Townsend 2 taiwan

Monday, February 27, 2012

Friends, members and happy stuff







Transfer to the metal jungle!

Well get ready for the news of the past 7 monthes. I am moving! I am actually opening an area in Taipei called neihu with an Elder Montalto. Pretty exciting right?! Its pretty hard to believe and to think I have to leave Elder Slawson, my little friend of the past 4 monthes! However the Lord has blessed us incredible the past week incredibly and this whole entire transfer.
Last week we went to the temple which was an awesome. So that is why my email was later than usual.
Ok for the quick rundown of this last week and the miracles. So this last week we were a bit stressed (I was at least) We weren't doing the best on our goals and it was just a really taxing week with the temple and everything. However as the weekend rolled around the blessings did as well. I met a guy Sony Cai about 4 monthes ago outside his coffee shop and we became pretty good friends. From that day till right now we tried to set up a time to meet and share but never came through until last week. We get the time and it happens. We sit down, pray, and just let the spirit do the work. He was so good. I was so happy. He was talking how as he grew up that he never noticed God until he went to church with some friends and from that period of time till now he has seen God's hand so many times in his life to develop his faith that he is there. Also that as he reads the Bible he feels as if God's trying to tell him a message and sometimes he does receive little messages from it that he knows he needs to do in his life. He is really excited to get a Book of Mormon and start reading it.
Next Miracle. From English Class I set up a David Weng who is a pretty faithful christian. We sat down and talked with and shared a simple restoration. It was really good. He recognized that Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist for a specific reason. We testified of the priesthood and restoration of it. He also is desiring to read the Book of Mormon. He really wants to get know the word of God and find it out.
Saturday miracles. We met with Eddie Lin and he wants to understand the Gospel. Really smart and has some social interaction specialities but a great guy nevertheless. Met with Abe Chen. Another great a guy who understands a lot and is going to be a good to do studies for because of his questions and his ability to accept. Finally back up plans are crucial! We got fang'd and we went to visit to the violin man, Peng da zhong! He was really excited to see us as well. When we about got there it was pouring down on our heads. (I think that helps with the pity level a little bit). He gives us some food as the Taiwanese do and Elder Slawson and I had the best lesson of being together probably. In fact we didn't even teach a lesson. We taught him. We found more of his background, applied our principles of teaching. I really don't know how it happened but the spirit was so strong when he invited him to be baptized again he accepted it without a doubt in his mind. what had changed from 10 plus years ago and the first time we met him I don't know, but whatever it was, it was being manifested. As we left our souls were full of joy. More than that his older brother lives in Neihu my new area and he gave me him as a referral!
Last day of miracles in Xin zhu for me.
Our Bike guy came to church finally! Almo liu. Love him. He just gotten back from taipei dancing and stuff. He hadn't slept and I am so proud, he didn't sleep through church either. A real champion and a good friend. Roach ling and our other investigator wang zhan yao. They all came to church! After we had a great lesson with a member's 17 year old nephew who set a baptismal date and wants to learn about heavenly father.
I know I only touch upon a few miracles, but I know that these miracles are from patience and enduring. Oh and of course faith. The Lord has already blessed me with two families that I found here in xinzhu to teach in neihu. The power of jesus christ is real and he loves all of us. Pray lots and hopefully I can make it through alive my first week in the metal jungle!
Elder Townsend





Thursday, February 16, 2012

Hola!

I don't think I have any new greetings... Maybe gyao za! Its taiyu for good morning so no way to spell it.
On to better notes this week for Elder Slawson and I as we battled Satan and his minions was a bit difficult. We worked pushed still saw some miracles of course, but it was the easiest. Let's start with miracles...

Tuesday was a rainy cold day about 10 Degrees celsius. Poor Elder Slawson is shivering from head to toe. We decided that we would take the train for safety, health, and well the train is just fun to go to district meeting. As we were walking to zhu bei chapel, we had this older man call out to us. Called us over and we started talking to him. We sat down in an apartment complex's first floor's couches. We started sharing and he said I am old now, I can start learning and follow Jesus Christ. Ha usually people use that as an excuse is that they are too old or when they are old they will study. He believed everything we shared and we committed him to quit smoking right there and gave him a baptismal date. He was a really neat old man. He wasn't like the average old taiwanese grandpa. He in a way talked about the pre existence and everything. He said that all of us have spirits and that our parents of our bodies aren't the parents of our spirits. Our spirits are eternal basically and we can look at life as a right now time schedule. We need to see the big picture or else we will run into a wall and never progress and our soul will never find what it is looking for. Ha it was pretty cool. Elder Slawson and I were pumped. All we did was say hello and pretty soon, Bro. Peng was learning about how to follow Jesus Christ.

We saw other miracles as we went on exchanges and just went out finding. One thing I can do better to remember that everyone has a different situation and some have had things that have prepared them in life to hear the Gospel. For example I got a street lesson's referral. This kid had a hard life, for example, His mom kind of just left when he was little and hasn't seen her, his dad past away in the last couple of years, he lives with his grandparents, Works at pizza shop during the day and goes to school at night (6-10). Now imagine him ever wanting to go to college, finding friends, taking care of his family, etc. I believe the Lord knows his potential and his capability and he trusts him that he can be strong. Obviously that isn't an easy situation in anyway or means but he can really use the Gospel, knowing that he has a plan for him, that he can faith and trust in the Lord.

Well we haven't talked to Ricky Zhuang in over a week and a half now. I don't know what happen. Elder Slawson and Elder Chen met with him and Ricky said he had some family problems come up and from there he disappeared. Its really sad becuase I love this brother so much. He was close to baptism as well. Elder Slawson and I were talking and we discussed about how he had these expectations of the gospel changing him and him not doing anything. He didn't have faith in himself so he didn't have anytime to have faith in God. That was one thing I learned this week. When we don't have faith in ourselves, we don't have faith in God or Jesus Christ because we will consume all our energy and strength on ourselves that we don't leave anytime for the Savior and Lord to work Miracles in our lives.
Last miracle to end on a happy note. We were praying so hard to find someone who is prepared. We were just having trouble after trouble and were just went out and searched. Saw this man and pounced. His name is Solomon wu. Like Solomon in the bible. He was really prepared. He really wanted to read the Book of Mormon and find out if its true. He wanted to try the test in a way. He was looking for answers to questions and they were questions that can only be answered by the Restored Gospel. Unfortunately he lives in the middle of the island in a small town that is not in our area. I guess we'll just let the other missionaries take care of him then!
Well lots of love
Elder Townsend

Li ho!

Li ho! (Ni hao=hola=hello)
Howdy! Another week on the streets of Taiwan! Saw lots of blessings and miracles. It was an amazing week. Even though we got fang'd 25 times (Fang'd means placed or in this case the investigator bailed ship) we still met lots of greats and had miracles! 
Food.
Probably my favorite food of the week has to be the taro mantou. Its taro slush inside of steam bread. Ha it rocked.
News.
This week I went on exchanges with Elder Terry. We had some pretty plans and we went to work. I had set up the boss of a coffee shop to meet with us and we went over there, he was busy but since we were doing what the Lord we would do, he blessed us. As we walked in there was a taller Taiwanese guy maybe 6 feet? He asked us if we wanted to talk about God and of course our response was yes. So he came outside with us where it wasn't so loud, we sat down and started sharing the Good word. He had some interesting thought processes for example he believes Jesus to be from outer space. Not an alien but he was put here from another distant planet. He was good guy, just a little lost in the world and spiritually, but I am not worried, he'll be found.
That same night I met with Bro Jin! (Gold) He is awesome! Ha he is from my old parts of the Island so the east coast of hualian and Taidong! He loves Jesus and is a slow learner. Part of the reason he is a slow learner is because his 3 year old son is nuts. The first time we met His son was pulling his 9 year old sister's hair out who didn't make a noise. He was grabbing everything and throwing it around. This last time we decided to bring a movie to watch with him. It was the Joseph Smith movie. Bro jin was loving it and was really intent on it. didi (little brother) most relax time was when he was drawing and even then he was screaming. Ha they had also been watching avatar the last airbender before we got there so of course he believed he was a ninja and jumping off walls, tv, cupboards, etc. Bro Jin said he used to go to church when they had the two older ones, but when they had the little one... Well they haven't been to church in about 3 years or so we can say. He really believes the Joseph Smith experience particulary because he saw Jesus and Jesus is true. That's what I am talking about!
Also we met some people who aren't as a special as Bro jin's case, but they are still wonderful. We met with a Bro. jian and a Bro. de guang chen. They both were really feeling the spirit. Elder Slawson and I really strove to teach by the spirit. Result, they both reacted underneath the spirit. It was beautiful to watch the transformation of these people. As we helped them realize who their heavenly father is and Jesus christ, they had a change on their face and in their hearts. They believed what we shared so when we shared about baptism it wasn't a problem. The doctrine was easily accepted. I really can't think of too many times where we have had that kind of experience. I guess the Lord wanted us to go through all people just to find those few really good ones. Those prepared souls who are willing to accept now. To act upon our invitations and to move forth. Just goes to prove that the church is true. Our Heavenly Father does love us and His son, Jesus Christ does as well they are always welcoming us back into there arms, we just need to have faith, repent, and follow the example of christ and be baptized.
People.
Daniel huang came again to church in a suit. He looked good, but more importantly he is having good spiritual experiences at church. This week's fast and testimony sacrament was good and were things daniel needs to hear especially in his crazy life. He is working like crazy. He says he has to work to 8 every night this week. Brutal. I think that means he is pulling at least or about a 12 hour shift everyday? Thought your job was hectic, welcome to the average Taiwanese man and woman.
Ricky Zhuang hasn't answered his phone in about a week now. He isn't doing too good. He had some family problems and yeah I don't know. I am just praying that he will rely upon the Lord and we can see him again. It is definitely not an easy culture here in Taiwan to study the gospel. So many forces of opposition pushing from many different directions on these children of God. However, God hasn't forget these people on the isles of sea. They are being found and they are loved.
 
Well this Gospel is true and brings true happiness. At first we don't see the blessings it pours out upon us but that is because the Lord was us to develop experience, strength, faith, and patience. (Mosiah 23 and 24) Even though bro Jin has crazy kids, that over time and keeping the commandments will him bring a new spirit of love in the home and can help him manage the cute little monster. didi can feel his dad's love for him and that is all because Christ made the inifinite sacrifice for all of us.

With lots of Love,
Elder Townsend. 唐長老