Sister Museus, April 18th, 2011

Da Gei He Lovely Family, I miss you all terribly, but I cannot wait to talk to you all on Mother's Day. I am so excited!!! I haven't received any details on when I will call, but it will most likely be on the 7th or 8th of May. In addition, remember that you are 14 hours behind me so it will have to be in the night or in the morning when I call you all. Remember to please be all together again because I can only make one call. Things were a bit rough this week since are progressing investigators aren't doing so well. Sister Zeng (the 9-yr-old) wasn't baptized this weekend because her mother opposes her baptism and so therefore her father doesn't want her too either. However, we "heart attacked" her door and are planning on visiting with her mother on Wednesday (a suprise visit; since we know Sister Zeng will be home and her mom). During our weekly planning session (on Friday), I remembered a similar situation I had in Tanzi where the mother opposed her daughter getting baptized as well. However, we learned she didn't understand what is was and didn't think her daughter was old enough. Nevertheless, Sister Li and I made a calendar of the things Sister Lin was going to do and had the Primary President come over and discuss primary, church, and other activities. Because of our efforts and our Heavenly Father, Sister Lin was baptized on Christmas Day. We are going to try this plan with Sister Zeng and hope and have faith that it will work out. Sister Zeng is an amazing girl and is ready for baptism. When we were heart attacking their door, Sister Zeng saw us and her face completely lit up and gave us a big hug. It's sad seeing these situations and not knowing exactly how things are going to work out. In addition, Sister Lian (the professor) is still struggling with drinking tea every day and on Friday she missed her appointment at her own house. We continually to give her notes each day and gave her some homemade wheat tea (that tastes similar to the tea that she likes) to help overcome this problem. However, we just need to meet with her and make a plan on how she will stop and so she can learn the promise blessings she can have if she stops (but, she is so, so busy with getting her doctorate degree on top of being a professor). We continue to have faith and that somehow she will make some time to meet with us again so we can soon be baptized. We have other great investigators such as Sister Fu (who is from) China, but seems to always feel that she needs to take things really slow. We are still trying to help these kind of investigators realize the importance of baptism and getting baptized now and not clear in the future (since Satan will get to them if the wait). However, I know as we strive to do our best and have faith, Heavenly Father will work some magic. Boy, did I have some fun today during our P-Day. A bunch of other sister missionaries and I went to a hiking in Wufeng to a moutain nicknamed "Apostasy Moutain" because there are literally three different religious buildings by each other on the same mountain: Catholic, Buddhist, Yiguandao (sorry, I don't know the English name to this religion, but this religion is very unique since they believe in 5 gods and one of them is Jesus Christ. In addition, they also worship their creator of this religious and have a huge statue of her in one of their buildings). Anyways, we had a lot of fun visiting these sites, taking fun, unique pictures, etc. Each of the religious buildings were very unique and showed a lot of symbols on what they believed and worshipped. I thought it was funny that the Catholic church had only Asian-looking people with Christ and so did the Buddhist temple with only Asian people with the Buddha. Afterwards, we went and ate at dumpling restuarant (their just like Mom's pop stickers, but you can get them not fried; they love eating these here in Taiwan). However, since I am on a diet I was actually able to eat free since I ate some free corn soup (that tastes like oatmeal). I tried paying for it, but the employees wouldn't let me (even though I was only eating that corn soup and some wheat tea). I would love to send my pictures to you, but I am running out of time today and for some reason this computer isn't allowing me to do it. I promise to send them next week and get some printed off as well. Mom, I'm glad Spring is on its way. I haven't been looking forward to it here since most days I wear my hair up now because of the ever-increasing humidity. You are all going to love the wetness when you get here; suckers, hehe. I wish I was there to help you Mom with the yard work and planting flowers. I actually don't mind doing this stuff and find it rewarding and fun. I hope you can get John or someone to plant a garden for you. If they don't, I promise to do an extra special one next year for you (since I do love fresh veggies and your fresh herbs--oh do I miss you herbs and you delectable/gourmet cooking). I have to admit that I'm glad Paige moved her wedding date back since I did want to be there for this special occasion. However, I hope everything is going alright with her and Charles and his schooling. Also, I'm glad to hear that you had fun in Disneyland with some of the family and the boys. You are a trooper Mom for doing this, but you are right that Disneyland is always magical despite the chaotic noise and the many people. You are very right on getting away in Disneyland with wearing mickey mouse ears (and the only place you can do that). I hope you were able to do this and will send some pics of you fun vacation. I hope the beach was fun as well. Mom, Ash never sent my mission president's message. I will try and talk to him about it, but it would be best if you emailed him about it. Here is more additional information you wanted about Taiwan. Sorry Mom for feeling pressured about this and not giving you more info. Okay, you would all first fly into the Taipei airport: the Taoyuan Zhongzhen Airport (I think I spelled that right, sorry). We would first go to Taipie, then Taichung, then Tainan, and then to Kaoshiung (all of the cities are not spelled right). We should actually spend at least three days in each city (from what my companion and roomies have said). I am thinking maybe 4 days in Taipei and three in the other three cities. They said the best transportation is on the high-speed train and a rental car. When we are changing to a different city we can take the train system. When we are visit different areas in the same area we can take a rental car. I hope this is all the info. you needed to get started Mom. I promise to give you even more info. next week. I don't have much time left. Love you lots. Whit, I will try my best to leave even earlier from my mission, but from the looks of it, it's going to be tough since my mission pres. likes the mission going home at the same time to leave at the same time, but maybe I can get him to do one more week (since I think he can do a month earlier). Love you lots Whit. Keep it going on you school work; you're almost done! Love you all family. Sorry this is so short this week, but it's almost six and that's when P-day ends. Miss and love you all lots. Love you Always,Sister Museus