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