Taiwan Week 36: Big Changes

Dear family and friends,

Well to start, today is move day. And I'd say a lot has changed. Elder Stone has left. He went down to Yongkang in Tainan. And I have become senior companion! I am nervous beyond belief. But my new companion is really cool. He's Elder Lathen. He's going on his 4th transfer. I'm pretty excited to work with him in Yuanlin. We've had a pretty good day so far! Haha.

Last week was pretty amazing. We had DTM last Tuesday and the zone leaders came. Afterwards we went on exchanges with them afterwards. Elder Bennett came with me in our area. We had a fun with English proselyting. And then we had a miracle with finding one of our other lost recent converts! They're brother and sister and we haven't been able to get in contact with them at all. Elder Bennett baptized the sister. So we were hoping he would be able to help them. We had to do a lot of waiting, but then it paid off and we got to sit with the brother. It was a little awkward, but that was unavoidable. He's doing pretty good though. Hopefully we can get to meet with him a little more now. And now that I have a new companion, we can have them get to know each other.

Wednesday we had a pretty great English party night. It was sports night. We had a pretty good turnout. There was a group of people that still wanted to learn English though. So we had a corner where we had class as well. It all just flowed really well. I'm glad that came through after a pretty rough day.

Thursday was going pretty rough, but it all started to come together that night as we got to sit with a less active that we've been working with. He likes Subway, so we ate Subway with him. Zhu dixiong was able to come as well, so their friendship is still going good. And we got him to set up for the church next time! Such a big jump. We then went with Zhu dixiong to an investigators house. He asked Zhu dixiong a ton of questions about why he joined our church. And in the end, we got him a goal! He's a little iffy towards it, but he's willing.

Friday was a little depressing as well. Not a whole lot happened. With New Year coming up, not a whole lot of people want to talk on the road. Everyone is in a hurry. So our day of finding was rough. But that's ok! Because Saturday we had a good day. We went out to one of our secondary areas to meet with our military stuck investigator. He's doing pretty good. He said he wants to take it slow, and that's alright. We don't want to scare him away. But he's grasping everything pretty well. We then found a less active in the area. Then while park contacting, we sat with a cool guy that's Christian and wanted to know why we're different. After sitting with him, he said he would come to church and see what's up. Then we headed back to the church to get the font ready for the Sisters' investigator's baptism. It was a crazy process trying to get the hot water, but it all came through! And Zhu dixiong baptized for his first time! It was so great. And our investigator with a goal came and brought his wife! They liked it too. They just had to leave really fast. It was a great night.

Sunday we had a great turnout at church! The guy at the park came as well. And he stayed for the whole time. He really liked our gospel principles class. But then again he said he won't give us his address. So we'll hope he's at the park next time we go out there! We had a great FHE as well. A family that lives out in one of the far away areas came. They're a really strong family. It looked like they were having fun. So hopefully that causes more people to come as well to strengthen the ward. It was a good way to end this transfer too.

And that was my week! I love you all! Stay safe in the cold weather! It's sounding pretty serious/fun. Keep writing! And until next week!

 

Love, Elder Anthony Buckwalter