Typhoon!! 8/26

Well hello.

This week was pretty cool and very wet. Still saw lots of miracles and saw a typhoon or two. However, the Lord blesses.

I get the preparation day stuff done first. We went up to shui yuan di. It was rad! So much fun, jumping rock to rock and enjoying the beauty. This island is really so beautiful its splender and jungle atmosphere.

Next (this sets the whole week of miracles up) we had Zone Conference. It was really good and it was interesting because this time I was one of the people training, not being trained. It was fun and I learned so much during the study and preparation for it that I want to apply and help these people with. Well what President Day took the scripture from the Bible where Christ is inviting peter to go feed his sheep three times and president broke into the three categories. Investigators, members, and less actives. We talked how we could work with those three groups of sheep. One that I really had always been impressed with working with is less actives. So we went to work after.

 

The Typhoon came on Thursday. Big winds but we were called by President to hang inside that night.

 

On Friday, We were out and still had a bit of the typhoon after effects (Heavy rain, mild wind). We were writing a card to an investigator and I decided to pull out the member list and see who lives close by. On the first page I saw someone and felt we should go over there. Well as we get there is an older man sitting in front of the house. He is missing an arm, has few fingers missing, and smoking a little butt of cigarette. I felt like this was right inside as if we should be here (Of course the address was correct as well) and I start talking to him. The members who lived there previously had moved but the man who I just contacted, daughter just moved in a little bit ago. I start talking to her and her dad and ask if we can share a short message. We talked about prayer, got to know their family. Her husband is on Jinmen which is a little island that stands as the military base between Taiwan and China, she has 4 children (All under the age of seven, The kids were a bit crazy.), and some about the religious background. In the end, they let us in and they are excited to learn more and are wanting to attend church. It was definitely a tender mercy the Lord has given me this week. It was as if all the effort from the previous work had paid off. Obviously there is still a lot of ground to cover but this is a wonderful start. Cool little testimony of when we help the branch or ward out we get blessed in return.

 

Also this week we had a youth, Skyler Wu come out and do some work with us. It was fun we enjoyed it. He is fun kid and I love him. He has this big goofy smile and a giant desire, but gets nervous real easily as we talk to peeps. 

Obviously still have more miracles, but not enough time.

Well lots of love from this End of the world. 

Elder Townsend 

A New Change 8/19

Well another week on the beautiful island of  taiwan. Its fun because I am on a competely different island than Taipei it feels like.

This week Elder Alston came down. He is from Pocatello, Idaho. This is first time as Zone Leader so I am going to have the privilege of teaching him the Ropes.

This week was a bit long. However I know I did my part and worked my hardest. The members this week invited us to go "help" with a humanitarian act this week. One of the little villages in Taroko gorge got mudslided and the village got wiped off the map. They haven't received any help. What we were told was that we could help them clean up and maybe play with the kids. So we were pumped and headed up there and when we got there we were later told that they could only drop off the donations. It was a bit of a bummer but we managed to some work. (Lift boxes out of cars)

Also this week we met with our Branch President. Our mission president has a vision that we and our ward branches we serve in can work together and become a super power. So the first place we start is with the Bishop or Branch President. The Branch President at first was a little hesistant when we got there. He wasn't quite sure what was going down. As we explained to him that we wanted to be of help and our vision and how we would like to correlate together with his efforts, his whole demeanor changed. He was very willing to share and give us assignments of things we can do. I took those and went to work on them. After getting them done I would follow up with the Branch President and he in turn would really excited. He enjoyed hearing about some Less Actives we got in contact with and some of the plans we made with them.

This week I also went on exchanges with Elder DeVisser. It was really good. We were able to talk and I was able to relax and just go find. I loved spending time out with the people on the streets talking with them learning about them and sharing the Gospel. I have been thinking about it lately and the Taiwanese people put up a lot with craziness. For example if some white kid wearing a tie, riding a bike, talking about Jesus and how you should come to church approaches you, you might just walk away (Which a lot of people do). So it is so amazing how we can go around and talk to these people like that though. I know that the biggest difference is that we hold the power and authority from God. It makes the greatest difference in the world since the Lord is leading this work.

Finally we had an investigator who asked me "what do we do if our stress hits its limit?" I took that to studies and applied to myself. The scriptures quite simply to pray and the rest is work! So I think my personal benefits of doing that study were so much more than my investigator. The Lord answered my prayer and I did what he said and it helped. I learned that the lord blesses us and meets our own personal needs as we first seek to help others needs.

Love,

Elder Townsend

Hello!

Hello!

So before I dig into this week's juicy details and miracles, I want to give you an idea of where I am sitting right now. I am in an internet cafe now. It is loud with sounds of guns, weird creature noises, lots of middle school kids screaming at computers, and some random people sleeping at the computer. Pretty awesome right?

Now with this week. I went on exchanges with Elder You in Taidong. Elder You's companion is my old companion Elder Slawson. SO anyways, it was fun to be out there and do work with him. we had a member down there and they treated us to dinner! It was fun because when I walked in, she instantly recognized me. Sister Zhou. It was really cool because she really helped us out with qiu bo yuan when I was down there. (She taught bo yuan taikuando. ) It was really good to spend time with Elder You. He is good, teaches simply and powerfully.
This week we had peng peng's baptism. he had some trials this week from job, to dad opposing to accepting, and other little details. It was really cool to seem at the end because its obvious now he has the gift of the holy ghost. I can see it on his face. One of the funniest parts was during his baptism there was a frog swimming in the baptismal font. It was a little sucker. It was hard for me to keep the reverance so I tried to muffle my laugh in my coat so I tried to wear a big grin instead. 

This week we also rode our bikes all the way out to zhixue. It was a nice ride, long, pretty and no one to really talk to unfortunately. We met Mr. Li. Really interesting fellow with even more intriguing views on life. I was a little bit frustrated with him because he was pretty prideful and was full of contradictions. However, its his decision to make. He wants an answer but he isn't willing to accept what we give him from the scriptures, only what we say. A little weird but we'll see...

Also this week as I was on exchanges with Elder Wright we saw a pretty cool miracle. Again out in nowhere and my bike is making funny noises as usual but a little bit louder so I stopped to check it out. As I finished that we happened to bump into ms. Zhang that we wouldnt have bumjped into other wise. It was definitely something that the Lord provided a little noise for us to stop and for her to willing to study the Gospel.

Finally a miracle that didn't happen in Ji an but influenced me here. IN Neihu, Qiu lian de, my old man buddy, got baptized this weekend! As I heard this great little news it warmed my heart and inspired me to be the missionary back in Neihu so full of faith and seeing so many miracles. That was probably the time when I the most miracles worked by God so I am re evalutating on how I cna be better then go and do!

Well lots of Love! ElderTownsend 

I love being a missionary!!!

Hello!

So before I dig into this week's juicy details and miracles, I want to give you an idea of where I am sitting right now. I am in an internet cafe now. It is loud with sounds of guns, weird creature noises, lots of middle school kids screaming at computers, and some random people sleeping at the computer. Pretty awesome right?

Now with this week. I went on exchanges with Elder You in Taidong. Elder You's companion is my old companion Elder Slawson. SO anyways, it was fun to be out there and do work with him. we had a member down there and they treated us to dinner! It was fun because when I walked in, she instantly recognized me. Sister Zhou. It was really cool because she really helped us out with qiu bo yuan when I was down there. (She taught bo yuan taikuando. ) It was really good to spend time with Elder You. He is good, teaches simply and powerfully.
This week we had peng peng's baptism. he had some trials this week from job, to dad opposing to accepting, and other little details. It was really cool to seem at the end because its obvious now he has the gift of the holy ghost. I can see it on his face. One of the funniest parts was during his baptism there was a frog swimming in the baptismal font. It was a little sucker. It was hard for me to keep the reverance so I tried to muffle my laugh in my coat so I tried to wear a big grin instead. 

This week we also rode our bikes all the way out to zhixue. It was a nice ride, long, pretty and no one to really talk to unfortunately. We met Mr. Li. Really interesting fellow with even more intriguing views on life. I was a little bit frustrated with him because he was pretty prideful and was full of contradictions. However, its his decision to make. He wants an answer but he isn't willing to accept what we give him from the scriptures, only what we say. A little weird but we'll see...

Also this week as I was on exchanges with Elder Wright we saw a pretty cool miracle. Again out in nowhere and my bike is making funny noises as usual but a little bit louder so I stopped to check it out. As I finished that we happened to bump into ms. Zhang that we wouldnt have bumjped into other wise. It was definitely something that the Lord provided a little noise for us to stop and for her to willing to study the Gospel.

Finally a miracle that didn't happen in Ji an but influenced me here. IN Neihu, Qiu lian de, my old man buddy, got baptized this weekend! As I heard this great little news it warmed my heart and inspired me to be the missionary back in Neihu so full of faith and seeing so many miracles. That was probably the time when I the most miracles worked by God so I am re evalutating on how I cna be better then go and do!

Well lots of Love! ElderTownsend 

Family, Friends and everyone else!

Family, Friends, and everyone else.

Hello!

Things are going great here in Hualian. It is still my little world out in the middle of no where but I know the Lord loves his little world  out here because of all the blessings we saw!

This week we had a very special specialized training. We learned about sisters' fashion and we also learned about how to be more obedient. It was really cool (The obedience part) Pres. Day talked aobut how the Lord already trusts us and how he trusts so they are taking all the previous rules and throwing them out you can say. We are just going off Preach My Gospel, The Missionary handbook and the scriptures. He talked about governing our lives by principles rather practices. It was powerful and it puts a lot of responsibility on us. With that said, we still have to be obedient and work even harder for the spirit.

This week was fun as Elder Fang, the assistant to the president came on exchanges with us. We really saw so many blessings and miracles. One of my favorites was when we went to teach the Pan Family. It was fun and they were a happy little family. We meet with mama Pan, her oldest daughter 19, youngest 10, and her niece 7. The lesson was going really well, but Mama pan was wanting her daughters to get baptized but for herself, she was willing. SHe wanted them to have them to have the change but she was good. At that point I remember Elder Gong from the Area authorities gave us a special promise if look our investigators in the eyes and ask God what they needed, it would be given to us. So I did. I was impressed to share Mormoni 8.10. As we read the scripture it really hit her hard and she was willing. In fact she was quite excited for the baptism invite. I know the Lord answered my prayer and provided that miracle.

Next This week I went on exchanges with Elder Bowler to YuLi! It was fantastic. We actually did a bit of travelling. We took our bikes to train station and throw them on and went to ruisui. It was fun. When we got there we went to work. Its a really small town but we went and found a cute little family! Its going to be some work with them but get there faith up and they will see miracles. Also we went and blessed the sacrament for a lesson active you can say who couldn't come to church. So that was cool. Elder Bowler is a great missionary. One of the Gilbert, Arizona boys. This Elder Has some pretty intense faith and puts it to action. He loves to find and share the gospel. It was fun to work to the side of him and learn about his passion for missionary work. He is good one and will do great things there.

Finally Peng peng passed his baptismal interview! Big blessing but satan is already trying to eat him. On the way home he found work. But his new job requires him to work on sunday. He really wants to get baptized but he doesn't know what to do. So we will just have to wait and see I guess! Lots of prayers.

Well lots of Love!

Elder Townsend

Hello

Hello!

Wow I am glad to hear all the new news! Sounds like everyone is out finding jobs and staying busy!

This week, thinking about it now it was filled with miracles.
On Monday I ran into this christian family. They told me to sit down and to start sharing so I did, ask them them questions, bore testimony. It was really cool, I felt the spirit as I taught. It was also fun to use a combo of the bible and the book of Mormon. It was fun because they loved the Book of Mormon scriptures and understood them better than the bible ones. I just think they (the Book of Mormon and the Bible together) are fantastic. I also think it was the first time I have ever testified that I hold the priesthood, the same one that was restored through Joseph Smith by the Apostles Peter, James, and John. They live in Tai Dong so they will have to take care of them.

Next on Tuesday I went to my old town of.... Tai Dong! It was fantastic! Wang ba picked us up and he did a double take. Startled the good old man. Elder Peterson here did a marvelous job at leading the Tai dong district in his meeting. After I went on exchanges Elder Relyea, his trainee. What an amazing Elder. He has a happy upbeat personality. I think the attribute that I admire most about him is his ability to love. After everyone we contacted he couldn't stop talking about how amazing they were and how much he loved them. Really a pure innocent love. I believe thats what the savior meant as he said we need to become like little children. During that day I also saw lin Chao wei (Elder Sessions and I baptized him on my first transfer) He is doing alright, having some difficulties but is willing to restart and change his life again. Also saw Jerry lin! He is still Jerry AKA the man. It was cool because now he will speak Chinese with me now. Ha as before he would speak both but mostly english.

Friday ate a few pigeons (when someone doesn't show up its called a fang ge zi or place pigeon) but we still saw a few mircacles meet a Mr. Wu is willing to learn and grow. He owns a cake shop so we will also see how that goes. :)

President day changed a rule which we now can open letters on any day. Doesn't change that we can write anyday. I am grateful for that. I got a note on Saturday that helped me keep going. I was feeling a little frustrated, not seeing the progress I wanted and feeling my contacting is horrible, but the not had a name on it of my convert up in the Neihu. For some reason it just made me excited for the work.

Sunday we taught a family! They are so cute. They have a year and half old son. They are just cute, but we share a little message and promised them blessings and they commited to be baptized.
Well out of time LOve

Elder townsende

Lots of pictures

New Mission President Day and Sister Day