3/22/2015 - God is good

親愛的家人，朋友，所愛的人大家好！ 

The week was great! It was filled with service, love, fun, hard work and happiness beyond belief. I can't help but feel so blessed by the Lord every single day of my life. I have nothing to complain about. I have received blessings upon blessings and have seen miracle after miracle. It makes life worth living and makes the mission worth serving. I love the Lord so much and I love the Taiwanese people so much. I will miss the people the most when I leave. The relationships I have made on my mission are for eternity and I will never be able to forget the happiness that I have felt as I have made some of the best friends I have ever had. The Lord knows us all and sends us to the places that He knows is right for us and for the people that we serve. 

We are working out hardest to leave our area better than when we came to it and I think we are doing a great job. We do not have many investigators but we are seeing miracles in our Recent converts and less active members. A family that we have been visiting for the past 6 months has now come to church 2 times in a row and the little 9 year old boy is getting baptized next week. The family has been welcomed back with open arms and the kids are loving primary. We will be visiting them again tonight and helping the son continue to prepare for baptism. I am so grateful for the tender mercy the Lord has given to my companion and I at the tail end of our mission. It will be wonderful seeing him be baptized. 

We performed a puppet show for over 200 kids at an elementary school this week. It was really fun! The puppet show was on hygiene and the message actually sunk in well with the kids. Sister wu did a wonderful job at getting all of the kids involved. She is a total teaching rockstar. It does help that she was teacher for 4 years before her mission. :) Doing service is a blast and it brings me so much joy. There were a bunch of roadblocks we encountered along the way trying to get this service set up but at the last moment everything worked out. Amazing how that happens for us missionaries.

I went on exchanges with Elder Greenhalgh and Elder Tsai this week. It was pretty great being with an old companion and a good friend. Elder Greenhalgh is a great missionary and a great example to everyone around him. I really admire his desire to do missionary work for the right reasons. It was wonderful seeing their miracle family get baptized this weekend. Elder Tsai is also doing okay. I think everyone that serves with him has some problems. They really get an opportunity to love and be patient. Elder Tsai has great desires but sometimes his emotions get a little in the way of his relationships and the work. I know the mission has helped him so much though! Luzhou area is definitely improving with him and Elder Love serving there. Missionary work is so great! 

I'm doing my best to focus and do it right till the flight. It has been going great. Even though my companion and I go home at the same time we still just have the biggest motivation to leave it all out on the field. It is working and we are being blessed because of it.  I am so grateful that I was able to end the mission with one of the greatest friends I've made on my mission. It is also pretty cool to be the only zone leaders to have killed each other. ;) 

我愛你們每一位！ 

毛長老Elder Meeks

3/16/2015 - 26 days, but who's counting

My MTC comp sent me this picture today. We live about 4 hours away from each other but you can tell we're both thinking the same thing. :) haha All in good fun. We're still working our cans off. :) 

Hey all you beautiful people! 

I can say that I am pretty focused right now which is surprising many, especially myself! I am really just happy to be here on my mission. It has been an experience that I would not trade for anything else. The people that I have met, the ones that I've helped, the ones that I couldn't, the sad and happy experiences, etc. all made me into the man I am today. It makes me so happy to know that I have a God who loves me enough to allow me to serve this wonderful mission. I truly believe that when we lose ourselves we find ourselves. I've spent a majority (not all) of the past two years trying to care about others more than myself and have really felt how I have benefited from that. 

Our investigator situation at the present is pretty low but we have two people who we believe are going to be baptized this or next month. One is a son of a less active woman named Sister Jiang. I have met with her consistently over the past 6 months that I have served her and she has never come to church. This last week she came!!! Finally! We were so happy that she decided to make the decision to come back. She is super excited about it and her 4 children had a great time. We are going to be able to help her son get baptized most likely at the beginning of next month. He is a great little kid who already really believes and relies on God. He is wonderful. 

Paul is progressing slowly but surely. It is kind of do or die for him at this point though. He has had plenty of time and opportunity to make some decisions to bring him closer to his decision of being baptized but hasn't really taken advantage of all of them. I think that if he will make the decision he will receive the witness. I was reading a talk by Elder Oaks this morning about revelation and he pointed out that most of the revelation we receive is on the move. We can't expect to ask, sit down, ponder for a while and then receive. We have to first act and then God will confirm our actions. Most of the time. :) There are so many examples of this in the scriptures and many in Doctrine and Covenants. 

I went on exchanges with Elder Karlindsey this week. He is a solid guy. On our exchange he really wanted me to take notice of the things I felt like he could improve on in his missionary work and we set some awesome goals together. He really believes he is teaching the gospel well. But that sometimes he gets so caught up in teaching he misses the mark in loving the people. Which is the most important part. He had noticed this in himself recently and so we talked about ways that we can make sure that we are loving the people that we are meeting with. It was a very enlightening conversation and I know that he will, if he changes some of these habits, become an incredible missionary. Super happy to have him in our zone as a district leader. He is doing a great job training and leading. 

I have seen so many miracles in the past little while. I have seen so many friends from before my mission start to return to their faith. I have seen so many changes in myself and others. All of these things point to the fact that there is a God who loves and cares for each and every one of us. He truly does. As I do things that are righteous I feel the Spirit in my life stronger and stronger. This prompts me to want to continue to make right decisions thereby keeping that Spirit with me constantly. I truly believe that God loves each and every one of us. This gospel just makes me so happy. 

I'm ready for another week. It'll be great. Ready for the challenges that lay ahead and ready to tackle them. 

Keep it real, Keep it Chill, and LOVE THE LORD! Things will work out. :) 

Elder Meeks 

3/8/2015 - Having a Blast

Hey everyone! 

We are continuing to see so many miracles! My comp and I are old missionaries but that hasn't stopped us from continuing to work as hard as we can to do what we can to bring people to come unto Christ. We have what we believe to be really inspired goals for our zone for this transfer. We hope that we can Awaken the Force in our zone and bring that fire back into the lives of some of our missionaries. There are so many talented and great missionaries in our zone and we see the potential that can be achieved. During our zone meeting tomorrow we will be focusing on diligence, hard work, and faith. Our zone is going to see miracles this transfer. 

I went on exchanges with Elder Nixon this week. He is a great missionary. He's not letting his two broken arms slow him down. He tore it up down in Xinzhu and has definitely brought some of that fire to Sanchong. They are already improving and they get along so well! They really love each other a lot and believe God has put them there for a reason. I think we will rapidly see change in their area. Elder Nixon has many natural talents and abilities. He is a natural teacher and his Chinese is really good for being a somewhat young missionary. He has many great leadership qualities and I respect him a lot. 

Our area is continuing on. We are working closely with all of our recent converts and less active members. They are progressing! Two of the RC's passed the sacrament and attended the temple for the first time this week. We had 5 new members that have been baptized since January go to the temple together last Thursday! Jinhua ward is seeing tons of miracles! 

The coolest miracle this week was while we were finding last night. We were contacting on the street and we noticed a couple taking some pictures so we figured they were tourists. They were a Filipino couple that had just moved to Taiwan a couple days before. They are a very devote Catholic family that was just incredibly dedicated to living a life that God would be proud of. I was so edified by the Spirit that they gave off. Speaking in English is so much more powerful for me. It was also really cool because after we talked and exchanged information we parted ways. Right after we left I had this really strong feeling to run back and say a prayer with them. We did and they were so grateful. They really were just the nicest couple. We are hoping we get to meet up with them! I admire and respect people who are devout in their religions and just respect and love God! 

I love my mission and I'm working hard! 

Love ya'll!

Elder Meeks

3/2/2015 - Hey Family

Hey loved ones!

This week went really well. I am super happy that I got excited to BYU. We saw some miracles this week and we are continuing to work really hard. I am really really happy that I am staying with Elder McKay in Jinhua Ward. I was really afraid that I would end up moving for my last transfer but I received a big tender mercy and was allowed to stay here. I feel like I still have a work to do in this ward and I know that because I am staying here I will be able to work as hard as I can. 

Paul is continuing to progress. We had a huge breakthrough in the last lesson we had with him. He was just not getting it for a long while and I just was at a crossroads. When we started talking it was just a super natural conversation. I was really just trying to listen to the Spirit to discern what his needs were. I felt impressed to talk to him about the purpose of life and shared Alma with him. I don't know why but it just really made sense to him this time. He all of a sudden just said, I don't know why but I just have this huge desire to go to the Celestial kingdom!" It was really really cool. The Spirit hit me super strong and it was confirmed to me that he is going to get baptized. My testimony was so strengthened from this experience and I know that God is working on him. He's gonna make it! 

We are really trying to focus on just loving the people and loving our zone members. I am loving being a missionary. I am close to finishing the Doctrine and Covenants and finishing the Book of Mormon in Chinese. God is continuing to let us see miracles and we are fervently seeking them. I really do love being a missionary and I am going to hoe to the end of the roe. 

Keep loving each other and finding opportunities to serve.

Love,

Elder Meeks

2/22/2015 - Happy Chinese New Year

Hey everyone,

This week went fine. We had a lot of members feed us and had some great time to meet with RCLA members. I see the Lord's hand in my life daily and strive to have the Spirit with me. I am imperfect so it is frustrating when I do things that cause me to not have the Spirit. I'm trying everyday to get a little bit better at these things though. 

We didn't get a chance to meet with any of our investigators this week because of the new year but that's okay. We stayed in contact with them and tried to encourage them to keep commitments. We really believe we will see a lot of success in this next month. We have found two investigators for the month of February and both are above 80% to get baptized. Paul is also going to be getting baptized in the next couple of weeks. We are so happy for them. 

I have 47 days left of my mission. I'm really really excited to come home. I love Taiwan and I love America. I love America more because it is my homeland though. I have so many wonderful things waiting for me in the next 6 weeks but so many more wonderful things in the next few years. The last two years have prepared me so much more for my future and I know it is only because of God's mercy and love that I was able to make it here. I love the Lord so much. 

Keep smiling everybody! Do something nice for somebody this week. 

Elder Meeks

Zoo

2/15/2015 - Wonderful Week - Baptism

Sister Zhang getting baptized! :) 

My son and I doing some service together. It was great fun! 

My comp and I downed a ten bucket of KFC. So great! 

This is my recent convert and his family going through the temple together!!! It was so amazing!!! 

Friends and Fam!

Sister Zhang got baptized! It was a wonderful service with a great turnout from the ward! I believe Sister Zhang really felt the love of the members and had her faith increased. She will need some sincere care during the next few months and while I am here I will do my best to make sure that happens.

I am so grateful to God for all of the wonderful blessings he has given to me especially as I have served in this area. I have tried harder here then I have my whole mission combined and have certainly seen the results. I have grown to love so many people in this area and have made lifelong friends. My RC's Sister Chen, Brother Wu, and Sister Zhang will be forever etched into my heart. There are three others who we are working with who are also really close to being able to be baptized! 

Yesterday morning Paul, an amazing investigator, texted us and thanked us so much for teaching him the gospel. He hasn't smoked for two weeks now! If we met with him this week we will review the baptismal interview questions and see if he is ready! He might still need some time but if he gets baptized it will be on eof the greatest miracles I've ever seen. But if he doesn't it still is a miracle because he has improved the quality and happiness of his life and to me that is a huge success and a major reason why I came on my mission. 

Sharon is a new and Golden investigator. She is a Christian but is looking for something a little more than what she knows right now. She is a flight attendant so her work schedule is a little crazy but she set a baptismal date for Mar. 21st. She has a huge desire to know if the restored gospel is true. 

Claire is also amazing. She is in the "I just want to understand" stage but she has already read through 1st Nephi and is really enjoying the BOM. She set a baptismal goal for the 21st as well. I really hope that I stay in this area so I am able to see all the success that is going to occur! 

I got to see my Recent Convert Brother Zhang go through the temple with his family this week. It was definitely the highlight of my entire mission. He has changed so much and has become a real father figure and great husband. He was so happy and his wife was even happier. I will send you some pictures. I definitely believe that families are forever!!! I love my family so freakin much!!! 

Love you all and have a wonderful week!

Elder Meeks

2/8/2015 - Saturday will be a great day.

The first picture is me with nearly my whole generation from the MTC. The second is Sister Chen before her baptism!!! :) 

Greetings loved ones!

The past week was pretty amazing to be honest. We had a big leadership raining meeting in which we received a lot of training on how to better train the missionaries that are under our stewardship. I had the chance to translate the whole first day of the training which was an awese opportunity to test some of my Chinese skills. Stressful but exciting. One of the elders did a training using lots of statistics and math so that was a total fail for me but other than that it went pretty well. 

Lately I've been starting to trust my priesthood leaders a litle more. It's about time. I'm rying to humble myself and just believe that God is inspiring them in their callings. This has been a real struggle for me over the past 5 years or so but as I've been puting more faith in God and trying my best to do my part I have felt Him softening my heart and opening up my mind. 

I really missed home this week for some reason. I'm so excitied to finish my mission and go back to America. It's an odd feeling because I also am loving my mission more than I ever have before as well. I'm glad that I got to this point. I honestly believed for a long time that it would never come. Seeing the change in myself and in the people who I've been working with have made me realize the importance of missionary work and especially my mission experience. If I never came on my mission I would've had no way of becoming who I am now. 

Sister Gin is doing amazing. She was baptized this last saturday. It was a wonderful service and nearly 20 ward members attended. I was so happy about that. She felt bery welcomed and very happy that she is now apart of the "big ward family". She feels like her life has really taken a turn for the better. She still has many challenges ahead of her in the future but she'll be able to overcome them because she has faith in Christ. I love his woman so much and I know she is one of the reasons I was sent here to Taiwan. 

I've been pondering about the principle of how God sends us halfway across the world to comfort a little old lady who is suffering. That isn't coincidence that I just randomly came across her on the street. I can't believe it is only coincidence. I know God put my comp and I there for a reason that day on the street. She needed the gospel and we needed a miracle. I didn't do anything but love her and the Spirit of God did he rest. 

Paul is also making progress. He is reading his scriptures, cooming to church, and praying. He is slowly turning from being an agnostic to a believer. He has also quit smoking! He is taking all the right steps in the right directions but still has some work to do. The Spirit is working on him and he is feeling it more often and stronger in his life. We are hoping he will be baptized on the 28th of this month. Miracles do occur!

Sister Zhang is getting baptized this Saturday most likely! We will be for sure tonight. She is progressing and doing well. We are super happy for her and all the work she has put in to receiving her personal testimony.

THE BEST NEWS OF ALL! My recent convert from my first area Brother zhang contacted me and told me that his wife and his two sons will be sealed this Saturday afternoon. I can't even contain how happy I am about it. I really know that God is so happy with their decision. I'm so blessed to have been apart of his conversion experience but I fully recognize that it was all God and his wife. He really loves his family and Forever Families was definitely his hook. He has progressed in the gospel in the last year so much! I haven't seen him for nearly a year but he still wanted me to come to his sealing. It made me so happy! AHHHHH I love the gospel so much! 

Sorry this one was long. I love you all. Serve one another. According to President Holland service is the way that we retain a remission of our sins. Go read his talk from last conference. It has changed my life. 

Peace and LOVE!

Elder Meeks.