It's Humid

Wan'an!

Good evening, everyone! It's about 11:30 am here in Taiwan, and we're sitting here in the mission office emailing! This week has been great, lots of investigators to teach, and lots of tracting to do! I still have no idea where anything is, and my bike is already having problems, so I guess I'm starting to become a real missionary! But I really have loved being here, the work is hard, but it's fulfilling. Getting to see people change, to become better through the Gospel of Christ, is such an amazing feeling!

Nothing crazy fun happened this week, but we did go ice skating last P-Day! I guess that was fun ;P! I have been a couple times, but never with like 40 missionaries! Which is... "technically" definitely not allowed, but we didn't plan it, and the AP's were there, so we were OK! It was super fun, and so weird to be somewhere it was cold, since Taiwan has been sooooo hot and humid. I don't know if I've mentioned that before. It's humid here. Really humid.

But despite the humidity, and the humidity, and the language, I really am so happy I have the opportunity to share the Gospel with the people of Taiwan. We sit down with people of all different beliefs, with all different backgrounds and problems and thoughts. They tell us about divorces, about alcohol addictions, about health problems, and it's so hard to hear. But as we love them, and as we listen, every single time, they tell us almost the same thing: they just want to be happy. And I still remember my high school days of loneliness and depression, that's all I ever wanted. That, deep down, is what we all want. To be happy. To feel loved and needed and truly happy. We all have different needs, different desires, but ultimately, we all want to find joy in our lives. And we look so many different places to find it, but it seems so out of reach. But being on a mission, I feel like I finally know what happiness is. This gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, brings us true happiness. Unending happiness. And it doesn't matter if you have had a divorce, or lost a loved one, or you just feel like no one cares about you. Our brother Jesus Christ suffered for your pains, your sicknesses, your doubts. He knows them, and He knows you. And I promise you, I have no doubt, that if you come unto Christ, if you put your pains at His feet, He will take them from you, He will give you rest, and you will feel true joy. I know this church is true, and I want you to know it, too. I invite you to take inventory, do I know God exists? Do I know He loves me? What does that mean? And how can it help me? I promise you, this church is true. I know it, I live it. and I find unexplainable happiness in it. I love you, and God, your Father, my Father loves. Christ loves you, and He suffered for your sins because He loves you. You specifically. And I say these things in His holy name, amen.

Love,

Elder Shope