Hola!

大家好

Hello! (that says da jia hao) I just want to say the Book of Mormon works miracles in Christ! This week was really good and Elder Montalto and I worked miracles. Elder Montalto's background: from Las Vegas. On his 6th transfer. Great guy. Very friendly with everyone and the ward so it is great! OK now back to why this week was so great.

People.

So one of our investigators right now is Chen ba ba. What a character. He loves to talk, but he kind of has the right. Very accomplished man. I think last week I mentioned how he is the big man behind A1 sauce in the Asia area, well that is just some of the few accomplishments he has marked in his life. He believes in hard work, integrity, gratitude, and being an example. So this week we continue to share scriptures and the lessons with him. We'll apparently he likes to take out the missionaries he took us out to eat and oh boy, it was good and lot of food! However the best part was we got to meet his wife and his oldest son. His son is also very accomplished. He owns probably the most popular breakfast shop in all of the Neihu area. He says every morning he gets at least 500 people to come and eat. Pretty crazy. It was good because we got to share how the church places emphasis on the family and it really sparked chen ma's interest a bit. I think it is starting to wear off on her a little bit. We will continue to ask Chen ba to work on his wife to come meet with us as well. On sunday his daughter was pretty excited to talk to us. He said we were really happy and excited when we ate. ha

Next is Ryan (zhang liang jun). He is awesome he came to church this week! Better yet he loved it! Ha he has a Jesus wall paper on his cell phone too. Its awesome he loves Jesus! The ward also likes him too! He looks like a happy punk kid, but he is one of the most respectful people ever. He just has a big heart. Well this week we had a specialized training with President Grimley and we talked all about the Book of Mormon. So after we went and taught the Book of Mormon. It was good, that morning we didn't have any time to do preparation for him but because of our awesome weekly planning session we already knew what we needed to teach. The only thing we needed was scriptures. It was cool during that lesson the scriptures just came out and they bore powerful testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am pretty sure everyone came out of that lesson uplifted and excited about life. Ryan continues to strive and work towards baptism!

Li ming hong. Well he is our special brother. He is good guy, just a bit interesting. This week we went over the baptismal questions. We saw the areas where he lacked a testimony and how we could help him out. The big thing came down to was reading the scriptures. We found when he was progressing the most is when he was reading the scriptures. He is still struggling with the God being our Eternal Father and Jesus Christ as being the savior of the world. He will come around eventually. Continue to pray for him and encourage to read the Book of Mormon! I know he will get around to it.

Alright the Lord has blessed us and given us stress as well this week. For example. We are always pushing just short of our goals and then he helps us accomplish all of them. It is fantastic. However I guess the Lord is just saying keep pushing forward.

Finally as we were reading scriptures with one of our new investigators I watch as his facial expression changed and he became happier and more excited. He is such a great kid and I am glad I met his mom on the street and wanted him to learn about jesus!

I am out of time But I know the book of mormon is true and when we use the Lord will bless!

Loves!

Elder Townsend!

Kaui bu kaui le?

Hello!

Well I have to say these last two weeks have been some of the happiest weeks on my mission so far! The reason? I would have to say the Book Of Mormon. This month we are focusing on the Book of Mormon. It has been amazing how constantly studying the Book of Mormon and using it in my everyday life has brought blessings. Also sincere prayer has brought those blessings as well.
We have been trying to focus using the Book of Mormon everywhere in every situation. One thing I have been doing is writing questions down and then doing studies looking for those answers. Everytime I receive an answer to those questions and better yet I get to use those outside on the street. My personal goal is to use the Book of Mormon in every contact out on the streets. I love being able to open the book and read it with them together. One thing I have noticed is that it really helps me find those who are prepared to listen. I found this sweet lady on the street the other day. I started talking to her and found out a little background and next I should here some scriptures. Alma 26.37 (I think, last verse of that chapter) Talked, invited here to prepare for baptism, and resolved some concerns that she had. Of course we have to pass her onto the sisters to teach, but I was so excited she was willing to study the gospel.

The next big instance took place last night. We went and visit a former and also a member's dad. He just had surgery on his back. Chen ba is living the big life. I believe he is the owner or one of the big heads of the A1 sauce here in the Asia area. He is a really funny guy and a little nutty. He loves to talk. When we first walked in there is a giant painting of a woman's back only wearing underwear. It was so random, but he tried telling us how has these shades and the angles, etc gave it an artistic "view". I just chose not to look. ha Anyways we start opening up scriptures and share about Jesus Christ, His Atonement, His healing power and also what he invites us to do. It was all in the Book of Mormon. First shared 3 Nephi 9. 13-14? then shared Alma 7.11-15. He really liked 14 and 15. When we invited him to be baptized he was really willing. Also he set a date like it wasn't a problem. I felt like we could have set an earlier date, but because of his physical condition, I felt that the later date was more appropriate.

Those are some of the using Book of Mormon examples and the blessings that have come from it. Now the prayer part. I was getting pretty stressed because we had set these goals with the Lord's help and yet we were lacking. I remember Sunday night, we said a companionship prayer out on the street. The peace and strength that came from that prayer was restoring and gave us the hope and faith to move forward and find. Simply put the Lord answered our prayers for the night. We found the people we needed and they were willing to follow Jesus Christ by being baptized.

Well I know the Book of Mormon is true. Anyone can read it, ponder its message, and then go ask God through a sincere prayer if it is true. God will give an answer. Don't have to trust my words or another person. Just have to do go do it yourself. Don't let and you can't let someone else do it for yourself and my only invite is to act off of the answer you receive.

Love

Elder Townsend

Neihu The city of lakes

Hello!

Scratch the metal jungle comment, Neihu is one of the most beautiful places ever! We have lakes and just gorgeous scenery (with the mountains and everything) It reminds a little bit of taidong. The houses are really amazing as well. My new companion, Elder Montalto and I are stoked to get up and go to work! Elder Montalto was with Elder VanDenBerghe before so he had heard some stuff about me. Its good because I think it helped him prepare for me a little bit. I can be a little crazy :)

 

This week the Lord opened up the windows of heaven and blessed us greatly. First off, I thought that we wouldn't have any investigators as we got here. Wrong. The sisters handed over two awesome friends (well one of them is like a little kid) which was a great start/foundation. Definitely will take a bit of work to help them where they need to get to be baptized. One of them is li ming hong. He is like a little kid. Its pretty funny he thinks that we don't understand any chinese or something so he tries to say it in English and his tendencies are very interesting. The sisters said that this has been a problem that keeps the lessons from going smoothly. Fortunately the Lord has consecrated my efforts to learn chinese. I asked him what his chinese name was and he wrote it up on the board. I read it outloud and he was astounished. He was surprised I could read chinese characters and ever since then he has spoken chinese to me. Ha the only problem is that now he mumbles his chinese so I have to really work on listening. The other Friend is Ryan (Zhang liang jun). He is just a good good man. He just makes me excited to talk to him. He definitely has some trials in his life and will have to overcome some bigger trials to really get baptized, but I know Heavenly Father will prepare a way for him. We got his address and I wrote him a note saying hi and giving some scripture for him to read. I called him to see if he got it and he said he didn't see it but was going to go down and grab it. He sounded like a little kid who was having christmas!

 

Next the miracles of this week. Simple the Lord put people where we needed to find them or they came and found us. Elder Montalto and I were walking down the street when a ticket trafficker woman pulled up beside us and said she had a friend who wanted to be christian. I called him and he was good, the only problem was that he mostly spoke taiwanese. His mandarine wasn't that good. Luckily was we met the ward at church there were a few who where really excited to use their taiwanese to help with work!

One of the littlest but coolest ones for me was being led by the spirit. We didn't have enough time to get to our planned place and back to our appointment on time. So we said a little prayer and started riding. Not quite sure as to where we needed to go we went forth. As we hit a stoplight just felt like turning. Kept going up the road there really wasn't anyone on the street but kept going forth in this neighborhood. As we were going along we saw a lady standing in a cubby of the building. Started to talk and she said she always saw our church but has never been into it so she was curious. I set up a time and that was it. But the miraculous thing was it wasn't a huge thing, but simple going along not worry and trusting the Lord would do his part.

Also this week as I found a little serving (piling boxes) I got a referral out of it and within a few minutes ran into a russian woman who had heard things about our church. None which are good but she was willing to learn more and find a time to come to our church. It was really a cool thing. Elder Nelson (one of the traveling assistants) didn't quite believe what just happened. It was really cool.

Well another miracle was during the last hour of church some man walked in. We went out and talked to him. He said he is looking for a church and he is deciding whether or not he wants to become Christian. He wanted to know our differences with other churches, etc, and why he should join ours. Well I feel I know those questions pretty well and next week when we meet with him those questions will all be answered. :)

Last but not the least the ward here is amazing. They haven't had elders for a while so when we showed they were so happy. One of the members gave me a big hug as he walked in. Also they want to help out with missionary work. Its fantastic!

The pictures is what I walked into our first day here in our apartment. Yes, maggots, flies, nasty. The storm is being weathered and there is sunshine emerging from the mess. Well I get some good pictures to send next week!

Love

Elder Townsend

 

PS. Isaiah 58 and alma 17-22 have been instrumental this week in the work!

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

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