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

I have felt the Lord's Love so strongly this week!

Hey everyone!                                                                                               Feb. 22, 2016

 So it has only been 4 days since I last talked to you because of temple day, but life is great! In that time we were able to have L DX baptism and confirmation! It was so awesome, he is a great guy. We found him outside and called him and from then on he continued to meet with us until baptism. It was a cool testimony of how time is up to us and God.

 In the past, he had met missionaries and had actually had them come to his house to visit and share our message but at that time (even though he didn't have a bad feeling) he turned them away. But he felt that now is his time. He has been super accepting of the gospel and despite his very low education has been diligent in study the gospel even though it is very difficult for him to read. It has been amazing to see his change! There was also another investigator baptized the same day that was found in our area! He his so amazing, we ended giving him as a referral since he didn't live in our area and it was super great to him progress towards baptism and happier life. 

This week was temple week, it was so great to be in the temple again! I love the peace that it brings and the revelation that you can receive. I think that I have mentioned this before, but I love that it is in the middle of a big city yet it brings such a quiet peace in the midst of a busy world.

 Sister Lu is off to SLC temple square mission after waiting months for visa clearance.
She will be awesome there!!!

I feel like it was been an amazing week, really been able to feel the love of God. He can change our lives if we let him, we just have to slow done. This week I have enjoyed being with the people I have grown to love so much. For example Li xui fen, li xin kuan, zhang jia ting, liao guo shu etc. They are all so amazing! 

I hope that you all see some miracles of your own this week. 

Also shout out to Sister Lu, she was a visa waiter in our district and this morning she went America temple sqaure mission! 加油!

Love,

Elder Roe

last breakfast with Sis. Lu (Long live tucheng)

What is success?

                                                                                                     Feb. 17, 2016

What a great day I had with this wonderful family.
Man, they are the very best!

Hi Everybody!



How is everyone doing!? It's been awhile since I emailed

because this week is temple week so today we are going to the temple and have our p-day instead of last Monday. This past week and a half has been really fun. First off with Chinese New Year, lets just say lots of fireworks, firecrackers, and food. Lots and lots of food. Like we were filled to the brim. We are so thankful the Taiwanese people are so good to us!

Jewel says, these two will be best friends forever!!!
Even if they have an age gap...baptizing him and Jewel was one
of the highlights of Elder Roe's life!

Spent New Years day with this beautiful family!
 Was honored they would come to my area and share it with me!

 This last week some miracles happened. First off, our investigator L DX is going to be baptized on Saturday! Yay! Super stoked, he is great and I am so thankful I have had the chance with my companion to teach him. It is such a great privilege to get to teach these amazing people. For example yesterday we were meeting with La DX who got baptized a couple of weeks ago. We were asking about that day and he turned to us and said, "I will never forget that day for the rest of my life."

 Even though he has been so successful in life. He has a great family, had a great job, and has lived a long life already he said that all those years none of them have been as full as his life is right now. He said, "before I just looked and life and asked, Is this it? We just come, we live, and we die? What's the point of that. But now, I know. I know where I am going, I have a belief and I have direction. I have a relationship with God, which is something I have never had before. Now my life has meaning, and I now know what true happiness is." It amazes me. He is in his 70's and is so successful but true success and happiness comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ, making covenants, and honoring those covenants. I am so happy that everyday we share happiness. Chinese has in right seeing as 福音的福 is 幸福的福. It is happiness! 

True success is making and keeping our covenants

Even though a lot happened it feels impossible to share everything that happened. So I am gonna end it here. I love you all so much and am grateful to have you all in my life! Have a amazing week and go see some miracles! 

Love,

Elder Roe

Enjoying the celebrations!

Happy Chinese New year to all my Chines friends!!!!!!!!!!                                               Feb. 8, 2016

 It is a time of lots of fireworks, firecrackers, 紅包, and delicious food! I seriously have never been so full in my life. It's like having thanksgiving every single day for a week. Can't complain! It has been an amazing experience to be able to meet so many non-members in a non-threatening environment.

Our dinner appointment

 Last night was probably one of the funnest nights of my life. We had to dinner appointments, the first was full of great food and company. The second we were invited to by an RC. She said that she had a lot of family there and wanted us to meet them. So they picked us up to drive us to the house. Let me tell you, this was no ordinary Taiwanese house. It was a 老家 way up in the mountains way out of the city. We pull in and it is this sick old style house. Ya know, the one that has three sides (like a square without one side) The doors are tall wood with a cool Chinese saying above the door. Once we pulled in the door opens and floods light into the courtyard. In the doorway to the main room is like 40 people. It was a little funny at the beginning cause it was awkwardly dead silent. (they didn't know we were foreigners so they were nervous that they would have to speak English)

What a great week we've had. Happy Chinese New Year!

 But once we broke the ice it was a party! Words cannot explain how fun it was. So loud, so much food and a huge family reunion. The Grandma that was there was 99 years old! How awesome is that!? When we left they all wanted pics, I felt like a celebrity since there were tons of cameras, with some excited Asian behind it saying look here look here! Anyway we built some good relationships and I think they will be able to become so sweet investigators later on. 

Other than that? There was a big earth quake did ya hear? Yeah that was fun.(He's developed his sarcasm well haha) It was pretty big, even in Taipei but we are all safe and sound. Please pray for the people in the worst hit area like Tainan. There are many people still missing. 

MLC was great! We talked about my favorite thing: working with members. Seriously it is the best way to do missionary work. And there is a big difference between a referral and an investigator. So anyway we will be working a lot closer with the ward from here on out. I am excited for Zone meeting, it should be lots of fun. 

Love you all so much.Thanks for all the support and love you give me! 

Beautiful Chinese Temple

So much food and fun

Elder Roe

The Right Place and the Right Time!

Hello hello!                                                                                                           Feb. 3, 2016

Well this week was a bit warmer than last week:) So that made it a lot better. Last Wednesday we went on exchanges with the assistants and that was fun especially since both are in my generation so we had lots we could chat about. :) Then transfers happened and I am staying another 6 weeks in Tucheng! So that was a little bit of a awesome surprise! 

So excited to stay here with these awesome people for another transfer!

Lots of cool miracles happened this week. One though that I wanted to share was, M J. We were going out to contact for like 20 minutes before our lesson. We were going somewhere that we go quite often but for some reason decided to pull in and park on the other side than we usually do. Then while we were parking our bikes this girl walks past. So we say "hello!" and stop to talk with her. We start having a great conversion and then all of a sudden she says "it is fate that I am talking to you." We were like...what? She said that, that day while she was on the MRT she was actually thinking about Jesus Christ. Nothing in particular about him, he had just crossed her thoughts. Then on her way home she decided to walk a different path that was actually way out of her way, where she ran into us. (Although we all know that wasn't just fate) We shared about prayer and baptism to which she really wanted to learn more. At the end we invited her to say the closing prayer. She did and started to cry. Afterward she was embarrassed and was just like "why is this happening! This is so weird I never cry!" We asked her how she felt inside and she said that it was a good feeling. We then helped her to recognize that, that was the spirit. We are meeting with her tonight and I am so excited to share more about he gospel with her! She is awesome!

Dinner with the Gang

On Saturday we spent like 7 hours helping set up tables and chairs for a huge activity for all the old and homeless people. They are having a big dinner and Chinese New Year party for them in front of the govt. offices so that's how we spent our Saturday. It was good and felt good to do service for those in need. Everyone was pretty impressed with how fast and effective we are.... I felt like it wasn't that hard but we taught everyone some pretty effective things to help them move stuff faster haha. 

Other than that, I don't have too much to talk about. Life is great! We have some sick (slang for awesome) investigators that should be getting baptized this month. Just working on overcoming some problems, so that is kind of cool. Anyway I hope that you are all doing really well and have an amazing week! Love ya'll. 

Elder Roe

SNOW IN TAIWAN!!! WHAT???

Hello all my favorite people,                                                                               Jan. 25, 2016

Well for starters, in case you didn't know IT'S FREEZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like I think I might die. It was predicted at the beginning of last week that it had a possibility of snowing but everyone was like, there is no way! I would occasionally bring it up to people on the street and they all just said, "Snow, in Taipei? yeah right that's impossible." But sure enough Sunday  morning... there was snow! Really small and very light but there was most definitely snow. And it was humid. I don't mean to complain but it was really cold. Okay I'm done.

Once in a 100 years...snow in Taiwan!

 

Heartbreak of the week was L Dx.... His baptism fell through.At the last minute, his other Church called and found out that he was going to get baptized into our Church and then they 罵'ed him out. So he got cold feet and backed out. So we are going to be working on that this week. I know that he knows what we are telling him is true. I feel at peace with it and even though he might not be able to baptized right now I still feel that he will be able to work through this and it will all be ok.

Elder Zhuang and me! 

Elder Falk gave me my haircut! He's from Sweden

This week was crazy with exchanges! First with Elder Zhuang (莊) then Elder Ploeg (we are the same generation, while we were on exchanges his companion gave me a European haircut haha Elder Falk from Sweden, he did a pretty good job I love him so much, and then Elder Davidson. All of them where so much fun! And despite the wind and rain we were able to see so many miracles! I love each of the Elders in this zone, they are all so incredible! 

The Best District Ever!!! Love these people!

Yesterday at church, it was amazing! We had 5 investigators and 4 came for the first time! One was from Vietnam. She is so awesome! The problem  is that no one here speaks Vietnamese! So frustrating, I am trying to find some one that can help her and explain some things in her native language. Her Chinese is pretty good but when we start talking about a church vocabulary that naturally is lacking. So pray for me! In our gospel doctrine class we had 29 people including the teacher! So awesome! The growth this ward has had recently is insane! I have loved serving here! Gotta give a shout out to one of my favorites though: Hui Mei. She is an Aborigines A'ma. She is my momma here in Taiwan. She takes good care of us and I love her to pieces! (see pic)

Hui Mei! Love her!

My Aboriginal Momma in Taiwan. She takes great care of me!!!

Well other than that... mmm nothing else to report. This week is transfer's I feel like it is a good possibility that I will move but we will see what happens. I hope you all have a great week! Love ya'll! 

Elder Roe

The work just keeps on paying off. God multiplies our efforts!

Hello everyone!                                                                                            Jan. 18, 2016

Hope that you had as great of a week as I did.... but I doubt that is possible! For starters last week we went to Costco! Sing praises for American products! Mostly we just went around and tasted all of the samples haha. Then Elder Bellingham asked me on the way out, do you think we could find granola bars? (I was about to say no, since that doesn't exist in Taiwan) But then I look just past him and on the shelf in front of us.... IS A BOX OF GRANOLA BARS! AND! They were not even in the right spot, they were misplaced and put there by some shopper. If that isn't 神的安排 then I don't know what is! (so obviously we got it)

District at Costco!!! What a fun experience!

Also this week was the the Presidential election. We are next to a MRT station with a big plaza so like every night there was a thing for the candidates.... lots of yelling and bad singing, and chanting. It was pretty fun to see the Taiwanese get pumped up about something! In the end 蔡英文 came out on top, didn't see that coming. (JOKE! everyone saw that coming) So there is your world news. It was big for Taiwan, their first female Pres.

One of the presidential advertisments!!! Taiwan Style!

On the same day as voting, was  JM 何姐妹’s baptism! It was awesome. She was found just by the missionaries inviting her to a ward activity while on the MRT. From the get go, she was incredible! She overcame a lot of challenges and was so 認真 (like...hardworking, diligent) in all the invites we gave her. She invited her older sister, brother in law, and little sister to the baptism! And they all really like it. Her testimony was amazing! And she ended by saying "I am so excited to introduce the gospel to my family, it has been the greatest blessing in my life." She is incredible!

What an amazing young lady! Her testimony is powerful.

Kind of a funny story. We often tell the old grandpa's how young they look just to make them feel good, they are so cute. But this week this guy was talking to us and my comp said how young he looked, they grandpa and like no no no you are much younger! Then my comp said "I'm 90 years old." They grandpa was silent and just started at him for a second... the with his fist slammed in down on Elder Bellingham's head! It was soooooooooo funny! I was dying! The grandpa was like, that's my personality, if someone tries to deceive me I just wack 'em! Then he told us how Jesus Christ would do the same thing! I don't know about that, but it was funny. They other pic of the old man is just this crazy guy he was also really funny, but he didn't hit us, hence it was save to take a picture. 

This coming wee we will have another baptism for  DX! He is also incredible! He was been preparing himself for baptism for 6 months and then one Sunday just walked into our Chapel. It was a huge miracle. He is amazing! 

Love you all and hope you have a amazing week! 

God works another Miracle

Hello family and friends,                                                                                   Jan 10, 2016

This week went fast, but when I reflect of what we did, I am amazed that it was all done just last week. Last Monday felt like it was a year ago. Time is a funny thing. 

This last week we went and hiked the 象山. I have done it before but it was still a blast. We celebrated Elder Griffin's birthday, it was pretty fun just super misty. You could hardly see the Taipei 101. Then on Tuesday we had our Zone Meeting. I think overall it went pretty good. There was a lot of changes. It is amazing what the Church will do to see the work progress. We now no longer having transfer meetings, exchanges are now all conducted in the leader's area, and when we transfer to a new area we are allowed to travel alone on public transportation. It will shake up some things but I am excited, you can feel the urgency of the work!

Jason and Elder Roe eating and enjoying their friendship!

The Day Elder Roe baptized Jason!

Jason finding Elder Herzog in Hong Kong!!! Amazing what the gospel can do!

Still looking out for each other....even clear across the ocean!
This picture taken at Porter's last meet July 2014!

One of my two favorite parts of the week was visiting a LA (less active) family. They are probably one of my favorite people to visit. They are just incredible. Every time I have gone to their home I have felt the Spirit and God's love for them. Unfortunately, recently they have been really hard to set-up. But finally we found time and set-up a visit. This week they told me how very grateful they were that I regularly call them and that it is often in times of weak faith. It reminds them that God is looking out for them.

 However, as the lesson progressed and we talked more, they opened up about what this had meant to them. A few weeks previously I had been prompted to call, so I did but sadly they were out of town and were in the south of Taiwan. I told them that we loved them and are praying for them often and if they need anything to just give us a call, we are here to help. Shortly after the conversation ended their car malfunctioned as they were driving down the interstate. In Taiwan there is never a place to stop, and the roads are extremely small so they were in a very dangerous situation as they couldn't find anywhere to stop and were in fear of being rammed by oncoming traffic. However to their luck (or should I say blessing) they found a area extremely close that had been widened and had a place that they were able to pull off and quickly get the help needed to repair their car. The wife shared that in that moment she knew that there were angels about them, they felt the love of God as he assisted in protecting their family. It was the wake-up call they needed. The Father shared that after this happened he knew that had something gone wrong, they are not living up to the standard of their covenants and the sealing that they had received they would not be worthy of. They talked as a family and agreed that the time has come to return. I was so thrilled to see the family of five walk in to Church this last Sunday and sit in the congregation where they belonged. God is a God of miracles!

Another favorite part was L DX's baptism! He is amazing! Once again I was able to see how amazing God is and the importance of ALWAYS being willing to do the work! About a month ago we had finished a lesson and had about 15 minutes until dinner. My desire to be in the cold and find was about a level zero. Ya know, sometimes you just have those days. It was like my body was screaming NOOO as I locked my bike, my hands felt numb thanks to the humid Taipei weather. I knew though that if I just found someone to talk to the negative thoughts would have to leave. I said a small prayer that I could have a better attitude and see some miracles in the very short time that we had.

What a miracle!!! Never miss an opportunity to share the gospel!!!

 I looked ahead of me to see a old grandpa looking at some pictures of houses outside a realtor store. I talked with him, he was so kind, I brought up baptism and me and Elder Elliott asked him to follow Christ and be baptized. He wasn't too convinced but said he would be willing to understand a bit more. We set him up for Sat. When we called to confirm the phone wouldn't even ring as if our number was blocked. That Sat. we rode to the church with, in all honesty, not much of an expectation that he would actually show up.... but he did! And he continued to learn, and progress, and convert. He came to know the Book of Mormon was true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that what he was teaching is true, and came to be baptized!

 Upon asking him what change he has experienced since he met the Church he responded, "I have found Happiness. Before I just lived life, I have always wondered why am I here, what is the purpose of all this? Now I know. I have the guidance I need, I have a sense of direction, and I have found my Savior and come to know my Redeemer." Moral of the story: ALWAYS OPEN YOUR MOUTH!!!!!!!!!! It doesn't matter how cold or tired you are. Never miss an opportunity cause if you do... you just might miss out on a miracle. And we have tickets to the front row seat of watching miracles happen. 

This week will be great as well, we will get to see H J get baptized. She has another awesome story as well... but I will have to tell you more about it next week. 

Love you all so much, hope you have a incredible week! Go share the happiness! 

Elder Roe

P.S.

Happy Birthday tooooooo youuuuuuuuuuu Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TO THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that you just have the greatest day ever! You definitely deserve it. I am so grateful for all that you have done for me. For your example and love. You are my idol and I hope that one day I can be a tenth of what you are. I am sorry I am a bad writer and I wish I could express how much I love you but that is impossible. just know I love you so much my heart hurts! We are gonna party so hard when I get home. Love you! 

Rocky

Great start to a promising new year!

Hello dear family!                                                                                           Jan. 4, 2016

This week was super fun! Started off going on exchanges with Elder Falk! He is from Sweden has the coolest accent ever! I told him Taylor served in Norway which he thought that was awesome. Then he taught me some Norwegian... haha SOOO grateful I aint learning that! Then I also went on exchanges with Elder Petermann from Oklahoma. We taught a great lesson to H J and he shared a super touching testimony. I love our zone so much, everyone in it is super incredible! 

This was taken the day Taylor was dropped at the MTC... April 17, 2013

  Port is dang glad he isn't learning Norwegian haha...

but Mandarin Chinese doesn't seem like it'd be any easier      

This week was also MLC, which was amazing as usual! There are some insane changes going on, with transfer meetings, exchanges, etc. You can really tell that there is a huge hastening of the work! Then to end the week both H J and LDX passed their interviews! So we will be having two baptisms here really soon.

The Lord is truly Hastening the Work!

 Then in Church a guy came that had met missionaries 5 years ago. We met with him, he said he has been preparing to be baptized and loves our Church. So we are excited to have a opportunity to work with him. His name is LN.  Also the sisters in our ward should have two baptisms this month so for our ward that is 5 souls coming unto Christ. Pretty good start to the new year! So great! :) For New Years... we did nothing. I had to say since I knew you would ask, but we got some great sleep :) 

This was Taiwan on New Yrs Eve....Port didn't see it but his Mom did on the news! haha

2016 is going to be a crazy year! I am so excited! Looking forward to all the work ahead, we have some promising people we get to work with. The church is true, this is the Lord's work and we are so blessed to be apart of it. I love you all! Have an amazing week! 

Elder Roe