Hello!

Hello!!!

The Lord loves these people here in Neihu. The Spirit is looming waiting over them waiting to enter there hearts and bring blessings of heaven down upon them.

We found many new exciting people and our current investigators are doing really well as well.

I would like to start talking about howard Weng yu. He his great. He met the missionaries 7 years ago and he hasn't gotten baptized. His little sister has though. As we were meeting with him the spirit was strong. Guiding the questions and opening his heart to speak freely. As he opened up and spoke the scriptures did as well. He shared with us how his father really opposes him getting baptized because he is the next male to pass along the family tradition. In the course of all this he shared how he wants to get baptized, how he knows the Book of Mormon is true because God has answered his prayer, and also how him and his dad relationship is horrible. I helped him apply faith and also I thought about the things I did with my own paps to build and keep our relationship through the years. Also other companions on the mission who I have encouraged to develop their relationship with their father. Elder Montalto and I promised and gave some heartfelt invites that will help him build faith and find a way to be baptized.

Next Li ming hong. He has always been our special one. He is great and we always continue to work with him. He has progressed more than ever. He is spending more and more time in the Book of Mormon. It is showing in his countanence. He is a bit more at peace. He might not notice but it was really evident this last week. 

President Grimley. Had our interviews with president for the last time. It was really sad. He has been amazing representative of christ here. He is the Lord's ordained. I'll miss him when he heads home. I gave him a hug at the end. 

The Lord really does answer prayers. We get a call from the mission office (Bu) and a phillipino sister had called asking if we could bring a book of mormon to her. We went found her and she shared with us her experience. She is endowed, has six kids back in the phillipines and has been in taiwan for three monthes. Her boss hates any form of church and won't let her go. The sister Nanet doesn't have any days off, she is suffering basically. She has been try to find a way to get in contact with the church, but to the point where she didn't have much success. Finally as she found someone who got her the church's number she called the bu, and the bu called us. As we gave her the Book of Mormon she was so happy she just started to cry and cry. Also we helped translate her address so she can start writing her family. She is so excited because she has a son already starting to plan to go on a mission as well. 

Last but not least. Last week I set this guy up and for some reason I forgot to get his phone number weird. I started to pray that the lord would soften his heart and he would remember our appointment a week later. The Lord answered. He showed up five minutes late but he showed up! We had pretty great lesson not the most amazing but a good lesson, he understands our purpose and is wanting to learn more as we never really has even thought of God before so now he wants to see what he is about. 

Lots of blessings and lots things but they are all so happy!

Lots of Love 

Elder Townsend

PS I think Elder Scott in his talk was talking about how important writing letters (hard copies) is in displaying love. Just a hint. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Basically Easter didn't exist her in Taiwan. However, that does not change the fact that our Lord and Redeemer lives again this day. Even though people go by and by unexpecting of the Lord's ultimate sacrifice which He has performed for them and the beautiful gift of repentance and how Christ invites all of us as an expression of love to come unto him and enter the Good Shepherd's arms. I know Christ will stand at the Judgement Bar at our side with his arm around us as pleads with the father in our half. He understands better than I ever will all of my own unworthiness and mistakes but all he wants to do is plead for me to come back to him and be perfected in him. He lives.

That is my little Easter share. For Easter we had general conference because in Taiwan they broadcast a week later. It was fantastic. I learned lots and felt a load as well. If you didn't learn any thing or thought it was boring go back again, pray for the Lord to answer the questions you have in life.

Well this week we went to the zoo! I saw a living panda. He was pretty great. I think the greatest part was being able to spend time with other missionaries and be able to laugh and have a good time with them. Elder Peterson and I were a little bit I don't know how to say it well other than chinese but ren4zhen1 (translates serious but also has diligent, active meaning) where we were learning all the chinese names for the animals. We are set that knowing what a southern cassowary is is of great importance to our chinese vocabulary (nan2 fang1 shi2 huo3 ji1=south place food turkey) Its pretty great.

Anyways this week we meet some pretty great souls and watched a few as they progressed in the Gospel. For example Elder Montalto bumped into Bro. Wang. This man is craving and looking for the fulness of the gospel. He was sharing experiences with us how God has been preparing him in his life and how he hasn't found the satisfication of finding the truth in where ever he goes. He said he was willing to do all things that we invite him to do. He also feels that God still speaks to man and that there is more of God's word there. 

Also bro xiao. Is soo good. He is meeting new friends and put really immersing himself in the word of God. He is really good and he talked to me a little about the struggles at home. I know this message provide those things. Well again I am out of time but lots of love!
Elder Townsend 

Some things will never change...boys will be boys!

A few more pictures...

Yes...Buster is the goofball hanging off the stage

I added a member from Taiwan on Buster's facebook and lucky for me I got to see more pictures of my missionary!

Hello da jia!

Hello!

How is everyone out on the other side of the world? I don't know how people are like over there. I met a New Yorker (he was awesome and he is really a New Yorker from Queens) and was reminded that its a bit different over there. Everyone's a bit more conservative over here. They might be a bit more special in some other areas, but I love the Taiwanese brothers and sisters!

Lots happened this last week. Quick review of pictures, some of them are from danshui. It was beautiful and the ice cream wasn't too bad, really cheap and fun. The other is peng qi wen's baptism service. She didn't know a lot of the members so the sisters asked that I might perform the baptism. I was very grateful and humbled. She is a very unique person. Next week we general conference. (They first have to clean up all the translations)

This week I went on exchanges with Elder Peterson. He is the champion. Harvard Student and one of my homies on the mission. We had some of the greatest times together. We just spent the time finding and doing more finding. We met lots of people and had many great experiences. The first one I want to talk about it is when we met Mr. Guo. I saw him on the street and started talking to him. He had some paralysis on his left side and come to find out it was due to an accident 10 years before. For some reason I felt like talking to him about his family. Find out he has a son, but he hasn't seen him in 10 years and doesn't want too. More than that he hates his whole entire family. He hates Taiwan in general. He tells me how his father is addicted gambler and how ten years ago when he got in a car wreck and was living in the hospital, his father and mother sold his (Mr. Guo) house, his car, all of his possessions and used to go gamble. IT was was pretty heart aching to hear this. What also hurt was when he said he used to be christian but in his most trialing time and till this day that Lord has never answered, heard or helped him. He felt abandoned. So now he believes his only friend is money, its a object and won't attack him and hurt him like family. Elder Peterson and I were hurting pretty bad inside and we both open up to the same scripture in 2 Ne 2.2. We told him we cared and trying to fight back tears at the same time. I am praying when we goes to meet the missionaries in his area that they can express the love that he needs so desparately. 

On a lighter not that same day we ran into a russian woman and we were trying to share the gospel with her. I think due to a little language barrier and the noisiness of the street I was telling her we all have weaknesses in life and make mistakes (And was going to say how the savior can help us overcome them and improve, repent and find happiness) when she interupted me and said that I didn't have any weaknesses. I was a little caught off and she followed that by saying that I looked pretty good to her! So I learned right there why I wasn't sent to Russia. 

The Lord really has provided so many miracles this last week and I unfortunately am out of time, but last I just want to say the Lord remembers all his children and he sents us out to find every single one of them despite where they are. 

ELder TOwnsend 

Book of Mormon

This week was great being able to use the Book of Mormon and to work with the members here in Neihu! They are awesome! They are so willing to serve and just take care of us. I love all of them incredibly!

Well this week I got the opportunity to go on exchanges with the Elder Slawson's trainer Elder Davis! After hearing so much about him from Elder Slawson I was curious to see the man behind his words. He was a great guy. It was fun though he set a really good example of how to make investigators feel comfortable and welcomed. We worked pretty well together sharing scriptures and feeling and watching the spirit work on all of us. I would say the peikes did the best for that. For example, there was a sister accompanying our first lesson of the night and she did excellent. The kid we were teaching was really nervous, but she helped us relax the atmosphere by being relevant, simple, and bearing her testimony of the Book of Mormon. Our plan was to share the Book of Mormon. In the end from the questions and promptings we received had taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it fit in his life. It was really cool. I love being able to see our new friend start to smile and drop his arms off his clenched backpack. It was pretty sweet.

 

Well we sat down again with li ming hong. Ha Funny guy. We taught him the Law of Chastity. It was really cool because in the Law of Chastity has a lot of blessings that I really haven't thought about. Confidence, love, trust, self-control, free from guilt and shame, and many more, but some of those things that are things his life need really badly. It was also really cool because he did the homework we gave him and he brought his questions from it. I would say this week he progressed more in the gospel than the whole time we have been here. Large part due to him reading the Book of Mormon. He still is like a little kid, but he has a good heart and he is good putting up with us. However, study he comes a little late to church and brings in a milk tea with him(against the word of wisdom. Don't worry I know most of the teas that are allowed and aren't allowed now, but still there is so many). He gets up during sacrament meeting to go the bathroom and I tell him to take his milk tea with him. He grabs it and gives it me and I tell him no go take it downstairs with him and he does. He comes up a bit later and sounding a little frantic says to me he hasn't drunk all of it yet. (he also has it stuffed in his coat) I tell to stick it in his backpack so he does. I have to admit at that time I was a little bit maybe say frustrated but not really just thinking what is he doing? Later on now its pretty funny thinking back how he felt really bad and him realizing that was breaking the word of wisdom.

 

We sat with one of English Students. Peter Wang. Really cool guy. He wants to be a pilot. Right now he is studying english preparatory to going to flight school in America. He has a really laid back life right now so intitially it was hard to figure out how we could apply the Gospel, but we started to talk and just asking simple follow up questions and being bold, we found out he is trying to figure something out with his girlfriend.  Well I am grateful for studies because they helped prepare us well for that. The Lord gave us the words and scriptures we needed to help him there. It opened up the rest of the lesson really well and was a great opportunity to teach him and he is willing to come and find an answer and experiment upon the words of Christ!

 

This week we also had a few members invite us over for dinner and it was fun. They are so loving and love to find opportunities to serve us. I feel a little bad because I feel like we should be serving them.

Well lots of love everyone and Jesus is our Christ!

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