January 22, 2017

Hey Everyone!

Well, this week was pretty short because of P-Day being on Wednesday last week so I don't have too much to write about!

We had a great week this last week in regards to the work! We actually got quite a few new investigators this week from both our own finding and the members referring us. It was great! Some of our investigators kind of stopped progressing but that is alright, we just keep on going!

The temple last week was great! I was so grateful that I could go and do some ordinances and really feel the peace that comes with the temple! I am really lucky that there is a temple so close to us and in our area!

This week we have really seen how much people love to use Chinese New Year as an excuse. They don't even really do anything but sit inside almost all day but they still love to tell us they are "Too busy to meet with us." This Thursday is the start of Chinese New Year and it goes till next Wednesday. I don't know how much actual missionary work is going to get down but we are going to meet with the members a lot the whole week and have the best relationship we can have with them! The members in Taiwan are super awesome!

Right now it's a little difficult to write about our investigators just because most of them won't be able to meet again until after the new year is over. But our area is doing well! Actually yesterday, after church we were meeting with a less active member that we had never met before. When we got to his house he had us come in really quietly because his family really opposes the church so he didn't want us to bother them too much. He told us how he used to be a super active member and had gone through the temple but had eventually gone back to Buddhism because of his family. But as soon as we shared and talked with him for a little bit, he gave us all his tea and his Buddhism idols and told us to get rid of them for him. It was one of the weirdest moments of my entire life and I didn't expect it to happen at all! He really was one of the weirdest but most humble people I have ever met.

I am doing really well! I am starting to really love Taiwan and I am really starting to love the Chinese language. Last night we were accompanying our investigator to a Single's activity. (My first ever single's activity hahahaha) We just played a lot of card games but we were playing Bang and it was really hard to try and explain and then play the game in Chinese but it was super fun! I should be able to finally start learning characters next week!

I know the church is true and that heavenly father loves all of us. He really is our father and we really are his children. When we pray we really can communicate with him and it is the best! So do it!

Elder Holderness