Erin and I served part of our mission in an area called Sanchung. It's a suburb of Taipei. During that time we taught a family, the Guo Family, who had 3 young children at time. Sunday, 18 years later, we returned to their ward to attend church with them and their family.
First of all when we were missionaries the church was one whole floor of a building near our apartment. The area grew so much that they have since split and now have a huge nice chapel of their own in XinZhuang. The Guo's were of course very surprised to see us as I had no way of getting ahold of them before we showed up. Their very grown and tall oldest son just returned from a mission in Kaoxiong a few months ago. Their daughter, the 2nd, served a mission in Taichong several years ago, has since been married in the temple and had a small boy. Their youngest no longer comes to church, but he is in college and doing well.
Before church started Sister Guo wanted to show us a chart of genealogy that she had created for her husband's side of the family. (See photo) This went back over 2,000 years. When I mentioned that she needed to do the temple work for these people she produced a thick stack of endowment cards, and pronounced that she had almost completed that the entire family line. I was so touched I couldn't help but start to cry.
We also reconnected with several other members who we knew back in the day. They have dedicated their time and lives to building the church in Taiwan. Truly inspiring. And they all had advice on how I could find a husband soon. I shouldn't set my sights too high and it is a commandment of God afterall. I asked them to pray for me as their faith is stronger than mine ~ so who knows! maybe that's what has been the missing link all these years.
After church we slept for 3 hours (since it was 1am in the morning our body time) and then made our way over to our friend's house Sister Bao. She served with us in Taipei and is a wonderful and incredibly talented woman, who always has a smile on her face and kind, funny word. She invited us and a member from the 2nd ward, Sister Meng (now Sister Hong) to dinner.
Bao has a wonderful husband and 2 energetic and happy boys. We couldn't be happier for her. We ate, talked, gossiped and laughed for several hours. We missed all our friends from the mission that are Stateside and not here, and they advised me several times on getting married and that I should do so soon. (Chinese are not opposed to asking personal questions and giving advice regularly).
We stayed up to 10pm ~ that was a big accomplishment as the jet lag is still with us. For all of your Taiwan sisters who are following this -- we miss you and you are all still remembered and loved here on the island of Formosa.
First of all when we were missionaries the church was one whole floor of a building near our apartment. The area grew so much that they have since split and now have a huge nice chapel of their own in XinZhuang. The Guo's were of course very surprised to see us as I had no way of getting ahold of them before we showed up. Their very grown and tall oldest son just returned from a mission in Kaoxiong a few months ago. Their daughter, the 2nd, served a mission in Taichong several years ago, has since been married in the temple and had a small boy. Their youngest no longer comes to church, but he is in college and doing well.
Before church started Sister Guo wanted to show us a chart of genealogy that she had created for her husband's side of the family. (See photo) This went back over 2,000 years. When I mentioned that she needed to do the temple work for these people she produced a thick stack of endowment cards, and pronounced that she had almost completed that the entire family line. I was so touched I couldn't help but start to cry.
We also reconnected with several other members who we knew back in the day. They have dedicated their time and lives to building the church in Taiwan. Truly inspiring. And they all had advice on how I could find a husband soon. I shouldn't set my sights too high and it is a commandment of God afterall. I asked them to pray for me as their faith is stronger than mine ~ so who knows! maybe that's what has been the missing link all these years.
After church we slept for 3 hours (since it was 1am in the morning our body time) and then made our way over to our friend's house Sister Bao. She served with us in Taipei and is a wonderful and incredibly talented woman, who always has a smile on her face and kind, funny word. She invited us and a member from the 2nd ward, Sister Meng (now Sister Hong) to dinner.
Bao has a wonderful husband and 2 energetic and happy boys. We couldn't be happier for her. We ate, talked, gossiped and laughed for several hours. We missed all our friends from the mission that are Stateside and not here, and they advised me several times on getting married and that I should do so soon. (Chinese are not opposed to asking personal questions and giving advice regularly).
We stayed up to 10pm ~ that was a big accomplishment as the jet lag is still with us. For all of your Taiwan sisters who are following this -- we miss you and you are all still remembered and loved here on the island of Formosa.
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