Count your many emails read them one by one,
thank God for your family, friends, and all loved ones!
(Copyright Elder Meanea 2017)
Monday, 24 April 2017
Not much to say for this P-Day, except that neither Elder Jones or I are very good at Ping-Pong. Good thing that's not a requirement for exaltation, or we'd be in trouble. There isn't much set up this week, so it's time to grow those Faith plants and find some souls that are ready to come and meet their Savior. There's nothing better that could happen in their lives, and I feel excited to be a part of it.
Tuesday, 25 April 2017
Good news folks! I'm going to hell!!! *Puts on welding mask and a pair of oven mits* Or at least that's what I was told today. This is a great story. So we were contacting around a park and just getting ready to leave when I walked over to a guy getting on his bike and said hi. He asked if we were Mormon Missionaries and we said yes, then he asked if we spoke English, and we said yes. At first I was super excited because it sounded like he wanted to talk to us about our religion! And well, he did, just not in a positive way. He just basically ranted about how we all deny Christ's word, we're all fake, and all mainstream churches are corrupt out the wazoo, then talked about how the Book of Mormon was blasphemy and such and was like "What about this and this and you're all deceived!" It was interesting, because we did answer a few questions he posed, the main message I kept getting was "Stick with the Spirit and your testimony." Apparently he does a lot of religious studies and some other Church kicked him out a while back, and so he was super fiery, and we patiently waited it out and told him we didn't want to argue, and then just bore testimony of Moroni's promise in Moroni 10:3-5, and oh my goodness, like my heart felt absolutely on fire, like I could barely control it, and it almost felt like we were rebuking him with the Spirit, and basically told him to go and ask of God, and Elder Jones afterwards told me he felt the same. Our testimony delivered, he just stood there with his arms folded and said, "Let me think a sec." Eventually he said "You're on the path to hell, and you're leading all these people astray." We smiled and told him to have a nice day and then he biked off. Honestly I lost all respect for him at that last comment, not because he told me I was using Apple Maps in my eternal journey, but more because he said we were leading the people astray. What a character. It was an amazing experience, and I believe it was a gift to help us strengthen our testimonies. Wow it was amazing. Also, I spent too long talking about that, but I have to mention that our friend Lu said his first prayer with us today!!! Yay!!!
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Today we started our exchanges with the Zone Leaders. It was super fun. I went with Elder Wilkinson, again. 3 months later. xD It was super great, and we had a great time just going out and working really hard to share this Gospel with people who would listen. It was amazing to see how many people wish their lives could be better, and they honestly have no idea that this Gospel is literally the answer to all their questions. We met a man at the park who's life was basically miserable and he wanted to give up smoking, and once he finally was willing to listen, we told him that this message is truly what he's looking for, even if he doesn't know it.
Thursday, 27 April 2017
To finish off! It was a great last half of an exchange. Elder Wilkinson and I had some great discussions during our studies. From which comes my new favorite quote. I sometimes wonder how to be the best missionary. And this isn't scripture or anything, it's just something catchy we came up with. "You know you're doing your best when you are trying to be better." ;-) We basically got rained out, so we walked around under some umbrellas and talked to a few people who were out. One of them was super cool and was really interested to know more about the Book of Mormon, and another was a "hair designer" who's greatest hope in life was that there would be a little more recognition for his profession. Odd, but he was willing to learn more. The rest of the night was contacting in the rain. I love rain, my family knows this. I have to exercise the greatest amount of self-control to not stand in the street and catch rain on my tongue. It was a great night.
Friday, 28 April 2017
I'm probably just going to let you all assume from now on that we had a weekly planning session each Friday (See Chapter 8 in "Preach My Gospel" ;-) And so I shall skip to the more interesting parts of the day, where we went to get ice cream! One of the members of our ward frequents an ice cream shop in our area and told us the people that live there would be good candidates for missionary work. So obviously we had to go buy some ice cream to talk to them. That we did and we actually got to give the lady running the shop a Book of Mormon. And then we went to visit a less active member and give him a little cake thing we bought from a family mart (which is slightly classier than it sounds, and we took the tags off) because it was his birthday. And that was about it!
Saturday, 29 April 2017
We found some service today. A "village elder" (basically a person in charge of community service in the area) let us go and help clean up at a park in North District. It was pretty fun, and she really appreciated our help. We barely had time to fit studies in after that before we visited Brother Lu, who prayed again! But he can't come to church tomorrow. After a good dinner with Alan and a lesson on faith and God's plan, we were out finding, then went home.
Sunday, 30 April 2017
Today was great as Church always is. But I want to turn to a more pressing subject. This is where the title of my email came from. From all the things I've experienced so far on my mission, I've learned that a testimony isn't just something you have, it's something you grow. It's a composite of those things which you believe and which through the power of the Holy Ghost you have given witness of. The reason I came to Taiwan is because I believe a young boy went into the woods with the pure intent to seek God's direction, and he found it. Because of that, we have the Book of Mormon. There have been so many people telling me lately and so many other influences trying to convince me that there are many reasons why it wouldn't be true. But, those are all the words of men. I want the opinion of God on this. And as you all know, the Book of Mormon gives us a very specific promise found in Moroni 10:3-5. (Pg. 529) And this has been promised that all those who take this challenge, study the word, and be willing to act on the answer we receive, asking with faith in Christ, God will give us the answer that it is true. That is a promise to everyone. Not just members, not just investigators, all His children can know if they will. And as Thomas S. Monson, a man I sustain as a prophet in our day, has told us not one month ago that it is going to be essential to have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and it's witness of Jesus Christ in the coming days. Already the opposition seems to be gathering strength. And so I am going to take this challenge. And I invite you all to take it with me. Because I believe doing so can only bring peace and safety into our lives. So, starting May 13th, we have 60 days to read the Book of Mormon, ending on July 13th. (8 pgs. a day IE not a lot) And then I'm going to ask God, as He pleads with us to. And I challenge you all to ask as well. Even if you've done it before. This testimony weakens if you leave it alone. I believe this Book has changed my life, and it can change the lives of all these people that I'm truly starting to love in this land. And I'm going to follow through and ask. If you're reading this, I most likely thought of you specifically as I wrote this, and because I love you all, I would be overjoyed if you're willing to participate. If you are, I'd like you to take this: 願意 and paste it in an email to me. ("Willing" in Chinese) But if you don't want to, you don't have to. I hope you all truly know that I love you. As I imagine all the people that could read this, there isn't one I could think of that doesn't have a special place in my heart. And that's why I have to share this, I have to invite. Because this work and these truths mean more to me than all the world.
I wish you all a happy week, and I hope you'll ponder on taking this Challenge. I was considering making a catchy hashtag, but I figured that was a little too cliche. Anyways.... love you all!
-Elder Meanea
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