Tell these people of the Lord
Hearts are opened, spirits softened
As we eat Papaya gourds!
(Copyright Elder Meanea 2017 No. 277)
Monday, 12 June 2017
"P" for "Pretty much did nothing today" day. We just had to do some groceries, I got the least atrocious haircut I've ever had in Taiwan, and then a member lovingly referred to as Monkey Joe fed us a great dinner. It's the same Joe who we helped plant banana trees last week, so take that for what you will. Afterwards we biked up the mountain to find that family that we couldn't visit yesterday. They were really nice and happy to see us! It was super fun to go up and visit, even though we had to not use our brakes on the way down the mountain in order to get home on time.
"P" for "Pretty much did nothing today" day. We just had to do some groceries, I got the least atrocious haircut I've ever had in Taiwan, and then a member lovingly referred to as Monkey Joe fed us a great dinner. It's the same Joe who we helped plant banana trees last week, so take that for what you will. Afterwards we biked up the mountain to find that family that we couldn't visit yesterday. They were really nice and happy to see us! It was super fun to go up and visit, even though we had to not use our brakes on the way down the mountain in order to get home on time.
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
We biked up a giant canyon to visit the dad of one of the members. He is very Buddhist. And he didn't want to pray with us, so all we could do was make him feel like he was cared about. He's a nice enough man, he's just not willing to listen to one sentence of anything that isn't Buddhism. But who knows? Maybe one day the Spirit will touch his heart. Maybe it is right now. Because I believe the Spirit can change people if they let it. Really turn them into people that are willing to accept the Savior. And our prayers on their behalf can never hurt. Then we tracted a bit, did studies, and then went looking for an address that apparently doesn't exist. But we asked Shifu, our Buddhist master friend, and she said that it didn't, and then she asked us a bunch of questions for the Liahona magazine we gave to her a while back. It's so cool. She loves our church and talks to everyone about it. And she brought up something a previous Elder here said, and I thought it was really significant. "Taiwan is the kind of place that your body can leave but your heart can't." With all my heart, no matter what else happens on my mission, all I want to know of a surety is that I love them. Everyone here. And that I gave all I had for them. That's all I'll ever want.
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
A full day of contacting! I felt really happy today, just singing as we biked, being able to smile at everyone. I just love being a missionary. And if everyone else understood, they'd all love seeing us as well. Of course there are many who don't want to talk to us, but that doesn't change the fact that this is the happiest message anyone will ever get in their lives. And it makes me want to help their experience be joyful. It would be odd to remember your start to learning the Gospel and picture two gloomy looking people talking about Jesus. I would imagine two shining people full of Gospel light and love. I want to live up to what kind of missionary they deserve, And I go all philosophical today just because there wasn't much else to mention that happened, other than that I ate pumpkin and pork dumplings that were really good. And while we were there, two random white people who didn't know what they were doing came into the restaurant and tried to order. So the register lady came to us and asked us to translate. That was weird, but cool. I have no idea what they were doing here, but then again, look at me. So now that I've covered all the important things, I'll see you tomorrow.
Thursday, 15 June 2017
Right out the door we went to Sister Chen, our recent convert's birthday celebration. Her friends put it on and invited us, and there was cake and KFC, so it obviously was a good party. After District meeting we came back to do our studies, after which we had to run right over to meet with an investigator named Holiday. It was my first time meeting him, and he was really cool. He is the other brother of a member and works for Amway, and he gave us a demonstration of their awesome products. Don't worry, I'm not taking out any money to buy stuff. And then we immediately had a lesson with Wang and his son at the chapel. It went fairly well, and Wang's son John asked some great questions. Sister Fan and Brother Su came to the lesson with us, and we taught half of the Plan of Salvation before Fan and Su took them on a chapel tour. And then someone gave us these things called Mantous. They are just basically giant dough balls, and they are delicous.
Friday, 16 June 2017
You guessed it, and I don't even need to say it, but I will say it starts with a "weekly" and ends with a "planning." Besides that we didn't have a lot of time to do anything interesting today, but we found a cool family of a former who had interest in their daughter going to English class. It's actually the second time we've stopped by, and all the people that live there are super nice. So that was pretty cool. We also ate with Carol, also known as Sister Chen. She is the recent convert that Elder Densley helped baptize just before I got to Puli. And that was the day!
Saturday, 17 June 2017
Rain. Nothing but rain and water from the sky and a deluge and the flood and I'm pretty sure I saw Noah kayaking past on the street next to me today. Puli is basically made of water and I've never been more soaked in my life. But I like rain, so it's all good. We did some tracting today, and didn't find anyone, but more people know me and have to smile when they see me on the street now! We also went to Carol's house since today was her actual birthday and we gave her all cards. Then we (us and the sisters) ate some cake, sang, and hurried back to our apartments before curfew. Day!
Sunday, 18 June 2017
I am so full. After driving to stake conference and coming back we did our studies and then went to Tang Mama's house. If you ever meet any missionaries that have served in Puli, they all know the legend of Tang Mama and her cooking. She made 185 dumplings for us, and between the two sisters, us elders, them and their daughter, we ate them all. I personally ate 36. My stomach is so bloated, and that's mostly because she also brought out a chocolate peanut butter cake after that. I am so full. It's amazing. And that was basically the end of the week for us. We had a lesson set up, but he never called us back, so that didn't happen, but that's okay because we're going to find a bunch of super cool new investigators next week!
I can't believe I'm already closing another email home. The time just flies, and I love it all. I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have, and for every new day that I have to go out and spread the good news. I love you all!
-Elder Meanea
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