It Really is a Small World . . . So Small the Voice of One Man Shook the Earth

Dear family and friends,

So, today is a little different that it has been lately.  So this past weekend we had move calls . . . turns out that Elder Field got moved.  I absolutely loved working with him, such a hard-working, diligent missionary.  The news I bring today is that the world really is very small.  As you may have known, Elder Field was from Bountiful, Ut.  Well my new companion just so happens to have gone to elementary, jr high, and high school with me, Elder Marshall Garey.  Crazy huh?  As I got this exciting news I was also told that I would be senior, as well as district leader.  A little more responsibility never hurts, but I'm super pumped to work with him. 

So my last week with Elder Field started off last Monday by visiting with our little Emily friend and watching "The Restoration" with her.  Yeah, thats pretty much it haha.  

Tuesday we began by heading on up to DongGang for District Training Meeting, where we learned on how we can work on more effective ways to receive member referrals.  We came back from the long ride and sat down with our good friend Hua dx and continued teaching him his new member lessons.  He really understands each of the lessons we teach, and I'm sure he could start proselyting with us and teaching all these lessons.  Later on we met with Klara, another one of our investigators, and talked about a graph, that is in the really old family home evening book, about Heavenly Father's plan for us and Satan's plan for us.  It just helps us see that Satan tries to make us look at the downsides of keeping the commandments, while Heavenly Father only wants to bless us for our efforts.  I really think she needed that because she has only looked at the downsides as we've met and taught with her. 

Well, Wednesday we visited another one of our very old friends, who has started to understand our teachings.  He has realized that his memory is bad, but has been able to remember all we have taught.  He is really good, but his body has been in pain a lot lately, so its been hard to get him on out to church with us.  We then went on over to the hospital with a member and gave his friend who is suffering from cancer a priesthood blessing of comfort.  She has been scared to die, and so we shared a little bit about the Book of Mormon and the Plan of Salvation, which seemed to help her settle down.  We then visited Zheng dx.  Today he brought his friend and so we taught him about the Restoration.  He seemed to like it, and was very willing to start reading. 

Well, now I don't have much time to share about the rest of the week, but Sunday was a great chance to spend time with our recent converts.  We took them up to GaoXiong for Stake Conference.  The talks that were given were so good, each of them invited the spirit which was felt by all.  One of the talks was so powerful that the earth literally shook.  Who knew that what they meant in the scriptures about "they spoke with the power of God that it shook the earth" really could happen.  No one will ever know if it was really by what he said, or if it was just a normal earthquake.  Either way, it was the first one I've ever felt before.

Well times up.  Thank you all for your letters, the package, and your love.  I really love it here and I'm excited to work with my classmate Elder Garey for the next little while as District Leader.  I love you all!

Love, Elder Smith

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Hello!

So today the beautiful blue sky decided to hide behind some dark grey clouds and so it is pouring rain right now.  But that's ok!  Rain or shine, I love it here in Taiwan.  So I know its a bit late, but Happy Valentine's day!  Hope it was a wonderful day for all you lovers out there.  For me, it was lovely day.  Well each day had something eventful happen so lets get on into it ok?!

Monday found us cruising along the very southern shoreline of Taiwan for preparation day.  Visited Maobitou, some famous rocky place, and then BaiSha, one of the well-known beaches here.  After we got done playing we visited with a few recent converts and then headed on over to Family Home Evening where we watched "The Testaments."  Probably one of my favorite church films.  Doesn't matter whether it's in english or chinese, the spirit is always present in the room and just testifys to me that Christ truly did come and that he will come again.

Tuesday we sat down with the newest member of the branch, Hua dx, and began to share with him his new member lessons.  We gave him a triple combination Book of Mormon, and began to review about the Restoration.  After that awesome lesson we visited one of the less-active sisters in the branch.  She hasn't come to church ever since she started having children, which I hear is common here in Taiwan, but we want to start helping her come back.  She has forgotten quite a bit, hasn't prayed or read in a while, so we started with the basics and how family prayer can help her family's relationship have more unity.  It may be a slow process with all her "off the wall children" but it doesn't matter, cause the same thing sort of happened in my family...

Wednesday was a day that will not be forgotten by Elder Field and me.  Our daily plan went along perfectly until our studies in the morning ended.  From there, without going into detail, the entire plan for the day blew up and crashed in our faces.  However, we went according to the spirit and it didn't go all that bad.  We were able to sit down with one of our former investigators and to strengthen our relationship with him.  He is super busy with work, and will be for a little bit longer, but as long as we keep strengthening that relationship, he will be more and more curious about our church. 

Thursday began bright and early by heading on up to GaoXiong for Combined District Training Meeting.  There we learned on how we can better contact families, helping them see that the gospel of Jesus Christ can help their familys accomplish their goals, strengthen their relationships, etc.  It all begins by bearing testimony to them of how this gospel has blessed my own family, and that it definately can do the same for them. 

Friday we woke up to the call that we were going on companion exchanges, so Elder White came down with me to HengChun.  Friday night we visited a family that we ran into last week.  This time we shared about how God shows his love for us by calling prophets.  Most importantly that we have a living prophet, President Monson, who receives revelation for our day, and for our families.

Saturday was another long day of traveling on buses, to exchange back companions.  Got back late afternoon and visited our wonderful bud, Hua dx, and reviewed the Plan of Salvation.  He mentioned to us that he didn't quite remember the plan, and that he wanted to meet haha.  He is so solid and is growing stronger and stronger each day. 

Sunday was an awesome day for those who attended the HengChun branch.  Not only did Hua dx get the Aaronic priesthood, but both Elder Field and I were asked to give 10 minute talks on sacrifice, because a member forgot to sacrifice a bit of time to write a talk on sacrifice.  After the talks and sacrament meeting, we visited two of our progressors at the same time.  We taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ, and both of their concerns came up, which was just that their parents wouldn't totally agree with them getting baptized.  Bearing testimony of the basics is always powerful.  Its through the small and simple things (prayer) that great things are brought to pass (baptism). 

I have noticed on my mission that miracles do come by the small and simple things.  Sometimes the miracles are unnoticed at first, but they are always through the small and simple things such as faith and prayer.  I personally have often overlooked the miracles at first, but looking back I have noticed it occured through one small thing.  Its crazy!  Well, I love you all, I hope you all enjoy the extra day of February this year!

Love, Elder Smith

Hua Dx's Baptism

Hua Dx's Baptism Day (He's one of the 3 smiling!)

Hello Everyone!!!

To start out I would just like to say to my wonderful brother Spencer, "Happy Birthday"!  Miss you and I hope today goes super awesome for you.  Keep doing what you're doing because you are an example to many and are well liked by many.  Love you!  Well, this past week I past 9 months in the field.  Yeah, it has gone by too fast for me.  I have so much more I want to do, so many more people to help, and so many areas I can improve in in such a short amount of time.  Wow!

Well, this past week found me on exchanges with my Zone Leader, Elder Dong.  He is a native and has such a great love for the people.  He truly has a deep desire to understand them and their situations and help them see the blessings from this gospel.  Learned so much from him on how I can be a better, loving missionary in such a short amount of time. 

As for yesterday, we had the baptism of my most favorite aboriginal man in the world, Hua Zhong Zheng dx!  I am so glad I was able to get to know him and help him grow in his testimony.  After his baptism, he shared such a powerful testimony.  The plan was for him to be confirmed next week, but after he shared his testimony, the Branch President suddenly decided to have his confirmation right then.  My companion Elder Field and I were both privileged to confirm him a member of the church.  I absolutely love this man and he will definitely become a super strong member of the church.

I know today message to you isn't very long, but I just want to say that I know that this truly is the Lord's work here on the earth today.  I know that as we do what we're supposed to (remaining worthy, keep the commandments and mission rules, working our hardest) that the Lord will fill our mouths with what to say to help His children.  I know this because I personally have seen it as we have taught Hua dx.  I'm grateful for him, as well as each one of you.  I'm grateful for all your prayers in behalf of me and all the missionaries around the world. I love and miss you all! 

Elder Smith

Stand as an Example of the Believers

Hello everyone,

How's it all going?  February already?!  Holy cow!  Anyway, it's good to hear from you all. Well mom and dad, it sounds like things went pretty well with those two Taiwanese boys.  You'll need to send pictures and all that stuff of them so I can see all what happened.  Seems like you got to experience a little bit of the Chinese culture too, well the language and whatever they may have told you about Taiwan and I'm glad you all got to experience a little bit of what I get to experience every single day.  Well, turns out I forgot my journal today, which means I forgot what all happened last week.  That's the only bad thing about getting old, is you start to forget everything.  

Well, this week we have been working with our good ol' friend Hua dx and helping him work towards baptism.  He really is super amazing and his faith continues to grow day by day.  As of right now, he has a goal to be baptized this next Sunday.  I'm so grateful for his willingness to follow the example of our Savior and be baptized. 

Our other investigator, Zheng dx, still hasn't gotten permission to be baptized.  We've been trying to do all we can with him to get his parent's permission.  We've been thinking a lot lately, and it may not the "permission" that is the problem, it may be his testimony.  So we have started working with him to help strengthen his testimony. 

Other than that, I forgot what happened last week. However, I'd just like to say that I am super grateful for the Book of Mormon and the power each little message brings.  In Mosiah 4:10 it says, "...if you believe all these things see that ye do them."  This little statement reminded me of the scripture that says, "...be thou an example of the believers..."  I just want you all to think about what you believe in.  Once you come up with it, go out and stand for it!  Ok? haha  I am so grateful that I made the decision to serve a mission and stand as an example for myself as well as to others, whoever they may be.  I love this work, I love my mission, and I love my life.  Til next time!

Love, Elder Smith

The Power of Prayer Brings the Power to Change

Well Hello,

To be honest, it feels like just yesterday that I emailed home.  Wow everything is just going by so fast right now.  I also hear that you will be hosting 2 Taiwanese students coming here soon.  That is so awesome!  You'll absolutely love them.  You'll have to tell me all about them.  I am super excited to tell about this week.  Some really strange things and some really awesome things happened, so here we go...

Monday for preparation day we just spent our hours with a few of the ward members who decided to move down to Australia.  We ate lunch together, some fried chicken (Anthony you would have loved it, its a billion times better than KFC), and some sushi that mom and dad would have absolutely loved.  After all that went on, we sat down with one of our really awesome/shy investigators, Zheng dx.  He is progressing pretty well, he just doesn't talk at all.  We taught him the Law of Chastity and Law of Tithing.  Super awesome and is super willing to keep these commandments.  We then ran into this really nice guy who wanted us to go over to his house right then so we could share a message about our church.  We got to his house and he started having us feel the temperature of the different types of floor in his house: tile, fake plasticy wood, and real wood.  Then he began showing us all the different idols he worships and how he worships them.  Without going into too much, things got pretty sketchy and he ended up just leaving.

Tuesday we began by helping the previous Branch President paint his house that he is building right now.  It was probably the most fun I've ever had painting in my life.  We then ate lunch with him and all his workers.  We tried teaching his workers a small message about the church, but they were too focused on trying to get us to drink, smoke, and eat binlang (the super nasty nut/drug everyone here eats).  Obviously as a missionary I wouldn't do those things, but I'm so glad I was taught from a young age on what is healthy and what isn't.  We then cruised on down to DTM and learned from our wonderful District Leader on the role of the Book of Mormon.  Well, today is the day that students began to not have school because of the Chinese New Year coming up.  We then headed to the courts to teach and contact all the many people playing basketball.  We had a lot of fun doing that, and then we taught one of our other investigators Emily on the Law of Tithing.  She really understood the need for this commandment and really grasps what we teach her, even though she is only 10 years old. 

Wednesday we sat down and taught one of my most favorite people I have met on my mission so far.  He is another one of our progressors, Hua dx, and he truly understands everything that we teach.  I think I may have mentioned him in last weeks letter, and so today we taught him the Plan of Salvation.  When we finished teaching I asked him what he the Plan of Salvation meant to him.  He said that he realizes that he needs to repent in order to return to live with God.  He truly understood why our life on earth is so important.  He told us that he was going to start repenting of his sins.  So awesome!  Well, from there we headed on over to English class where I taught about how 'Enlish is so confusing', the materials dad sent to me.  Haha the students absolutely hated it.  They were complaining on how English was so hard and stuff.  I'm just glad I already know it!

The best part about Thursday was that we sat down with Zheng dx, the shy one, and went over the baptismal interview questions.  You ask why?  Turns out that he wants to get baptized and is having his interview this weekend.  Prepared him for that, and is looking good for baptism.  The only problem that could cause him to not get baptized is the parents.  He is only 15 and needs parent permission, but his dad seems completely against us.  So we'll be praying that his dad softens his heart. 

Friday...Zheng dx passed his baptismal interview!!!  We are so excited for him and his growth in this gospel.  All he needs now is permission from his dad. 

Saturday was by far my favorite part of the week.  We sat down again with Hua dx and we began by giving him some talks on the church's stand on ancestral worship.  We gave him the articles and he began talking about ancestral worship.  Earlier this week we gave him some scriptures to read over, and one of them hit him really hard.  He said that last night, friday night, he read one of the scriptures and decided to pray about it.  He said after he prayed he had this really awesome feeling within him.  He said after he had that feeling, he decided to grab all his "bai bai" stuff (all the woship dolls, cups, trays, EVERTHING) and throw it all out.  He didn't want anything to do with that stuff anymore.  WOW!!!  Truly is a huge change for him in his life.  This was a huge testimony builder on prayer.  I know without a doubt that God really hears and answers each one of our prayers.  After that awesome moment we taught him about faith, repentance, and baptism.  The spirit truly was the teacher in that lesson and accepted the invitation to be baptized.  He is so ready and his testimony is already so strong. 

Sunday was Chinese New Year's Eve.  There were tons of people down in this super small town, but shops were closed and everyone was at home, making it a little harder to do anything but tract.  We were then invited to eat with two part member families to help build and strengthen their testimonies, along with helping the nonmembers. 

Well, this is has been an amazing time to work with these progressors, and has truly been a testimony builder.  A few months ago I expressed that nothing was going where I was at, no progressors or anything.  However, I shared that scripture on how we need to be patient, and the Lord will give us success.  I am now seeing that this blessing truly is coming to pass.  I am grateful for the testimony I have and I'm striving to strenghten it daily.  I'm grateful for this chance to serve and I love and miss you all. 

Love, Elder Smith

Happy Chinese New Year

Hello Everybody,

Hope you all had a wonderful Chinese New Year, cause I sure did!  This week couldn't have gone any better!  I not only learned so much about the chinese culture during the new Chinese year, but I also had the chance to see so much improvement from our wonderful investigator, Hua dx.  Before I jump into what happened this week, I just want to wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year!

Monday we had a member from Taipei come down and invited us to eat dinner with her and her family.  This is the only time her entire family is together, because of the Chinese New Year, and she has been working super hard to give them a chance to hear the gospel.  We ate dinner, chatted for a while with the family, and then shared a message with those who didn't run off.  The best thing we could do was plant the gospel seed inside of them, because they live all over Taiwan for work and school.

Tuesday was such an amazing day!  We headed up to MuDan, where all the Taiwanese aborigines live, to help our super awesome investigator, Hua dx, out.  He brought us up to his house so that we could help him throw out all of his Buddhist worshipping stuff.  On the way up he introduced us to his friends who he one day wants to share the gospel with.  We then got to his home and he had us pray so that he could clean/throw out the Buddhist stuff ok.  After all that happened he took us back to HengChun where we proselyted and visited a few of the recent converts here.  Not long after, a family from the ward took us to KenDing where they took us to go eat.  During the Chinese New Year, everyone wants to give us food and take us out to eat.  Its crazy!  Sad news, our investigator who we had planned to be baptized gave us a call and told us some news.  He had asked his dad for permission to be baptized, and his dad told him no.  We were sad, but we know that as we/he continues to show faith in Christ, the Lord will provide a way for him to be baptized. 

Wednesday was the busiest day down in our area.  It was the day where everyone decided to come tour the area of HengChun.  Tons of people to talk to which meant tons of referrals.  We did get to sit down with Hua dx to teach him a few more of the commandments.  He absolutely has no problem keeping the commandments.  He has told us if he is breaking one, he will immediately change and begin living that commandment.  I absolutely love this man!  After we visited him, we went tracting and found a pretty good family.  They are also Presbyterian, but as they read and pray about the Book of Mormon, they can come to know more about the Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

Thursday found us up in GaoXiong for Zone Conference.  The focus was on promised blessings and exact obedience.  The biggest thing I learned from the conference is that it is super important to give promised blessings in contacting, teaching, in every situation we get.  If we don't, then it won't give these people a reason to change there lives, a reason to meet with us again.  We then came home with one of the Assistants, Elder Petterson, for Assistant Exchanges.

Friday, we sat down with our Hua dx and taught him the law of tithing.  I would just like to share his quote with you.  Its not word for word, but its pretty close.  He said, "Yeah I can definately keep it.  In Buddhism we pay money to buy "bai bai" things: the incense, the paper money, etc... but we end up burning it all in the end.  Paying our tithing to God makes a lot more sense.  For example, it goes to build churches, temples, to make Books of Mormon.  All these things we can actually use for our benefit."  He is so awesome, so awesome that we decided to put him through an interview for baptism right then and there.  Turns out he passed with flying colors!  He will be getting baptized here on February 11th, and we're so looking forward to it.  We then sat down with our Zheng dx and shared with him 1 Nephi 7:12.  We told him that as he continues to exercise his faith, the Lord will provide a way for him to be baptized.  He encouraged him to share his testimony and a few other things to help persuade his dad.  We're praying that his dad will soften his heart. 

Saturday we began by sitting down with another really good investigator named Alice.  It was the first time we had met with her, but she came to church last week and really seemed to like it.  She is the only Christian in her family, about Spencer's age.  She really knows a lot about Christ, and seemed pretty fascinated by the Book of Mormon.  She seems pretty golden to me... We asked her about baptism and she said, "when and what do I need to bring."  My companion responded by saying February 25th and all you need to bring is yourself, a towel, and some clean underwear haha.  We then traveled to a super far area, GangKou, where a member took us out to dinner and introduced us to some of her friends. 

Wow, I am absolutely loving life right now.  I'm grateful for the wonderful privilege I have to work in this beautiful area of HengChun.  I absolutely love the people here, and love those I have had the opportunity to serve with and introduce the gospel to.  Serving a mission isn't the easiest thing in life, but as we push forward "with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men" the Lord will be there to lead and guide us to success.  I absolutely love you all and wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year!

Love, Elder Smith

功喜發豺

I Wish We Could Have Baptized Her in the Ocean :)

Beach in KenDing!

Baptism of Pan JM

Elder Field, Pan JM, Elder Smith (me!)

Hello Everyone,

This week was simply amazing and so I wanna get right on into it.  Our preparation day was spent relaxing on the beach in KenDing (down at the very very very bottom of Taiwan).  Wow it has been forever since I was last at a beach.  The weather was perfect and the waves kept on crashing in, oh I was so tempted to jump in and start swimming.  Maybe next time we can get away with it by having a baptism there... Anyway, after p-day was over, we had such a good lesson with one of our progressors, Zheng dx, on the word of wisdom.  He is super willing to live every commitment that we give him, and has no real problem with any of them.

Tuesday started off with a long and bumpy bus ride up to our District Training Meeting, and then an even longer, bumpier bus ride back to our area.  These bus rides are getting better and better, meaning I get less sick every time.  So later on that night we sat down with one of our less-active families and taught them about the heroes we have in our lives, Book of Mormon heroes, and then the best hero we could ever have, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  This lesson really helped me realize all the heroes that I have and have had in my life. 

Wednesday we found a super super super awesome investigator.  Turns out that our plans for half the day fell through, and so it resulted in us contacting for half the day. If they hadn't fallen through, we probably never would have found this man.  He was helping with some construction on the super old wall that surrounds HengChun and he was resting in his car for a bit.  He is actually Presbytyrian? or Protestant.  I don't know what it is in English haha but yeah..  So we taught him the Message of the Restoration and he just went off on how it all made sense to him.  He was so awesome and wanted to come to church with us this Sunday!

Friday was my second favorite day of the week.  We ended up going on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, and who did I end up going with?... My trainer, Elder Johnson!  I was so excited to go back with him for a short while to proselyte just like the good ol' days.  I learned so much from him on how I can be a better missionary. 

Saturday, my favorite day of the week, we baptized Pan JM!!!  It was such a wonderful baptism and everything went so smoothly.  It could have been in the ocean, but the weather was too cold to do so.  Darn!  She was a bit nervous for it all, but all went well.  I'm so glad I've had the chance to see her change and to help her enter the path that leads back to our Heavenly Father.  

It has been such a wonderful week, and I hope for many more just like it.  I hope you all have fun in school, at work, etc... I'm grateful for all of your prayers and support!  

Love, Elder Smith