New Experiences: Eating Duck Intestine, Teaching Advanced English to the Elderly.......

Week 12:

Of course this was another fantastic day in the field. Other then getting lost multiple times for multiple hours, we were still able to find many new investigators and have a couple of them commit to being baptized!! (I'm still working on learning Chinese names so I can give updates in there progress).

I went to McDonald's this week hoping they would have some special Taiwanese plates. They didn't have anything special other then sesame seed Sundays, which I heard were nasty. I ate duck intestine a while ago and that was an interesting experience. 

Our stake also had a Christmas party. They invited the missionaries to help spread the word and pass out fliers. They had many small games like darts, and these Chinese games which I don't know the name of, a choir performance, and, for people that attended that weren't members of the church, presentations about family tree. I was able to get a lot of contacting practicing done and learned how to introduce our free English class that we teach. Which leads to this other story... 

I had to teach the advanced English class by myself. I hadn't had much time to prepare because everyday is super busy. I was expecting kids to come, and was surprised when I had to teach a class of 6 elderly people. I taught about dreams and it was actually an interesting conversation. We talked about dreams at night, day dreams, dejavu, how God can communicate to us through dreams, if we had accomplished something we dreamed about etc. 

I've been out in the field for 9 days and have been on my mission for 80 days. So crazy to think about

Until next week 

Made it to Taiwan

Week 11:
It has been a great couple of days!

My companion, Elder Bradshaw, is amazing. He is also from San Diego and he has been serving for a year. He has been helping me a lot with my Chinese and showing me which foods to eat. 

This Sunday was fun even though I didn't understand anything. During sacrament, my companion and I were asked to bear our testimony. Using my best broken Chinese, I testified, which was followed by members repeating what I said with a confused look on there faces. I don't think they understood what I said. We had a ward dinner right after.

I've already had an interesting experience with street contacting. A lady walked up to us and asked us for our phone numbers. I was about to recite the missionary purpose (which is the only thing I can say in Chinese with correct Grammer) but my companion took control. He then proceeded to tell me how much Taiwanese women like white people. The whole experience was really weird.

Here is my dorm, my desk on the right and the view out my window. I don't have any pictures of myself because I forgot to take some. 

Gilbert, Arizona or Taipei, Taiwan? Which will it be?

Week 10: 

Taipei, Taiwan

Last Tuesday, I had my flight plans and was ready to serve in Taipei, Taiwan mission speaking Mandarin. Since then, I was temporally reassigned to Gilbert, Arizona for a transfer speaking English. I am the only missionary in my district leaving for Arizona, and I can't wait to serve. Retaining the Chinese I have learned will be hard, but I know that the Lord has a specific job for me in Arizona. 

Gilbert, Arizona

Other then lots and lots of Personal and Companion study, nothing much has happened this week. Our district has been checking the status of our visa everyday and it still hasn't been approved. 

Me and my companion were asked to give the Priesthood lesson yesterday and it went perfectly. The topic was Priesthood so we planned the lesson about Priesthood Power and Authority. Everyone loved our lesson and I was able to get so much out of this lesson. This email would be way too long if I explained the whole lesson, so I will just write down the acronyms my companion and I came up with:

Faithfulness             
Obedience                           
Righteousness        } + Power                 Unrighteousness
Diligence                                                    Disobedience          } - Power

                                                                      Unwillingness

The MTC has taught me much and I'm grateful for the opportunity to stay here for 70 days. 

-- 

杨長老

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

UPDATE:

Something amazing just happened.

I was called to the travel office and MY VISA WAS APPROVED!! 

They don't know when my visa will arrive, but they are predicting that I will get my visa in the next 2 days and fly out on Friday. 

They have cancelled my flight plans to Arizona and I will be getting more updates in the near future. Its been a crazy turn of events. Thanks so much for all the prayers and support!! Only a couple more days at the MTC.... hopefully.

-- 

杨長老

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會