Nimen hao!
Now, I was pretty sure when I
got my call that they said missionaries weren't allowed to swim, but
I'm pretty sure I've been swimming through the air pretty much since I
got here. Taiwan air is so humid, I have probably been sweating
continuously since I got here. But it's been crazy! The work goes every
day, all day, no rest. I am serving in an area near to the Taiwan
temple, called WanDa. We have a pretty small ward, but I guess it's
average size for Taiwan. The chapel is like 6 stories tall, and has like
3 chapels. It's nuts. My trainers name is Elder Kimmel, and he's
awesome. He loves baseball and music, so we get along pretty well. It's
funny, all the buildings are so close together, and everything smells
funky. But the people here are so polite... At least, I assume they are,
I can't understand a word. I guess that will show me to be confident in
my language ability ever again, lol. Everyone talks so fast, and I
can't understand the way they talk. Prayers would definitely be
appreciated, it's been rough. But I know the Lord blesses those who
earnestly do his work. So I'll keep to the grindstone.
Funny
Story of the Week: We just picked up my bike yesterday (it's slick), so
I haven't had much experience riding it. Also I didn't really ride a
bike in tight space a lot before my mission, so it's been a learning
opportunity. Anyway, this morning we went to get groceries, and I didn't
have room for them in my bike box, so I hung the bag on my handlebars.
Well, it's harder to steer with 5 pounds of groceries on your left
handlebar, and the sidewalks are a lot narrower in Taiwan. Well, this
elderly lady was helping another elderly lady into a car, and a
wheelchair was taking up pretty much the whole sidewalk. I thought I
could steer around behind it, but apparently not. I ended up hitting the
wheelchair, and the lady started yelling at me in Chinese, and I was
apologizing in what I hope was Chinese. Then we just kind of looked at
each other, and I almost laughed. We were both talking to each other,
and neither one of us could understand the other. I'm 6,000 miles from
home, and can't understand anyone, and this lady is yelling at me. It
definitely made me take a step back. There's no way I'd be doing this,
living in a place where I can't even communicate, doing something I had
no idea how to do, unless it was something I really believed in.
And
I do. It helped me realize I really do believe and know that this is
what God wants for me. I know He lives, I know I am His son, and He has
called me to share the message of the restored gospel. This last week
has been crazy, I don't really feel like I'm making a difference, and I
can't understand anyone. But I really do know that God lives, and He
gives us challenges because He knows, with His help, we can overcome
them. But He wants us to rely on Him, to know He's there. And I do know
He's there. I have already seen little miracles on my misison, signs
that I know my Father in Heaven is aware of me. One in 8 billion, and He
is aware of me. He is aware of each of us, by name, by heart. We are
His family, and He is our Father. I find so much comfort in the
knowledge that I will be with my family forever. That God has allowed me
to hear the message of His restored Gospel, and find joy and peace in
it. Being 6,000 miles from my family is definitely not easy, but I find
comfort in knowing that it doesn't matter if I can't see them for a
while, because I will be with them forever. Eternal families are a gift
we can never repay God for, and I'm grateful for them. I love you all,
and I know Heavenly Father loves you, too.
Love,
Elder Shope
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