer! I can't wait to see what Heavenly Father has in store for this week... Wo ai nimen! Sister Thomsen

4/14/13

Wo de jiating! Honestly, the miracles I saw this week that really seem the biggest to me, is the answer to prayers I've received and they have been large answers, covering many things that I really needed. I ended up crying on my poor companion Friday night about a few things. Well, the next morning as I did personal study, I found many answers I needed in the scriptures and I turned to last conference's ensign which only added to it! Then, I got to go to conference for the last two days, and honestly, I felt like the vast majority of them were speaking only to me. I often wondered how anyone else could be getting anything out of it since it felt like they went, "Okay Sister Thomsen, this is just for you. Heavenly Father wants you to know and understand..." It's an incredible experience to really see how much Heavenly Father loves His children and how much He looks out for His missionaries. It was also nice to be able to just be there for my trainer this week. She's been such a strength to me since I got here and this week, I got to help encourage her and let her know of my love for her. It was a hard week for both of us since numbers are down and we're seeing many investigators lose interest, desire, or just not meet with us. But we came together more as a companionship, leaning on each other and allowing each other to help make our burdens light, instead of only using the Atonement to do so. It was incredible! Then, we had 4 people at Conference yesterday! And a baptism! Honestly, what could be better than conference and a baptism right after? That's the best spiritual uplift ever! I know our investigator was so prepared, she is incredible! Now, just for our other really strong investigator to get her family's support and be baptized. Ah conference was AMAZING! So much of it was about missionary work! I'm so blessed to be God's missionary! I really loved Elder Anderson's talk about missionary work and the quote that this isn't missionary work, it's missionary fun. It truly is work, and the mission isn't always easy, but it's also so fun. It's so incredible to see people change their lives. I already get to see it in Annie and it's only been a few weeks since we met her. I love being the crazy "waigguoren" on a bike with the huge grin, especially in the pouring rain because I am God's missionary, His servant, I get to serve these amazing people, what don't I have to smile about? The gospel is all about joy and I get to share it! It's amazing how blessed I am daily as I see miracles, I see people change their lives, and I get to invite them to do so! I also loved President Uchtdorf's talk, definitely something I'll have to keep in mind in my future when I start my career, not letting the dark things of the world dim the light brought from the Atonement and the gospel. Well, I'm sorry I don't ever tell you much about my area or anything else. I never feel like there's enough time to do so and I'd rather focus on my miracles, on the amazing experiences and let you know more about them because those are the moments I see the gospel changing lives and the spirit changing hearts. Those are the true missionary moments, and those are the ones that are most important, that I want you to know about at home. What I eat is unimportant but how people feel, the changes they make, that's what's important. For this is truly the business of saving souls. I love you all and hope you continue to be well. Just a heads up, our preparation day next week is in coordination with the temple so since we're going to the temple next Wednesday, that will be the day I write home. I love you all, hope you are well, and I do pray for you. Thanks for your love and support! Wo ai ni! Tang Jiemei/ Sister Thomsen

4/7/13

Wo de jiating! Nimen hao! Life is great here in the Tu Cheng area of the Taiwan Taipei mission! I'm learning so much daily and I love it! It was an interesting week and had many difficult moments but I feel like those difficult moments helped me enjoy my miracles a little more. One miracle I got to experience happened yesterday. One of our investigators got permission from her mom to be baptized! She's so incredible and the light she had yesterday was truly amazing! Since before I got here, her parents have been saying they don't really oppose her being baptized but they wanted her to wait til she's older for it to happen. Well, yesterday she said her parents will let her be baptized now! This is truly an answer to prayers, I can't even tell you! Then there's our other little miracle yesterday from our investigator that is in herself a miracle. My companion found her on the street one day while we were passing our pamphlets for our English class (we call it "english boarding") and she taught her about prayer right then and there and she even said an incredible prayer. Well, she met with us twice the week after and came to Church last week on top of it! Then, yesterday she couldn't come to church but met with us after and she's already been praying a lot and says she feels good when she prays and when she forgets to pray she doesn't feel as good! She's also started reading the Book of Mormon! She said she doesn't know if it's true yet and that she hasn't really gotten an answer to prayers but she's so amazing! The fact that she recognizes that she feels better when she prays is incredible! Plus, yesterday we set a baptismal goal for her! She was hesitant at first until we told her it was only a goal, not a set date or anything. But she also told my companion that she reads and prays because if she really wants to know it's true she has to do her part and that's reading and praying! It's so incredible to watch! I can already see a little of the change coming over her, I love watching it! There's not much else to report. Though I am curious, what were your favorite parts of conference? We don't get to watch it until this coming weekend. It's crazy how they do things here because they watch it in one go on Saturday and Sunday so it's 4 hours on Saturday and another 4 hours on Sunday! It's crazy and awesome all in one! I'm so excited to hear what President Monson has to say this conference and I'm hoping and praying our investigators will come and find something for each of them in it! That's about all for this week, I don't really know what else to say! I love Taiwan, it's incredible and my trainer is also really incredible! I'm not sure I ever want to leave! I hope all is well with you! I think about and pray for you daily and I hope you're also trying to be missionaries because the true power of this work is in the members, I promise! Wo ai nimen! Tang Jiemei Sister Thomsen

3/31/13

Miracles... Honestly, my companion often seems like a miracle in and of itself. I swear I learn something from her daily, about ways I can be a better missionary, better serve and think of those around me, and ways that if I train, I want to apply them. She is so in tune to the spirit! My district is also incredible and also help strengthen me every time I see or talk to them. Let me tell you about my first miracle this week... Last Sunday night we called around like crazy trying to find a peike for our lesson Monday night, but couldn't find anyone. Well, on our way to the lesson, one of our members came riding up on his bike and asked if we were going to teach a lesson. He came with us and was our peike! It turns out, he had just gotten out of school and saw us on our bikes so he came. He's awesome, he really loves missionary work and wants to go on a mission himself, though his parents are very opposed to it. I'm praying their hearts change and he'll be ok to go because I know he'd definitely be a great missionary, he already is! He's already so on fire for this work! He's always leaving notes of encouragement for us on our bikes and I may not be able to read the characters but it means so much to me that he does it anyway, whether I know what he's saying or not! I imagine it's a little how our investigators feel when we leave them notes. We can't write in Chinese, we have to write in English, but I often see the little notes sitting out on their tables when we walk in the door, I think it helps them to know we were thinking about them and cared enough to stop by and write a little note, whether they understand what it says or not. I also think it can be applied to prayer too, that Heavenly Father appreciates when we take the time to send him long letters in our prayers, though it's different since He understands EVERYTHING, but it's still the same principle, just that you're caring about His children and making an effort to remember Him and His children :) Makes all the difference. Monday honestly, was probably my biggest miracle day. I was having a really hard time that night since I'm so new and don't understand much in Church and hadn't understood a whole lot at our dinners with members Sunday or Monday, or a whole lot of our lessons, so I was fighting hard but I was also feeling really discouraged. Well, I went and said a prayer because I was SO discouraged and I didn't want to be, I just wanted to give it over to the Lord, move on, and stop letting it plague me. It was so incredible, almost immediately after my prayer, one of our zone leaders called for some reason or another, I can't remember what it was, and when we're on the phone, he always asks what miracles I saw that day, and that night that was basically the first words out of his mouth. It got me focusing on Heavenly Father's hand in my life and the miracles I'm blessed enough to see. It was a miracle and an answer to prayer in and of itself. He also has such a fire and joy for missionary work and life that it's infectious, which always helps! Last night we also had a huge miracle! Some of our Elders called us to go visit a less-active family since there were only females home. This family was so amazing and happy! Their testimonies are still incredibly powerful, especially since they're less-active! I love them and can't wait to visit them again. I'm not sure why but they said they can't attend church for some reason, I think it was something with work schedules or something. I'm hoping and praying that will change! The best part about it was our biggest goal yesterday was to visit a family, and we'd tried to find a family during church that we could visit but it didn't work out, then those Elders called us. I truly know it was Heavenly Father's hand again! The work here is so incredible, some of our elders even had a baptism yesterday and another investigator gets baptized this week with another companionship! It's so amazing to know these people have changed their lives and are coming unto Christ. It is awesome and I've loved seeing it with some of our investigators. I love our investigators, they're awesome! So many of them are changing their lives and we get to see that change, we're blessed enough to show them the path to come to Christ, though it's all them and Him, we just show them the path! Anyway, I have one more e-mail I need to write and only 10 minutes left. I hope you all know, I love you and I pray for you. The work is great here and I'm doing great! So, until next week... Wo ai ni! Tang Jiemei

3/24/13

Jiating! Golly willakers! This week was truly a week of miracles!!! I feel like Heavenly Father has blessed me so much in one little week! We got 3 new investigators this week (off the top of my head that I met), which is incredible! But it's also been in the little things that I've seen it this week. Things in Taiwan are so different than I expected but I love it. I love the people here, they're so vibrant and the members have such a love for the missionaries I've never seen anywhere else. My trainer also has such a love for me, the people we work with, and especially for this work. It's been incredible to watch! Sadly, I don't have a whole lot of time to write so I will have to try to really super fast write about my miracles. Saturday was our biggest day for miracles and set me on fire for this work! We got 2 new investigators that day alone! One especially seemed so open to the gospel! She committed to read the Book of Mormon and pray and this is just when we contacted her in the street! She also said she'd come to church, though we didn't see her :( She was just so happy and seemed so ready to hear this gospel. It was also so incredible to watch as my trainer contacted her, and it's all from her following the promptings of the spirit because she told me on the bus, "I want to talk to her" so we got off at the same stop as one lady, since she got off right after, and ran after her and we talked to her! It was amazing! Anyway, sorry, my letter to President took a lot of time so I'm pretty much out. I love you and hope all is still well at home! Wo ai nimen!

3/17/13

Wo de jiating! Ni hao! Hello from Taiwan! It was definitely an adventure getting here but I wouldn't change it for the world. It was incredible to watch our Elders. They truly took no thoughts for themselves on the trip here. I especially loved watching one elder, but that may be because he's been in my district the last 12 weeks and I was right next to him the entire trip because they seated us by our districts. He was incredible as I didn't see him take time for himself until 2 in the morning to finally rest and get some sleep in the Narita airport! The entire trip here, he was doing missionary work, inviting people, teaching them, and most of all, getting to know them and serving them. I feel a little bit like I was watching Christ at work. So, I should probably mention that our layover in Narita that was only supposed to be like, 2 hours, ended up being over 14 due to poor weather conditions and they took so much care of us! They gave us water, food vouchers, food, blankets, pillows, mats, it was amazing. And as I said, our Elders were serving the entire time. I ended up crashing for a good hour plus right after I got that blanket since I hadn't slept at all and went like 3 or 4 days on maybe 6-8 hours of sleep so I crashed really hard. But our Elders the entire time were handing out blankets, pillows, mats, often giving up their own for other people. Then later on, they moved us upstairs and our Elders instantly got to work helping others move their stuff, not even thinking about the carry-ons they'd left with us, it was incredible! As I said, I feel a little like I got to watch Christ at work by watching them. We also met this sweet lady from Taiwan that seems like a golden contact but I don't know exactly what area she's in so I don't know what's happened there but we gave her a Book of Mormon and got to spend time testifying to her. She wanted to know why we were all serving others so much and what made us different, why we were so happy. It was amazing. I have her e-mail so when I can write in characters I will definitely write her and check up because she was SO sweet and seemed so ready for the gospel! We were truly blessed! As for being here, I LOVE IT! My trainer is Sister Sutton. I was "born" in the Tu Chen area. The awesome thing is, our first night here I got to go to a lesson with my trainer and her companion, as well as the sister that her companion is now training. This is extremely rare since usually you end up going out and proselyting on the street but it was so truly incredible and I'm glad I got to be in this area since that first night I was already developing such a love for it. Sister Sutton and I actually have a lot in common, we're both the youngest of three, with an older brother and older sister. We were both sealed to our families at 8 years old. Both our brothers have 2 kids. It's crazy and I already have such a love for her, did before I learned of all our similarities! I'm loving learning everything I can from her and she's definitely helping me practice and learn my zhongwen, it's awesome! We're over the Tu Chen and Xinban which means we get to go to 2 wards on Sundays so I got to bear my testimony in zhongwen over the pulpit twice yesterday! It was awesome and sooo scary! But everyone's complimenting me on my zhongwen so maybe it's not as bad as I think it is? But oh my gosh, the members are constantly throwing food at the missionaries! They love us so much and want to feed us and take care of us. Yesterday we had like, 3 or 4 people just randomly give us food. And earlier in the week a Sister brought us food after a lesson. It's really humbling since I know I"m the Lord's servant and I'm just fine in taking care of myself but they want to help and serve us any way they can so they're giving us food and trying to take care of us. They also all really want to be our members present at a lesson, it's awesome! We haven't had a lesson that we weren't able to find a member to attend and I love it. I love that they love and are so involved in the missionary effort and I feel there's so much I can learn from them! Wo ai nimen!

3/5/13

Wo de jiating! Well, this week has been amazing, crazy, exciting, sad, scary, and a plethora of emotions! It's been hard to say goodbye to these amazing friends I've had who have supported me through so much these last 11 weeks but I know they will all change the world and we are all doing Heavenly Father's work. You can't go wrong there. I also know I'll see them all again someday so I can handle it just fine! Just wait until it hits me tomorrow that they're truly gone and I break down crying about it though! So, for this week... I got my full Chinese name yesterday! I'm still Tang Jiemei (which by the way, means Sister Boiling Water, technically) but yesterday Sister gave me my full name. So now, I'm Tang Mei Xing Jiemei, which means Sister Beautiful Star Boiling Water. I love my first name, I wont lie. Our whole district got them and it's so amazing how well the names seemed to fit everyone else in my district. Our teachers truly know our elders! We had our last district prayer yesterday and sang "God be With You til we Meet Again" in Chinese. It was incredible. I'm amazed I didn't cry but I am so excited for all of them, to see how they all change the world. Last Tuesday night, we had Elder Ballard come speak in our Devotional and it was incredible! It's always incredible to be in the presence of these apostles of the Lord and see the true love they have for missionaries but also the humility they have in their lives. His talk was all about Christ and how we can and should utilize His atonement, especially in teaching our investigators so that we can relate to them and truly help them. It was such an incredible talk, but it's always amazing to listen to the talks, I'm super excited for tonight's too because I know it will be great. I love Tuesdays! On Sunday we also got a great talk from the Provo Temple President and I loved it. It was all about temples and the covenants we make but also how temples can bless our lives. I loved it. I feel so blessed to be here daily. I get to learn from these amazing people, my fellow missionaries, the great teachers, and the hundreds of people we get to learn from here. I just hope to be able to make the best of this last week and learn all I can. We're lucky because An Laoshi (Brother Anderson) is basically privately coaching those of us left in my district so that we don't stagnate. It's amazing how blessed we are and how loved we are. I also really loved testimony meeting on Sunday. Sacrament is always with our zone which is also our branch and it was amazing to see so many of these amazing people I have learned so much from and grown to love get up and share such amazing testimonies. I have such a love for all of them and I know they have such a love for our Savior, for our Father in Heaven, and for the people they will serve, whether they're serving them here in the States, in Canada, Taiwan, or in England. They already love them and they already have such a love for this language. We have all grown together so much. Chinese isn't an easy language, but with God all things are possible as I have truly seen here, especially in myself. I love this language, I love the people I will get to teach and serve, I love this gospel, and I'm so grateful that my Father is letting me take it to the incredible people of Taiwan. I've decided my motto for my mission is "change the world" because I have met many that I know will change the world. I want to be like them. I also want to live worthily and be the kind of missionary He wants me to be. A missionary He can be proud of but also so that I can help bring to pass the blessings I've been promised. I know this gospel changes lives and changes hearts and will change the world. It is true. Wo feichang ai nimen! Tang Mei Xing Jiemei

2/26/13

Wo de jiating! Can you believe I've been in the MTC 10 full weeks?!? I CAN'T! It's so crazy. Some days it feels like I arrived yesterday. Other days it feels like I've been here an eternity, something most the other missionaries echo in their reactions when I tell them how long I have been here... But it's been an incredible experience already. There is so much love and support here and I'm sorry to see all these incredible friends I've made leave but I know they are onto far bigger and better things to progress the work. My Korean-speaking friends left yesterday very early in the morning :( I was sad to say farewell to them, but I know they are going to change many lives. However, I know there will be more than a few tears shed this next week as my generation leaves, these amazing people I have struggled with day in and day out for the past 10 weeks. These people I have grown to love, that have strengthened and supported me or just helped me keep going on the hard days. They are incredible and I'm so blessed to have gotten to know all of them. I can't wait to look them up in 15-21 months and see how their missions went because I know they all will do great things. Some of our generation starts flying out next Monday, the ones heading to Australia (they're all in the other district) and I think another elder flies out Monday as well, but I may be mistaken and he could be flying out Tuesday, I can't remember. Then Tuesday, pretty much everyone else flies out. I know 2 elders are the exceptions to this outside of those of us flying to Taipei. They fly out Wednesday morning, then we will join one of the districts in our younger generation who has the 3 going to New York, new York South that are flying out a week early. I know this will definitely be a test of my patience and a time I will have to take trying to find things to love about them as well. There are some of them that truly annoy me, but I know there's also things to love about them so that week, I will find it! On that exciting news, those of us going to Taipei also get our travel plans on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! I'm terrified to go out into the field, but I'm trusting in Heavenly Father and I know He can do this, so He will strengthen me when I can't do this... As for this week... one investigator is getting baptized on Saturday!!! Another is slowly progressing, we're trying to at least get him committed before we have to transfer him into the hands of new missionaries :( I will miss these amazing investigators and their counterparts that are our teachers. They are truly incredible and have taught me so much as I have had the opportunity to learn from them. I have been so blessed in my time here and gotten to know many truly incredible people. I've also gotten to see many of them blossom and grow. Some still have growing to do that I know they will do well on, but the growth they've already accomplished is truly incredible. One of my favorites to have watched change because he really has grown a lot. As I've been acting as the tri-panionship's progressing investigator with a sister, I've seen him totally change. At first he wouldn't speak at all besides to say prayer but now, I asked a question the other day and he went on a spew that completely answered my question. It's been amazing to see this change occur. One of my best experiences this week happened with the same scenario in mind. We were doing practicing teaching in class and he and I ended up teaching each other. At first, he was staggering but as he started to just focus on his teaching and turn it over to Heavenly Father, there was such power behind the things he shared with me. It was easy to understand and he was stammering far less. It was truly incredible. It's amazing how Heavenly Father works through his missionaries which I've felt myself. There have been times that I've said things I had no idea where they come from as well as moments that I could feel the Spirit so strongly, confirming the things we'd taught. It's so amazing. I feel so blessed to be a part of this work, to be able to have these experiences. To see how people change and grow, but especially to see how I've changed and grown. I know I'm definitely not that girl that came into the MTC because I feel so different as a person in general. I'm in awe of the blessings I've received already and even more in awe of the blessings I've been promised as I do His will. On Sunday, I made a list of the promised blessings I've received in blessings I've gotten, in my Patriarchal Blessing as well as in other blessings I've received here that I've written about. I am truly in awe of the potential Heavenly Father sees in me as well as what he promises me will occur. I only want to make him proud now, to live up to those blessings and be the person He wants me to be. I don't have much else to say and I'm about out of time, but I want you to know, I love all of you. I know Heavenly Father loves all of you. You have untold potential as well because He has a major plan in store for you as well, one that you can and will fulfill as you turn to and rely on Him. Please do so! Wo ai nimen! Tang Jiemei

2/12/13

Nimen hao wo de jiating! (Hello my family) How are things with all of you? Things are alright with me. Moving rather slowly lately it seems but our district is also realizing that we're supposed to be more of a family it seems and we're working on unity as a district. Yes, I realize it is rather late since we've been here 9 weeks and all but one of our Elders leaves in 3 weeks, but hey, better late than never, right? We're actually kind of worried about that situation because of our district, only 3 of us are going to Taiwan Taipei so we're worried that Elder might be put into one of the other districts for our last week so he wont be the only elder, or that they'll just transfer the 3 of us to another district. I really hope not. I think that would be really awkward. I'd rather have him become just a solo elder, walking around with other elders from another district while we're not in class then basically just becoming a third member of our companionship otherwise, but who knows? Heavenly Father knows what he's doing far better than I ever will so I think I'll just try to leave it in his capable hands... Outside of that, not too much has gone on this past week... Though I think Sunday was the best day. I ended up being called on to give my talk in zhongwen and it actually went over really well. I talked really fast most the time and knew my tones were atrocious, but our district and all our sisters in our zone were incredibly supportive. One sister even said I blew her away because she's never heard me speak zhongwen like that. I guess I blew everyone away with how well my talk went when I only came in the MTC and started learning zhongwen 8 weeks ago. That's one thing I've come to truly learn about our district, we have some truly amazing elders. One of them has been really supportive for me, he said on Saturday that he was amazed how well my chinese is coming along, since I came in not knowing anything and now I'm at his level, not that his level is very high (in his words). Then on Sunday he also told me it was the best talk he's heard since we've been here. I think it was really sweet of him and I greatly appreciate the support. We all know how self-conscious I can be sometimes, especially about my languages. I mean, I wouldn't really speak Spanish to other people until I went to Spain and started to truly feel confident in it. Well, I'm starting to SYL more because I'm starting to feel confident in my language. I know I'm not perfect but I also know I try as hard as I can and Heavenly Father has been making up the difference for me. Like yesterday, in our lesson. No, I didn't know everything I wanted to say, and I often butchered what I did say, but she also noticed I was trying and she knew I loved her and this gospel, so I think the Spirit was there, which made all the difference for me. It kind of makes me glad I'm learning a language I've never learned before because I truly have to rely completely on Heavenly Father. There is truly no room for pride in a mission, and learning the language I am guarantees that pride truly has no room in my mission. But also, all of our other Elders complimented me on Sunday after my talk and it felt so good to have their support, especially since on my way to sit in my seat again, they all gave me the thumbs up sign. It means a lot to me to have that support. I will truly miss all these amazing people I've met here when they leave in 3 weeks, but I'm also so grateful I've gotten to know all of them. They have all truly blessed my life and taught me things every day. I'm surrounded by incredible people here. Yes, the MTC is difficult. It is truly the Refiner's fire for missionaries, but I wouldn't take back any of it. I wouldn't take back anything I've learned here either. I'm so blessed to be a misisonary for my Father and to get to know all His other incredible missionaries, but on top of that, I get to share the gospel, this great blessing I've recieved, with the world. There's nothing like that. I get to bring this great joy I have in my life to other's lives, help their families be together for eternity and to know they are not alone, their Heavenly Father loves them and guides them, and when they fall, their Savior is right there, already carrying them. He doesn't have to pick us back up because he never truly lets us fall, he's already carrying us constantly, you just decide how much weight you allow him to have. I'm so blessed to know this, to be a missionary. We also got to watch Legacy in Chinese on Sunday night for film, it was AWESOME! I loved it! I love this language! One more quick thing since I'm almost out of time (it always seems to get away from me so fast!) is the fact that yesterday for our Book of Mormon reading in class as a district, our teacher had us all choose 3-4 scriptures that spoke of Christ. He wanted us to mainly focus on the Book of Mormon but we could use the other standard works as well. It was so powerful. We didn't give references or background, we just read scriptures to each other. It's amazing how much you can learn about someone in how they read the scriptures, especially what scriptures about their Savior are their favorites. He truly is our Savior. We can all have a personal relationship with him, if we only choose to do so. We can find this out for ourselves. There is so much power in the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. There's so much power in prayer and in this gospel, if we only seek it and learn where to seek it. Please, get to know your Savior and your relationship with him. If need be, study the scriptures that speak of Him and see which ones speak to you. I have nothing else I can really tell you, besides that I know this Church is True. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior, He loves us so much he atoned for our sins and sorrows and afflictions and to top it off, he died for us. His crowning event was in his resurrection so we could all live with him again. I know Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today. I know Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration. He truly saw God the Father and His Son. They gave him all the priesthood keys to restore the church. The book of Mormon is true, it IS the word of God and "a man can get closer to God by abiding by its precepts than any other book." It's so true. Joseph Smith may not have been learned in the ways of the world but he was so intelligent in the ways of God. Is there anything better? I know this is true. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Wo ai nimen!

2/5/13

Wo de jiating! Well, it's that time of week again. It's crazy how time flies by while at the same time is totally dragging here! I'm doing pretty good this week, no desires to go home in the last week and that's an accomplishment for me :P The Chinese is coming, slowly but surely. It's actually really fast for the fact that I've been here such a short time but I'm starting to feel better about it in general. I think I'll learn it but it'll be like my Spanish, that I wont be fully comfortable with it until the end of my mission and then I'll be studying it for the rest of my life. I love this language, it has its moments that it is truly beautiful, but every language is beautiful in its own right if you can only find how to love it. My district leader that was just released was actually really supportive about my language, he was always telling us how good he thought we all were doing, but he also made sure to constantly tell me. He's awesome like that. But I love all my district, they're all incredible in their own rights. Ever since our teacher told me that I had the gift of tongues in the one lesson, I've strived to work even harder to learn this language so I can convey this gospel to everyone who needs it, which is EVERYONE! I even did an English fast for most of the day on Saturday to help me do better in the language and strive to truly communicate in zhongwen. However, that was an incredibly frustrating experience and therefore not one I'm likely to try again any time in the near future, lol. However, I'm doing much better at doing SYL (Speak Your Language) which basically consists of speaking your language as much as possible and only substituting the words you don't know in your language with English when absolutely necessary. I'm getting better at it. Honestly, if I were to meet that girl that came here December 19th, I wouldn't know her. I know I've already changed so much and it's incredible to think of the changes that have occurred. Now, I have the opportunity to share that with others, help them receive that same transformation and strength. I've been able to do it with our baby generation that came in 2 weeks ago, since last night they were all very discouraged and I was able to help buoy them up because I've been in their shoes. I've been in the discouraged boat wondering what on earth Heavenly Father was thinking calling me to this language because he could definitely call someone far more qualified than I. But that's just it, us Chinese missionaries are special. Every missionary is special but we've decided you get called to the asian languages to learn patience and humility, not the gospel or how to teach or things like that. Heavenly Father had a reason for calling every one of us, and I was able to share that with my sisters and help strengthen them. Not that they really needed it, they just needed to find it in themselves again. They are so incredible. I have such a love for them. I wish you could meet all the amazing people I've met here for I've learned from every single one of them. And tomorrow I get to host the new sisters! I can't wait to try to buoy them up as well as they're standing there all terrified for what's going on! I just want to be the strong, bubbly, helpful person my host was my first day. She was amazing, and I haven't really seen or spoken to her since but I will be forever grateful to her. I don't think I have much more to share with you right now, there hasn't been many big events lately, still loving missionary life and working hard, I want to finish out these 4-5 weeks strong as can be. It's hard to believe I only have a little over a month left here, time has definitely flown by. I want to report to my Father that I used His time wisely, didn't waste it and did everything in my power to learn how to bring His gospel to His children who need it. I'm so truly blessed to have it in my life and to have this opportunity to share it with others... I love this gospel and the Chinese people and I can't wait to teach them! Wo ai nimen! Tang Jiemei/Sister Thomsen

1/29/13

Wo de jiating! Things at the MTC are crazy! The new generations we're getting are MASSIVE! Not to mention, it's really different since before they'd have to wait 6 weeks before getting a new generation for Mandarin. I don't think they fully know how to handle this, but this is the Lord's work and I know He's watching over and guiding it. I have felt this over and over again this last week. My companion and I have struggled greatly, though we're getting along great now but it's taken a lot of long talks and many, many tears. I think we've both hit rock bottom so now we're having to rely on each other to be built up, which is the best thing for us. But I've also been so blessed this last week. The gift of tongues is real! In every lesson the last couple weeks, I have prepared as best I could but I get into the lesson and I never feel prepared but I've been able to be a conduit for Heavenly Father and the Spirit. It's incredible. To have the opportunity to do this work is amazing. It's like Elder Holland said in his talk a couple weeks ago, this is the greatest time to be a missionary. We must've done something really incredible in the pre-mortal existence to have the opportunity to live now, but even more to SERVE now! I don't know why I've been so blessed, but my teacher even pointed out after our lesson last Thursday that the gift of tongues is real. He said he could understand me better than before, I didn't stutter, I said things clearly and matter-of-factly, and it was exactly what he needed to hear when I said it, and this was just me bearing my testimony. This gift is so real and so incredible! I felt it again last night as I was again teaching , because he paired my companion with one of our tri-panionship and asked me to try to commit him to baptism and I could feel the Spirit so strong and I would struggle for a word and it would suddenly be there. It's true that the work here is incredible. The people here are incredible. I am mystified by our younger generations and their commitments to this mission and to their languages. They're only 2-4 weeks in and have already committed to SYL and the newest generation even did "Silent Sunday" this past Sunday. I just learned about it but basically it's a complete English fast, you don't speak any language but the one you're called to serve. They are incredible and I am in awe of the people I get to work with here, the Elders and Sisters in my district, my companion, my roommates, the others in my generation, and especially these younger generations. They have 9 weeks to learn this language and many of them are not wasting a single second of it. It's incredible what they do and I just hope I can learn from them and be able to be more like the people I'm surrounded with daily. I don't know why I've been so blessed to have this gospel or why I get to have this opportunity but I'm tired of wasting it. I also got Kelby and Penny's letters about Kelby and Erron's missions. I'm so excited for them, they will make incredible missionaries. This is truly a great time to be a missionary. And even though the MTC is a pressure cooker, we just have to make it through and find ways to focus outside ourselves because once we're in the field, we'll be too busy focusing on our investigators to even try to focus on ourselves. The work Heavenly Father is doing to help his work along is also incredible, if you don't believe me, just ask Riley. The stories he's shared with me as he's prepared for his mission remind me of many of my amazing stories as I was preparing to come here. Heavenly Father's hand is in this work! I even got a letter from a friend this week! It was amazing to get it and feel her love! I'm constantly amazed by the love and support I receive here, from those around me and those I've left at home! I have no words for the gratitude and love I feel. I know people are praying for me, people I know, and people who are hoping that I will be able to touch the hearts of their families, even though they don't know it's me. I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for his love and strength. I'm so grateful for the Atonement in my life. It's real! He has strengthened me so much just this last week alone. There were seriously moments I considered just throwing in the towel and coming home but this is where I'm supposed to be, I felt that on Sunday. This work is incredible, the scriptures are incredible! There is no greater work on this earth than Heavenly Father's work. I'm so grateful to be a part of it, to feel it and have a hand in this work. It's amazing how it is progressing! We got around 30 new people in the youngest generation on Wednesday, my generation has 18 people, thats about 1.5 more! This work is progressing, the stone cut out of the mountain is gaining so much momentum and there's so much power that Heavenly Father is trusting this very important work to 19 year olds. There truly is strength and power in simplicity and weakness, that's why he sends missionaries so young because we have more power when we are weak, which we really are. We aren't much better than Joseph Smith but that's why there's power, because the Holy Ghost is better able to work through us. I'm so grateful for this gospel in my life, for the chance I have to share it with the people of Taiwan, and for the amazing examples and strengths I have in my life. I have no words for it, my heart has been brimming over with love and gratitude these last few days for my Heavenly Father. It's truly incredible! Anywho, I should go... Until next Tuesday... Wo ai nimen! Sister Thomsen Tang Jiemei

1/22/13

Nimen hao! Wo ai nimen! I've been working on a real letter but since time is so limited and I have no focus to get that kind of thing done on Preparation day, it's only about halfway done. Sorry, I know I'm a slacker. Today didn't help since I stayed up until one helping our older generation finish packing since they left at 8 this morning. We also get a new generation tomorrow of somewhere around 30 people, I can't remember the exact number. 4 of them are sisters and I'm so excited to meet them! It's crazy to think I'm now the older generation, they'll look to me for an example and to answer questions. I can't tell them I'd just go ask one of our older generation anymore since we ARE the older generation now... It puts more demands on my Chinese I feel like, since if we don't act like we're learning, they wont take it seriously. Holy cow, one of our sisters had 2 70-pound bags. Please don't do that to me! Makes me much more grateful for my small wardrobe, less decisions and chance of having such heavy bags... As for this week, the best part was Elder Holland! Yes, I got to hear Elder Holland, in person! It was so incredible, I wish I had more words for it. Apparently one of their biggest concerns right now is the Returned Missionaries falling away from the church after their missions, which is actually why Preach My Gospel was created, to better convert the missionaries, which helps us better learn how to fulfill our purpose by inviting others to come to Christ, since you can't do it unless you yourself are not converted. President Monson is actually very concerned with this, which is why he assigned the committee, which included Elder Holland, to create Preach My Gospel. It's such an amazing book but hearing that also made me realize how important it is and helped me have more of a desire to study it and learn everything I can from it. We're constantly told we should come home with ourselves being our strongest converts to the Church, which is my goal. I can't be an example to others unless I myself have undergone the process and realized how important this work truly is. I love this work, I have such a strong love for and testimony of this work. I know I say it every week but we save lives here. This is an eternal work, and one of the most important works I'll ever do on this Earth, second only to having a family. I'm so excited every time I see people choose to come to Christ, people who have a thirst for this knowledge and we can bring it to them! There's power in that. We KNOW God loves us, that He hears our prayers and answers them. So few people know or believe this and we need to share it with them, not be so selfish with the knowledge. We know Christ suffered for US. If there was only one person on this Earth who needed the Atonement, He would've completed it anyway, for that ONE soul. Every soul is important to Him and Heavenly Father and it's just incredible. I have such a love for this gospel, for this work, for the scriptures, and most of all for my Father and Savior that I've never had before. This church is TRUE. If you don't know that, please, take the time to read the Book of Mormon, to pray about it. If there's anything you don't know for yourself, follow it, pray about it, and you will receive your own testimony and please do. You're too important to not know. I'm learning more and more here the worth of a single soul, the worth of my soul. I'm learning how to overcome the pains of the past and to move on. It's incredible what Heavenly Father can and will do when we only let Him... Sorry, I got "preachy" again but this is truly my life. I have such a love for everyone and everything in this church. I don't know what I'd do without it but I know who I was without it but who I am with it is sooo much better. I had something else interesting to say but I seem to have forgotten it again... So I guess until next week... Zai jian! Wo ai nimen! Sister Thomsen Tang Jiemei