We just received these from the mission office:
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Sunday, December 10, 2017
I loved my time serving in Taiwan
Okay, wow... What a week.
On Tuesday we went to the temple. The day started at 4:00 AM. Me and my comp got up early and we biked in the freezing early morning weather down to the train station. Then we took the train up to JiaYi. Then took another train to Taizhong. The whole train ride was around 2 hours. It took a long time. Then we got there and my companion was banished to Taizhong for the day with another companion. Then I was with a group of Elders and Sisters that were all going home soon. It was so fun to see everybody. Elder Hatch was there and Elder Hongvilai. Elder Hongvilai was really scared to talk to me because he thought I didn't like him, but I talked to him and made him feel better. Then we all loaded on the bus and off we went on another 2ish bus ride up to Taibei. The trip was really fun and I spent the majority of the trip talking to Elder Hongvilai. When we got up to Taibei it was very different than Taizhong and any area I have ever served in. Taibei is way more modern and city. I love it up there. Then we went to a place where we could eat some food across from the temple. It was like a buffet style place, but we only had about 5 minutes to eat because we had to go in for our endowment session. It was really crazy and rushed. Then we got into the temple and had to change in like 10 seconds, and then I was into the temple for an endowment session. I did English. I don't know why. Hahaha! The temple session was really good and I felt really happy to be sitting in the celestial room in the Taibei temple one last time. It was a very nice moment.
And then when we left the temple we went to the Memorial Hall in Taibei and we got to walk around for a minute. They have guards there and they were getting ready to change the guards. It's kind of like the tomb of the unknown soldier in America. The guards are to stand still for an hour and then they are switched out. It was really cool to see them do all of their military stuff and drills and then switch the guard.
Then after that we loaded on the bus and drove all the way back. I was really tired. Then the next day I had exchanges in JiaYi with the Zone Leaders. It was really good and we laughed our heads off a lot.
Then I had to host a DTM with the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders there. I had to give my closing testimony at the end and I had to hold back a lot of tears, but I successfully didn't cry.
Then from there on it was just a normal week. We had some more baptismal interviews. And then both passed, but we had to reschedule one of them because he had some sins to take care off first. So this week on Friday and Saturday we should be having a baptism! They both look really good and are all ready to go.
On Sunday we had Stake Conference. I don't have much to say about that. It was whatever.
Everyone this week got smartphones, but I didn't get one since I'm going home next week, so it's kind of like watching everyone freak out and then I'm just sitting there just kind of like whatever.
I guess since this is the last email I'll write back home to everyone as a missionary, I would like to say my mission was one of the best things I have done with my life and I have loved my time serving in Taiwan. I really have grown a love for the Taiwanese people and the culture and I'm grateful for their examples of faith. I have learned a lot here in Taiwan and I can't really describe what it was like to serve in Taiwan, but I know that it was an amazing experience. The Taiwanese people have left a very permanent mark on my life and I will always remember them. I'm very sad to leave. I know that the gospel is true and has changed my life. I know that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior.
Here's a picture of me and a Christmas tree.
On Tuesday we went to the temple. The day started at 4:00 AM. Me and my comp got up early and we biked in the freezing early morning weather down to the train station. Then we took the train up to JiaYi. Then took another train to Taizhong. The whole train ride was around 2 hours. It took a long time. Then we got there and my companion was banished to Taizhong for the day with another companion. Then I was with a group of Elders and Sisters that were all going home soon. It was so fun to see everybody. Elder Hatch was there and Elder Hongvilai. Elder Hongvilai was really scared to talk to me because he thought I didn't like him, but I talked to him and made him feel better. Then we all loaded on the bus and off we went on another 2ish bus ride up to Taibei. The trip was really fun and I spent the majority of the trip talking to Elder Hongvilai. When we got up to Taibei it was very different than Taizhong and any area I have ever served in. Taibei is way more modern and city. I love it up there. Then we went to a place where we could eat some food across from the temple. It was like a buffet style place, but we only had about 5 minutes to eat because we had to go in for our endowment session. It was really crazy and rushed. Then we got into the temple and had to change in like 10 seconds, and then I was into the temple for an endowment session. I did English. I don't know why. Hahaha! The temple session was really good and I felt really happy to be sitting in the celestial room in the Taibei temple one last time. It was a very nice moment.
And then when we left the temple we went to the Memorial Hall in Taibei and we got to walk around for a minute. They have guards there and they were getting ready to change the guards. It's kind of like the tomb of the unknown soldier in America. The guards are to stand still for an hour and then they are switched out. It was really cool to see them do all of their military stuff and drills and then switch the guard.
Then after that we loaded on the bus and drove all the way back. I was really tired. Then the next day I had exchanges in JiaYi with the Zone Leaders. It was really good and we laughed our heads off a lot.
Then I had to host a DTM with the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders there. I had to give my closing testimony at the end and I had to hold back a lot of tears, but I successfully didn't cry.
Then from there on it was just a normal week. We had some more baptismal interviews. And then both passed, but we had to reschedule one of them because he had some sins to take care off first. So this week on Friday and Saturday we should be having a baptism! They both look really good and are all ready to go.
On Sunday we had Stake Conference. I don't have much to say about that. It was whatever.
Everyone this week got smartphones, but I didn't get one since I'm going home next week, so it's kind of like watching everyone freak out and then I'm just sitting there just kind of like whatever.
I guess since this is the last email I'll write back home to everyone as a missionary, I would like to say my mission was one of the best things I have done with my life and I have loved my time serving in Taiwan. I really have grown a love for the Taiwanese people and the culture and I'm grateful for their examples of faith. I have learned a lot here in Taiwan and I can't really describe what it was like to serve in Taiwan, but I know that it was an amazing experience. The Taiwanese people have left a very permanent mark on my life and I will always remember them. I'm very sad to leave. I know that the gospel is true and has changed my life. I know that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior.
Here's a picture of me and a Christmas tree.
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Tomorrow I'm going to the Taipei Temple
Oh goodness....It's really coming up here. I'll be home in a 2 weeks now.. That's super weird.. Yeah I'm just getting ready to start my last everything.
Some good news this week is tomorrow I will be going to the Taipei Temple for an endowment session. Looks like, someone must have complained and so now we get a little temple trip. It'll be super cool to go to Taipei. That last time I went was when I was first on Island in training. So I remember it but not too well. I can't wait it should be pretty fun but we have to get up pretty early and stuff. We have to get up around 5:00 AM and then take a train all the way to Taizhong. Then my companion will serve in Taizhong for the day and I will get on a bus and up to Taipei for the day. Should be pretty good.
But to answer your question, yes things are getting pretty weird. I just get more and more trunky. I still am working and we still do missionary things. But, I just find myself less and less focused.
This week was alright! It was pretty good. We had a mission tour and we had Elder Meurs come and talk for like 17 hours. It was a long meeting, but I was able to see my trainee Elder Brenchley and Elder Sano and Elder Chang from my old area. It was a nice little reunion. I really miss those guys they were pretty fun.
This week I think we might be getting the smartphones this week or next week. I think rumor has it now that I will not get one because I'm going home a week later once we get them. So I'm thinking I won't get one. That's whatever haha! It's probably better for me if I don't get one.
Nothing really happened this week. But this week should be full of stuff. We're also going on exchanges with the zone leaders and I have to do a DTM with the STL's and the ZL's. So, if I already wasn't tired enough it's about to get a lot worse.
I'm doing really good and I'm looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
I love you all so very much!
Some good news this week is tomorrow I will be going to the Taipei Temple for an endowment session. Looks like, someone must have complained and so now we get a little temple trip. It'll be super cool to go to Taipei. That last time I went was when I was first on Island in training. So I remember it but not too well. I can't wait it should be pretty fun but we have to get up pretty early and stuff. We have to get up around 5:00 AM and then take a train all the way to Taizhong. Then my companion will serve in Taizhong for the day and I will get on a bus and up to Taipei for the day. Should be pretty good.
But to answer your question, yes things are getting pretty weird. I just get more and more trunky. I still am working and we still do missionary things. But, I just find myself less and less focused.
This week was alright! It was pretty good. We had a mission tour and we had Elder Meurs come and talk for like 17 hours. It was a long meeting, but I was able to see my trainee Elder Brenchley and Elder Sano and Elder Chang from my old area. It was a nice little reunion. I really miss those guys they were pretty fun.
This week I think we might be getting the smartphones this week or next week. I think rumor has it now that I will not get one because I'm going home a week later once we get them. So I'm thinking I won't get one. That's whatever haha! It's probably better for me if I don't get one.
Nothing really happened this week. But this week should be full of stuff. We're also going on exchanges with the zone leaders and I have to do a DTM with the STL's and the ZL's. So, if I already wasn't tired enough it's about to get a lot worse.
I'm doing really good and I'm looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
I love you all so very much!
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