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

Eyes Beyond Our Own

Four Apartment Sisters

This week was a blast! Here's what happened:

- Taught an English class that wasn't the little kids for the first time

- Went to that blind pianist's concert (the one from the Mormon message! Look him up! http://www.mormonchannel.org/youth-videos?v=2219553524001) It was sweet; he really has a gift.

- Sang at some high school graduation concert thing. It was being held at our church (our HUGE church in Daya) so somehow we got roped into singing. The missionaries (us and 6 Elders) sang Lead Kindly Light (in parts) then the Armies of Helaman with Guitar and a box drum. It was super fun.

- Got to know my awesome companion and area!

For a while I've pondered the question of how it's possible to really love everyone; to have enough love to love everyone you see (that's kind of what we do as missionaries, and it's exhausting!) The other day I got my answer through a cheesy EFY song (that's all I've got right now) "Love comes back, when we take care of each other, Just like that..... there's always enough no way to give too much cause Love comes back" And I know it's true! As we aren't selfish with our love and really love everyone we're blessed and strengthened, and as we project God's love to the world we are able to feel that love more strongly. 

Sometimes those we love are separated from us; they're journey here on Earth is completed before ours. As I ponder my knowledge of God's eternal plan for us, I'm grateful and comforted. It doesn't mean death isn't sad for Mormons; the separation is hard. But with knowledge of His plan for us, we have perspective and hope. If you're struggling with the death of a loved one whether it was a long time ago or more recent, whether you're a member of our church or not, talk to the missionaries. As we learn and re-learn of these eternal truths our minds are enlightened and our hearts are comforted. I know we have an eternal Father in heaven who loves us, and we are his eternal children. And I love you too! Keep on loving; there's always enough.

-Sister Biancardi

Bright Lights, Big City

So this last week we had WeiJieMei (18 years old) with us; she progressed so much in her short week with us and we had a blast! Even though it was only a week, after she left it felt so empty with only two of us. We had moved another bed into the room so there was no space to walk, haha. It was fun.

Also this week was our English Party; Cowboys and Indians! Woo-hoo! It was pretty great; fishing, stick pole, bag races. Then at the end the missionaries put on a skit. I was "The Spirit of the Pow Wow" hahaha. Reminded me of my drama camp days.

Saying Goodbye to ChenJieMei and her daughters

And last but not least, today I said goodbye to JiaYi, it was sad. But I'm so excited to now be here in BeiTun (TaiZhong city). As missionaries we have to say goodbye a lot; as we move, as people lose interest, as others move....

Farewell to more friends from JiaYi

But new places and new people let us have new experiences to learn from. I know every place I go and person I'm with is for a reason and will help me become who I need to be. So, what I learned? Be grateful for where you are when you're there, and don't be afraid of new experiences.

"Be strong and of a good courage" 

Love you all!

-Sister Biancardi

What? Gecko in a Bottle? That's not a pet . . .

 

This week was SO GOOD. Lots going on!

For starters, we've been seeing a little baby gecko running around our room, so Tuesday morning we decided to catch it :) After moving the couch back and forth and back and forth we cornered it and led it into a bottle. It's only like an inch long and so cute! The rest of the week we searched the apartment for bugs to feed it. It liked the spider, but not the live ants or the dead cockroach we gave it....

 

 

This week we also saw lots of miracles! Like finding two new investigators while lost trying to find a different new investigator's house. Also I taught my first family! (Mom, dad and kids) But then we found out they're not in our area...but that's okay. Teaching families is important because we really believe the family is ordained of God and is the place we can learn best. Speaking of family! My family is all together back in Oregon this week, (including Elise and little baby Joseph!) yay! Instead of being sad cause I'm not there, I'm actually happy and feel closer to them knowing they're all together.

 

This week was special also because our mission had a goal for every companionship to get 3 new investigators ("No companionship left behind") So our leaders spent the week helping everybody. And Sunday night we had an awesome opportunity to go to XinYing (half hour away) to help the Elders there find. Our whole district of 10 missionaries got off the train and spread out and started tracking. It was sweet! And we hit the goal! Yay! It made me really realize how this is God's work and these are His children, and it didn't matter that these weren't "our" investigators, cause in reality they're all His and everyone needs the gospel!

 

The last exciting thing that happened was Sunday night when we got home, we got a DuanChuan to come stay with us! It's a thing they do in Taiwan where the youth can go on mini missions; sort of try it out. So WeiJieMei is 18 and she'll be with us for a week! We're so excited! Pulled an extra bed in the room and let our gecko go.... (Missionaries aren't supposed to have "pets"... haha). So this week will be great!

 

Wow! This week I learned the importance and power of faith and positivity. It literally brings miracles. I don't know why or how it works, but I know it's true! So go and do in faith! And tell me the miracles you see!

Love you all! Thanks for the prayers!

-Sister Biancardi

Awkward Missionary Moments

This week was great! Lots of growth, lots of improvements.

We had the opportunity to exchange companions for a day. It's great to learn from other missionaries; get new ideas and new feedback. I learned a lot from Sister Bell.

This week we spent a lot of time with our three new cute 15-year-old investigators. This week they were taught the first lesson, watched finding faith in Christ, came to every activity including a baptismal service and church, and today we're going to go to their pottery class with them :) They're super cute and love learning.

We also spent lots of time finding people to teach; on the road, in stores, when we eat dinner... That's when we get to those awkward missionary moments. For example...

1) Following a family as they walk down the beer aisle then suddenly realizing we can't causally browse there. 

2) Offering someone my soup I didn't eat and then inviting them to come to church. 

3) Being so confused why people were lining up by the road but seeing it as the perfect opportunity to contact them, then realizing it was the line for the bus and that they don't live here in our area.

4) Asking where the small dried fish were to start up a conversation, then not buying it. (They have small dried fish in their trail mix stuff.)

So pretty much being a missionary is the best. And one thing being a missionary has taught me is to not be afraid to talk to strangers (unless they're creepy or trying to give you candy or something...) But I mean, being friendly to everyone. Because we're ALL children of God; we're ALL brothers and sisters. The person next to you in line, your grumpy neighbor across the street, and the people across the world. We're all here to love each other and help each other out. So.... yeah! Do it!

Love you all! Have a great week!

-Sister Biancardi