November 30, 2015

This week was legendary. It's really been a new start moving to Min Xiong! I once again hardly know anyone and don't know how to get anywhere, but this time around my Chinese is a little better (hopefully) so I think it'll be a quick adjustment. Me new comp, Elder Mitton, and I are already homies! We have discovered that we have a lot of the same interests, the same camera, the same food allergy, our dad's have the same name, and I'VE BEEN IN HIS HOUSE. So a few months before I left on my mission I went to this party at this super nice house by the Provo temple. Turns out that Elder Mitton was already on his mission at the time, but his cousin was using his house to throw this party. Crazy! The best part of this week was undoubtedly getting to see Elder Stevenson (the older/the apostle). The whole mission came together in Taizhong and it was awesome. Seeing all the great missionaries/friends that I've made was almost as good as hearing Elder Stevenson speak. He spoke a lot about how important promised blessings are. They're really the only reason anyone has to be interested in learning about the church. "Therefore ask, Knock" is not a great scripture. Throw in the promised blessings and it becomes much more meaningful. I then got to hear Elder Stevenson again yesterday when he came to the Jia Yi district conference with President Blickenstaff. Man, I'm so blessed! 

-Elder Poon

The Min Xiong Mansion November 23, 2015

This morning I took an hour train ride from Taizhong down south to Jia Yi and then a small cab ride over to my new area: Min Xiong. Min Xiong is a relatively new area. It was started up right when I got on island. It is legendary for one thing: The Mansion. Through some crazy circumstances, the missionaries in Min Xiong now live in a 4 floor high rise house. So for the next little while it will be my new companion (Elder Mitten from Provo) and I in the Min Xiong Mansion! It's gonna be awesome. I'll miss Taiping and all the awesome people that I met there and I'm super grateful for all the things that I learned there, but I'm stoked to experience something new! This past week has been super fun and there were a lot of activities. Last P-day we went to the bat caves in the mountains of Taiping! It was a really long bike ride up, but it was definitely worth it! These caves were super fun, but super gross. Tons of bat poop all over the place, but we made it all the way through! A bat ran into Elder Parker's face and it was hilarious. We also ran into some members from Taipei so that's cool. Then this past Wednesday was our English Party/Talent show. I got to play the guitar and we did a rendition of I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus/Glorious. It was a real good time!  About a movecall ago, we contacted this super golden girl in Taiping and then taught her a few times but then found out she lives in different area so we referred her over there. Anyways, her baptism was this past Saturday so we got to go over to Daiya to attend! Sunday (yesterday) was really weird having to say goodbye to all the great people in Taiping. It's crazy how great of friends I've made over here already even though clear communication hasn't always been there! Well, gonna go grab some grub and then probably back to the mansion! There's some really famous mountains over here so I hope to go check those out some time! Also, I get to see an apostle this week! The whole mission is coming together to see Elder Stevenson (the older) when he comes and picks up his son Elder Stevenson (the younger).

Hagw y'all

-Elder Poon

(Pictures from mission blog from November 4th, Mission President's Tour to Taichung) 

I Believe in Christ musical number by these talented missionaries

Sun Moon Lake

Shi Baba (green shirt on the end)

Green Mango popsicles

.25 November 16, 2015

Hello! Sorry I have not written a big email in a while! My last couple p-days have been super busy!! Anyways, life is so awesome. Elder Chan and I are having a blast in Taiping and it makes the work so much better! The highlights of the last couple weeks are 1) mission tour! Elder Sam Wong from the 70 came and toured our mission. He gave some great insight on how we as missionaries have several different tools and skills that we need to work on so we can be prepared to be a good missionary in any phase of the work. It was a great conference and he also spoke at our stake's stake conference the following weekend so we got a double dose of Elder Wong and his wife and also of President and Sister Blickenstaff! Then last P-day, a member from Dali named Shi Baba, wanted to take a few of us missionaries to Sun Moon Lake! It was so awesome! So beautiful. I had almost forgotten how much I love nature. Shi Baba owns a few dongxi dians (stuff stores) so he is constantly reeling in the $$$$$. Therefore, he took us to a super nice lunch first and then bought us all tickets for a ferry around the island and tons of fruit along the way. The rides there and back were just as fun as the lake too! We had a guitar in the back and we jammed out hardcore (missionary style). Then this past week I celebrated my 6 month mark! I/4 done! My brain honestly cannot fathom it! To celebrate we went to Mr. Steak! However, a salmon bone got caught in my esophagus and that sucked... It was still good though! Then a few members invited us over for pizza!! A great day indeed. The work has been fairly solid as of late. We're just trying to keep diligent and we've seen the Lord's blessings in doing so! We had 3 miracle new investigators yesterday! Taiping is the best, man. I'm gonna miss it if I have to leave next Monday cause it's the end of the move call, but I'm also stoked to see new things and experience a new part of Taiwan! That's all folks! I'll try harder to not miss weeks in the future!

-Elder Poon 

6 month commemorative tie burning!

Teppenyaki!! Fun Fact: I'm sitting by an apostle's son in this pic.

The Land of Too Much Peace November 8, 2015

Happy Birthday Momma! For those of you that can't read Chinese (like me) this says, "Happy birthday mamassita I love you!"

Elder Parker pondering life while gazing over Taichung.

Perks of baptizing a hair sytlist.

Watchin' the Joseph Smith movie

Chairs represent move calls

The Legendary buffet (3rd time). I love this place so much but I always feel absolutely terrible by the end...... but it's so awesome.

Pan's for life! (In Chinese, there are only a certain amount of good last names so me and my boy elder parker here both have the same Chinese last name, Pan!)

I am Sww October 25, 2015

After close to four months here, Taiping is still awesome! The work is always the same but there's always new people and miracles that happen every day. Wednesdays have become one of my favorite days because we get to teach English! We usually have around 50 students. I teach the advanced class and it's super easy cause all my students' English is super good already. Sometimes it's even better than mine... Sometimes they ask me grammar questions and I have absolutely no idea what the answer is. Also, after English class we have 5 golden investigators that always want to meet! Two pairs of brother/sister and one other girl! That means 3 lessons...This poses a huge problem because there is only one me and one Elder Chan even if we do split work. Somehow it all usually works out though! Elder Chan is the man. He cooks me food. He used to be a cook at a country club. It's awesome. In other news, we started teaching this less active guy that has 3 personalities. 3. One of them exclusively uses Chinese, one of them is a girl, and of them can only say, "I am Sww" in English. It's really weird to teach him especially when he's in "I am Sww" mode because we'll ask him questions like, "What does this scripture mean to you?" or "So are you willing to come to church on Sunday" and his response is always, "I am Sww". We're still trying to figure out how to help him lol. 

Today I am going to go buy a laser fitted suit for a ridiculously cheap price. That is all. :)

-Elder Poon