Elder Baird's Something About Socks: WEEK 94 XINZHU: Okay, I should probably explain myself and come out clean.

That elder almost throwing up was not my companion. I forgot to put an explanation on why that gif was in my email.

That is another elders companion who was trying stinky tofu for the first time in his life. He's pretty new to Taiwan. Let's just say it didn't go well with his mouth...

It takes some time to get used to!

Anyways it was a pretty quick week. Mostly stayed inside like the rest of Taiwan, had a bunch of lessons, and I've got more time to write this week yeah!!!

On Monday we went to the mall! I bought a Krispee Kreams donut!!!! That's so nuts guys! They had it at the mall!

And not just that, but Baskin Robin's!!!!!

Granted it was Japanese ice cream so not as good, but it's the brand that counts right?

Then we met with my companions high-school friend who just happens to live in Xinzhu, and now we are teaching him the gospel! Nice

Tuesday. We met with a new convert. We've recently been sharing things from Preach My Gospel with the members in our ward and it has been amazing! To the point where this member started reading it on her own and told us "I'm remembering why I joined the church" not that she ever went inactive, but she just felt that she was learning so much again!

Guys if you've never read PMG you need to. It's so amazing. I like what one missionary said, it's like the Book of Mormon, all the same principles, just put out into easy chapters that you can understand" (slight editing on my part (she said it in Chinese so you're welcome))

Then we had district council. First one of the transfer which was pretty good.

Then I was kinda stressed out. Had a bunch of stuff going on, trying to keep all the missionaries in your zone from going home can be hard sometimes hahaha, lol, but I was a little frustrated and so I just started praying and pleading with God to help me. And I got a prompting to write a list out. And so I wrote a list out and it helped a lot. But not all the way.

So God sent a miracle our way.

It came in the form of a text saying "Missionaries can you come over right now and help me move stuff?"

God gave us the opportunity to serve!!! Now for those of our in not Taiwan missions that might sound a little weird to you, but like community service is not a thing in this country, neither is the, hey can you come help me out service, really a thing. There aren't times where the Ward is like let's go help so and so move in or out. It's just not a culture thing. You do it yourself.

So as a missionary I have done very little service, I mean other than sharing the one thing that cac give people eternal life of course.

So this was a huge miracle, we got to get outside and work out and move and helps ome people! It made me very happy and pulled me immediately out of my feelings.

So guys, next time you're feeling down, go lift a refrigerator up your stairs and your washing machine through a window (don't ask)

Wednesday we had the first ever mission conference under the reign of Mission President Yang. Pretty cool. Who is the Supreme lord ruler now! Hahaha star wars jokes.

So anyways it was good, he seems to be adjusting well. We are praying for him hard. It was different of course, but I know for a fact that he is the new mission president and this is all that matters!

We taught English (this is the only service we do basically)

Then we talked with all the district leaders about how we want to improve and we need their help. So that was good.

Thursday was amazing! Mostly just because of personal study. I felt like I grew so close to Christ! I read 3 Nephi 6-9 and it was incredible. The mercy of God is insane! And if you doubt it, then go read your scriptures. Rad.

One of the families we met last week came by and gave us mangoes and cookies. How nice is that?

Then I went to bed. I was tired. At least that is what my journal says I can't remember that long ago.

Friday we did studies and then our weekly planning session. Then we hopped on the train headed for Taibei! We were going on exchanges which meant I got to go back to the area that I had left 2 transfers ago! Arriving at the train station felt like arriving in your home city, and then when we got to the office it felt like I was at home. It was soooo nice and so fun to be back up there. We then had a great exchange with Elder Keogh. I love that elder.

We met with a guy who said that he wouldn't pray about if the book of Mormon was true or not because he said he already knew it was. When we asked how he knew that he said "because you wouldn't deceive me"

Apparently I would make a good con-man

But guys, you have to pray and study to know spiritual truths just so that we are all clear, and if you don't believe me then believe the prophets!

"No one can know spiritual truths without prayer." (PMG 39)

Boom

Saturday we finished up our exchange. Had some goo lessons and then took the train back home.

Got home and called some peeps and it was pretty much a day.

Sunday was good because it was THE FLIPPING FOURTH OF JULY AND EVEN THOUGH LIKE NO ONE IN THIS COUNTRY CARES I DO AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MY COUNTRY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SERVE M COUNTRY FULL TIME JUST LIKE I'M SERVING THE LORD FULL TIME BUT AT LEAST WHEN I'M SERVING THE COUNTRY I CAN LISTEN TO MUSIC WITH EARBUDS SO THAT IS PRETTY NICE EH?

We had a good church meeting and we actually had people come which was a miracle! Yay! Fasting was fun as always. I love having the opportunity to put my spirit over my body.

Although I didn't feel super edified this fast, I don't feel like I was all the way there. If anyone's got any ideas or advice on how to be more edified through fasting I would love to hear them!

Anyways, then we had some good lessons. Nothing to crazy just the usual.

For dinner I made tilapia with rice pilaf and yam which was fun. Quarantine got me chefin' like a booooooss now.

Then our ward mission leader called us out for sucking at doing what we were supposed to do and it made me embarrassed because he was totally right and we need to change and report better... Hehe he....

Yah. That was pretty much the week.

Feel free to send me an email. I've got nothing but time over here! You're running out of chances anyways so be quick about it ey?

Love you all!

Elder Baird

Something about Socks

(I realize that some of you don't know why this section is called something about socks, if you are confused and you would like to know you are more than welcome to check out my very first emails on my blog!

Oh yah! A blog! Here's the link and news reel

BREAKING NEWS:

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https://elderspencerbaird.blogspot.com/

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Okay back to the something about socks.

I've been thinking about the past a lot lately. It feels like every day that goes by there is just more past to think about. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not so good. Recently I was thinking about my time in the office. I had such a fun time there and it was just so great!

Sometimes I wish that I could go back.

And I did go back this week. It was odd to go back to the place that I spent the most time of my mission at. And I went back and realized...

I like the present more than I do the past. For how much I loved the past, going back to that apartment to that office to that city and to that environment just felt... Trapping? Can I say that? I mean who's going to tell me no by the time you're reading this I will have already sent it soooo too late. It's in the past now.

But isn't that just the point? Things come to pass. And when I went back to the past I did feel trapped. I realized a very important thing.

You can make a whole lot more out of the present than you can the past.

And that is how I want to live! I don't want to get to college and be like daaaaang I wish I was a missionary. I don't need to trap myself like that. Because that is the past, right now is my time to make a difference. I don't wasn't to wish those office days back because I can't do anything with them! But right now every day I can do something! And because of the saviors atonement I can repent every day and become closer to God every day!

Why would I want to take a step backward on that path?

So I invite you, make something with your present, cause honestly you can't make something with your past.

Pictures!