Taiwan post December 16, 2013

Last week...We had our English Christmas party at the church. We went caroling and taught our English students some English Christmas songs. We split up and went to businesses that are nearby and sang Christmas songs them. Came back and got pictures with Santa and had snacks and hot chocolate. It was a really good activity, it was great everyone got involved and was doing something uplifting to share the spirit of Christ. Another day we had two people scheduled for the same time. So Sister Adams and I went on splits with members, I went with our Relief Society president to visit a less active. And Sister Adams went with a ward member to visit an investigator. It was a really good experience to go teach with the Relief Society president and to work with her to get to know our less active member. Saturday night Sister Adams found out she is moving to Gaoxiong, Xiao Gong. And I am staying here and my new companion will be Hsu Jiemei.

This week....Got Sister Adams completely packed up and headed to the train station, got to know some sister's I have never met before. It was really good. My companion wasn’t due to arrive until 3:30, so we had a while to wait, Yoyo and Li Jiemei were there with me. We went and ate, came back and talked and walked around. At about 4:30 we finally met Hsu Jiemei. We got Hsu Jiemei settled into our apartment, email our families from the Church and headed to FHE (Family home evening). We now have two Taiwanese missionaries in our area. The Elder Page and Elder Lin (Taiwanese companion) are over Wufeng. Then Hsu Jiemei and I are over Wufeng and Dali, and then the Dali elders (both Americans), Elder Buhler and Elder Shelton. This Saturday we had a family history class for anyone to come to. Elder Packer (one of the Twelve Apostles) came and spoke about family history, I could understand what he was saying because he was speaking English, and they had a Chinese translator for non-English speakers.

This week has been great. I have learned what true patience is, which is to be able to say the same thing over and over again so that my companion can understand what I am saying. And for her also to repeat things over again so that I can understand what she is saying. And to be willing to compromise and learn to work together. It has been an interesting experience. I have really felt God helping me to be able to understand her, and to really help her to get to know our investigators.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!! I love you, and pray that you have a great year!!!!

Love Sister Basko

Taiwan post December 9, 2013

We had a new move call. I am still in Dali/Wufeng. Sister Adams moved to Gaoxiang, Xiaogong. So I am going to teach my senior companion about our area and show her where everything is. She is Taiwanese. She doesn't speak much English, so I will learn tons. Crazy day but we didn't get back until late, so I don't have much time. But this week what really good. It was a little colder this week, but not too cold.

This week we had a Christmas party. It was cool one of the members dressed as Santa, and we went caroling. It was fun. We helped clean up and headed home. We watched the Joseph smith movie with our investigators this Saturday. It was really good. There were only Chinese subtitles, so I could understand what was going on. It was so spiritual. It was great to be able to see the movie and show our investigators that Joseph Smith was a normal guy. God calls normal people to do His work. He qualifies those called.

Love Sister Basko

Taiwan post December 2, 2013

Dear Everyone,

   Last week of the move call. (Move calls are every 6 weeks when missionaries are moved around, or stay in the same area and get a new companion). Last Monday we went up to the Chuandaobu (mission office) to meet Nicole, Sister Adams recent convert. We hung out with her, got to know her, and took some pictures. She wants to serve a mission. It is so amazing, so we talked to her about serving a mission. She is so awesome!!!!

   Wednesday Elder Funk was at the Chuandaobu for the mission tour. (mission tour means that an area Seventy comes to the mission, meets with missionaries and talks to us about how we are doing and how we can always improve), and he talked to us missionaries about our work, and how it is important to always have the spirit, without the spirit it is hard for the investigators to learn, and they can really feel that this gospel is special. Got to know some new sisters that I had never met before. They were really cool. So funny. The meeting ended at 3:00pm, but we didn’t catch the bus till 3:30pm so we didn't get home till 4:00pm. Hurried home and got all the stuff we needed for English. The English class starts at 4:30pm, and we can't be late. Sister Adams and I had 20 minutes to get there. We prayed for a miracle and then gave it everything we had. We got to Chaoyang University in 20 minutes. It normally takes 40ish minutes. I can testify God is aware of our needs and gives us power to do what we need to do. He supports us and loves us, and when we do our best and are obedient, we see miracles.

    Thursday was crazy cold, the sun wasn't out so it was about 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 F), and we don't really have winter clothing. We stopped by an investigators house and she saw we didn't have scarves. So she brought out some scarves and gave them to us. She was so sweet. If you are not wearing the proper clothing, people are not willing to talk to you. Then our last investigator we met with took us out to have dinner. We had seafood noodle soup for dinner. Happy Thanksgiving!!! But we were running short on time, we had a skit practice at the church, but we weren't worried, and she offered to drive us to the church. So we were able to give her a tour of the church. She could really feel the spirit. It was really amazing experience.

  When we are teaching, but just saying it because that is what we know. The Holy Ghost isn't able to testify. We need to share the parts we truly believe, and testify on it. So that the investigator knows that we believe this, and have applied this in our lives. It was really cool, Sister Adams and I had a very spiritual lesson and we surely testified of the Plan of Salvation, and if our investigator didn't understand what we said or the question we asked, our peika (member at a lesson) would explain it. It was a really cool experience, thinking about what the Celestial Kingdom will be like. What it will be like to have a perfect body, to be with my family and have peace and joy, and to truly have no troubles. It will be so amazing.

    Saturday we had our Thanksgiving party at the church. We had a huge turkey, mash potatoes, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie and apple pie. Everything turned out so good. The members brought so much food. There were so many kinds of meats, and breads. Rice, soups and tons of fruits for dessert and cakes. It was awesome. We had so many people come. Then the Dali and Wufeng missionaries, my area, did a play on the pilgrims and why we have Thanksgiving then it went into the Joseph Smith story. It was really cool. This week was crazy busy, and so many miracles and blessings. I love you all, stay warm!!!

Love Sister Basko

Zone training

11-2013

 

 

posting by mom

Taiwan post November 25, 2013

Dear everyone,

There are so many different ways to serve the Lord, through learning His gospel and from going out and sharing it. Last week was crazy, we had so many lessons and we went all over the place. We had great numbers. But it’s not about the numbers it is about the quality of our service. Of sharing messages with His children that will help them progress, help them know about Him and grow. This week we got all our studies in. We were not outside as much, but our numbers were the same, and we really found a balance. Getting all the studies in. (1 hour of personal, 2 hours of companionship, 1 1/2 of language study). Though it didn't feel like we were out as much, but we did what we should be doing. Right now studies are the most important. After my training is complete in two weeks, then being outside and visiting our members, and investigators will be more important. But right now I am getting that foundation to be ready to better help those we serve.

Monday was awesome. We went with Shi Baba and some of our investigators and less active members to Wugan. It is an old town with a really old temple where people come to baibai. It was really cool to walk around and see the different shops. To see a guy hand making blown glass statues, and a fan painting shop. It was really awesome to go and hang out with our investigators and members to get to know them and have fun. It was so awesome!!!!

This week we went and visited a less active member that we visit every week, she has been in a lot of pain and we asked the missionary ward leader to come with us, and he gave this member a blessing. It was amazing; you could feel the spirit so strong. We explained a little about priesthood blessings, and then he gave her the blessing. I was able to understand the majority of it, and it is amazing. The priesthood authority is so precious and needs to be used wisely and righteously. It is amazing to be able to see how the elders, and the priesthood holders in the ward act, and to know they are worthy and are doing everything they can to help others that need help.

We were able to visit our investigator who is a hair dresser. It has been so cool to see how she has changed. She went to church and everyone was giving her things. And this had never happened to her. And whenever she was given things before, she would take it and not share. But because of this experience she has been sharing more with others and with her customers. And she started giving candy to the kids who come. And this really has been a blessing. She has had more customers and she is really learning about serving others and has received so many blessings. It is amazing when you get the opportunity to serve those around you and the blessings that you receive from that serve.

This Sunday was full of miracles. We made no-bake cookies in the morning. We were a little late leaving, but it was perfect. Sister Adams saw a lady that she and Sister Chua contacted a long time ago. She invited her to church, as we were about to call Shi Baba, one of the members pulled up and asked if we were going to church. We said yes and asked if he could help. He just happened to have an extra helmet and brought our investigator to church. It was a miracle that he appeared when he did and how God prepared Arther (sheen dixiong) to be driving that rode that day. It was awesome. She came to church and we are going to meet and share more with her. It is so amazing. Miracles!!! Miracles are real!!!!

I have learned so much. This gospel is so special; it helps everyone be their better self. To achieve better things. To be more Christ-like and the desire to serve others and love everyone. It really is a privilege to serve a mission, to learn more about myself and to learn about how I can become more Christ-like. To become the person God wants and knows I can become and to help and support those I come in contact with. I always heard other missionaries say that everyone should go on a mission. It really is true. It can be terrifying to talk to the first person about the gospel but it is amazing to be involved with them as they learn and change to bring their lives closer in-line with Christ’s example. But this may be the first chance they get to hear it and it maybe what they need. You don't know who they are but God does, and we are His servants and we are here to do everything we can to help the members and investigators to truly progress in this life.

Love Sister Basko

Taiwan post November 18, 2013

This week has been full of miracles. It really is amazing when you go just a little bit farther, you see the miracles, and you know you have done your best. This week we went just a little bit farther, worked just a little bit harder and we saw so many more miracles. Friday we went with the Relief Society President, Peng Jiemei, and her daughter to visit a less active in Dali. We shared a spiritual thought and talked to see how our less active was doing. She really wants to help her daughter learn more about church and Jesus Christ, so Peng Jiemei brought her a Personal Progress book, it would be so awesome if our less active and her daughter worked on it together. So we will check up on that and see how she is doing. We went and visited another investigator who lives out in Wufeng. We picked up one of our recent converts and then headed to visit the investigator. It was really great that we got to work with the Relief Society president. Ward relations are so important, we really have to support the members here, and know that they can trust us and that we can help them.

Saturday was amazing, we had a Relief Society activity but we were kind of late, so we didn't know if we should go or not. So we prayed about it and felt either way was ok, so we decided to go and see who was there and get to know the ward members. This was the better choice. One of the less active members was there. So we were able to talk to her, and she came to church on Sunday!! We need to be involved, if the ward doesn't get to know us they would be as comfortable coming with us to lessons. After that we met with another less active and invited her to church. We really felt that we needed to be more adamant about her coming to church and helping her daughter have church in their lives. I know this is want she needs and it will change her daughter’s lives. It has been a really long time since she has come, but I knew she would come and she did, she came to church!!! That night we met with an investigator that hasn't really been progressing. But we taught a really good lesson, she really knew this lesson was for her. I don't know what changed, but it is so important to follow the spirit to know what our investigators need to learn and to hear.

I have to tell you a funny story. So this week we visited an elder lady, an investigator, she is so cute and loves having us over. She had cut up bananas and put black sesame seeds on top, and left it out, in preparation for us to come over. (I have never seen black sesame seeds till I came to Taiwan but they are the same as white sesame seeds.) and she must have had it out, but she brought it over and it was crawling with ants. Sister Adams and I looked at each other, and I didn't really know what to do, Sister Adams said, just eat it. We thought the whole plate was ants because of the black sesame seeds, but thank goodness it wasn't. There were still a far amount of ants crawling on it but it was an interesting experience. We survived, and we laughed about it. It was one of those experiences you never forget. :)

Sunday was full of miracles. We got to church at 8:30am for the Dali/Wufeng ward, then had the missionary meeting then went to the Danqu ward, which started at 2:00pm to 5:00pm. We were at church a long time. We had so many people come to church. We had investigators that had never come to church before come, and less actives that hadn't come in a really long time come to church. It was amazing. Our one investigator wanted to take us out to eat, but we said we couldn't. We went with her to meet one of her friends. And it was a really good experience. After we could have gone home or visited another less active. Prayed about it and decided it would be better to visit the less active than to go home (we still needed to eat dinner and have studies). So we went and visited her. We found out that she has been in lot of pain recently so we are going to have some brothers from the church give her a Priesthood blessing. I really hope we can help her. :)

Taiwan is amazing and it is an incredible blessing to serve God’s children in Taiwan and to do everything I can to communicate with them.

Love Sister Basko

Taiwan post November 11, 2013

Dear Everyone,

This week has been crazy. We went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. My companion was Sister Liu, she is from Taipei, and this is her last move-call before she goes home. It was really amazing to see how she shares the gospel, and how she contacts on the road. She is an amazing missionary. We found a less active's house by accident. I was leading in our area, and we were close to the less active's how but could quite find it. Sister Liu asked an older lady on the side of the street, and the said it was her house. So we followed her, we met the less active's little sister, the older brother, the older sister, then she finally came home. We got to know pretty much the entire family. It was really cool. They are amazing, so we shared a short message with them.

On Saturday we were headed to the church. But we had some time before we switched companions. So we visited another less active family, but only the kids were home. We talked to them for a little bit. We found out it was the little girl’s birthday. So we got to sing happy birthday to her. Which was awesome? Then we shared a quick message about prayer, and how it will help her. Then headed to the church.

Love Sister Basko

Posted by mom and Thank you to all Veteran, past and present

Taiwan post November 6, 2013

In our area that we are serving in has a special English program. There is a college in Wufeng, Chaoyuan University, and we teach an English class there. It is really cool and many of our investigators come from the English class. Our newest investigators have come from this English class. Lot of students are from mainland China, and they have never had religion in their life, and here they are able to learn about it and they can feel the Holy Ghost so strongly because they have never really felt it before. It is so cool to see how they change, and how they have more interest when they are reading the Book of Mormon. After Chaoyuan we go down to Wufeng Library to teach our other English class. And some of the Chaoyuna students come down to the Wufeng Library to our other English class. Which is so awesome, they really have the desire to learn more, and at the Library we are able to share the gospel. So they can learn English and the gospel.

Sunday was fast Sunday, usually we don't eat dinner and breakfast, and eat right after church. But Sister Adams felt that we shouldn't start our fast so we didn't. We went and visited a recent convert out in Wufeng. She is so awesome. Her son recently turned 15, so they went out to dinner and invited us. So we went with them, got to know their sons and meet her husband. The food was so good. Their family has a really strong relationship; it would be so cool if they would all come to church together. We are helping them gain a stronger testimony and enduring to the end. The mother got to go to the temple for the first time this week!!! So excited for her.

Sunday was amazing. We fasted breakfast and lunch. After church we didn't have time to eat dinner before we left the apartment. We went to visit an investigator, she was so willing to share, and we ate some food there. We could have returned home and did some scripture studies or we could have visited some less active members we hadn't visited, we prayed about it and felt we should go to visit the less active. We did that, the Lord really provides when you are doing His work, our less active shared some food with us. They didn't know we hadn't eaten. It was a really cool experience.

We went up to Asia University in Wufeng with two of our investigators and Yoyo, a member. It was a lot of fun, talked about the gospel a little. Our main goal was to get to know them, and establish a relationship, so that we could better help them learn. After we went out and had ice-cream together.

Wednesday we went to the temple. We got up at 4:45am, got ready and left before 5:30am to get on the bus. There were no cars, or people or anything. We were a little worried the bus didn't run that early. So we said a prayer, and a bus and a taxi showed up at the same time. It was perfect. We got the chuandaobu way early, so we relaxed and then the bus came late. So we got up to the temple later. After the temple we took pictures outside. Then headed back to Taichung. Then headed back to our areas. And went right to English class. So fun!!! Lin Jiao Wei, Apple, and Sarah are leaving for their missions Thursday. They are headed to the Philippine MTC then to Taipei!!! They are going to be so amazing.

Love Sister Basko

posted by mom, this week's post is late because they had the opportunity to attend the Temple, so they didn't have their 'normal' prep day. What a great experience for them. Enjoy.