How are all of you doing? Well, I ask that, but actually, I know how all of you are doing already. :) Thank you for your emails! They sure make me happy. I got some more letters and the package with the clothes (total surprise) this past week, so thank you for those as well! Yesterday I actually took about a full half an hour to get ready (instead of the usual 10 minutes) and felt like I looked pretty good with my straight hair and my new clothes, so thanks for helping me with my image out here. :)
ANNA! Congratulations, my dear friend! I'd heard about those "yeah, my friend got married suddenly out of the blue while I was on my mission" stories, but it was still a complete, delightful surprise to hear all of the juicy, roommate-chat details. :) Your announcement looks fantastic, you two look so happy, and I'm so excited for you. Where will you be teaching next year? Wow. I really am so happy for you. :)
Anyway, summer's pretty much here. It's so funny to see how different the Taiwanese reaction to summer is from Americans'. In America, everyone goes outside to get some sun. There are lotions you can rub on your skin to make it look more tan. In Taiwan, everyone stays inside to stay white. If staying inside isn't possible, they'll wear long sleeves, scarves, hats that shade their faces... anything to keep from getting "black black," or tan. Oh yeah, and there are "whitening" lotions to help you stay nice and pale. Different standards of beauty, I guess! :)
I thought the kids would like a little update on the food here. Most of it's really really good - I've found that I've changed a little in my preferences, though. I can now eat bell peppers (I'm still not at the point of loving them yet), I really love mushrooms (they have a zillion different kinds that they use here), and I'll just pop cherry tomatoes in my mouth and think it tastes really good (they eat them like any other fruit here). As far as gross foods go.. this week I decided to try "health vinegar" - in addition to having a lot of mushrooms, they have a lot of different vinegars, including some that you can just straight-up drink. Yeah, I drank it all. And yeah, it was gross. :)
Joseph! Have I got the story for you! I was stopped at a stoplight this past week, and I put my hand lightly on the brake. Well, I felt this little pain on my hand so I looked down and saw a leaf. My brain had just processed the thought, "wait, how could a leaf hurt me?" when I realized I had an ENORMOUS PRAYING MANTIS on my hand! Crazy! Well, I was trying to get it off and it was holding on with it's little pincer arms flying everywhere. So I got out a little pamphlet and scooped him onto there (I wish I had had my camera) and then set him on the wall. It was so crazy - I kept looking down at my hand later that day to make sure his bite or pincers or whatever had hurt my hand wasn't poisonous or anything. I still have most of my fingers so I think I'll be fine. :)
I loved hearing about McKenzie's wedding reception! It sounded so magical - I'm going to expect mine to be doubly magical when I get back! Just kidding. :) This past week we had companion exchanges in Hualien and I actually got to attend a wedding reception there. It was so awesome to see friends there (shout-out to Ashley and Kamille!), a few of whom have gotten baptized since I left. The reception was really cute - we all had these little cards with tape on the back where we would write our well-wishes. Then when the bride and groom walked by we'd stick our cards on their clothing. They also had this part where they sat down and had this canopy full of balloons and confetti fall on them. Precious.
People here in Taidong are still awesome, as usual. Funny contacting story - I invited this guy to go to English class on our way to a less active member's house and he said that he didn't have any time (probably the most common form of rejection here other than "my family worships our ancestors"). I must have looked really disappointed because he kept apologizing. THEN when we got to the member's house a man on his motorcycle stopped next to us. I looked up and it was the same guy! In his hand were some little flowers that smell awesome (you put them in your house as like perfume) - he said, "I really am sorry that I can't come, but I really just don't have time. Sorry." And then he sped off! I couldn't believe it. People don't normally give me flowers when they reject me, but still - they're super-nice.l I feel so blessed to be here. :)
Okay, last thing and then I'm OUT (hope all of you kids got that reference) - we have this investigator named Becky. Maybe it's because her name is so similar to mine that I started to love her right when I met her. Or maybe it's just because that's how missionaries normally are with their investigators. :) Anyway, whatever the case, I love her, and want her to get baptized so bad. BUT, she says that she still hasn't "felt" anything. We got a dinner invitation from an awesome family who've been baptized for about 25 years (SUPER-LONG in Taiwan). They invited a family to meet with us there at their house, but the family ended up not being able to come. So we asked if we could invite an investigator to come along. They said yes. My companion and I both thought of Becky. The only problem is that she's really shy, so we were worried about her feeling uncomfortable. But, miracle of miracles, she came! It was so great. The Spirit was so strong in the Tsai family's home - and Becky could feel it. President Tsai asked about Becky's baptismal date - she said it had already passed, and she hadn't set a new one yet. I said, "actually, Becky feels like she hasn't gotten an answer yet. Can you describe how you feel the Holy Ghost?" Then President Tsai said, "how do you feel right now in our home?" She said that she felt really peaceful, really good. He said: "that's the Spirit. That's it." And she understood! We'd try that so many times with her, but it hadn't worked. It took a good, faithful family to love her and to love each other and the Gospel to help her feel the witness of the Holy Ghost. So, when you have missionaries over at your houses, make sure that they can help their investigators feel the Spirit! Talk about the Gospel, how its blessed your life and your family, and they'll feel something. Things still probably won't be easy with Becky, but they'll be a lot easier because of that experience. Pray for her!
Well, time's running out but I just wanted to let you know that I love you and I feel your prayers in my behalf. Oh yeah, and that I'm SO EXCITED to talk to you all in less than a week! You all are the best. Love you!
Love,
Sister Winters
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