Everyone's a Hero in Their Own Way!

Hello!!!

This week was pretty great. We had an amazing Superhero themed English Party. It was way fun. I was Batman (Batgirl? Bat-Sister), and Sister Funk was Captain America. The Elders even dressed up under their suits; Clarke Kent style. We played minute to win it games and ate popcicles :)

This week was "move-call" or "transfers". Sister Funk, sadly, got moved away to Tainan. But I'm so happy that she gets to be a Sister Training leader there and be with her old MTC companion. And I'm so happy to welcome Sister Basko to BeiTun. We're going to have a blast this move call; full of miracles :D

This week was awesome, but we were all feeling super tired and worn down, we couldn't figure out why. Then Sister Funk finally realized it was because we didn't have church last week, haha. But it was so true! We didn't have that spiritual boost from church and that re-charge from taking the sacrament. Church has so much power in it! Don't let yourself miss one week! And if you've never been, or haven't in a long time, this is my formal invitation to you. "Come Join with us"! Come to church! It will bring peace and joy to your life.

Love you all!!!

-Sister Biancardi

The Boy Who Cried Typhoon!

Hello!!

This week we had some great opportunities. One was Zone Conference; all the missionaries in this part of the mission got together and had some training/presentations. It was pretty great. And it was so fun seeing everyone. We realized all the sisters from our MTC group were there! (Except Sister Larson who went to England - I love you Sister Larson! We were thinking of you!) It was super cool.

Then on Saturday night a Typhoon started coming (just heavy rain at first - not dangerous). We were in a late lesson at the chapel and realized it was POURING just dumping buckets. We didn't have any rain gear... But! We had to wait for the bus to get home. So me and Sister Funk just held hands and marched out into the storm. In about 60 seconds everything was soaked through, haha. 

It was so fun. At the bus stop someone offered us an umbrella, but it was too late; we didn't bother. When we got on the bus it stopped raining (typical). The next day I had to blow dry everything that was in my bag, including my Chinese flash cards, my money, and my white handbook, haha. It was sure an adventure to remember!!

We were all prepared for a super big storm that night; they canceled church it was supposed to be a big deal; something that hasn't happened in like 25 years or something. The mission President told us to stay inside and everything. But then it never really came... haha. At least not to TaiZhong.

This week I really learned the importance of faith (like I do every week). It's the key in missionary work, and the key in life. Faith is the seed that starts everything, without it, everything falls apart. The most important kind of faith is Faith in Jesus Christ. It starts by learning about Him, developing a relationship with Heavenly Father through prayer, and then doing His will.

Press forward with Faith!!! You can do it!!

-Sister Biancardi

Miracles Happen!

This week was a week of Miracles! Like rains after a drought. We found a family to teach, and another amazingly prepared woman, and a less active member who might start coming back to church. Faith, trust and pixie dust. But mostly the faith. It works miracles.

That family is super fun; they have 4 teenage kids and they're all like best friends. We'll have a lot of fun teaching them. We met the woman in the park and she just has amazing questions. Excited to continue to teach her.

We also made sticker charts for our goals this week. It actually was way fun and helpful; we hit our goals cause we really wanted stickers!

This week I've been trying to help everyone know who missionaries are, what we do, so they're not so scared of us. Missionaries invite people to come unto Christ, to learn about Him and His Church, and to follow Christ's example. We don't force people, we don't trick people, we don't brainwash people. We teach and invite. If you or anyone you know has questions about our church, about God, or about the purpose of life - talk to the missionaries. We'd love to help you :)

So remember: Faith, Trust, and I guess some Pixie Dust wouldn't hurt either. With God's help, you can do it!! JiaYou!! [gee-ah, yo] ("Add oil" - Good luck!)

-Sister Biancardi

Let It Go

It's finally September! ...And it's still SO HOT. It should be cooling down soon though. I don't think I'll believe everyone that it actually gets cold here until I experience it myself, haha.

picnic with friends

This week we had a picnic! With sandwiches and cookies and fruit and everything :D It was pretty great. 

Fun at Moon Festival BBQ

Then this weekend was Moon Festival! Yay! Pretty much like the Fourth of July, with Barbeque and fireworks, and family time. Except the barbecue is just coals and a grill on the ground, and they cook fish and rice instead of hot dogs, and there lots and lots and lots of moon cakes. We went to the Zhang family's house to barbecue. They have 9 kids, which is a lot for Utah, let alone Taiwan. It was super fun!

at front door - home of family with 9 kids

This week we also had a super awesome opportunity to serve! A member had all her pipes burst in her house; there was water and muck everywhere. Our plans fell through and we ended up calling her right after it happened so we went and helped clean up! We were just so excited to really help someone, it was great. Moral of the story. Don't feel bad and let people serve you; it makes them feel good :)

On Tuesday we had a meeting with the sisters in our zone. Our leaders (who've never seen the movie Frozen) told us to write down things that keep us from being happy and then "Let it go." I think that shows how amazing and inspiring that movie is, that it's being quoted by people who haven't seen it, haha. But also it's true; just Let it Go!!

So, happy Moon Festival! Go eat a moon cake! Go find a way to serve/be served!

Love you! Have a good week!

-Sister Biancardi

Faith, Love and Miracles

A HUGE (Asian) pear. (parenthesis cuz I'm in Asia. It's just a pear.)

This week we met with our amazing new investigator like 4 times; she's awesome. A couple years ago, before she met the missionaries, she had really bad depression. But she found a Bible in her house, read a verse and said a prayer and it completely changed her life. Since then she believes in God, she's very close to the Spirit and has amazing faith. She has some Mormon friends so she got in touch with us and started to learn with us. Also her English is perfect so that's fun. Yay for awesome people!

Also this week was Sister Funk's Birthday! Yay! She's like the best companion ever and has already taught me so much. We're learning a lot together this move call. Mostly about Faith; it's the most important. With faith we can really do anything, it's true.

This week I read the introduction to the Book of Mormon again. I love the invitation at the end: "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true." It then promises that if we do, we will gain a testimony of the truthfulness of this book and it's teachings. Have you read the Book of Mormon? Have you prayed about it? WHY NOT?! I add my personal invitation to go read the book! If you've already read it, read it again. And again. It's so powerful and so true, and I know you will also come to feel that it is true, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Keep going with faith and it will bring miracles! 

Lots of Love.

-Sister Biancardi