A Whole New World

The first day out of quarantine we were off to a running start, just the way we had hoped. President and Sister Peterson took our little group of incoming missionaries to a lovely little grove near the Grand Hotel, where we came to learn that it was the site

where Elder Mark E. Petersen, an Apostle, dedicated Taiwan to the preaching of the gospel on June 1, 1959. In that grove, we prayed and dedicated ourselves, consecrating our time and talents to building up His kingdom in Taiwan. It was a beautiful and touching way to start this grand adventure, making us feel connected to all of the people who have been part of this great work for the last 60+ years. The Lord has really blessed this island and its people. I believe it has something to do with their innate goodness and kindness. I have yet to meet a kinder group of people than the people of Taiwan. One local woman even insisted on having our picture taken with us in front of the hotel, talking and smiling the whole time.

From the Grand Hotel, we went to the mission president and companion's home, which is on the top two floors of the church office building, right across the street from the Taiwan Temple. They treated us to a delicious waffle buffet breakfast followed by an orientation which introduced us to the mission history, culture, and goals. After a staff meeting and training, we went to one of the local favorite restaurants and had our first authentic Taiwan meal, something Rick has looked forward to for a few decades now. The meal included xiao long bao (a type of dumpling), and spinach potstickers (I can't remember the Chinese name), along with a variety of side dishes. Forgive us if we end up talking about food a lot in these blogs, but there are so many local favorites that Rick has been talking about for the last 34 years of our marriage. We ended the evening by walking around the neighborhood we will be living in, which is a lively university neighborhood, with a number of cute little shops, restaurants, and a beautiful park with a playground.

But before we end the first remarkable day, allow me to reflect on what it meant to us to see the Taiwan Temple for the first time. Not only is it a beautiful building, but it is a deeply spiritual place where sacred ordinances are performed for the living and those who have passed away. Because of this, the temple is special to latter-day saints living in Taiwan. In an address delivered during the dedication of the Taipei Taiwan Temple in November 1984, President Gordon B. Hinckley noted that the temple was built on land previously occupied by a prison. “This house,” he said, “built on what was once prison property, will open the prison doors of the veil of death.” At night, the house of the Lord, bathed in light, stands out in the darkness, becoming a symbol of the power and the inspiration of the gospel of Jesus Christ standing as a beacon in a world that sinks ever further into spiritual darkness.  

The first day out of quarantine was a very special day for us, the perfect start to our mission. We are so excited to finally be here and feel so blessed. 

We love you all and we're grateful that you can share in this wonderful journey with us.