Miracles are the word of the week!

Howdy to the western hemisphere!                                                                 Sept. 28, 2015

 How is the weather over there. There is a typhoon here today so that makes the weather really lame and windy! But I hope everyone had a great week!

Taiwan after a storm earlier this year

Everything here in 土城 is great! This week was really interesting. Full of so many miracles, this area is seriously so prepared! This week we found so many investigators! A grad total of 10! Some of them are 還好 But so many of them I think of a lot of potential! As Elder Elliot and I  were walking back to our bikes one day I was telling him, "our live's are soooo weird  we just walk around all day in the rain with really no destination talking to everyone we see." Haha But what we do means a lot more, we focus a lot more on the journey than the destination. 

Typhoon Dijuan. It was a super typhoon! Not quite as strong as the last one but devastating.

This week TJ progressed a lot. Her original date was in the end of October  but we talked to her about it and she was super willing to move it up. She she will hopefully be baptized in the middle of October so we are really looking forward to that! 

Banks of the river Xindian River in Taipei City on Tuesday

Also miracles are happening back in MuZha! I just found out that W DX and WU DX are both going to be baptized this coming Sat.! I will most likely get to go back and see them be baptized, I am so excited for them! They are both great and I can't wait to see them! Life is so great! 

Life is so great right now! I couldn't be happier! What a blessing this mission is!!!

Well other than that there isn't to much to report. I hope ya'll have a great week! 

Elder Roe

The work is on fire here in TuCheng!

Hey everybody!                                                                                   Sept 21, 2015

I hope that everyone has a great week. This past one has been super duper crazy! So I got transferred to TuCheng with Elder Elliot. Like the Mormon Tab choir Richard Elliot's son 的 Elliot. We are having a blast. The ward is great and have a few Golden Investigators. So that makes it super fun.

 

Elder Elliot and me emailing home.

 I replaced Elder Huntsman who went to the BU to be the next assistant, I love him, he will be so great! We met with a investigator called T. She is so great! She heard at Church that we can't drink coffee so she just quit it without us even talking to her. Then yesterday we taught the plan of salvation which she was really touched by, and then we invited her to pray about it to see if it was true. And she responded (I already know that it is true.) Yeah that's right! She is incredible! 

This week we also went on exchanges with some Elder's that I knew back when I first got to MuZha so that was really fun. It is so crazy how fast time flies! I love the mission it is so much fun! 

Also to end, (sorry to be short) just wanted to give a huge shout out to Brenna, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST LITTLE SISTER IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the best and I hope that all of your wildest dreams come true! 

Best little sister in the world!

Thanks for all the fun we've had together!

I hope that everyone has a great week I love you all!　加油！Elder Porter Roe

An Unexpected and Tearful Goodbye

Sept. 14, 2015
Hello to you all,


A TEARFUL GOODBYE! We got a brief message from Elder Roe this week that informed us that he had an unexpected phone call from the mission president on Sat. let him know he was moving even though it wasn't transfers for another 2 weeks. Apparently he was instructed to report to the mission home on Monday the 14th for his new assignment. We don't know anything more than that as of now. I guess we'll wait to see what he tells us next pday.

What we do know is that Elder Roe loved his area so much and was sad to say goodbye to so many wonderful people there. They in turn loved him as can be seen in several photos here. The ward threw a goodbye party for him with a buffet luncheon, goodbye cake and letters and notes and pictures that the kids drew him. :) What a gift! He did say that leaving them all was harder than leaving home in the first place...hahaha. I am slightly offended. :)

The beautiful bake they made me for the goodbye party

My mission buds

One of the greatest families I've ever known

Words cannot describe how much I love this family!

My goodbye meal!!!!

I have loved this area with so many wonderful people

Our big group. Including Pres Lee and Carol Lee who've been so amazing to me

The coolest kid around. He and his little brother are some of my favorites!

 From the bottom of this mother's heart, I thank the people in MuZha (spelling ?) for their kindness and service to my Son....I will be forever grateful to you.

Sister Jody Roe

Even having a desire to believe is where one starts to grow Faith

Hello World!                                                                                        9/7/15

This week was a great week full of business! Lots and lots of teaching which is really good! I am really happy that I have had the opportunity to stay in MuZha for such a long time. I have been really able to see the difference that only time can make. Since I have been here to I have seen so much happen. This ward is really what has made the difference. As they have helped the missionaries and had a desire to have success we have progressed so fast. I feel so blessed. I am really praying that we can continue to improve like we have been! 

Elder Roe LOVES the people of Taiwan

This week we are hoping to have C's baptism! She has come so far! She has progressed so far! This last week we shared about the Word of Wisdom and she had some struggles with it but she agreed to give it up. But the whole reason she is so willing is because she is hoping that by her actions God will see her faithfulness and answer whether or not he really exists.

 

 But thus far, she still hasn't received the answer she is hoping for. So, tonight we are hoping to share that if we only have a desire to believe that is good enough for the start. Conversion comes with time, and steady obedience to God's commandments. I really hope that she will be able to just take the leap! I know it might seem like a big one for her. I just love her so much, I have known her the entire 8 months I have been in MuZha since her son is a member. She is ready she just needs to believe! 

Love and miss this young man of mine.

Also this week is our outdoor Zone Conference, so we are all looking forward to that. It's always fun to be together with other missionaries! I love our Zone we have so many great missionaries! 

Well Sorry that's all I have time for this time. I love you all so much! 

Elder Roe

Give Honor to the Sabbath Day and Reap Blessings

Hello everyone,                                                                                    Aug 31, 2015

I was informed this was was National Dog Day, so to all those happy k-9's out there, wishing you a good one! (Porter loves dogs!!!)

 This week was great! We were able to see so many miracles! :) That's the best kind of week you can have right? We weren't able to meet lot's of new people this last week but we did see lot's of miracles with our investigators and LA's so that was lot's of fun!

A really nice restaurant where we ate!!! Great blessing.

We were able to share with 黃 the commandments and she is sooo awesome! Some of them were really hard to accept but she is so prepared. We started with the 10 commandments and she was so funny. She was having a hard time with the fact that we can't worship idols (because that is what everyone does in Taiwan) but by the end of the discussion she was like "You know what I actually don't even like 拜拜'ing those idols, it's actually kind of scary. Not to mention I told like the 香." So that solved that problem!

 And then we started on the Sabbath  Day which was a really hard one for her since she always works out on that day. I told her about my experience with sports and choosing not to work out on Sunday and the blessing I saw from keeping the Sabbath Day holy. When I finished bearing testimony of that she said "Alright I will move all exercise to Saturday. What!?!?! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!! We still have lot's of work to do but she is so awesome!

Porter committed to never working out on Sunday. Keeping the Sabbath holy blessed him immensely in his athletic career.

Also another huge miracle was 馬. This is the one that was hearing all the voices. We met her this week and she was still have quite a few problems. But we had a awesome member help us 陪課 and she just told her that the voices weren't real and not to listen to them. 馬 was pretty surprised by that but she said she would do it. At the end of the week we met with her again and she had improved so much! She still hears things but not she ignores it and focus on reading the scriptures and praying instead of listening to the voices. That is a night and day difference! I am so happy for her and I believe if she continues to improve like this that she will for sure be able to be baptized. God's power is so great. 

Well that's about all for now. I love you all so much! 加油!

Elder Roe

Americans, Taiwanese and Mexicans, oh my!

Hey ya'll!                                                                                              Aug 25, 2015

What a week. I was thinking recently, a mission is like the weirdest thing to those who don't understand what it really is. I mean who on earth would accept a job where you worked 24 hours a day 7 days a week, plus holidays, required time on waking up, sleeping, studying etc, have another person assigned to you 24/7, no communication with family except a email and Skype twice a year, and to top it all off no salary. Yeah it sounds pretty crazy, but once you understand all that you get out of it you realize that you are getting "paid" too much, and the work that you put in never equals what you get on of it. Because what you get out of it far outweighs anything you will ever do. Weird concept huh. That's how I felt like this week was. We worked our tails off. I have never been so tired and happy. And our area is doing really well. God is blessing us so much. He knows I need all the help I can get :)

Had fun playing sports with my Buddy

This week I would say that the highlight would probably be 黃. This week we met with her and had a great lesson. This lesson we really wanted to focus on setting a firm date with her to be baptized. We talked to her about what things would be hard for her, or what experiences she would need in order be baptized. And to be honest her list was pretty minimal. The only thing that she really wanted was a testimony of what we are teaching. That's pretty simple, and I was thinking "we can work with that :)"

Quite the awesome view from on top of Taipei 101!!!!

 

 She set a firm date for September 12 and I really really think that she can make it! She is very diligent. For example I called her this week and invited her to Church, but she originally had stuff, then I encouraged her that if she comes she can continue to come unto Christ and she will be able to gain a testimony, so she dropped all the other stuff and she came... for the whole three hours! It was great and she really enjoyed it! We are meeting with her tonight and sharing the commandments. I think that it will go really smoothly though because her son is already baptized she has a pretty good idea of what they are and what we believe. So that should be good, keep us in your prayers.

This week we also got two new investigators who are really great and we are excited to start working with them! Although one of our investigators who we met a couple of weeks ago we finally got to meet with this week. She is.... interesting. She believes that there might be a demon possessing her. And hears things... so we are addressing that. She is really nice though and is doing all she can to get better. This week she scheduled an appointment at a really good hospital to see what they can do since this problem has been recent. I hope that she will be able to get the help she needs and feel peace.

Such a cool opportunity with these people!!!! Got to go all the way to the top of Taipei 101!!!

Today we had a really neat experience that was super tender. Today Taipei 101 had a deal and the tickets were buy one get one free. So we went with some members and missionaries to go to the top! While we were driving up I saw a group of people from South America. Ya'll know how I like that! Anyway while we were outside waiting for others to come a few came up to us and said "Hey, we are from Mexico and we are members!" Then that was followed by very enthusiastic handshakes and hugs. When we got inside we met the rest of the group and they were all so stoked! 32 in all and every single one was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was so awesome to see the love and comradely among us all. Despite language, culture, country and oceans the love of the gospel knits our hearts all together as brothers and sisters of our Heavenly Father. The Church is true, and it changes the world! I love you all! 

Way to go Brenna, getting honored for earning the YW medallion!

 

 Keep up the good work!

Elder Roe

Tapping into the Enabling Power of the Atonement!

Hello Western World,                                                                                  Aug. 17, 2015

Well this week was good but also a little bit slow. Don't really know why but sometimes that is just the way things go. As for transfers, thought I would for sure be leaving MuZha but, the Lord is Merciful. So I will be staying here for now at least 5 transfers. I am pretty excited I really feel like we are going to see miracles this transfer.

Dusk in Taiwan, what a view!

 The last transfer was mostly spend trying to find investigators, now we have a few that I really think can progress and move forward to baptism! Keep us in your prayers! Yesterday our ward did have a baptism though! It was the Sister's investigator. I did her interview, she is a super funny lady and will be a great addition to our ward. The biggest change this transfer was that our sister companionship is now a tri- companionship. crazy! Our ward is stoked to see more and more missionaries!

These banks were overflowing during the storm!

Still a lot of destruction from the typhoon

Fun celebration dinner group

Last week I told you that we did go do the finding activity in the park with our ward and I would tell you more about it this week. It was so much fun. At the beginning I was a little bit nervous just because whenever you have lots of members that have never done anything like this, sometimes it's interesting.... But it went really well. The members all loved it! They felt the fire and the joy of sharing the gospel with others! It was also humbling for me. There were many who at the beginning felt a little bit frustrated. Not knowing what to do or how to share. The reason was because like 90% of our ward are converts and have never had a opportunity like this. We talked about that and probably next week sometime we are doing a training on ways we can share the gospel with others it will be really great. 

So happy to see my best friends.

Something fun this week was to celebrate the end of transfers. A member took us up to Mao Kong to eat dinner. We are so blessed to have that in our area it is beautiful! It had just finished a huge storm. So it gave us a beautiful view of Taipei.

Had a fun visit with this little man.

Something that I wanted to share with you this week is what I have learned about the atonement. I really feel that in the last couple of days I have grown closer to my Savior than I have been for a long time on my mission. I think that sometimes we have really spiritual experiences and then we forget to do the little things to continue to develop that relationship. Anyway, something that I have started to do recently that has really changed me has been my nightly prayer. At the end of the day when I kneel down to pray I go over the day and I look at the areas where I have lacked, where I wish I could have improved, or where I didn't fulfill the potential the Lord had in mind for me. I really feel the weight of falling short. Then I do something I have never done before. But I very sincerely repent to God, I can picture the Savior in the Garden paying for my sins and mistakes and shortcomings. And I receive a spirit of peace. It's like every night he comes in and lifts that burden off of me. Then the next morning it's like I have a clean slate. To feel the power of the atonement so powerfully every night has really changed me. I feel SO grateful to my Savior. It puts everything in perspective. After my prayer, I don't have any worries. The only thing on my mind is giving the Lord my very best, and trying to love and serve those around me no matter what the circumstance. The gospel of Jesus Christ is as real as it is true.

I love you all and hope that you have a great week!!!!

What a view of Taipei at night! Loved it.

Elder Roe
PS Shout out to my man, Riley Herzog.... Elder Herzog this week! You are going to be a great missionary and just know I am thinking about you this week. Thanks for everything Ri.

I survived Typhoon Soudelor

Hello to all,                                                                                             August 10, 2015

Well in case you didn't hear... we had a Typhoon this week. Just cause that part doesn't really matter much I will be fast. In consisted of Rain, Wind, and lasted about 25 hours. And... I was scared haha. There has been quite a bit of destruction but every missionary in Taiwan is safe. I know God was really looking over us!

One powerful storm. Bamboo tree rooted up.

This week was really great! We had our interviews with Pres. Jergensen which was great. Also the typhoon turned out to be to our advantage because it makes it a lot easier to get into people's homes. This week were were out biking and it was raining when we ran into Huang Li. He invited us to come upstairs, which was a great opportunity to talk to Huang Mama. Last time we met we weren't able to finish sharing with here the Plan of Salvation.

Daisy Lin photos of before and after Typhoon

 

 I asked here how the reading was going since I had given here specific scriptures everyday on a planner thing. She told me she read all of them in one day, then she said she just kept reading complaining that I don't give here enough to read! That's what I like to hear :) Then she started asking a TON of questions about life all relating to the Plan of Salvation. We just ended up teaching her the rest right there. She really enjoyed learning about it, but at the end was just like: "Well it's pretty close to what Buddhist's believe, with reincarnation and all."

 

 We started talking a bit about that and then I testified about one thing that really hit home with both of us. I asked how she can confirm that, that religion is true? She said, well I can read 佛經, (the Buddhist bible) Then I asked if she could pray and get a answer that it was true? If their God would really answer her? She said that she had never actually heard of this happening to anyone. Then I told here that I knew that if she read and prayed about the Book of Mormon with a sincere heart that God would INDEED answer her. She committed, came to church, and we are meeting again tonight. 

Blown window from Typhoon. My friend's adorable daughter

More destruction...thanks Wanda for the photo

Nasa's view of Typhoon Soudelor

Even though I have testified of that fact for a long time, that moment it really rang true for me. The most unique part of our Church is the tangible evidence backing up the divinity and authority, it is irrefutable. The Church is true! And anyone can do their part to know it is true. 

Also yesterday we went with our member's up to go finding for that big activity. It was a lot of fun and we had some success! But my time is up for today so I will have to tell you more about that next week! :) Love you all! Keep the faith!

Elder Roe

That was one big Typhoon :)

A wonderful new investigator to cap off a great week!

Hello to you all,                                                                                             Aug. 3, 2015

兩隻老虎，兩隻老虎，跑得很快，跑的很快，一隻沒有眼，

一直沒有尾，好奇怪好奇怪！

Just thought I would start of with a Chinese nursery rhyme. Anyway now that that's all done with, how are ya'll!? Everyone have a good week? First off I gotta give a shout-out to one of my main girls Courtney Funk! Soon to be Hermana Funk aka: the best missionary ever! Thanks for your support and go tear it up in Mexico!

This week was so good! You already heard about most of it since we had temple week on Wednesday so all I have to talk about it Thursday to Sunday. Which was great! In that time we were able to meet three awesome people that are now investigators! There is one that I want to share a bit about which is Q 邱阿伯. So Q taught me a really good lesson this week. Which would be don't judge a book by it's cover. So something I have kind of got into a (bad) habit of has to do with the A'gongs and A'mas of Taiwan. Usually when I see a old Taiwanese grandma I just kinda don't waste too much time, usually because they don't speak Mandarin and also because they are usually the most devout Buddhist that you can find.

 Anyway Tues. last week we ran into Qiu Dx, or I guess I should probably say that he ran into us. He started talking our ears off and just kept showing me all these pictures of Buddhist temples and such and would only talk about reincarnation. Basically, I was just really tired and was like "Paisei, 阿伯，我們趕時間，有可能我們可以給你我們的電話然後你有興趣的話你可以跟我聯絡，好 不好。" So after we gave him the number I thought we probs wouldn't hear from him again.

My newfound friend! He is amazing!

 But Thurs. night he calls me and tells me that on Friday night he has time. So we set up with him for Friday night and met up at the Chapel. He was so adorable! Seriously he took a picture of everything, even the Hymn book. During our lesson we talked about Christ and how Baptism is a way that we come closer to God and all of our sins are taken away. He said he really had a desire to have this and learn more about Jesus Christ. Then he set a baptismal date! He smiled so big! It was pretty cute since he only has like 4 bottom teeth. I learned that everyone is different and regardless of age we need to talk with everyone. Which is something I try to do it's just that sometimes I have that 看法 that the old people are just gonna 不用 me. 

This next week is gonna be great. We have worked with the Stake Pres. and Bishop and have planned an activity where we are going to go to a place in our area and a have a HUGE ward activity where we introduce ourselves to lots of people and get our members involved in missionary work. We missionaries will be taking them out with us contacting while in the park they have games and stuff for the kids and if people are interested they can ask them more about our church. Then we are going to do service and clean up the park. So I think it will be lots of fun and really successful! Keep us in your prayers! 

Well that's about it for now. I hope that you all have a great week! I love you!

Elder Roe