Taipei Taiwan

Taipei Taiwan

Monday, June 17, 2013

Tou Fen #2

Hello!! We don't have much time today, because the place that we usually email at, shutdown and we had a hard time finding a place to email, and I'm almost out of time, but I hope you know that I love you. I want to tell you a couple cool things that I wanted to do last week but didn't have the time... I met Elder Watson! John's old mission president! He was the General Authority at our mission tour conference this week and it was great to see him minister to all of us missionaries and help the Spirit edify our souls and prepare us to more effectively bring about the salvation of souls. I have three people in my branch that all served with John in Taizheng! hahah it's really fun :) They love me and I love them! They speak pretty good English too... one of them is actually from Rexburg, ID! He came back and married one of the sisters he met on his mission. Super cool small world thing. Next I want to tell you how awesome the food here is! hahah..... I have already eaten some pretty cool stuff! They are as follows: Chicken foot, chicken head, bitter melon, cookies ( they are super wierd here...), Oh my goodness!!! The Mangos are to DIE FOR!! We just bought 3 today for 50 NT... Super awesome :) Also they have this stuff called, Yogo Fresh that is awesome. It's a super cheap yogurt drink that I love :) Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how awesome the things here are.... and Joseph... I had the Shaved Noodles. They are awesome. Ok. Well I will tell you that this week has been great! I am absolutely in love the people here. My ting de dong (understanding what I hear) is getting much better, but still has much to improve. The Lord works miracles through obedience. I know that now. I see so many miracles and I realize how blessed I am. This last Saturday night, my companion and I were heading back from a branch activity and I noticed we were going to get in early if we didn't stay out a little longer. The Spirit reminded me of what I have heard Sarah and Tarah tell me countless times... "don't let anything stop you from being exactly obedient."... I suggested that we stay out and try to find one more person. We looked and we found. Elder Hopper felt impressed to go into a "7" (7/11- They have a ton of them here!!) and talk with a boy who was eating noodles. We went in, found out what he believed, shared our testimonies with him and he said he would like to learn more. We got his number and left. I can testify that Exact obedience, brings miracles. This was a miracle. We had had a very unproductive week it felt like, but because we chose to be exactly obedient, the Lord chose to bless us with a miracle. I know that his Church is true. I know that the message that we have brings clarity and light to all those who choose to listen to it. I know that to be true. I love you all and really do miss you tons. But please do know that you are a great motivation. because I know that through the work that I am doing right now, can and will allow us to live together... forever. HURRAH FOR ISREAL!! Love, Elder Westover

Monday, June 10, 2013

Tou Fen #1

Hey Ya'll! Oh my goodness, I can't even tell you how incredible it is to be here! It's everything I ever imagined and more... sweat and all :P President Day and his wife are really awesome. So great to be here with them and serve the people of Taiwan. They are from the South and have an accent :) not a bad one, but it's there :) Anyway, They are awesome and the country of Taiwan is amazing. My first 4 hours with my trainer were spent running from train to train, subway to subway, and bus to bus... with luggage... :) hahah it was a great experience. I've been called to serve in the Tou Fen area, which is on the west side of the island, almost at the very bottom border. It's apparently "rural".... hahahah... yeah. I'm definitely from Cornville :P Ther church here is pretty small. We have a little branch that is just so great! Xu Huizhang (President Xu) is the branch president and slowly, but surely getting his confidence. I got up to introduce myself and bore my testimony in sacrament meeting, and it was great! I pray for the confidence of the members and for their love. Riding bikes is just great! hahah My trainer's name is Elder Hopper from Santaquin, UT. He played middle-linebacker in highschool, has a bruised cervical nerve, has a satchel, and was prom king.... ;P He is the oldest of 5 and he has been out in the field since January. I stinkin' love to work with him and he has a great desire to do the work of the Lord. He is very obedient and diligent. I'm so happy that he is my trainier. There is so much that I am learning from him and want to become as a missionary. I've already seen a ton of miracles with him. Following is the two main miracles that I reported to President Day: 1.) We got to Tou Fen Elder Hopper and I were out contacting and we got a call. It was a youngman by the name of Peter of Lin Dx, who has attended english classes in the past. He called us to set up an appointment to hear our message! I love it! He received everything well and is reading and praying. He couldn't come to church this week, but I am very confident he will come next week. 2.) Last night we were out visiting a less active and right after we finished with her and invited her to come to church next week, we said hello to a man riding by on his bike. He stopped abruptly and came back to talk with us. We started a good conversation with him and found out he spoke pretty good english. We then started to find out what his beliefs were and asked him if he knew how to pray. He said that he prayed for help in his schooling and with family and other things and that he believes that God does hear, but he said he didn't know how to get answers to his questions. He sared with us how he prayed and it was incredible how similar his prayers were to the ones that we say... We have set up an appointment with him on Tuesday at the church, so we'll see how that goes! PRaying for them all, and hope!! I am so blessed to have Elder Hopper as my trainer... I think we are doing a good job of learning from eachother... I know I'm learning a ton from him. I love his desire to be exactly obedient and to continue to build his faith. Those have been the really cool experiences and I've felt the love that God has for His children so much in the short time that I've been here. So AMAZING!... I'm a missionary. Haha.... Everyone who is considering serving a mission. Whatever anyone tells you about sleep on the mission, it's true. Sleep is so amazing, but there is just one thing. You never feel like you get enough. Hahah The work feels so good that you just feel it all the time! :) Love it. I love the people here. They are so incredible and my job is to share zhege xunsi (this message). I love this work, and I know that the more I lose myself in it, the more I'll receive happiness and find Joy in the Journey. It really is HARD WORK, but it's totally WORTH IT. I love you all and hope all is well! I appreciate your prayers and ppray for you. Hurrah For Isreal! Love, Elder Westover (Wu Zhang Lao)

Monday, June 3, 2013

MTC Week 9

Oh. My. Flip!!! I can't believe this time is actually here!!... I'm less than 24 hours away from flying out to get on with the rest of my mission. I am so excited to meet my trainer. I'm so excited to go to Taiwan and grow my love for the people and help them realize that they have a "Qin'ai de Tianfu" (Loving Heavenly Father)! I have learned so much at the MTC. I've learned...: I'm a missionary and I have been called of God. I have the ability to discern the thoughts of and receive inspiration for my investigators. I am a literal son of God and I have been fortunate enough to be born in to the church and know the truths I do through loving parents and siblings. I am a boy from Cornville, AZ learning Mandarin Chinese and I know that there is no way that that is possible except it be through the love of my Savior Jesus Christ, and the purpose for which I am learning it. I know that I have a purpose here on earth. Nage mudi shi, "yaoqing taren guixiang Jidu, jiezhe xiezhu tamen peiyang, dui Yesu Jidu jiqi Shuzui de xinxin, huigai, xili, jieshou Shengling enci, he chishou daodi, lai bangzhu tamen jieshou fuxing de fuyin." (That purpose is to, "Invite others to come unto Christ. By helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End.") I know that this gospel is so much bigger than me, and I know that it is not me, or my companion, or anything that we do that teaches... it is the Spirit of God. I know that my purpose is to help them! They have the knowledge of the truth... they are children of God. They made the Choice to come to this earth and be tested and experience every thing that we do here, but my purpose is to HELP them remember. That is how the Spirit speaks to us. things that we already know, which are true. That is the beauty of the Gospel. :) I hope all of that was somewhat understandable... :) hahaha I know that what I am doing out here is such a great work... and I know that Jesus Christ for us, died. And he died in order to have us return to our Father in Heaven, who truly does want us to be with Him! I know that they give us the trials and pains that we have, to give us the opportunity to become like them. Perfect. A good scripture to read when you're feelin' down and out is D&C 122:6-9. I love this. I know that The Savior of the world has gone below all things... and wants us to reach our hands our for Him. He is on the high ground, and He has already done everything He can. All you need to do is reach up for Him. I love you all! I know that this Church is true and that Joseph Smith did restore the gospel of Jesus Christ upon the earth in this, the final dispensation. There is nothing that can stop this work :) Thank you all for your prayers for me to learn the language and to grow closer to the Lord. Thanks for all the letters and packages and love. See ya!!! Hurrah For Isreal!!! Love, Elder Westover