So. Much. Service

Dear family and friends,

 

It was a grand week. Yes yes and grand one indeed. And I'll tell you why.  Tuesday we had a great DTM by Elder Bardsley on finding and Book of Mormon. We made banner things out of cloth and put them on our bikes. It was fun. Mine hangs off the back of my helmet. We then got to meet with an Allen. He's a super cool kid that we found walking with his girlfriend. We just had a simple first meet and talked about prayer. He had been to all sorts of churches with friends and thought they were cool. But then when he said amen after the prayer, he pretty much jumped and was like "Ah! I felt something!" He described it, and yep it was the Spirit! He accepted a goal to get baptized. He's super willing.

 

Wednesday morning we went and did service at a members garden. We had been there twice before, and this time I was determined to pull out the stump of the tree I cut down earlier. So I just jumped at it and attacked it. After a ton of struggle, it came out! I just carried it to her and dropped it and said "done". It was a good accomplishment. There were a lot of people that came.   Later we got to meet with some investigators that are Christian. We emphasized the importance of the Book of Mormon and why we have it. It helped them a lot understand the need for the restoration. We invited them to pray about baptism under proper authority. I'm way excited.   That night for English class we taught body parts. I felt at home. It was like medical anatomy class, but in Chinese. They kept asking what the medical terms were for them and I'd write them down. They were so confused. It was really funny.

 

Thursday we had lunch at the Sisters' RC's house. They want the dad to learn about the church. He made a super good meal. It was so good! And he loves to talk. So we talked a lot. And he said we could come back and share more! Then we had a super quick ward coordination meeting because the guy delivering our mattresses and bunk bed came! So we hurried back to get him before he left.  That night we met with a Zhong dixiong. We finished the Plan of Salvation. He agreed with it more than I've ever seen before. He just said it all makes sense and that's why we need Christ. He wants to learn all about Christ's gospel, but is so busy, so we can only meet with him once a week. But he's so willing.    Once we got home, we built a bunk bed. It wasn't like the pile of metal that Elder Allen and I built last year. It was from Ikea. It's so comfortable!

 

Friday we had another service project. We had to carry a  ton of wood across the wild forest. It's that same place where the praying mantis screeched at me a few weeks ago. This was also a ton of work. But it was way fun.  Then we met with a Cai dixiong that we've met with once before. He's also extremely willing. We shared about the restoration and he liked it a lot. And he also has a huge desire to get baptized!   That night we had to take the fresh delivered mattresses to the Sisters' apartment. When the mission ordered them, they had them all sent to us to save shipping costs. So we had a member help us get them over. That took a ton of time.

 

Saturday was "Clean up the World Day." So a good amount of the ward got together in the morning and we went and cleaned up the world. It was fun. We were just picking up trash on the street. But we got a ton of it picked up. The street looked so clean.  Then that night we celebrated Kang Zhe Wei's birthday. We went to this steak BBQ and hot pot. It was so good. He loved it. Then we went out to visit Su dixiong out in the middle of nowhere. I love going out to his house. It's so peaceful. His dog, Pudding, is super cute. His brother was there too and had heard a little about our church. So we talked about prayer.

 

Sunday one of the Sisters' investigators that is American, came to church with her Taiwanese husband. She doesn't speak Chinese, and her husband isn't familiar with a lot of the church words. So I translated Sacrament meeting and Sunday school, and Elder Bardsley translated a combined Priesthood/Relief Society. And of course the topic of Sacrament meeting was the Law of Chastity. I haven't taught that in English is so long, and now I had to translate all of it to this American woman. It was weird. But I love translating. It's a lot of fun.    After church us and a bunch of members got to go to a funeral of a father of a member who had passed away. We sang at it. It was super interesting. Imagine a funeral home, but way bigger that fits 10+ funerals at once.   That night we met at a members house with RC's and had a good curry dinner. Kang Zhe Wei had a good time and is getting to know the ward more. And he only has two more days of the military service!

 

And that was my week. I had a good time. I did a lot of service. It made me exhausted. All four of us made plans to sleep all day today and relax. I'm way excited.  I love you all! I miss you dearly!

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

The Typhoon That Never Came

Dear family and friends,

 

I'm just going to put it out right now that the typhoon didn't influence us at all. It hit the east a lot. Especially the islands. But we got nothing where I was. We had maybe 40 mile per hour winds for 5 minutes. And some rain that got me drenched in 10 minutes. But that was it.

 

So from the beginning of the week! Tuesday we had a sweet DTM in which a few members came as well as part of our practicing and training. It was really cool working with them and seeing them be the investigators they once were. And we thought of ideas for working with the ward to help them get more involved in missionary work.   We then had English proselyting in the rain. Not a whole lot of success... And that night we had a good/bad lesson with a member referral and his friend. It was going really well, but then it took a turn for the worst when people kept coming into the room and interrupting the lesson. Then they had to leave extremely fast, so we had to wrap it up super quick. I was bugged. But our investigators are sweet, so they understood and still have desire!

Wednesday we had a day of finding. We grabbed out a ton of former records and went to all their houses. We planned it out so it would end in the area of the city where we're never looked for less active members. So we got the maps out and looked for them. There were a few that I know were super active not even a year ago. So we really hope they got our letters and call us back soon. We're going to head by there again soon too.   That night at English was a little drop since the next day was the mid autumn festival. But my class still had a good amount and loved it. Talking about emotions is really funny when you have them act it out. Enough said. Haha.

 

Thursday we had lunch at a members house. It was really good. I love Taiwan sausage. It's just so good! Then we met with a former in the afternoon. He has really good English because he studied in Canada. He's a computer guy. When we walked into his shop, I felt so much at home. Like walking into dad's office. The smell and everything. He has a ton of desire, but family problems make it hard for him to come. But he's so willing!   Also we had a less active dinner at a steak grill/hotpot. It was so good and really cheap. I'm going there from now on. Elder Teerlink bonded with a less active that all 4 of us Elders have been working on. It was super cool!

 

Friday we had Zone Conference. It was on conversion and repentance. The practices helped a lot. We also got to learn about Taiwan culture by one of President Blickenstaff's counselors that is his south counselor. And his wife made us some AMAZING curry rice. And the drink was like a tropical version of Buckwalter Punch. Super good.

Saturday was the so called Typhoon that never came. People showed us satellite images of it right above us, but we felt nothing. It was a let down. And everyone cancelled their lessons because of it. But there was a lady with TREMENDOUS faith that wanted a Priesthood blessing. She had heard about it from her daughter, who heard about it from a friend who is a member. So we went over to give her a blessing before she goes in for an operation. She was so beyond thankful and her faith was so strong.   We also had ward Coordination meeting and a good night of calling and visiting less active members.

 

Sunday we had a better turn out than the previous two weeks. And on a "typhoon day" too. An aborigine family brought their friend from Australia that is living with them while working on his PHD. He's a super cool guy and has a lot of interest. He doesn't speak any Chinese, so we just kept translating for him. We're heading out to the mountains this week to visit with him!  And to end the night we got to visit Hou didi. He's this super cool 10 year old member. He's less active because he has no way of getting to church. But he tries when he can. He lives right by us and we made a plan to ride with him and his 15 year old aunt to church every Sunday. He's so cool. And his little s

isters are so adorable. Whenever I call, I just hear these 5 and 6 year old voices yelling my name. It's so funny.

And that's my week. It was not what I was expecting at all. That typhoon was almost as big of a let down as the snow storm of the century. But I liked the week. It was a grand week. Haha. I love you all! I can't wait to hear back from all of you! Have a great week! Keep thinking of questions of the soul for the upcoming conference! I love conference!

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

Cold Dirt Has Never Felt So Great

Dear family and friends,

 

Another week, gone. Super weird. I'm already halfway through training. It's so interesting. Time is flying. Elder Bardsley is training another new guy, Elder Lieske. He's super cool. I think having him here the past few days has made me and Elder Teerlink realize how fast time has flown.

 

Tuesday we had a great ZTM in Gaoxiong. It was a lot of fun. It was on repentance and how we also need to repent. Obviously... It was also on going out with no fear and finding those people that are prepared. We had a few fun games to practice. Then that night I was working with some ward members to get together a PowerPoint thing for our English party the next day. It was an interesting day.

 

Wednesday We scheduled a bunch of lessons to be at the church because all of us were working on our English party stuff with the ward. We had to make a TON of moon cakes and prepare our space shuttle. Then that night at the party, we split into two group. The first group learned how to make moon cakes. And the second group prepared to fly to the moon and walk on the moon. Then we went into our shuttle, which was the stage, and had a projector with us going into space and landing on the moon. It was so cool. Then we had a bunch of pictures of space and had a spiritual share about the universe and God and Christ. It was really sweet. Then the groups switched.

 

Thursday we got to meet with 3 friends that we haven't met with in so long! They're Christian, so we've been trying to help them see the need for a restoration. They started to understand, and then we watched the restoration with them. And it has pretty much clicked. It was so good!   Then we had another really great lesson with another investigator on The Plan of Salvation. When we got to resurrection, he was beyond interested because his dad died last year. But then he had to go at the last minute! So he's just dangling to hear what happens next.

 

Friday morning we did service in the morning for a lady in our ward. We were working in her field. As we were digging trenches and trying to dig out a stump, I pulled extremely hard and it just exploded out, and I flew into a trench. The dirt felt so good to lay in. And that night we met with a really cool referral at a college here. He's super willing. We just sat on the campus benches and talked.

 

Saturday we did service again at another garden area. But this place was like the place in King Kong with the HUGE bugs. They were everywhere. The ants were all over me. And I watched and heard a praying mantis screech at me. It was crazy. But we had a lot of fun and helped a really fragile old lady out.    We also got to meet with Xie dixiong and help him understand the restoration. He's coming along. But his work is stalling him a lot. We're really hoping his time with clear up a bit more.

 

Sunday was a nice day. The Liao family came that we've been slowly working with. Kand dixiong blessed the Sacrament for the first time! I was so happy. He loved it. Because of all the service we've been doing, a bunch of people prepared a big lunch for us. It was so good! And a curry sauce they used tasted so much like the kind we use for steak fondue. It was a good time.

 

And that was my week. We also had the Hungchun Elders stay the night last night since Elder Palmer is moving and they'd have to get up way early to make it here this morning. So we had 6 men in one room again. It was good. Today is the start of a new transfer. Until next week! I love you all and miss you dearly!

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

I'm Batman

Dear family and friends,

 

First off, I'd like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! I love you so much! Second, in response to that storm that hit Utah Valley, child's play. Chump Change. But that's pretty sweet that Utah got to have that fluke excitement. And it's better than that "blizzard of the century" a few years ago. Too bad that'll never happen again...

 

This past week was really fun. And I'll show you how. Follow, MEEEEE! Tuesday for DTM we were practicing teaching revelation through prayer. Not planned whatsoever, when me and two other Elders were asked who we were going to be as investigators, we all answered with superhero names. All at the same time. There was superman, batman, and spiderman. Just because the way the missionaries being the missionary in the role play asked "who are you?" in a very fitting way. Then there was a huge silence. It was almost spooky. But super funny. Had to be there.

 

But that night we had such a HUGE miracle! We had a member referral that met with us. He's this 12 year old kid who is an English student of a member that just moved to Taibei. He brought his neighbor and her son who is his age. And they all have so much interest! The first boy, Allen, already knows a bit and really wants to get baptized. And the neighbor woman and her son are also super interested and want to learn so much more. Every question she asked that was bothering her about life and religion is answered so perfectly with the gospel. She's super excited to learn more. I've never seen a more interested group of people right from the first visit!

 

Wednesday we had a fun former hunt. We selected a few former records that had addresses and found them. One let us in before we had a chance to knock. It was really sad seeing how much he NEEDED the gospel in his life, but wouldn't let it in. I felt quite a bit of sadness after that one. I had to think for a bit. It's really sad to see the struggling in people's lives and not be able to help them because they won't accept the help.   That night at English I had a lot of fun talking about communication. It was really funny. The one thing I could say holds this entire nation back from speaking English is the fact that they're too scared to use it. So I pushed it into their heads that night and made them speak out what they were thinking in English. They all loved it.

 

I used the analogy of Bogey, our loved dog, with my class. He grew up in a society ruled by a cat. The cat taught him to hate water. So he did. But water and swimming is just natural to a dog's desire. He'll refuse it when you try though. So sometimes you need to pick him up and throw him in the water. He'll think he's drowning, but he'll do what he was born able to do. And he'll swim. So I picked my class up and threw them in the water of conversation. They're scared, but it's something they were born to do. And they loved it in the end.

 

Thursday was a rough day, but Friday we had assistant exchanges with Elder Erickson. It was so much fun. I had a blast. We were all over the place meeting super cool people. We had some really great lessons that night. And such an amazing first prayer was given by one. He just opened up to God and told him everything that confuses him about life. It was super amazing. And now we know all that we need to help him with! Such a good day. And then having 6 Elders in one room that night was super fun as well.

 

Saturday was the Sisters' investigator's baptism. My RC, Kang dixiong, was going to baptize her, but didn't get a holiday from his military service this week. When he called and told me, he sounded so devastated. I felt so bad. So their investigator chose me to baptize her since I did her interview and she trusted me. It was a really great baptismal service. She loved getting baptized. It was so great.   That night we biked out to an RC's house in our secondary area. He's struggling a lot and really needs help. He loves church so much though. That's his comfort. I love that.

 

Sunday was a pretty normal great Sunday. I love going to choir practice. It reminds me of when I was getting trained. I love it. I was so lightheaded though. My stomach was growling a ton during Priesthood and our ward mission leader and another guy visiting our ward (who went to snow college) kept laughing at me. They both served in our mission a few years ago. So the afternoon was rough. But we had a sweet like Asian style potluck dinner at a member's house. We prepared a food to put into rice, and then we choose from what everyone made and make a rice ball with food in it. It's like those seaweed wraps that I love without the seaweed. It was way good.

 

And that was my week! It was super good. I loved this past week. I'm way excited for this coming week. It's going to be a scorcher! This is week 6 of the move call. So I'll be halfway through training by next week. Time is flying... I love you all! I miss you! I feel like my letters are getting longer and longer. And every week I'm doing all I can to make them shorter. I don't get it... Until next week!

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

I Might As Well Be Drowning

Dear family and friends,

 

It has been quite a week for rain. I've never seen so much rain in my life. It was nuts. There really wasn't a whole lot that happened because of the rain. So this will be a bit shorter. We had a really great lesson with Pan dixiong before he went off to Taibei. He let us know that he wants to stay in contact with us as he's up there. And in the end he said he's found a job, but it's not set in stone. So we might be referring him to the Elders up there... But I'm just glad he's really willing now! We also got to visit Su dixiong at his house. He's an RC. We had a lot of fun with his two year old son and their puppy again. It was really good for him. He got a good laugh as his son tried to force feed me dog food. I can make a lot of different sound effects that makes him laugh.

 

Wednesday was the start of the constant rain. It was seriously non stop. Every single lesson cancelled. But at English class we still had a pretty good turnout. I even had a few students that haven't come in a while come back! It was a good lesson on serving others. Somehow the topic got turned to Christmas and America's culture with Christmas. But I can easily wrap that back into service!

 

Thursday we got to go to Gaoxiong for a trainer/trainee meeting as a follow up on how the past few weeks have been. But since a typhoon hit, a ton of train stations, including ours, were shut down. Everything was flooded over. The river was crazy high. So a lot of people were late to the meeting and it got pushed back. But it was really fun. President Blickenstaff is really cool and funny. We're having a lot of fun.

 

Friday after weekly planning we went out and tried to find people, but no one wanted to talk. We had a few good lessons that night. One was a guy named James. He self came to the church a few weeks ago and we sat with him. He's a former of 7 years ago. After we met the first time, he said he wanted to meet again. So we met again. He's beyond receptive. He's also fluent in English. So our lesson switches languages constantly. And he flat out opened up to us about why he stopped investigating the first time. It was so cool. And then he said he's not like that now and is willing to push forward more! It was a super great lesson. He actually said he really wanted to keep learning more. He asked us what we were going to share with him that night, but we spent so much time talking about his previous fears that we ran out of time. So he was devastated and excited to meet again!

Saturday was our adventure day. We didn't have any lessons after the morning, so we made a plan to bike to Sandimen. It's a town in the mountains really far away that are purely aborigine villages. I'm pretty sure missionaries haven't been there for a long time. So in the pouring rain, we set off. We were soaked completely through in the first 5 minutes. We biked through foot deep roads flooded over. And over a bridge with a raging river. And 10 minutes in to biking up the steep mountain, Elder Teerlink's tire popped. But luckily there was a repair shop the switchback before. So we got his help. We then asked him if he could point us in the direction of an LA's house. Turns out that the LA is his uncle! They're all aborigine. He was super cool. But he said it would be impossible to get there on bike. It was another 3 hour bike ride up super steep mountain roads. And it was almost 5. So we turned back. I was sad. But the repair man is pretty interested about our church! Success.

Sunday was a great Fast Sunday. We had a good amount of people come to church despite the rain. We watched The Testaments with him and he liked it. I was super light headed though. So the rest of the day we had to take it easy. I made those Biscuits and Gravy for dinner though. Also at the church we found a picture of an LA that we've been visiting when he got baptized! And last night we met with him. When we told him about it, he was really happy and wanted it. He's doing really well. He's just this cool 28 year old guy that kinda looks like me. Really weird.

 

And that was my week. It was seriously raining nonstop for 5 days. And some of those days were raging storms. It was crazy. But it's already nice and hot again today. So this week will be great!  I love you all! Time is flying super fast. I'll be reaching the start of my last 6 months this week. Super weird.

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter