Dear family and friends,
This past week has been pretty frustrating, but good. Since the week that we're now in is Chinese New Year, last year everyone was traveling home to their parent's houses. Tuesday we had a great zone training meeting in Nantou all on the importance of numbers. It was pretty fun. But because of poor bus scheduling, we weren't able to get back to our area till later, so that night was pretty rough. But we did tract into a really cool family. They seem to have a bit of interest, but they're really busy with the new year festivities.
Wednesday us and the other Elders decided to have a power adding day. So we met up that morning and made plans for how to get a ton of new investigators. As the day went on, I got more and more frustrated though. Everyone that we came in contact with that was willing to talk were all referrals for other areas. The day ended at English class with one add from the whole day and a ton of referrals. It bothered me a lot, but that just means a chance for them to be taught elsewhere! Also we started off our new English class last week. We had a few new people that are way excited to learn English and had some interest in learning about our church as well!
Thursday was Elder Hanset's birthday, so we had a bit of cake in the afternoon. We did a lot of finding again since our teaching pool is low and ended up with a lot of other referrals. We had a pretty epic run in with one of our formers, Qui baba's, sons. It was absolutely nuts, but I can't even describe the experience without using my sound effects. So write this down and I'll have to go through it when I get home. So funny and weird.
Friday we went to Tianzhong and had a huge fail. Everyone we went to visit was not home. It was rough. But we had a great lesson with a less active that night. He's pretty much back to activity now, which makes me really happy. And he has a huge knowledge of the gospel. He was pretty much teaching us, and I just soaked it all in. It relieved my stress for the day.
Saturday morning was really rough as we had to bike quickly out to Tianwei to meet a less active that called us up and wanted to meet. But when we got there, he didn't show up. He said he went out of town and forgot to tell us. So we biked all the way back to experience a miracle. One of our recent converts that has gone less active was contacted by the other Elders the day before while she was walking with her oldest brother. They agreed to come around with us on Saturday and get involved in missionary work. So it was really awesome having them come around with us. And she said she would for sure come to church next week. We've also got another time set up with her and her brother. We had a great huge dinner with a member family that night. It was New Year's Eve. So there was a ton of food. It was all the way out in Beidou. They picked us up and drove us out. We didn't get back until late that night, and Elder Lathen's tire was completely flat. Not good. Everything pretty much closes down during the New Year. But luckily we have a guy that lives near the church whose family are all members. We were able to pump it up to hurry home. And it got cold.
Sunday was pretty cool for church. We only had Sacrament meeting and we combined with the 2nd ward. So it was weird but cool having a bunch of people that I didn't really know there. We had lunch with the Bishop's family, which was really good and filling. And then we ended the week with even more referrals. It was a crazy week for referrals.
Today we got to get up early and Peja, a guy in our ward that speaks fluent English and studied at BYU-H and Australia, took us to Sun Moon Lake. It was a lot of fun. A lot of people.
And that was pretty much my week! It was frustrating, but rewarding in special ways. I'm really excited to take part in the New Year festivities and hopefully get to meet some great new families to teach! I love this gospel. I love that I get to share it with all the people here in Taiwan. Do all you can to share it with those around you. There are people out there. Look for them.
I love you all! Don't forget to write! I keep you in my prayers!
Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter
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