8-24-2014 - Faith in the plan

Two elders were killed from carbon monoxide poisoning this week.  Praying for comfort for their families.

Hey ya'll

Well this week was pretty okay. We have recently had some of our inverstigators not have as much interest as they originally expressed so we were not able to have hardly any lessons this week. But we have already found some awesome people to replace them that we will be meeting with this week. We have faith that through working hard we will continually be able to have new and amazing people to work with. I'm really impressed with my trainee and his desire to continue to help others and really improve his Chinese at the same time. I know this next week I am really going to focus on helping him learn how to teach lessons solidly. We have some new converts that could use a review so we will be visiting a few of them and sharing the new lessons with them. It will be a great opportunity to help my companion improve his teaching skills while developing the faith of our recent converts. 

I'm really grateful to be serving in 苗栗. Even though I've been here a really long time I really feel so happy to know the members so well. I have seen people literally change their lives here! It's been such an amazing experience. As my mission gets closer and closer to the end I feel as if I need to start really perfecting myself. I have these huge goals for my future and I feel if I can establish the habits that I want to here on my mission I will really just be able to explode when I get home. 

We had 7 less actives at church this week due to missionary efforts. It was so cool to see a family that hasn't been to church for a while come back along with a few others. I'm super grateful to be able to help encourage people to return to their old habits and see the happiness that has come to them because of it. 

My companion and I are doing great. Literally no problems. Just having a load of fun working together and helping people come unto Christ! I don't have a ton to share this week. I feel like we are doing great. We need to be a little more focused when it comes to daily planning and setting people up to meet. We have made this a companion goal. I think by focusing on this more we will have more lessons and therefore help tons of other people! 

Well Everyone throw a shout out to my little bro who is 19 today! WHOO HOO! I seriously am starting to love being a missionary even more. I miss home like crazy but I'm catching the fire. About time eh? haha 

Have a great week everyone! 

Elder Meeks

8-17-2014 - Pics - RAIN

8-10-2014 - Loving life

Hey ya'll! 

What an incredibly busy, weird, and spiritual week we had. Considering that it was my companions first week on the island he's probably thinking, "What in the heck did I get myself into?" I'm so grateful for my companion and his willingness and desire to serve the Lord. I can most definitely say that I will not be training him he will be teaching me. I'm so grateful that we have the opportunity to learn from so many different people as missionaries whether it be from companions, members, leaders, prophets, friends, parents, etc. This experience is truly amazing and I'm so excited to be a part of it. 

It seemed that we spent most of the week traveling. We were up in Taibei twice, had zone meeting, baptismal interviews, baptisms, investigators that lived in the boonies. As we traveled we always had opportunities to share the gospel with people and I know that we influenced some people for good. 

Because we were away from home we didn't get to meet with everyone that we wanted to but that's okay because we met some great new people and got 3 member referrals this week! That might be more than I have received on my whole mission combined. All of them have tons of potential. 

One referral lived super far away basically on the border of Taizhong. We called and I wanted to gauge his interest to see if it would be worth an hour trip down there to meet him. Man I am so happy that we decided to go down. He is a spiritual powerhouse. He is totally prepared to hear the gospel. We had a very spiritual lesson in which we taught the Message of the Restoration. My companion also contributed as much as he felt comfortable. It was near the end of the lesson and I felt prompted to invite him to baptism. I did and he accepted wholeheartedly. He has already attended two weeks of church in Taizhong and has loved it. We are so excited to keep meeting with him. Li dixiong is one God has definitely prepared. 

I really gained a testimony of sharing doctrinal lessons with members. We had a qingke with a great family in which the bishop was invited to as well. We had a wonderful dinner in which my new comp got to eat chicken feet. :) That morning in church the bishop got up on the stand and basically shared with us that there were many members in the ward who were having some hard problems and that he had last week spent nearly everyday taking care of members mostly because of their bad decisions. He told us that keeping the commandments was not something that we could choose it is necessary. (My English is getting horrible). He encouraged everyone to reevaluate and see how they could live their lives more in tune with the gospel. 

That night when we were meeting with the family I had the feeling to share a video that touches on keeping the commandments and relying on the Lord in trials. As we watched everyone in the room felt the Spirit strongly. It was the first time on my mission I was moved so strongly by the Spirit. After the video we just all sat there thinking for a minute pondering. When I opened my mouth to speak sobs came out. I couldn't help it. I felt that God had testified to me that no matter what the trials we go through he will always be there if we will just adhere to the few guidlines that he has given us. I also truly felt that Thomas S. Monson was truly called of God and that when he speaks we should listen to us just the same as if God is speaking directly to us. I am so thankful that I had that opportunity to receive that testimony. The Bishop also described how that video was what he really needed and that God had comforted him in his calling. 

As a result of the Spirit that was felt in that meeting that family gave us a referral of their best friends that lived down the street. They had come to church before but had recently told them they had encountered some economical problems and the member family really felt like they were prepared to hear the gospel. We are really excited to meet with them. 

We also received an awesome referral from a member in Taizhong. There is a 23 year old woman who just moved from taizhong to miaoli. She has attended church and already started meeting with the missionaries. I spoke with her on the phone and she was super excited about meeting us and coming to English class/church. We can't wait to help her progress in her faith in Jesus Christ and conversion process. 

My companion is doing super well. He is such a cool guy. We are really going to work well together. His Chinese is progressing really fast. He has a goal to finish Phase 1 in his 1st transfer and he is well on his way to getting there. We do a lot of SYL and we have a lot of fun talking together. We have a lot of similar perspectives about missionary work and this has helped us to get along a lot. I really enjoy working with him. 

I feel like I have hit a new milestone in my Chinese. I am finally being able to just read stuff on the street and understand the Book of Mormon fully. I have pushed really hard the past couple of weeks and it is breaking through I feel like. I have a goal to memorize 40 new characters each day and review 200-300 per day. I have felt as I've done this accompanied with reading the Book of Mormon in Chinese I have not only increased my Chinese abilities but my ability to feel the Spirit in Chinese... If that makes any sense. 

We are going to focus hard on finding some great new people this week and we are also going to have to work on getting more member lessons. I really believe that if we can do that the baptismal waters will just keep flowing. 

I'm grateful to be a missionary and finally feel like I'm starting to learn to teach by the Spirit. 

Well love all ya'll and I hope that you are being good and having fun. Emphasis on the having fun part...Seriously. Life is meant to be fun. I have way too much fun everyday of my mission. Make someone smile or do a kind act for someone. 

Keep it real. 

Love

Elder Meeks

8-3-2014 - Got me a greenie and pics

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty awesome mainly for the reason that I have an awesome trainee! For some reason I knew that we were going to be companions. We got along really well while babysitting (first night on the island) and had a great time together. I really think that we are going to see some huge miracles here in 苗栗. I'm super blessed as a trainer to be training someone with such a great ability in Chinese already. Because he can already speak basic conversational and gospel Chinese we are really going to focus on having him being involved in the teaching aspect of the work right off the back. We spend a lot of time practicing our lessons together and really planning out what he can contribute and we are seeing the blessings of that preparation. He is also studying his Chinese religiously and is going to progress faster than most new missionaries do. We are totally obedient and are really expecting to see some amazing things happen.

I can say this that in the past few days I've probably been the most tired I have in my whole mission. I have had semi lazy companions for quite some time now and it kinda feels like I am going 0-60 but I like the feeling. I come home every night literally crawling in the door (okay not literally but close enough). We are really going to focus on finding this next week because the 2 investigators we do have, while progressing, have some pretty big obstacles in the way for baptism. We really want to build up our investigator pool because right now we basically only have 2 people to meet with. We have a member referral that we are meeting with for the first time tomorrow and this will be my first one since being here in 苗栗for six months. X-- j--- shows a lot of promise and we are excited to meet with her. 

The Bishop has said that he wants us to start focusing on meeting with more less actives and working with ward members on the home teaching of those less actives. I am really excited for this new assignment because I love working with less actives. We are going to be sitting down with our ward mission leader and making a plan for those people who we can start to visit and invite to church. We are continuing to work closely with new converts and are sharing the new member lessons with them. This is also going to provide my companion with the opportunity to practice teaching the lessons in a controlled environment and there won't be so much pressure. 

I'm really happy that I am serving with Elder Okeson. He's got the greenie fire and we are really going to work hard to hasten the work. I love 苗栗 and am happy I'll have the opportunity to serve here for 9 months of my mission. I have some big goals this transfer the main one being to finish the whole Book of Mormon again. After that is finished my next goal will be to read it again in Chinese. I can't wait to see what will happen in the next three months because training truly does bring miracles. 

I haven't had any crazy stories in the past little while and I know that is what everyone likes to hear about so I will make sure to do something fun this week haha. 

Love ya'll and have a great week! 

Elder Meeks 

7-27-2014 Training

Hey everyone!

This is a great week! I found out that I am going to be training. :) I was super happy to hear that. I really am excited to get to put into practice all of the things that I have learned in the past 10 transfers and teach someone how to do missionary work in an effective and loving way. I really just want to be a good trainer and I feel like I am ready for the chance. I also have set some big goals for this next transfer. I lost 10 kg in the past 3 months but I want to lose another 10 in the next 3 months. I feel better thinner and am really going to be dedicated about working out hard every day. I also have a goal to finish learning every character that I don't recognize out of the phase 2 cards. I mainly know most of the words but I don't know the characters yet and I feel like that will give me a good real life Chinese base. I also want to read the Book of Mormon again this next transfer. I know that when I am very dedicated about reading the Book of Mormon I always feel better about myself and easier able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

We honestly don't have that many great investigators right now. We have quite a few people we can meet with but they aren't progressing tremendously. But recently we have quite a few potentials that me and my new companion will definitely be looking into. We are still constantly working with the members and our Ward Misson Leader is taking a more active role in the work with us. He is a great guy who really wants to see us succeed and help out a lot of people. 

I don't have a ton to report this week. Next week I am sure there will be plenty more to tell you about. 

Peace and love,

Elder Meeks

7-20-2014 Love me some Liahona

Hey ya'll,

This week went pretty well. I think the highlight of the week was my two day exchange with Elder Payne. We had the opportunity to meet with a few new people as well as some progressing investigators. Elder Payne is a really good missionary. Has a desire to do what is right and works really hard as well. It was cool being with a missionary whose language abilities aren't quite yet there because he is so new. It helped me realize that if I ever had to train or be with a younger missionary I would be capable and it would be an amazing learning experience. But regardless of whatever language skills are still developing he totally taught with the Spirit. We had two lessons together where we both really felt the Spirit leading us. The investigators felt it too and one of the new people we met up with set up for a return appointment. These were all in Zhunan area so I'm not personally going to continue to meet with them but I hope they will continue to progress. The Spirit is the true teacher and if we have the Spirit it will compensate for whatever we lack in ability or language skills. 

3 of our 6 new converts have all recently had some pretty big trials come into your life. WE definitely have our work cut out for us in helping them to maintain their good habits and continue to develop their faith through following the commandments. I really know that Satan is working hard on a few of them right now and we plan on getting the ward more involved so that they know they are not alone. I am happy that we have more responsibility with our new converts. 

We have quite a few member visits set up for this week. Our ward missionary leader was shocked when I told him that in the six months that I have been here in Miaoli not one member has given us a member referral. He encouraged to focus on teaching the gospel to the members, providing a spiritual experience, and really inspiring them to get involved in doing the work with us. He has a goal for us to at least get 2 member referrals a week. I think it will be pretty hard to accomplish but we are definitely going to do our best. 

I am just so grateful for the Liahona. I believe ever time that I get that magazine I finish reading it in a couple of days. Our apartment has over 200 previous liahona's and I have just loved going through and reading all the ones from the previous months and years. Things honestly don't change too much over the years. The doctrine and gospel is consistent and the struggles they used to faced are basically the same. Even though there are some changes I still feel like the old prophets and apostles warnings and counsels are all very important to listen to. 

My Chinese has progressed so much while being with Elder Z---. Speaking Chinese 24/7 the past 3 months (with once a week getting to speak English at district meeting) I feel like my ability to communicate has just shot through the roof. I still have sooooooo much to learn though. I am really focusing on reading. I have so many characters I still need to know in order to feel comfortable. I feel in the next couple of months my reading ability is going to grow a lot. 

I am also really excited for a new transfer, new companion, and a new start. I have some great goals for next transfer. I have only 6 transfers left on my mission and haven't changed near as much as I want to. I need to push myself in order to get to where I want to be when I go home. 

Loving the work and we have some great investigators who are really starting to get what we are teaching and catching the fire of the gospel. 

Love ya'll and have a great week.

Elder Meeks

7-13-2014 Pluggin Along

Friends and family! 

We had a really great week this week. Despite the fact we had quite a few meetings and temple day the first part of the week we were still able to exceed many of our goals by being effective in planning. We were able to find some really good people this week. One of the coolest things was that 2 of our English class students just randomly showed up at church and both really enjoyed their experience. I was super happy to see the members really take them under their wing and welcome them into the ward. We were able to set a couple new baptismal dates for our investigators this week as well. Hoping the first or second week of August their will be another couple baptisms here in Miaoli. 

We also received 2 great referrals this week. One is a mother and her two children who was contacted while in Taizhong. She had quite a lot of interest in meeting with us and set up to come to English class on Wednesday night. She wants her sons to learn English. Another is a man who contacted the church quite a long time ago and just one day decided to call the missionaries and say he wanted to meet. He lives in Miaoli and is also really willing to meet. I see a lot of promise with him. 

It was so refreshing getting to attend the temple this week. We chalk up a lot of the blessings we received this wee to receiving extra spiritual help and guidance while attending the temple. I always come out of the temple with a fresh new outlook on things. It truly is a peaceful and holy place. 

We met with quite a few RCLA's this week. They were all doing really well. All of them but 2 came to church and so we were really happy. One of our recent converts has started to have some Word of Wisdom problems again and is feeling really down on himself. He's a really good guy who's changed a lot and I hope we can help him rekindle the fire that he felt when he was baptized. I have full faith that we will be able to do so. 

Still reading the book of Acts. Such great things happened at that time. If only the people would have been more supportive of the church and its leaders. To be fair they didn't have the internet and no real way of receiving information quickly. I guess that is the miracle of the day and age we live in. Whenever there is direction from the prophet we received it quickly and everyone knows about it. I also have been reading quite a few Liahona magazines. I believe we can learn a lot from our genenral authorities and others who have written about their life stories. 

I'm happy and healthy and just hope to finish out my time in Miaoli with a bang. I love the Lord and know He has prepared me to be a good missionary. 

Have fun, be safe, eat some mexican food for me

Elder Meeks

7-9-2104 Happy Fourth of July

One and all,

Well this week went pretty well. We have started to meet with a great investigator named J---. He has come to church many times. I believe he might have a little hard time understanding certain things but the first time we met with him he said a beautiful prayer and said that he really wanted to get baptized. In the past when missionaries have met with him he hasn't had as much of a desire. But for the past few months he has been coming to church regularly and getting to know the members more and more. We are really excited to teach him the lessons and see where he progresses to. We don't really have any other good progressing investigators right now but we really believe that we will be able to find some good people this week. We are looking forward to meeting with at least 6 members this week and hope to be able to ask for referrals from them. The work can only go upward from here. 

All of our new converts are continuing to do well. We are so excited about the change stating that we are now responsible to teach the new member lessons. It has been put off for so long by the members and has been a real problem where we are serving. I believe this way the new converts are really going to get the attention that they need in order to continue on in the church. We have already been visiting them most of them ever week but will probably start to call and follow up with them more during the week to make sure they are following commitments and doing the things they need to be doing. One of our new converts, d-- j---, had to move because of family problems so we will only be able to see her on Sunday but she still is doing well. 

I have been reading the book of Acts with a specific focus on the apostle Saul/Paul. I feel like I have made some mistakes in my life but seeing how much a person can change and how incredibly quick it can occur has changed my perspective on a lot of things. I realize we are all super imperfect but the Lord is totally wanting us to forget all that stuff and just do the right thing. I want to be this way. I know i'll be happier and that I will be able to really focus on missionary work when I do so. 

It was so nice getting to visit the members from my first area this P-Day. They were so welcoming and nice. they made lunch for us and bought us a bunch of nice gifts and such. I'm really happy that I got to serve here in Ankang. I really miss these members and know they played any integral role in helping me become a good missionary. Being with my trainer here made it all the better. Having a blast! 

Love,

Elder Meeks 

6-30-2104 - Pink eye Yuck

Hey ya'll,

Needless to say it wasn't my best week. But there is only going upwards from here. Right now is probably the slowest it has been since being on my mission. Summer just started and you think that people would have more time to meet...Not. Everyone is going on vacation or just taking a break from life. haha It's okay though. My companion and I have some good plans for doing some quality missionary work. 

We have quite a few member appointments set up for this next week and we are really going to focus on getting the members involved in doing the missionary work. I know that when the members help us all out we do a lot better job for sure. More effective influential work. 

I feel like I'm in a bit of a slump lately. I've been on my mission for a while but still have a long time. It is a weird feeling. Just a little bit homesick but still don't want to go home. I hope that I can figure it out quick and just forget myself in the work again. 

Our recent converts are all doing so well! We are so happy to have the opportunity to meet and talk with them frequently and help them continue in their gospel progression. I really love seeing them "get" the gospel and seeing the lightbulbs click. I honestly just really love helping other people. It helps you feel better as a person. It kinda makes up for some of the short comings you have. At least it feels that way. :) 

I wish I had some funny stories to share with ya'll but I really just haven't had anything to funny happen lately. I feel like my letters lately have been really boring. I'll try and do something crazy this week... ;) 

I know that when you do what is right and follow your heart and God you really are the happiest. Don't know why it just is the way it is. 

Have a great week everyone! 

Elder Meeks

6-23-2014 - Staying put

Hey everyone,

Well I'm still in Miaoli and super happy about it. I feel like I haven't accomplished quite yet what I was sent here to do. I hope this transfer me and Elder Zeng can focus even more and find those people who are ready to hear the gospel. We have quite a few member appointments this week and we are hoping that through doing good member missionary work that we will be able to receive some new referrals. Since I have been here in Miaoli I have yet to receive a member referral from our ward members. We just need to inspire them to help us out. 

Our two best investigators have recently seemed that they do not have too much interest in continuing on meeting with us. We are a little disappointed about this but all we can do is encourage them and hope that their ward member friends will continue to reach out to them. I believe both of them have a lot of potential but just no family support and so it is hard for them. 

I've been feeling lately that I need to start working harder and trying harder. The work is really urgent and in order to help those people that God has prepared we have to be urgently going about doing the work. I really want to start helping more people and my companion and I have similar feelings about starting to work harder and more efficient. 

We received two phone referrals that have both set up to meet with us. Both of them have a lot of potential and we are excited to see what happens with that. 

We have also been really focusing on our new converts and less actives. We hope that we can help some of our single adult less actives come to church and participate in church activities more frequently. We have so few in our ward that are active and if all of them came I think they would develop some great friendships. It will be harder now since a lot of them will return home to their homes during summer break. A lot of them just live here for college and such. 

I see the work only getting better from here in 苗栗. I hope I can continue to be a big part in helping it get better. I love God and know He loves His children. 

Have a great week and remember to do something nice for someone. 

Elder Meeks

6-15-2014- Father's Day

Hey ya'll

Things have slowed down a bit down here the past couple of weeks. Most of our investigators are students and have been incredibly busy with tests and graduation. Consequently we haven't been able to meet with them near as much but we are hoping with them graduating this week that we can start to get back into meeting with them consistently. 

Z--- D-- is still doing pretty well. He has been super busy but has still expressed his desire to keep coming to church and learn. He really is such a great kid and the ward is definitely helping him have a desire to continue to come. We are very grateful for our ward members here and the help they give us. 

X-- D-- is doing well as well. He came to church Sunday and really enjoyed himself. He has said that he will have more time this week and we are hoping that we can pull off a miracle and have him be baptized this month. If God wants it to happen and we work hard we believe that we can do it. I know that Miracles do happen and we hope he will be ours for June. 

I can't believe the transfer has almost finished. My transfer with Elder Z--- has most definitely been the fastest of my mission. We have gotten along so well and had fun serving together. If we end up staying together for another transfer we have really made up our minds to work super hard and bring more unto Christ. We have had such great experiences teaching together and when we do we can feel the Spirit guiding us. He really is a great teacher and I have learned many things from him. He really does love helping other people and just being a good person. 

Personally I'm starting to feel better than I have my whole mission. I have made up my mind to really start throwing myself at the scriptures again and start learning God's will for me as a person and as a missionary. I have also recently started to comprehend the love that God truly does have for all of us. It is unconditional which is awesome. God is with us all we have to do is reach out to him. A lot of the time we don't feel His presence (at least I don't) but I feel this is because He wants us to work hard and do the right things so that when we have those moments of realization/revelation we will be that much more grateful for them. At least this is how I personally feel. He is truly our Father and especially on this Father's Day we can think about him and what He has done for us. I truly do love my Father in Heaven and also know that Jesus Christ loves our God with a perfect love as well. Our goal is to develop that perfect love. 

The mission is an amazing experience and I want to take advantage of the time I have left to influence people for the good. 

Love ya'll and hope you have a great week.

Elder Meeks