Christmas and the Great Phone Call, December 27, 2010

Hello Dearly Missed Family (who none of you wrote me this week), I thought I made it clear that I wanted you all to write me each week. I didn't receive one email this week except from John wearing his Chinese hat (I loved it John). I will forgive you all this week, but please write me next week. I sent you all a bunch of pictures. However, some of the pictures are not working and I think Mom, Ash, and someone else's mail box is too full since it said a email full of pictures failed. Since it is taking so long I promise to send the rest of the pictures next week: more from the Christmas activity, opening Christmas presents, and the Christmas baptism. It was so great to talk to all of you Christmas night (for me). I apologize for having to call you all so early. Mom, I apologize if it sounded like I didn't want to talk to you I was just afraid that everyone wasn't with you since I knew I could only make one phone call. I have to admit that it felt like I had talked to all of you for only 10 minutes and for an hour. After I got off the phone with you it hit me hard on how much I miss you all again. I can't look forward to the Christmas phone call anymore, but don't worry I have already found out that in a little over 4 months I can call of you again. I will definitely be counting down the days until I can talk to all of you again. I miss you all so much. It almost felt like I was in a dream as I was talking to all of you since I haven't heard your voices for so long. I just glad that you are all real and it's not some kind of dream that I am longing for. I do have the best family in the world. First off, the Christmas activity was Thursday was really fun. Our entire mission went to a big Buddha statue and took some mission pictures. Afterwards, we went to the best shopping place ever. Everything there was handmade from Taiwan. In addition, the shopping area had great historical sites and little miaos (Buddhist temples) that you could go and see (and each of them have some historical significance to them). I wasn't able to visit all of the great sites since they only gave us two hours and I was having too much fun shopping and looking around. Later, we visited another historical Buddhist temple and then went to a nice buffet for dinner. The food was pretty good, but I always prefers Mom's extravagant food over anything. Later, we all met back at the church near the mission home and had a Christmas devotional together that was full of reflections from missionaries leaving, introductions onm new missionaries, and Christmas thoughts from the mission president and his wife, and great Christmas music. Before we left the mission president and his wife gave each some Christmas candy and a booklet full of all of the missionaries "You Banfa/Miracle" stories. (I have to admit that I accidently left behind the amazing missionary blanket since I was having some of my old companions sign it. Don't worry though because a missionary is giving it back to me tomorrow. I have dearly missed that blanket for the past few nights since it kept me so warm and it helped me feel so loved from all of you (since I know it was made and sent with love). On Friday (Christmas Eve), I made my companion and I some yummy eggnog that turned out to taste like a mixture of rice pudding and eggnog (since I overcooked the eggs, I already told you about this story). However, it was still very delicious and I made it again today since I needed to send some to a member who borrowed me some vanilla. I have to admit that the eggnog is still a little lumpy, but better than last times. On Christmas Day I was able to open all of you great gifts in the morning (since the package arrived Christmas Eve). I even made sure that I was wearing the PJ's Becky and Cheryl sent me, and my hair and make-up was done before I opened the gifts. (I did make one mistake by eating my breakfast while opening the gifts than before I opened the gifts). You see, I was still trying to carry on the Christmas traditions. I even had the yummy yogurt cranberry bread for dinner (like Christmas bread, but still not as good as Mom's Christmas bread....maybe you will make it for me when I return home Mom). I loved each of your gifts. The camera will come in handy as I record some of my experiences here and will send them to all of you. I also loved the scarf Mom and John and I needed a brown one to match some of my outfits too; it will definitely keep me more warm. I love the white jacket Alex and Ash and it will also keep me warm. I have already worn it twice since it's getting pretty cold here. I loved the perfume Paige and needed some more Alien since mine is almost gone. I started to use it less since it was about gone, but now I don't need to worry. I love Alien Paige, but you should have not spent that much money since I know that perfume is expensive. But thank you for thinking of me and sending something that will help me feel more clean and descent. Cole, I loved the necklace and will definitely wear it. I love the footprints poem and it reminds so much of Dad and how close he is to all of us. Whit, what a great idea to send a frame full of digital pictures. I love it and it often gets me distracted as I look at the fun pictures. Where were the pose pictures taken, Phoenix? Who took the pictures? I am guessing they're from Phoenix since Johnny, Jessica, and Ted are all in them. Thank you all for the lovely gifts (you should have not giving me so much). I love you all so much and I'm excited that you are all coming to Taiwan to pick me up. You will need to bring a lot of suitcases since I will need some help bringing all of you great gifts home and some of the stuff I bought you all. Please make sure to tell the exact day USU starts school so I can talk to my mission president about you all coming to Taiwan. Later on Christmas Day we had a "white" Christmas as Sister Lin was baptized by her own father. It was a neat experience to see this take place (and how happy I am that dad was able to baptize all of us). It's amazing to realize that my companion and I have helped three people get baptized during this month (the most baptisms in our entire zone) and two of them helped complete more of a family. Just like our family I want to complete ours even more. That is why I will be after John, Charles, and those who are less-active in our family (these include those who are not progressing by not reading and praying every day, and going to church each week for 3 hours). I want our family to be eternal and complete and it is through this amazing gospel that this can take place. Afterwards, I was able to talk to all of you, which was so very nice. It really helped recharge me for the next 4 months when I can talk to all again. Yesterday, we had church of course and afterwards I talked to a member who takes a mentally handicapped person to church. I thought she was a member, but found out she wasn't and was wondering why she hasn't been baptized. In Taiping, we helped someone who wasn't all there get baptized it was was so special (even though I wasn't there to see it). However, as long as they have the ability to know from right and wrong they can get baptized and should if they have the desire. I explained this to the member and she was so happy that we wanted to teach her (her father and brother are members too). Later, that night we ate dinner at a member's house (that the food was alright) and Sister Cai (the handicapped) came and the member who helps her. It was neat to see her already progressing and being able to answer our questions during a mini-lesson that we taught her. The member even started to cry as she saw that Sister Cai has the desire to get baptized and is progressing in the gospel. The process will be slower with her, but we are excited to be able to teach her and help complete more of her family as well. Today, we are going to go bowling and I will make sure to take the video camera and record the experience so you can all see it. I would have loved to take it to the baptism, but I needed to use a computer to charge it. I failed to mention that on Tuesday was Sisters Exchanges and I went to Beitun, which is right next door to Tanzi. It was with a native named Sister Su (who I already did Sister Exchanges with back in Fengyuan). The exchanges went pretty well, except almost all of our appointments didn't show up. However, it was neat again to see how Sister Su teaches and how she likes to do things. I actually was able to meet the Relief Society president from her ward who gave us a yummy pastry (from Cosco that tasted like apple pie), but it still wasn't as good as Mom's delectable homemade pies. I hope it won't be a bother to ask one of you to send me at least three bottle of the second step of Proactiv (called revitalizing toner and comes in a green bottle in liquid form). I have about a month left of it, but would like some more so my skin keeps pretty clear. However, if this is going to be a bother or a burden don't worry about it and I will try and find something here. But if you can it would help me so much, especially when the humidity starts to come back. I failed to mention that I wanted you all to also watch the Christmas Devotion given by the First Presidency. I was able to watch in Chinese (which was very difficult since they used high-class words). Please take the time to watch it and if you have time please send me the articles from this devotional. Alex, Fluke told me that her mom has been sending you her emails. Will you please send them to me? I would love to here more of what she is doing. I love you all very much. Please continue to write me each week so I can continue moving forward, especially during this time when I miss you all very much. Have a great Happy New Year! Please make some new year resolutions and I will do the same. Move-call is on Saturday and I really hope I stay here in Fengyuan and Tanzi. I really don't like to move and hopefully I can stay with Sister Li since she is very nice. I love you all and have another great holiday together. I hope you celebrate it together! Love you all and miss you! Love You Always,Sister Museus