I just have to start by quoting the opening
paragraph of the email that Sis Pieper is writing to her family, because it's
pretty funny, and absolutely true:
"Our days have been full and rich lately,
mostly because Sister Murri (bless her little brain) likes to think, and
we are on a futile (essentialist) quest to discover the Taiwanese mind."
Isn't she poetic? I should also mention that
she's 27, is applying to study for her PhD, and has lived all over the world
and speaks several languages. And she likes quinoa, ginger tea, and having deep
discussions. So basically, we're having a blast!
This week our adventures included a trip to an
art museum, the XinZhu zoo, a daoist temple (which also included a sacrificed
apple that the keeper of the temple gave us to eat. Yum), and asking literally
everyone we meet about Taiwanese concepts of god, the spirit, what makes an
ideal family, and pretty much every other topic you can imagine.
We have been
considering lately how cultural traditions and norms such as "face",
"bu hao yisi", and filial tradition, as well as the influences of
character meaning and even art play into their understanding of the Restored
Gospel. We have learned SO much, and as we've started implementing small
changes into our teaching and proselyting, we've seen an increased ability to
connect to people. The Taiwanese people don't have much care for where we go
after we die, the need for prophets, the concept of sin and forgiveness...their
questions of the soul are just different. And we are determined to figure them
out! In the prayer given in 1921 for the dedication of China for missionary
work, President McKay asked that the missionaries sent to the Chinese realm
might "have a keen insight into the mental and spiritual state of the
Chinese mind". This is our theme paragraph because we are bringing it to
pass!
This week was pretty busy with two exchanges,
traveling to Taipei for temple day this morning and a STL meeting last week,
and specialized zone training. Z and L are solidly progressing, and we have a lot
of faith that they will be baptized in Feb! As for new investigators, we are
still on the low side. I think 9 months
ago that would have made me super stressed out, but being on my mission has
helped me to realize that as long as we as the tools are doing all we can to be
diligent, obedient, and qualified for the Lord's assistance, He will supply the
materials in His own time- and until then I will be happy to just continue
doing His work to the best of my ability.
I have learned a lot about prayer this week.
Prayer really is a form of work- I've noticed lately that my prayers have
fallen into more of a routine than a powerful tool. So I'm working to change
that.
Love you!
S. Murri
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