Wu lai - pronounced "oooh - lie"

Saturday's adventure was so neat! Sister Xia from the temple took us on a train ride to the city of Xin dian and then up the mountain by bus to a place called Wu lai. It rained the whole time and was cold, but it was worth it, for it was soo beautiful. Wu lai Falls is breath-taking, and the shops quaint and interesting. Our first stop after purchasing what I thought was a big piece of pineapple on a stick, which turned out to be a yellow rice cake, (I should have known - EVERYTHING here has to do with rice), was an aborigine museum where we were allowed to practice weaving! There were several different tribes that inhabited Taiwan years ago. Most of the tribes were head-hunters!! They believed in a world of spirits after our death and that in order to enter that world, the men had to have killed and put up in their home, the head of the deceased! The more heads, the better status you would have in the world of spirits because, the spirit of the headless one, instead of seeking revenge on the one who killed him, was subject to him and would help him from that time forward! The "coming of age" advent entailed the boys being able to get a head, and the girls being able to weave and make an intricate article of clothing with the cloth! I"m glad we live in this day and age!! We then had a lunch of fish from the Xin dian river, which ran from the waterfall and our dear friend told us of her conversion. She had been converted by missionaries some years before, but had become inactive. Then her father died and she became very impressed to go back to church. Since then, she has had his Temple work done and has a solid testimony of the Savior now! She is the only member in her family and hopes to bring them to the knowledge of the gospel some day! She loves working in the Temple and helps there whenever they need her and she can! Her mother is supportive of her work in the Temple, too, which is very encouraging! She then took us to see the hot springs and as we passed the Chinese people who were bathing there, she had us wish them all ," Xin Nian Kuai le" (pronounced sheen nee 'n' kwi la). You should have seen their response - they laughed and waved and clapped their hands for joy!! These people are really nice!! We finally took a mini-train up to the base of the Falls and more souvenir shops. It was a really nice day together. I'm so glad we get to wear our badges because a lot of people look at them and want to let us know that they are Christian, too, which gives us opportunities to give them a pamphlet or talk about our wonderful beliefs! Here's the pictures:



We are ready to go for a walk in the rain. This is the beginning of the shops here at Wu lai!



On the bridge, crossing over the river to the other side where more shops were, and the museum of the Aborigines!













This was so cool! The lady showed us how to weave those beautiful Indian blankets on the big looms! Dad would not do it because he said they would kick him out if he tried to make them!







Sister Xia took such good care of us! She would hardly let one drop of rain get on either of us! This is on the bridge crossing over to the mini-trains that took us to the base of the Wu lai Waterfall!















The bridge where we were standing, in the photo above! The water was the prettiest color of green, but it doesn't show in the picture.








The "bathers" who clapped and waved at us when we wished them "New Year Happy!!" Notice the lady who is holding her umbrella - she doesn't want the rain to get her wet!










Sister Xia, on the mini-train! She had me put the plastic curtains back so we could smell how nice and fresh the mountain air was!













Here's a better picture of the mini-train. We decided not to ride it down the mountain. Instead, we hiked down! It was very invigorating!












A very nice Chinese couple and their son took this of all of us at the base of Wu lai Falls! We then, took their picture for them!


We are so grateful to be able to do these things every once in a great while. We talk often of the wonderful people and experiences we would have missed had we not served these two missions! Father has blessed us so very much!! Not only with a great family, but now with the opportunity to love many people and cultures in other parts of the world!