An unexpected encounter with a crazy BIRD!

個位好!

How is life?                                                                                                 November 2, 2015

This week was so much fun! Had interviews, exchanges with the assistants, temple day, MLC, and to finish it off the new member/ investigators fireside! So much fun! Tomorrow is our Zone Conference which will be a blast we are really looking forward to it. 

The only downer from this week was TJ. She wasn't able to get baptized because of some health challenges. She still wants to be baptized but will have to work through those first. Hopefully she will be able to get a new date soon and continue on the road to discipleship.

Love this Boy who was recently converted. I love this work!!!

 Yesterday was also kind of a hard night. When the fireside was about to end President asked Sister Akita (we are the same generation) who is in my generation to end with her testimony. It was kind of random but when she started talking we figured out why he asked her. Unfortunately because of sickness she said she would be going home tomorrow! We got to serve together in the South and the West zone so I can say she is a boss missionary. We will miss her like crazy! But that made me sad. A mission is so precious and the people you meet whether it is members, missionaries, and just the Taiwanese you love them all so much!  

On a bus headed to Zone Conference! Port in the back!

Something that was kind of crazy today. I was riding my bike to go do emails but on the way here I got hit by a bird, it ran right into me! I stopped pedaling and was just like "what the heck!" then I looked down and he was sitting on my thigh. He looked like he was gonna kill me so I kinda flipped out. Eventually he flew off but it was a scary moment. Taylor saves birds out of fishing line and I scare the heck out of them haha. 

Man, I miss this boy of mine

Overall life is really good. I am loving our area and our zone. Not too much to report other than I love you all! Thanks for all you do and the support you give me! 

Love, 

Elder Roe

LOVE changes everything

Hey everybody,                                                                                              Oct. 28, 2015

Sorry this week has been a little bit nuts. For example emailing on Wednesday. Today is our temple day, I am soooo stoked!!!!! I feel like time on the mission goes so fast! But as for temple day the time in between feels like an eternity. So needless to say I will enjoy my time today.

Sweet Sweet Experience!!!

 Last week was crazy busy with some exchanges. We had a blast as I went with Elder Magness and Elder Andeline, both of whom I love to pieces! I learned so much from the both of them. Then this week, we had interviews with President Jergensen. I love that man so much, he is so called of the Lord. I felt bad  though I went in there with so many questions I probably made him so exhausted. My bad. Then we went on exchanges with the assistants which was pretty fun. I could never be in the office. I only had to stay in there for like 3 hours and I was dying to get out and talk to some people. We met some really awesome people though that I am hoping that will be willing to meet with them.

Back with my friends in MuZha!!

Also last week was so great! I got the privilege of going back to 木柵 again  to baptize 陳姐妹. She was so great! So excited and just radiating light! I was so happy for her and her testimony was soooo touching!

 She just talked about the influence the Church has had on her son and how when she saw how much they loved him even though they were these 18-19 year old foreigners how touching that was. It was they key to her being willing to listen to the missionaries and take the lessons. She was so humble and admitted that there were still parts of the gospel that she didn't completely understand but that she had faith she would be  able to gain a testimony of it all through obedience to the gospel. That's what I'm talking about!

Love you all,

Elder Porter Roe

Being grateful in our circumstance brings happiness

Hello beautifuls!                                                                                   Oct. 19, 2015

My legs feel like Jell-O. First I guess I can start off with the best thing that happened this week 之一. I GOT MY BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally! No more riding on strangers bikes :) Seriously whenever I get it after I move it's like my best friend just showed up. Unfortunately he didn't get here without any battle scars. Yup, had a nice big flat. So that was a little depressing, but I got that all fixed and added some good ole' oil and it's as good as new. For the most part. There is still a little bit of knocking in the back that I gotta figure out cause it's driving me nuts. But anyway enough about my bike. 

Porter finding time to enjoy the ride

The real reason that my legs hurt is because I went on Exchanges this week in XinZhuang with one of my favs Elder Liston. We had a blast but oh man, there are some hills over that way. But we had a super duper good time and are loving life. 

As for TuCheng, this week was pretty good. Good and bad news. TJ passed her interview! But she is going on a business trip and will be out of the Country so we have to move it to next week but that is okay! Also C J from my last area is getting baptized so this Saturday I get to back to MuZha again! Super stoked. 

This week was full of learning experiences. I got to talk with lots of missionaries about what it means to be a consecrated missionary. It's still a lot in the thought process. But it is such a important thing. I really hope that I can be the missionary that God wants me to be.

Pretty place with the culture showing through

Also had some of my RC's and members from my first area come and eat dinner with me, we had a blast! I love them all so much! 

Asian architecture is so interesting and beautiful

Yesterday we visited an awesome member! He is 87 but could run faster than me and can do some stretches better than Aggie cheerleaders. He speaks Japanese since he is the older generation and then his next best language is Tiayu and then Mandarin... so communication was interesting but it was amazing what the gift of tongues can do.

A great example of happiness and humility

 

 He lives in such humble circumstances, but was the happiest most grateful person I have met. I think we can all learn from his great example. Well that was about the week, it's a wrap I love you all! 

Elder Roe

The sacred ordinance of Baptism...what does it mean to you?

Happy Monday!                                                                        October 12, 2015

Oh and to my Nephew: 祝你生日快樂你帥哥! Hope it was a great birthday! I am sure it was a busy week, it sure was over here. As for the Asian world is concerned this week we were finally able to watch General Conference! IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! At first we had a bit of a scare though, they downloaded it for us but not in English! I mean don't get me wrong I love Chinese and all but when it comes to General Conference you go native language every time. But through some miracles we got the English Version and were able to watch it all. I loved listening to all of the inspired talks and messages. The Church is so true! It was so inspired and full of awesomeness.

This week started off really good with our Zone Conference. I think the best part was a training we did on baptism. Everyone was invited to read 2 Nephi 31 and ponder about baptism. The interesting part was to specifically thing about baptism and what it means to you as a individual. We started with anyone who wanted to share their insight and then watched a video. The video was put together by the 傳道部 where they got pictures of everyone from when they were baptized. For some missionaries that was 8 years old and for others that was 20+. It was so cool to see everyone dressed in white about to enter into a sacred covenant with the Lord. 

Eldon and Porter the day Porter was baptized

 

Eldon and Porter the day Porter entered the MTC

Then we had the companionship break off into groups and share with their companionship the feelings they had, had and any memories that they had of their baptism. That was the best part. It was so awesome to look around the room and be able to see all of the missionaries tenderly share about what baptism has meant to them. Especially when we ask ourselves the question, where would I be without baptism? It really changes your perspective. Especially as missionaries I think that sometimes we forget the sacredness and great blessing baptism is, because we aren't careful and forget what it has meant to us. I shared with our Zone some of my thoughts. Which were that of all those that have lived on earth and on the earth today, think of how great of a blessing it is to be able to have grown up with the restored gospel and have the opportunity to be one of the Lord's missionaries. I am sure that in our pre-earth life we did not care much for how much money we would have, what our job would be, or where we would live. All that we cared about was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because without out it, we are unable to attain the highest degree of Glory that our merciful Heavenly Father has in store for us.

 

I love these people!! My Mission Leader Zone Conference

 

 I am sure that if there was any envy that was going on in heaven it was to be blessed enough to be in the situation that we are all in at this exact moment. In regard to that thought, what do we do with this great blessing? How do we show God our thanks? Do we wake up at 6:30 willingly with a attitude of thanksgiving? Do we go out to contact people in the heat and the typhoons with smiles on our face and the spirit in our hearts? Do we study the scriptures out of pure desire to learn more of Christ and draw closer to him? Or do not? Are we a waste? I know that all of us have all been guilty of the things listed above, but regardless we can change. I think of those I have been able to meet and whose lives have changed because of the gospel and I can't help but think where I would be without out them.

 

 I hope that at the start of a new month after General conference we can see the areas we can all improve in and then act. As for myself, I don't want to be a waste or a disappointment to my Heavenly Father, who has put very much faith and trust in me. He has in all of us. We can't really afford to fall short. But when we do, aren't we grateful there is repentance, something I have to do a lot of daily. haha

I hope that ya'll have a incredible week. The church is true! I love you all and am praying for you always!

Elder Roe 

This is at the MLC, everybody in this pic is in my generation I love them so much!

How great will be your JOY!!

Hello world,                                                                                         OCT. 5, 2015

This week was so busy! So much fun though. It was seriously just not stop all day, everyday. Every single day we had a different activity or meeting so that made it go really fast. But yeah. I will try and give you the whole thing really basically.

So somethings that happened this week, started off with a crazy typhoon, so we had to stay inside a lot so that was a little annoying haha.

HOW GREAT MY JOY!!! THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER!!!

Then we had our Mission Leadership Conference which was a blast! So great to see so many friends especially since the majority is from my generation. We had some really great trainings that really had a strong impact. Especially on baptism. I think we are definitely re- motivated to do better. I loved it all! There was a lot of change too! So much in the mission will be different after this week when we go to Zone Conference and announce all the changes so I am really looking forward to that. 

This little family IS going to be stellar members of our church!!!

The best part of the week was by far on Saturday. I was able to go back to 木柵 and baptize 王 and 吳. It was by far the best experience of my mission so far 之一. To see the whole ward again was so much fun! It was like a family reunion. Everything went to smooth and the service was so great! The speakers were great and sincere, the primary kids sang, sort of. And they were both baptized the first time which makes it even better.

 

Sweetest experience of my mission thus far!

 

 I feel like it is such a huge privilege to be here, to serve here, and to meet so many great people. The only downer was that Elder Alder had moved two days before so I didn't get to see him so I was bummed about that. But he moved to the promised land so I'm pretty jealous haha. 

The night after the baptism I got to see them at the big fireside for RC's.(Recent Converts) Luckily Jewel spoke. And she blew everyone out of the water. It was so cool! I was just like "yeah I taught them." So fun! 

 Then we met with our Investigator TJ we met with her to finish up the commandments and we were sharing the ones that are usually the hardest ones to accept: Tithing, Fasting/fast offerings. But she being her super great self accepted them whole heartedly! So that was a relief and big blessing!

So overall it was a pretty great week! Life is great! Hope everyone is doing well! 

Elder Roe

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