The Trial of our Faith

Hello!

This week was good:

Exchange - This week I exchanged with XieJieMei. She's an awesome missionary and I learned a lot from her. It was fun to be with a Taiwanese missionary for a day :D

ZengMama - She passed her baptismal interview and will be getting baptized next Saturday :D Her son (member) will baptize her.

New people - This week we worked really hard to find new people and got some people set up to meet, but they all fanged our gezi (stood us up). It was a bummer. Taiwanese people do that a lot. But Saturday some other sisters called and gave us some referrals who set up to come to the church for the next day, and she came and brought a friend :D And they're great! I know that miracles come after the trial of our faith. 

This morning we sang at a member's dad's funeral. It was nice to give comfort to those attending through music. I know that this life is not the end. This life has a purpose; to prepare to meet God. To learn and grow and become more like our Father in Heaven. Remember to look at our trials with faith and with that eternal perspective.

Have a good week!

-Sister Biancardi

Just Keep Swimming

So, this week at ZTM was fun. They showed a clip from Finding Nemo and pretty much had us analyze it and apply it to missionary work. It was so funny, but pretty fun and surprisingly fitting.

We had our English party. Pretty much just the Elders running around with the little kids and playing games, haha. There were other games too - Charades, Spot it, Bingo, and Jump rope (a giant one) which turned into redlight green light and tug of war, or whatever else the kids wanted to play, haha. 

Yeah!

Then on Saturday YuTing got baptized. Yeah!! The guy who baptized her was like 2 feet taller than her so that was really funny. And the baptism went really well. Right afterwards 2 little boys from the other ward got baptized. Yay! So fun!

I'm remembering recently again something I learned in the MTC. Whenever you don't get along with someone, or you feel offended, hurt, or annoyed, you need to change something about yourself. If we were perfect like Christ, like we're trying and striving to be, we'd get along with everyone just fine. And with Christ's help and support we can change, one step at a time. Even the things that are seemingly deep within us "part of who we are." We are children of God and while we each have our personal identity and personality, we can become perfect as He is and enjoy a fullness of joy. We don't need anger, hate, hurt, blame... we can choose a much happier way.

Go take the high road and just keep swimming!

-Sister Biancardi

Here Comes the Sun

So the first half of the week was still rainy and stormy. 

Heading outside in the rain

Did that rain gear really help?

But near the end of the week the sun came out! So now we get wet with sweat instead of rain, hahaha.... yeah.

This city is nice. My companion is nice. The ward is nice.

Lots of color everywhere!

Painted Village

a Roadside Puppet Show

Last P-day we went to "rainbow village." This little place where an old man painted all the walls and stuff. It was cool.

This week I learned a lot. I know Heavenly Father is very aware of us and our situation. I know this life is full of test and trials and "refiner's fires". I know this is the only way we can learn and grow be polished in to something greater. Accept the setbacks and struggles that life brings, but don't give up! 

Keep on striving. 

Have an awesome day!

-Sister Biancardi

Look! They even have painted ukes!

Back in the City!

Having fun with Sister Hobby!

So many people! It's weird. But it's wonderful.

This week was crazy, getting to know the area, the investigators and the members. On top of that we had exchanges on my second day here. But it's okay, because we learned a lot.

This Wednesday the storm came in and it's been raining off and on all week. I'll have to show you a picture next time of our silly rain ponchos. Our skirts still get pretty soaked when we wear them and they're really hot and sweaty, but it's better than not wearing them as we found out on Thursday... 

Let's just say there were some blow dryers involved. It's fun to ride in the rain. It makes our work seem super important (cause it is!) People will be like, what are you doing biking or standing on a street corner handing out flyers in the rain. And we'll be like "well, you see, we have this important message..." :D

Also funny. Since I've moved up here, a couple people have said my Chinese has a GaoXiong accent - a southern accent. Haha, funny...

Well don't forget smile. Do you best but leave the rest up to the Lord.

-Sister Biancardi

Surprise!

I moved!

I know right? Crazy. It was kind of a surprise (it's not a real move day) and only 4 of us moved (we just swapped!) Kind of fun! I'm in Zhongming now. (TaiZhong city) Good bye to Taiwan countryside for me.

Also, last Saturday LinJieMei got baptized. Yay! It was a great baptism with great food after.

Last week we also had Zone Conference. Learned lots!

I think the biggest thing I learned was about our eternal perspective. Sometimes we look at a trial or success and think of the outcomes for this moment, or this day, or even this year. Maybe we look at the outcomes for this life. But when we learn that God's plan for us is eternal it puts a different perspective on things. And when we make every choice and every thought related to God's plan for us, it makes life a lot more meaningful, happy, and fun! Learn more about God's plan for us from local missionaries or LDS friends and try it!

Have an awesome day!

Sister Biancardi

The Field is White All Ready to Harvest

Well... literally, the rice fields are ready to harvest. But also! Our LinJieMei is going to get baptized this Saturday, yay! She's been preparing a long time and is ready to make this sacred covenant and enter the path that leads to eternal life.

Mother's Day! We had a nice potluck after church today, so yummy. Then we made some posters and after dinner we spread some mother's day love. Walked down a busy street and wished people a happy mother's day. We know that a mother's role is crucial and I know I'm not going to be able to fulfill this role well without the Lord's help. "Happiness in the home is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of Jesus Christ" (or something like that, I don't have the quote right now). I know that's true!!

This morning we did a 5 way Skype with all 5 siblings and parents. It was a blast and a great birthday present. I know family is eternal and we're going to have eternity to have a blast together :D I'm thankful I was born into the family I was, and thankful for my mother's (and father's) teaching us in patience and love. If you haven't told your mother you love her this week, GO REPENT!

Love you!

-Sister Biancardi

Exchange

Baby Bananas - how adorable! 

This week we got to exchange companions with our "sister training leader." How it worked out I got to be with LinJieMei for the day :D LinJieMei was with me when I first go on island; we started our mission together. From the beginning we kind of clicked and always said we'd be companions later on. So it happened! At least for a day. And it was super fun. It was especially fun to be together now that I can actually speak Chinese and her English has also improved a lot. Even though we're both "older" missionaries and were talking together about how tired we were, we worked hard and saw lots of miracles together.

The biggest miracle was meeting someone from her area who was willing to sit down and learn a little bit and set up to keep meeting with LinJieMei in Tainan. So great!!

But the highlight of the Exchange might have been us sprinting back to the Train Station because we forgot to switch keys for their bike locks right before their Train left. That was fun. We also may or may not have sprinted after a lady on the street to talk to her more :, haha

Exchanges are a great learning opportunity and I learned a lot about how I can be a better missionary.
Missionary work is a blast! And me and Sister Hancock are going to continue to tear it up here in QiShan!
Have a good week!

Sister Biancardi

Daily Planner - decorated in style