August Update on our New Missionaries

A follow-up on our trainers and their new missionaries' First 12 Weeks was held this week. 

Special occasions like this deserve Sis. Blickenstaff's cinnamon rolls! 

In Taichung on Wednesday, August 28, for the north:

And in Gaoxiong on Thursday, August 29 for the south:

August 2013 New Trainer Meetings

We have 22 new missionaries arriving in September!

To prepare for their First 12 Weeks, new trainers have been called. 

New trainer meetings were held, one in the north in Taichung on Wednesday, August 28:

And another in Gaoxiong on Thursday, August 29:

2013 Mission Visitors

We were surprised by a visitor to our mission who had served in the Taichung mission prior to our arriving. He happened to be the son of a classmate of Pres. Blickenstaff's while in medical school. What a small world!

This elder brought his family to the mission home. His little brother is currently in the MTC at Provo, preparing to come to Taichung in September!!!

2013 Multi-stake Youth Conference, Tainan

All the stakes and the district in the Taiwan Taichung Mission participated in a multi-stake Youth Conference, held at a Youth Activity Center in the mountains above Tainan. The conference focused on the Church's pioneer heritage, and the youth pulled handcarts the first day to commemorate the saints' trek west to establish the Salt Lake Valley. On the last evening of the conference, about 40 missionaries were invited to participate with the youth. They were bussed from Tainan up to the Youth Activity Center, and invited to have dinner with the youth and conduct the evening's activities.

The activities focused on the Book of Mormon and missionary work.

 Our APs conducted the activities:

Over 400 youth participated!

 First a demonstration of our Dan Jones experience by one of our boldest elders...

 Followed by a bold sister missionary....

Next the most courageous of the youth came forward...

Afterwards, the youth were divided into teams of about 20 each for some competitive fun!
For example, which team can out perform a Taichung missionary in pushups?
Not a one was able to beat 107 pushups in 60 seconds!

A singing contest: I am a Child of God, one word at a time...

A youth prepared to assist our missionary in placing a Book of Mormon...

At the end, the youth wrote their testimonies inside a Book of Mormon
and were invited to present them to a friend.

Pres. Blickenstaff invited one of our newest missionaries to bear his testimony. He was bold as well!

After a wonderful night, our missionaries departed on the bus:

We love them!

Beyond 5 Concert

We were invited to attend the Beyond 5 Concert held in Taichung on Tuesday, August 27...

... and to bring a couple companionships of missionaries with us to represent the Church. 

It was an evening of wholesome fun!

The Deputy Director of the Education Bureau of Taichung City 

thanked the Church for sponsoring a free family-oriented activity:)

Tanner Myler

Patch Crowe and Zac Love

Ammon Tuimaualuga

and TJ Ryan

serenading the lucky young ladies of Taichung!