Clever title, isn't it? I have to really try not to let my head get too big with how smart I am sometimes. But that's unimportant, what is important is Hello! My friends and family! My week was a great one, and can be summarized by the following description:
Monday, 21 November 2016
We had to run around and do some shopping. Elder Gasser's lid came off the box on the back of his bike, so we ran to an "Asian Plastic Crap" store, as my father would so refer to it. And it was literally a store full of any kind of plastic made-in-China stuff you can think of. It was great. Then we mailed some stuff, and went out boldly into the night, biking the streets of Fengshan in search of someone willing to hear the Gospel of Salvation!
Monday, 21 November 2016
We had to run around and do some shopping. Elder Gasser's lid came off the box on the back of his bike, so we ran to an "Asian Plastic Crap" store, as my father would so refer to it. And it was literally a store full of any kind of plastic made-in-China stuff you can think of. It was great. Then we mailed some stuff, and went out boldly into the night, biking the streets of Fengshan in search of someone willing to hear the Gospel of Salvation!
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| All of Elder Meanea's flashcards to memorize! |
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
We spent a large amount of our time going through the absolute mountain of records in the apartment and found some former investigators we wanted to try getting in contact with. There are some interesting stories on some of those teaching records. It's like the journal of all the inspiration and hard work of missionaries throughout the history of Fengshan. That night we went to Sanya's house, she is a single mother investigator, and her kid is the one I want to fees chloroform cookies. We got him to behave because we brought Cai our recent convert along for the lesson. He's a teddy bear, but looks like he could be a super mean Taiwanese man. That night we also went to McDonalds for dinner, and found out they were doing a special, and were still selling pancakes that night. It took me back many years to chow down on those microwaved pieces of cardboard smothered in butter and syrup. I felt like a kid again.
We spent a large amount of our time going through the absolute mountain of records in the apartment and found some former investigators we wanted to try getting in contact with. There are some interesting stories on some of those teaching records. It's like the journal of all the inspiration and hard work of missionaries throughout the history of Fengshan. That night we went to Sanya's house, she is a single mother investigator, and her kid is the one I want to fees chloroform cookies. We got him to behave because we brought Cai our recent convert along for the lesson. He's a teddy bear, but looks like he could be a super mean Taiwanese man. That night we also went to McDonalds for dinner, and found out they were doing a special, and were still selling pancakes that night. It took me back many years to chow down on those microwaved pieces of cardboard smothered in butter and syrup. I felt like a kid again.
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
We had a review lesson with Sam today, we talked a lot about how we have a loving Heavenly Father, and this Gospel is what He's given us to make us the most happy. It's so amazing to see the understanding he's gained, and of the relationship he's been able to renew with the Father he's only forgotten for a while. For dinner, we found some turkey rice to peremptorily celebrate Thanksgiving, even though it was technically two full days too early. Since 'Murica is a day behind us, but who cares? Then taught the little kids again. What a joy. I'm actually pretty surprised with how well they stay focused.
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Had a district training meeting in Pingdeng (Still haven't decided how to spell that) and ate a great lunch at a roadside breakfast place. It was the start of an amazing Thanksgiving! We visited another RC, Li, the one I've talked about who's probably the most humble man I've ever known, and were able to give him a priesthood blessing to help with his medical problems he's been having. I am so humbled to be able to participate in this work, in helping the children of Heavenly Father feel His love in so many different ways. We then finished teaching the Yang family's son Yoda about the commandments. We were able to convince them to move his date to this month! He'll be baptized during the ward Christmas activity on the 10th of December! Lastly that night we went to Chen Dixiongs house, where he hosted a Thanksgiving party. Sanya was there, as well as Cai and his family, and a few other members. It felt so amazing to be there, and was such a blessing for me to feel that family feeling. I'm not able to be with mine at the moment, but I know that they're thinking of me, and I want them to know that God helped me truly feel at home that night. I can't describe it, but it just felt right to be there. We also let them try some American candy which almost killed them. xD It's just way to sweet. Even Elder Gasser can barely eat it anymore. I'll pray really hard for his recovery though.
Friday, 25 November 2016
Weekly planning! That took up a lot of time, but is worth it every week. I love receiving direction in helping these people we're trying to teach come closer to Christ. We also gave a tour of the chapel to a less active member we met on the train a few weeks ago, Sasha. She met the church in Utah (She's Taiwanese) was baptized in Kaohsiung, and hasn't been to church for about 10 years. Immediately some members there took her in and started making friends, which made our job so much the easier. Members, YOU HAVE THE POWER! Then we biked around trying to visit the formers, but no one was home.
Saturday, 26 November 2017
We discussed how important the Spirit is in companion study today, which came in handy later in the day. We met with a recent convert from Elder Gasser's previous area. He is doing his army service right now, and he always has a lot of questions and concerns. He was really quiet, and for the first bit of our meeting, we didn't get much out of him, but Elder Gasser kept at it, really trying to use the Spirit to know how to help him, and I was praying for him behind the scenes. We eventually talked about prayer, which I really hope is what he needed, and I actually got to share my experience about prayer from PJOC a few years ago. And if it helped him, I say everything I went through was worth it. It also started to rain, but we went out visiting anyways. I'm starting to realize why they don't like the rain so much here. BECAUSE IT RAINS SO MUCH. But I still love it... so far.
Sunday, 27 November 2016
So, Sam didn't actually get to sacrament when it started, so we were pretty sad. It continued raining, so a lot of people don't come. Elder Gasser says they're afraid they'll melt, I have no idea why. But half-way through the Primary Program HE SHOWED UP!!! And then he got confirmed at the end of the meeting. Finally. I was so happy to see it happen. Our LA friend Sasha was there as well! So it was a great meeting. Then we went home, had studies, and cooked our own Thanksgiving dinner with the stuff my family sent me! It tasted like America, so good. Luckily it was all packaged and easy to cook, or I might have found a way to muff it up. But it turned out delicious. Then we ventured back out into the rain and contacted all night. I was soaked. And it was cold! Like, maybe 70 degrees! ;-)
So that was my week. Many countless blessings and miracles occur every day, and it's all I can do to thank the Lord for every one that comes my way. I hope you all see His hand in your lives as well. I know that if you'll look, you'll see it every time. This is God's work, and I'll be darned if I'm not getting taught Chinese in Taiwan to carry it out! I know it's only through Heavenly Father's support that I'm here, and I know that Christ lives.
Have a fantastic week my friends and family!
-Elder Meanea
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