Temple, Temple! TEMPLE!

Long day! Here's how it went! Woke up at 4:40 -started biking to Daya at 5:30; got there at 6:10 - got on the bus and left at 6:30. It was about a 2 hour ride there so we watched Ephraim's Rescue on the fancy TVs on the fancy bus :)

Then we were at the temple about 9:00 until about 1:00. After we took pictures for a little bit, we headed back. We watched the Joseph Smith movie on the way back :) Got back to the church at about 3 and biked back to our area to have the rest of P-day. Yay!! Great day!

Enter in at the Gate

Hello!!

This week was pretty crazy and exciting. They say there are always trials before a baptism. They were so right. But thanks to all your prayers it all got worked out, and Alexis was baptized last Saturday! Yay! I am so happy for her to be able to take this important step in her progress. We often compare baptism to a gate, opening up to the pathway back to Heavenly Father. Once we enter in at the correct gate, we still need to "press forward with steadfast faith in Christ" in order to reach our goal of eternal life in the presence of God. As she continues to follow Christ's teaching in her life she'll reach that goal. How cool!!

This week we also got an opportunity to have an interview with our Mission President. It's a great chance to ponder and discuss our progress so far. I feel like every time I stop and think about my progress I'm like "Wow, I've changed so much! So awesome!" and then, the very next thought is "I've got SO FAR to go...." But I'm so grateful I have the help and strength that comes from Christ's Atonement. When we learn about Him and his gospel, and apply those teachings into our lives, it gives us power and strength beyond our own to accomplish goals and become better. It's so amazing!

Also. Today is not our P-day :( Because tomorrow we get to go to the temple!! :D Yay! I'm so excited and hopefully I can tell you more about it tomorrow or next week.

Remember to rely on the One who can never fail you. Remember to Enter in at the Gate, follow the path and "Stay in the Boat!" And remember to keep being awesome!

-Sister Biancardi

Words of the Prophets

Hello!!

This week was great! We saw miracles, found some new investigators (for us and other missionaries), and listened to our beloved prophet speak. The biggest miracle to me was Alexis preparing for baptism. We've been teaching her for the past couple months and she is amazing. She's all set to be baptized this Saturday. But I know from experience Satan doesn't like people getting baptized and will do everything to tempt them and try their faith, so please pray for Alexis! I'll let you know how it goes next week.

Goofing Around with Alexis

Alexis this weekend was able to come with us and watch all of General Conference. That was another miracle. General Conference is a big meeting for all the members of our church and anyone who wants to join. Over the course of two days we watch 10 hours of amazing, inspired men and women of God give incredible talks and council. This year I especially learned about truth, temples, prophets, and revelation. 

On a hike together

One example about truth that I loved said "Resenting the law of gravity won’t keep a person from falling if he steps off a cliff". That is truth. And I know that this gospel and this church, is true in that sense of the word. It is true whether or not we believe it. It is true whether we are in a time of despair or a time of plenty. God is literally our Father and He loves us. I invite you to go online and watch these inspiring messages. And if you don't want to, or are wondering why I'm inviting you, watch the last talk first (David A. Bednar), he'll explain it.  www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/come-and-see?lang=eng

Night Market at TaiZhong

Love you all! Have a good week!

-Sister Biancardi

Who You Are is not Who You Can Become

Hello world!!

This week was great! Full of new opportunities and new growth. Sister Basko, my new companion, is awesome. She's super renzhen (hard working) and organized. She's helping me a lot realize this area's potential. Saw lots of little miracles this week and ready to see the big ones next week.

An American made fortune cookie! (They don't exist here. Or in China...)

My last companion loved to bake and she would just randomly make up an amazing treat for everyone. She's really creative like that. So this week me and Sister Anderson (another sister in our apartment) experimented. She made apple crisp with granola bars and pumpkin kisses, and I made banana oatmeal cookies with M&Ms, haha. Oh course it didn't turn out perfectly delicious as Sister Funk's did, but it was actually good, haha.

Found this by my desk. It was dead. Kind of. . . But I've actually been really lucky
with cockroaches in my apartments (meaning without them....not with them...)

This week it officially became fall in TaiZhong; it actually started to get cool at night. Crazy! But today's still super sunny; it just depends, haha. But I finally believe that Taiwan has a winter; it'll get there. Eventually. People say it gets way cold... I should maybe buy a coat. We'll see.

Well here's my wisdom for the week. (But it's not mine I stole it from last conference talks). If you EVER think "that's just the way I am" or "this will never change" or "I'll never be like that" STOP THINKING IT. We can always ALWAYS change. I know that through the Atonement of Christ we can all become who we were meant to be. Which is way more than we could ever imagine for ourselves. Rely on Him and everything is possible.

I love you! And He loves you more!

Have a great week!

-Sister Biancardi