May 26, 2013

Thank you for your prayers.

 

First things first,

Mom I love you

Dad I love you 

Colby and Kat I love you

Ashleigh.....her future knight in shining armor, I love you

Emma I love you

Hannah I love you

Madison I love you

Natalie I love you

Well this week was pretty interesting our washer broke, so we had to get a new one, and we just got a new ac system. It is pretty useful having your senior companion be the old operations manager. So right now the apartment is just finishing remodel mode to accommodate four elders. But real quick something cool that we did that I will send pictures of is we went hiking in the mountains. That was fun to go do that again, being in and seeing the outdoors. But I'm going to be quite honest while I’m on a mission, nothing beats the adrenaline rush of teaching people the gospel!  

The members are really starting to trust us and let us in and have started helping us.  We have about three dinner appointments this week. Which to Taiwanese, if they invite you to dinner that is good because food is everything out here to these people.  Well not everything but it’s really important. It's funny though I see a lot more similarities in Taiwanese culture to ours than other people do I think. Anyway…

 

So the plan for Puli:  Elder B is really into throwing activities and getting people welcomed back into the ward that way. Which I am super glad! Because with how much less active work we are doing that is probably really the best thing, especially for investigators as well because it is a nice way for them to get friends in the ward and help out with wards activities. So a cool miracle story really quick, well sort of long one. We were heading up to the old persons home slash hospital here in Puli to visit probably the coolest old Taiwanese person I have ever met. And all of the sudden a lady in the parking lot yells at us and says “Who is Elder Green, and who is Elder Bailey?” We stop and look at each other, raise our hands and go over and say hello. And lo and behold it’s a less active and she is holding in her hand is the little newsletter me and Elder Bailey had just written that we have been giving to all of the less actives.   It was so good to know that people were actually getting these, and we saw at least three other less active families back at church on Sunday. Well after that we went over to Hu bei bei "bei bei" is what they call every male over 70 here and they use it like it is a part of their name. Anyway, this man is a spiritual power house. He has one wish and that is to get back to the temple at least one more time.  After that he doesn’t care what happens, and not only that, but as all four of us missionaries were singing to him and giving him a message he said one of the most profound statements I have ever heard. He said “I have Heavenly Father’s Melchizedek Priesthood, I will not dishonor it and leave the church.” It was one of the most spiritual experiences to see this old man who lives in a retirement home with nothing but his scriptures a box and a bed say ”I will not deny the truth”. And it is it is the truth that Heavenly Father loves you, that you can talk to him, that you can read his words, and that no matter what you do, His son, Jesus Christ, so that you can get back to him, will help you every step of the way. This is why the atonement is so important.  It allowed us to one day live with Heavenly Father and become perfect like him! However, a tool is no good unless you use it so we have to remember to do our part.

READ YOUR SCRIPTURES SAY YOUR PRAYERS!

Love,

Elder Green.

May 18, 2013

Hey Mom, it was crazy this week because it really is a true white wash. All we have are the members and the streets, because we don't have an area book and our phone is new everything is new. 

Well hello everyone,

Man it’s crazy, this week has literally flown by! First off love you all!

Okay now we can get started.  I live in a four man apartment.  It is me and Elder B. and Elder K. and Elder K. who is training. So it is pretty much like The Best Two Years, except we are all going crazy working hard!

The Puli area is probably the most beautiful area in all of Taiwan it is also probably one of the biggest areas. We have about three secondary areas that take about an hour to get to and every small house that is in between. The mountains are beautiful!

I would ask you to please pray for the Puli area the branch here has people that have forgotten what it feels like to feel the spirit so please pray that these people will have an experience and remember and strive to come to church.

This week I really felt like I was on a mission.  We planned an entire morning to go visit a recent convert on the top of a mountain, literally, and we are talking mountains too!  It was so much fun to go do that, and see this man’s faith when we got up there. That was some real mountain biking!  Anyway we have an investigator our first week here. He is so cool his name is Qiu.  Please pray for this man to read the scriptures and say his prayers. He has so much faith, he just needs to confirm it.  Also I was reminded of something this week that was really special.  I got to go home teaching with some ward members and the man we visited was one of the most spiritual people I have ever met. It was a great reminder that the most important thing when it comes right down to it is the gospel. And, it helped me remember that Heavenly Father is literally always watching you and looking after you.  So do His work, make Him proud and gain the prize He has in store for you at the end. Endure to the end no matter what trial your going through, keep going!  You can make it!  Heavenly Father wants you to make it!  Rely on him. Keep going don’t give up. I know he is there for you and he wants you to succeed. Read your scriptures, say your prayers.

Love,

 Elder Green 

May 12, 2013

You are right mom, not much time at all today. It was great to talk with everyone yesterday.  I will send some pictures and talk a little bit.

I didn’t get to tell you yesterday but thanks for being my mom! Mom, I honestly have never had any health problems or spiritual problems while I have been here. All because of your letters and love, and your constant prayers, my spirituality has been maintained. Also thanks for teaching me how to be a gentlemen.

The new area I’m in is like the park city of Taiwan.   I am in Puli. A place near Sun Moon Lake. Which is super famous. My companion is Elder B. He is from Orem, and he is super cool! But, what I have to say first is this. The Puli area needs some prayers. The branch has a goal to become a ward by the end of the month so that means we have to book it over here. So that is my prayer invite for this week.  Pray that we will be able to meet the goal, and that this area will be blessed!  Also please pray for my grammar to become better and my understanding of the language to continue to increase. Well time is almost up so I will say this; there is nothing two can't do when the Lord is on your side. He wants to, and will answer all your prayers.   We don’t know when, and it probably will not be in the way we expected, but I guarantee He will answer. God is our Heavenly Father and He loves us!  Don’t you ever forget that. Read the scriptures which are His words here on this earth, His advice to us in times of need. And say your prayers, the best cell phone you will ever have. The call is free, doesn’t take that much time, and you know that the person on the other end will always answer and will always listen. I love this world and love you all!  Smile.    

Love,

 Elder Green 

May 6, 2013

Dear Mom,

I am also very excited to  talk this week I don't have much time for the email today because we are getting ready for a ward party this week and we had to do some stuff at the mission home

Okay so this week was awesome! I had at least three people  that are here in college on an exchange program that said “hey, I have interest in your church. Can you teach me?” Yeah that is pretty cool if you ask me! I also had two other people self-contact me and say “I need a religion and you people are always happy, can you teach me?” Also this week we had three investigators accept a baptismal goal, which is awesome!!!!!!!!!! But I’m kind of bummed because Elder T. got told he will be training so its 99 percent sure I will leave, and I will not be able to be there for the baptisms.  I can tell you right now that when you go out and do the work, the Lords work, and put your heart and soul into helping people, that is when the Lord blesses you!

 So my new companion is one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met!  He is from Bountiful, Utah. He ran cross country, and knows how to get the job done. He focuses on the important things in life. He is so cool. 

 Also this week I was so happy that a Taiwanese person actually let me help them!  They let me help them do stuff!  They never do that. I love service yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

One thing I would like to say before I have to go is something I found in scripture study this week. It is the story of Teancum.  He is awesome, but the thing that caught my eye was that it said his whole team was battle ready and able to do the work that needed to be done. Sometimes we think that there can only be one best person for one thing but in reality if we have a whole bunch of people that are really good and prepared then the strength magnifies. So stand strong! Stand together, help each other, lift each other and above all love one another!  I love you all! Read the scriptures discover things that apply to your life within them. Look for those things.  And believe that God loves you. Read your scriptures say your prayers.                                

Love,

Elder Green

Great News!  We will be able to Skype with Taft on Mothers Day!

April 28^th

Hello everybody,

So sorry about last week because of the new missionaries and everything there have been big changes in the progress out here.  Elder Bee left, and I have to say the biggest thing I learned from him is that these are real people, they are Gods children, treat them as such.   Listen and desire the people’s salvation. Especially with everything that happened with Elder Bee, and with Grandy and all, I think I definitely succeed in making him my brother.   It was actually pretty cool he happened to move down to an area where one of our investigators moved, so we’re both hoping that he will find him. My language isn’t perfect by far but it keeps improving.   In all honesty if you want to pray for me about the Chinese pray that I will understand the people. But something cool related to that… every time, since the beginning of my mission I have been able to share my testimony and the spiritual things that the people needed to hear with perfect Chinese. There has not been one time that the Lord has not allowed me to share my testimony. My normal conversation Chinese is low, but when I am teaching a lesson and there is no stopping me. I know that it is all through Heavenly Father and Him letting me speak and giving me the gift of lounges.

Well just a quick shout out to my brother Colby who got his master’s degree Friday,  and I would like to thank him for being such an amazing example to me my whole life!

My new companion Elder Taylor is awesome he is a super funny guy easy to get along with and a super good missionary! He just came from being a zone leader and he is helping me remember a lot about what leaders need to do and their responsibilities. He is from bountiful Utah and he is a runner and wants to be a dentist.

Oh by the way brother Wilkinson you are the right man for the job! You just keep doing what you’re doing and if you need anything let me know.

This week Elder Taylor  and I were on foot most of the week and it was crazy how much we got done and how many people we found and the people we were able to visit.  But something that I have really remembered and tried to magnify with Elder Taylor is "forget yourself and go to work", and "focus on serving others". You just feel happy all the time, which I am really happy about because here in Taiwan they don’t like people doing service for them. Back in America I would just ask everyone if they needed help and start helping them.  This week I finally got to serve someone here.   This old grandpa was trying to move some stuff for his food stand and I went over and he actually accepted my help and I loved it! Elder Taylor and I are doing some good work. I’m not going to lie, it feels good to be out of the greenie status and be able to work a lot.

  Alright well do you know what time it is? That’s right… it’s the time when I say read your scriptures, say your prayers. Trust in the Lord, love the Lord.  Trust yourself and love everyone. But this week I will say this all so. Thank you! The more I come to a realization how much the Lord does for me the more I come to thank him. And for something I haven’t done in a while which I just got permission to do go to this link.   http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2010?lang=eng&start=25&end=36#2010-11-23-thanksgiving-daily. And ponder these questions at the end of every day no matter how bad it is. Do I still know that I am a child of God? Do I know that he is trying to help me? And then look at your hands see the potential they have as a child of God. And go out and do some good in the world. I love you all I know that we are all children of our Heavenly Father.  In the name of our Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.                                       

  Love Elder Green

April 22nd

I will apologize in advance for the shortness of this letter but we had an unexpected companion ship change and I am now with Elder Taylor. He seems really cool but move day has been kind of hectic so I don’t have much time to write.

Mom at the end of everyday I remember that the lord keeps his promises and he promised to protect you and he promised I would feel your prayers. And I can tell you right now I have felt every single prayer. The area is doing well and my language continues to improve.  

Well this week due to time I will say this. Families are forever. Heavenly father loves you and wants to bless you. No matter what challenge you have no matter how insignificant you feel. Know that heavenly father loves you and he needs you right where you are. And know that whatever you are going through our Savior, our Redeemer, our Older Brother felt the same pain as you did, just for you so that you can live with your family forever.

Read you scriptures say your prayers and don’t let a day go by without seeing how much love is around you. It is your choice to be happy or sad chooses to be happy and choose to see the good around you instead of the bad.