WEEK 68 TAIPEI: Welp 🐸

I had an email typed and ready to go, but thanks to the invention of modern technology I no longer have it....

So here's some pictures from P-day!

WEEK 67 TAIPEI: A Christmas present from me to you! (but you have to read the email to find the present) (duh)

They be dropping like flies

I had two friends get engaged this week. That makes me feel old. And weird inside. But this is life?

But like actually congrats to them! They know who they are 

So Merry Christmas?

Also it's really easy to tell who doesn't read your emails when you get emails from people saying "where was your email?? Are you okay? You didn't send a video? Hello?"

You see if they would have read the email they would have read the part that said, and I quote "It will be next Thursday cause we have P-day on Christmas"

Oh well. You know who you are.

I feel like I got a shout out from my shout out on "an unholy amount of food"

You know who you are.

Oh wait!

You're reading this on Christmas aren't you!!! I mean you probably haven't even opened presents from anyone else yet because you wanted to open this present from me to you! Wow! Merry Christmas!

Guys I love Christmas. I'm so happy to be serving the Lord this Christmas season. Yah I miss my family. And I'm excited for Christmas with them again, but for now I get to help people learn the true meaning of Christmas which is of course Christ.

Anyways quick update on the past week and a half. P-day we spent the whole day working on a dress rehearsal for the Christmas concert. It went.... Well it went we can just say that. But that was basically all of Monday.

色3 Tuesday happened and we were in quarantine again. For those who are wondering why I'm in quarantine (you know who you are) we had a new missionary come from America and so he has to quarantine for two weeks. But he needs a companion and someone to make food for him. So we take turns being with him.

But Tuesday was the last day so Elder Miller is now in the real world!

So Wednesday was more just getting stuff ready for Christmas and some new missionaries that we had coming in. We had like 3 new ones coming in so that was fun. All Taiwanese and the one American who had just gotten out of quarantine. 

Thursday was more of that. 

Friday we got the rest of everything ready for the Christmas concert and felt ready and good. Then at about 2130 we called President to make sure that there wasn't anything else. He said we were good and that he was excited and what not. And then on the phone he came up with this brilliant idea that we should print 1000 programs, make a QR code, and have that link to a website where they would be able to say if they wanted to learn more about Jesus and such. 

So you best believe we spent all of Saturday making a program. Printing it. Cutting it. Making the website. Running through multiple drafts revisions and translations and eventually we got it all done. 

So we went to the ward Christmas party. And it was kinda weird cause everyone was with their family except us. 

So we just ate food and left and finished everything up for the next day. 

Then the big day came. Sunday! The day of the Christmas concert. Started off with having like 6 new friends at church which was an amazing miracle and also really stressful! But wow it was so amazing. After church had ended and after a Filipino Christmas party I started setting up which took about two hours and went right up until we started the concert. 

And for the all the effort that we put in and the month-long stress fest. It went really well. And it was PAAACKED. So what a huge miracle. We also had it streaming on Facebook and there were people watching there, and it ended up just being an amazing night! The spirit was so strong and people were moved. 

In fact, afterwards we get a text from a lady who had watched it online and said she wanted to learn more. So we set her up with the missionaries near where she lived and on their first lesson she set a Baptismal date! How amazing is that! The spirt of Christmas is real! And the Spirit of Christmas is really just the Spirit of Christ, which is the Holy Ghost. And the holy ghost can change people. So amazing. Ended up great. 

Then Monday. Psyche not P day. If only I had let everyone know. Oh wait. 

Yah it was Zone Conference, for the other zones, but I was doing tech for the talent show and movie so I got to go! And it was a great time. Spent the whole morning setting up and then had an awesome talent show. Then we watched the best two years and the Taiwanese missionaries loved it! They could not stop laughing, because they have seen nothing like this before. So that was hilarious. We had put subtitles on it so they would understand. 

Then Tuesday we had a bunch of lessons with these Filipinos who came to church. They are amazing lessons. And even though I just sit there and pretend to know what is going on,. And sometimes it is boring, but I feel the spirit and so do they. One of them set a Baptismal date with us! It was so amazing. 

Then one of the families in our ward took us out for a Christmas dinner. And they took us to Texas Roadhouse!!!!!! They have one in Taiwan! So While Tayda's over there thinking she's having a real Texan-like Christmas, I on the other hand, actually am. So Hah. 

But it was an amazing night and I love their family so much and am so grateful for them and their generosity towards us! 

Then Wednesday we had our zone conference which was just a spiritual overload. Then the Talent show. Me and some of the other elders and the Filipino elders preformed a traditional Filipino stick dance called tinkiniling. It was so fun and although I wrecked my ankle I still enjoyed it! Then I drove us to Keelung cause your Boi has his license now and will be driving all over now! Not actually, we very rarely drive. But still! It is more than before! So great! 

Then Thursday was Christmas eve! Wow! The time goes so fast! It feels like it was Christmas only one year ago. And I remember it like it was just one year ago. What a great time! 

But anyways, we spent like 3 hours teaching lessons to Filipinos. (I just sat there lol) they were way good! Then we got all of the other office stuffs done. And then we went to dinner with another member and it was just a great day. 

And now I am writing this on Christmas and guys I love Christmas so much. 

We get to celebrate the birth of the most important person ever to live. He was the babe of Bethlehem. The son of a carpenter. The son of a virgin. The son of God. Raised as a refugee, Raised in poverty. Raised to be a king. was rejected by people, hated by people, and yet he loved the people. He loved them so much that he suffered their pains for them, so that if we were willing to go to him, we would not have to suffer them ourselves. 

That is the message of Christmas. The message that there was one who was born in a stable. One who heavenly hosts cried glory glory! For God is with us. Emmanuel. Our Lord and King. The cornerstone rejected by the builders, but the one chosen regardless. 

He was hated. He was persecuted. He was tormented. He was betrayed. He bled from every pore as he died for you and me. 

And he rose. And he taught that we too could rise. Not just from death and the grave, but from sin. From the natural man. From the filth of the world. He gave us hope!

It indeed was a holy night. For it was the night that the holiest of us all was born. 

He is the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one. Chosen from the beginning to be the one who would die for us. The one who would show us the way. The one to do what no one else could do. 

And he brought us hope. 

And thus we have Christmas. And thus we give gifts. For the greatest gift ever was given to us. 

This is why I am here. To share that hope with people. That there was a baby boy that was born for them. The war was won by a baby boy. Heavens reply to everything wrong in this world was a baby boy! Is there anything more glorious than this? 

I hope that you all can have a Christ-centered Christmas. And that as you do all the fun things that are involved with Christmas time, that you don't lose the hope. You don't miss Christ in it all. He will not push himself into our lives. 

But when we let him in we will change. 

This is my testimony to you during these amazing times. That Christ was born. In a Manger. To no one of importance. That Angles tore through the veil to tell Shepards that a prince had come! That Wiseman came to worship a toddler and fell on the knees and bowed before a king. That the boy king grew into a man. And that he was perfect. And that he was crucified, in ways we can't yet understand, for you and me. To bring to pass the fullness of his father's plan. 

The boys name was Jesus. Healer, Prince of Peace. Light. The Lord. He was the Jehovah of the Old Testament, condescended into mortal form. He is the cornerstone for which the whole entire world was built on. 

He is the Christ! 

The anointed of the Father. And yet he is our father. For he succor us as only a father can. 

The only perfect son. 

And the only unblemished lamb. 

Led to the slaughter. 

So that you and I could live. Laugh. Love. Weep. Smile. Frown. Repent. Die. And live again in his presence. With him as exalted beings. 

This is Christmas. 

This is our life. 

Oh how should we praise him. How ever should we praise him. 

I love you all and hope that you can feel his love for you at this time in your life. And if you can't, try a little harder :) Because he is there. Waiting for you. To heal. To bless. To help. To comfort. To mend. And to perfect. 

This is my testimony to you. And my witness of his love! 

I love you. Remember Him. And hear him. 

Elder Baird

Pics!

Mistletoe! 

Christmas tree selfie 

Texas roadhouse! 

We went to the beach but it was late so you can't see it, but we were there. So yah. Twas lit. I drove dab

Meme

Mission pic

Texas again

Laser light show

Cheese

How I spent the whole Christmas concert lol. It's on our facebook page. Check it out! 

WEEK 66 TAIPEI: Yep!

Hey my friends and family and those who I would probably label as acquaintances or just other people for lack of a better term...

How are y'all doing??? Just wanna give a quick shoutout to all those other missionaries out there who are grinding in the work with me! Especially the newest one my boi Elder Reeeegggeerrrrr. Coming in from the land of Arendelle (or was it the Emerald City?) at slightly taller than me (just slightly I swear) and weighing a certain undisclosed amount of weight units this man is a BEAST. Just gotta say I'm way hyped that he's joined me in this work and great cause for Zion. (Yes I'm a little late, whoops) You'll never regret it, Hoooorraaahhh for Israel!

Also you better know I'm an avid tunneler boiiiiii

Anyways, yah let's get into the week and aaalaalalalallll of the stuff that has happened. 

What was the stuff that happened....

Well I quarantined again this week and so that was fun I guess. I'm reading this book called "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter" and it is suchhhhh a good read. So good. 10/10 would recommend. Actually 10/5 would recommend. It's not actually a book, but it's like an article. 327 pages. I'm almost done. Good times. 

Anyways, a lot of this week has been getting ready for our big Christmas concert that is coming up on Sunday. And let me tell you your Boi has been stressssssed out. Like a ton. Cause he is running like the whole thing. All sound. All music. Everything. Prep. I'm ready to give up the ghost. But we had a big dress rehearsal today and it went half decent and I'm feeling a lot better. 

It will be on Facebook live so if you want to see me make everyone else sound good then you are welcome to watch! It will be a great time. 

Other than those two things, our best thing was probably preparing for our two baptisms that we had on Saturday!!! Both Janet and Helen got baptized on Saturday and it was such an amazing time! Both of their testimonies were just so strong and the love and Joy on their faces made everything worth it. I'd go through another two years of this, more if I had to, just to make those smiles happen. 

We literally are bringing salvation to others' souls. And that is beautiful. They don't always quite understand everything, and the great thing about this gospel is that we don't have to understand everything! We don't! I don't understand everything at all. But we just have to be willing to step onto the path that leads to eternal life. 

On that, I love one thing that Janet said. As we taught her about temples and what happens there she just started to cry. 

Janet's mom had passed away some time earlier and this obviously had left her pretty distraught. Losing a loved one is excruciatingly hard. I remember when my aunt died just how sad that was for me. I was young and didn't understand what was going on, but I do know that I was sad. 

The great thing is that I understood the Plan of Salvation. The Plan of Happiness. This is God's plan to allow us to all be together again. 

We believe that when we die our spirits go to the spirit world. In this place our spirits will await the resurrection where they will once again becoming onc with our bodies, never to be separated again. 

Because God is completely fair and just during this time every soul will have the opportunity to learn the gospel, repent, and choose to follow God. 

Because of the work we do in the temple (baptisms) these souls have an opportunity to receive baptism which allows them to become clean and prepare to live in God's presence. 

After the resurrection we will be able to live as families again in everlasting joy.

As we taught this to Janet she was overcome with emotion and just couldn't stop herself from crying. She was so worried about her mother. Would she be able to see her again? How would she make it back to God? 

But all of those fears disappeared because of the gospel. 

And that is why I am here. The hope peace and Joy that the message I share brings to people is amazing. Everyone needs this. And that is what the gospel provides. That is why God gave us the gospel. So we could find peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come. 

Wow. God's love is amazing. 

And yah. That's what I do with my life. Help people to receive Gods help. 

Ummmm......

Honestly that is about it.... 

It was a great week and I love you so much! Thanks for taking the time to read this I'd love to hear from you if you want to write. 

Until next week! 

(It will be next Thursday cause we have P-day on Christmas) 

Bubye! 

Elder Baird

Something about socks. 

I'm literally just gonna copy and paste this from gospel library. This was from my personal study this week.

Luke 7:9

[December 10, 2020, 11:09]

---

When I've read this before I've always wondered how the centurion is showing his faith. Jesus says his faith is great, but how? 

Thanks to the study guide and some pondering, I've come up with some ideas that I think are just crazy! 

The first things is that all of this started with Love, faith is a subset of love. If we don't have love we can't have faith. (Moroni 7) this centurion even had love for those who hated him. (verse 5)

So it started with love. Then came the faith. When he heard of Jesus he had faith that Christ would heal his servant. That was the beginning of faith. But he didn't stop there! It is not by faith that we are saved alone! If the centurion just sat there and was like "I've got faith that Jesus will heal him" nothing would have happened. He sent for him (acted)

And Jesus came as he always does to us in times of need. Now's where things get interesting. Verse 6 "trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof" 

Now here's an interesting line. Why would the centurion not invite Jesus in? And why would this be important enough to be in the scriptures? 

Well it is. 

In the current cultural and political climate of that day, it was STRONGLY discouraged for an Israelite to enter the house of a gentile. This is not something, however, that Romans cared about. They did not care for the traditions of the Jews of anything else on that line. But this man knew that it was 'incorrect' for Jesus to enter his house. He acknowledged that was, and was subservient to that.

This demonstrates and incredible amount of humility. It also demonstrates a willingness to follow the commandments. Now to be fair this was no 'commandment' but it was still a rule of that day.

I do however believe that this is an important part of showing our faith in Christ. Following the commandments is always critical if we are to ask for blessing in our lives. 

Next is verse 8. "For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers"

I always read this in conjunction with verse 6 and 7 as a 'worthiness' issue. 'I'm in charge of Roman soldiers who have, more or less, enslaved your people and now I'm asking you for help', is not necessarily the best calling card. One would not have to look far to find a reason for Jesus not to heal this man's servant on account of this man's position in public society.

And while that is a fair point, it is not the one that he is trying to make. "For I also am a man set under authority" (emphasis added). This also is critical in understanding the true intent of the centurion. He is, in this moment, recognizing the authority of Jesus the Christ as the son of God and the holy Messiah. He is recognizing that he has faith to be under Jesus' command and to "[do] this" and do it. He is showing his subservience to God. Another crucial element of faith. Without humility, faith can't profit us anything. For we would not be humble enough to do what God says. How is that faith then?

And thus, we see Jesus' exclamatory phrase "I say unto you, I have not found so great faith". He marveled at this man's willingness to believe, act, and submit himself to the will of God.

This is the importance of faith in our lives. 

There you go. Maybe you learned something like I did!

The sssssssssocks I bought this week. 

Christmas!!!!! 

Taipei 101

RIP paw patrol, we will always remember you by putting splashes on our cars.... 

Swag

The bros

Us and the two wonderful newest sisters in the church! 

Elder Pond has never been more 帥

Meme

Just to prove that I have grown up on my mission for any doubters out there *side glances at Tayda*

WEEK 65 TAIPEI: The week I went into quarantine. Again. Oh joy.

Well we back again. For another week. "Every time I check my Email I hope it's from a....[friend]...."

Oh, not a friend. Whatever. 

So Yah. The subject lines don't lie. I went back into quarantine this week. But before we start with that we should probably start with some background. 

P-day. Was amazing. Like wow. We went to Jurassic Park, minus the dinosaurs. But it was way lit. It was like a zoo but better in every way possible because I don't like zoos tbh. But this was amazing. 10/10, would recommend. 

But after an amazing P-day we came home and were doing our office works like good little bois, and as we were doing that we happened to run into President, cause we like live in the same place, and he was like "Elders! What are your plans for tomorrow?" To which we responded, 'A busy day full of inviting others to come unto Christ sir!' to which he side-eyed us. And then was like, well you guys are going into quarantine tomorrow. So that was a little bit of a shock. But basically we just got a new missionary. Yes one. We had 20 go home and one come. The numbers are few ladies and gents. 

But this one missionary just got here and he needed someone to quarantine with so basically we are playing duck duck goose with all the companionships here to spend time quarantining with him. And before some of my relatives get all huffed up and stuff about legal matters in switching out with quarantine things, we are doing legal things. We are literally just there to cook for him and we don't have contact with him. So everything's okay in whoville. 

So then Tuesday happened. 

We were quarantined. 

This one day was somehow harder than my whole two weeks of self isolation the first time around. Don't know how that happened, but I was not a fan so we are just going to skip that day. 

Then we had a day of training. We got up at 7, switched comps at 7:30. And gave a training at 8:00. We then had another training at 9. And then another one (MLC) at 11. 

And I translated the MLC meeting. Which was terrifying. This was my first time actually translating. Like I'd done little things before, but this time I had a mic in my hands and people had their ear buds in and President was talking about as fast as he could and wow that was rough. 

But the gift of tongues is real! There is no way that someone at my level of Chinese should be able to do anything remotely close to direct translation. But somehow it happened. And sometimes it just be that way.The Holy Ghost rocks. 

Then the best thing happened. 

We got to go to the temple!!!!! Guys it's been over a year since the last time I got to go to the temple and this was just so amazing! There was a Filipino couple getting married and so my companion went to translate which means I got to go and it was amazing! The peace in the temple is just amazing and I learned a lot. It was a spiritual high that I hadn't been on for a while. 

And as the endowment started (for those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically a session of learning about promises that God makes to us and where we can receive spiritual power to be cleansed from the evil of these days) I just started to cry. Just to hear the blessings that God is willing to give to us if we are faithful brought me to tears. 

So yah it was an amazing experience. 

Then Moses happened. 

And by that I mean my Moses experience happened. So in the Book of Moses chapter 1, the very beginning cause chapter one is generally at the beginning, Moses talks with God and has an amazing experience and then when it's over he is like wow that was so cool and this sentence is definitely a run on one and then after the cool vision Satan comes along twiddling his thumbs and is like oh Mooosoesss, worship me! And Moses is like no bock bock bi and then Satan is like noooooo

But yah so after the temple the anxiety and depression kind of hit me like a truck which was no fun. 

But it was like a complete 180 from what I had just been experiencing. It was kind of just building up through the whole week of doing nothing cause of quarantine and meetings and stuff and yah no fun. 

So I went to bed. Cause that's what I wanted to do. 

And then thankfully the next day was interviews with President cause that was like planned by God or something. But I learned a lot from him and I got some great revelation of some scriptures that I wanted to memorize. And so that was awesome! 

Then Friday happened where the day I've been waiting for for 1 year 2 months and 25 days happened. 

I got to go on an exchange with Elder Pond!!!!!! What an amazing miracle! He is my zone leader now so that is just so awesome. 

Our exchange happened after another meeting that we had that day and so we went to his place where he fixed us up some pancakes and we made some homemade syrup cause why not. 

Then we had a lesson which went great. And then we had a lesson at the church which also went great. 

But here's the thing. The church is very very very far away from their house. Like 30 minutes biking on a normal bike. 

We had like 20 minutes to get there

And we were on U-bikes (public bicycles of Taiwan) 

That was pain on a whole new level. I've had a lot of Pain throughout my biking days. But this was something completely new. 

But we made it to the lesson not too late and it went just great! 

Then we talked and I taught him how to meditate better because folks meditating is a blessing for the soul and if you're not doing it then you should be so yah. Get the Calm app (also @Calm you should pay me to advertise for you) 

Then Saturday we finished our exchange. We had a BOMB comp study and I learned that Jesus can turn invisible. (don't understand? Send me an email and I'll explain ;) (wow I am desperate, but it is true)) 

Then after an amazing discussion and some great service I headed for home and when we got home we ate some amazing Filipino food from our members who are literally the best. 

Then I got to mess with the sound board and microphones because I am doing tech for our big yearly Christmas concert which I am super hyped for because I LOVE this stuff! 

Then Sunday! We had a great time at church. I love Church. But the Filipino Sunday school teacher didn't show up which meant that we taught the lesson. Which meant I just sat there and watched my companion teach the lesson XD

It was good though. 

Then we received an unholy amount of food from them. (thanks Brianne for that word) 

And then we fixed some mission stuff. Went out finding. Found someone to teach! And then we got a call from a Filipino member who was like "Elder, my friend is here right now, come teach her" so we did. That went amazing. She low key wants to be baptized and I think we can help with that. 

Oh wait. We can. 

LOL that's my job 

And then We had the fireside and I played the piano and I couldn't feel my fingers or my toes. So that was rough. But it went pretty good! You can find it on Facebook if you care enough to go searching for it.! 

And that was our week. 

I feel like I've said 'and then' way too many times this email. My English is so bad, I've forgotten all of my conjunctions and I'm sure my participles are dangling all over the place. But you know what? You signed up for this email and if you've read it to here then that' s your own fault. God gave you agency too! 

And that is going to be it for this week peeps. Glad yall could tune in. I love the gospel and this church and Jesus! He is literally my rock and my cornerstone in every sense of the word. And I am so grateful that I have his restored gospel and completel truth in my life! What an amazing blessing! 

Love you all! 

Elder Baird

Something about socks, 

God qualifies those who he calls. 

So one of the things that got me down this week was just not feeling good enough. Not good enough to be in the office or do the work that was required of me. Not able to handle all the stress that was being put on me or any of those things. And those thoughts were really hard for me to deal with. 

But in my comp study with Elder Pond he helped me realize something that I hadn't been seeing. 

The big picture. 

Guys, I'm a 1-year-old boy. 

Living in a country in the middle of the sea.

Seperated from my family and everything I know and love. 

Speaking a language that I can barely get my way around. 

Trying to talk to people randomly on the streets. 

To get them to stop and listen to me so I can share something that I know will help them. 

And guys, those people listen to us from time to time.

And sometimes they feel the spirit. And then they accept the gospel.

And once I started to realize this I was just like, Wow. God is with me. And he is. So even though there are times that I feel lost, God never has left me and as long as I trust him I'll be good.

That brought me a lot of comfort at the time and just helped me a ton.

So yah peeps. That's that. Gods with you!

This is Fredrickson

This is Jarold

Agent T my dooooods

Big building 

Making syrup with the Elder Pond

帥

My comp trusts me a lot let me tell you

The view at this table

Cute

Choo chooooo