有信心有辦法 September 5, 2016

I've officially moved past the "Oh man, I'm going to be in Zhang Hua forever...." phase! I think I was getting a little stressed out at the prospect of so much time in one place, but now I'm just happy to be here. I love the members here and it's been a huge blessing that I've been able to stay here for so long and develop such great relationships
with the people here. Elder Huang and I have been really focusing on helping the members do missionary work and trying to work with the members to further the work here in Zhang Hua. We've been working with the auxiliary leaders especially our super cool ward mission leader, Lance, to come up with a solid ward mission plan. We've decided that the first step in all of this is to build the faith of the members. How do we do that??? Well, like it says in Preach My Gospel, we should teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ! We've been working really hard to get the home/visiting teaching where it should be. Actually, I should just say the home teaching because the Relief Society is doing a really good job. Anyways, in addition to going out and home teaching with the brothers in the ward, Elder Huang and I have been working on some other projects as well. Last night we successfully pulled off putting together a 3 ward musical fireside! It was pretty sweet. It was a great opportunity for people to invite friends. There are a lot of super talented people in Taiwan. There's a 16 year old girl in our ward who is crazy good at singing. I got to play the guitar and sing with the rest of the Elders. We did a "Lower Lights"-esque folk version of 'Secret Prayer'. The time is cookin' by. Every day feels the same but has it's own unique challenges. Elder Huang and I have been getting up early in the morning to ride over to the church and play ping-pong which is exactly the kind of exercise I imagined I would be getting with a Taiwanese companion. Elder Huang is super good and wins probably 70% of the time but it's still super fun. We have some solid investigators right now. One is a guy named Pony. Yes, as in a small horse. He just graduated college in China and came back to live in Taiwan. He's a bro and seems to be an honest seeker of truth. We started meeting with another guy last week who's name is Zhang Di Xiong (there are a lot Zhang Di Xiong's in Taiwan). His story goes something like this: At the age of 19 he moved to America to study. After graduating and spending some time as a Christian missionary, he went to fight in the Persian war as the only Taiwanese soldier. His plane got shot down while flying over the Middle East somewhere. He survived but got shot in the butt (Forrest Gump, anyone?). While trying to drag his injured comrades to safety, he got caught by the enemy and spent some time as a prisoner of war. He saw some gruesome stuff there and then somehow got set free. When he returned to Taiwan he became a professor at the best University in Taiwan. After retiring he moved back to his home on the outskirts of Zhang Hua but now has cancer and diabetes. He just had surgery on his head but seems very unphased. He says in the last 15 years he has drifted away from God and thinks that the missionaries being sent to him in the hospital is a sign that it's time to come back! We agree! He has a lot of faith in God and in Jesus Christ, and we hope that we can help him focus that faith on the restored gospel. Lastly, I just want to say that I'm grateful that Heavenly Father continues to bless me with the greatest companions. Elder Huang is a great friend and a great teacher (he teaches me both Chinese and English every day). He's serious about the work but takes the time to enjoy it as well. Laboring in the Vineyard is a good time! By the way, Pokemon Go has literally taken over Taiwan. It's frightening to witness, but it's good because that means more people walk by the church and are at parks and stuff! Today we're off to go hang out in Taizhong! Love you all!

I haven't taken any pics lately, but here's one of a super cool old guy with sweet eye brows.

As Long as I Got My.... Tie August 15, 2016

For those of you who are wondering, the title of my email is indeed a Justin Timberlake reference. It is also a reference to changes in the mission. One of the cool things about the mission president also being a member of the Quorum of the Seventy is that when he thinks something should change he can just change it and he doesn't need to ask anyone for permission. So I guess after a transfer of being in Taiwan, President Teh has realized that Taiwan is really hot. So here comes the big news...... NO MORE SUITS. They are not required at ANY meeting. That's pretty "cool" haha. Well, this past week was just adjusting back into training schedule. Also, I decided if I'm going to spend another 3 months in Zhang Hua that I'm going to organize and clean the apartment. That's been nice. Elder Huang is still a super genius. I am amazed with the faith and focus that Elder Huang has. He has already helped us to see many miracles. For example, Elder Huang felt like we should start working with a certain former investigator. In my mind I was thinking, "Oh, that investigator doesn't keep commitments. Our efforts could probably be more effective in another place.", but I remembered what was shared at the meeting before we met the trainees about letting our new companions learn for themselves. So we tried. Elder Huang seems to have helped this man see something new in the gospel and I was amazed and happy to see this former investigator attend come to church on Sunday! 

A great day. This makes all the hours on the street, all the phone calls, and all the planning all worth it!

I'll Stay Where You Want Me to Stay August 8, 2016

Transfer #10. 

I feel extremely humbled to have the opportunity to train another incredible visa waiting Taiwanese missionary once again here in Zhang Hua. My new trainee is Elder Huang from Tainan, Taiwan. He will be here in Taiwan until he gets his visa to go to......... SOUTH AFRICA. Didn't see that one coming, did ya? It makes sense though because 1) Elder Huang's English is better than mine due to the fact that he lived in Utah for 2 years when he was like 10. 2) He was a pretty high up officer in the military here in Taiwan. He also graduated from the most prestigious University in Taiwan in a very prestigious field (electrical engineering).  In doing missionary work we often talk about "prepared investigators". In addition to these, however, are "prepared missionaries". I believe that Elder Huang is one such "prepared missionary". He has a brilliant mind, but more than that, he has a loving heart and a deep desire to bring souls unto Christ. I have MUCH to learn from my new companion. 

I also would like to share how much I loved being Elder Storey's companion. Elder Storey has become one of my best friends, and has been an example to me since the first day we started working together. When I think of Elder Storey I think of a missionary who is truly on a higher plane of thought and activity. I am grateful to the Lord for allowing me to have a companion that could help me reach more of my full potential.

I'll be honest, I was expecting to be packing up my bags last week. With much faith I could definitely say, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord". However, I now have to ask myself if I have enough faith to say, "I'll stay where you want me to stay, dear Lord". In the last few days, thinking about the prospect of at least 2 more transfers in Zhang Hua = 5 transfers in one area has been somewhat difficult for me to grasp. That being said, I know that every single companion and area has been revelation from Heavenly Father and exactly what I need at the time. I pray that I can fulfill my duty, as it says in the white handbook, to obtain the Lord's direction in carrying out my assignment and blessing the people here in Zhang Hua. 

 Elder Huang

Every 2 weeks, we ride up a GIGANTIC hill to go to a old person's home and visit our friend Zhang Bei Bei. The hill sucks. It is the worst. However, Zhang Bei Bei is the best. Even though he is super old his faith is still super strong. I always leave that place feeling the spirit!

Cotton candy drink at a Korean grill place that we went to last p-day

We biked into the mountains a few weeks back and met a super cool old guy who likes to kayak. He also built this giant tree house thing by himself. Hai Bu Cuo! (not too bad)

Big Buddha, Big Buddha, Big Buddha August 1, 2016

Hello! 

My love is abounding for the people of Taiwan and especially for those that the Lord is allowing Elder Storey and myself to work with. I consider it a true blessing that the Lord has allowed me to grow in charity and love over the course of my mission. I've come to learn that love is both a requirement and a blessing in this work. Some of the happiest days and moments of my life have been here in the mission field when I am filled with this love for the people. It has helped me better understand the infinite love that God has for every one of his children, myself included. Zheng Di Xiong passed his baptismal interview this past week! So happy for that guy. We had to push back his baptism one more week though due to various reasons. Hopefully I'll still be able to make even if I end up moving next Monday. Anyways, I've been in Zhang Hua for almost 4 months now and this morning was the first time I've been able to go up to this place called Ba Gua Shan. I never went because people kept telling me it was on a huge mountain. Turns out that it only takes 5 minutes to ride our bikes there from our apartment and then it's like a 5 minute hike to get to the top... Anyways, here are some pics.

"Girl.... the back of your head is redikkulus"

The poetry wall

Morning exercises

Hangin' Out July 25, 2016

This has been the easiest move call of my mission. I believe that the only way for missionary work to be easy is 1. Have the spirit 2. Be diligent 3. Have good companionship unity. Right now all of those things seem to be in abundance. Elder Storey and I have been working super hard and have been prayerful and thoughtful about our investigators and our area. But besides that we're great friends. It honestly feels like although we are working hard that we're also kinda just hanging out all day. We've seen miracles and things have been coming together in incredible ways, but it's easy to see that Elder Storey and I haven't done anything special and the Lord is just doing his own work. 

Elder Storey and I were amazed as this week two of our investigators made great strides in their conversion process. Two investigators that are honest seekers of truth and that are already beginning to repent and change through the power of the Atonement. Our friend Zheng Di Xiong realized this week that he is ready to be baptized even though he was feeling really hesitant before. Our friend Zhan Di Xiong said, "I'm beginning to feel like there is actually someone there.", the feelings as we learned that these two brothers are experiencing a mighty change in heart manifested to me that there really is hardly anything better than knowing that you played a part, even a tiny tiny part, in helping someone come unto Christ.

As great as the movecall has been I know that personally there are still many things that I can and need to improve in order to be a more effective missionary and disciple of Christ. I need to be more consecrated. I also need to keep myself from getting discouraged by the call to be consecrated. As Tad R. Callister says, "The Lord does not require immediate perfection, but he does require immediate progress. Progress comes from consecration". I know that as I consecrate myself more I can progress more and become perfected in Christ.

Taiwanese Captain America

Friends from my first area, Taiping, came to Zhang Hua and stopped to see Elder Bradford and I because we both served there before. The girl next to me was the girl that got baptized just 3 weeks after I got to Taiwan. Wow!

The Man Has Arrived July 18, 2016

President Teh is the man. Fun fact: He is still a General Authority and member of the quorum of the seventy. He is just on a 2 year (that's right, 2) assignment here in Taiwan. Speculations and rumors have been flying around the mission. For a seventy to be called as a mission president, something super big has to be happening.... right?? There are some members in my district that think China is gonna open up soon and they're just going to take all the missionaries in Taiwan and send them over there. Who knows. We had the opportunity to go meet President Teh and his wife this week. Hearing that man speak is just like watching general conference it's so cool! He speaks as though he has all of Preach My Gospel memorized in his head. Many of us were anticipating that he would make the rules more strict. However, he has taken away 'The Taiwan Taichung Mission Rules & Clarifications' and has simply left us with the white hand book. In a way this does put more responsibility on us to know the letter and spirit of the rules. On the other hand, it's been nice being able to do some of the things that we weren't allowed to do before such as using the elevator in the church, being able to eat meals in the church, listening to stuff other than EFY/Mo Tab, and ordering pizza. I also had the super cool opportunity to have my first interview with President Teh. He is such a kind and loving guy! He asked one question to begin the interview and that was, "If you're mom would describe you, what would she say?". A master question! I came away from the interview thinking that it felt short but also feeling like President Teh had already learned a lot about me in that short time. General authorities are cool. In other news, there is a lady that lives in the 3rd ward's apartment building named Pan Jie Mei which translates to....... Sister Poon! She is awesome. Not just because we have the same last name. She owns a Nike factory!!!! Long story short she game me a free pair of Nike's yesterday and they're sweet. Other than that, we continue to see miracles on the daily here in Zhang Hua. Our lessons have been getting really bold lately which is awesome because that is a sign that our lessons have also had more love! It has been easy to see lately the Lord is directing the work here in Zhang Hua.

Root beer is rare in Taiwan. We found it at a random grocery store and I had my first root beer float in a year!

Super sweet ward activity. Pretty much just a 2 hour long water balloon/water gun fight with food.

'Merica

I've actually had 3 companions this move call. Raymond (the short term missionary) and because there is an odd amount of Elders in the mission right now, Elder Kunz (on the far right) was our companion for a few days last week. #brothasinthepriesthood

The Perfect Storm June 11, 2016

Zhang Hua is catching fire. Everything is just coming together right now! Elder Storey and I have only been together for a total of two weeks now, but we are already great friends and a unified companionship. We have been blessed beyond belief this week. We have seen a plethora of righteous miracles! We were also blessed this week to have a short-term missionary come and serve with us! His name is Brother Xu and is from a place called Dou Liu. He just graduated high school and wanted to get a taste of missionary work so he got sent over here to Zhang Hua! My first tripanionship! It was awesome. We were able to be REALLY effective having an extra companion (and cause he's Taiwanese). Also, a typhoon hit Taiwan this week!!! We were told on Thursday night to not leave our apartments the next day due to the typhoon. However, in Zhang Hua it was WEAK. Honestly, it was like another normal rainy day. However, because we were still supposed to be in our apartment. Elder Storey and I made the goal to call 1,000 people that day. It was legendary. We didn't quite get there because we were told at 12:00 that we could go outside, but those calls set up a lot of people. So many miracles happened I don't have time to describe them but the best part is that Elder Storey and I know that we didn't do anything special, the Lord is just preparing a way for his work to come to pass! Tomorrow we get to meet President Teh for the first time so that'll be cool! Oh, and turns out that the Blickenstaffs home ward is where my friend Landon is serving right now! Crazy! Miracles!

-Elder Poon