Oh, the weather outside is FRIGHTFUL, but we're all together again!

The weather is definitely FRIGHTFULLY COLD!!

-35 wind chill yesterday and today.

Tomorrow we are suppose to get 8" - 10" of snow.

However, we are all together again!

Matthew has been in Taiwan and China for the last 10 days. He returned Saturday night, as did Elizabeth from BYU. It's GREAT to have everyone home together.

Matthew really enjoyed his time in Taiwan. This was his first trip back since we moved from there in 1994. He was able to go to the central part of Taiwan where he served his mission and visit a family he taught on his mission. I think it was one of his happiest weekends ever!

Dec. 14, 2008 -- Matthew with the Ma Family

Twenty four years ago, Matthew was serving his mission in Taiwan. He had the honor of teaching the Ma family with the Branch President, President Chao. It was a highlight of his mission. The Ma's were baptized and have been serving faithfully in the Church ever since. (Brother Ma served as a Bishop for 7 years. When Matthew served there as a missionary, there were only a district full of members. Now there are three stakes.) They were able to adopt a daughter who is was married in the Temple and now she and her husband are raising their two daughters, the Ma's granddaughters, with the Gospel.

Last Tuesday, Matthew was in China in a meeting with a Chinese gentleman whom he had worked with before. This man knew that Matthew was Mormon---they had had the discussion of how Matthew knows Chinese etc. before. During the meeting on Tuesday, this gentleman changed the subject abuptly and said, "I'm going to call one of your Mormon friends so you can talk to him."

Matthew did kind of make the assumption that this Mormon friend he was going to call was probably from Taiwan---still, there are over 12 million Mormons and over 21 million Taiwanese. Now, what are the chances that this gentleman from mainland China knew another Mormon, much less someone that Matthew knows???? Well, it turns out, 100%.

When this gentleman started talking about his Mormon friend that he would call so Matthew could talk to him, Matthew's mind immediately went back to being with the Ma family on Sunday. The Mas had mentioned that they had been with President Chao the day before (Saturday) in the Temple in Taipei. The Mas had told Matthew that President Chao was now living in Wuhan, China. The thought came to him that that was whom the gentleman was going to call.

Before he made the call, Matthew asked if the person he was calling was living in Wuhan, China. "Yes."

Next question: "Is his last name Chao?" Again, "Yes." Matthew then told him that when he had served his mission in Taiwan, President Chao was a leader in a congregation in which he served.

The gentleman made his call and told the person on the other end of the line that he had someone for him to talk to. Matthew had thought many times of the Ma's since his mission, but hadn't really thought about President Chao. It was a fun reunion for him on the phone.

Some might call this a coincidence. We would say it is another amazing connection made by the Lord between two people you would never know had a connection---much less a connection made over two decades ago.

Perhaps there is a reason this Chinese gentleman, who knows Matthew and connected him with another Mormon friend, is finding Mormon friends in his life's pathway.

Coincidence? No.

Miracles and blessings? Absolutely!