Mormon 9:15-16

Dear Mom, Dad, and Eric,

Mormon 9:15-16.

I want to begin by telling you a little bit about the youth of Taiwan, but in order to do so, I need to back up to about Tuesday.  Needless to say, I have a lot to say this week, so brace yourself.

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to go on Zone Leader exchanges with Elder Bennett.  He is a fantastic Elder who works diligently (he's actually attending Harvard when he returns).  We had a great chance to get to know one another and discuss how to improve our work.  While together, this lady stopped us on the street.  It turns out that she was a member, but she took caution to warn us that a huge Typhoon was on its way.  She said in Chinglish, "American CNN shuo taifeng hui hen da (says the Taiphoon will be big)."  Following that experience, I heard it repeated several times.  A lot of people were making preparations including placing sand bags outside of our apartment building in fear that damage would be done.  Now, you may be wondering why this was important.  Well, the coming Thursday began a three day Taizhong Youth Conference.  There was a great fear that the Conference would be canceled as large, looming clouds rolled in and the typhoon bore down on Taiwan.

Thousands of texts were sent out to the youth of Taiwan to fast and pray that they could have their youth conference.  Prayers were said and fast were made.  The faith of these youth diverted the hurricane.  It didn't hit Taizhong, only hitting the most southern portion of the island (where apparently it was relatively intense).  These youth, most of whom are first generation converts themselves had the faith in their Savior sufficient enough to produce a miracle that could divert nature. 

Actually, on Friday night, selected companionships throughout the mission had the privillege and opportunity to attend part of the Conference at Sun-Moon Lake.  My companion and I got selected to go.  Guess who else did.  Elder Haag, my trainer and Elder Taylor (he probably doesn't need an introduction).  This is the first time I have seen him in about five months.  Wow.  What an experience.  Floods of memories and experiences came back.  He is doing great.  Everything you said is true.  When Zone Conference comes around again, we'll be in the same meeting.  However, currently, we are not in the same zone.  We spent most of the hour and a half bus ride to the meeting catching up and part of it there and part of it coming back.  The times that I wasn't with him, I was with Elder Haag discussing our previous area (the members and investigators we associated with).  They are both wonderful. 

The activity itself was tremendous.  Hundreds and hundreds of youth combined together to listen to missionaries share about the Book of Mormon.  We had a mini-"Dan Jones" experience with them in which a missionary grabbed one of the youth and stood on boxes on a stage and shouted their testimonies of the Book of Mormon while everyone cheered for them.  It was awesome.  What a sight!  The youth of this church!  Their testimonies and their love for a gospel they have known but a few short years!  They are examples of the believers who hold their lights high in praise and adoration for their Lord and Savior!  I wasn't that good.  I also had the opportunity to teach a group of about twelve of the youth how to share their testimony of the Book of Mormon with their friends.  It was spectacular.  President Bishop was there and gave an excellent presentation on the Book of Mormon being the keystone of our religion, having an actual arch recreated on stage as youth shared their testimonies.  There wasn't a lot of opportunity to share the gospel in the normal methods that day, but I hope that our presence strengthened their testimonies as much as it strengthened my own.  I wish you all could have experienced it with me.

The presidential election is coming up and I'm pretty sure that when I reapplied for my driver license I registered to vote.  President Bishop told us that it would be appropriate for our parents to send us absentee ballots as well as brief summaries of the political candidates' platforms.  I would love that.  I think you already know that however.  If at all possible, perhaps when you send that package this week, you could somehow work in the absentee ballot.  I would really appreciate it.

In response to your email:

When I return, this family is totally going to hike Snowbird again and eat pizza and ride the tram like old times.  Right now, it sounds...easy and soothing.  That's a strange feeling.  I must have been pretty lazy before.  I can't wait for it, but that's what I want to do.

The city is different.  It's a little bit harder to navigate than the more rural Shalu, but I think I've got the most important parts down.  We will have success here.

I had the privillege and opportunity of having an interview with President Bishop this week.  He is an incredible man, and I think you should take comfort in knowing that he is taking care of the missionaries here in the Taizong Taiwan Mission.  He is a spiritual giant with a lot to impart to those he is serving.  We discussed the Book of Mormon and its importance to us as individuals and I could tell that his testimony of it is incredibly strong.  Accompanying this interview, we were all invited to send you the picture he took of us (which I haven't received yet and will send next week I suppose) and bear our testimonies of this incredible book:

      I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It was written by the hands of ancient prophets upon the American continent under the power and influence of the Holy Ghost.  It is a factual account of these ancient people who witnessed miracles and blessings because of this gospel and literally saw our Savior, Jesus Christ, having an immortal, resurrected, perfected body of flesh and bone.  The Book of Mormon carries a promise to all of those who read it that if they are honest seekers of truth and ask God the Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ of its truthfulness, they WILL know of it is the word of God, Joseph Smith was His prophet, and that Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament whose coming was foretold.  He walked with us.  He taught us.  He prayed on our behalf.  I know that if you will continually read and study this book, the mysteries of heaven will unfold unto you.  You will have the faith necessary to face all adversity.  No other book will draw you closer to the Savior.  I say these things in the sacred name of He who walked among us, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

For your information, we are going to the temple next week so my preparation day will be on Wednesday.  Don't fret, just expect an email early Tuesday evening.  I would plan to send your email at the normal time, just don't expect a response.  If you change your time, I may not receive your email.  I would also like to invite you all to pray for what to fast for this week in preparation for the upcoming fast Sunday.

I love and miss you all.  Keep the working going.

- Elder Woolsey

I'm Still Wet.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Eric,

So, apparently, it rains in Taiwan.  A lot.  Because I moved, I can't find where I packed my rain gear so my companion and I both got caught in heavy heavy rain without rain gear...three times...  The first time our investigator was pleading with us to change our clothes, and we had to tell him like twelve times that we didn't live at the church and didn't have other clothes.  The third time, this really old lady who didn't speak Chinese forced us to take her ponchos.  I now have a poncho.  I know what you're thinking, Mom...  A typhoon is coming this next week.  It shouldn't be as bad as the last one.  Supposedly this last week was also a Typhoon.  It only rained a lot.

So I must tell you.  Now that I'm in a city, we have tons of restaurants and people everywhere.  The work is still really slow, contrary to initial thought, but everything is much more convenient.  Anyway, my companion and I ate Subway (they have a really cheap two dollar deal for a 6" and a soda) and it just felt weird.  I felt like I was in America for a little while.  It smelled like Subway, it tasted like Subway and all the workers there have to know how to say all of the vegetables in English in order to work there so we ordered in English.  It was bizarre.  The lady that helped us didn't even look THAT Taiwanese.  Also, we went upstairs to eat it and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith started playing.  Following that, our super awesome recent convert that got baptized like six months ago or something up stairs and gave us free...donuts!!  I haven't had a donut in forever either.  It was incredibly bizarre. I felt like I was home for a second and I both hated it and loved it. I don't think I'll be going back. Oh yeah, and get this.  You know how there's no Dunkin' Donuts in Utah?  Taizhong has one.  Go figure.

Our recent convert is seriously incredible.  He is only fifteen years old (almost sixteen) but he comes and does missionary work with us all day every day (not exactly, but almost).  He wants to be a missionary and he's incredibly strong in the gospel.  I can't wait to see what happens to this kid someday.  He's on Summer break and his parents don't really care what he does.  He's an incredible example of the believers (it also helps that he speaks Taiwanese).

Stake Conference was this week as well which means I got to see a ton of missionaries from all over this part of Taiwan...including my long missed trainer Elder Haag.  He's doing incredibly well as the Zhanghua Zone Leader.  It sounds like he's having tons of success and really tearing it up.  I hope you all get a chance to meet him someday, he's seriously great.  He feels like my second older brother.  I hope that we can still be friends even after I get back.

This mission is crazy.  Having moved, I've found out about a ton more missionaries and their situations as well.  I didn't realize how intelligent a lot of the missionaries are here.  I feel like in order to have come here, you have to have had crazy credentials, Chinese beforehand, or lucky.  My companion, Elder Fiala, took two years of Chinese and four years of French and is attending the University of Virginia.  My Zone Leader went to Harvard.  The Zone Leader in Pingdong has already graduated college with a Bachelor's degree in Math (yeah, he's only twenty).  The former Zone Leader here also is attending Harvard.  Elder Haag graduated High School when he was sixteen.  The list goes on.  I feel really inadequate.  I haven't had Chinese before.  My intelligence and my credentials are small in comparison.  I'm just another missionary.  It's incredibly humbling to be surrounded by so many outstanding people.  As of lately, I've been inspired even more so to return to work incredibly diligently in my schooling.  The previous goals I set will still be my goals and I know now how to make plans and work hard to achieve them.  I will.  I didn't know that Elder Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve graduated from Standford with his Juris Doctorate.  The Quorum of the Twelve is all extremely well educated and For the Strength of Youth (which I highly recommend picking up the new one and reading it) talks about feeding your desire to learn.  I'm going to work incredibly hard in schooling and my church callings when I return.  That is going to be my only focus.  Marriage is a third I suppose (buyong xiang name duo / no need to think that much).

I can't wait till you all can come back here with me and I can show you what I mean.  There are so many things that I would love for you to experience.

What you said about the Dentist is incredible and inspiring.  I'm so grateful for the examples of the great members of this church.  This gospel is incredible.  I love it.  That made me incredibly happy.

Well, I'm still safe and the work is progressing.  I do miss you all, but it's going to be the hardest thing I've ever done when I leave here.  I don't want to think about it right now.  Thank you all for everything you do for me.  Your faith, support, and prayers are felt continually.  Thank you so much.

- Elder Woolsey 

I'm Still Wet.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Eric,

So, apparently, it rains in Taiwan.  A lot.  Because I moved, I can't find where I packed my rain gear so my companion and I both got caught in heavy heavy rain without rain gear...three times...  The first time our investigator was pleading with us to change our clothes, and we had to tell him like twelve times that we didn't live at the church and didn't have other clothes.  The third time, this really old lady who didn't speak Chinese forced us to take her ponchos.  I now have a poncho.  I know what you're thinking, Mom...  A typhoon is coming this next week.  It shouldn't be as bad as the last one.  Supposedly this last week was also a Typhoon.  It only rained a lot.

So I must tell you.  Now that I'm in a city, we have tons of restaurants and people everywhere.  The work is still really slow, contrary to initial thought, but everything is much more convenient.  Anyway, my companion and I ate Subway (they have a really cheap two dollar deal for a 6" and a soda) and it just felt weird.  I felt like I was in America for a little while.  It smelled like Subway, it tasted like Subway and all the workers there have to know how to say all of the vegetables in English in order to work there so we ordered in English.  It was bizarre.  The lady that helped us didn't even look THAT Taiwanese.  Also, we went upstairs to eat it and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith started playing.  Following that, our super awesome recent convert that got baptized like six months ago or something up stairs and gave us free...donuts!!  I haven't had a donut in forever either.  It was incredibly bizarre. I felt like I was home for a second and I both hated it and loved it. I don't think I'll be going back. Oh yeah, and get this.  You know how there's no Dunkin' Donuts in Utah?  Taizhong has one.  Go figure.

Our recent convert is seriously incredible.  He is only fifteen years old (almost sixteen) but he comes and does missionary work with us all day every day (not exactly, but almost).  He wants to be a missionary and he's incredibly strong in the gospel.  I can't wait to see what happens to this kid someday.  He's on Summer break and his parents don't really care what he does.  He's an incredible example of the believers (it also helps that he speaks Taiwanese).

Stake Conference was this week as well which means I got to see a ton of missionaries from all over this part of Taiwan...including my long missed trainer Elder Haag.  He's doing incredibly well as the Zhanghua Zone Leader.  It sounds like he's having tons of success and really tearing it up.  I hope you all get a chance to meet him someday, he's seriously great.  He feels like my second older brother.  I hope that we can still be friends even after I get back.

This mission is crazy.  Having moved, I've found out about a ton more missionaries and their situations as well.  I didn't realize how intelligent a lot of the missionaries are here.  I feel like in order to have come here, you have to have had crazy credentials, Chinese beforehand, or lucky.  My companion, Elder Fiala, took two years of Chinese and four years of French and is attending the University of Virginia.  My Zone Leader went to Harvard.  The Zone Leader in Pingdong has already graduated college with a Bachelor's degree in Math (yeah, he's only twenty).  The former Zone Leader here also is attending Harvard.  Elder Haag graduated High School when he was sixteen.  The list goes on.  I feel really inadequate.  I haven't had Chinese before.  My intelligence and my credentials are small in comparison.  I'm just another missionary.  It's incredibly humbling to be surrounded by so many outstanding people.  As of lately, I've been inspired even more so to return to work incredibly diligently in my schooling.  The previous goals I set will still be my goals and I know now how to make plans and work hard to achieve them.  I will.  I didn't know that Elder Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve graduated from Standford with his Juris Doctorate.  The Quorum of the Twelve is all extremely well educated and For the Strength of Youth (which I highly recommend picking up the new one and reading it) talks about feeding your desire to learn.  I'm going to work incredibly hard in schooling and my church callings when I return.  That is going to be my only focus.  Marriage is a third I suppose (buyong xiang name duo / no need to think that much).

I can't wait till you all can come back here with me and I can show you what I mean.  There are so many things that I would love for you to experience.

What you said about the Dentist is incredible and inspiring.  I'm so grateful for the examples of the great members of this church.  This gospel is incredible.  I love it.  That made me incredibly happy.

Well, I'm still safe and the work is progressing.  I do miss you all, but it's going to be the hardest thing I've ever done when I leave here.  I don't want to think about it right now.  Thank you all for everything you do for me.  Your faith, support, and prayers are felt continually.  Thank you so much.

- Elder Woolsey 

Yuanlin

Dear Mom, Dad, and Eric,

I'm glad that your email was short, because I actually have things to say. 

I would like to start with an investigator that I have that has the faith to move mountains.  She is incredible.  I've told you about her before, but I would like to tell you again.  She was in a very serious...incident, in which she broke her foot and her back terribly.  According to the doctor, it will be a year before she can proceed to normal behaviors fully. I guess this was enough to humble her to the point in which she can be receptive to the gospel because she sure has taken to it.  She has read through the entire Book of Mormon, she has told us that she wants to be baptized and her kids to be baptized, she wakes them up daily to pray with them.  She loves the Gospel.  She comes to church even though the pain in her back is nearly entirely overwhelming.  She is in the process of teaching her children the gospel and the only things that stand in her way from baptism is possibly her husband and her physical incapability of entering the water for baptism.  I know that as we all do our best to obey the word of the Lord we can be like her.  As of recently, according to the doctor, she is progressing (physically) faster than anyone he has ever seen before.  She should be in working condition by October.  Is this a miracle?  You tell me.  Three months sure beats a year if you ask me.

Also, I've moved.  I'm no longer companions with Elder White as he just went trainer, but am now companions with Elder Fiala from Virginia.  He's great.  He's extremely humble and kind.  He really is just incredibly nice.  I already know that we are going to get along well.  Ask questions about him next email and I will answer them!  I also am now in Yuanlin which is about an hour south by car on the freeway.  A wonderful inactive member offered to drive me (because he said that he saw my effort in trying to improve his life even though he said it wasn't for him anymore) all the way from Shalu to Yuanlin.  Needless to say, it saved me from an hour long bus ride and an hour long train ride and a half hour walk to where we live now.  I also didn't have to pay to have my stuff moved.  It was a miracle to be sure because no one told him that I was moving, he just happened to call.  I'm so excited for what will happen here in this new place.  There's tons of potential for progression. Also, today, I was taken out to eat at a multi-course, very expensive restaurant by a wonderfully nice, very old, recent convert (which is rare) that Elder Fiala and I don't really know.  The Lord is watching out for me.

I've moved from the rural areas of the suburbs of Taizhong City to the very real city of Yuanlin.  I love the rush of a city and the huge amounts of people busling about to and fro.  Elder Taylor moved to.  Move calls are very interesting to missionaries and it's difficult to describe. 

With regards to the Typhoon, I am always going to go out in it unless the Mission President tells me otherwise.  Don't fear for me.  The Lord will protect me as long as I don't do anything intentionally stupid.

 I'm sad that I missed the Olympics because I hear about them a lot here.  They sound like a lot of fun and healthy competition.  I'm glad that America did well...I think.

  

We have all been endowed with divine potential having been born spiritually of God and then been supplied with an added, yet infinite, measure of power from our Savior Jesus Christ's atonement.  We can do anything and improve infinitely.  I pray that you will fulfill this potential, even if it seems like a small thing...or a big thing.

I want you all to know that I'm always safe and that I'm always happy.  Sometimes I miss you all too, but I try not to.  It's hard when I think about home.  Luckily today is too crazy to have the chance to do so.  I love you more than you can ever know and I hope that you will all seek to be the best you can be daily.  Read scriptures!  Pray!  Go to church!  Magnify your calling!  I'm going to work so hard when I return.  I can't wait for the day that I see you all again.

-Elder Woolsey

Wet shoes.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Eric,

Dad, I know you're a really lihai (fierce) cyclist, but do you know what it's like to cycle in gale force winds, torrential rains, and a flooded street that comes up to your ankles?  It's...an experience, that's for sure.  All I can say is...TYPHOOOOOOONN!!!  Supposedly it's the worst it has ever been on my part of the island in twenty years.  I wouldn't say that I ever felt in danger, but I tell you right now, that it's difficult to work in that kind of weather.  No one is on the streets and people cancel appointments like crazy.  The bishop along with many others told us that it wasn't safe to be on the roads and that we were crazy for being out in it, but it's a testimony builder for many in my opinion.  The wonderful thing about storms is that while it's like the second coming outside and your bike falls over making you lose your rain pants, your flash cards, and a plethora of other useful things, the miracles are free flowing.  Elder Erickson said that he saw a clip on the television of a security camera catching a man who was walking along when suddenly the ground collapsed under him.  Also, although I try really hard not to look at televisions, that same day Elder White and I saw a clip of a man in Taibei getting sucked into a whirlpool in the middle of the street.  It was insane.  There was this river the flows next to where some of our investigators live and it was crazy huge.  It's supposed to be the size of that little stream that flows next to our church in Draper but this thing looked worse than Grizzly River Rapids and people were out in the streets pumping water out.  Supposedly giant rocks were flowing down the main street in Shalu which we didn't end up going to ourselves.  Typhoon = Cyclone = Hurricane in case you were wondering.  It just depends on where you are in the world.

  

I asked about why Taiwan is referred to as Chinese Taibei, and it's actually another official name for Taiwan and it has to do with the relationship that Taiwan has with China.  Supposedly, China wouldn't let them compete without it.

A missionary that left from my ward here in Taiwan came home from France this week and it turns out that he trained that incredible Elder Dagenais who was in my District in the MTC.  That was incredible!  I was stunned out how small the world is.  One is from Quebec, I'm from Utah, he's from Taiwan, but we all know each other somehow.  It's incredibly strange.  As Thomas S. Monson would say, there truly are no coincidences.  His faith is great.  I can't wait till I can come back from my mission, returning as the greatest most pure person that I have ever been.  It's a crazy thought to know that at that time, I will never have been a better person at any other point in my life.  I suppose that that's how every day should be for all of us.  That's how repentance works.

  

 I've had several friends that have gotten married already.  I really can't believe it.  Elder Erickson keeps mentioning how when we return it's our turn.  I feel more mature and more like an adult than I ever have in my entire life, but at the same time, I feel far from ready to start a family.  That being said, I feel like my eyes have been opened to the reasoning why missionaries return home and try to get married and start families quickly.  I'm not saying that I plan on doing that, but I'm not going to intentionally avoid marriage at that point (whew....I'm only nineteen...).

  

Mom, Dad, and Eric, I invite you all to set spiritual goals with regards to scripture reading this week.  I don't know whether it will be to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, to read a chapter daily, or just to read daily period, but I promise that as you set these goals, you will see the influence of the Lord in your life more abundantly.  You will find that your burdens will be made lighter and the love your Heavenly Father has for you will fill you continually.  I encourage you all to set a goal and a plan to achieve it.  Please tell me how this goes next week!

I hope that I can fulfill your expectations when I return, Dad.  I hope I change enough, and that I'm eloquent enough.  I can't make any promises on how well I will be able to express myself, but I promise that I will have changed, that this will mean everything to me and that I have made changes and will have made changes that I don't plan to budge on.  I'm going to work hard to serve my God for the rest of my life.  I've seen many types of missionaries already.  Lihai (fierce), mediocre, yi ban (average), and every other time.  I don't know which I am right now, but I'm going to do my best, like Eric did his best.  Not every missionary changes and not every missionary changes enough to maintain it when they return, but I PROMISE you all that I will.  I'm trying to do my best here, to find, to teach, and to baptize.  I don't know what success I'll have, but I'll have been converted and if the Lord chooses to bless me accordingly, I will help a few others come unto Him as well. 

It's difficult, there's no doubt, but it's more than worth it.  There are very few days that I don't go to bed exhausted, then to my...disappointment,wake up exhausted, doing everything in my power to push my legs while running or squeeze out one more push-up.  We begin studying sometimes and it's hard to stay awake, and then we go to work for eleven hours before returning and doing it over again.  I love every minute of it.

Goodwood sounds delicious right now.  Steak.  Mexican food.  Whew....Elder Erickson tells me sometimes that the first thing that he's going to do when he gets home is go eat.  If it's one in the morning he wants Wendy's first.  He's a lot of fun, but he kind of has a good point.  I try not to think about it though.  I have a long way to go.

I'm sorry about the drought.  That can't be good for anyone.

Well, I hope that everyone is doing well and that you feel the blessings of sacrifice daily.  I'm grateful to have such a wonderfully supportive family that thinks about me often and loves me enough to write weekly and pray for me.  I love this gospel.  This isn't just a "oh he's a missionary" kind of thing anymore.  I don't want it to be.  There's sort of a legend about a missionary named Elder Buning who lives in Utah somewhere.  He was the hardest working missionary that any missionary I've met so far has ever seen.  Actually, Elder Haag was his companion at one point.  Supposedly it was almost inhuman how hard he worked and how incredible of a missionary he was.  I want to be like that.  That's my only desire.  He left about four days after I met Elder Haag so there was no chance to ever see him in action.  I don't want praise or recognition, but I want to be able to say what he wrote to Elder Haag a couple of months ago which was that when he got home and collapsed into the arms of his mother, it was everything he wished it would be.  He worked as hard as he could on his mission and had no regrets.  He was tired, but satisfied.  He also said that the first few weeks were torture for him because he wasn't working as hard, and he didn't know what to do.  I want to be able to say that. 

I love you all.  You xin xin you banfa (get a translation for this)!  I don't know how to type in characters or I would...

-Elder Woolsey