Sister Museus, October 11, 2010

Hey Everyone, It was so good to hear from those who wrote me this week. It has been a very bumpy roller coaster ride. We were so close to having some baptisms before Sister Roper and I left Huwei (since we received a call from our President Bishop that they would be closing the area for a while since very few sisters will be coming for the new few months. It was still sad to receive this news since no missionary wants to close their area and have over their investigators and area book to the elders. We ended up having no success in our last move-call together in Huwei, however, we planted many seeds in many hearts and several of them will get baptized in the new few months after they resolve some issues such as Xiao Ba (she told us she's getting married in November and will get baptized in December after her college class ends since it gets in the way of attending church for her). In addition, Linda will soon get baptized after she continues to gain a testimony and can answer the baptism questions without any doubts. Moreover, Sister Ji who I contacted and added will also get baptized in the near future. She is going through a hard time with her husband, but feels that the church makes her feel like she is home and is saving a seat for her. She came to part of General Conference and brought her cute son as well. In addition, others such as Sister Liao will also get baptized after she fixes her working schedule so she can always come to church. She was actually influenced by her "big boss" who started the "Sunrider" company and is a Mormon. Sister Liao started investigating the church after she noticed that her boss was a Mormon. We also have a family that we've been working with that we handed off to the elders and I can as well see them getting baptized and going to the temple together as a family. At first it was very difficult for me and Sister Roper to accept that we did not have any baptisms during this move-call (and especially since it was Sister Roper's last move-call and the only move-call where she did not baptize). However, we both learned how to be more diligent, worthy, and obedient missionaries. We also saw many tender mercies that took place. In addition, for me I learned how to love my mission. It was very difficult to drop off Sister Roper at the mission home and say goodbye to her. We actually pulled an all-nighter as we talked and talked to each other about everything. We then got up at 5:30 am to catch an early train to Taichung so we could spend some time in the big city and she could show me around since my area (Taiping) covers a lot of Taichung). We ate a delicious bakery that had cranberries and cream cheese in the middle. Sister Roper loved the bread so much she wanted to go later before she headed back for the U.S. Afterwards, we spent an hour talking to others in the mission home until my new companion arrived. It was and still is very difficult for me to say goodbye to a great companion that I had for 3 months. Sister Roper helped me see the positive in everything and everyone. She made sure to tell me that every person I meet is a golden investigator and a child of God who needed and must hear the gospel. My first companion made missionary work so stressful, but Sister Roper helped me enjoy every minute of it even through the rainy and deary days when everyone was missing their appointments and no one was on the road to contact. I will always be grateful for such a fun, loving, and very funny companion. Sister Roper could get me to laugh at anything no matter what mood I was in. She reminds me so much of Morgan Hill in so many ways, since they see life in a positive light and make everything very funny. In addition, she has such an amazing voice that I would always ask her to sing some of my favorite hymns. Hearing her sing the hymns so well always brought the spirit and made me think of all of you and dad. Don't be too surprised if she gives you all a call at the house and Alex as well. Sister Roper wanted to let you know how I am doing through her and wanted to get some great music from Alex (since Alex and Sister Roper have very similar tastes in music). I hope this is okay with you family and doesn't make you too upset to hear from someone that I just served with. She may not call for a month or so since she will be visiting her family in Ohio, California, and be taking a vacation in Hawaii with her dad. Mom, I've mentioned your gourmet food so much that Sister Roper is dying to eat some of it; maybe you could invite her over for dinner and she could share some of the fun experiences we had together (but be careful because she doesn't eat meat, except for fish but she told me she will probably start eating meat again since she does miss it). I hope this won't be bothersome to any of you, but if you do end up talking or meeting with her you will be able to hear first hand experience of what I've been doing on my mission. Well, General Conference was really amazing to watch on Saturday and Sunday the past weekend. There were so many good talks given by the prophet and other servants of the Lord. There were so many of them that reminded me of so many of you that needed to hear it. I hope each and every one of you took the time to watch and listen to them and if you didn't you will read them in the "Ensign" this coming month. What a privilege it is to hear from them every 6 months and I wish I could hear from them more often. The words they speak to each of us is help guide and direct us in this frightening world. Some other great things that happened the past week was the generosity shown by so many members in the Huwei ward. On Tuesday and Friday night two of my favorite members took Sister Roper and I to eat at some very lovely restaurants that served delicious food. I was able to have some yummy lemon chicken one night and the other I had some yummy bacon and onion alfredo pasta. I wasn't use to eating such good food that it didn't settle well with my stomach both times, but it was to die for good. In addition, two weeks before that the Relief Society president and her husband took us to a hot pot place where you add whatever vegetables and meat you want to cook in your own personal pot of broth. We also ate a lot of desserts with them since it was an "all you can eat place". Moreover, we received delicious brownies from a white family in the ward (which were so good since you cannot find brownies here in Taiwan unless you by the mix at "Cosco") and several other gifts from the ward. We also took several pictures with them and gave out our contact information. All of them were grateful for our service and were sad to see that there would be not sisters in Huwei for a while. Now I am in Taiping with a new companion named Sister Liuo who is a local missionary (from Taiwan). She is really nice and can help me increase my Chinese skills. I was lucky get a local who speaks really good English and has more of an American culture, but she does have diabetes so I will have to checkup with her on it and makes sure she is following the guide lines to keep her blood sugar at a good level. Sister Liuo actually was in Huwei before me and was companions with my trainer, Sister Anderson. The world is such a small place. In addition, I'm following Sister Roper's footsteps since she started her mission in Taiping and struggled with her first companion and grew to love her mission with her second companion she also had for two move-calls. Anyways, I love you all and it was so good to hear from you. Thank you Mom for keeping me updated on things and answering my questions that I sent. I'm glad you had a fun time in Cali with John. Please continue to take care of Mama Norma and I can't wait to bake yummy pies with you! John, thanks for the sweet email and I'm glad you enjoyed my letter. Thank you for always pampering and spoiling my mom too much, I wish I had someone who would buy me such nice rings :). Whit, you sound quite busy, but thanks for taking the time to write me this week. Keep me updated with your school work and nursing. Thanks for giving me the deets on Amanda (as well as Mom doing that for me too). I love you all and continue to pray for you daily. I miss you and can't wait to see you again! Love you Always,Sister Museus