Week 41 - 四十一週 - July 14, 2025 - 八德 - Bade

 大家好！

Highlights 

     -Bike got impaled by a spike

     -Costco!!!

     -Infinite companionship 默契 (Moqi - innate understanding) (We got separated on the road but both went to the same place. It was a miracle)

     -So many members 請客s!! (Member meals)  Having a native companion is the secret

     -Had a wonderful Sabbath (little brother gave his farewell talk, one of my best friends from home got BAPTIZED and we put one of our friends here on Baptismal date!)

Bike Miracle:

     We were on our way to a members house when the back tire of my bike got impaled by a spike (photo below). We only had one yoyo card, so we couldn't both use the free public bikes to get around. Our only option was to walk to the bike shop. So to the bike shop we walked! It was a nice hour of finding. 

     After we arrived however, we discovered that it was not open! The door was closed shut. We had no idea what to do--without my bike we had no way to get to the church besides walking, and if you know 八德 (Bade) you know that walking somewhere takes quite a long time. I said a prayer in my heart that I would be comforted and know that whatever happened would be Gods will.

One minute later, the door to the bike shop started miraculously opening!

Matthew 7

7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

The door literally opened. God answers prayers!

READ THIS PART

Studying Christ's Atonement daily has changed how doing missionary work feels. Here are 3 insights I gained this week:

#1 The knowledge that we have of the doctrine of Christ's Atonement comes from the Book of Mormon:

The word 'Atonement' only appears in the New Testament one time. (See Romans 5:11)

On the other hand, the word 'atonement' appears 35 times in the Book of Mormon. How interesting is that.

#2 Christ's Atonement is the foundation of Christianity :

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/thomas-b-griffith/root-christian-doctrine/

In 3 Nephi 11, Jesus Christ personally comes to minister among the people of ancient America. When they saw Him the first time, "the whole multitude fell to the earth" (v. 12). 

Jesus then invites the crowd to "come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel" (v. 14)

"And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves...they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him" (v. 16-17)

The first time they fell, it was possibly fear or awe, but the second time it was worshipful. This only happened after these people witnessed for themselves Christ's role as their Savior. 

Therefore, every meeting, conversation and lesson in the church should be centered on Jesus Christs role as our Savior. If it is not this way, the things we talk about are meaningless.

#3 The Atonement Fulfills the purpose of the Creation:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1996/10/the-atonement?lang=eng

God created the earth so we could receive immortality and eternal life! (See Moses 1:39) In other words, God created this world so we would be able to live with our families forever in eternal glory. The Atonement makes this possible!!! How incredible is that!!!!

If families don't get sealed together in temples, then the purpose of the Creation comes to naught. This insight really put some vim and vigor into the work this week. 

再見!

Sister 吳ardle

Pictures: 翁姐妹 (Sister Weng), Impaled!, The 台灣 (Taiwan) Costco menu

Week 40 - 四十週 - July 7, 2025 - 八德 - Bade

 大家好！！

Highlights:

     -We did not make it to the batcave BUT I am still in 八德 (Bade) so we will make it there don't worry

     -Transfers! Sister Ingram is now my STL (everyone needs to learn from her) and I am training a baby again!!! Welcome 翁姐妹 (Wen JieMei)！！！！She is from 台中 :) (TaiZhong)

     -Spent the whole day with the trainees without knowing who our companion was until the end--the suspense was crazy

     -Found a not active member at a park and it was the biggest miracle ever!!

     -Got invited to a barbecue by an American man on the street

     -Started a 40 day fast! Here is my list of things I am fasting from:

1. Makeup and Jewelry

2. Singing/playing non church songs

3. Judgmental Remarks

4. Slang

5. Quizlet match

6. Interrupting people

7. Fake 聽得懂ing (Ting de dao - pretending to understand what people say)

Keep me accountable!

READ THIS PART

Here is something that stood out to me in  personal study this week:

Jacob 6:5 "cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you"

I've been thinking about what 'cleave' means in this context.

Genesis 2

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

What does it mean to be one flesh with God? 

I think one of the best ways to achieve this oneness is by partaking of the sacrament. Through the sacrament, we partake of the broken body of Christ. I say this in the most reverent way possible, but the sharing of ones body with another person is one of the most sacred and divine acts of love we get to experience in mortality. We get to partake of this most sacred love during the sacrament and literally receive the enabling power of Jesus Christ. I can't think of a better way to cleave unto God :)

Personal preparation for the sacrament is very important. I invite all to take a moment this Saturday and ponder what the sacrament means to you! If you let it, the sacrament will become a most divine catalyst for change in yourself. 

再見

Sister 吳ardle

Pictures: Guess who my companion is!, Trainer Meeting, Elder Clegg is dead (that means he has gone home), This is our final boss - we kill him be making friends (this was not my idea)

Week 39 - 9 Months 恭喜 ！！(Gong xi - Congratulations) - June 30, 2025 - 八德 - Bade

 大家好！

Highlights

     - Met Korihor

     - lots of 請客s (Member Meals)

     - Ran into a pole

     - Went to Daxi Old Street

     - Got hit on over the phone 

     - Found some kids who could read Sister Ingrams arabic necklace!!

    - Went to the bat caves for P-day

READ THIS PART

There is a really cool lesson to be learned from D&C 9: 

Oliver Cowdery wanted to translate with Joseph Smith--in D&C 8, God told him to give it a try. But it didn't work! Why didn't it work? This was the revelation he recieved after attempting to translate: 

5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you.

11 Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past;

The same thing happened to the Apostle Peter when he tried to walk on the water.

"But you feared"

How often does this happen in our own lives? We start out with determination and grit, but when it gets hard, we are tempted to quit. Whether we are applying for college, decided to go on a mission, getting a new job, auditioning for a show, going on a big hike 等等 (deng deng - etc.), the test is always the same.

Will we continue as we commenced?

I think one of the things that caused Peter to fear was the fact that He broke eye contact with the Savior. That is was caused Him to fear.

So continue to look for Him, and press on :)

Bars:

-Perfectionism is Pride

-Urgency does not mean anxiety

再見!

Sister 吳ardle

Pictures: P Day , 皮蛋 (pi dan - preserved egg), 朱媽媽 (Zhu Mama) knows I love some cold noodles

Week 38 - 三十八週 - June 23, 2025 - 八德 Bade

 大家好！！

Highlights:

     -Interviews with President and Sister Whiteley!!!

     -They gave us money to get lunch after so we got to eat hamburgers

     -Learned ZhuYin

     -Went to 鶯歌 to find

     -文岐香 (Wen QiXiang) got baptized!!!! And her mom came even though originally her mom said she couldn't come!! It was so wonderful :)

     -My brother turned 18 and got the Melchizedek priesthood!!!

READ THIS PART

Here is an insight I gained about the Savior this week:

D&C 101

39 When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men;

Because of this scripture, we know that when the Savior mentions the salt of the earth He is reffering to His covenant people.

Luke 14

34 ¶ Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

As I read this verse in Luke 14 it struck me how similar the word "savor" is to the word "Savior".

Here is a rewritten version of verse 34: 'If the salt (The covenant people of the Lord) has losts its Savior, wherewith shall it be seasoned?'

As His covenant people, if the things we do and focuses of our lives are void of the Savior, then they have no savor. No meaning. He is what makes life rich, plentiful and flavorful!

2 Nephi 11

"...all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of Him"

Everything around us testifies of Him. If we rigorously open our eyes and see, we will discover that "he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand." (D&C 88: 7-10)

As I have had these moments of acknowledgement of the Savior more throughout my days, I have discovered this scripture to be true: 

Isaiah 49

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

It is very hot here in Taiwan. When the sun smites us, the knowledge that the Savior is in the sun changes everything. When I drink water it is an opportunity to remember Him. That is what gives life meaning. Having the Savior allows us to experience lifes savor :)

Prayer list:

☆文岐香 (Wen QiXiang) --> prepare for Temple!

☆Rima --> that her family will accept her invitation and come with her to church next week!

再見！

Sister 吳ardle

Pictures: 文岐香 (Wen QiXiang) Baptism, Daily Goals???, The Burger!, Spot the rainbow, Drive to 鶯歌 (Ying ge)

Week 37 - 三十七週 - June 17, 2025 - 八德 - Bade

 大家好!

Highlights:

     -Temple P-day

     -Went to Daxi Old Street! 

     -Found out Sister 林 (Lin) came to my house when I was young???

     -Met lots of cats

     -Ate some good food at members houses!

     -Biked with a headwind for 40 minutes (this is a daily event) (There is never a tailwind) (it does not matter what direction we are going)

     -Got a cupholder on my bike so I can stay hydrated:)

READ THIS PART

The challenge of 八德 (Bade) is the fact that we have to bike very far whenever we go anywhere. It feels like we are always going uphill and the wind is always a headwind. Quite a load of opposition is placed before us.

I take courage in knowing the Christ is the Fountain of Living Water. The Bread of life. When the sweat is literally dripping off the end of my nose and I am exhausted, I remember Him.

He is the light of the world. It is through that light that we see everything else! Looking at challenges through His light will sustain, strengthen and empower us. He gives us the power to overcome.

Revelations 3

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Christ is our prototype. Through Him, we are able to overcome and receive the glory of the Father in the same way He did :)

Anytime we have to bike against mighty wind and it feels like the opposition is never ending, we can remember Him! What an incredible power!

I know that He lives. I'm so grateful to have been gifted with the fulness of the gospel in my life.

再見！

Sister 吳ardle

Pictures: Bade members, Temple Day!, Sister Lin at my house!!, Post Temple Tacos!, Cats!, Daxi (a suburb of my 

area)

Week 36 三十六週 - June 9, 2025 - 八德 - Bade

 大家好！

Highlights:

     -Zone Conference!!!!!!

     -Got a lovely package from my home ward Young Women's! Thanks! 

     -Triple family ECG 以後 (after) chapel tour

     -Got to eat a real pancake and pho

     -Exchanges!!!!!!!!!!! (Ate Poke)

     -Went to 鶯歌 (Ying ge) old street

     -林姐妹 (Sister Lin) gave us cookies at church :)

     -I HAVE MY BIKE

READ THIS PART

Miracle share:

     We have to bike for 45+ minutes every week to get to district council and my first week here I had to use a YouBike, or the public bikes they have here in Taiwan. Long story short they are not very fun to bike for that long. I really didn't want to have to do that again. The day before district council I kneeled down and wrestled with the Lord in prayer about it. I pleaded that I would have my bike by tomorrow, but that if I needed to learn a lesson from using a YouBike again, I would do it. It was a very heartfelt prayer. 

That night when we went home, I had fully put all my trust in the Lord. If my bike wasn't there, so be it. It was at that moment when I looked and saw 2 bikes parked in our spot! We literally ran home! My bike was there!

This was such a testimony builder to me of how much God loves us and listens to prayers. I felt like a child asking God to help me find a lost toy. But He listens! He cares! And when we turn it over to Him, He will provide exactly what we need.

3 Nephi 27

28 And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you. 

29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

God answers prayers!

再見!

Sister 吳ardle

Pictures: These are really good fruit, It was President's birthday, My bike 出現了 (appeared), My Apartment, Ironman!, An Ancient Kiln with some STUNNING pots, The bike ride to 鶯歌 (Ying ge), The only photo from our exchanges, Zone Conference with my dear companion