Taiwan Taichung Mission, 2013-16

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

2014 Gaoxiong Christmas Activities

December 6, Caroling at a local nursing home with the Qianzhen ward members

December 23, Caroling at China Steel

December 24, Qianzhen/Xiaogang English Class Christmas Party

December 2014 Missionary Meetings

Taichung Zone Training Meeting, December 2

Zone Leaders conducting:

Introductions of New Missionaries:

New missionaries to the zone:

District Leader reports:

Why is the district leader on the right so beet red in the face? It was a slip of the tongue, "Our district is really looking forward to having a lot of success this semester." One of our hardest working missionaries, his subconscious must be preparing him for his next phase in life!

The Taichung Zone

District Leaders' Meeting

Sisters' Meeting

They are SO beautiful!

Train the Trainers Meeting, December 16

December 21, Taipei Temple 30th Anniversary Fireside, Kaohsiung

Our missionaries performed beautifully in the choir:

December 23, Taiping District DTM

December 30, AM Trainer Follow-up Meeting, Taichung

December 30, PM Trainer Follow-up Meeting, Kaohsiung

12-29-14 President's Weekly Letter

Dear Elders and Sisters,

I wish each of you could have been in the office last night as we received the faxes from each zone and tallied up the results of our great harvest of souls for this month. There was a feeling of pure joy as we realized that our missionaries had helped 62 people come unto Christ and be baptized so far in the month of December, with several more investigators being baptized tonight! I know that a lot of prayers, work, sacrifice, love and faith were involved in achieving that goal. Sister Blickenstaff and I were able to attend some of the baptisms and even be involved in teaching some of those who were baptized. We feel, as did Alma and his fellow missionaries, that “their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren” (Alma 31:35). I hope that perhaps each of us can understand what Alma felt when he said, “I do not glory of myself… this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy” (Alma 29:9).

I think it is important to pause and reflect on what you were inspired to do differently, individually and collectively, to enable us to exceed our mission goal. We need to understand how we can improve so that we can achieve this goal regularly and not just occasionally. As a mission, we have focused for the past two months on increasing our faith and diligence. We also asked each companionship, in early November, to specifically identify people who could be baptized in December. Specific goals will lead to specific prayers and result in specific answers that help us do specific things. As we learn to bring “faith, energy and focus” to our work, we will accomplish all that the Lord has asked of us.

For those who did not baptize in December, do not be discouraged. Your faith and diligence were also an important part of achieving our goal. In order to have 60 baptisms per month in the mission, each companionship must baptize every transfer period. We can continue to set goals and exercise faith and diligence. Last week a missionary wrote to me, “I have learned that happiness comes from working hard and having confidence and trust in the Lord. I've noticed (as simple as it sounds) that when I work hard, even though it is tough a lot of the times, that is when I am truly happy. Like it says in PMG and encourages missionaries to just get lost in the work and do our very best.”

Each new year is a great time to look back and then focus forward. I hope that each of you find great joy and satisfaction in where you are and what you are doing. There is nothing you could be doing that is of greater worth to you or to your fellow man than fully consecrating yourself to the service of the Master. When we humbly approach Him, he will enable us to see clearly the areas in which we need to improve (Ether 12:27). We cannot do this work without His help. As we strive to be worthy, obedient and diligent servants, He will be in our midst. He will send angels round about us. We will continue to experience the great joy of accomplishing our missionary purpose of helping others come unto Christ.

President Blickenstaff

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

2014 Mission Home Christmas

Christmas Eve Dinner: Turkey with all the trimmings!

A million thanks to the elder awaiting his visa in my home ward, who brought me several baking supplies, including turkey roasting bags:)))

I like my turkey and mashed potatoes swimming in gravy!

And so does this elder:)

Homemade pies, a Blickenstaff family tradition:

After dinner, a White Elephant gift exchange:

I was nice and didn't steal this beautiful paper cutting made by Sister Schwieder…

only because she promised me one:)

Uh oh, gift stealing going on!

A sword for a cabbage?

More stealing…sorry!

More Blickenstaff traditions: Christmas Cinnamon Rolls and Sticky Buns!

Elders and sisters from the local area:

Topped off with hot chocolate, egg nog, and whipped cream:)

Merry Christmas!

(With a little help from a Christmas elf whom I miss!)

Monday, December 22, 2014

12-22-14 President's Letter

Dear Elders and Sisters,

Merry Christmas! For many of us, this is one of our most favorite days of the year. Many have received packages from home and loved ones. You are looking forward to Skyping with your loved ones. Up to this point in your life, you may have looked forward to Christmas with eager anticipation, thinking more of what you would receive than what you might give. This year will likely be one of your most memorable Christmases for the rest of your life. Not because you are surrounded by family, friends, Christmas decorations and all of the traditional activities to which you are accustomed. Rather, because you are away from all of these things. This Christmas will be remembered more for what you gave, or for what you are giving, than for what you received.

As you labor full-time in service to the Lord Jesus Christ, it will be your privilege to come to know and understand Him with greater clarity than ever before. He has promised, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you”(D&C 88: 63). You will find peace, comfort, strength and forgiveness of sins as you understand and apply His atoning sacrifice in your own life (Alma 7: 11-13). You will find indescribable joy as you help others partake of His gifts to all mankind (see 1 Ne. 8: 12). You will even find blessings for those days that seem filled with rejection and opposition (3 Nephi 12: 11-12).

This is truly a unique experience in each of our lives. Seek to follow the example of the Master as you give the gift of yourself – your time, your talents and your testimony – to all those who will listen. He does not ask us to give what we do not have. Rather He asks all of what we do have. I am reminded of the words of the apostle Peter as he healed a lame man at the gate of the Temple who had asked alms of him, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee” (Acts 3:6). The lame man had only asked Peter for money, not knowing of greater blessings he possessed. Many of those whom you meet might look upon you only as an interesting friend, or someone who can teach them to speak English, not knowing of the real gifts that you bear.

And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—

That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

That through him all might be saved (D&C 76: 40-42).

May we gladly proclaim to all within the sound of our voices the glorious message of the restored gospel this Christmas season. It is the greatest gift that any of us could ever give. I so testify in His holy name, even Christ, the Lord.

President Blickenstaff

PS. This Tuesday there is a very important meeting in Taipei that will include local Church leaders and Taiwan government officials. They are attempting to resolve the concerns that have led to our foreign missionaries not being able to obtain visas. Please join Sister Blickenstaff and me in petitioning the Lord that these problems may be resolved. We should pray that hearts will be softened and that appropriate solutions can be found so that our missionaries can be allowed to come and serve with us. If you were not able to participate in our mission fast yesterday, I invite you to fast on Tuesday, if possible. This is an important issue that could have significant impact on missionary work in Taiwan for many years.