First Full Week in Taiwan!

Elder Meanea is doing great in Taiwan! He is working hard on the language and is trying many new things. I just wanted to remind you that now that Elder Meanea is in the field you can contact him through email (tayson.meanea@myldsmail.net), Dear Elder (be sure to use his mission home address now instead of the MTC), or regular mail (again, use the mission home address and not the MTC address). There are more details about writing Elder Meanea on the tab at the top of this page, "Write to Elder Meanea". As always, Thank you so much for your love, support, and prayers in Elder Meanea's behalf!

- Allyse

WOW! TAIWAN. I absolutely love everything here. And it's all city, so ha! I can deal with cities! It's just when I have to look out for you country folk I get nervous. ;-)

Monday, September 19, 2016
Visited some Buddhist temples, which were cool. Some are freaking huge! My spiritual introspection for today is that when we are at our lowest, that is when we take the step to becoming the most humble. God can work the most miracles with those who are the most humble. It's all about what we decide to give up to Him. Our time? Our thoughts? Our efforts? Or even our all?

Tuesday, September 20, 2016
I made myself some french toast this morning, so all those worried that I would starve by myself need not fret. We went to Pingdung for a district meeting where we talked about getting active member work going, which is super important. I did some language study later, and was really freaking out about how much I don't know, then I decided to take some time out, pray to God, and ask His help in doing this, and I immediately began to progress better in my studies. There is no doubt in my mind that God hears any prayer. From anyone.

Elder Meanea called this Taiwanese Strange. We aren't entirely sure what is going on, but there you go :-)

Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Finally got to have my first two lessons today! The first was with Li JM, and we talked about commandments, and the blessings that come from obedience, and we got her to start praying every day. Then we hit the streets, and had English class that night. The people there are so fun and funny! Their English is pretty good, and they had a great time playing musical chairs while we talked about economic booms and recessions. I have no idea why. Then we had another lesson with an investigator we didn't know was happening, so I just waited for Elder Gasser to tell me to testify.

A dinner I got on the side of the road, it was delicious!

Thursday, September 22, 2016
We went to Pingdung again for another baptismal interview, and I got to study language a lot! Yeah! Then we had the most delicious fried rice with some other Elders and Nick, a convert that hangs out with the missionaries a lot. We had dinner at Brother Chen's house, he has a great family, and they attempted some spaghetti type stuff, which was delicious. Also hilarious, they poured us both cokes, and I told Elder Gasser, "You're my witness. This day ends probably 11 years of not having coke." He got wide eyed and said, "No way Elder! Give that to me, I'll down it for you!" The Chens overheard, and the dad went and grabbed some grape juice after giving me a stupefied look and poured some for me, which was hilarious. xD Other funny thing, we went to have a lesson with Cai and two relief society sisters came because we're trying to baptize his wife now. Halfway through the lesson Elder Gasser looked over at me and said "This is half in Taiwanese, and I don't understand either," so I felt a bit better.

Friday, September 23, 2016
We had some great active member lessons, and got a lot of people committed to inviting friends to meet with us, so hopefully that goes well!

Saturday, September 24, 2016
I met my first Child of Christ. My motto has been to find them or help them become so (as in Mosiah 5:7) and We met with Liu DX today. He's a recent convert, and we met in his small house. He's very old, his family died but that was after they took all his money, and the house he lives in is owned by his Grandson, who comes by and makes him do Bai Bai, which is ancestor worship, or he won't let him live there. He has nothing. But when we came, he seemed so happy, and he proudly produced a tie he had just bought with the little money he had, and we had to teach him how to tie it so he could wear it to Church the next day. If this man doesn't have Faith, then nobody on the face of this Earth does. He's been beaten by some of his neighbors before, and doesn't understand why people are so hard on the outside, but he still has complete faith in God and His plan. This is a man I would not hesitate to say changed my life. He is truly a child of Christ. I also ate Sushi, and I LIKED IT!

Damage from the typhoons

Sunday, September 25, 2016
I immediately felt the difference when I stepped in the chapel. They are dedicated buildings, God's houses, and I encourage you to think that when you step over the threshold, see if you can't stop for a second, and appreciate how holy of a place the Lord has provided. It was really powerful for me to feel. We did a lot of attempted contacting and phone calls, but not much success. I have my first chapter pass off on Tuesday though! I teach a first lesson in Chinese all by myself, and I get passed off if I do well, so hopefully that will be good!

Thank you all for your faith and prayers. I know faith works. Missions never get easier, missionaries just get more faithful. Have a safe and amazing week family. I love you all!

Taiwan!

WOW. Really, just WOW.

What a week.

Monday, September 12, 2016
Finished packing today. Said goodbye to our teachers. Really just a blur. Everyone just kind of sent us on our way. We said goodbye to everyone in our building and went to bed.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Up at 3:30 to finalize packing and get out to the buses! Most the people from our zone walked with us and said goodbye, and I'll probably see some of them again in six weeks! We got on the bus, got to a tracks station that took us to Salt Lake, then got on another line that took us to the Airport. Waited there, called my family which was the highlight, and then boarded the flight to San Francisco. Got bored and went around talking to people trying to place some Book of Mormons. Then we got on the flight after a few hours delay and went. I sat next to a woman and her daughter who were native Taiwanese. We talked a little. I showed them my Family Search chart and she told me she did family history, and we talked about Taiwanese culture for a little bit. They slept and watched movies, and I strove to overcome Satan by not peaking at other people's "Captain America: Civil War" movies, which I haven't seen yet. Before we landed, I gave the lady a Restoration pamphlet and told her about how it talks about what happens to our ancestors. She took it and seemed pretty happy. Then we got to the airport, waited for another two hours to pick up more missionaries with our Mission President, President Teh, which was great. We did some contacting, and I talked to an old guy about our church and gave him a Mandarin BOM. That was fun. Finally got on the bus to the mission home about midnight Taiwan time. Got to an apartment about 2, and then met back at 8:00 am with the mission president at his house.

Thursday, September 15, 2016 (Because Time Travel)
Had some training, Got to know the mission president, and really was just in awe of my new home the whole time. We went contacting that night, and I was companioned with a native speaker, so that went... interesting. I tried, and hopefully the Lord made up the rest. It was a little bit nerve-wracking, but it'll get better. Then we had a fancy dinner with a lot of great food. Steamed buns, giant fish, REAL CHINESE FRIED RICE. Yeah, we are not eating fake chinese food when I get back family. Nuh uh. I'll find a way to make this stuff.

Friday, September 16, 2016
Got up and went to a nearby stadium and played Frisbee with the people in our travel group. Then we went back, had breakfast and a little last training, got fitted for our bikes, and went to the trainer meeting. My trainer is named Elder Gasser, from Payson, and he speaks English and Chinese well. ;-) My area in Fengshan, a great little place right at the southern tip. We went to McDonalds, got to know each other pretty well, then took a 2.5 hour train ride down to our area. We got there and a member named Jimmy picked us up. He took us to our apartment, and then we went out and got dinner. Got me some yummy curry rice for about .90 American dollars. Then we made some calls to set up some appointments and came home. 

Saturday, September 17, 2016
We went and ran at a track, and I saw how many giant trees had been blown down. It was crazy. We went on another train ride to Pinddang and my companion did a baptismal interview, came back, did studies, and then went out to get dinner. We had Rou Bao, buns with meat in them from a street vendor. So good! Then we got a call from our Bishopric counselor who invited us over for a BBQ. A recent convert was there, and we ate some duck heart, had some wheat tea, and talked for a good long while. It was really fun! Apparently I look like a previous elder in this area and they all tell me that. 

Sunday, September 18, 2016
Got up and got ourselves to Sacrament. I was asked to bear my testimony, and I'm pretty sure I did. I don't know for sure. xD Had classes, then they all eat lunch together at the church. Then we got home, studied, went out and biked around trying to talk to people at stoplights, and did some weekly planning. So it's been a really great week!

I love you all so much family! Have an amazing time, and always let people see and hear your testimony.


-Zhang Lao Meanea

The P-Days are Coming Faster!

We got a surprise email from Elder Meanea today! He flies out to Taiwan tomorrow so they let him send us an email since he won't have a P-day until next Monday.

Wow Family! It seems like just five days ago I was doing this! The P-Days are going by faster than ever! ;-) Just kidding. It's the day before I get on a dead-dinosaur powered flying train that will take me over one of the largest expanses of water in the world, to arrive in a country where they use sticks to eat and speak in tongues. Just your average, ordinary, every day Missionary. Trying to preach the word. I am honestly so excited. This week has been a constant battle between my fear of actually entering the field, and my Faith in Christ. They can't exist in the same body at the same time, and it's been a constant struggle to choose the faith. But it's a choice that I'll make now and every day until I'm called back to that Heavenly Home. The more I think about it, the more I think the mission is training me for the future. God's preparing me to go home and do the same things I did in Taiwan, except with all the other worldly distractions. He's getting me ready now when it's easy, to go forward in the future. It's kind of a really cool thought. I'm really going to miss my Diqu (District) We've truly become a family here. They are all my friends for life, and they're all so different. Looking back I can see how God wanted me to love and know each one of them. In their own quiet ways, they have strengthened my testimony and shown me how to be more like the Savior. I'll be forever grateful for this time. The time I thought would never end, but in the end came much too quickly. I'm amazed by how little time we have. Yes, I have 22 months of mission left, but will I get blind-sided before the end, realizing how much more I could have given? There are things I did well at the MTC, and things that I regret not doing so well. But as Elder Councill once said, "I don't live with regrets, just goals to improve."

Thursday, September 8, 2016
We had in field orientation all day today, where we discussed topics such as finding, working with members, and goals and planning. About 9 hours of break-out sessions and classes. It looked like it was going to be a long day, but I tried to remember the whole time that if this wasn't going to improve my mission, Heavenly Father wouldn't have it as part of the program. It was actually very very good, and went by quickly.

Friday, September 9, 2016
We had our last service day today, so we said goodbye to the people who ran our building. It was a little sad. We've done that nine times now. Then we went to class and taught our new investigator Li. She is a tour guide and has heard a little about the Church. On Monday we taught about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. Today we discussed Christ and the Atonement with her. I have a firm testimony of the promise that when we Testify of Christ, the Holy Spirit will always attend us, and carry that testimony unto their very hearts. I felt it, and so did she, and so did Elder Potts. We couldn't stop smiling the rest of the day.

Saturday, September 10, 2016
We committed our last investigator, Ou to baptism today! It was also the last lesson we'll teach at the MTC. September 20th is his day. Then we spent the rest of the day reading last notes or watching video messages from our "Investigators" saying goodbye to us. It was a little bit hard. This has been my life for two months. And now I'm leaving behind these teachers that helped me become the missionary I'll enter the field as. It was also a huge mistake, but my whole zone started packing bags this last Wednesday. That didn't make us trunky at all. :-P Some suitcases have been sitting outside our rooms for nearly a week now. I think we might be just a bit excited to get in the field.

My stack of 1000 Chinese flash cards

Sunday, September 11, 2016
I don't think a week will go by without me stressing the sacredness and importance of the Sabbath. When I remember to go into the sacrament prayerfully, it is such a sacred experience. A thought that I had this week which will probably become more true is that I want to act in a way that would let any investigator attending church for the first time to feel that Spirit during church. I'm sure missionaries are a little scared sometimes wondering if they're going to be able to feel that Spirit, hoping everyone demonstrates how sacred it is. We had an exit devotional, and it just really made me want to be able to reflect Christ's love. This work is all about Christ. And then I had my last choir practice at the MTC, and Elder M. Russel Ballard came and spoke to us. Just, you know, the FOURTH APOSTLE we've met at the MTC. :-D He talked about how we are always going to be watched. So are we going to help our hinder Christ's work by our example?

Monday, September 12, 2016
Well, we woke up and sent one of the people in our district off to the airport. Elder Vera Ovehera is on his way to the France, Leon mission speaking Mandarin. We've got another on his way to Leeds England Mandarin Speaking at 8:50. I've loved all this week because I've gotten postcard style pictures from Labor day from all the families. Thank them all so much for me! I don't have all the pictures with me, so I don't remember exactly who, but just thank them all!

(Heavy metal voice) IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN DUDUDU DUH, DUDUDUDUDUH, DUDUDUDUH

This is a super exciting week for Elder Meanea because his 9 week MTC stay is finally coming to an end! We found out today that Elder Meanea will be flying out of Salt Lake airport on this next Tuesday morning, have a short layover in San Francisco, and then fly out to Taiwan. He should arrive in Taiwan around 6:30pm on Wednesday (Taiwan time). We are so excited for him!

My dear friend and Family!

Another spectacular week of learning, loving, and trying to draw neared to our beloved Tianfu (Father in Heaven).

Thursday, September 1, 2016
Some days are hard. Leaving so soon, my district and I are finding it hard to focus. We're almost in the field! After nearly two months of missionary service, we finally get to go! But we just have to internalize that if we're still at the MTC, God has something for us to learn. So it is with any situation in life. When I was with the PJ's in New Mexico, one of their mottos was "The Mission isn't over until the Next one starts." It's the same with life. God expects us to learn all we can, and once we have, he'll give us another challenge, another blessing, allow some struggle, build our faith. 

Packing!

Friday, September 2, 2016
Today I read in 3 Nephi about Christ's visit to the Americas. As I read, I felt the gentle nudging of the Spirit telling me that what I was reading was true. And it was the most important truth I could know and share. We had a lesson with Ding, the one whose husband opposes the church, and I felt really good testifying to her that God would help her convince her husband to let her be baptized. We've been praying for her every day, and will find out today how that went. I know God sees and knows the situation of all His children.

Saturday, September 3, 2016
I had a special blessing today. I was made District Leader last week, and this was my first day doing interviews, which happen on a weekly basis. I really wanted to help them, wanted to so badly, and I prayed God would help me love them. During each of the seven interviews I did, I felt the Spirit speak to them through me in each one, tell me things that they needed to hear. Afterwards, when I was thanking Heavenly Father, I realized that He was showing me what being like the Savior is like. I realized that each interview was almost a mini lesson, taught exactly as they teach us. Find the needs, testify, use scripture, and it happened because I wanted to love them all better. When we ask God to help us love His Children, he will give us of His own love, and we will know exactly what it is He wants us to do. 

Our classroom

Sunday, September 4, 2016
Funny story: I was released today as District Leader. I was slightly confused at first, but there are multiple reasons. We had that class and district swap last week, so they merged our districts and gave us one new leader. I personally like to think that it was also because I tried hard and learned what God wanted me to learn. I don't know for sure, and if I did it's only through His help and guidance, and not my own "spirituality," but it gives me some comfort to think that might have been the case. We had a devotional with Chad Lewis. He was a football player for the Eagles, and served in my mission years and years ago! We got to go and talk to him after, which was pretty awesome. Just makes me want to go to Taiwan more!! In our morning Mission Conference the mission president and his wife that were in the Belgium attacks spoke to us about Faith and testimony. If you don't think that was amazing, get your left ear cleaned out.

Monday, September 5, 2016
We had our final Skype TRC before we actually TRC in Taiwan. It was with a young man named Deng. He really liked meeting with us. And every thing we do reminds me that these are real people with real problems, and I have to rely on the Spirit more than anything to teach. 

I got a Howler from my family!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016
If Christ could be at every door I knock on, He would be. He suffered for us so much, and chooses to love everyone despite all the mistakes they have and will make. It makes me wonder what people will see when they open the door. I want them to see Christ. I'm somehow trusted to be His representative, and that means also representing His love. I don't want there to be a difference between me standing there and Christ standing there. Those are just some thoughts that came from our Devotional with D Todd Christofferson. It was pretty good. ;-)

Wednesday, September 7, 2016
I did a sealing for an ancestor in the temple today, sealed him to his parents, and it was beautiful to see so many children linked with their parents eternally. No one will be lost. God won't allow it. Everyone will have the chance to have their eternal families. What really got me today was my little Sister. The family card I had was stamped with a date it was printed. It was May 2, 2013. I knew it was my sisters birthday, so I did some quick math, and figured out it was her 12th. I remembered all she wanted to do was visit the temple for the first time. And we did. So that card must have come from preparing for that day. She realized long before I did what a sacred place the temple is, and what a special and important work we have to do in there. God allows us to do amazing things, and she could see it. It took me a long time to appreciate the temple as much as my little sister did years ago. Thank you Emily.

I love you all so much. I suppose I may get to send a short email when I hit Taiwan at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, Taiwan time. But if not, stay safe, and close to the Lord. It's the only place to be.

-Zhang Lao Meanea

We will soon be leaving the MTC behind! Next stop...TAIWAN!