Taiwan Week 55: I Like Steak

Dear family and friends,

 

Last week was a good week. I guess every week is a good week if you look for the small miracles. It's those little things that lead to the big things. And there were some really good little things.  Tuesday I got to help Elder Zhu pass off another phase 1 lesson. It was fun. I was so incredibly tired. More tired than I have ever been in my life. I thought my body was going to fall apart. So his lesson was really good as he adapted the commandments to my needs. He's really good. We did English proselyting at a night market and ate dinner there. A nice sizzling steak on a skillet with noodles and papaya milk slushee. It was good. We then met with Chen mama and her family. It's like a bowl of water. It's completely full. It looks like it's bulging over. She's almost there, it's about to overflow. But it hasn't yet. It's super crazy. But we had a good night.

 

Wednesday at English I had a weird feeling. I don't know why. But something felt off. We talked about school. Everyone wanted to know all the differences between American school and Taiwan school. In the end they asked me about my school plan. I guess that could've tipped the weirdness because I need to start preparing soon for all that. But I gave them all my reeces peanut butter cups like I promised. They were all so happy.

 

Thursday we went on an epic adventure to find some less actives in our far away areas. It was so crazy. There is nothing out there. I was just biking through some fields, and then suddenly there were a ton of trees all around me. Then they all disappeared. Then they came back. Then I saw a house. Then a pig in the field. And somehow we found three less active families. It was pretty miraculous! And one called us back that night because we left a note for all those that weren't there! That night we met up with the other Elders and practices for a "how to spread the gospel and help the missionaries during lessons" fireside that we're putting on. There were some skits we had to work through with some members that are helping us.   After that we went to the He family's house. I have found a huge liking for this family. The kids are so adorable. They love talking to me. The younger of the two is 10 years old and we want to help him get baptized. The dad loves softball and has developed a liking for me because I like baseball. He's really nice to us. We're having an FHE with them tonight.

 

Friday was a good average day of finding new investigators. Not a whole lot happened. Saturday we biked out to one of our furthest away areas. I had only been there once. There were some less actives that we wanted to find. We ended up finding one that was really nice. I've seen him before too! As we were looking for a lady, we found that the numbers of the houses didn't add up. There was a huge gap in the numbers. We asked this lady that owns a store at the corner house if she knew the lady we were looking for. She said she didn't, but she got our information down. As we kept biking, we asked another guy and he took us to that same lady's house. She then gave us a "you caught me!" look. It was her daughter that we were looking for. So she said she'd talk to her. It was an awkward funny moment.

 

That night we met for the fireside. The ward was really excited for this fireside, so they provided a potluck dinner. It was all so good. Chen mama and her husband also came. They brought steak. It was such good steak. I love steak. For the fireside we talked about sharing the gospel and working with missionaries in unity. We did a demonstration of a good lesson with a member and a bad one. They thought it was so funny. It helped our relationship with the ward a lot.

 

Sunday the Chen family, Tan Jiemei from China, and the He kids came! It was so good. They all loved church a lot. We sat with the Chen family afterwards and ended up sharing about baptisms for the dead. That really sparked their curiosity. Chen baba asked if Chen mama could do work for his ancestors if she were to get baptized first. That comforted him a lot. I think that will help them agree to letting her get baptized sooner. That night we went around with our ward mission leader and visited some families. It was fun.

 

That was my week. It was fun. I love you all! Happy Father's Day!! I love you dad! I love all the fathers out there! I'm so thankful for all the men that have helped influenced my life.

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

Taiwan Week 54: I Love Chinese People!

Dear friends and family,

 

This week has been a huge week of miracles! I really enjoyed this past week. On Monday night we went looking for a less active family that our bishop said has potential to come back. We searched and searched out in the boonies of the rice fields and grape orchards, but couldn't find his house. The address system here in Xihu is super crazy. As we were about to give up, an 80+ year old lady pointed us in the right direction. We had to go around a line of houses, between two large walls of grape vines, and though an alley to find this hidden line of houses. We got there and the kids let us in. It was an adorable 14 year old girl and her 10 year old brother, with their 14 year old cousin and their grandparents. The girl had been baptized and then the family went less active 2 years later. We got to know them and they really wanted to go to church again, as well as English. As we left, the dad came driving up on his scooter. He was beyond friendly to us. His wife lives in a separate house further away because of work. It's really sad. We got to know him a bit. I had this huge feeling to ask him if he needed our help with anything. He paused and then said "actually, I really do." There was a level of trust that was built right there in those few minutes. It was super amazing.

 

Tuesday we had ZTM in Zhanghua. As we were nearing the McDonald's by the train station, the bus driver stopped and told us to get off. We had never gotten off there before. It would still be another 30 minute walk. And there was a bus stop right by the church. But he made us get off. I was a little bugged. So we walked and all I had for lunch was an ice cream from a 7-11. We made it to ZTM right in time. Some people in the zone asked how our lunch was. I said "the bus driver made us get off at the train station, so all I had time to eat was an ice cream." Then Sister Busath, who came on island with me, said "I thought you were lactose intolerant." I turned to her and said in a very serious voice "He made me get off by the train station." After which everyone started laughing. It was funny. We had a really good ZTM on planning. Planning is so important. I learned a lot from our zone leaders.   

 

Afterwards we had to wait forever for a bus, so our afternoon was wasted. But that night at Chen mama's house, she just jumped next to me and started asking me questions about some talks in the Liahona. She liked them because they talked about other people's conversion story and the step of baptism. She didn't like how hers was taking so long. It was really cool using the scriptures and prayer to help her know how she can prepare herself.

Wednesday we had a mini zone conference in Taizhong. We talked about the key to contacting, English class updates, and making the transition from President Bishop to President Blickenstaff. President Bishop and his wife then sang a song they wrote about Taiwan. It was a really great conference.  That night at English the lesson was on clothes and fashion. So I thought up to have a fashion show. We had a record high of 30 people come! There was 12 in my class, so it was a lot of fun doing the catwalk while students narrated what kind of clothes were being modeled. I took what Elder Gulas had taught me in the past and showed everyone how to do it. Because of it, the young women and young men want me to show them how to do it next week to prepare them for a stake youth activity.

 

Thursday was a pretty good day in Erlin. We found less active dad and his son. They don't have a whole lot of interest anymore. But they welcomed us in, and according to our ward mission leader, that's a miracle.

Friday I got to go to Zhanghua with my zone leader, Elder Bishop. We talked about small and simple miracles to change the day. So we looked for those small miracles. It was really amazing.

 

Saturday there was a steak curry demonstration at the church for the relief society. The other Elders had contacted a lady that is from China that has some EXTREME interest in the church. She lives in our area and also came to the demonstration. She loved it so much. We got to meet her and she's just super prepared.     That night we met again with Chen mama. She said she won't be able to come to church because she has work. But we talked straightforward about baptism. Her and her husband just opened up about their problems. It was so amazing. We now know what we need to help them with. There's just that trust there!

 

Sunday the He kids came that we found on Monday night! So did Chen baba. As well as Tan Jiemei! She's the Chinese lady. She brought her two kids who also love the church. She took it all in and loved it. We sat with her afterwards with a member family. She has no knowledge of Jesus. It reminded me of almost exactly a year ago with Wu fei Jiemei in Nantou. So I started teaching about Christ like we did back then with Wu Jiemei. When I told her that Christ was our Savior, she paused and said "everybody's Savior?" I said yes, and the biggest glow came across her face. It was an amazing lesson. Everyone that met her said she was super prepared to find this church.

 

That was my week. It was awesome! I love you all. I love this work. Always look for the little things. It's the little things that bring to pass the great.

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

Taiwan Week 53: I Don't Like McDonald's

Dear family and Friends,

 

It has been such and interesting week. Again. I never know what to expect here in Xihu. It all started last Monday night as we went to a member's house. He's the ward's oldest member He was taught by Elder Muhlesteina year and a half ago, but Elder Muhlestein moved right before the baptism. He's a well known retired politician that everyone knows. On the mail envelopes, all you have to do is write his name and Xihu and everyone knows where he lives. And he's the primary ages 8-11 teacher. So cute! Haha. He has no idea how to teach them, so he asked for our help. We helped him prepare a pretty fun lesson plan. It was a lot of fun.

 

Tuesday we had a quick DTM because we had to do some surprise stuff. It's for our mission president and his wife because they're about to go home. I'll let you know after they leave, just so they don't somehow secretly overhear! But that night Zhou Heng came from Xihu and went around with us as we looked for some less active members with our maps. It was a little rough. Found them! Not a good turnout though... Pretty depressing. Then we met with Chen mama. It was a rough lesson because she wasn't feeling good and just wanted her questions in the Book of Mormon answered and then kick us out. But it was still really good to see her and her family. Her husband is really warming up to us. Towards joining the church, not a whole lot. But he's getting there!

 

Wednesday at English class, we talked about hobbies and talents. It was a lot of fun. Elder Zhu and I have so much fun teaching English together. It's like our minds are connected when we tell a funny story or act something out. Our class wanted to know what the difference is between America and Taiwan with greeting people. We acted out the two guy bro hug and the two girl excited girl embrace. They died of laughter. Afterwards I got to talk to Dora. I contacted her on the street and added her for English about a month ago. She has come ever since and has also been meeting with the other Elders! She is so amazing. I asked her how she's doing and offered to help, and apparently it made her super happy because of recent events in her life. I learned a huge lesson from that. Always be loving to everyone while talking to them. Be willing to help anyone in need. You never know when you'll change some one's life.

 

Thursday we met the most prepared person ever. We were at a 7 and I walked up to a guy sitting down to talk to him. As soon as he saw me, he had the biggest smile on his face and told me to sit down. He went on saying he'd been looking for our church but could never find it. We showed him our address and also the address for the Zhanghua church since he lives there. He had looked us up online and saw we also had a free English class. He's going to California for college at the end of July and wants to keep practicing his English. But more importantly, he had been bouncing around Christian churches, but never found the true one. He had heard about ours and really wanted to see what it's like, but could never find it. It's totally a Joseph Smith experience! We referred him. I really hope he continues to meet with the other Elders.   We also got to meet with the 2nd councilor in the stake presidency because he's in our area. It was a good meeting. They're family is helping a lot with Chen mama.

 

Friday Elder Yeh came with me on exchanges. We both hadn't eaten McDonald's in a long time. So we ate a lot. And it was so not good for us. We both felt so sick. We had a some fun visiting a part less active family, and they ended up giving Elder Yeh a sword! It was crazy. They know a place to buy them. I want to so bad!

Saturday we went to visit Elder Yeh's investigator family's store. They have some really weird energy things. I had electricity buzzing through me. It was so cool. And they committed to come to church soon! It was a huge step for them.   That night we had some worries with Chen mama. She's having some doubts. But she said she'll try harder on her reading and praying.

 

Sunday they all came to church! It was a good church. Elder Gan was asked to teach the Gospel Principles class. And then Elder Zhu and I were running around the church trying to get our 10 year old recent convert to go to class. It was super hard, but fun. It was us and a few primary leaders working together.

 

And that was my really fun week. It's beyond hot already. I sweat in our apartment as soon as I walk out of an air conditioned room. Hopefully it'll start raining today. Typhoon season is almost here! I'm so excited!

I love you all! Thank you so much for all the support. You're all such big examples to me.

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

Taiwan Week 52: A Reunion With Elder Allen And A Family

Dear family and friends,

 

This past week has been such a week of miracles! I really feel so blessed to have had such a week. Monday we were able to work with a less active lady. She really opened up to us and we feel like we have her trust now. Although it was super hard to hear her. The rain was flooding down and lighting was flashing everywhere.

 

Tuesday we had to get up nice and early to catch a bus to Zhanghua for interviews and planner checks. While we were there, we were instructed on how to use this new map system that our mission just created. It has every member mapped out. It'll help us be able to find all the less active members whose addresses are just too hard to find. All the wards have been given the software and can make the updates on who has moved or has phone number changes. It's super cool.   I also got to do planner checks with Elder Allen. It was super fun. We also got mission T-shirts! Whether or not I'll wear mine in public, I don't know. But it's a good relaxing shirt.

 

That after noon we biked out to a far away area by the ocean to meet with our Elders Quorum President to visit his less active wife. She works on Sundays. She works at this restaurant that is all seafood. Dad... I was force fed roughly 40 oysters... I wanted to cry. The things you gotta do to show your love. And she is really nice. I hope we can somehow help her come back. That night we got to meet with Chen mama. She has a ton of interesting questions. But her desire is there!

 

Wednesday we had a bit of fun trying to contact in the rain. I'm not a huge fan of it. It needs to be a storm for me to love it. But if it's just whatever rain, I almost fear getting wet. That night we had a miracle new student at English! She called us earlier in the day and asked if we taught the English class. Her friend told her about it and gave them our number. She has to speak English a lot for work. When she came and registered, I asked her if she wanted to hear a little bit about our church. She politely declined. But after our spiritual share, she came up to me and was curious about the difference between our church and other Christian churches. We got to share a little bit about the restoration. She's still a little iffy about meeting with us, but her look on English class, missionaries, and the church is really good. She's super excited to come back again.    I possibly scarred my Advanced class though. The lesson was on food and I told them about a few American food eating contests. They looked horrified... Oops...

 

Thursday was a pretty normal day. But that night all four of us biked to one of our far away areas to visit a member family for dinner. We got super lost. And it seemed like no one in the town knew their way around. But when we found them, we had a really sweet lesson. Their family is really cool. Super humble.

 

Friday Elder Allen came to be with us for the day! It was such an amazing day! We had so much fun on the streets finding new investigators. Everything was just so much fun. Us and the other Elders had pizza at the church with the Bishop to discuss the new map project. Elder Allen fell asleep... Haha! Then we got lost trying to find a potential investigator. He was a former. When we finally found him, the lesson went really well. He's a lot older than he sounded on the phone. But he's super willing to meet again. It was such a fun exchange with Elder Allen.

 

Saturday morning we played basketball with a lot of ward members. The ward is getting super unified. During the afternoon we used the new maps to find some less active members. We ended up finding a teenage girl who got baptized with her mom. Her mom wasn't there, so we got to talk with the girl and she wanted to come to church! She's still pretty good friends with some of the young women in the ward.  And she's super amazing at playing the piano. That night we had a family come to the church that we set up. A mom and her 10 year old twin sons. One of the sons does English competitions and wanted help. We helped him a bit. The mom loved the feel of the church and loved singing a few hymns with us. They're a super willing family. I'm so excited to meet with them some more.

 

Sunday Chen mama came to church! She had to drag her husband along, but he enjoyed it too. And they stayed for the full 3 hours! It was super amazing. After church she said "It's really weird. Every time you come over to my house, it stops raining. Only when you come over. Never before with other missionaries. And then every question I ask you ends up getting answered at church." Well yeah! The blessings of church. As for me being able to stop the rain, I can't describe that. But she enjoyed church.   Then last night we had a big FHE at a members house. They cooked some pretty traditional stuff. And they took pity on me for being the only American. So they also cooked chicken nuggets and french fries for me. They ended up eating most of them though. Haha!

 

What a week. There were so many miracles. I'm super excited to see how this weeks goes. There are miracles for those who trust in the Lord. The work needs to be done! I love you all. I hope your summer is going pretty well. It's getting pretty hot here. And it hasn't started yet...

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

Taiwan Week 51: Super Different Week

Dear family and friends,

 

The rest of the week since Wednesday has been pretty weird. Elder Gan and I are getting along pretty well. Obviously some differences, but he's really great. Since there are 3 Taiwanese in my apartment, which is also my entire district, it's a little different. But we all talked about it and have a better understanding now. It's a lot of fun.

The temple was so amazing! The entire ride up, I was talking to Elder Edwards. He is one move call below me, so we knew each other in the MTC. It was pretty nice just talking about our experiences here. He just passed his year mark on the mission. And I just passed my year mark on island. I absolutely loved the peaceful relaxed feeling that the temple gave me. It felt so great. It's like going home. Sister Worthington is being trained in my last area! So they're zone came to the temple with us and I got to see her. She's looking so excited for missionary work.

 

That night we had English class. It was so relaxing to teach the advanced class, since none of the other missionaries can teach it. Elder Yeh's English is pretty good, so him and Elder Gan are teaching the beginner class, and Elder Zhu and I are teaching the advanced. So there's a pretty experienced English and Chinese speaker in both classes.

 

Thursday we had an ok finding day. We're just trying so hard to find new investigators. The best way is through the members, so we're doing our very best to work with the ward. That night we got to meet with our RC's mom again. She's doing pretty great. She has a ton of questions about the Book of Mormon. And her husband doesn't quite want her to go to church, because he doesn't want to go to church every week. So we're trying to work really hard to help him. He loves us missionaries and a lot of the ward.

 

Friday we had zone leader exchanges. Elder Dailey came with me to my area. We had a lot of fun going out to one of our secondary areas for a few lessons. While trying to visit a less active member, we ran into a couple from Canada! They got here a few months ago to teach English and stumbled across our less active's food store and love it. So we talked to him a lot. He also knows another Canadian in the town that's a member and invited him to go to church with him. So we'll see if that went down.

 

Saturday we found a former and was able to set up to meet with him again! And a former called us and asked why we haven't visited him for a while. So we went to visit him. He's a little special, but loves the missionaries. By the time we went to exchange back, the other Elders were in the middle of a lesson. So we just contacted the streets while waiting for them. That night we had an FHE. A returned missionary, Brother Mikkleson, came back to visit his RC's and came as well. It was a lot of fun. A lot of people showed up.

 

Sunday at church Chen mama came with her husband! She dragged him to church that morning and promised just one hour this week. So after Sacrament meeting, they were preparing to leave. The husband had to go to the bathroom, so we sat down with her. She said she has a huge desire to get baptized, but doesn't know what to do. We're really going to do all we can to work with her.   That night we went on splits with the ward and visited some less actives, and then we met up and went to a part member family's house. The dad who isn't a member really liked us. It was such a great lesson. And all while it was pouring down more rain per hour than Utah gets in 3 years.

 

And that was the rest of my week! I'm having a good time. It's been such a different week; and it'll just keep getting more and more different. I'm excited to see what happens each day! I love you all! Thank you all for the letters of support.

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

Taiwan Week 50: The Biggest Change Yet

Dear family and friends,

 

It's the start of a new transfer. And wow is it a big one. Elder Greer has moved to Tainan, and I have a Taiwanese companion! His name is Elder Gan. He's a super amazing missionary. He started his mission the same time as Elder Greer. So they know each other. It's super interesting because I'm in a 4-man with 3 Taiwanese missionaries. The one and only American. I didn't ever see that coming. But we're all having fun!

I'm also writing super early in the morning because we have the temple trip today! I'm super excited. It's thrown off our whole week though.

 

So last week we had some pretty great experiences. On Tuesday we had Zone Training Meeting in Zhanghua. It was on contacting. It was pretty good. I know I need to improve my contacting skills. Afterwards Elder Zhu came with me on exchanges. We didn't get back for so long. That night we went out to a less active in the middle of nowhere. He's the one with 6 or so dogs. When we got there, they were fixing to attack! The less active called us and gave us an excuse as to why he can't come out. Elder Zhu said "I'm not leaving until I get past these dogs and see this less active." So we ended getting up on the wall surrounding the house and walking along it. The dogs were just waiting for us to fall. It was so scary. But we got there!

 

Wednesday for English class we had our party! It was a lot of fun. Elder Greer and I introduced everyone to 4-square. They all loved it so much. And we made root beer from scratch. Everyone loved it.

 

Thursday we biked out to Erlin to meet a few investigators. We got really lucky to have all of them come through. Especially since they were in the most random places that they agreed to. So I hope they will keep wanting to meet with us! That night we biked out to this far away area to a guy that Elder Greer found on exchanges with Elder Yeh. He was pretty willing, but the rest of his family wasn't and wouldn't let us in. It was pretty sad.

Friday we biked out to the college and met some really cool kids. One lesson ended kinda bad, so we were feeling pretty down. But then out of nowhere I see a kid that was in my ward in Yuanlin! It was absolutely amazing. He said he was going to college there. I told him that if he lives at the school, he should go to the ward in Xihu because it's closer. He didn't even know Xihu had a ward. So he was super excited. He's so cool.

Saturday we got to skype home. I'm pretty happy for that. I love getting to see you guys! We then got to go down to Erlin again. There was a county wide youth basketball tournament going on at a school. So there were so many students everywhere! And a bunch of them were in our area! We got to sit down with a few of them and share about the church. They were even pretty excited about prayer. It was really cool.

 

Sunday morning we found out that Elder Greer was moving, so we were pretty down. It was a rough day, but we had a great lesson with our recent convert's mom. Her husband is a little iffy about her getting baptized. So we'll have to work with that. But our Peike was super great to help her keep feeling that it's the right thing to do.

Monday Elder Greer had an early train in Zhanghua. So I was waiting there for 3 hours with another missionary. Elder Gan came and we hurried back because Monday was a normal proselyting day. We had a few lessons scheduled that day that just perfectly fell through because of rain or got called into work at the last minute. It was rough. But we had a good time getting him to get to know the area.

 

Yesterday after DTM, we went biking all over our area. We had set up to meet a few members. A few of them in areas that I had never been to before. So it was a crazy day biking day. But we got to all of them on time! It was amazing. I was sweating so much.

 

And that's pretty much been my week. It's just been pretty crazy all over. But we're getting settled in and getting to work! I love you all! I'm so excited to go to the temple today! I love the feeling inside. I know that through the temple, families can be sealed together forever!

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter

Taiwan Week 49: A Group Ride To Church

Dear family and friends,

 

This past week has been pretty interesting. And sadly, I switched planners today, so everything is escaping my mind! But from what I do remember:

 

Tuesday we had a great DTM on finding. And more specifically on effective ways to find in our area. I think that'll be really great to help us focus on what we can do out here to find those prepared souls. That afternoon we biked out to a college in one of our secondary areas. It was a golden place! We started talking to this one guy and it turns out he's from Malaysia and speaks English! So we got to sit down with him and share about God's plan for us. It was really great. So many people in college that still have no idea what they're going to after they graduate. They just say they'll wait until they graduate to find that out.  Afterwards we went to a less active's house. We've been trying to work with the ward to get people together to fix his engine. He showed it to us and the task became impossible. He wants us to take it out of his car. Seeing all the different wire and tubes just made me realize that I have no idea about cars. So we're still trying to help him out a bit.

 

Wednesday we had a really great miracle at English Class! There have been a few new students every week, but it's super hard to talk to them afterwards because two of them are brother and sister and the rest are friends of the brother, and they all get picked up by the mom right after class. The brother has been coming for a while and doesn't have too much interest in the church. But his little sister started coming a few weeks ago. I could see that she has a bit of curiosity. I had planned a spiritual share out, but that night I had this feeling to switch it to the Book of Mormon. During the English meeting before class, the other Elders brought up and investigator in my class that just started reading the Book of Mormon, but is a little confused. I knew I had to share about the Book of Mormon! When it came time for the spiritual share, I let the new girl flip through the Book of Mormon as I shared about it. She looked so amazed. Once class was over, I asked her if she wanted to keep the book. With a huge glow in her eyes, she asked "can I?!" We have also set up to meet with her really quickly after class this Wednesday! Such a huge miracle.

 

Thursday it was raining pretty hard, so we got a little nervous for our plans. We headed out to the college again, but there was no one in sight. Every populated place dies out here once there's a little rain. It made the day pretty rough. Then that night we were heading to the Chen family's house to see how the mom is doing. We had confirmed with the dad and the daughter the night before. And when we got there, we were just talking with them for a few minutes. We finally asked if the mom was in the shower or something and they both said she was asleep. That caught us off guard. We were a little confused because we set up to follow up on how she feels about the goal we discussed the week before. So that didn't get to happen.

 

Friday after weekly planning we had a very interesting experience. We were trying to decide if we should cook inside or go out to eat. We suddenly got a call from the Xihu police. They said there's some foreigner at the station that can't get home and they need our help translating. Looks like we're eating out. We got there and there was an American that wasn't quite aware of where he was or who he was sitting with a bunch of police. He had gotten a hold of his wife, who lives in Taibei! He somehow got on a bus or something and ended up in Xihu. He didn't know how he got there. So I talked to his wife on the phone and she told me I HAD to convince him to stay there and wait for her to come get him. It took some time because he wanted to just get in a taxi, but it worked out and he stayed with the police. We ate hotpot for lunch.

 

We then biked out to Erlin. We had come across a bike path halfway there last time and then found where the path starts in Xihu. So we took the path all the way and it was way beautiful. Once we got there, we just did some hardcore looking. We found a sweet kid that was very willing. We got to pray with him before he left. We then found a guy at a 7-11 and started sharing with him. Then out of nowhere, the first kid came up and sat down with us. After we prayed with the second kid, the first kid started bearing testimony of prayer that he gained 20 minutes before! It was so cool. On the way home, we got way lost. It was dark, we were on the trail, and the only thing out here is rice. We were beyond lost. And there were so many bugs. We got back to the church for a lesson and my pocket had probably over 100 dead bugs inside. Super gross.

 

Saturday we had to head out to Erlin again for a lesson. But before we headed out, I got surgery on my LEFT toe. There will be no more problems from now on. Nothing like a 5 minute surgery. But you were right mom. It's like they're injecting fire into you. A shot in the toe hurts so much. It hurt way more this time too. Our plans fell through in Erlin, but we came across a family that owns this food cart thing in front of a school. Elder Greer found them before I moved here, but we could never find them since. We just happened to take a road we had never taken before and it let to that school with them. They're a super sweet family. Hopes for the future!

Sunday we got to pick up this cool little kid that's an RC and ride bikes to church together. Halfway there, we met up with a few other people that had been baptized in the past few years riding together. It was just a party to church! It was a really good fast Sunday too. It made a good end to the week.

 

Well I love you all! I'm super excited to skype this week! Thank you for all the support! Keep those letters coming! I miss you all! NEVER forget to pray. It helps your day so much.

 

Love, Elder Anthony Kai Buckwalter