Monday, 9 January 2017
Emailing home was great as always! I love seeing the blessings and protection my family receives from Heavenly Father as I serve him here in Taiwan. We went and attempted to play football today, and it was freaking hilarious. Yes, we are all mostly athletic people, but that doesn't mean we are actually skilled at sports that require coordination. It was actually a pretty cool blessing. Our investigator Johnny came, and I was a bit worried he would feel a bit left out, since he doesn't really do sports, but I was praying for him to have a fun experience, and the Elders were super nice to him, even though he doesn't really talk a lot. He had a great time, and I was so glad. Maybe it'll help him realize that God isn't an alien?
Emailing home was great as always! I love seeing the blessings and protection my family receives from Heavenly Father as I serve him here in Taiwan. We went and attempted to play football today, and it was freaking hilarious. Yes, we are all mostly athletic people, but that doesn't mean we are actually skilled at sports that require coordination. It was actually a pretty cool blessing. Our investigator Johnny came, and I was a bit worried he would feel a bit left out, since he doesn't really do sports, but I was praying for him to have a fun experience, and the Elders were super nice to him, even though he doesn't really talk a lot. He had a great time, and I was so glad. Maybe it'll help him realize that God isn't an alien?
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
We had a lesson today! It may have only been 5 minutes, but it still counted as a lesson! It was with our Friend Ding, who is a Salesman near our house. It was the appointment last week who I thought had given us the wrong address. He is super willing to lesson, but he walked in and said, "I'm a bit busy today, so I've got 5 minutes." We told him about the Book of Mormon and living prophets in about 3, had a prayer, and he was gone, and still willing to meet. So I'd say that's an unqualified good lesson!
We had a lesson today! It may have only been 5 minutes, but it still counted as a lesson! It was with our Friend Ding, who is a Salesman near our house. It was the appointment last week who I thought had given us the wrong address. He is super willing to lesson, but he walked in and said, "I'm a bit busy today, so I've got 5 minutes." We told him about the Book of Mormon and living prophets in about 3, had a prayer, and he was gone, and still willing to meet. So I'd say that's an unqualified good lesson!
Wednesday, 11 January 2017
We had exchanges today! I was with an Elder Kunz. He's a really great Elder, and I was really impressed all night with his dedication to share this message with people. He actually goes home next month, and it's easy to see how much he realizes this message means to people. How much allowing Christ and His Atonement into their lives can brighten them. It was a really fun exchange.
Thursday, 12 January 2017
We woke up and had studies with the zone leaders, then went out for lunch. After lunch, we still had a few minutes before district training meeting started, so Elder Kunz and I went out on the streets, and in less than ten minutes, we found someone that was willing to meet next week and hear about the Book of Mormon. This exchange has taught me a lot about diligence, and really looking for the people who will accept. Elder Burge and I headed back to our area and started contacting around. We went to a nearby park, and nobody was really talking to us. We took a second lap around, and ran across this lady who was looking at us really funny, she finally said, "Hi, good evening," in broken English, so we started talking to her. She found out we spoke Chinese and was much relieved. She told us that she's seen missionaries around before, and she just had to ask why it was that we came to Buddhist land Taiwan (my words) to talk about Jesus. We told her it was because we knew our message was true and could really help her. We had a Book of Mormon with us (always have one with you!) and we handed it to her to look at. She glanced at a few pages, then said, you have five minutes, tell me what your message is all about. Elder Burge and I got wide eyes and looked at each other, then just started spewing a lot of doctrine like the Plan of Salvation, the Restoration, Jesus Christ, and in the end, we gave her the Book of Mormon, and she told us she was was going to read the whole thing. I think she really will, and I believe in the Book of Mormon's promise that to those who read it, and ask God if it is true, will receive an answer, no matter how long it takes This is a true promise, I've tested it myself. It's why I live on a tropical island telling Asians to believe in Jesus. Because it's true, and I know it.
Friday, 13 January 2017
Weekly planning party! We went out to lunch with Elders form a nearby area as well. It's fun to get together with them occasionally. Apparently it's a tradition to have the lunch for weekly planning together. Afterwards we headed to the Chapel to meet with Johnny, our Alien-loving friend, and showed him a Mormon Message about how science and religion really agree with each other. He's scared to get baptized though, because that means he'll be a Christian. We told him that was kind of the point. Now that believing in God has come around, we get to work on the believing in Christ bit. I really can't believe how much I've come to care about him, though. He's at the forefront of a lot of our prayers as a companionship and personal prayers for him to receive an answer from God. I know it'll come if he has faith, but I also know that Heavenly Father takes our faith into account as well. I just really want to be able to stay long enough to see him accept this message and let it bring him the joy I know it can.
Saturday, 14 January 2017
We didn't get to be out doing much today. We contacted until about 4:00 PM, then headed to the church for a food activity that went from 5-8. It was a Taiwanese traditional food cook off! You'd better believe there was some weird stuff there. Also, as I was writing that in my journal, I saw a cockroach on my companion's bed, so he grabbed a paper, yelled "fore!" and flipped it off the bed, then I threw a book down on it right after that. It was some good companion unity. Anyways, sorry. I got distracted. We had 2, almost 3 investigators there! Johnny, who is opening up more and more every day, Jeff, who just got done with tests and is a super cool guy willing to learn about the Gospel, and Anthony, a 70 year old man who's been coming to English class for 38 years. He on and off investigates, and just barely let us have his number, and always buys us ice cream. He's a really nice guy, he just needs to learn about the happiest thing in the world. So it was a great night all around, really. I'm really so grateful I have the chance to work in this ward. It's starting to become like another home to me.
We didn't get to be out doing much today. We contacted until about 4:00 PM, then headed to the church for a food activity that went from 5-8. It was a Taiwanese traditional food cook off! You'd better believe there was some weird stuff there. Also, as I was writing that in my journal, I saw a cockroach on my companion's bed, so he grabbed a paper, yelled "fore!" and flipped it off the bed, then I threw a book down on it right after that. It was some good companion unity. Anyways, sorry. I got distracted. We had 2, almost 3 investigators there! Johnny, who is opening up more and more every day, Jeff, who just got done with tests and is a super cool guy willing to learn about the Gospel, and Anthony, a 70 year old man who's been coming to English class for 38 years. He on and off investigates, and just barely let us have his number, and always buys us ice cream. He's a really nice guy, he just needs to learn about the happiest thing in the world. So it was a great night all around, really. I'm really so grateful I have the chance to work in this ward. It's starting to become like another home to me.
Sunday, 15 January 2017
What a day! Johnny came to all three hours of Church, and I think he might have enjoyed it! Then we had a training after church on how to use Facebook for members to spread the Gospel. It's amazing how easy it is to do. And then we went to the Olmes family's house. He's an American who actually went to school in Cedar City and knows Herr Corry. They fed us some Japanese hot pot! It was so good. And then we went to a park to contact around, and we found a really cool guy named Xu. He is a Christian and actually set up to meet with us at the chapel to learn more next Saturday! That's the first time someone has set another time to meet on the spot! It was really cool to see how our diligence actually brings results in our Heavenly Father's time.
And that brings things to that. I really can't express all the experiences, challenges, and blessings that I see every week. I think the only one who really understands it all is my Heavenly Father. I've been given a lot more blessings than I probably see, and am just so grateful to be out here, serving my Savior. I know Jesus Christ lives, and he's the reason we can all return home to our Father someday. I love you all too much to say, and I pray for you often. I know Heavenly Father loves us all, and I'm glad I can spread that message here with His power. Have an amazing week my family and friends!
-Elder Meanea
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