There is nothing better then having perfect weather and being in a church building that is literally located on a bay. We see all kinds of boats coming in an out. HUGE ONES, (tour boats, car-transporting boats, cargo boats)... absolutely massive!!! It’s so cool!
This past week was VERY effective! Our district is awesome, we get our district goals every week, and because of it, we've got a lot of investigators brewin' in the baptismal pool. :)
We have three at the moment... one is the half crazy man, we're not sure what to do about him at the moment, sanity wise. He probably at least needs baptism in order to be saved, ha-ha, but it takes a lot of patience teaching him. Two times ago he got kind of frustrated because he knows the Restoration is important, and he believes in the Book of Mormon, but he doesn't understand why he has to come to Our church on Sundays rather than another church. Poor man, he is always happy though, so we can learn a lot from him. Now for the other two. One is a referral from a member, and he is really good, he wants to come to church really bad but he has work on Sunday. However, last time after teaching him to "pray with faith" he said he would make it to church on Sunday and only God knows how. Ha-ha, the other investigator set a goal for the same date. 12/5. He is searching for his answer, both are mid 20's and future priesthood holders!!! We've found A LOAD of people, and now we're picking out the weeds I guess you could say.
There are a couple members of the RLDS church here in Keelung; the sisters said it was weird! They had an investigator who is a member of that church and they read the Book of Mormon in Chinese and everything.
We have been visiting inactives in hopes to reactivate them. One is a family with a deaf father, so we are trying to learn some Chinese sign language so we can teach him!!!
Last week my son III, experienced his first spill...hahahaha. It was so funny and unexpected. We were riding down an alley, VERY slow, and then all of a sudden, I stop and I look behind me in time to watch my companion go through a 4-second falling process that took him to the ground over his bike. His initial reaction was priceless, (laying on the ground looking up and saying, "I have know idea what just happened,” ha-ha. Splitting a rib due to laughter, I went to help him off the ground.
A member expressed his love for the Book of Mormon to us the other day. He said it in English, “The Book of Mormon in my gas station and my pillow. I love to have it with me.” Ha-ha, good man!
I got a letter from Susan, Jeff, and William...they are all very active!
At tonight’s English class we will hold a Halloween activity. However, due to lack of pumpkins in Taiwan, we will use WATERMELONS to cut jack-o-lanterns. Ha, you do what you can, I guess.
Missionary work is a blast! I could do it forever. Elder Leavitt and I were talking about it...if we could have a wife and kids with us we could do it for the rest of our lives. Then we started thinking, why doesn't the church allow that? Oh yeah, men need occupations. (You forget about that stuff while you are serving a mission.)
My companion’s hair is very special. He got a flat top a couple weeks ago, and it’s been slowly shaping into the coolest looking hairdo of all time. Even 64-year -old men comment on it, hahahaha. I told him, “Son, next time let me cut your hair.” Yeah, so I like to tease him a little.
Well I gotta GO. LOVE YOU!!!! Elder Daniels
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A Missionary Meets Many Kinds of People!
Life is "g"e"w"d" “GEEEWWWWWD!” (Good!)
Keelung City is awesome. Ever since I spent all that time complaining in my last email about the weather, it’s been beautiful! Nothing but blue skies and fresh Taiwan air, and at a perfect temperature, about 78 degrees! And now for the best news...I get to go to the Temple today! I've been Temple trunky for quite sometime now, ever since moving away from Tucheng. I’m pumped!
Update on the area:
We have a lot of potentials at the moment, but everyone is so busy except for the one man who is in our baptismal pool that we aren't completely sure whether or not he is sane. Seems there are a lot like that in Taiwan.
Story: The other Elders invited a lady to church (she's not sane). She comes to the church everyday now and we are too sorry to tell her to leave so we let her sit in the church for a couple hours and watch videos. Ha-ha. Taking the bus on the way to Stake Conference in Taipei, she said something classic, “Look, I got this card from the government that makes stuff really cheap. I only had to pay 24 kuai but you had to pay 45." We didn't dare explain to her why. (There are a lot of not completely sane people in Taiwan that follow the missionaries. I would say there is one in each area).
Moving on, more about the area. We are finding through the ward members and also a lot through our own efforts. We're spending a lot of time strengthening the new and less active members. That’s been VERY successful. :)
The one man in our pool still is under the impression that all Christianity is the same, and yadda, yadda, yadda. We've explained to him so many times but it finally helped him understand as we outlined the Plan of Salvation for him. We’re going to share commandments now that should get him! In his mind this is what matters...
Jesus + free food = good. (His perception)
Jesus + faith, repentance, baptism, endure to end = truth (God's perception)
(His perception again) "Huh?? Baptism, then you’re saved, it’s all good." (Elder Daniels slaps his own forehead.)
Ha-ha, I love being a missionary. Teaching 2000 lessons in two years, you meet a lot of special people. So yeah, now for more stories:
The other day we took the elevator to our chapel on the fifth floor and as we exited through the door, I saw a homeless looking man crunched up in a ball (squatting) next to the coat rack where we hang our rain gear. I asked him, “Can I help you?" He said, "No, I'm leaving now." I asked, "What did you come here for?" and he replied "Stealing rain gear." I said, "Oh," and as he started walking toward the elevator where there was a 20ish year-old girl there holding the door, waiting for him. I saw at the spot where he had been squatting and there was a pile of human feces. I was shocked! I said to the man, “HEY, YOU FORGOT YOUR POOP!" He walked over, grabbed it up in his hand, and went down the elevator! The girl looked extremely confused, hahahahahahahahahaha. Oh man, it stunk so bad!!! We were stunned with what had just happened, so after I came to my senses, we went down the elevator and found the guard and the man. The guard told the man to go back upstairs and clean it up. It’s a week later and it still stinks a little.
Okay, next bit if info...
The Elders and Sisters in the area are “tearing it up,” meaning, doing a really good job. One of the Elders’ investigators is scheduled to be baptized on the 31st, but he needs to marry his live-in girlfriend before hand, so they are getting married tomorrow… and he doesn't know it yet! Ha-ha, pray for him AND HER.
Time’s up!
Keelung City is awesome. Ever since I spent all that time complaining in my last email about the weather, it’s been beautiful! Nothing but blue skies and fresh Taiwan air, and at a perfect temperature, about 78 degrees! And now for the best news...I get to go to the Temple today! I've been Temple trunky for quite sometime now, ever since moving away from Tucheng. I’m pumped!
Update on the area:
We have a lot of potentials at the moment, but everyone is so busy except for the one man who is in our baptismal pool that we aren't completely sure whether or not he is sane. Seems there are a lot like that in Taiwan.
Story: The other Elders invited a lady to church (she's not sane). She comes to the church everyday now and we are too sorry to tell her to leave so we let her sit in the church for a couple hours and watch videos. Ha-ha. Taking the bus on the way to Stake Conference in Taipei, she said something classic, “Look, I got this card from the government that makes stuff really cheap. I only had to pay 24 kuai but you had to pay 45." We didn't dare explain to her why. (There are a lot of not completely sane people in Taiwan that follow the missionaries. I would say there is one in each area).
Moving on, more about the area. We are finding through the ward members and also a lot through our own efforts. We're spending a lot of time strengthening the new and less active members. That’s been VERY successful. :)
The one man in our pool still is under the impression that all Christianity is the same, and yadda, yadda, yadda. We've explained to him so many times but it finally helped him understand as we outlined the Plan of Salvation for him. We’re going to share commandments now that should get him! In his mind this is what matters...
Jesus + free food = good. (His perception)
Jesus + faith, repentance, baptism, endure to end = truth (God's perception)
(His perception again) "Huh?? Baptism, then you’re saved, it’s all good." (Elder Daniels slaps his own forehead.)
Ha-ha, I love being a missionary. Teaching 2000 lessons in two years, you meet a lot of special people. So yeah, now for more stories:
The other day we took the elevator to our chapel on the fifth floor and as we exited through the door, I saw a homeless looking man crunched up in a ball (squatting) next to the coat rack where we hang our rain gear. I asked him, “Can I help you?" He said, "No, I'm leaving now." I asked, "What did you come here for?" and he replied "Stealing rain gear." I said, "Oh," and as he started walking toward the elevator where there was a 20ish year-old girl there holding the door, waiting for him. I saw at the spot where he had been squatting and there was a pile of human feces. I was shocked! I said to the man, “HEY, YOU FORGOT YOUR POOP!" He walked over, grabbed it up in his hand, and went down the elevator! The girl looked extremely confused, hahahahahahahahahaha. Oh man, it stunk so bad!!! We were stunned with what had just happened, so after I came to my senses, we went down the elevator and found the guard and the man. The guard told the man to go back upstairs and clean it up. It’s a week later and it still stinks a little.
Okay, next bit if info...
The Elders and Sisters in the area are “tearing it up,” meaning, doing a really good job. One of the Elders’ investigators is scheduled to be baptized on the 31st, but he needs to marry his live-in girlfriend before hand, so they are getting married tomorrow… and he doesn't know it yet! Ha-ha, pray for him AND HER.
Time’s up!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
We got to watch General Conference!
Meetings, meetings, meetings, and more meetings, ha-ha, it’s awesome! Conference was nuts, Elder Holland is out of this world! Doesn't it make one curious to know why he gets so hyped up over that “one book” he was talking about? We also had zone conference which is a lot different then the ones from Hualien, ha-ha. They had me translate, oh man, and it was a blast! Rather difficult at some parts however. For example, when they start going off about the Lord’s vineyard and all the things He does to prune it, dung it, etc... Ha-ha, I love attending zone conference because it’s so spiritual! The topic was PMG (Preach My Gospel) chapter two, about studies. Sitting in that meeting for 5 hours made me so trunky to go and read my scriptures. Ha-ha. We've been spending a lot of time with member work, and finding through the members. We have Elder Perry’s vision from general conference, to help the members know how to teach discussions 1, 2, and 3, side by side with missionaries. It’s been rather affective. We usually do most of our teaching through method of pei ke. When the members attend our lessons, they learn how to teach, and after the lessons we spend time evaluating and preparing them to give us references to their friends. We ask straight forward questions…”Hey Brother Wang, have your neighbors joined the church yet? Okay we want to visit them, etc...” We’ve been seeing a lot of success!
We have 2 people in the baptismal pool for this transfer that are solid, one is the man from last week that I mentioned, however he is in mainland China on business at the moment, and the other one is man that we find on the street. He is...special. He has half a set of teeth, a bald head, crossed eyes and bad breath, but he is SO nice!!! He is a little slow. We had a member come to our lesson with him last night to help us figure out whether he is crazy or not. Apparently he seems okay, he is just really slow. We have taught him the Restoration about 25 times in two meetings ha-ha. He's the type of guy where you tell him that truth is back on the earth 50 times, and he says, "Every church is the same, they all teach the same thing. Do good and that’s enough, it doesn’t matter which one you join, all believe in Christ, I was baptized in once." “Really? So do you pray?" "No I've never prayed, I just went to a church once and they asked me if I wanted to be baptized or not and I responded, sure why not, but I’m willing to be baptized again if I have time."
Elder Daniels slaps forehead after explain for the 40th time, ha-ha. However in the end of last lesson he committed to say his own personal prayer. It was great!!!
I and Elder Leavitt have been seeing some TENDER MERCIES on the street!! Setting up families and what not, we'll be visiting them soon. One has a cute five month old MEI MEI!!
I really love Elder Leavitt, really! He is so COOL! He is so mature for a greenie, he knows how to study and he's already full of legitimate virtue traits such as temperance, humility, charity. He is awesome.
Keelung is really growing on me. Today is the first day it hasn't rained since I’ve been here, it’s amazing. Other than today, it’s been AT LEAST sprinkling ever hour of every day...for 3 weeks almost!!! Ha-ha. My rain gear smelled like barf until yesterday. Today we cleaned and mopped our apartment, we made an AWESOME breakfast. I love that feeling of freshness, cleanliness, remission of sins, and you receive the Spirit!
Obedience brings a soft heart, which invites the spirit which we receive through our covenants we make every Sunday! I love my mission, the best two years ever.
I part my hair on the right now. I don’t have any tan, my muscles are gone from the waist up, I didn't even break 100 bowling last week…ultimate travesty!! I lost face. I’m just kidding. I am going to by a rice cooker for college.
My companion is hilarious. He took Elder Nelson’s invite to the test one night. He doesn't recall doing it, but he recorded thoughts and deep inspiration that came to him in his dreams. These were some of the notes he made:
"Depart out of darkness"
"Everyone needs a five minute break"
"Modesty = happiness"
"Pure building faith what is it?"
"hame gandi"
"Work ederlder work,” and my favorite is,
"Paul gave bread to the woman and sunshine." Hahahahahahahahahaha. I split a rib as I read that stuff.
Well family, I love you to death, Elder Jonathan Scashby Daniels
We have 2 people in the baptismal pool for this transfer that are solid, one is the man from last week that I mentioned, however he is in mainland China on business at the moment, and the other one is man that we find on the street. He is...special. He has half a set of teeth, a bald head, crossed eyes and bad breath, but he is SO nice!!! He is a little slow. We had a member come to our lesson with him last night to help us figure out whether he is crazy or not. Apparently he seems okay, he is just really slow. We have taught him the Restoration about 25 times in two meetings ha-ha. He's the type of guy where you tell him that truth is back on the earth 50 times, and he says, "Every church is the same, they all teach the same thing. Do good and that’s enough, it doesn’t matter which one you join, all believe in Christ, I was baptized in once." “Really? So do you pray?" "No I've never prayed, I just went to a church once and they asked me if I wanted to be baptized or not and I responded, sure why not, but I’m willing to be baptized again if I have time."
Elder Daniels slaps forehead after explain for the 40th time, ha-ha. However in the end of last lesson he committed to say his own personal prayer. It was great!!!
I and Elder Leavitt have been seeing some TENDER MERCIES on the street!! Setting up families and what not, we'll be visiting them soon. One has a cute five month old MEI MEI!!
I really love Elder Leavitt, really! He is so COOL! He is so mature for a greenie, he knows how to study and he's already full of legitimate virtue traits such as temperance, humility, charity. He is awesome.
Keelung is really growing on me. Today is the first day it hasn't rained since I’ve been here, it’s amazing. Other than today, it’s been AT LEAST sprinkling ever hour of every day...for 3 weeks almost!!! Ha-ha. My rain gear smelled like barf until yesterday. Today we cleaned and mopped our apartment, we made an AWESOME breakfast. I love that feeling of freshness, cleanliness, remission of sins, and you receive the Spirit!
Obedience brings a soft heart, which invites the spirit which we receive through our covenants we make every Sunday! I love my mission, the best two years ever.
I part my hair on the right now. I don’t have any tan, my muscles are gone from the waist up, I didn't even break 100 bowling last week…ultimate travesty!! I lost face. I’m just kidding. I am going to by a rice cooker for college.
My companion is hilarious. He took Elder Nelson’s invite to the test one night. He doesn't recall doing it, but he recorded thoughts and deep inspiration that came to him in his dreams. These were some of the notes he made:
"Depart out of darkness"
"Everyone needs a five minute break"
"Modesty = happiness"
"Pure building faith what is it?"
"hame gandi"
"Work ederlder work,” and my favorite is,
"Paul gave bread to the woman and sunshine." Hahahahahahahahahaha. I split a rib as I read that stuff.
Well family, I love you to death, Elder Jonathan Scashby Daniels
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Biking up hill
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!!!
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!!!
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!
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