It's Christmas!

Dear family and friends,

What a great week! I'm seriously so tired after so many activities. Monday we had a great FHE with the singles. It was a lot of fun talking about the influence of the Holy Ghost in your life. We luckily have people in our group that speak Spanish, French, and Taiwanese. So we played the telephone game and had the best time.

Tuesday we had a good preparation DTM for our ward Christmas party. There was a lot we had to do for it. And we talked about working with the ward. When Elder Christensen was zone leader in Nantou, they came up with this sheet that was a lot like the splits sheet we made in Pingdong. So we're gonna get that started this week.   Then we went to our really cool investigator's work. His name is Kyle. He's passed an interview and everything, but is having problems with family opposition. So we're trying to help him with that. He's doing so good to keep all the commandments and everything!   Then that night we had a surprise former show up at the church while we were meeting with Lai dixiong. Lai dixiong is doing great. We were able to set a new goal with him. He's trying his very best to overcome smoking. He's so set on hitting this goal. Every time we talk to him, even in his struggles, he says he's going to hit his goal.

Wednesday we got to meet with a less active that found us during FHE. He's really cool. But really busy. Then we had a sweet English class. Elder Cuartas and I teach the Spanish class. I can help a little bit with pronunciation. But that's it. And I help during the Spiritual share. We currently teach two RC's. They love it. It'll be a sad day when Elder Cuartas leaves this area.

Thursday was our Mission Christmas Activity! It was so COLD!! We had to get up way early to get to the mission office by 7:00. Then we boarded the bus and went to Sun Moon Lake. I missed that place. The fog was beyond crazy! You could see maybe ten feet in front of you and that was it. But it cleared after a bit. For the most part. You could never see the lake though. We had a big picture then went to the place with all the shops for a bit. After that we went to Taizhong Steakhouse. All you can eat steak. 6 steaks later for me, we went to the Taiping chapel for a fireside. I love the Senior missionaries and President and Sister Blickenstaff. They did the nativity. It was so funny. And President Blickenstaff used Isaiah to explain the significance of Christ's Birth and Atonement. It was really cool. We got home right after 9:00 pm. Such a great day. I got to see everyone.

Friday we had ward correlation. The rest of the day was pretty rough, but we did get to meet with a now active member. As of this last Sunday, he's been brought back into activity! We shared the nativity with him. It helped him a lot and made him want to share the gospel with his family more. We really hope he keeps it up! It would make him so happy. And that night we magically got a hold of two of our investigators that haven't answered their phones in a while! We saw them on the street too! It was so great.

Saturday was a crazy day. We helped the ward set up for the Christmas party in the afternoon. A lot of decorations. Then we had some singing and dance practice. And then at the party we sang and performed this Taiqi. Like slow motion martial arts. I forgot how to write that in English. It was a lot of fun. And we got some really cool stretchy pants. Like the most stretchy pants ever! The party was really great. I had a ton of fun with it. So many people came. I love Christmas parties.

Sunday was a great day at church! The ward brought a lot of friends to church and we got to meet them. Alex came too and he is beyond GOLDEN! We just need to find time to sit with him. He's way busy. But he's really down to get baptized. The gospel principles lesson was on baptism and he accepted it all. He's been to church a few times now. Then we got to go to this mall that the other stake in Taizhong was singing at. It was in our area, so they asked us to come and contact people while they sang. It was great! So many really cool people. And some people self contacted me saying they just moved here from Taibei and wanted to come to our church! They just flat out said that. It was the coolest self contact ever! Good end to the week.

And I just ate way too much food at a buffet. It hurt. I love it here in Taiwan! The Christmas spirit is really getting brought out more and more every year. I really got to see that yesterday while contacting at the mall. It was super amazing. This time of the year is the time to remember Christ's birth. But when Christmas is over, don't forget it. His birth wasn't the end. His birth started His mission to show us the path and give us a chance to overcome the trials of the world. We should be continually reaching out to others as we try to be more like Jesus. Celebrate His birth to show the world that the Savior is born. Then continue to be an example to show the world that He lives.

I love you all. I wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Have a happy holiday. Until next week!

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter