Time on Fast Forward

Hi Everyone!

When I moved to Tainan two weeks ago and started as an STL, my new companion, Sister Hancock told me that this would be the fastest transfer of my life. This week I learned what she meant. We had Mission Leadership Conference, Zone conference, my first exchange as an STL, and an Asia Area Stake Conference. The only day that was a normal missionary day was Thursday. I am exhausted in every way possible. It was awesome! I love being busy. 

Zone conference was our first opportunity to see everyone else in our zone this transfer. Here's a picture:

We have a pretty fun zone!​ And you may have noticed the most exciting part of the picture, Sister Barber is in my zone again!! Our entire missions we've been slowly inching our way closer to each other, and now we're serving in the same city! And she's teaching one of my former investigators! She's such an amazing missionary, it's so fun to be so close to her. Next step, companions?

Another event of note, I went on my first exchange as an STL! I exchanged with Sister Zhang:

Sister Zhang is from Taibei. She's an awesome missionary. I learned a ton from her about loving everyone we come in contact with. We had a lot of fun running around the city of Douliu sharing the gospel with everyone we could find.

One highlight was doing service at this adorable children's library. We helped reshelve books. I realized that it's the first time I've been in a library in longer than I want to count. It was really fun to be able to serve and watch parents come in with their children to read together. It made me even more grateful for good parents who take the time to read with their kids. I'm so grateful that my own parents made sure to read the Book of Mormon with us every night, even when we were bored and tired and hanging upside down off our chairs. I love the scriptures so much now, and I know that habit started with my parents' example.

​

One final notable event of the week, mangoes are almost back in season!!! We're starting to see the first few show up in the markets, and on Saturday we went with the elders in our ward, Elder Smith and Elder Miller, to get our very first mango bing of the year. ​Bing is shaved ice with all sorts of delicious stuff dumped on top, and it is what makes Taiwanese summers livable. Without mango bing, summer would just be hot, sticky, and miserable. With mango bing, it's the best part of the year! Taiwan doesn't feel completely like Taiwan when mangoes aren't in season.

That's honestly all I can remember from this week. I know I repeat myself a lot saying this, but I am honestly so grateful for the opportunity  to share the gospel here in Taiwan. I've seen myself grow and stretch so much. I love these people, and I love my Savior. I know that Christ knows each of us personally. He sees our struggles, our doubts, and our fears. If we are willing to come to Him, He take us in all our weakness and makes us whole. I am so grateful for His endless patience, His eternal grace. 

I hope you all have an amazing week!

Love,

Sister Hull