3-2015 Changing of the Guards

New Mission Recorder likes it HOT!

Goodbye lunch for changes in the office:

Outgoing Mission Recorder will be training a new missionary:

Our AP is going home:(((

President's new AP…with his twin brother in Taipei, who is serving as AP to President Day!

So great to see each other and serve together in Taiwan!

3-2015 Taichung Lantern Festival

From the High Speed Rail Station, a week before the commencement of the Lantern Festival. Construction under way for the big event:

 Volunteer organizations were invited to the press conference:

 The new mayor of Taichung, Chia-lung Lin, offers his support and thanks:

Our mission finance secretary getting his lantern festival souvenir autographed by the mayor:

 Interviewing President for news coverage:

 And the Church's Taiwan Public Affairs Director:

 The Lantern Festival at night:

 Laser light show celebrating the year of the Sheep:

 Rotating 360 degrees:

 Despicable Me:

 Peter Pan:

 Alice in Wonderland:

3-14-15 Taiwan Missionary Reunion - Taipei

A missionary reunion was held in Taipei for all native Taiwanese missionaries who had served in either the Taipei or Taichung missions. The theme of the conference was 3 Nephi 12:13-16, being the salt of the earth. President Blickenstaff and special guest President Clark Bishop (Taichung mission, 2010-13) gave their addresses in the chapel. Afterwards, we moved to the cultural hall for some skits portraying returned missionaries and the challenges they face post-mission.

Staying active and ...

… finding an eternal companion is not always easy.

But what a happy day when you are sealed to your spouse for time and all eternity in the temple!
Taking a selfie with friends outside the Salt Lake Temple doors:

President Day (Taipei mission) spoke afterwards, then he and Sis. Day had to catch a flight to Hualien.

Sis. Blickenstaff was invited to give a presentation on health:

The returned missionaries were invited to participate in a contest:

They had to find six exercise buddies! Of the six, any three had to be a new friend...

any three had to have the same favorite form of exercise,

and any three had to be of the opposite sex:)

They also had to take a selfie together!

Free T-shirts and lots of other prizes!

This young man was the first to finish:

He liked his new T-shirt so much he put it on right away! Looking sharp!

Close to a hundred participants, with special guests
President & Sister Bishop and Brother & Sister Liston:

So great!

Also attending were two missionaries during President's service from 1976-78:

We also met some missionaries who will begin their service in our mission shortly...

as well as this sister...

and this elder!

So excited for them to come!