Dog Year

It's Chinese New Year, and you know what that means! Or do you? Because to be honest, I knew almost nothing about Chinese New Year before coming on a mission, and I know only slightly more now that I have been on a mission here in Taiwan. So, for those of you who do not know anything about Chinese New Year, here's all the secrets I've learned in my vast experience! It's a very traditional holiday, complete with certain things you should say and gifts you should exchange. Everything you give has a certain meaning, and most come in some form of red or gold packaging. Red has some sort of symbolic meaning as well, I think. Look, nobody has really told me anything special about Chinese New Year, except one thing: you eat. A lot. Like, a lot. Everyone takes five days off of work, and you come together with your family and eat a bunch of traditional Taiwanese food. It's a blast. And that is Elder Shope's thoroughly butchered rundown of a traditional Chinese holiday. Also this year it's dog themed. Maybe Wikipedia will know more. I'm sorry.

In news that I am a little more familiar with, transfers are happening this week! I have been here in FengLin for three transfers now, which is as long as most missionaries spend here. So, we will see what happens! I have loved being in FengLin, it's a beautiful place, and I have had so many amazing experiences here! We will see how the cards fall!

Because of the celebrations, missionary work has been a bit slower, but we have been able to eat with some of the church members here, and enjoy the gospel with them! Something that is awesome about New Years, be it in America or Taiwan, is the opportunity we have to start over, to get rid of the old, and start new. And that is what I love about the gospel! We all have hard times in our lives, we have weaknesses and setbacks, and other things we want to change in our lives. But without our Savior, we would have no way to do that. We would fall further from happiness, and from peace. But because if Christ, and His loving sacrficie for us, we have a way to change, to repent and move forward. We don't have to let our regrets and our sorrows direct our lives. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Christ, it makes me so happy to know that I can always improve, and change!

Also, we went to the beach this morning, and the weather in HuaLian has been warming up! It felt like I was in a Chinese California! I love my mission in Taiwan! I posted some pictures on my Google Drive!

Love,

Elder Shope