3/9/2014 - Just another day in paradise

Sup everyone! 

Shout out to Braxton and Sage! Hope you both are doing great!!! 

Well I didn't get punched in the face this week so it was already a better week than last week!

We saw some great things happen here in Miaoli this week. On Saturday we had the privilege of helping an investigator, D-- J----, get baptized. It was really bad weather so we were afraid the members wouldn't show up but they pulled through. We had over 40 people come to see it! It was such a spiritual baptismal service. D-- J---- really felt the Spirit and that she had made the right choice. Her daughter also has been attending church with her regularly so we are going to start meeting with her as well. 

We were also so blessed because 3 investigators attended the service as well. Z---- D-- is doing so well! He has come to church the last couple of weeks and the young men and women have really fellowshipped him. We had the privilege of sharing with him the 1st and 3rd lesson this week and on Sunday the plan of salvation ended up being the topic! So awesome. He really believes Jesus died for us and that God loves him and wants him to keep learning more. We are so excited to keep meeting with him and have faith that he will make his date on the 5th of April. 

C---D-- is still improving slowly but surely. He is in the process of quitting smoking and it is really hard for him. He has already given up alcohol and binlang all of which he was completely addicted to a few months ago. His progression is obvious. Because he is basically homeless a lot of the members avoid him and won't talk to him at church. He's not stupid and is fully aware of what is going on which makes my comp and I pretty sad. We have tried so hard and prayed so hard for the ward to be a little more accepting/charitable. but we're still seeing some problems. I know that God will provide a way though. 

Even though we don't get too many lessons throughout the week the ones we do have are powerful and meaningful. If we have a lesson on the street the people usually become our new investigators. We really focus on having meaningful discussions with those that have a desire to talk to us. If the person doesn't want to talk we don't take advantage of Taiwanese politeness and "force" or "coerce" them to talk or have a lesson with us. I always try to think when I am contacting and talking to others, "If I was approached by a random foreigner on the street, speaking broken English, and telling me that they can change my life how would I react?" Most of the time it would probably not be the best reaction. Therefore I really try to respect others time and desires. I have also gained many skills on reading peoples expressions and body language. If they look like they don't want to talk why talk to them? Missions definitely help you develop many different skills that are useful in life. 

I read Isaiah this week and really learned a lot. The Bible is becoming a good friend of mine and I have gained a strong testimony of it as I have attempted to understand it more. Isaiah truly saw our day and prophesied many things that have already come to pass. I also learned about fasting. What the purpose is and what blessings we will receive if we do it right. Pretty cool! 

Overall good week. Can't believe I have been in Miaoli nearly a month already. I'm learning and growing so much but know I still haven't even scratched the surface. The mission is truly the start of the path to perfection. 

Well ya'll I'm having fun and makin it happen. 

Love

Elder Meeks

3/2/2014 - Fist Fight and Faith

Oh my... what a crazy week for our boy...

Since most of you probably just skim my emails because they are so freakin long I'm gonna tell ya'll the craziest story that has happened to me so far on my mission at the beginning. Alright here goes!

Most missionaries have never had an experience like this. I was locking my bike when all of a sudden someone slapped my back three times really hard! I turned around and before I knew what was happening I got decked in the face by a drunk guy! Most of you know me and know that I am literally a master of controlling my temper (not) and it was socrazy because at that moment I felt like I had been hit with a power up and went into hulk rage mode. The guy came at me again and I pushed him away. He came at me again and I pushed him away again. He came one last time and I just thought, "Well he asked for it..." I wound up and punched him in the face as hard as I could. He flew back about ten feet into oncoming traffic and got hit by a car... It was probably the coolest thing I have ever seen or experienced! He ended up being fine and the cops came and arrested him. Needless to say at the time I was not a happy camper. On the ride home I just couldn't help myself from laughing. 

On to more spiritual things...

Well it is March now and I feel like I am starting to finally understand missionary work just a little bit.  I'm so blessed to be serving with Elder Weng. He really is such a great example of how a missionary should interract with investigators, ward members, and the everyday person we meet on the street. He has a strong desire to help every person around him understand the gospel and do it in the right way. His Chinese fluency also makes it easier for him to connect with people. He truly listens to people and is always focused on resolving their concerns. I'm so glad that I get to be with him for another 4 weeks. 

D-- J---- passed her baptismal interview and will be getting baptized on Saturday at 7:30. She is by far the most prepared person to ever be baptized in Taiwan. Since she was foundin January she has read the BOM twice, Doctrine and covenants once, gospel principles manuyal, teachings or lorenzo snow and the Liahona. She got up and bore her testimony in Sacrament meeting and if you didn't know she hadn't been baptized you would've thought she'd been a member her whole life. She bore a powerful testimony of the Savior and His Atonement and she knows she will be forgiven of all of her past sins and mistakes this next saturday. After she spoke the Bishop got up and called all of the members of the ward to repentance because Du Jiemei isn't even a member and she has read double of the material the average member has. It was awesome!

C-- D---- is on his fourth day going without cigarettes, He looked pretty rough at church but received a lot of encouragement from the members. He is going to need a lot of hlep but we really beliee he can make his date of the 22nd. 

L---- D---- is also doing so good. He's the 23 yr old we met a couple of weeks ago. Super good looking. super nice. Amazing singer but better yet he has a strong desire to understand the gospel. He has committed to read and pray everyday and is coming to the baptismal service this week. We also believe he will be able to make his baptismal date at the end of this month. 

A friend of a member came to church as well today. We met him a couple of weeks ago on the street and it just so happened that he was a good friend with a member in our ward. He's 18 years old and his name is Zhou Dixiong. He absolutely loved church and has been praying multiple times a day. He said church felt safe and peaceful. He wants to meet with us this week on saturday and come to church again. So prepared. Because he has quite a few friends at church and how he took in the experience we really believe he could be baptized next month. Such a great kid we are super excited for him. 

I've basically learned all the flashcards in the phase 3 box 1 and can now basically read the Book of Mormon in Chinese. I am already learning new things from the Chinese version that are harder to understand in English. It has been interesting receiving revelation and insights through being able to read Chinese. 

My gospel knowledge is improving daily. As I have immersed myself in the Old Testament, marked it, wrote notes, and prayed about the things I have learned I have seen my ability to understand what is written better and more easily connect the dots that have been harder to connect in the past. Proverbs has been my favorite so far. 

Miaoli is booming. |Between us and the other elders down here we can reasonably see 7+ investigators in the next 2 months. We are praying for the guidance of the Lord more frequently and with more faith. This work is the Lord's and it is being led by his hand! 

Love ya'll. Don't put up with stupid drunk people. :) 

Elder Meeks