December 25, 2016

Hahahaha yeah, I really don't like hanging up either! I love talking to you all so much and can't wait till I can just do it all day! I am really glad that today's Skype went so smoothly too! I know you get stressed about it so I just wanted to make sure it all went well! (I have been helping everyone get their's set up and running Hahahaha I had a couple of emergency calls this morning that I had to rush to the church for)

I can't believe that the White Christmas really hit that hard! That is so awesome! I am so jealous of all your Christmas decorations and celebrations! I don't think Taiwan will ever be the same so I really look forward to two years from now when I can just party it up in America!!!

Yes!!! SLEDDING!! Of course I remember! You sent me that picture AND Aunt Colleen put it in my Calendar! Hahahaha I would love to go again! AND SKIING!!! WE HAVE TO GO SKIING AGAIN!

Yeah I don't have a lot to write either! The really interesting new stuff will happen on Wednesday/Thursday so I will let you know next week!

I have not got our Christmas Card yet! I am super glad you sent one though! I was missing them yesterday! Yes, I can get photos printed really quickly and really high quality here! Really convenient!

Love you so much,

Elder Holderness

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
________

Here are links to a couple of Taiwan Taipei Mission Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aczsDv0HZg
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXfTnPjGOcA

December 18, 2016

Well another week has come and gone here in Taiwan and I don't have very many super interesting or exciting things going on here! Just doing missionary work and looking to the end of my training next week! That's crazy that it is almost to an end!

So last Monday we went to a science park a little bit away from our area but it really had nothing interesting so I didn't even take a picture... Hahaha sometimes I feel so bad for Taiwan because all their "fun" things are so boring but they love them to death anyway!

Most of the rest of the week was just the normal missionary work! We did a lot of finding because our area is dead in the water right now. We had three investigators drop their baptismal dates because they aren't willing to keep any commitments so that was a bummer! No problem though! I just get to go out and work on enjoying finding! (It's really not any fun but I still have to do it! Hahaha)

This week we got to do a lot with the ward because of the Christmas Season! I love this ward so much! They are the second best ward in the whole world! (Cascade 6 is still better!) I even call the Bishop my dad a lot because of how much he has helped me find my way through adjusting to Taiwan and making sure I am always doing well!

Another part of this Christmas Season is just trying to get people to come to our Christmas Day Sacrament meeting! And I got to use my computer skills for the first time in way too long! It definitely isn't the same here but I was still happy with how it came out! This is our new flyer: translated and edited by me! With Microsoft Paint! (Definitely not Photoshop!) on a computer that only has Chinese! It was quite the challenge but I realized how much computers really are just muscle memory to me!

(Front of flyer)

(Back of flyer)

Well that's pretty much all the new this week! I am doing really well here!  I am really happy here in this area and zone! I love this ward! I love the Chinese Language! My language abilities are really skyrocketing right now! I have almost learned the first 1000 words from phase two which I got two weeks ago! And most importantly, I really love this gospel and our savior Jesus Christ! I have grown so much closer to him and more reliant on him than I ever thought was possible. He really loves all of us and he really is the light of the world. Especially in this special time of year!

Love you all so much! Write you again on your Christmas!

Elder Holderness

December 11, 2016

Hello Family and Friends!

Well this week was pretty average so this is about all that happened:

Monday we went up to Taipei so that I could take the language test and move on in my language progression. After traveling and getting to the Office, I found out that the office elders had choir in about a half an hour so I didn't even get to take the test but they let me take the next section's materials so my language progression has really taken off! I can actually but things at restaurants or ask someone what they do for work now! It's been really fun to learn! After we failed to take my test, we went shopping so that Elder Liao could buy a new camera. And then back to the area really quickly to get to our appointments.

Tuesday we had my second Zone Meeting! It was a lot of fun and they gave us some really useful training on street contacting since that is the majority of our finding here. It was really fun to see the new missionaries that are in our zone with the new transfer and I found out some of the others that were in the MTC with me are part of our zone now!

Wednesday night I was teaching English again, it is still pretty stressful but I love being able to help some of them understand their questions more and more! I tried to teach them the difference between "s" sound and "sh" sound. Most of them could get it but some of them didn't make any change when they switched words! It was pretty funny but I can't laugh!

Thursday and Friday were pretty normal just planning and finding. We haven't found any new really good investigators lately so I am having a hard time staying pretty motivated.

Then on Saturday I got in an accident with a scooter! Hahaha! Don't worry I don't have any problems but it sure was scary! Heavenly Father really protected me! I don't have anything wrong except two bruises on my leg and my bike chain got knocked off but that was fixed in about two seconds.

Sunday was Elder Liao's birthday! He is now 24! That's right, my companion is 6 years older than me.

I don't really have too much going on this week so this letter is a little boring. I am getting super excited for Christmas here though! We just found out that the mission will all be together for the Christmas Party this year so I will get to see everyone here! It will be super fun!

Mostly just trying to get the work back on its feet here in Tao 4! It's hard work and not really the most fun but I am thankful that I get to be here and work with this wonderful ward! I am thankful that I get to be serving the lord! Love you all!

Elder Holderness

December 4, 2016

Well that's right! It's official! I have finally been in Taiwan as long as I was in the MTC!

This week was pretty normal! Our work has really slowed down. Everyone of our investigators are too busy to meet with us and we haven't found an really good investigators finding this week!

On Monday we did a lot of shopping and finished closing up our last apartment so we didn't get a lot of time to relax or enjoy a good P-Day but that's no problem! I really enjoy our new apartment! We live with an Elder Puzey from Idaho, Sugar Salem I think. And Elder Boyle from Draper! I was in the MTC with him so we are already pretty good friends and we have lots of fun!

Tuesday we went on exchanges with those two so I got to spend the day with Elder Puzey! He let me just take the lead on everything since we were in my area. It was pretty stressful at first but I will get used to it! I had a really good time being able to just talk and have fun while we did missionary work! I have missed American Culture!

We ended the exchange on Wednesday and then I had to teach English Class! It went pretty well this week, I just taught them about going on vacation. I had them all plan their dream vacation and one of the little kids that was there planned his "Month in Legoland" Hahaha

Thursday, Friday and Saturday went by pretty normally. Things are starting to look like Christmas in our Church building! We have a giant Christmas tree in the lobby! Speaking of, thank you so much for the package! I got it today and I am so excited to celebrate Christmas this year! All the stuff arrived safely and I am so thankful for the new bag! It is perfect and it has already helped my back feel better everyday!

Last night I had the opportunity to go into Taipei and attend a Recent Convert Fireside. It went really really well and I am so happy that I was able to attend! We are actually going to go right back there in a little bit because today I am taking my first language test so I will be able to move into "non-missionary" vocabulary! I am so excited to learn words that can help me really survive in Taiwan!

Well that's about it here! Time is going pretty quickly! There are still ups and downs but I am pretty adjusted! The work slowed down A LOT but we are doing our best to get it going again!

Love you all! Elder Holderness