Tou Fen # 14

Hello wonderful, beautiful, amazing family! This week was a great week here in Toufen. We had many incredible miracles. First, Huang Dx. The sisters gave him to us as a referral in the hospital. We were going to finding but we really felt like we should go visit him. We went got to know him, found out that he has been in the hospital for about a month and not any of his family members have come to see him. He is such a happy man and just has such a great spirit about him. We shared the Restoration with him and he really loved it. We set a baptismal date for next month and set up a time later this week. The other is Chen Dx. We were on our way to an appointment with the Weng Family when I saw him... He was on my side of the road and was going in the opposite direction. I just said I to him and then he responded back. I asked him if we could talk to him for a minute. We didn't have much time but we found out that he had read the Bible and he also had some other interesting experiences that lead him to believe in God. We had to go but we set up a time with him later in the day. He actually came. He talked alot... and I'll be honest... I couldn't completely understand everything he was saying, but from the very moment I saw him. I could feel that he would be a great instrument in God's work here in Toufen. I felt really good about him. He accepted the baptismal date, but still hasn't set a date. He came to church too! The other cool on was it was Thursday night. All of our appointments had fallen through, and we were going over to the park to contact and find when a guy on a motorcycle rode by me. As he was riding by me, I yelled, "HELLO" (We're going like 20 MPH). Then he looks at me and says hi back. I asked him if he could pull over so we could talk to him and he did! He spoke a little English so we talked to him and he had some questions to ask us and then we shared the first lesson with him. It's going to take some work to get him to baptism but he said we could meet with him again and share. This week has been such a blessing and I think it's because my companion and I have been really trying to look for miracle and and praying for them too. It's been awesome. I've been feeling much pain and sorrow for our two LAs who have been working on quiting their addictions. Huang Dx fanged us alot and got back into drinking again. Qiu Dx is still not making progress and came to church this Sunday and said he would stay for the whole time but left about half way through Sacrament. I have found alot of comfort in studying mercy and grace. And I realized that I can let that play a little bit bigger role in my life... and then through the Spirit, I can help them come unto Christ and feel of his love and from that love, grace and mercy receive strength to overcome the natural man. Make their weaknesses strengths. (Ether 12:27) I love this work with all of my heart and everything that is in me. There is so much to learn and so little time to learn it. Today I'm going to Taipei to do some things up there with a member and grab some stuff at the distribution center for our investigators. I'm absolutely loving it here are I love you. I am going to set some goals to make my letters more fun so... haha expect some more fun stuff next week. Love, Jordan

PRESIDENT'S EMAIL: Miracles:　Last week was great. The Lord answered my prayers and blessed us with finding this week. We were blessed in Toufen with many miracles and I would like to tell you about the two that came our new investigators. First, Huang Dx. The sisters gave him to us as a referral in the hospital. We were going to finding but we really felt like we should go visit him. We went got to know him, found out that he has been in the hospital for about a month and not any of his family members have come to see him. He is such a happy man and just has such a great spirit about him. We shared the Restoration with him and he really loved it. We set a baptismal date for next month and set up a time later this week. I feel like it's been really good for Elder Broeder because ever since that visit he has been comparably diligent. The other in Chen Dx. We were on our way to an appointment with the Weng Family when I saw him... He was on my side of the road and was going in the opposite direction. I just said I to him and then he responded back. I asked him if we could talk to him for a minute. We didn't have much time but we found out that he had read the Bible and he also had some other interesting experiences that lead him to believe in God. We had to go but we set up a time with him later in the day. He actually came. He talked alot... and I'll be honest... I couldn't completely understand everything he was saying, but from the very moment I saw him. I could feel that he would be a great instrument in God's work here in Toufen. I felt really good about him. He accepted the baptismal date, but still hasn't set a date. He came to church too! Many more, but I am so grateful to the Lord for the miracles and blessings this week. Studies: I've been feeling much pain and sorrow for our two LAs who have been working on quiting their addictions. Huang Dx fanged us alot and got back into drinking again. Qiu Dx is still not making progress and came to church this Sunday and said he would stay for the whole time but left about half way through Sacrament. I have found alot of comfort in studying mercy and grace. And I realized that I can let that play a little bit bigger role in my life... and then through the Spirit, I can help them come unto Christ and feel of his love and from that love, grace and mercy receive strength to overcome the natural man. Make their weaknesses strengths. (Ether 12:27) Companionship Relationship: Great. We're still getting to know each other but he really seems to be improving with his attitude to the work and his diligence. I'm still praying for Charity and striving to love him. Personal Development: I'm doing great and I feel like I'm getting more and more lost in the work. Anything Else Important: Thank you for your words of encouragement and reminding me not to get into a habit of finding... like one thing to find. Elder Broeder and I will discuss that and make plans to make our finding more effective and fun!

Tou Fen #13

Another great week here in Toufen!! Definitely not the greatest with Key Indicators, but definitely a great growing week for me. My "dad" (Elder Hopper) left me at home and I will not see him at least for another 6 weeks... but it's alright because I have to grow up some time! :P haha and the Lord felt that the greatest thing to help me grow up would be to send Elder Hopper off and to bring 3 Elders back to Toufen. . . Yes!!! I just said that!! Toufen has 4 Elders and 2 Sisters! The work here is about to explode!!! It's been a little crazy for me because I am the Junior Companion, but the only one out of the four of us who knows anything about this place, but this is the will of the Lord. He knows I can take it. The Sisters also had a baptism this week and I got to baptize her! :) haha her name is Lin JM. She is known to the missionaries as mine and Elder Hopper's "Girlfriend"(Elder Hopper and I found her two weeks befor the Sisters got here and she always called us Shuai ge (handsome)) :P she is about 70 years old and is just the cutest old lady you will ever meet! She is so great. It was a great experience. It was such a great thing to hear her bear her testimony and see how much the knowledge of the Restoration has blessed her. Because of this Gospel, she KNOWS that she is a precious daughter of God. My greatest thing from studies this week was Alma 7... The Atonement of Christ, why we need it, and how we can apply it. We are working with 2 families (Weng and Lin Families) and they are progressing just great!! Weng Family actually came to the baptism on Saturday and I think they really liked it. next time we meet with them we are going to share the Plan of Salvation and I'm super stoked :)!! I love you. Thank you for your prayers and blessings. Love, Elder Westover

Tou Fen # 12 ( He sent pictures and I will get those up soon)

Hey ya'll! It's my last week with Elder Hopper. I'm so grateful for everything he has been able to teach me, and I thank him for being an instrament in the Lord's hands to teach me humility. Oh boy!! I love being a missionary! There are so many blessings that come from being a missionary. I am so happy to have this time to devote everything that I have to the Lord and gathering lost Israel. Toufen Branch now has a mission plan...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is so much potential here and It is so exciting to know that there is now a plan, goals, and a vision that the Lord has for the people in the Toufen Branch. It's just like the commandments from God... if we keep them we'll be happy and be blessed. If we do all we can to accomplish the daily, weekly, and monthly goals set on the Branch Mission Plan... we will see blessings in the missionary work!! It's so amazing how simple it is. I love it. This week while on exchanges with Elder Senkins we had two really great miracles. 1- We set a baptismal date on the street. 2- We gave a blessing to a former investigator's daughter in the hospital. Unfortunately our first miracle did not pan out. he fang-ed women gedze, but it was great because I got to be bold on the street. I'd never done that and I really felt like I was doing what I needed to do as a missionary. I felt like I was fulfilling my purpose. Our second miracle did work out with the will of the Lord. We found out later that the little girl was better by the end of the day and out of the hospital. The Sisters have had them as investigators since they got here, but the mom said that she wants to be baptized. This is a huge miracle because they have really been lacking faith in the Tithing. Mom is putting pressure on Dad... :) haha Gotta love it. They all came to church this week too and they are totally a Mormon family waiting to get in the water! Next we invited the new family we found from last week..... It really was completely out of the blue and it didn't sound pretty at all but I extended it and though they did not accept or set a date yet, it will be alot easier to remind them of why we are out here. It will be alot easier to extend it over and over and over till they realize that we mean business about this baptism stuff and they will start to understand. The thing I learned is that even though the approach to the invite was not that great... and it was out of the blue completely,and there could have been a different outcome or response, the Spirit is the teacher and knows what needs to be said and when. IT brought out concerns and gave us a good place to know where we can go next time. It is amazing how much you learn out here. "Oh how great is the wisdom of our God." Everything about the mission makes this statement so true. This week I've learned alot about Faith... Being Diligent in Faith. I am also striving to be more happy!! (Atleast to make sure that I'm showing it) I have learned that love is so important. I love you. I mean it. I miss you. I'll see you some day, but right now, my Heart is the Lord's. Love, Elder Jordan Westover

Tou Fen #11

Hello!! Again! :) oh boy. It is just so incredible to be a missionary. We had a good week this week here in Toufen! This week we had interviews with President Day and they were awesome. I am so blessed to have a "mom" and "dad" out here on the mission as well as back home. haha just another blessing of being a missionary! I'm excited about the goals that I set with President Day. I absolutely love Sister Day!! haha she reminds me a lot of you mom :) haha she even does Doterra! ;) She loves me :) haha Anyway, in my prayers last night, I felt like I should address a little of letter to my nieces and nephews. And I want to address you all by name: Adelynn, Enoch, Vicki, Christina, Kaleb, Savannah, Calyssa, Benjamin, Ella, Brigg, Gunner, Ashlynn, Olivia, Emery, Kate, Victoria, Camden, Kaden, Cosette, Cardston, Kiah, Malia, Eva, Tate, and Tallie. I want to tell you how much a absolutely love you all. Each and everyone of you. I want you to think for a little bit of all the fun times that we have had and all of the special times that we have had. Next I want you to think about all the times that you have been happy. I bet that most of those times are when you have been with your family. Now open your Books of Mormon and read Mosiah 2:41. That is my absolute favorite scripture... "consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God."... The reason I love this so much is because I KNOW one thing. That we are children of God. God is our loving Father in Heaven and because he loves us, he has given us commandments, to "lead us and guide us and help us find the way" back to live with Him! And because He loves us even more, He gave us our parents. They are so important to the Plan of Happiness that our Heavenly Father has for us. They, just like the prophets have been called of God to teach you and raise you up in the Gospel. They love you and want you to grow up to be successful... just like your Heavenly Father. Please. Obey your parents. Follow the rules they set for you because I promise you that you will "dwell with God in a state of neverending happiness. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It literally is the word of God. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He is our best friend and knows us individually and perfectly. I love you so much. Read and pray everyday. Your Heavenly Father wants to talk to you. You speak through your prayers and He speaks to you through the words of the prophets. Miracles: On companion exchanges with Elder Gibson we had a great lesson with one of our investigators who has been very hesitant to make any commitments. While we were following up on his reading and praying he said... "I read and I prayed and when I prayed I could feel an angel at my side... It felt good and safe." He has not accepted the invitation to baptism or to come to church because he is too afraid of what his parents will do... but he leaves for college next month and I know that when he goes there he will do those things. We are going to try and send him to the Taizhong mission with a baptismal date. His faith is growing and developing. Last week we found a lady who wanted us to teach her kids English and so this week we had an appointment to visit them. It went great! The dad is there and will be there every time we are there, but we shared with them what our real purpose was and that we share a message that can bless their family and asked if we could also teach our message. They set up and we are super excited about them! They have two kids. Johnson (12) and Julia(9)! Johnson has really bad A.D.D. They recently moved in so if they come to church next week they can meet some new friends! Lin Qing Yong is in Mosiah 11!! He has a while to go because of some problems with Word of Wisdom and just clearing some things out with him about the Law of Chastity. We're praying that the Lord will humble him to allow us to speak enough in our lessons. He really is negative about his life right now and barely allows our lessons to be taught. We re-established expectations this last week. It's been another rough week of finding people that will listen to us. We are moving forward in Faith and humbly seeking out the will of the Lord. Follow-up: Lin Family (tracted into a while back)- they are just finishing a traditional 40 day mourning gathering for her grandmother. (she is what they call yuan ju ming) Native Taiwanese. Lin Qing Yong has a baptismal date and is reading the BofM. (right now he is in Mosiah 11) He is working with some commandments and some health problems, but he is reading and praying and wants to be baptized. Huang Yen Wen and his mother are doing alright. He is slowly getting off drinking and smoking. We are still working with him on a weekly basis. His mother is investigating right now and is slowly progressing because she just doesn't have enough time to sleep and she often forgets things that the sisters teach her. I love you all so much. Love, Elder Westover P.S.- Katelyn Parkin, Sarah Strong, Victoria & Cosette Hall I got your letters and I loved them!! Thank you so much :)

President's Report #11

Hey I will send these reports to you so you can see how my progression is going. I am trying to get better at these so please if you have any incites as to things I could share please do. :) I love you! A. Miracles: On companion exchanges with Elder Gibson we had a great lesson with one of our investigators who has been very hesitant to make any commitments. While we were following up on his reading and praying he said... "I read and I prayed and when I prayed I could feel an angel at my side... It felt good and safe." He has not accepted the invitation to baptism or to come to church because he is too afraid of what his parents will do... but he leaves for college next month and I know that when he goes there he will do those things. We are going to try and send him to the Taizhong mission with a baptismal date. His faith is growing and developing. Last week we found a lady who wanted us to teach her kids English and so this week we had an appointment to visit them. It went great! The dad is there and will be there every time we are there, but we shared with them what our real purpose was and that we share a message that can bless their family and asked if we could also teach our message. They set up and we are super excited about them! They have two kids. Johnson (12) and Julia(9)! Johnson has really bad A.D.D. They recently moved in so if they come to church next week they can meet some new friends! Lin Qing Yong is in Mosiah 11!! He has a while to go because of some problems with Word of Wisdom and just clearing some things out with him about the Law of Chastity. We're praying that the Lord will humble him to allow us to speak enough in our lessons. He really is negative about his life right now and barely allows our lessons to be taught. We re-established expectations this last week. It's been another rough week of finding people that will listen to us. We are moving forward in Faith and humbly seeking out the will of the Lord. B. Studies: Using the scriptures to teach has been the greatest thing that I have been able to apply this week. As Arron did I want to teach and then expound. But before that it comes down to asking questions and listening to the investigator so that you can use God's words to answer their questions and show how the scriptures can give them answers. C. Companionship Relationship: It's so good! I'm loving it and I'm super sad a that one of us will leave... it's honestly really sad for me to think. But we are going to leave this area in a better condition than when we got here. D. Personal Development: I feel like there is so much that I have to do. I am learning that all of the converts and investigators I teach can only be converted as far as I myself am converted. I'm seeking to sanctify myself. The Spirit has brought to mind things that I must do in order to be a better teacher and example so that I can have the spirit testify through me. They are having diligence to faith... using the scriptures... and testifying directly to the needs of those I speak with. I know that as I strive to do the mission, zone, and district invites and strive to do the small and simple things, that I will have the ability to call the people of Toufen to repentance, change, improve, progress, and become a "new creature" (Mosiah 27:25-26). I must seek for purity and sanctification to be able to do that and it comes down to my thoughts, actions, and desires as I do the work of the Lord.

Tou Fen # 10

It has been so great here!! I am so in love with the people here and I love you all. Here are some of the miracles from this week. This week was a great week! I had a wonderful week as a missionary. When it comes to our numbers... it wasn't exactly what we really wanted to see, but the Lord has definitely humbled us. I personally learned that I need to literally talk with everyone. There is something in this gospel message that will help everyone, and everyone that I speak with literally is my brother or sister. They need to know the plan of mercy, love and happiness that our Father in Heaven has prepared for them, and I just have to love them enough to stop and invite them repent, and repent. That's not an easy thing to do by myself, but I know that as I talk with everyone, strive to listen, speak and do, as Jesus Christ, everyone I speak with will know through the Holy Spirit when I say that I am a representative of Jesus Christ. We also sound some awesome service opportunities!! hahah with a Buddhist Service group :) One soul was baptized this week!! Yu Dx (Jeff) was baptized and confirmed this weekend. It's been a long time coming! He is so ready and I have actually been pretty nervous that he may be too perfect... Elder Hopper has just been talking about how when their "too perfect" that they fall away sooner or later, but during his confirmation, I felt comfort in my heart that all would be ok, and that the Lord has great plans in-store for him. My favorite scripture this week is in 1 Nephi 4:6. "And I was led by the Spirit. Not knowing what I should do beforehand." Love, Elder Westover Some pics 1- Exchanges with Elder McKay from MTC District (he is in Miaoli) 3- Dinner with our branch president 4&5- beautiful sunset on the way over to an appointment with one of our LA's (it was late, and the pics weren't working. I will add those soon. Check back for the pictures)

Tou Fen # 9

Hello Loved-ones! I am so so sorry but I won't be writing alot this week... I'm going up to Xinzhu to go to Costco!!! haha Yes... they have Costco here. We have been asked to prepare personal 72 Hour Packs and have to have them put together by the end of the month. We have a member taking us up there and we don't have much time to write, but I got to write my mom and email so I think that's good enogh :) Vicki!!! (John's Vicki) Happy Birthday!!! :) I love you! Sarah and Tarah!.... You two beauties are going to have a great Happy Birthday up there with Josh, Katie, Jacob, and Rebekah :) Love you! This week was great and huge builder for me.... just lots of realizations and connections made for me. I love it and I am so happy to be here. Really... there is no place better that Taiwan. (except for Cornville, AZ) ;) I'm going to attach a little bit from my president's letter: The footings for missionary work in Toufen are just being set. We are working on our Branch Mission Plan and it is really cool to see all of this happen. The changes that have taken since I've gotten here have been so great and I love to see the hearts of the people change. I am learning the power of prayer is so much greater with more people! This last week we had a training with the Young Men in our branch and it was really good! The young men's president is doing great with inspiring his young men to share the gospel with their friends and he committed them to invite all of their classmates to come to church (church activity) through out the year! We did a role play with them and they really liked it. I am striving everyday to apply the language and teaching skills and knowledge that I gain. I'm striving to listen... truly listen to those that I teach and those that I speak with, so that I have to Spirit of Discernment. I am a huge believer of what you said to us one of our first days on island. "90% of inspiration, is information". I am not a pro at it, but I'm really trying to listen. Taking the time to slow down and put out what the natural man would say (trying to rely on myself to answer the questions, and teach the doctrines) but rather, listen closely for the voice of the Spirit to tell me what it is that I need to say, and do. Or what the needs of my investigator are, as my companion and I plan for them. I am learning that the Gift of Discernment is so essential. I love you and I love this work... My favorite scripture from study this week was Moroni 8:25-26. Think of being a member missionary. Think of all the blessings that the Gospel has brought you in yous life, and how much happiness and joy that could bring your friends, co-workers, classmates, and family members. Strive to do the little things that will present opportunities to share the gospel with all of those around you. I love you and pray for you all the time. I am so grateful for your prayers and love. Keep them coming!! Toufen needs the Lord's blessings. :) Love, Elder Jordan Westover