Daaaaang (Elder), back at it again with those white (people in Taiwan)
Dang it's been a week and I love that in my life. It's actually been soooooo good! And I've learned so much, and my testimony's grown, and I've been crushed, and I've been happy, and it's just been pretty good!
I love serving the Lord!
Let's start out with Monday.
Went to Costco and dropped like 2000 dollars. We love that! Bought tilapia, chicken, and some other stuff that was yummy.
Tuesday I woke up with craaaaazy stomach pain. Love that for me. So it basically wrekt my whole morning.
Then I had the coolest revelation learning about the atonement reading Alma 34. It was literally sooo cooool. So go look at that and get your own revelation. Cause we all need to learn about the atonement for ourselves. It is the most important thing in our lives, and we have to understand it. A lot of people don't get it. They're just like, yah I believe, but you have to know! And you have to learn. And it takes time and effort. But it's soooo worth it. So make sure to go and read that. You'll thank me later!
Then after a district council where we had sacrament outside the church on the sidewalk (kinda wak) we took the train down to the boonies of Miaoli! I went on exchanges with my favorite black Fijian Indian elder Lal. Those of you who don't remember elder Lal didn't read my emails while I was in the MTC I guess. We are the same generation (came to the MTC and Taiwan at the same time) so it was suuuuper fun to be back with him! He's culture training a new American. Basically he's already been a missionary in Utah for 9 months and now he has finally made it to Taiwan. So of course we made him eat a 1000 year old egg.
He didn't throw up which was impressive!
We played some Mahjong to finish up the night. Elder Blackhurst had never played before so we taught him and then he proceeded to win all 3 rounds! Elder Lal was furious because he is way good and lost to his new white baby which was just soooo funny.
The next day we went out to breakfast and then had a lesson and did some contacting. Nearing the end of the exchange it was time to go to the train station. So we hop on our bikes and start over. And after 10 seconds find that Elder Blackhurst's tire is wrekt. Now we have a problem. One bike. 3 elders. A train in less than 10 minutes a mile away.
So we ran.
And it was rough.
It was like 110 or something. We have to wear masks. In our church clothes. And I've got my big exchange backpack.
We Meade it right as the train doors opened. Miracles do happen. And we will be able to have strength to run as fast as we can, but not faster than we can because that's how God works. So yah. Don't do drugs kids!
After we got home I made Tilapia with rice pilaf which is something my mom would always make for us that I haven't had in soooo long and so it felt great to eat that! It was soooooo yummy. Then we had English group. Online English group is still not my favorite, but I will live.
Thursday I read Alma talking to Helaman and it was soooo good. Yall just read the book of Mormon and you'll feel soo good. Honestly tho. So much fun. And that's not the mission goggles talking ;)
The we had WPS.
Then bamboo council
Then we went to the church for some lessons and all of them canceled except one. It was sad, but we are glad that the one still answered. He will be blessed for that I am sure.
Friday then began the day the world turned upside down... But not like in the musical. Or in real life. See the thing I the world is constantly turning upside down due to it's axial rotation, however, even though there is rotation there is no up and down because down is just wherever gravity points too, and since the earth is not flat and is in fact spherical in shape down is actually in. It's the center. So for the world to turn upside down it would have to infold on its center and that would just be a catastrophe.
Science.
So we had zone conference over Zoom which as very sad. This is the first time Taiwan has ever had to have Zone conference over Zoom. QQ (this is the cry face in Taiwan) and even though we didn't get to be with President and sister Peterson for their last zone conference it was still an absolutely amazing experience.
We started the day with a 5k, haven't done one of those in a while and it was pretty fun! Glad my companion likes to run. That is a blessing!
So we came home after our run and then got ready for the conference. We logged on and all heaven broke loose. The opening song was a recording of my missionary medley that was played (sheet music is being sold for any who want it) and then it just toooook off!
We talked about some miracles people were seeing and then we were informed that we would be getting a tour of Carthage Jail. And my mind blew up (again, not literally)
I've never been able to go to any church history sites in my life (not including the ones in st. George, thanks grandma and grandpa) and so it was so cool to be able to get a video tour of Carthage from the missionaries serving there. And it was incredible!!! The spirt was so incredibly strong and as we saw the place that Joseph Smith—the first prophet of this dispensation and the hand by which this church was restored—died, I could not help but cry. My testimony grew 10 fold in that one instant. So amazing!
I then went and had an amazing conversation with God during the lunch break. I love prayer. Especially heartfelt prayer. Super recommend.
Then after zone conference we had a couple lessons, called some people, and a great time and then it was night time. As zone leaders we have to make sure that everyone gets home on time.
And this is where all 地獄 breaks loose. 930 is when a missionary should be home. So everyone starts texting in home around then. 945 comes around and everyone has texted in except one set of elders. 950... 955...
Then it hit 10.
Now 10 is when things change, you are required to be home by 10. And they still hadn't said home.
We started to worry as all good zone leaders do. We were unable to get ahold of them at all.
10:10
We call the APs. They say that we should be ready to go to their house.
Now this provides a problem because their house is a 30 minute train ride away from house. And there is only one train every hour. So we prepare to get on the 10:40 train.
1030 nothing
And so we get ready to leave. We have no clue what is going on or why they aren't home, all we know is that we are going to have to take the train to their house and we were just hoping that they were okay. You hear horror stories about this kinda stuff as a missionary and so we were just a little nervous. Neither of us had done this before. We were gonna be going out waaaaay past curfew. And it was just a little unsettling.
But we were excited for the adventure of trying to find out what happened. I even felt promoted that we should wear our tennis shoes and not our regular shoes.
So we say a prayer to head out the door to the train station when all of the sudden!
They text us saying they were home, there phone had ran out of battery, and everything was okay.
And that was that.
And I totally made up the prompting that we should wear tennis shoes. That was my nerves not the spirit hahaha...
So we went to bed and that was the end of one of the craziest days of my life! (sounds a lot less crazy when your type it out *sigh*)
Saturday we met with a non member referral from our bishop and it was one of the best lessons I had ever had on my mission. The spirit was strong and he was just so engaged and he wants to keep learning! He like actually has a desire! And so it might be the first time I've seen that and so that was a really neat experience.
I even made an analogy about games only to find out that his work is making games! If that wasn't the spirit then I don't know what is!
Then I made mozzarella lemon pepper tilapia for dinner. Much good.
Then some more lessons. Then a norther one. And then basically some more stuff and that was the day!
On Sunday we had church, I took a nap (finally!!!) and we met some cool members. It was pretty chill. Not a ton happened. But I did make some good fried rice! Love that for me.
Yah and this was pretty much my week. Kinda a long one eh? Who knew so much could happen when you're locked in your house all day!
Anyways, hope yall had a wonderful week and make sure to send me something like an email or a present. Either or is fine. Take your pick!
Love you all!
Elder Baird
Something About Socks
This is what I wrote down from my experience at Carthage Jail,
"Why would I cry for the death of a man I never knew? 200 years ago. Someone who is just a leader. Never have I cried for the death of a president of a nation. Or hearing the story of those killed in war. The pain is real as we hear these stories but it does not affect my life. So, why would I cry for a man 200 years dead that I never knew, unless... I did know him. I knew him as a prophet. I knew him as a holy man. As one called of God to fulfill a great work. I know Brother Joseph. I know him as the prophet of the restoration. I know that he was the man chosen by God to restore his gospel. Why would I cry if it weren't true. Why would my spirit sing in praise at the life of this man and cry in sorrow at his death. I know that this is true, because the Holy Ghost testifies to my spirit of the truth. The connection is real. Joseph Smith is a prophet. And it was through him that this church, Jesus Christ's only true church, was restored. This is my testimony and the witness that the spirit has born to me at this time. Anyone who says otherwise has not met Joseph Smith the man. Joseph Smith the prophet."
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. Simple as that. Hope you all can find your own testimony too :)
(hint: read the book of Mormon!!!)
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