You know, I've decided I'm just going to stop trying to predict where I am going to be and who my companion is going to be and stuff, but recently it's usually just ended up being wrong. I was all settled and ready to spend another six weeks in Shizhong with my cute Korean Sister Eo, and then at 10:28 on Saturday night I got a phone call. "Sister Cardon," President Blickenstaff said. "I would like you to serve as a Sister Training Leader in Jiayi with Sister Thao. Is that okay?" "No, that's not okay," I responded. haha I'm just kidding I didn't say that. I think I kind of sputtered and mumbled and said umm yes at some point. Wait but I'm not kidding that I've been called to serve as an STL, which is pretty exciting! For those of you unfamiliar with the organization of a mission, we have various leadership positions such as zone leaders and district leaders, who both lead and help other missionaries and report numbers and stuff. But there's also Sister Training Leaders, who are called to help the sisters in their zone. The difference that it makes to me now is that I will be going on exchanges a lot more often, I get to make a lot more phone calls, and I will definitely be striving to increase my humility and faith. I've had several very good STLs on my mission so far and I hope that I will be able to help the sisters in my zone as those ones have helped me.
New area! Jiayi is more in the middle of Taiwan, between Taizhong and Tainan. They are famous for eating Turkey Rice and having nice people. I already love it here; the city has a great small-town feel and the streets are small. Wow, I really did miss having just two-lane roads while I was in Shizhong. I am so excited to be here for the next while. I will likely be here for 3 months at least; this is Sister Thao's last move call so she wil be going home in six weeks, so I will be probably be here for at least a transfer after that. And then I only have one more transfer left myself, so this very well might be the last time I move until I go to America. But we don't talk about that.
Fun facts about Sister Thao: her family has 8 people and they are Hmong! She grew up in Wisconsin and speaks three languages (English, Chinese, Hmong). She is great.
As for this past week in Shizhong, it was pretty good! We had an English party that was... fairly successful. Lots of people came. It was Halloween-themed. Note to all: don't try to make toilet paper mummies at a Taiwanese Halloween party unless you want it to end up like snow in the cultural hall.
The best part of this week, of course, was listening to General Conference! I love Conference. It was so neat to hear the testimonies of our inspired leaders, especially the three new apostles. Did anyone catch that Elder Stevenson's son is serving in Taiwan? Did anyone think to ask me if maybe that son is serving as a zone leader in Taizhong right now? Yeah that's right. Our mission has an apostle's son. No I haven't ever actually met him. But I probably will at the next mission leadership conference! So that's cool.
I was struck by how many speakers in conference spoke on the theme of obedience, even if that wasn't necessarily their topic. I feel like we are being reminded more and more that each of us needs to develop our personal testimony and stay true to the standards and commandments we believe. It is so important for us to be strong examples of the believers and remember the covenants and promises we believe! One of my favorite talks was from Larry S Lawrence, who spoke about the Spirit and how we can ask to know what ways we can improve. I loved all the examples he gave, even such little things such as interrupting people or complaining can hinder us from spiritually progressing. I think we can all relate that we have little quirks and habits that we can try to improve. And the cool thing is, we aren't alone in trying to change ourselves! We have the Savior and the Atonement by our side to help us get through it.
Love you all! Hope you have a great week and find ways to improve.
Sister Cardon
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