Hello My Beautiful Family,
This week was really good. We had Zone Conference and it was on how to find with faith! It was the best one so far. My new area is way awesome. I love the city, there are a ton of people in our area. Last night was cool, we rode to a really far place down by the beach and found some Filipino’s. They were living in a small shack. They called it their barracks. lol we read from the Liahona with them and learned they were fisherman and they should have been out to see yesterday but the wind and weather was too bad. So we got to teach them. We are going back there next week. It was way hard to teach in English though...oh man! My companion keeps making fun of me because I said "I know that this church is true. When you know this is true are you willing to act on the truth?" Then as we were riding home I came to a red light. No one was there not even one car. Kind of out in the middle of nowhere but really close to coming into the city. I heard the spirit say stop, so I did. Then had a feeling to run the light again. Again it said no stop. I looked around for somebody to contact but nobody was there, then again ok I’m running it! The spirit screamed NO ELDER! I was freaked out wow ok I will stay but nobody rode up behind me and no danger ahead. Then the light turned green and about 10 seconds later two Filipino’s rode up next to me.
I invited them in my poor English to come follow me to our church. They said ok! Then as we were riding to the church I asked if they believed in Jesus Christ. They said of course we are Catholic. I was surprised but very happy to give them a tour of the church. Afterwards we taught them and they were very happy to meet us and said on Sunday they would come to church. So hopefully I can translate for Nali and Mar when they come! Super humble people. Chris Packer must have loved it there!
They told me a crazy story… there is a Christian sect that believes in order to have forgiveness of a man’s sin every good Friday on the Passover they literally crucify themselves!!! They do this for 10 minutes. They take 9 inch nails and pierce the hands and feet but not the wrist of course. Just like Jesus Christ. If you ask me I think they are crazy and that is BLASPHEMY! I heard this before from my companion Elder Pack, but he didn’t know if it was true, but I found out from Mar that ya there are people in the phillipines that area a part of this church that really crucify themselves. Learn something new every day!
Well sorry this week no pics because I forgot the cord. Today we played basketball as a Zone. The Zone activity as we call it, then after that we went to Pizza Hut! I ate so much... I’m kind of retarded tho, cuz I drank a ton of soda so it filled me up really fast, so I couldn’t down 15 slices like my companion did! I love you all thanks for sending shoes!! Wow how did you know I need a new pair and the suit will be very nice.. Haven’t sent the ring yet, due to no money...everybody is suffering, money hasn’t come in yet..Hopefully tonight or tomorrow. Can you send the 8.5 first then I will send mine? keyi ma? Can you? Hey you never told me what your mouse pad looks like...what character is it? I love you to the MOON! The boys are studs! JV right? Hi Brinae write me soon.. Alyea nice hair hahah and Daddy can’t wait to get that letter from you.
I love you!
March 22, 2010 - Letter
Hello my beautiful family!
Ya the big city is so fun! My new member called the church yesterday James! Guiren is only 30 minutes away so he is coming to treat me to dinner next Wednesday and then he will stay and attend my English class. Ya me and my new companion get a long great I think he is my favorite companion so far and will be until I go home. He is worried to go home but I am helping him get lost in the work and work really hard and try to be exactly obedient so we can see 10 people get baptized this move call!
Ok i'll answer your questions...Mom..ya Taibao is my favorite area so far just because of all the members. But proyselyting was hard not much people to talk to. Ya everything fit but it was the hardest packing yet I didn't get to bed till 3:30! I'm wearing a ring that a random investigator gave me for free at 7-11 just because I was from Las Vegas. lol to answer Dad's question everybody loves us, except for some old people because they are afraid when they die their family won't worship them so some people oppose us and the church hardcore.
Drayson..... I have baptized or personally attended 8 baptisms. But the other aspect of it. I taught 12 people that later got baptized when I moved so I guess so far I have helped 20 people be baptized.... my goal is 50!!! great question buddy!
Brycson... today I ate pineapple ice cream, but other days oatmeal, or the breafast shop. A breakfast burger most of the times when I have enough money and sometimes I don't eat breakfast just wait till lunch. Alright next
Alyea they drive on the right side lol that's only Europe and Austrailia. Cool question tho.
Brinae: Monday, Wednesday and Friday we get up at 6 or 6:30 depending how late me and my companion stayed up talking if we stay up late we get up at 6:30, then till 7 lift, then on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we run outside! Sunday no excerise of course. 7-8 prepare for day. 8-9 personal study. Then 9-10 companionship study. 10- 10:30 language study. 10:30 out the door home at 9. Home at 9:30 if teaching a lesson. 9-:930 plan for the next day. 9:30 till 10 fill out area book or call people to set up, then 10-10:30 study Chinese. 10:30 go to bed! Great questions everybody keep doing that from now on!
I love you guys!
Ya the big city is so fun! My new member called the church yesterday James! Guiren is only 30 minutes away so he is coming to treat me to dinner next Wednesday and then he will stay and attend my English class. Ya me and my new companion get a long great I think he is my favorite companion so far and will be until I go home. He is worried to go home but I am helping him get lost in the work and work really hard and try to be exactly obedient so we can see 10 people get baptized this move call!
Ok i'll answer your questions...Mom..ya Taibao is my favorite area so far just because of all the members. But proyselyting was hard not much people to talk to. Ya everything fit but it was the hardest packing yet I didn't get to bed till 3:30! I'm wearing a ring that a random investigator gave me for free at 7-11 just because I was from Las Vegas. lol to answer Dad's question everybody loves us, except for some old people because they are afraid when they die their family won't worship them so some people oppose us and the church hardcore.
Drayson..... I have baptized or personally attended 8 baptisms. But the other aspect of it. I taught 12 people that later got baptized when I moved so I guess so far I have helped 20 people be baptized.... my goal is 50!!! great question buddy!
Brycson... today I ate pineapple ice cream, but other days oatmeal, or the breafast shop. A breakfast burger most of the times when I have enough money and sometimes I don't eat breakfast just wait till lunch. Alright next
Alyea they drive on the right side lol that's only Europe and Austrailia. Cool question tho.
Brinae: Monday, Wednesday and Friday we get up at 6 or 6:30 depending how late me and my companion stayed up talking if we stay up late we get up at 6:30, then till 7 lift, then on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we run outside! Sunday no excerise of course. 7-8 prepare for day. 8-9 personal study. Then 9-10 companionship study. 10- 10:30 language study. 10:30 out the door home at 9. Home at 9:30 if teaching a lesson. 9-:930 plan for the next day. 9:30 till 10 fill out area book or call people to set up, then 10-10:30 study Chinese. 10:30 go to bed! Great questions everybody keep doing that from now on!
I love you guys!
March 17, 2010 - "Dan Jones"
That's me doing the Dan Jones. I was preaching to all those people at the stop light!
March 15, 2010 - Transfer to Tainan
Hello my beautiful family!
WOW!! I am finally in the city! I moved down to West Tainan. I came to east tainan on exchanges a couple of times. So it was cool coming back today. But I have never been to west so this will be a fun experience.... I am very excited because I have been wanting to serve in the city for a long time. I'm sure I will be able to go to tai zhong later on. My new companion is way cool and super funny because he has alot of stories. I have run into him a couple times. Last zone conference he translated so his chinese is really qiang lol. So his name is Elder Joshua Aaron Williammee from Raleigh Stake North Carolina, he is on his last move so it looks like I have to learn how to work in the city.
I don't have much time today, I want to send a lot of pics so I can catch you up with what happened last week. Man I am going to miss taibao I was there for 6 months! It's different in the big city my goal is to baptize 15 this move call! so I am very excited to start working towards that goal! I love you all and yes I finally got the pics thank you. The ctr ring doesn't fit on my right ring finger. I need an 8.5 but I am wearing it on my left pointer finger which works too! Check into that for me.
WOW!! I am finally in the city! I moved down to West Tainan. I came to east tainan on exchanges a couple of times. So it was cool coming back today. But I have never been to west so this will be a fun experience.... I am very excited because I have been wanting to serve in the city for a long time. I'm sure I will be able to go to tai zhong later on. My new companion is way cool and super funny because he has alot of stories. I have run into him a couple times. Last zone conference he translated so his chinese is really qiang lol. So his name is Elder Joshua Aaron Williammee from Raleigh Stake North Carolina, he is on his last move so it looks like I have to learn how to work in the city.
I don't have much time today, I want to send a lot of pics so I can catch you up with what happened last week. Man I am going to miss taibao I was there for 6 months! It's different in the big city my goal is to baptize 15 this move call! so I am very excited to start working towards that goal! I love you all and yes I finally got the pics thank you. The ctr ring doesn't fit on my right ring finger. I need an 8.5 but I am wearing it on my left pointer finger which works too! Check into that for me.
New companion: Elder Joshua Aaron Williammee
from Raleigh Stake, North Carolina
March 14, 2010 - Leaving Taibao
"Ya...a lot of people came to see me off to tainan. Lamar is better than ever. When I baptized chen yi lin on Saturday he was begging to get baptized!! But he still has to come to church one more time and pass a interview! He is the most golden investigator I have ever taught in my life sorry Nick! He was faster"
March 8, 2010 - Letter and Janfusun Fancyworld
Hello my beautiful family!
Haha I knew you would be worried! Ya last Thursday was the biggest earthquake I have ever felt. At 8:25 in the morning I was reading Jesus the Christ at the time. I stood up and screamed ya!! Repent Taiwan!!!...then my dresser fell over..and that’s it. But it started off slow and after I yelled repent the earth shook hard! In jia yi xian taibao it rocked us a good 6.4! I guess 38 people have died but of course all missionaries are ok! pretty crazy.. Woah!!! EARTHQUAKE!!!! wow is the world going to end already? nah this must be the beginning me and elder pack just said. haha
So the picture I just sent you was a picture of the most golden investigator I have ever met. Even though he has one eye because of a car accident, I still love him to death. So I found him at 7-11 last Friday..haha he just called me and said woah di zhen! Haha you guys are learning chinese.(In the subject of his letter this week we put Hello Di zhen) hen bang! I contacted chen li wei at the 7-11 invited him to church but he couldn’t make it to go to church. So we met with him in the afternoon. Then invited him to English class. At English class I showed the testaments in English and at the end switched it to Chinese when Jesus Christ came down to visit the Nephites. At that point he felt of the truthfulness of this church and the 30 minute testimony I bore afterwards! In my testimony I said I know the angels just wrote down my testimony in heaven! Lamar believed! I gave him his name. I wanted him to have Kobe, but he said no it doesn’t match li wei. So I chose Lamar as in Lamar Odom #7 for the Lakers! Then the next day he went tracting and that night all the members were outside the church. I asked him in front of them if he believes that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church on the face of this earth? He said yes!! The members were shocked! Then he came to church and after church his boss called him and said since he skipped work he is fired! I told him I know that God will provide for you! He is very happy he has no work and wants to go back to school and when he gets baptized he said he wants to follow my footsteps and be a missionary. But for now he just wants to learn! YAY!! I hope I don’t move, he wants me to baptize him. If only I met Lamar a little earlier, we both would not be so sad!
I love you Mommy!! MISS YOU TO THE MOON
Love, Elder Christensen
March 3, 2010 - 6.4 - Magnitude EARTHQUAKE
"The dresser that fell over in the closet from the earthquake"
6.4-magnitude quake hits southern TaiwanMarch 3, 2010 9:46 p.m. EST
6.4 quake rocks southern Taiwan at about 0120 GMT
Aftershocks follow; no immediate reports of deaths
Quake hits northwest of Taitung, on the southeast coast
Residents in southern Taiwan report blackouts; train services disrupted
(CNN) -- A 6.4-magnitude earthquake jolted southern Taiwan on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths but some damage has occurred to buildings and major bridges, and power was cut off near the epicenter.
The quake struck at about 8:20 a.m. (7:20 p.m. Wednesday ET) in a mountainous region about 25 miles northwest of Taitung, on the southeast coast, and 40 miles east of Tainan and Kaohsiung on the southwest coast.
The region, which includes Maolin National Scenic Area, is recovering from a direct hit by Typhoon Morakot that killed hundreds in August. The typhoon dumped more than two feet of rain, causing serious mudslides in the south, including one that buried the village of Shiao Lin under 50 feet of mud.
Thursday's quake was followed by several aftershocks, the largest reaching 4.8. The initial 6.4 quake rumbled to the surface from 14 miles deep. Were you there? Did you feel it?
The Taiwan Ministry of Interior and the National Fire Agency said electricity was cut off near the epicenter but had no further information.
Residents in southern Taiwan reported cracks in some buildings and major bridges. Train service was also disrupted in some areas, Taiwanese media reported.
Albert Yu, communications manager of the humanitarian organization World Vision, told CNN he was about halfway through a 90-minute trip via high-speed train from Taipei to Tainan when the quake struck. Passengers did not feel the quake, he said, but operators stopped the train and announced what had happened. More than an hour later, the train had not resumed its journey.
Yu said World Vision "has already been on high alert responding to the quakes in Haiti and Chile, so we're closely monitoring reports in the earthquake in southern Taiwan."
Residents in the capital Taipei, 155 miles to the north, also felt the shaking.
Earthquakes are not uncommon in the 13,892-square-mile island -- about the size of the U.S. states of Maryland and Delaware combined -- which sits across the juncture of the Eurasian and Philippine tectonic plates.
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the same general region in December. The island took a double hit on December 26, 2006, when earthquakes of 7.1 and 6.9 magnitude hit eight minutes apart.
The largest recorded quake to strike Taiwan was an 8.0-magnitude quake in 1920, but the worst earthquake disaster stemmed from a 7.1-magnitude quake in 1935 that killed more than 3,200 people -- followed by a 6.5-magnitude quake that killed more than 2,700 people three months later.
More recently, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake killed more than 2,400 people in 1999.
March 1, 2010 - Letter
Hello My Beautiful Family,
This week was really good! We got 5 investigators to church and one of them said she is willing to be baptized in 2 weeks. I hope she is for real this time and will start reading more of the Book of Mormon. Her name is chen yi lin. Wow dad I didn’t know you had 14 baptisms in a month! Here in Taiwan the mission record is 11!!! I want to break it so bad, but it’s so hard, a lot of our really good investigators lately just don’t have any more time and zheng still doesn’t have the priesthood. He just can't wake up on time! But we hope to hit our goal of 4 baptisms this move call. If not when I move to another area, hopefully a City, so that I would be able to break that 11. Wow 14 is amazing Dad thanks for sharing that with me! MOM I didn’t get a package or the pics yet but I am sure it will come tomorrow or the next day! I am excited to get the CTR ring. I am happy Dad and I have the same one, that is so cool. YA boys I am so proud of you. Have faith, I know you both will make the team. Your the best at Damonte!!! Alyea a senior!! I don't believe it. Good thing I will be home for your Senior Prom! and no guy is taking you I will take you!! lol you are growing up to fast sweetie!!!
Well brinae, you deserve a little letter from me. I am so proud of you. I am sure the Lord prepared many things for you to hear at this time in your life. But remember that blessing is sacrad and doesn’t make much sense unless your prepared to hear it and that time you need it. I read my blessing at least one a week in personal study and find new things that the Lord wants me to recognize! I am so happy for you that blessing is so precious to me! I know its March and by the way happy 20 th birthday in a couple days. You are getting so old! Like I was saying I hope time goes slower because my time is getting short I feel so old compared to all the new missionaries coming on! But I still have a long time! As much as I miss you and the family I cherish every day, I don’t want to go home I feel like I am exactly where I need to be at this time in my life. Haha yesterday my new member told me, “Sun if you die your hair black you would look like a Taiwanese!! haha it is against the rules! haha why do I look Chinese?
P.S. I agree with Dad put the blog off of private so everyone I give the address too can see my blog faster! Alright thanks, picture time! This is my Taiwanese Mom!!! I love her so much. She is the nicest member I have ever met in my life!!! I hope you like my new dragon tie! Has anyone ever tried sugarcane before? If so Taiwan is better!!! Ya New Years dinner at my mom’s house! I don’t call her mommy. You are my mommy, mommy! She is my mom! Lol ya chinese food!!!! My mom is a painter! The last supper! All the sugar cane we ate!
Ok I better send this off; I love you so much and don’t forget that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love’s you more!
Love,
Elder Christensen
This week was really good! We got 5 investigators to church and one of them said she is willing to be baptized in 2 weeks. I hope she is for real this time and will start reading more of the Book of Mormon. Her name is chen yi lin. Wow dad I didn’t know you had 14 baptisms in a month! Here in Taiwan the mission record is 11!!! I want to break it so bad, but it’s so hard, a lot of our really good investigators lately just don’t have any more time and zheng still doesn’t have the priesthood. He just can't wake up on time! But we hope to hit our goal of 4 baptisms this move call. If not when I move to another area, hopefully a City, so that I would be able to break that 11. Wow 14 is amazing Dad thanks for sharing that with me! MOM I didn’t get a package or the pics yet but I am sure it will come tomorrow or the next day! I am excited to get the CTR ring. I am happy Dad and I have the same one, that is so cool. YA boys I am so proud of you. Have faith, I know you both will make the team. Your the best at Damonte!!! Alyea a senior!! I don't believe it. Good thing I will be home for your Senior Prom! and no guy is taking you I will take you!! lol you are growing up to fast sweetie!!!
Well brinae, you deserve a little letter from me. I am so proud of you. I am sure the Lord prepared many things for you to hear at this time in your life. But remember that blessing is sacrad and doesn’t make much sense unless your prepared to hear it and that time you need it. I read my blessing at least one a week in personal study and find new things that the Lord wants me to recognize! I am so happy for you that blessing is so precious to me! I know its March and by the way happy 20 th birthday in a couple days. You are getting so old! Like I was saying I hope time goes slower because my time is getting short I feel so old compared to all the new missionaries coming on! But I still have a long time! As much as I miss you and the family I cherish every day, I don’t want to go home I feel like I am exactly where I need to be at this time in my life. Haha yesterday my new member told me, “Sun if you die your hair black you would look like a Taiwanese!! haha it is against the rules! haha why do I look Chinese?
P.S. I agree with Dad put the blog off of private so everyone I give the address too can see my blog faster! Alright thanks, picture time! This is my Taiwanese Mom!!! I love her so much. She is the nicest member I have ever met in my life!!! I hope you like my new dragon tie! Has anyone ever tried sugarcane before? If so Taiwan is better!!! Ya New Years dinner at my mom’s house! I don’t call her mommy. You are my mommy, mommy! She is my mom! Lol ya chinese food!!!! My mom is a painter! The last supper! All the sugar cane we ate!
Ok I better send this off; I love you so much and don’t forget that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love’s you more!
Love,
Elder Christensen
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