Happy Easter! God is so Good!

Hello all,                                                                                                             March 28, 2016

I seriously didn't know that time could move this fast! I think of all the things we did and it amazes me. But at the same time it feels like it just barely happened. It's a weird feeling. This week was pretty busy. Sunday was a great day, we saw so many of our investigators come to Church which is one of the best feelings in the world! One funny story was Sunday night. We were coming back from an appointment going to the Church and out in the square (like in between the chapel and the temple) there was this guy just singing opera at the top of his lungs. First off, I thought this was a little bit strange but was like, I mean if he wants to sing he wants to sing. Anyway on our way in we asked who he was, and he says he is from this specific church that is famous for hating us. Seeing as we were in a rush, we didn't stay to talk. Afterward I say to Elder Johnson, let's go downstairs and see if he is still out there.

What an experience I've had as a missionary here in Taiwan. God is so good.

 We go down and the sisters there are just like scared out of their mind. Apparently they invited him in to the chapel and then he started going crazy and screaming at the Church. So they were pretty taken aback. So I go outside and he is just out their pacing muttering incoherent stuff. We try and talk with him but he is just like crazy, More like just hates the Church and such. I talked to him about how this is a place of peace and learning and invited him to come to learn, and discuss about Christ, otherwise to please leave until willing to be calm. That wasn't what he wanted to hear. Any way long story short he started screaming gibberish which was suppose to be the gift of tongues with the intent to curse me. So at that point I just left, but he stayed outside yelling till like midnight Saturday night. So that was interesting. 

Asian architecture is like nothing I've ever seen!

Something on the awesome note though. Christopher is getting baptized this week! He is so incredible. I can't even describe it! He has such a desire to meet God and change his life. He has truly repented, we talked about it and he said it has been a process with a lot of tears but feels so at peace to feel of God's love. His Mom passed away last year which was really hard for him but through the gospel he has found the knowledge that we can all be together forever. It's incredible to see how amazing his testimony is. Last night he talked about how much the gospel has done for him. It has helped him at work, with his family, meeting friends, and just frankly adjusting to Taiwan (he is from the Philippines) So tonight is his baptism and I can't wait. 

We had three exchanges this week. It was a blast. One of my favorites was with Elder Zhou a native Elder. He shared a lot about his conversion story, it was incredible! It is amazing what the gospel can do for all of us. I love him so much! 

Eating dinner together.
 (I believe this is Christopher that is the man Porter speaks of in the paragraph above this)

This week we had some fun training meetings. The first was for the new District Leaders and the second was for the Trainer/Trainee follow-up meeting. The first training wasn't the best by any means but I felt really good about the second one. Elder Johnson is a great teacher and I feel blessed to be his companion. 

Well that about sums up the week.Have a wonderful Easter.... what a miracle the Atonement and the Resurrection is! The greatest thing that has ever happened in the history of the world!  Hope you are all doing well! Love you! 

Elder Roe

I love this new AREA!

Hello!                                                                                                           March, 18, 2016

Well good news, this week was a lot less busy :) This past week Pres. was in Hong Kong for a training by the Asia Area Presidency so on Monday we got a list of things to work on and finish and then after that it was pretty much smooth sailing. We got some time to really go finding in our area and work with the Ward members it has been so much fun. This area is probably one of the most coveted ones. We have a great chapel, two awesome colleges, so there are lots of fun young adults to talk to, as well as lots of families on the other side, not to mention the food around here is the best you can find in Taiwan. So overall it's super awesome, I feel super blessed to be serving here. The members are really good to us, last night we got fed dinner... three times. I thought I was going to die. 

Hanging out with the cool kids!

We have some of the best investigators ever. We have a cute little family of two kids that will be getting baptized next week, as well as a Filipino named Christopher who I love beyond measure. He is so incredible. He has overcome so many trails and is so strong in the gospel. 

Elder Hansen on Elder Roe's right, and Elder Stevenson on the left.

Also something fun was I got to go on exchanges with Elder Ethan Hansen this last week. That was a good time! It was pretty fun to tell people we grew up in the same place, everyone though that was pretty cool. He is a great person, and an incredible missionary it was super fun to be able to teach with him. 

This week was also the most painful week of my life... physically. This week we got this work out program that is freaking hard. So we have been going hard every morning. On Tuesday I like couldn't stand up my legs hurt so bad. But I am feeling pretty good at the end of the week. It feels pretty good to be able to be working out hard again. :)

Well that's about my week :) Overall really good, super thankful for the blessing I have to serve in Taiwan. It is literally the best place in the world! Love you all! 

Elder Roe

New Assignment!! Great People!!!!

Hello everybody!                                                                                                 Mar. 11, 2015

Wow this last week has been insane! Last Sunday after Stake Conference I had a surprise move call and moved to Da'An. It is an adventure and a half and I am loving life! This week was a blast as I was in a tripanionship with Elder's Huntsman and Johnson. They are so much fun and I love them to death! Elder Huntsman left this week to go and train and is gonna tear it up in Tianmu! My last day in Tucheng we had the new member investigator fireside and He JM spoke! She did amazing! So proud of her and the example she is. Just recently she quite her job so that she could attend church.

This week we went to pick up new missionaries at the airport. It was lot's of fun especially to see Sister Clawson walk out of the terminal. She will be a great missionary and has a great trainer. I am excited to see what they will do! (Sister Emma Clawson who Porter was good friends with at MC)

Yesterday we went and visited a member who was incredible! She invited her friend and her son over to eat dinner with us. It is so much fun to watch these members become member missionaries. 

New Assignment...great people. Feeling so blessed.

Cool experience:

Back in my first area a long long time ago I taught this lady named Lin JM. She was Golden, super amazing and moved on quickly to get baptized. After a few weeks she had to move to Taipei. Unfortunately for lack on my part I didn't think of anyway to stay in contact with her. She moved away and I never heard from her again. So for the past year and a half I have been praying that she is still going strong and receiving all of the blessings that the Lord can give her. Anyway this last week I was taking the new missionaries to the bank. (Which is hilarious since I don't know where anything is) And we are walking out of the front of church and I hear "羅長老(Luo ZhangLao)!" (Elder Roe) I turn around and there is Lin JM! I was so excited to see her and we had a great reunion. She is doing really well and her little girl, who when I met her had just been born, is up and walking now! So crazy! So happy for her!

This is where I ran to today! I love this place.

Well i love you all. The Church is true, Jesus is the Christ. I feel so blessed to be here in Taiwan, in the best place, with the best people. It is truly amazing! 

Elder Roe

TuCheng has been an awesome area to work! We've seen miracles!

Hello Everyone!                                                                                                    Feb. 29, 2016

This last week was so great! And felt like it was 1000 years! We had some great stuff happen this last week. For example, MLC.(Mission Leadership Conference) Which is always amazing! We talked a lot about working with members again which is a lot about what we talked about last time, but it's so important! I am really happy with how our zone has been performing. They have really caught the vision and are working really hard to accomplishing the mission vision. This last week we had 8 new investigators come from members introducing their friends to the gospel. So that's really good and is looking up! 

"P-day fun. We visited a 'Frozen' exhibit! Let it gooooooo!"

This week we went on exchanges with the SiYuan elder's and I went with Elder Aiono who is so awesome! He has had a super cool life and is a great missionary. It's rare to find someone so humble and kind. I really admire him. 

This week is going to be really interesting. We are calling it: "in with the old and in with the new" (not sure but I think he meant out with the old and in with the new?) Pretty much a lot of people we have been working with have just not been in it to win it. I think a lot of them know that it's true and they want the blessings, but aren't willing to work for it. It makes me sad but we gotta respect their agency. So it will be interesting.

Working in the fields....looks pretty daunting with all that water.

 Also this week is Zone meeting, exchanges with SanXia, then exchanges with the Assistants, and then transfers next week. (That went fast) I have loved serving here in TuCheng. I think I was to slow to realize how amazing this place is. But I'm glad I know it now. I really believe what dad says is true: "Wherever you go you will find good people, and you will find bad. It really just depends on what your looking for." Although I firmly believe that for Taiwan it's pretty hard to find bad! haha.

 

My friend Ely and me

I love you all. I am so happy that you are all in my life and supporting me in this crazy journey. Have a great week! 

Elder Roe