I started my week at the top of Taiwan (literally) at the Taipei 101 tower, and ended my week in one of the most southern points of our mission. Big news is that transfers came this week, and... dun du du duuuuunnnnn... I'M NOW IN HUALIAN.
Now let me tell you a little about what this means. I have served most of my mission in more city-like areas that haven't been all that pretty. Super awesome areas that I love dearly, but they have been densely populated with malls and businesses and the rest just homes. But, if you were to ask anyone in Taiwan where the most beautiful place is, they will ALL say HuaLian :) Hualian is on the east coast, and is fully equipped with beautiful mountains, rivers, lakes, and the ocean! To say I am pleased is an understatement! It is one of those dream places to serve, and so I truly feel so so blessed to be given the opportunity to work down here!
My new companion's name is Sister Zang, and she is from Taizhong, Taiwan! NATIVE. She is literally the funniest person I have ever met. She got baptized when she was 16 years old, and has such a strong testimony and dedication to the work! She is super hard working and the chattiest native I have ever met! I am happy about this because that just means I get to talk to her 24/7 in Chinese:))) Praying my Chinese will improve a lot this transfer!! She speaks a little English, but it's more like she just throws random English words into her Chinese, so we are all about speaking Chinese over here, I am very very pleased. I love her so much.
I am so excited about serving here in Hualian. The work seems like it may be a little slower here, but I am excited to bring the fire to this new area!
Even with all the excitement of leaving, it truly was so hard to leave ZhongLi. In the past 4.5 months, this sweet place became my home. I have never met better members than the ones there. They were like a family to me. It was also so hard to leave some of our awesome investigators that are all SO CLOSE to baptism! And because I am now literally in China (hah I guess that doesn't really have the same effect being here because China is only a short plane ride away lol..), I won't be able to go up to attend their baptisms:( It is ok though. My old comp, Sister Cooper, is such an awesome missionary and will for sure get 'em all baptized! TEAM JESUS. It is one of those great trusting moments of knowing Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for my mission and I am about to find out more of what that is!
With all of the new changes this week, I don't have too too much to report on. We have a great investigator here in Hualian that we are excited to help get baptized in a few weeks, and are excited to be relying on the Lord a ton to find some more awesome people to teach and baptize!
My thoughts this week were really turned to how personally the Lord knows each of us. He knows us by name, and he knows everything we are going through. No matter what we may think, he has a perfect plan for us and part of that plan includes trials. Without experiences that push us, how could we change? I have definitely learned this principle on my mission. I know we have a loving Father in Heaven, who is always mindful of us. Rely on Him, pray with Him, and trust Him.
I love you all so much and wish you all the best week! I'll just be over here enjoying doing the Lord's work in the most beautiful place ever:) BYE!
xoxo
Sister Richards
Taiwan Taipei Mission
4/F, #24, Lane 183
Jin Hua Street
Taipei, Taiwan 106
1-3- Taibei 101 and weird elders (what's new)
4- the saddest goodbye to my sweet rc jessica
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