Sister Museus, February 21st, 2011

My Eternal and Glorious Family, Oh how I miss each and everyone of you. I still cannot help, but think of you each day as I strive to help people come unto Christ. I hope you all realize the importance of the gospel and strive to make righteous decisions. I strive to not only help my investigators come unto Christ, but my recent converts and less-active members as well. We meet with with several of them each week. Please family, take the time to always read your scriptures, pray, and go to church. It is through these simple things that we can understand more the purpose of our life and strengthen/draw closer to our family. It is through this glorious gospel that we can find eternal joy. I love you all very much and can't wait to see you in 6 months. I know that still seems forever away, but I promise it will faster as you continue to keep the commandments our Father in Heaven has given us. Things are going great back in Taiping. It is still surreal to me to think that I am back in my old area, but this time as the senior companion. It is definitely more stressful being the senior companion, especially with a Taiwanese companion since they don't like to share the work equally. However, Sister Lai has perfect Chinese, which definitely helps when our investigators or members are not understanding what I said or if can't quite understand what they told me. We have already had to work some things out since she likes to spend a lot of time helping our recent converts and less-active members and like to find more people to teach and help our progressing investigators. However, we are finding a balance between the two. Sister Lai also loves using the phones which helps since I will go and contact and intersection for an hour while she uses phones to call all the referrals received, calling our investigators and setting up appointments, etc. Because of our great efforts in talking to everyone and contacting, our zone leaders congratulated us last night for being one of the companionships with the highest adds in a week (59) and investigators with a baptismal goal (68). They wanted to our secret and how I add so many people each day and you know what I told them......it is really all because of Sister Howard (my last companion) who helped learn to love contacting. She helped me realize not only the importance of it, but let me realize (in a funny and serious way) that we are their super heros (we called each other the "Jiaohui Jiejie" or "church sisters" resecuing them and providing them with a much more happy life (and an eternal life). Our zone leaders thought it was pretty funny as I related this to them. In addition, I told them the importance of our attitude towards contacting (since many missionaries here don't like to do it). Sister Howard loves to say that the difference between a trial and an adventure is your attitude and I believe this is definitely true. I am now able to add at least 7 new investigators each day because of Sister Howard's great example and advice. Well, we were suppose to have a baptism this weekend to a highschool girl named Sister Yan, but she slept in instead of going to church (since she didn't get any sleep for 2 days because of a vacation. We even went to her house to pick her up, but she wasn't willing to come claiming she needed more sleep (even though she had already slept for more than 12 hours. They do love their sleep here....a little too much). However, she will get baptized next week along with the bishop's mother. It was a big suprise to all of us that she now wants to get baptized because we helped her resolve her issue with tithing. What a miracle is was to receive this exciting news. I love watching people change for the gospel, especially those who have always been Buddhist or Daoist all their life and completely change their life around for this amazing gospel. I will definitely send you pictures of the baptism when it happens. I apologize for not sending pictures of the baptism from last week, but I forgot my camera. However, I did get some pictures of it and will send them in the mail with some other ones. Mom, it was so good to hear from you again. I'm sorry that you had a bad dream about me. I continually have dreams about all of you as well. Just the other day I had a dream that I came home and we had a wonderful feast and was able to get reunited with all of you, realtives, and many friends. It was definitely hard to wake up and realize that it was a dream. However, I am loving my mission even more and more, but I am also excited to see you all in 6 months. I'm glad to hear that work is keeping you and the family busy. I do miss the snow, but I am glad to hear that you just received a wondeful winter storm.....poor John having to snow blow all the time. I will definitely help him when I return home. It is sooooo good to hear that Cole is blessing the sacrament and going to the temple. I so happy that he continues to make righteous decisions so he can be worthy to do these things and honor the priesthood. Please let him know how very proud I am of him. Let him know that he should get a head start in college and try to get his 2-year degree before he graduates from highschool. I know it's possible and I wish I would have done it (if only my counselor would have told me about it earlier). Mom, let Paige and Ash know that I did send their birthday present in the mail last week to them and I am sending their birthday letters today or tomorrow. Tell them that I am sorry that I send it a bit late. I hope they can forgive me...I've been a bit busy. I'm glad Paige is having fun in Phx. I do wish I was home with you too Mom so I could help you make the delectable birthday cake....oh how much I miss cooking with you and eating your delicious food. I'm glad you all continue to take care of Mama Norma and Papa Jun does as well. I'm glad you were able to spend some time with your friends and go to Cosco (boy do I wish I had one in my area so I could go) and that you were able to go antique shopping (I do love doing that as well). I miss you so much Mom and thank you, thank you for being the lovely mother that you are. I loved the valentinue package you all sent me. Thank you for thinking of me during valentines. I love you all dearly. John, it was so good to hear from you. I'm sorry you've had to snow blow so much. I do love and appreciate you John. Sound Phx trip sounds fun, let me know how it goes. The weather has been pretty cold and rainy here. But, I make sure to bundle up. I do miss your cooking John; save me some of you steak. I love you John and miss you. MIss you all family. Love you always,Sister Museus