Sunday, August 23, 2015

Transferred !



Dear Family & Friends!!!

From the City to the Country! I was transferred and moved all the way on the east coast close to the bottom of Taiwan.
I'm current serving in Taidong! Super pretty and big! Never knew how big Taiwan really is. I have some picture from the first few days that I've been here!

It has been a blast. The first day though that we worked I felt super sick and I was in pain all day long. Didn't know what it was but my Sister Training Leaders reassured me that it was probably stress from moving to another place on my mission - I just realized that Taidong is my second area here in Taiwan! Wow, I was in the city for about 4 months! That's crazy. I hope I stay here in Taidong for a while too :)

This week was a crazy week. I only had one night to pack and then arrived at "Transfers meeting" the next morning  This meeting is for all the missionaries that are moving into a different areas and for those that are ending their missions. It was a sad thing to say good-bye to everyone. When you're sent to the east coast you don't get to see everyone very much.

From all the stress and moving I was able to have a first great sunday here in Taidong! The east is where the church is still being built! It's great! When we arrive to sacrament meeting I looked at the mother helping a young boy, probably 9 years old, pick prelude music. Turns out it's that the bishop's kid who plays the piano for sacrament. I loved it! Another thing is Taidong has long roads and we don't live close to the city so we bike about 20 minutes to our chapel! Totally different from the city of Shuang He, where I last served.

Here is my email for now! We're going to go take a trip down as missionaries to the beach. I've never been to the beach here in Taiwan! I'm super stoked!!!
Thank you for all your love and emails! Sorry, if you haven't been receiving my emails - I don't know what's going on with my email :(

Anyways, here is a great quote by Elder Bednar: "..Although He may not relieve all your suffering now. He will bless you with comfort and understanding and with strength to "bear up [your] burdens with ease,"" -Mosiah 24:15

Love sincerely Sister Komatsu!
Here are some quick bike ride pictures!




Safe After Typhoon !

Dear Family & Friends!

WOW! Thank you so much for your emails and your sincere concern! But I'm happy to report that all is well here after the huge typhoon ripped through Taiwan!

It is truly a blessing that we are all safe and sound! It was a crazy night and day when the typhoon came - the wind and rain was intense that I couldn't sleep very much. Then that Saturday we we're all told by our Mission President to stay indoors for the rest of the day! Then at 7pm we were let go  and did some missionary work.While walking along the streets there were so many trees and debris int he streets - tin roofs and big commercial signs blown off. It was the closest I've been to a  huge natural disaster.

Many have written that it was a huge storm not only in Taiwan since 20 years ago but also the hugest one on earth in 2015. That's crazy! It was my first typhoon!

This whole storm thing is kind of ironic because last week wednesday we talked about current events in our english class. We shared that there are a lot of events happening in our lives and that things are constantly changing. We then shared a scripture from Ether 12:4 ( I always seem to share this scripture but I love it!) The prophet Ether says: "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Then I drew a picture of a boat and talked about sailing - about how I use to sail. While you sail you have to be aware of things that are going on around you: the wind, current, and much more. Also, talked about how the wind is the driving force while you sail - without wind you aren't able to go anywhere but in strong winds, like a storm, there is a chance you will be likely tossed, and turned, and eventually lost at sea. On this boat I drew a anchor and explained that I have been through alot of up and downs -that I've experienced a lot of storms in my life and continue to but through what I believe and know to be true I've been able to weather out the storms. I have a sure anchor  and this anchor is Christ and His gospel. It also represents my faith and my belief. There will always be storms and trials that will beat upon us but if are willing to lower down our anchor and trust in Heavenly Father then we will be sure and steadfast through the storms that we face. I know this to be true and I'm grateful to be a missionary and to have these challenges and hardships because I know it is Heavenly Father who is shaping and refining me into a stronger and more steadfast servant! I'm definitely stronger than I realize when I have Heavenly Father watching over me!

I wish you all well! Thank you so much for your emails and concerns! I pray for you all!
Love you dearly!!!

PS I'm  sorry that I only have a couple of pictures but for more of the typhoon in my area you can go to TaiwanTaipeiMission.com for recent updates and pictures! Also, here are pictures from Last P-day after I emailed. We went to Chiang Kai Shiek Memorial in Central Taipei! I was fun and its so beautiful!!
Sincerely, Sister Komatsu 小松姐妹


Chiang Kai Siek Memorial! It's so huge