18 July 2018 - Mission Reflection

The mission asks us to submit a written reflection of our missions, and I thought I would share what I wrote below:

Only words of simplicity and Gratitude can appropriately convey the experience of having been allowed to Labor in the name of Jesus Christ for two years of my life. Receiving this call was among the greatest joys I have ever felt in life, and serving in it has rendered some of the most dear testimony and sacred experiences I have ever witnessed. A full summary would be much too long, and a partial recap could hardly do it justice.

So I confine my reflection to a short acknowledgement of the goodness that I have seen on my mission. From the earliest hours of my departure, I could see God's hand working in mine and others' lives. Day by day, small miracles and exceptional circumstances would occur, continually assuring me that God has a plan for all his children to come back to him. We must only be willing.

It may seem strange, but one of the greatest lessons of my whole experience was Heavenly Father proving to me, in many instances, that the Scriptures and counsel of the prophets is true. I would struggle and suffer in ignorance, and finally through Revelation and much study I would formulate an answer to my concern. And not two days later, as the case usually was, I would find my exact answer recorded in Preach my Gospel or in the holy scriptures. That alone has given me the determination to hold fast to these blessed guides the rest of my life, especially the book of Mormon, which I can gratefully say has become the keystone of my testimony. I will include an example below.

I have seen people change because of this gospel. For a long time I felt slightly disappointed in that I felt that I had never been the one to bring this change upon them. It seemed to happen almost magically. I felt like I was almost missing out on these peoples' conversions. Would they even remember me after years? And then I took a moment to search the Scriptures and my own patriarchal blessing, and I was taught that the Holy Ghost is the teacher. He is the converter and the testifier. It is my privilege to teach and invite the spirit in to confirm that. Every convert that I have baptized I hope is a convert of the Holy Ghost, and not of myself. So I was grateful to learn that, yes, the Gospel does change lives, but only as we allow the spirit into us.

And I do believe, standing here at the end of a long journey, that I have been changed by the spirit. That I know more of who I want to be, and the way in which I wish to take the gospel into my life. I am not perfect. I still have many glaring flaws that I wish I could have overcome in the time of my missionary service, but while serving, I gained a witness for myself that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer. My Savior. And I know that someday, if I follow him and love him, and give my will up to him, I can be perfect. Not through any goodness or great feats of my own, but through the Grace of my Lord.

I am ready to face the rest of my life as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh-
---
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
(2 Nephi 4:19-21, 34-35)

-Elder Tayson Meanea

Special Mission Experience
As all good trainees are, I was afraid of the phone at the beginning of my mission. Only when it was safely in my trainer's hand could I relax. But one night we came home and were trying to set up a lesson for an Investigator that was about to be baptized. My trainer said, "I'm going in the other room for a minute." I waited for him for a while because we still had to set up a member to come to this lesson for us and change times, and I couldn't do it. After about ten minutes or so, I went and checked on him, and found him to be stone cold asleep. I walked back into the other room and began to panic. How could I set up this lesson? This Investigator was super hard to get an appointment with and if we missed this, we would miss her baptismal date. I got really scared, realizing this all relied on me. I was so scared that I knelt on our study room floor and prayed out loud, telling Heavenly Father that I did not have the skill to do this. I picked up my Phase 1 book and started searching for characers and their related pinyin so I could text the investigator and change times. It took me nearly twenty minutes, but I managed it. Having changed times with the investigator, I set out figuring out who it was that was going to help come to the lesson. It was an older brother, and I knew his Taiwanese accent to be thick, nothing like what I'd heard in the MTC. I said a prayer again, knowing that I had no chance of communicating with this man, and dialed the phone. To this day, I don't know what I said, but after a two or three minute conversation, I hung up the phone with the lesson in perfect order. I literally fell to my knees. I had such a feeling of love, and no matter how small it may seem, it was a miracle I desperately needed. My weakness through my father in heaven had been made strong, and I could feel the spirit testifying that God himself had helped me accomplish what to me was as daunting as building a ship to cross the see. The next day we met and finished her last lesson before she was baptized that next week. I know that God hears our prayers. And I know he answers them as well.

16 July 2018 - A Week of Lasts

"I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord,
Whether far or near I'll come.
I'll follow thy will with a heart sincere,
Even if it leads back to my home."

Monday, 9 July 2018
Today was the last Pday of my mission. A member, brother Xie took us out to see some sights and have a picnic. It was super fun. As the day was ending a rain storm approached, and he needed some dirt shoveled before the rain turned it to mud. So we spent the last part of Pday helping him shovel. Honestly that's exactly how I would've wanted it to end. Getting to help someone in need.

Tuesday, 10 July 2018
We went down to Jiayi again for our first interviews with President. Basically him just getting to know us. When he realized I was going home next week, he just laughed and said we could talk more at an interview then. We came home and visited the Lái family who we invited to do our Book of Mormon challenge next week. Brother Lái let us record his testimony which is perfect for our Investigator Brother Chu. It was a cool miracle.

Wednesday, 11 July 2018
After serving in the library this morning, we went and found a recent convert to the church who has found it a little more difficult to come to church recently. We shared some Scriptures with him which I hope helped, but on our way out the door, we ran into his mom dressed in a full length Buddhist black robe, chanting in front of an alter they have in their house. She smiled and waved as we left, and I'm not sure I've seen anything more bizzare on my mission. Last English class tonight I got to share my testimony which was fun.

Thursday, 12 July 2018
Last day helping out at that senior center. Everyone there seems to really be warming up to us, which is cool! Then I went on exchanges after district meeting, in which I shared my testimony again. That night we went out contacting and I had a good time seeing another awesome missionary's methods. -Elder Sano is a really fun guy who helps people feel really comfortable in his contacts.

Friday, 13 July 2018
We ate two dinners tonight. One with the YSAs and one with a less active member. I was very full, to say the least. That was pretty much the highlights of the day. The rain has been staying away from our contacting time, which is nice. It was also my last weekly planning as a missionary today!

Saturday, 14 July 2018
We came across an older lady in a park today. Her name was Lily and she had a real interest in coming to the BAPTISMAL SERVICE tonight and bringing some friends. It rained, so she couldn't make it, but it was cool to see how we were still finding people even though time is running out. The work still goes on! And then tonight we had a ward dinner right before Elder Francesconi baptized Harley. I'm so happy for him. The ward has been waiting four years for him to be able to get baptized and you could really feel the love they had towards him and how happy he is. It was a great miracle.

Sunday, 15 July 2018
Final Sabbath in Taiwan. It was a good Sacrament, and we were able to get all of Harley's baptismal forks taken care of after he got confirmed. Tonight was good. Elder Francesconi is a real trooper. A bad bout of nausea hit him before dinner and he wasn't feeling good, but he dragged himself out on the street so we could work my last full night in the field. He's such a great man. I'm now packed and ready to go.

Friends and family, this is my last weekly email to you all. I've given so many final testimonies I don't even know what to say anymore. But as you read this, I hope you can feel in your hearts its truthfulness:

God is our Father. He loves us. He loves me. This I know without a doubt.
Jesus Christ is His Son, who loves us and died to save us.
In these days, God has not forgotten us, but has restored the Fullness of the Gospel through living prophets. The evidence of this is the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. this book has changed my life forever, and I promise you if you read it and seek to know from God if it's true, He will tell you it is.

And most of all. God has a plan for us, to make us happy, and to bring us all back to Him with our families, and to heal us of our spiritual and physical wounds. This is the truth and I believe it.

And last of all, I love you as well. I know that we can't remember, but we are family. No matter who you are. And I pray God blessed you this day and forever.

-Elder Meanea

9 July 2018 - 7-11, More Than Just Slurpees

"Oh my Father, thou hast blessed me, with a love, of this island dear.
For its people, places and beauty, and that love, has replaced my fear. "
(Copyright Elder Meanea, 2018)

Monday, 2 July 2018
We had a kindly member take us on a ride to Jiayi so that would could buy stuff at costco and see an insect museum! That was pretty cool. There were some live ones, so I'm not sure if they fully understand what museum is, but that was also super cool. That night we went to a ward member's family home evening, so that was fun. These are some really great members, and I'm surprised that I am already so close to some of them after only 5 weeks. 

Tuesday, 3 July 2018We met with Harley today and finished teaching him most of the lessons. We talked about the temple and Eternal families. He seemed pretty awed by that concept. It's incredible to me that people have not considered this, and that it is what I have to tell them! His baptismal goal is set for Saturday the 14th of July. Two days before I pack up my bags. So pray for him. xD We also ran down to Jiayi so we could meet President Card. He is going to be a great leader for this mission. I miss President Teh, but honestly the Spirit testified to me in that meeting that President Card is really meant to be here, and I felt a little sad that I really wouldn't get to serve with him too much.

Wednesday, 4 July 2018
This morning we went and helped a member at a house he is fixing up to move into later. That was pretty cool, it's like a little man-cave in the woods, and he has a pond and everything where he can fish. After that we had a dinner with some Ward Members who took us to 吃到飽 where I did once again eat a lot of ice cream. After that we taught English class and a new student came!

Thursday, 5 July 2018
We had a good DTM, of course we sang a bunch of America songs because yesterday was the 4th of July. Somone was setting off fireworks, but it might have been in worship of a Taiwanese diety, but I'll take what I can get. And Harley passed his baptismal interview! He is so pumped to get baptized next week. We are so excited for him too!

Friday, 6 July 2018
Not too eventful of a day. We were working contacting and then tonight we called our other potential baptismal candidate Brother Chu. He is such a great and faithful man. We are pushing his date back a little bit. Originally it was this Saturday, but he needs to finish the lessons and quit some habits. He's working really hard though! He is in a lot of pain because of his stomach and the doctors can't really figure out what it is, but he wants to get baptized so badly. It really amazes me.

Saturday, 7 July 2018
We had a baptism today! Well, the ward did. A member child got baptized and the other elders in our district had an investigator get baptized that is super cool! His name is Andy and he already wants to go on a mission, which I think is so amazing.

Sunday, 8 July 2018
I had a really cool experience in Sacrament today. I was thinking about how soon I would leave these people behind, and how much ending my mission was going to change things, and then I realized that the important things always stay the same. Two weeks, a month, a year from now, I would still have the gospel in my life. I would still have the Gospel in my life, I would still be taking the sacrament no matter where I was. 

And then we had a really... different miracle tonight. One of the Zone leaders contacted a lady a few days ago who agreed to meet with the missionaries in Douliu, us. We set up with her last night and she came. She is honestly one of the most honest-hearted people that I have ever met. I could feel it. But she told us she didn't want to learn right now because her mom is a different religion and she didn't want family tension. We tried to explain how important this message is, and she said she wanted it, but that she couldn't leave her mom's wishes. She said maybe later after she was passed she could come and learn. I was praying so hard during that lesson because I could literally feel how much she was attracted by the gospel. But everyone has their agency. So the Spirit told us to open the Book of Mormon. I opened to Moroni chapter 10, verses 4-5, and as we read the promise that God has given us together. I 100% felt the Spirit testifying in my heart that it was true, and I know she felt it too. We invited her to continue to think about the things she had heard and seen, and invited her to return and learn one day when she was ready. I won't get to teach her, but someday someone will. And she will remember that sitting in a 7-11 on Sunday night, she did feel the love of her Heavenly Father. And then it will all be worth it. That's why I came. To share that love with all God's children. I have been so blessed to be here and do that. I know He lives and loves us family. Stay close to Him. Thank you for all your love and support.

-Elder Meanea

2 July 2018 - Service...?

"Victory, victory through people giving pineapples,
victory, victory for these week we got 4!"
(Copyright Elder Meanea 2018, yes these are getting horrible but I only have 2 more, don't worry)

Monday, 25 June 2018
A pretty great P-Day was had by all, as our ward mission leader Pinocchio drove us and the zone leaders up to a mountain range and we got to go hiking, one of my favorite kinds of Pdays. We find some mountainside tea farms, and a lot of big dogs. Luckily Elder Hoffman is a dog tamer, so we were fine. Right as we were getting done with our hike, the rain started coming down, and we got off that mountain real quick. That night we met with Ian, a friend of a member, and he seemed super into learning more about the Book of Mormon, which was awesome. Then a member took us to see an activity center about some service. The Guy working there was totally into having us come by and serve, which is great.

Tuesday, 26 June 2018
We met with Harley, a man who has been investigating the church since 2015. We sat down with him and started taking about what he learned about the Gospel, and finally asked what kind of goals he had for meeting with us. He just looked at us and said, "I want a baptismal goal." After a stunned silence we nodded and said that we could help him with that. He is aiming for July 14!

Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Not much happened today, besides English class. Today we learned about how to buy a car. We ran out of material in about 40 minutes so we just started talking about America. That was cool. Then we watched the "Good things to come" Mormon message by Elder Holland.

Thursday, 28 June 2018
This morning we went over to the activity center and found out our service was basically eating lunch with these older people in the center so they could talk to and look at white people. They were pretty into it, and the food was good. I guess being eye candy for a 78 year old Taiwanese grandma could be considered service. After district meeting we had exchanges, and I biked an hour out to the other area. Our two areas in the district take up the entire county. It's pretty ridiculous. xD

Friday, 29 June 2018
We came back from exchanges in which we met with some really prepare people, and then had a weekly planning session. Partway through, the zone leaders came and did a baptismal Interview for the other companionship's Investigator. He passed and will be baptized this Saturday! That night we biked up to see a less active kid of s family who invited us over. The meeting was super good, the kids asked a lot of questions about missionary work and the less active boy was thinking about going on a mission. Their non-member cousin even listened and committed to read the Book of Mormon for our activity!

Saturday, 30 June 2018
We had a lot of meetings today which was awesome. Recently we've been doing a challenge with all our ward members, which the members really seem to enjoy. We invite them to dedicate a whole week to reading the Book of Mormon every day. But they have to pick a specific question or problem for that whole week and pray about it every time they read and write down what they learn after. We checked with the first family we invited today and they had a cool experience getting answers.Then we inited another family to do that tonight. I really want to testify that the Book of Mormon has changed my life and continues to guide me because it is the word of God. 

Sunday, 1 July 2018
The ward started planning my farewell dinner today. I was pretty surprised that it came up, and since I've only been here 4 weeks I didn't think anything would come of it, but they seemed super enthusiastic, which is so nice of them. After meetings today we had some time to study, and then contact before the rain got too bad, and then we called and set up some potential investigators for next week, so that's super good!

It's been a great week. I love my mission and I can't wait to see what other miracles I have in store for the last two. Love you friends and family!

-Elder Meanea

PS - I forgot to mention two awesome things, the first is that Jeff from my last area was just baptized by my trainee Elder Bode! 

And an investigator I taught there named Mushroom was just baptized as well, though we transfereed her up to Anding before I left. Missions are so great!

25 June 2018 - Final Zone Conference

"Ring out wild car horns, to the hot blazing sky's,
As those weird white guy just bike right by!"
(Copyright Elder Meanea 2018)

Monday, 18 June 2018
We had a good time eating at a buffet for the Dragon Boat festival! There werent any activities nearby, so we didn't see any dragon boat races, but it was still fun to go out with our convert friend Cheng and eat ourselves to death. After that we also had a hot pot dinner with Sister Yang, a member from our ward. It was a super spicy Mala hot pot, which left scars on my stomach but was really really good.

Tuesday, 19 June 2018
A rather uneventful Tuesday as far as Tuesdays go. We did some service sorting books in the morning, but it rained almost every day this week, which drives Taiwanese people off the streets entirely. So we spent some time scanning the streets for any signs of life while going around visiting some members.

Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Rain again spoiled some of our plans today. We were mostly contacting since our Investigators are busy with end of year tests at the college in our town. We did get to teach English class tonight though! We had three new people come, which was really cool. Afterwards for our spiritual share we watched a Mormon message and shared some Scriptures. Because of Him is probably the best one ever made.

Thursday, 21 June 2018
All of today was Zone conference. My last. We had some good training about how we can improve how we find people by really making it personal to us. They are our brothers and sisters after all. And then they invited the departing missionaries to give their final reflections. Which included me. And five other elders in my zone, so that was fun. Half my MTC group was there. And then we said our final goodbyes to President and Sister Teh. They will fly out this coming Friday or Saturday, and it'll be a while before I see them again.

Friday, 22 June 2018
We had a great weekly planning that I feel was really filled with Revelation. After that we met with a less active brother named Lin. He is pretty cool, and agreed to start a challenge we are doing with the members about reading the Book of Mormon every day for a week to see what happens and let them share their testimonies with Investigators. Tonight we also had to bike really far to find a member's house, and they weren't there, so that was funny. xD

Saturday, 23 June 2018
A pretty good day! We met with Brother Liu and Sister Xie, two really active members in our ward, and we invited them to start our Book of Mormon challenge as well. Then this afternoon we spent looking for a member, and we didn't actually find him in the end, because the addresses here and totally screwed up. Like 6 was right next to 19, and there was four of each. Then 45 was down the road some....

Sunday, 24 June 2018
We had a great Sabbath with three Investigators at church! One of our members even brought her boyfriend! It was so cool. After the meetings we Had a lesson with Brother Chu, and older man who is really sick but really wants to learn about the Gospel. It seems to give him a lot of hope. We set a goal for the 14th of July, right before I go home. So let's see if we can't see some miracles happen here.

And let's be honest, how could I not see miracles in this work? Even if the miracle is just me being a better person, being more repentant and more grateful for the work Jesus Christ has given me. Have a great week everyone! It's a gift!

-Elder Meanea

18 June 2018 - Rebuilding the Pool

"Hope of Douliu, we're alright!
Though we're wet, for the gospel we'll fight!"
(Copyright Elder Meanea 2018)

Monday, 11 June 2018
This was a rather slower week. Our investigators from before have been a little silent, so it's been a work of building back up our pool. Today was went to a Chidaobao (all-you-can-eat) with an RC named Brother Cheng. It was really good, and then we went and got Elder Francesconi a haircut. After that it was all contacting and stuff. At the last second we decided we wanted to go visit a less-active member and drop off a birthday card, so we biked about an hour out. It was pretty good! We only got a little lost coming back. 

Tuesday, 12 June 2018
We spent this morning doing service at a picture book library. We sorted and shelved the books, which was pretty good. My time in Taiwan has made me appreciate service a lot more now. Then tonight we had an activity with the youth about setting goals, and they had a Monopoly type game after, and we better hope it wasn't a precursor to my life because I was bankrupt much too quickly.

Wednesday, 13 June 2018
We were preparing a lot of stuff for creative contacting today. We have a Book of Mormon fortune teller that you can play with people to read a verse from the Book of Mormon with them. And then we made some cards for member's birthdays that would could drop off while contacting in an area. After that was our English class. It's still a little small, but we got three new referalls from the English website! It's something Taipei mission cooked up and it works really well for getting people to English class and also knowing if they are interested in the Gospel. 

Thursday, 14 June 2018
We had district meeting today with a new district leader, because our old one got called to train and emergency transferred out. It was a pretty Good DTM talking about goal setting, which is something I really appreciate since I want to be as effective as possible this month. And then a kid Elder Francesconi contacted in a park showed up for a church tour today! His name is Zeng, and when we invited him to read the Book of Mormon, he said "Five minutes a day? Like, I'll probably read more than that." And it made us really happy.

Friday, 15 June 2018
Weekly planning ended with a trip to a burger shop here in Douliu. It was pretty good, and we ate with our RC friend Cheng. After that we had to bike out of town to visit an investigator named Zhang. He was super cool and we invited him to be baptized after teaching about How the gospel has been restored through Joseph Smith. He said he would ponder about it! After visiting with him, we biked down to Douliu and headed home. 

Saturday, 16 June 2018
This morning we visited a less-active family who have a kid that is about to turn 8, and the parents want him to be baptized. So they invited us to come over and start teaching him the lessons. He and his little brother are super funny, and it's an amazing chance to see all four of them get active again eventually. This night was an absolute downpour and we were out in it for about 2 hours dropping off cards because there was no one on the streets. It was a pretty fun time and it took 'till Monday for my shoes to be fully dry.

Sunday, 17 June 2018
A good Sabbath. We headed down to Jiayi for stake conference. We all went down with the ward in a tour bus, but we refrained from using the Karoeke machine, though I was highly tempted to re-create the scene from the movie "College Road-Trip." After coming home we did some more contacting and had correlation with Pinocchio, our ward mission leader. And that's a week folks!

I am very grateful for many things. It is incredible to look back even through the past two years of my service and realize despite how well or poor I think I've done, there have been so many blessings that I have seen. It helps me know that God really loves each of us. I hope you all feel that too.

-Elder Meanea

11 June 2018 - Last Area, Last Ward, Last District...

"Mine eyes have seen Taiwan bow down before our Savior, Lord, they are seeking out the gospel which has been, for us, restored!"
(Copyright Elder Meanea 2018)

Monday, 4 June 2018
Crazy move day Monday. I had to get out pretty early to catch my train to Yunlin County. It was only an hour and half ride. I said goodbye to Elder Bode and grabbed my two bags and hopped on the train! After a short ride, I arrived in Douliu, my "grave" as some might say since this is my last transfer. Haha, hopefully the members here don't just ignore me for six weeks because it's hard to get to know a new missionary. Elder Francesconi is my new companion. He is the same generation as Elder Bode, so I am "breaking" him as they say. After helping two other Elders get moved from here, we just got some grocery shopping done, then ate dinner with a member named Stone. He is pretty cool. Douliu is a lot like Puli, in that it is smaller and can get pretty slow during the day, but I am really excited to work out my last transfer here. 

Tuesday/Wednesday, 5-6 June 2018
This week has honestly been a bit of a blur. We spent these two days running around trying to get in contact with investigators and introducing me to members. It has been pretty busy, but good. We had English class Wednesday night, and there were 5 people there. Probably the least my whole mission, but that is okay, we will get more people to come and get in touch with the gospel! It has been overcast but not raining too much here. It's a lot quieter than I'm used to.

Thursday, 7 June 2018
We went and had lunch with our new district before District meetings started. I haven't met the other two Elders here before, so it's all fresh to me. It's very hard to not keep thinking of things as my "last." Like my last district, last Area, last chapel, it's very surreal to me, but I will probably not mention it again for 5 weeks. Contacting was good tonight! We ran into three cool people who were all willing to exchange contact info with us. The finding seems to be pretty good out here. We have a college in our area for the first time for me. Puli had one but it was closed most the time I was there. 

Friday, 8 June 2018
Weekly planning and then a really good lesson with a member's friend, Sister Huang. She is Christian and likes to talk, but was willing to come for a lesson! We taught her about the Restoration of the gospel, and the beginning was hard because she wanted to talk the entire time, but when we got to the first vision, she started to be really quiet and listen intently. It was a very intense moment, and you could really feel the Spirit testifying of the truth of the Restoration. I love teaching it so much. She agreed to begin reading the Book of Mormon to find out for herself, so we are really excited for her!

Saturday, 9 June 2018
A busy, busy day. We went in the morning to do service for a member and helped him pull weeds at this ranch he has up in the mountains, so that was fun. Then he fed us lunch and ice cream. Great morning. After that we went and met with the Bishop and one of his counselors at their respective houses. The ward seems really great here, and our Bishop is really funny, Bishop Liu. We talked a little bit about some activities that we want to do to help the ward to more missionary work. 

Sunday, 10 June 2018
My first Sunday in Douliu! It was a good Sacrament meeting, and two Filipino sisters showed up, so the bishopric had us translate the meeting for them. It was tiring, but I was happy to provide a service for them. Some lessons, contacting, and member visits filled the rest of the night.

The Gospel is the most important thing we can know and live! I knew what the Gospel was before my mission, but now I feel like I'm really "Coming unto [God]" and He is showing me my weakness. It can be frustrating at times to know how imperfect of a missionary I am, but I know that if I "humble myself before [Him] and have faith in [Him]" He will really make me strong. I love you family and friends. Have a great week!

- Elder Meanea