3-14-14 Taichung North Zone Conference

Zone Leader conducting:

New missionary introductions:

President presents the Asia Area Vision followed by his vision for the Taiwan Taichung Mission:

President and Sister Blickenstaff instruct on extending invitations to members to accept Elder Nielson's three invitations. Now it's the missionaries' turn to practice:

APs train on Effective Morning Preparation:

Presidents counselor shares cultural insights...

especially helpful in preparation for April's Grave Sweeping tradition:

Greetings and a Toblerone bar to celebrate April, May, and June birthdays,
plus one missionary whose birthday it was that very day!

Lunch break, thank goodness for Costco!

APs demonstrate a smooth baptismal invitation:

Studying the Doctrine of Christ (2 Nephi 31) from four perspectives:

1) The importance of baptism,

2) Preparing for baptism,

3) After baptism, then what?

4) The relationship between the Father and the Son.

This group of sisters helped me understand why, when missionaries teach, it is important to bear testimony of their companion's teachings. The phrase was often cliche to me, "I testify that what my companion says is true." But the greatest example of a perfect companionship is that of the Father and the Son. They pointed out to us that even the Father testified that what His companion said was true by saying, "Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful" (2 Nephi 31:15). I love it!

Departing Missionary Reflection

Our Zone Leader had no idea what to expect on a mission. What he came to know was, the greatest convert on his mission was himself. That's what truly counts, to come to know the Lord and that this is truly his work!

Concluding with the mission song:

The Taizhong North Zone at the Daya chapel:

3-12-14 Taichung Zone Conference

Creative new missionary introductions:

Welcome, 歡迎!

Our first local missionary couple, serving in the mission office to afford our office elders more proselyting time. They are so excited to serve! We hope their experience will bring many more senior couples in local stakes to serve missions close to home:) 

President presents the Asia Area Vision, followed by his vision for the Taichung Mission:

APs train on Effective Morning Preparation:

President's counselor shares cultural insights, especially in preparation for April's Grave Sweeping tradition:

Greetings to celebrate second quarter birthdays:

Lunch break, thank goodness for Costco!

President shares insights on the Doctrine of Christ:

Searching the scriptures:

Concluding with the Mission Song:

Sharing musical talents:

The Taichung Zone at the Wuchuan chapel:

Dinner with the President Watterson and Family

President Watterson, president of the Taiwan Taichung Mission from 2004-2007, came to visit and graciously invited us to dinner, along with an elder in our mission who is a close family friend. The guests of honor were many of the converts that President Watterson baptized while on his mission as a young man, as well as the many Taiwanese leaders that served with him when he returned as mission president. Their daughter also served in the Taichung Mission, and their son in Hong Kong.

As a young missionary in Taipei, President Watterson baptized this good brother. He later went on to serve a mission, and he and his companion shared an apartment with President Blickenstaff and his companion!

President Watterson also baptized this good brother who is now serving as stake patriarch. His wife serves as Relief Society president of her ward.

Yuanshan Miracle

Last November, an elder serving in Yuanshan shared a miracle story with me. He and his previous companion were out in an industrial area searching for a less active member. Unable to find the address, they left but felt inspired to circle around one more time and stopped by the side of the road. A friendly old woman came out onto the street. They visited with her and she told them she had a disabled son who only had the use of one arm. The elders asked if they could visit him; she was hesitant but consented to them being his “American” friends. After ascending five flights of stairs, for the apartment building had no elevator, they met the young man and his father. The young man, unable to use his legs, had not left his apartment during the past five years, except on occasion when he necessitated going to the hospital. The missionaries, taught him about prayer and gave him a Book of Mormon. A few days later, they returned. Their investigator explained that the Book of Mormon was quite difficult to read with only one hand. However, he found an online version and had read 58 chapters! He knew all about the Prophet Joseph Smith, and marveled that the Lamanites could be so hardhearted!  

Over time, their investigator finished reading the entire Book of Mormon and knew it was true. He also had a strong testimony of prayer. His father was out of work but after praying and fasting, his father was able to find a good job. The roadblock to baptism, subsequently, was his inability to attend church. Missionaries came and went. They diligently taught the young man but had no way to get him to church. One day in December, they called me and asked how they could make it happen. I asked if their investigator had a baptismal date. He did not. I suggested they set a date with him and then let the Lord work His miracles! So it was, and the wheels started turning. 

The ward pulled together to serve this young man by physically bringing him to church to attend three times, then to attend his baptism and confirmation. His first week at church, this good brother was able to meet Elder Funk, Quorum of the Seventy, who is a counselor over the Asia Area Presidency. Elder Funk gave a powerful talk on the Plan of Salvation and reminded us all of the Savior's gift of resurrection which would restore our physical bodies to perfection. Through the Savior's Atonement, we might attain exaltation and have families in the eternities.

We prayed often for our missionaries and the ward members who carried their investigator up and down five flights of stairs, that their bodies might be strengthened and their families blessed.

Yesterday, we were privileged to attend this young man's baptism.

The Elders Quorum president, gave the best talk I'd ever heard at a baptism. He spoke on how baptism changes us. How it brings faith into one's life. We all have trials, everyone faces trials, members and non-members alike. So how is being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints different? Does that mean that after we are baptized, the Lord takes away our trials? Absolutely not! However, we have sprouted, and are ever nurturing, the faith to endure to the end. We have the eternal perspective of the Plan of Salvation. He shared his own experience, fourteen years ago, of being called to serve as bishop of his ward. Shortly thereafter, he had a terrible accident that severely injured his leg. He pulled up his pant leg to reveal a horrific scar. He was hospitalized, and the doctors said it would take twelve months for him to recover. Did this happen because he made a bad decision to join the Church? Absolutely not! Through the nurturing of his good wife, he recovered in only eight months. He reminded us that when trials happen, we need to keep in mind that they are only temporary. If we lose a limb, it is only temporary. In the resurrection, our bodies will be restored to perfection. If we lose a loved one, that too is only temporary. In the eternities, if our families have been sealed together for time and all eternity, we will be united forever. Whatever the trial may be, when we have faith, we can endure.

I thought about Job of the Old Testament. Job had everything. "seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the me of the east" (Job 1:3). Above all, he had a righteous family of seven sons and three daughters, "Job sent and sanctified them" (Job 1:5). Then in one day, he lost all his flocks and herds, his servants, and all his sons and daughters. If that wasn't enough, he eventually lost his health and his friends. Did it destroy Job? Why not? Because he had faith in his Lord God and Redeemer. He knew all his trials were temporary. He had faith in the resurrection and the eternities:

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him (Job 13:15).

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come" (Job 14:14).
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God (Job 19:25-26).
And the Lord…gave Job twice as much as he had before…he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. (Job 42:10, 12)

Did you do the math? Why did the Lord not bless Job with twice the posterity? Why did he hot have fourteen sons and six daughters? He DID, because his first seven sons and three daughters in righteousness were sealed to him for time and all eternity. They were not taken from, though they passed from this life. In the latter end, with his additional seven son and three daughters sealed to him, Job would have twice the posterity. I love the example of Job! Come what may, we can have the faith to endure to the end!

After the baptism, the bishop whisked the new brother away into his office for an interview to receive the Aaronic priesthood. What a blessing for his family! Sunday, we attended the Yuanshan ward and were so inspired! The Priesthood/Relief Society lesson was, "Strengthening and Preserving the Family." The Gospel Principles lesson was on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We even got to watch a seminary video subtitled in Mandarin! The theme for sacrament meeting was the Holy Ghost. Having attended the baptism and meeting block, I felt I had learned all I needed to know in life: baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end, and eternal families!

It has been a wonderful, inspiring weekend!

3-6-14 Mission Leadership Council

President instructs on the mission vision, experiencing success, and attaining higher expectations:

Our missionaries love Mexican:)  I was so happy to find pinto beans to make my favorite refried beans!

Sisters from the office help serve up apple crisp:

APs instruct:

APs demonstrate using the new baptismal tracts:

Mission leaders practice:

Leading our mission in March:

3-6-14 Departing Missionaries

Dinner at the mission home:) 

They polished off every single bite of grilled pork tenderloin and teriyaki salmon!

The longer we get to know our missionaries, the harder it gets to let them go home!
At the conclusion of our evening fireside:

Taipei Temple