Keelung is awesome. We don't get lost anymore, but that just about wraps up last week’s experiences. Ha-ha, Keelung is famous for its hills and its winding roads and especially its rain!!! The map is only helpful when you can look at it in a dry environment, but then again it gets really confusing because of all the different winding roads! Ha-ha. Our house is located in a community on a hill, and our building is on the highest hill in that community, where we live on the thirteenth floor. Coming home at nights is always an adventure! It takes 10 minutes to get to the church from our house, but 25 minutes to our house from the church. I love it!!! Ha-ha, my bike begs to differ. Good old Kathi, (he named his bike after Aunt Kathi because she gave him money before his mission.) she is on her last threads, life is almost stripped from her, but she'll make it. Originally, my bike had 24 gears, now that she's so old. only gears 10-17 are accessible. Ha-ha, that’s why going up and down all them hills makes for such an adventure.
Our church is located right in the middle of the city, right along the edge of the bay/port, where there are a couple MASSIVE tour boats always docked. It’s on the 5th and 6th floor of a building right above a hospital. I think our ward at home could adopt this idea.
We have found a lot of investigators...we've been setting them with baptismal dates on the street! Most people reject, but we've found 2 already that have accepted. One on the street and the other afterwards. When we ran into him and invited him on the street he said he needed a little bit more time to think about it. Then he set a date on Monday! Surprisingly, all of our investigators are Christian. Usually they are harder to teach than Buddhists. Regardless, there are currently four in our pool and 2 set for this transfer!!! One is named Brother Wang...we might just quit meeting with him because he doesn't seem like he is going to progress. He's met with missionaries on and off for seven years!!!! He has a light of false concepts and doctrine instilled in his brain. Basically, he meets with us to try and prove our church wrong, and it makes him angry that it never works...so we always tell him to humble himself before God and simply ask which church to join. However he's not willing to pray, so were “killing” him. The next is Brother Yu....he is our miracle!!!! He is married, but when we met with him, only he came. We found him on the street, (because I'm used to Hualien and never seeing anyone on the streets) one day we were flying down a hill and I saw a man getting on his motorcycle, so I slammed my brakes on. We talked for 15 minutes, invited to be baptized, he said he needed time and he was willing to reset up. The next time we met with him he was hooked, even though he is "new life church" he knows the need for a Restoration, so we asked him if he had desire to know if it was true and he responded, “How do I read the Book of Mormon so I can know that its true?” (AWESOME QUESTION) 3 Nephi 13:7.... BAM!!!!!! He set a date for 11/7 and committed to all the other commitments. This is may just be the guy we came for! We’ll meet with him on Friday!
We've also been visiting A LOT of inactives!!!! There are a billion! We've been focusing on a Zhang family. The dad is AWESOME!!! And so are the kids, they love us! They want us to come back all the time and they even committed to come to church this week because they want to eat the fruit that grows on the tree of life!!!!! Ha-ha
Last week was the autumn moon festival. We were on exchanges and we went to two consecutive BBQ’s, eating a total of 4 steaks, 2 squid, 2 fish, 7 moon pies, and more!!! Best day of my life and yes, squid is delicious!!
In my English class we've got a student who will be baptized fairly soon! I named him.... J-money. Ha-ha, he is awesome!
I love my companion; he is so similar to Elder Larson its ridiculous!!! He is VERY advanced for a greenie. Chinese, testimony, everything is way LEHI…amazing. He is very funny, patient, calm, everything. He knows how to study. I've learned a lot from him. He speaks fluent French and some Spanish. !
He’s very impressed with how many scooters there are and all the simple things. It’s helping me to enjoy my experience here in Taiwan to the fullest!
Being district leader is different. I get to teach district meeting for 1 1/2 hours each week. It’s a good experience and I've been learning a lot from it. The zone leaders mentioned something to me. They said that the last district meeting I taught was perfectly in line with what they learned at Jedi council for this transfer. Ha-ha, it was really cool. I guess the Lord even inspired me to share the same references and everything while teaching the same principles that were taught at a meeting I didn't even go to, ha-ha.
A lot of missionaries are still really timid about inviting people to be baptized while out on the street. It’s kind of a new focus in the mission but after some of the blessing the Lord has allowed us to see ever since me and Elder Leavitt moved to Keelung, the excitement and Spirit towards this invite have increased and the whole Keelung district is now focusing on the invite for baptism! Prayers have changed. Prayers of faith are being said, pretty soon the whole mission will figure out the kinks and learn how to invite boldly!!!!!
ANYWAY! Life is terrific! My shoes are dry finally, they've been wet for a week. Now we're going bowling. LOVE YOU, ELDER DANIELS!!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Baptisms. Transfer. Saying goodbye. Training a greenie
I don't know where to start. I've got another "greenie" in the chair next to me. :) I am no longer in Hualien. I now live back in Taipei in a place called Keelung City, Taiwan’s second most beautiful place. It’s in the north near a big bay, there are a lot of beautiful hills and our apartment is at the very top of one! This apartment was found by a previous missionary named Elder “Payne,” go figure, ha-ha, he was famous for being such a workaholic. He did 700 pushups a day and I guess he thought it'd be cool to find an apartment in the boonies in a really nice complex on the top of a hill! I still don't know the full name of our area, we are completely lost, but it’s awesome! I love white washing an area, it is a blast!
It all started on Thursday night when the AP called at 9:12 at night while we were teaching a lesson. Although we didn't answer the phone, I already new what was coming. On the bike ride home I decided to call Elder Dickson at a red light and ask him the details. He played it up and said, “Call us back when you get home. We have some accountability information to follow up on.” I felt he was bluffing. When I got home I called him back and he asked me if Hank had passed his interview or not. After I responded yes, he said, “Great! That’s all, talk to you later.” Two seconds after I hung up he called back and said he had another piece of information to tell me, having to do with me going to Taipei to pick up my greeny!! Ha-ha, I felt it was coming but I was still shocked! So my comp and I went up to the mission office in Taipei the next day because he was called to train as well. We went through the same routine of singing “Called to Serve” as the new missionaries came into the room. They called out “Elder Leavitt and Elder Daniels,” and I am his trainer.
Elder Leavitt is awesome! His personality is the spitting image of my beloved Elder Larson. He is very humble, relaxed, yet full of faith. He isn't shy about sharing his testimony! I can't wait to work with him. Elder Dickson said he and Elder Gassin tried five times to get me called to back to San Chong, however, President denied it every time. This tells me that there is something important waiting here in Ji Long.
When we rode the train back to Hualien and talked about our backgrounds. He is from Washington DC and his parents currently live in Salt Lake City. Everyone in his family served missions except his sister, however, everyone is married in the temple. My companion speaks fluent French, he was a foreign exchange student for 2 years in France, and he also has a pilot license. AWESOME huh!
There is a lot in store for me to learn in my last two transfers. I imagine both will be spent with Elder Leavitt!
When we got back to Hualien we got right to work teaching lessons. His Chinese is very good already and the Taiwanese think it’s cute. :)
Friday was the busiest day of my life! I almost died because there were about 10 activities going on, including a baptismal service, and I had to pack ALL of my stuff. On a sad note, news that hurts the heart, two hours before the service, Hank decided not to be baptized. He is boggled down by a whole bunch of abstract questions such as, “Where did Heavenly Father come from?” It doesn't matter in the end because He is a Creator. Enough said. But anyway, he felt he needs more time, so we respected that. It was really sad but it’s good he wasn't baptized at this time. On a positive note, Peter and William have both been baptized and confirmed successfully! It was an amazing service!!! The Spirit was really strong. Jeff baptized William and my greenie baptized Peter. They both failed on the first try, so they were both dunked twice. :)
HOORAY! Their testimonies were very strong. Immediately after the meeting I had to go and send my luggage to my new area so I didn't get to stay around afterward. :( Oh well. After the luggage was sent, we took Jeff and William to meet with a man and his son who have been investigating the church for seven years and have never attended! However, after some seriously heart wrenching testimonies, Jack and his son finally committed, and came to church! Sunday was also busy. Jack came, but Hank didn't and I wasn’t able to see him before I left Hualien. Oh man, but he will continue to meet with my companion and Elder Lords, the missionary who will replace me. Elder Lords was in my MTC district. ( Elder Lords will be returning on the same flights as Jonathan. I don’t think they know that yet.) Sunday was awesome. I bore my testimony. It was difficult to leave Hualien, that’s all I have to say. We also performed a special musical number, “Nearer My God to Thee,” and the spirit was awesome!!! After that the District President gave a powerful talk concerning the importance of doctrine.
Sunday night we had a missionary fireside and of course it was another HUGE success! We had a scavenger hunt and it was the most hilarious sight in the world watching everyone solving the clues that we gave through scripture and trying to find hidden puzzle pieces around the church, ha-ha. The Taiwanese get really fired up over that type of activity. Afterwards I gave a talk on the Atonement and we watched a video called "To This End Was I Born." It was powerful and once again, this was a fireside that produced two different kinds of tears, laughter, and emotional, ha-ha!
Sunday night Jeff called me and sang “Our Savior’s Love” over the phone. Then he shared his testimony leaving me with an invite to never leave the church. I don't think I've had a more emotional experience on my mission. I love Jeff. He is my best friend and the most converted person I know. I also said goodbye to Susan and her mother, Wang Mama, the person who called you, Mom, ha-ha, and to Peter, William and loads of other loved ones. It was hard.
Monday morning everyone came to eat breakfast. We took pictures and Elder Leavitt and I left.
Times up. I'm in Keelung now; we cleaned the house all day. I love you family!!!
It all started on Thursday night when the AP called at 9:12 at night while we were teaching a lesson. Although we didn't answer the phone, I already new what was coming. On the bike ride home I decided to call Elder Dickson at a red light and ask him the details. He played it up and said, “Call us back when you get home. We have some accountability information to follow up on.” I felt he was bluffing. When I got home I called him back and he asked me if Hank had passed his interview or not. After I responded yes, he said, “Great! That’s all, talk to you later.” Two seconds after I hung up he called back and said he had another piece of information to tell me, having to do with me going to Taipei to pick up my greeny!! Ha-ha, I felt it was coming but I was still shocked! So my comp and I went up to the mission office in Taipei the next day because he was called to train as well. We went through the same routine of singing “Called to Serve” as the new missionaries came into the room. They called out “Elder Leavitt and Elder Daniels,” and I am his trainer.
Elder Leavitt is awesome! His personality is the spitting image of my beloved Elder Larson. He is very humble, relaxed, yet full of faith. He isn't shy about sharing his testimony! I can't wait to work with him. Elder Dickson said he and Elder Gassin tried five times to get me called to back to San Chong, however, President denied it every time. This tells me that there is something important waiting here in Ji Long.
When we rode the train back to Hualien and talked about our backgrounds. He is from Washington DC and his parents currently live in Salt Lake City. Everyone in his family served missions except his sister, however, everyone is married in the temple. My companion speaks fluent French, he was a foreign exchange student for 2 years in France, and he also has a pilot license. AWESOME huh!
There is a lot in store for me to learn in my last two transfers. I imagine both will be spent with Elder Leavitt!
When we got back to Hualien we got right to work teaching lessons. His Chinese is very good already and the Taiwanese think it’s cute. :)
Friday was the busiest day of my life! I almost died because there were about 10 activities going on, including a baptismal service, and I had to pack ALL of my stuff. On a sad note, news that hurts the heart, two hours before the service, Hank decided not to be baptized. He is boggled down by a whole bunch of abstract questions such as, “Where did Heavenly Father come from?” It doesn't matter in the end because He is a Creator. Enough said. But anyway, he felt he needs more time, so we respected that. It was really sad but it’s good he wasn't baptized at this time. On a positive note, Peter and William have both been baptized and confirmed successfully! It was an amazing service!!! The Spirit was really strong. Jeff baptized William and my greenie baptized Peter. They both failed on the first try, so they were both dunked twice. :)
HOORAY! Their testimonies were very strong. Immediately after the meeting I had to go and send my luggage to my new area so I didn't get to stay around afterward. :( Oh well. After the luggage was sent, we took Jeff and William to meet with a man and his son who have been investigating the church for seven years and have never attended! However, after some seriously heart wrenching testimonies, Jack and his son finally committed, and came to church! Sunday was also busy. Jack came, but Hank didn't and I wasn’t able to see him before I left Hualien. Oh man, but he will continue to meet with my companion and Elder Lords, the missionary who will replace me. Elder Lords was in my MTC district. ( Elder Lords will be returning on the same flights as Jonathan. I don’t think they know that yet.) Sunday was awesome. I bore my testimony. It was difficult to leave Hualien, that’s all I have to say. We also performed a special musical number, “Nearer My God to Thee,” and the spirit was awesome!!! After that the District President gave a powerful talk concerning the importance of doctrine.
Sunday night we had a missionary fireside and of course it was another HUGE success! We had a scavenger hunt and it was the most hilarious sight in the world watching everyone solving the clues that we gave through scripture and trying to find hidden puzzle pieces around the church, ha-ha. The Taiwanese get really fired up over that type of activity. Afterwards I gave a talk on the Atonement and we watched a video called "To This End Was I Born." It was powerful and once again, this was a fireside that produced two different kinds of tears, laughter, and emotional, ha-ha!
Sunday night Jeff called me and sang “Our Savior’s Love” over the phone. Then he shared his testimony leaving me with an invite to never leave the church. I don't think I've had a more emotional experience on my mission. I love Jeff. He is my best friend and the most converted person I know. I also said goodbye to Susan and her mother, Wang Mama, the person who called you, Mom, ha-ha, and to Peter, William and loads of other loved ones. It was hard.
Monday morning everyone came to eat breakfast. We took pictures and Elder Leavitt and I left.
Times up. I'm in Keelung now; we cleaned the house all day. I love you family!!!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Zone baptism goal will be met on Saturday!
Oh man! C’mon cougars. Sheesh. Oh, well. Referring to the loss on Sat. :(
I don't know what will happen with transfers next week, the Lord’s will I presume.
I suppose its 50/50 staying or leaving. The thing is, if I leave, I don't know where I will go. Ha-ha, dang, oh well, I like change. I would love to end my mission in Hualien, though. (Jonathan has three months left.) I’ve been blessed to stay in areas for long periods of time and I’ve only had three areas. :) I would love to stay here and find more people to baptize and continue to teach our current investigators.
The ones that will be BAPTIZED this Saturday, the 26th:
Hank still needs to pass an interview, however, he failed the last one because he still hadn't stopped drinking tea and coffee. But, since Sunday he was proactive about forsaking and repenting of the sin and desires to have another interview so he can be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. All three of our investigators are really good and will be baptized this weekend. William is 21 years old, Peter is 50 years old, and Hank is 45 years old. Peter and William sang in the choir with us this past Sunday for the District Conference where President Grimley and President Watson came down and spoke for 2 hours on the importance of going to the temple. Peter, William and Hank have already started preparing their genealogy records so they can go to the temple! Besides these three investigators, there will be two little girls from the Sister’s side as well as a member baptism on that day.
This past Saturday I got to conduct two baptismal interviews. The first was funny because it was a 9 year-old girl who was scheduled to do her interview with Elder Ye, however she was too afraid to meet with him and was only willing to do the interview with me, ha-ha. What can I say, the mei mei's (the little girls) love me! The second interview was a handful because it was the kid that didn't pass last time. He has failed four interviews. It’s really hard to interpret his situation because he lies and says he is prepared, but every time he meets in the interview, he changes because those interviews have POWER!!!! You cannot lie in a baptismal interview because the power of God will not have it!!! It’s nuts, ha-ha. Anyway, he asked a billion questions and I told him that these types of questions aren't to be asked in an interview. He has been told all the answers before in the first place. He still has a few issues to work on. The Hualien Elders were disappointed and are planning on dropping him.
By the way, when President Grimley was here, I asked an important question concerning my future. How can I teach and be in the Air Force at the same time? (This is my interest). It’s right up his alley because he did exactly that for thirty years. He said he went through ROTC and joined the Air Force Reserves which allowed him to carry on a normal occupation in teaching while having to fulfill his monthly Air Force requirements. So that is an option
This Sunday we took the Sacrament to Juliana the Filipino and while there, her very self-deprecating boss actually sat down and listened to a 40 minute lesson, committing to read the Book of Mormon and pray every single day! Her concern of having a really old body was resolved by teaching about the resurrection!!! She said she hopes that it’s true. If you knew this lady; hearing these words that left her mouth would put you into a coma...it was INSANITY!!!
We’re going to get our Zone goal of ten baptisms, beating it by two! This is the first time I have ever seen a Zone goal accomplished on my mission!!!
Today for preparation day we had a BBQ in the mountains. I love my mission, my district, branch, and companion.
Goodbye, I love my family!
I don't know what will happen with transfers next week, the Lord’s will I presume.
I suppose its 50/50 staying or leaving. The thing is, if I leave, I don't know where I will go. Ha-ha, dang, oh well, I like change. I would love to end my mission in Hualien, though. (Jonathan has three months left.) I’ve been blessed to stay in areas for long periods of time and I’ve only had three areas. :) I would love to stay here and find more people to baptize and continue to teach our current investigators.
The ones that will be BAPTIZED this Saturday, the 26th:
Hank still needs to pass an interview, however, he failed the last one because he still hadn't stopped drinking tea and coffee. But, since Sunday he was proactive about forsaking and repenting of the sin and desires to have another interview so he can be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. All three of our investigators are really good and will be baptized this weekend. William is 21 years old, Peter is 50 years old, and Hank is 45 years old. Peter and William sang in the choir with us this past Sunday for the District Conference where President Grimley and President Watson came down and spoke for 2 hours on the importance of going to the temple. Peter, William and Hank have already started preparing their genealogy records so they can go to the temple! Besides these three investigators, there will be two little girls from the Sister’s side as well as a member baptism on that day.
This past Saturday I got to conduct two baptismal interviews. The first was funny because it was a 9 year-old girl who was scheduled to do her interview with Elder Ye, however she was too afraid to meet with him and was only willing to do the interview with me, ha-ha. What can I say, the mei mei's (the little girls) love me! The second interview was a handful because it was the kid that didn't pass last time. He has failed four interviews. It’s really hard to interpret his situation because he lies and says he is prepared, but every time he meets in the interview, he changes because those interviews have POWER!!!! You cannot lie in a baptismal interview because the power of God will not have it!!! It’s nuts, ha-ha. Anyway, he asked a billion questions and I told him that these types of questions aren't to be asked in an interview. He has been told all the answers before in the first place. He still has a few issues to work on. The Hualien Elders were disappointed and are planning on dropping him.
By the way, when President Grimley was here, I asked an important question concerning my future. How can I teach and be in the Air Force at the same time? (This is my interest). It’s right up his alley because he did exactly that for thirty years. He said he went through ROTC and joined the Air Force Reserves which allowed him to carry on a normal occupation in teaching while having to fulfill his monthly Air Force requirements. So that is an option
This Sunday we took the Sacrament to Juliana the Filipino and while there, her very self-deprecating boss actually sat down and listened to a 40 minute lesson, committing to read the Book of Mormon and pray every single day! Her concern of having a really old body was resolved by teaching about the resurrection!!! She said she hopes that it’s true. If you knew this lady; hearing these words that left her mouth would put you into a coma...it was INSANITY!!!
We’re going to get our Zone goal of ten baptisms, beating it by two! This is the first time I have ever seen a Zone goal accomplished on my mission!!!
Today for preparation day we had a BBQ in the mountains. I love my mission, my district, branch, and companion.
Goodbye, I love my family!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Baptisms on the 26th!!!
HEY FAMILY!!!! GO COUGARS!!!!!!
So yeah! Today time is cut short because I had to figure out the whole applying for classes thing at BYU and it still won't let me apply for classes because I am considered a sophomore and I think the freshmen get first dibs!
This week was great. Our district is preparing 7 people for baptism on the 26th. We are going to get our zone goal of ten! Taidong has already passed 7. On our part we have four!
William- Last week he was really struggling, however, he has turned completely around!! He is living a worthy life, he has repented and he has felt the remission of sins. We watched a movie where a young man reads the Book of Mormon and gets a testimony, he invites the missionaries to meet with his 7 member family and they all get baptized in the end. At the end of the video, William said, “I understand now. I want to share these feelings with my family!” His mom was baptized 20 years ago, but through her son, the Lord is giving her a second chance. She's been inactive for 19 years.
HANK is so, so, so, so, so GOLDEN still! He amazes us in every lesson. A couple lessons ago our pei ke asked him, "Do you feel you need to be baptized?" Hank was practically offended by the question, replied "RUBBISH," and almost fell out of his chair! It was the funniest, most happy experience of my entire mission. After the lesson I said kiddingly to the pei ke, "Try not to offend our investigators from now on," and he laughed really hard, ha-ha. Hank is set and he and William and Peter all cannot WAIT to be baptized and start the path. We have been teaching them about the temple recently because they already finished the other lessons.
Peter. He is legit. He is living a worthy life as well, he even sings in the choir now, and he is making friends. He is less shy (still quite shy) but he is coming out now. He has felt the remission of sins and is set for baptism and he's pumped to go to the temple to do the work for his mother he loved very much, who was a very devout Catholic.
Last is online. We still haven’t met with him but he passed his interview in Taipei, his parents oppose, but he is turning 25 and of age, he’ll be baptized on the 26 of his own decision.
The Sisters have two little girls they are teaching and the Elders have a long time investigator now set and ready to go!!! That’s it for today. Time is gone. I LOVE YOU!
So yeah! Today time is cut short because I had to figure out the whole applying for classes thing at BYU and it still won't let me apply for classes because I am considered a sophomore and I think the freshmen get first dibs!
This week was great. Our district is preparing 7 people for baptism on the 26th. We are going to get our zone goal of ten! Taidong has already passed 7. On our part we have four!
William- Last week he was really struggling, however, he has turned completely around!! He is living a worthy life, he has repented and he has felt the remission of sins. We watched a movie where a young man reads the Book of Mormon and gets a testimony, he invites the missionaries to meet with his 7 member family and they all get baptized in the end. At the end of the video, William said, “I understand now. I want to share these feelings with my family!” His mom was baptized 20 years ago, but through her son, the Lord is giving her a second chance. She's been inactive for 19 years.
HANK is so, so, so, so, so GOLDEN still! He amazes us in every lesson. A couple lessons ago our pei ke asked him, "Do you feel you need to be baptized?" Hank was practically offended by the question, replied "RUBBISH," and almost fell out of his chair! It was the funniest, most happy experience of my entire mission. After the lesson I said kiddingly to the pei ke, "Try not to offend our investigators from now on," and he laughed really hard, ha-ha. Hank is set and he and William and Peter all cannot WAIT to be baptized and start the path. We have been teaching them about the temple recently because they already finished the other lessons.
Peter. He is legit. He is living a worthy life as well, he even sings in the choir now, and he is making friends. He is less shy (still quite shy) but he is coming out now. He has felt the remission of sins and is set for baptism and he's pumped to go to the temple to do the work for his mother he loved very much, who was a very devout Catholic.
Last is online. We still haven’t met with him but he passed his interview in Taipei, his parents oppose, but he is turning 25 and of age, he’ll be baptized on the 26 of his own decision.
The Sisters have two little girls they are teaching and the Elders have a long time investigator now set and ready to go!!! That’s it for today. Time is gone. I LOVE YOU!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Life is so good!
I have a couple awesome experiences to share with you today, but before that I will leave a brief report of our investigators.
William, is struggling with _____, and we are saddened by this. He has a good heart though, and a desire to change, but his faith is weak. He and Jeff both have another problem with their boss at work, a very "unfair man," however the way Jeff deals with it is a lot better than William because of the difference in faith. Like unto that of Nephi and his brothers! He’s got a lot of work to do before he is baptized on the 26th. We invited him to destroy all of his stuff that tempted him and to clean his apartment.
COOL EXPERIENCE yesterday. Sharing with a half listening, half zoning out William, about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I started to bear testimony. The moment the words, "I know that Jesus Christ took upon himself the sins of the world," left my mouth, the ground started to tremble. Seriously, a 3-second earthquake happened! It was incredible!
Peter Zhang, no problems whatsoever. He is now living a completely worthy life and he finally resolved his work situation so he can come to Sacrament meeting on Sundays! He is starting to become more and more relaxed and friendly with us, (such a shy man) but he's very set and excited to be baptized and enter the gate.
Hank-- Ridiculously golden still! Sister members of the ward told me they could tell how excited he was about the gospel by they way that he shook there hands, full of glee I presume, leaving a sore wrist for those who dare shake his hand. When we invited him to keep the law of tithing he was offended that we would even ask! Ha-ha, "I'm sorry, Hank, we have to ask the question."
On exchanges, Elder Yee was able to learn that it’s possible to set up people in the afternoon. We said a prayer and the first door we knocked on allowed us in. It was a 28 year-old man and his 19 year-old partner. It was an AMAZING LESSON and we addressed all of their concerns. They showed interest, and expressed their desire to start living their lives in a gospel manner. They came to church and they brought a friend, and they even set baptismal dates! They have investigated a lot of other churches but they were really moved as we shared our testimonies of the importance of an eternal family.
On Sunday we forgot to take bread to do the Sacrament for Juliana the Filipina. She takes care of old people and can’t get work off on Sunday so we go to her. Her life is hard since she is separated from her husband who has a girlfriend in the Philippines and she is in Taiwan making money for her 2 kids so they can go to school. However, the kids have chosen to drop out and drink beer instead. Her family is in a wreck but Juliana has so much faith. Anyway as the funny story goes, we forgot to bring bread to her house for the Sacrament so we used a cookie instead. This cookie was given to us by her boss who is Buddhist, and it just so turns out that this cookie was part of the food that had been previously put on a table with incense sticks, being an ancient Buddhist ritual. For a long time in Chinese history, people have put food on tables as a method of worshipping their ancestors and their ghosts “come and eat the spirit out of the food” and then the food is distributed amongst the people. So we used a cookie with no spirit for the administering the Sacrament to Juliana. hahahahahaha
Next: We taught a very devout, homeless Buddhist man the other day with a pei ke. (Ward member?) The lesson started off terrible as the pei ke and the man started talking about really, really ancient Chinese doctrines and how they were impractical. The lesson went nowhere until the pei ke finally gave up and let us speak. We used the method in the scriptures, “Do you believe in a great spirit?” “Yes, etc...” The man was touched and committed to read the Book of Mormon and to pray. The pei ke was astonished and he confessed that he needs how to learn how to teach more simply. We told him to study Preach my Gospel, ha-ha.
Next: the Spirit was Magnificent during Sacrament meeting on Sunday.
Next: I went on exchanges with Elder Broadhead. He is a big kid with a huge heart, ha-ha, a ruddy type missionary, who was also trained by Elder Larson. He is so humble. He and his new companion are trying to work out how they do things because the new comp came from the other mission and they did some things differently. I thanked him for his patience and support. He is a good elder. While on exchanges we had the opportunity to teach Americans and this was their first time meeting with missionaries. That’s a first for my mission. I was a little nervous, but it went SO WELL! I realized I need to work on some basic social skills again though, ha-ha, dangit! Oh well. They were really cool. They are college students and have been studying in Taiwan for a year. Ryan loved the lesson. He was really touched by the Spirit, however his girlfriend was a little unappreciative, and she was "very Catholic." I asked her how she felt about the message and she said, “Well, I think the principle we need to understand is acceptance. Jesus accepts everyone, so we don't have to worry about everybody having different religions and searching different churches.” Ryan didn't like that comment, I could tell ha-ha, and he also didn't like how she made the decision for him to not be baptized. I bet money that they have had a DTR by now! Ha-ha DTR means “determine the relationship.” Anyway, as she said that, it was really hard for me not to slap my forehead with the palm of my hand, but the Spirit decided it's better to respond with love and re-emphasize the importance of repentance and focus on the words Christ himself uses. "Come follow me." Even after a very spiritual reply she was still hatin' ha-ha. It was difficult, but she did go as far as agreeing to come to church with Ryan on Sunday. :) He is excited to pray and read! Teaching that lesson was an experience of a lifetime, and I learned so much on SO MANY different levels! I felt bad because I wished Elder Broadhead would have led the lesson more, being in his area and all, but he preferred me to lead it. He is such a humble kid, only is his 3rd transfer. He said, “I felt the spirit, it’s all good.”
Next: Chinese culture is awesome. I Asked our 50-year-old introverted investigator, “How are you?" and his reply was classic. "I'm good. I thought I had pig swine flu but I went to the doctor and realized it’s just diarrhea and it’s starting to get a lot better.” Oh, thanks, hahahaha. I love it!
Well I have to go now. I love this work. I love you. Elder Daniels GO COUGARS!
William, is struggling with _____, and we are saddened by this. He has a good heart though, and a desire to change, but his faith is weak. He and Jeff both have another problem with their boss at work, a very "unfair man," however the way Jeff deals with it is a lot better than William because of the difference in faith. Like unto that of Nephi and his brothers! He’s got a lot of work to do before he is baptized on the 26th. We invited him to destroy all of his stuff that tempted him and to clean his apartment.
COOL EXPERIENCE yesterday. Sharing with a half listening, half zoning out William, about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I started to bear testimony. The moment the words, "I know that Jesus Christ took upon himself the sins of the world," left my mouth, the ground started to tremble. Seriously, a 3-second earthquake happened! It was incredible!
Peter Zhang, no problems whatsoever. He is now living a completely worthy life and he finally resolved his work situation so he can come to Sacrament meeting on Sundays! He is starting to become more and more relaxed and friendly with us, (such a shy man) but he's very set and excited to be baptized and enter the gate.
Hank-- Ridiculously golden still! Sister members of the ward told me they could tell how excited he was about the gospel by they way that he shook there hands, full of glee I presume, leaving a sore wrist for those who dare shake his hand. When we invited him to keep the law of tithing he was offended that we would even ask! Ha-ha, "I'm sorry, Hank, we have to ask the question."
On exchanges, Elder Yee was able to learn that it’s possible to set up people in the afternoon. We said a prayer and the first door we knocked on allowed us in. It was a 28 year-old man and his 19 year-old partner. It was an AMAZING LESSON and we addressed all of their concerns. They showed interest, and expressed their desire to start living their lives in a gospel manner. They came to church and they brought a friend, and they even set baptismal dates! They have investigated a lot of other churches but they were really moved as we shared our testimonies of the importance of an eternal family.
On Sunday we forgot to take bread to do the Sacrament for Juliana the Filipina. She takes care of old people and can’t get work off on Sunday so we go to her. Her life is hard since she is separated from her husband who has a girlfriend in the Philippines and she is in Taiwan making money for her 2 kids so they can go to school. However, the kids have chosen to drop out and drink beer instead. Her family is in a wreck but Juliana has so much faith. Anyway as the funny story goes, we forgot to bring bread to her house for the Sacrament so we used a cookie instead. This cookie was given to us by her boss who is Buddhist, and it just so turns out that this cookie was part of the food that had been previously put on a table with incense sticks, being an ancient Buddhist ritual. For a long time in Chinese history, people have put food on tables as a method of worshipping their ancestors and their ghosts “come and eat the spirit out of the food” and then the food is distributed amongst the people. So we used a cookie with no spirit for the administering the Sacrament to Juliana. hahahahahaha
Next: We taught a very devout, homeless Buddhist man the other day with a pei ke. (Ward member?) The lesson started off terrible as the pei ke and the man started talking about really, really ancient Chinese doctrines and how they were impractical. The lesson went nowhere until the pei ke finally gave up and let us speak. We used the method in the scriptures, “Do you believe in a great spirit?” “Yes, etc...” The man was touched and committed to read the Book of Mormon and to pray. The pei ke was astonished and he confessed that he needs how to learn how to teach more simply. We told him to study Preach my Gospel, ha-ha.
Next: the Spirit was Magnificent during Sacrament meeting on Sunday.
Next: I went on exchanges with Elder Broadhead. He is a big kid with a huge heart, ha-ha, a ruddy type missionary, who was also trained by Elder Larson. He is so humble. He and his new companion are trying to work out how they do things because the new comp came from the other mission and they did some things differently. I thanked him for his patience and support. He is a good elder. While on exchanges we had the opportunity to teach Americans and this was their first time meeting with missionaries. That’s a first for my mission. I was a little nervous, but it went SO WELL! I realized I need to work on some basic social skills again though, ha-ha, dangit! Oh well. They were really cool. They are college students and have been studying in Taiwan for a year. Ryan loved the lesson. He was really touched by the Spirit, however his girlfriend was a little unappreciative, and she was "very Catholic." I asked her how she felt about the message and she said, “Well, I think the principle we need to understand is acceptance. Jesus accepts everyone, so we don't have to worry about everybody having different religions and searching different churches.” Ryan didn't like that comment, I could tell ha-ha, and he also didn't like how she made the decision for him to not be baptized. I bet money that they have had a DTR by now! Ha-ha DTR means “determine the relationship.” Anyway, as she said that, it was really hard for me not to slap my forehead with the palm of my hand, but the Spirit decided it's better to respond with love and re-emphasize the importance of repentance and focus on the words Christ himself uses. "Come follow me." Even after a very spiritual reply she was still hatin' ha-ha. It was difficult, but she did go as far as agreeing to come to church with Ryan on Sunday. :) He is excited to pray and read! Teaching that lesson was an experience of a lifetime, and I learned so much on SO MANY different levels! I felt bad because I wished Elder Broadhead would have led the lesson more, being in his area and all, but he preferred me to lead it. He is such a humble kid, only is his 3rd transfer. He said, “I felt the spirit, it’s all good.”
Next: Chinese culture is awesome. I Asked our 50-year-old introverted investigator, “How are you?" and his reply was classic. "I'm good. I thought I had pig swine flu but I went to the doctor and realized it’s just diarrhea and it’s starting to get a lot better.” Oh, thanks, hahahaha. I love it!
Well I have to go now. I love this work. I love you. Elder Daniels GO COUGARS!
Monday, September 7, 2009
I love my mission!
A lot happened, like usual. I will just start with exchanges with Elder Dickson! He and Elder Gassin came to visit and stay through Zone Conference. My companion conducted Z. C., which as the myth goes and still holds strong, the person who conducts stays next transfer. I just may be moving, oh no! Ha-ha. Anyway, being with Elder Dickson again on exchanges was a blast. He is one of my best friends ever. We talked about everything that has been going on: the difficulties, the good things, companions, etc. He felt like he could talk freely to me because we are good friends.
His current companion is amazing and that’s why he's been an assistant for such a long time. He is on his last transfer and is doing really well. He and his companion get along; they are just two different personalities. Elder Dickson is very people friendly and fun and Elder Gassin is quite serious. Had they been companions early on, they could have struggled with each other, however, they have really matured on their missions and figured out how to get along really well. :)
We all went to Toroko (again) ha-ha. The best part was when the new sister in the district, Sister Ho, started going crazy when we started jumping up and down on a cabled suspension bridge between the two mountains! It was classic!
When Elder Dickson came, we went to visit old investigators and members, and it was awesome teaching with him again. He has changed a lot, yet at the same time he is the same old Elder Dickson. He and I will be good friends after the mission. We'll both be going to BYU in the winter semester.
Zone conference was great! It was about becoming a more Christ-like missionary. My companion and I had the opportunity to do a little bit of training. I learned recently that teaching gospel doctrine and principle is a lot different than basic training. I like both. But, teaching proactivity, accountability and introducing a new system to help us reach goals was a learning experience, to say the least. The concerns you have to resolve are a lot different then those concerning the finer points of basic doctrine, which can be answered with the scriptures. Anyway, it went SUPER WELL, and the AP's and President decided that is what they wanted the rest of the zones to focus on as they taught their zone breakouts the following week. Our zone goal for baptisms is 10 and we're going to get it!!
We were also called on to do the role play and it was fun. They wanted me and my companion to give an example of how you can contact and add somebody to the baptismal pool in 3 minutes on the street! It went really well, and it seems like the rest of the zone members gained the confidence they need in order to go out on the street and do the same thing in a real situation. Elder McNair and I have been doing it and we're finding a lot of success. People understand more clearly why the need to meet with us. :)
Hank is as golden as ever. Because of convenience, we’re moving his date to the 26th of Sep with 4 others who are definite for baptism, including William, and Peter and two of the Sisters’ investigators! We're so blessed this transfer to see these 3 people progress to baptism. They are all future priesthood brethren, which is needed most on this island and in the Jian Branch!
We made a mistake of setting baptismal goals for the Sisters’ investigators. It was the right thing to do, yet, they were kind of upset for a day because they were hoping to do it themselves. I think it’s because they are rather young missionaries and they needed the experience in order to give themselves confidence, but that is all resolved now.
I love it here in Jian. I don't know what will happen next transfer, but regardless, I will be happy. :) Family, I love you all.
The lady who is the worker here in the computer cafe just handed me my bag on the floor and I didn't know where she meant for me to put it so I put it back down, ha!
Well, I must go, my next email will be more interesting I promise. I keep forgetting to write everything that goes on. A lot of spiritual life changing lessons and a lot of funny moments. They are just hard to understand unless you've served a mission in Taiwan...ha-ha. Love you, Elder Daniels
His current companion is amazing and that’s why he's been an assistant for such a long time. He is on his last transfer and is doing really well. He and his companion get along; they are just two different personalities. Elder Dickson is very people friendly and fun and Elder Gassin is quite serious. Had they been companions early on, they could have struggled with each other, however, they have really matured on their missions and figured out how to get along really well. :)
We all went to Toroko (again) ha-ha. The best part was when the new sister in the district, Sister Ho, started going crazy when we started jumping up and down on a cabled suspension bridge between the two mountains! It was classic!
When Elder Dickson came, we went to visit old investigators and members, and it was awesome teaching with him again. He has changed a lot, yet at the same time he is the same old Elder Dickson. He and I will be good friends after the mission. We'll both be going to BYU in the winter semester.
Zone conference was great! It was about becoming a more Christ-like missionary. My companion and I had the opportunity to do a little bit of training. I learned recently that teaching gospel doctrine and principle is a lot different than basic training. I like both. But, teaching proactivity, accountability and introducing a new system to help us reach goals was a learning experience, to say the least. The concerns you have to resolve are a lot different then those concerning the finer points of basic doctrine, which can be answered with the scriptures. Anyway, it went SUPER WELL, and the AP's and President decided that is what they wanted the rest of the zones to focus on as they taught their zone breakouts the following week. Our zone goal for baptisms is 10 and we're going to get it!!
We were also called on to do the role play and it was fun. They wanted me and my companion to give an example of how you can contact and add somebody to the baptismal pool in 3 minutes on the street! It went really well, and it seems like the rest of the zone members gained the confidence they need in order to go out on the street and do the same thing in a real situation. Elder McNair and I have been doing it and we're finding a lot of success. People understand more clearly why the need to meet with us. :)
Hank is as golden as ever. Because of convenience, we’re moving his date to the 26th of Sep with 4 others who are definite for baptism, including William, and Peter and two of the Sisters’ investigators! We're so blessed this transfer to see these 3 people progress to baptism. They are all future priesthood brethren, which is needed most on this island and in the Jian Branch!
We made a mistake of setting baptismal goals for the Sisters’ investigators. It was the right thing to do, yet, they were kind of upset for a day because they were hoping to do it themselves. I think it’s because they are rather young missionaries and they needed the experience in order to give themselves confidence, but that is all resolved now.
I love it here in Jian. I don't know what will happen next transfer, but regardless, I will be happy. :) Family, I love you all.
The lady who is the worker here in the computer cafe just handed me my bag on the floor and I didn't know where she meant for me to put it so I put it back down, ha!
Well, I must go, my next email will be more interesting I promise. I keep forgetting to write everything that goes on. A lot of spiritual life changing lessons and a lot of funny moments. They are just hard to understand unless you've served a mission in Taiwan...ha-ha. Love you, Elder Daniels
Monday, August 31, 2009
Training
This is your son, the one on a mission in Taiwan. Right now I am very, very tired because Elder Dickson (former companion and now a traveling AP) came back to Hualien today with Elder Gassin and we just got back from hiking up in the mountains. All of us missionaries went along with the Zheng family and Jeff and his sister. It was a blast. Elder Dickson was very happy to return back to the comfortable atmosphere of Hualien. It was fun and we took some awesome pictures that I will try and send to you.
All of our investigators are still awesome and progressing towards their dates and that is the investigator report for now.
We've been doing a lot of training of missionaries.
The three missions in Taiwan have combined to make two missions, and some of the missionaries from the Taizhong Mission are assigned to Taipei. There is a new focus in our mission inspired by the new missionaries from Taizhong…baptism. They baptize a lot. We invite people to set dates on the street now. It’s SO MUCH FUN! Some missionaries reacted negatively to the new focus, which was kind of disappointing, but we plan to address their concerns on Friday during Zone Conference. I want the missionaries in one area to support their new District Leader who came from the other mission. I went on exchanges with this new DL, and we both want everyone to work together.
Last week we got right to work. I love the new focus on baptism. My companion and I like it so much they asked us to role play in Zone Conference, in addition to teaching a one hour zone breakout. We now have 10 people in our baptismal pool because of it. One thing we really want to focus on in this new system is that investigators are actually converted before they are baptized. Retention is just as important. So we're focusing on building their testimony.
I'm not going to lie. I learned a lot going on exchanges with Elder Dixon and I think he learned some things from me, too, about using the Spirit to teach to the needs of the investigator.
Training is really fun, that was the topic in Jedi council yesterday. I saw my “son,” Elder Gong and I can't believe my son is a zone leader already! Training is something that President Grimley specializes in, being from a military reserve background and a 6th grade teacher. He really loves "leadership." He was a scout master for 20 some odd years!!!
I will be going on exchanges with Elder Dickson these next 3 days, it will be fun. :)
Love you.
All of our investigators are still awesome and progressing towards their dates and that is the investigator report for now.
We've been doing a lot of training of missionaries.
The three missions in Taiwan have combined to make two missions, and some of the missionaries from the Taizhong Mission are assigned to Taipei. There is a new focus in our mission inspired by the new missionaries from Taizhong…baptism. They baptize a lot. We invite people to set dates on the street now. It’s SO MUCH FUN! Some missionaries reacted negatively to the new focus, which was kind of disappointing, but we plan to address their concerns on Friday during Zone Conference. I want the missionaries in one area to support their new District Leader who came from the other mission. I went on exchanges with this new DL, and we both want everyone to work together.
Last week we got right to work. I love the new focus on baptism. My companion and I like it so much they asked us to role play in Zone Conference, in addition to teaching a one hour zone breakout. We now have 10 people in our baptismal pool because of it. One thing we really want to focus on in this new system is that investigators are actually converted before they are baptized. Retention is just as important. So we're focusing on building their testimony.
I'm not going to lie. I learned a lot going on exchanges with Elder Dixon and I think he learned some things from me, too, about using the Spirit to teach to the needs of the investigator.
Training is really fun, that was the topic in Jedi council yesterday. I saw my “son,” Elder Gong and I can't believe my son is a zone leader already! Training is something that President Grimley specializes in, being from a military reserve background and a 6th grade teacher. He really loves "leadership." He was a scout master for 20 some odd years!!!
I will be going on exchanges with Elder Dickson these next 3 days, it will be fun. :)
Love you.
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