It's a brave new world

And by brave new world I mean I have eaten a lot of strange things:

Kung Pao Frog (surprisingly good other than the lots of small bones).

Octopus tentacle pizza (not good even after taking off the tentacles).

Oyster (that was actually super delicious and a little bit spicy).

And I don't have a ton more time here but that's ok. I love you all.

Also like a kajillion people have asked us if our church has polygamy because of some kind of dumb news or dumb person (who is also a beloved child of God) who says they are Mormon but has 5 wives -________- But we've straightened them out. Then they're even more surprised when my 1 mom gave birth to 6 kids haha.

This week we've met a ton of college students who want to know the meaning of life and are reading the Book of Mormon to find out. 

We were knocking doors on Sunday night and went into this small alleyway that had junk everywhere (hello Hoarders episode) and smelled bad and there was one door that had no doorbell and no door, just a longer room/entranceway that had more junk and led to other doorways and a dog in a basket hung up in midair. We stood there for about 20 seconds when the dad and the kids came out. The dad said he used to be Christian but stopped going to church for a long time. He said he was busy and walked away to fix a computer. But the 3 kids who were standing with him stayed and talked to us. They were really interested in the free English class we teach and the free math class our member teaches (I think because they looked like they didn't have money to pay for buxiban/tutors). We stayed and taught them a little and we prayed, they prayed, and talked about their older brother who died when he was a baby and they all dream about him, and they all wanted their own tracts and pictures of Jesus, and we are going back next Saturday. The 9 year old girl said she was going to "Xia ci wo hui qing ni men chi tang guo." "Next time I'm going to treat you to candy!" I know that God loves us and loves them and I hope that their mom and dad will also be interested in learning more!

I love you all and I know God loves you and is watching over you and I know you have trials and hard times but I know God cries with you and laughs with you. If you get to know Him you will feel His helping hand in the hardest times.

Love,
Sister Perkins

Awkward English

Monday - Got laughed at by a man (who told us that he doesn't believe in God, there must not be very many people who accept us because everyone is Buddhist and baibai's) because we told him that not only do people agree to meet with us and learn more and come to church, but people agree to quit drinking, smoking, come to church every Sunday, and read the Book of Mormon and then agree to be baptized. He laughed so hard and said, "Does ANYONE join your church?" We told him yes, he sobered up and took a Book of Mormon and agreed to go to church on Sunday near where he lived. Haha, joke's on him:)

Tuesday - got fang'd (our investigator didn't show up). So we went knocking some doors instead, asking people to listen about Jesus Christ and telling them about what a boss he is. We got probably about 50 doors slammed in our face when one of the last doors a 14 year old boy came out. (Let me just mention, it was also pouring rain and freezing cold and I had a raincoat on, an umbrella, and these cool plastic things that you put over your shoes so they don't get wet and me and my companion looked like the 'monster' at the volcano in the Mary Kate and Ashley Twin Detective Agency. If you don't know what that is, look it up.) We shared about God, how He loves us and is the best "Dad" in the universe. We shared about how He can come to know God through the Book of Mormon and build their relationship through prayer. He didn't say much but he agreed to pray. We asked how he felt and he felt good. Reached into the plastic bag surrounding my bag, whipped out a baptismal planner and out there in the rain under our umbrellas, we set a baptismal date - if he comes to know this is true through reading and praying and attending church, then he will be baptized on that date. We met with him again on Friday night to bring him a copy of the Book of Mormon and share about Joseph Smith. After we shared Joseph Smith's experience, we asked him how he felt about it and he said he believes it could've happened! Such a miracle! We're meeting again with him tonight.

Wednesday - We had a little crazy less active member (doesn't come to church anymore) talk to us about psychics, roses blooming and perfume, Jesus Christ going to China, and aliens with big heads and small bodies. So that was fun. And we had English class, now we teach middle level, so much more fun! We had 22 students and everyone was involved and did the activities and our spiritual thought at the end was about directions (that is what we learned in class) and about how God can help us find direction in our lives. And some students after class came up and wanted to learn more about God and wanted their own copies of the Book of Mormon, so cool!

Thursday - Had the most delicious and also smallest serving of Mexican food ever. So I was hungry all night, but it was amazing. 

Friday - Met with an Atheist who agreed to read the Book of Mormon, prayed, and agreed to come to church and set a baptismal date! 

Saturday - Rained all day again. Found a mom who was willing to pray, read the Book of Mormon, and meet with us next week.

Sunday - The Atheist came to church! But we were already in classes and all the rooms had people and he didn't know where to go and there wasn't anyone in the hall to ask, so he left :( But he came! And he said he will for sure come next Sunday! 

So this week was a week chalk-full of miracles and my stomach was chalk-empty most of the time. But it was great:) Oh! And we had interviews with our mission president and that was super fun too. Also I taught my first lesson in English to a guy named Jeffrey. We started talking to him in Chinese, then he said, "Sorry, I grew up in Oklahoma, my Chinese isn't good." He invited us to come back another time because he felt sorry for us but didn't have any interest. After we shared how Christ helped us get through our hard times and how he can know for himself, he agreed to let us come back and set a date and it was so awkward and I realized that I can't speak English at all and that I'm awkward and I will probably only speak in Chinese for the rest of my life. That is all.

I love you!

Sister Perkins

Creepy McCreepsters

So this week was pretty creepy, not gonna lie. I didn't realize how crazy missionary work was until this week when it was the opposite of miracles that happened -__-. So missionaries go out to talk to random people, invite people to our church, set up times to meet with randoms, give our number out to strangers, and usually you only hear about the miracles that happen from those things, someone calls, said they prayed and now want to be baptized. This week we saw miracles too, but 2 really weird things happened. 

So do you remember when I wrote about that weird Pakistani guy who asked me to be his girlfriend/marry him, and another time found us and asked for our phone number and when could he meet with us, and another time disrupted our lesson about the Plan of Salvation? Well, we were at our English Class meeting on Wednesday when who shows up? Ali. He came in and sat down and I was like -____________- ^1000000. Then we went downstairs to teach our class and he followed us, there was no one down there so we promptly went back up the other staircase, then we found some of our elders and they caught him and were so smooth and made him go to their class. 

Situation 2: Sunday morning we got a text that said can you come out and meet in the morning? The text was sent at 4:50am. Then we called, asked who it was and said we had church and invited him. He said he met with missionaries in XinZhu before, like in June, so we set up a time to meet with him. Then he called back again and asked if Chen Jie Mei was here (she was my trainer) and I told him that she moved to Taipei. He asked if I was Taiwanese or American, I told him American and then he asked if my hair was blonde, I said no and he said good. Then he asked how old I was, was I also 20? Creeper alerts. Then he said 20 is good enough. So I hung up and we didn't answer our phone again. Then that night he texted and said, "Sorry, we're still in TaoYuan (about an hour away) eating, do you think you could come up here to this address and meet with us? Also, I like the night life and to listen to waves at the beach." Anyway. Creepy McCreepster. So that's that.

In other news. This week we found 6 new investigators! And one of our recent converts (recently got baptized) came out to do missionary work with us for 4 hours on Saturday! 

And we were knocking doors in this one area, and for about 2 hours no one let us in. We get to one of the last doors and knock and a 19 year old opens the door. We chatted with her, then her older sister (mistakenly thinking we were her customers) came out and started chatting with us. We asked if she believed in God, she said yes. (Not many people say that right off the bat.) We asked why and she replied, "I got home a month ago from living in America and I lived with a Mormon family in Idaho." WHAT?? So cool! So we said that we are Mormon asked her if she had prayed and she said she used to pray and read the Book of Mormon with them everyday and she believes. Before we could talk more, her customer came but she gave us her phone number, said she'd like her own copy of the Book of Mormon and gave us her address! So cool! God knows His lambs and as missionaries it is our job to find them and bring them back to His fold. 

I know God loves us. I know He knows us individually. I know I don't have to see him to know He's there. Just like I haven't seen the wind, I know wind is real because I feel it. I know God is real because I feel it. And it is the best feeling in the world. 

Love,

Sister Perkins

"Of Short Stature"

Ok, I'm sorry. But this email is going to be super short. First off, I have like no time left here. Second, I am behind by a week in my journal so I don't even remember what happened this week...so I'll update y'all more on that next week.

Oh, we went hiking last week and it was so fun and this week we're going to the beach!

One of my most hated words in this world now is, "Yuan Fen" or "Destiny".

So many people meet with us once, or we meet them on the street, introduce them to the Book of Mormon and praying and they say they feel really good inside and they want to feel it more. And then when we ask for their number or if we can set up a time to meet with them, they say, "If this is really God's plan, I want to see if destiny will happen and we will actually meet again." -_________________________________________- I always say, "Do you think we can make destiny happen by having you give us your number?" It works sometimes. 

And this weekend, super special, Elder Holland, President Hallstrom, and President Wilson and their wives came and spoke to us (they are the Mormon equivalent of celebrities, look them up). I learned so much. And something that Elder Holland said was great, he said that if we don't have testimonies of our own to share or if we are doubting, lean on his testimony and the testimony of all those who have given up their lives for this. Even if I didn't feel God's love and His spirit everytime I prayed and read the Book of Mormon, I know that there wouldn't be hundreds of people who give up their lives (literally) or their lives (time) to serve God if it wasn't real. I know that God lives and loves us. I know that "God wants us to draw near to Him so He can draw near to us". Draw near to Him and He will show you His hand in your life.

I love you!
Sister Perkins

"Forever and Ever You'll Be in My Heart"

And forever and ever I'll be in the heart of XinZhu. It's a new transfer and I'm still in XinZhu with Sister Eley! One of our roommates went home, so we got a new roommate, super exciting. 

This week was full of fun and miracles and funny things. 

Last week on the way home from buying groceries I wiped out. I was riding my bike and didn't anticipate this tile surface to be that slippery and turned in and wiped out. (I don't know why I didn't think it was going to be slippery, it had been raining for ages -___- haha.) Luckily with my super honed ninja skills I managed to save my BianDang (lunch) and half gallon of milk. Just my bike basket fell off. 

First Times: 

First time someone asked more in depth about our free English class (how do we separate classes, is there a textbook, is it really free?) and when we explained that we teach English that we normally use in life and not from the Bible he was disappointed and said, "Aww, I like to learn about Jesus." So we told him we have a spiritual thought, shared with him on the street, and set a baptismal date on the street with him. So cool!

First time my missionary nametag flew off when I was riding my bike (obviously I am so speedy) and about 5 cars ran over it before I could get to it (luckily it was pretty unscathed. Just one tiny little hole).

First time when someone said, "Every church is cha bu duo. Every church is almost the same," that I said, "Yes, they are all cha bu duo. They are almost the same. But the little part that isn't the same is that we have the Priesthood Authority and power from God and that makes a big difference." They slammed the door on us...haha. 

First time on my mission that a man who has been less active for 30+ years has come back to church after 1 time meeting with him.

First time I rode in a police car.

(^we were helping this girl from Xi'an China carry her stuff to her dorm at college and we all got lost so campus security drove us to her dorm. And so when we got there she said, Wait! Wait! And got us all little presents: bobblehead terracotta warriors. so cute! And we said we had a present to give her and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon:)

First time we were riding our bikes feeling discouraged (ok that has happened before) but the first time that a random man on a moped slowed down as he rode by us, and cigarette in his fist-pumping hand, yelled, "Jia You! Jia You!" Before zooming off into the distance. (Jia you literally means add oil. Like an encouraging keep it up!)

Just like that cigarette fist-pumping man (only without the cigarette and not on a moped and not a man) I say to all of you, "Jia You!" Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes we don't know what to do. Sometimes it feels like no one understands us. Sometimes it feels like we're alone. Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard we work or what we do it makes no difference. But I testify and promise that it'll be ok. We just have to jia you, we just have to keep going and working hard. If we do our best, that's enough. That's all we can give. Sometimes our best may not seem good enough. But I also testify that through Christ all things are possible. Through relying on him by praying or reading scriptures, He can make up the difference. He will carry us when we can't carry ourselves. I know that each of you can feel the power of God's love more in your lives and that each of you aren't just able to get his help, but you are entitled to it. You are His child, all you need do is ask.

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Perkins

ps. I'm so sorry I forgot to wish all of you a Happy Groundhog's Day!

Reject With Respect

So this week was marked with rejection. 

Rejected by tons of people as we knocked their doors and invited them to learn about the blessings Christ can bring to everyone. Rejected as we tried to chat with people on the street. Rejected by slammed doors. Rejected by people waving us off with their hands. Rejected by old people. Rejected by a 6 year old who wouldn't even look at us. Rejected by Buddhists. Rejected by Catholics. Rejected by Mormons. 

Luckily my companion and I were able to laugh through the rejection (although we were a little sad that all those people are missing out on the blessings of the everlasting gospel of Christ). The worst rejection was when someone was excited to read the book of Mormon then when we met with her, spent the whole time telling us about how Joseph Smith was a fraud and she told us how we're wasting our time and we're under the influence of Satan -___- I was like, it's ok to reject us. It happens every day. But at least reject with respect. 

Funniest rejection: We were going through the list for our church ward/congregation and found someone who we didn't know so we called, the number was kong hao (not a real phone number? I don't know how to say it in English.) so we decided to visit their house. We went and rang the doorbell. A girl came to the door, said oh, then said she'd get her mom. We wait for 5 minutes and no one came. So we rang the doorbell again and waited while my companion, Sister Eley, was playing with their dog. After about a minute or two, we hear an adult man on the phone calling the cops on two Wai Guo Ren (foreigners) and so we ran out the gate and jumped on our bikes (my bike basket was broken from falling down in the rain) and my basket tipped over and was held on by one zip tie as we biked away as fast as we could. Hahaha, fun times.

And a lot of times we like to have members come with us to do missionary work, it is more effective and they get blessings, but a lot of them say they're too busy to come with us (I believe that a lot of people are busy). So our Elders always say, "If you won't help us ____ (knock doors, work, contact, teach lessons), we'll baptize someone who will!" And the person who was baptized last week did that with us this week! She came in the freezing cold rain for 1.5 hours to knock doors and I felt kind of bad because we didn't have that much success, but afterward she said she wants to come with us after church every Sunday to do missionary work! So cool!

I love you all and hope that your week was as full of sumptuous food as mine was and filled with less time outside in the cold rain.

Love,

Sister Perkins

ps. I'm sorry if this sounds complain-y, I don't feel complain-y in my heart. We worked hard this past week and God blessed us with 2 new investigators and a baptism!

Miracle of the Fish

This week we saw loads of miracles. This GuoNian we found more investigators than the last 2 weeks combined! (Granted, we didn't find many investigators the past two weeks, but still, a miracle.) 

Good news! I didn't gain tons of weight! Bad news - the few meals when we weren't qing'd (invited for dinner or lunch) we starved because literally NO restaurants were open. For 5 days. It is like a super kuazhang (exaggerated) Christmas. NOTHING - not even the Taiwanese equivalent of Denny's was open...what is this world coming to?

So there has been an investigator that we have been working with for 4 months who ALWAYS has problems. And when we resolve a question, she has a new one come up. And it has been going this way for a long time even though she has known for 3 months that the Book of Mormon is true -___-. She has always wanted to keep going to her Christian church and not really been committed. But she REALLY wanted to be baptized and also partake of the blessings of the temple and so she had one baptismal interview that she didn't pass because she was trying to negotiate how many Sundays a year she could go to her other Christian church. We told her she had to be committed and that if she wasn't willing to make a choice, we would have to stop teaching her. That night she called and said she wanted to be baptized on Tuesday. So on Monday she had her interview, and yesterday she was baptized!! Such a miracle!

Since we were invited to carry around all of our scriptures my first transfer here, I always carry my Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and my Chinese Bible that I highlighted some favorite scriptures. And this past week there was this door we knocked that a Christian lady answered and she wasn't really willing to talk to us because "we wrote our own bible". But when we pulled out the Bible and showed her that it was the same, but that the Book of Mormon is ANOTHER testament of Christ, she agreed to take it and seemed really grateful to be able to learn more about Christ and she agreed to set up another time to meet with us! So cool. I love helping people realize that we really are Christians.

This week I learned that I need to be more humble. Surprising, I know -__-. Hahaha just kidding. I just didn't want to admit it until now. So I'll work on that. And our mission has a vision to "Reach Towards Heaven". To do that I am going to focus on loving. Loving my companion, loving the people: members, investigators, less actives. And not just loving them. But showing my love through actions, words, and deeds. I hope that by doing this I can reach towards heaven and help them feel God's love.

Ok I apologize that this was especially churchy (well, not really apologize, but sorry if you were expecting a super big laugh.

MIRACLE!!!! THIS IS BIG NEWS FOLKS! I FORGOT!

The first time I had fish here, it was gross. Wanted to vomit.

The first time I had fish for guo nian (Chinese New Year) I was able to eat it and keep it down. 

The first time I had spicy fish for guo nian, I was able to eat it and I loved it. 

God has helped me love fish. That was something I thought could never ever ever happen.

With God, nothing is impossible.

Philippians 4:13.

Love,

Sister Perkins