December 21, 2015 - Christmas is a Holy Day

I want to talk about Christmas. I have been talking constantly about how there is no Christmas in Taiwan. I have said so many times it just doesn't feel the same. There are no colorful lights except those of the disgusting stands that sell Taiwanese drugs. There are no Christmas trees except the ones that fill Seven Eleven. 

I was overwhelmed with a feeling of opening eyes yesterday when we had a Christmas activity for FHE. We went in a circle talking about what Christmas means to us. Every person in that room except for the missionaries were converts to the church. They all talked of how Christmas was a day to party before they found religion. They talked about the change they saw occur, how Christmas became a a holy day, a day where the world was still and they could remember Jesus Christ. Taiwan removes all the distractions of Christmas and allows us to see it for the holy day it is. I am grateful for their testimonies, it strengthens me everyday.

We met with our two new investigators this week, they are really amazing. We gave them both baptismal goals for next month. Leo is so smart and so willing to learn. He said that he was slowly reading the Book of Mormon and in one week he read through 1 Nephi and half way through 2 nephi. He has an open heart that is humble and willing to learn. Then we met with Brother Hong who is very quiet but who has had a lot of suffering in his life.

Both of his parents passed away and now he lives with his grandparents. The gospel really means a lot to him. 

Finally this week I found out that I will not only be playing one violin solo on Christmas Eve, I will be playing 3... and singing...you could say I am a little stressed, but it will all work out. 

I love you all and hope you have a great Christmas!

 

December 14, 2015 - All Mission Christmas Party and Conference

Another week has come and gone. It was a good week of laughs with old friends and adventures. We had our mission conference/Christmas Activity at Sun Moon Lake. 

I bought some crazy pants from an aborigine store to mark the day.

I saw my MTC district and we spent the day together sharing our experiences and enjoying a day of spiritual talks and musical numbers. All in remembrance of the master that we serve and strive to represent. 

We had lunch at an all you can eat buffet.

All mission picture

Me with my MTC companion, Elder Tom Watson

Having fun with the members and Elder Varvel. 

A turn of events happened yesterday morning. We got a call from President Blickenstaff saying that Elder Varvel is moving up north. We had a fun three weeks together and now he is on his way to Nantou and I am here with my new companion, Elder Millett from St. George, he has been in Taiwan for 14 months but this is his first time serving in Tainan. 

Missions teach something very crucial, in this mortal life nothing is permanent. Our friends and companions will go, but that is okay. We love them anyway. Whether they are by our side or whether they are across the seas, we are grateful for them and the things they write on our spirits. Elder Watson, Elder Brady, and Elder Varvel are all my friends and have all taught me things that have changed and uplifted me.  

This last week found some new investigators and we will see where they go. I have hope and confidence that the gospel message for them really will have meaning and they will continue to progress. 

I love you all, 

Merry Christmas! 

Sincerely Elder Erwin 

December 6, 2015 - The Crocodile King

Dear Family and Friends,

To start off the week we went with a member to do something very special...

We went to see the crocodile king! This thing was massive beyond belief. Also, it was very much alive!! Luckily it was so big, slow and tame that I could get a quick pic with it...but you best believe I wasn't staying in there very long.

The city of Tainan has been and is very humbling to me. Ever since I got here there hasn't been really anyone to teach and we haven't had any really strong investigators. 

I like the saying "If you haven't felt the spirit reprimanding you any time recently... you probably need to evaluate how close to the Spirit you are." Everyday I feel like like the Spirit is trying to tell me "You need to change Elder Erwin." I feel like that might be a big portion of my mission. Everyday repenting and evaluating what can I do to become the person God needs me to be. Allowing that feeling to not just burden me with regret but to change it into something that will allow me to ascend to new level of spiritual light. 

This week I also got the chance to play at a baptism we had here in Tainan! It always brightens my day a little when I get the chance to play again. 

One thing that is so evident and rings so true to me is that we must truly enjoy the little things. Hold on to them, and allow them to carry you through the struggles. 

Here are the answers to the weekly questions.

• Has your bike arrived? 

It got here my second day in Tainan:) they know how to mail stuff here so fast!;)

• How long has Elder Varvel been out? 

He came out about exactly one year before me so.. 1 1/2 years

• Tell us about Elder Varvel. What is he like? 

Elder Varvel is a funny guy. His mindset seems to be if force isn't the answer you are not using enough force  ;) So we are really different in that way.

• What things do you do that are different in your new area? 

It is pretty similar Elder Varvel likes contacting more than anything so there will be days when we are on our bikes for 5+ hours just contacting. 

• Are you still eating oatmeal with chocolate milk for breakfast? 

Or do they eat something different in your new area? I have kind of given up on breakfast. So nope I haven't eaten any oatmeal with chocolate milk:) 

• Do you share your apartment with another set of elders?

No 

• Do you ever go on splits? 

We did this week. I went with Elder Booth from Australia to his area.

• Were you able to download that music I ordered for you? I am going to try and do it today

• What is the city concert for that you wanted the music for? 

The government of Tainan asked for our church to perform at this thing in front of the train station. So all these government officials will be there.

• Is it a Christmas concert? Yes

• When is that concert? 

December 24th, Happy Christmas Eve!

• Will you be playing in it? 

I will be playing in it. 

November 30, 2015 - First Week in Tainan

This week was full of changes. I met a bunch of new people and have done some new things, but missionary work for the most part is the same no matter where you are on this tiny island :) The biggest difference is that the people in Tainan are much more friendly than the people up north. 

This week was Thanksgiving and we got to celebrate twice! One time with a member at Costco where we ate  chicken, pizza and cheese cake! It was amazing to go into a Costco...after rice and noodles everyday. Then the second time was in our apartment on Sunday with the other set of elders in Tainan. 

Elder Varvel, Elder Erwin, Elder Booth (from another district)

The spiritual event of the week was this past Friday. The whole mission went to Taichung to see one of the new apostles Elder Stephenson. He shared a very simple message about how we can become devoted missionaries. It was amazing to feel the spirit that these men give off. They truly are the servants of the Lord. 

Mission Conference with Elder Stevenson

Here the answers to the weekly questions.

• How far is Tainan from Taichung by train? Tell us about your train ride. 

It is about 2 1/2 hours and I stood the whole way because I gave these old lady my seat. Then I had to take the train back up to Taichung on Friday and come back down all standing...ouch!

• Were you alone on your train ride to your new area?

I was alone...but I can understand what they are saying when the train stops so I knew when it was my stop. I just got on the train that I knew was going to Tainan and went on my way. At the train station there are usually English signs for platforms and stuff.

• I know that you're on the 16th floor but How many floors are in your apartment building total? 

There are 17 floors and you can see the ocean out in the distance from my apartment! And the ocean it is part of area so... I am for sure going to the ocean some time while I serve in Tainan!

• What is your companions first name and where is he from? 

John Varvel and he is from the east coast... Connecticut 

• Does Taiwan celebrate a holiday similar to Thanksgiving? 

They eat like it is Thanksgiving at every Holiday;) 

• Tell us about the Tainan City.

The city is much bigger! It has a river that runs straight through it. All the bridges have colorful changing lights. It has a lot of parks too! It is a very nice city!

The view from our apartment in Tainan 

• Are you losing your capacity to speak English? 

No... but I am forgetting how to spell and write. I think my speaking is still just fine:) 

• Do you ride bikes or public transportation?

We ride our bikes but our district only has 6 but there are multiple districts in Tainan zone so there are a lot more than just 6

I love you all and hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

November 22, 2015 - First Transfer

This week was my last in Zhanghua and with Elder Brady! It was a good week of finding and meeting with people. It was very sad to say goodbye to so many good friends. I love the people of Zhanghua with all my heart. Elder Brady went north with a member to Taichung because he is going home and I took a train south to my new area. I moved to a new place called Tainan and I am in the center of the city, living in a high rise on the 16th floor. There wasn't too much else that happened this week. I will always be grateful for Elder Brady and how great of trainer he was! 

Last picture with Elder Brady

Here are the answers to the weekly questions.

• Did you ever get your bike fixed? Or are you still using a girls bike? 

It is fixed and will be shipped to Tainan in the next couple days.

• What color is your bike? 

White, red and black 

• Do you think you'll be a cyclist when you get home? You've probably become very adept at riding a bike after all the hours you spend on one. 

Probably not... I will just really love and appreciate my car:) 

• Tell us about your new companion. What is his full name? 

I only met him an hour ago, his name is Elder Varvel. I will try and explain more next week because I don't know anything about him yet.

• What can we send you for Christmas? 

 I am happy with anything but I really like those sour watermelons 

I love you all,

Elder Erwin

November 15, 2015 - My Last Week With Elder Brady

Dear Family and Friends,

My training ends this week, 3 months of training you could say is a bit stressful, and the pressure is intense. But I think that it is in the heat of the fire that we can be molded. We have seen success and have struggled a lot. But I feel ready to try and carry on without my trainer pushing me along. 

One of this week's challenges was Elder Brady and I got taken out to this fancy all vegetable restaurant.... It wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't survive very long living on fancy/strange vegetable creations. 

Every day I ride my bike past this massive picture of the castle at Disney World ... I have no idea why it is here but it makes me think of my mom every time I see it.

We also have started trying contacting in some stranger more rural parts of our area with little success there but it was a nice bike ride.

Elder Brady's Backside

We had a sad thing happen this week. Our investigator who was getting baptized this Saturday didn't show up to her interview and we haven't been able to get a hold of her. I have faith that she will come back but maybe her time is just not right now.  I had an overwhelming feeling that she is not lost but might just have a little further to walk on the path of conversion. We have to trust that God will direct everything for the good of his children. 

Here are the answers to the weekly questions.

•  Have you had anyone offer to take your jacket AND your pants when you enter their homes? Lexi McMillan's grandpa Fish was the very first missionary in Taiwan and he said it was customary for people to ask if you'd like to remove your pants when entering a home. 

Hahaha, no they won't ask that. We just suffer with our pants on ;)

• Have you seen any noodle shops that still dry their noodles on racks out next to the street?

 Yes, and I have watched them throw them. Throwing noodles isn't what it sounds like. When they hand make noodles, they call it throwing noodles.

My mom added a link to a Youtube video on Taiwan noodle making.

Here's the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRug_byPqTc

• Do some people still use handcarts to move merchandise?

They have rusty bikes that have huge backs that they will just park on the road and sell stuff out of.

• Have you found a store that sells rain coats with a liner? You should get one before it gets cold. Which is funny for me to say since it's still so hot there.

I haven't but don't worry because I know where I can get one and it is still ridiculously hot and the missionaries say it won't get to much colder.

• Are you writing in your journal daily? Yes 

• Isn't this your last week with Elder Brady? What day is transfers?

 Monday is the day of the move call. Since Elder Brady is going home, I will go with him to Taichung and either pick up a new companion or I might move out of Zhanghua. And If I go any further south, I will not need that coat because it gets hotter and hotter the more south you go.

• Who runs Elder Brady's Facebook page? Is it his mom?

There are missionaries who have permission to use Facebook. Elder Brady is one of them, but only on p-day.

• Have you had a chance to teach any lessons or discussions in Mandarin yet?

All the time....with members and investigators. 

• Does Elder Brady still do all the talking on the streets and at the restaurants? Or do you do it sometimes?

I can take care of myself usually. I have to talk to people on the streets while we contact so that is not a problem. I don't always understand but I make it work.

• Here's a question from Elise and Keira. They want to know if you have lost or gained any weight since being in Taiwan? I weigh 56 kilograms so I have indeed gained some weight. I've gained about 10 pounds

• Keira wanted me to tell you that she ate a chicken heart this past week. She said it wasn't bad tasting but the texture was weird, it was spongy.

Tell Keira that it is like she is in Taiwan!! She is so brave!!! I am always a little afraid about what scary thing a member will feed me next. But I don't know if I would be willing to eat a chicken heart like her ;)

I love you all, 

Sincerely Elder Erwin 

Peter Liao, Elder Erwin, Elder Brady

Diego C. Juan visiting Elder Brady before he heads home.

Then Elder Erwin moved into Brother Juan's ward in Tainan.

November 9, 2015 - Momen Jiao, MoGui and Patrick Star Exercises

I have a funny story for this week. We biked out to our secondary area, it is about an hour and fifteen minutes away. Missionaries never go out there but we had nothing set up and we were sick of contacting the same old areas. You could tell missionaries hadn't been there in a long time because everyone kept pointing and staring at us like we were aliens. We proceeded to go into this store and we heard the lady behind the counter say "Momen jiao" which is the same as "Mormons!" Then the guy at the check out at the counter screamed (MoGui) which means "Devils" Haha! People are the same everywhere. We smiled and laughed when he did this and they realized we spoke Chinese and they proceeded to talk in Taiwanese!! I hate the fact that they are all fluent in Chinese and Taiwanese and I will never understand Taiwanese it makes Mandarin seem like a piece of cake. Oh well.

We had another crazy experience. A random lady showed up at the Church and said she knew a former sister missionary, Sister Allen. We told her that Sister Allen was gone and wouldn't be coming back. Then she asked even though she was gone can she still get baptized. She might be little nuts but she might be genuine, so we will see. She is really committed to learning what the commandments are.

We biked up to the top of the mountain in ZhangHua to visit a grandpa in our ward and it was really painful to bike up a mountain, but coming down was a blast! And it is always nice to get away from the smoke and get into the tropical island that Taiwan really is. 

I finished my language portion of my training ahead of schedule this week. It sure is nice to have all those tests finished. 

Finally the highlight of this week was Mission tour in JiaYi we got to hear Elder Wong, of the seventy, speak and was a really uplifting spiritual experience. I saw my MTC companion and some friends so it was much appreciated.

Answers to the weekly questions.

• Do you eat breakfast at home or do you go out? We saw what looked like milk in one of your pictures.

We eat oatmeal with chocolate milk in it... sounds gross but it isn't bad and that is all we can really afford to eat in the mornings.

• How is your language coming?

I feel like I am horrible at Chinese. However the Taiwanese people are super honest and they told me that they understand me and I don't struggle as badly as a lot of missionaries in this mission do when they first get here. So I take a little bit of comfort in that. This mission is super stressful at times because everyone seems so impressive and almost everyone is going places and doing things in their lives so... That is a little stressful. There is a lot of pressure to be successful in this mission.

• There was a bunch of exercise equipment in the pictures of your apartment, do you guys exercise?

Sometimes.... we often plan on it but then end up laying on the ground of our living room for 30 minutes doing the "Patrick Star" exercise 

• Are you getting used to the humidity?

Love it!

• When are transfers?

Every six weeks this is the beginning of week 5. Rob will get a new companion this next transfer because Elder Brady goes home.

• Anymore chances to play the violin?

Not yet :(    I have been missing that a lot lately   :( 

• Can you send more pictures? That is always going to be a question from all of us at home.

I will try today, we are going to sun moon lake with Kelly and I will try and get some pictures.

• Is there anything you need from us? 

I think I am good for right now   :)

In the attached pictures you will see Elder Brady's newest suit. He has gotten 2 of them since we've been companions. The first one is purple/maroon, I don't have a picture of it. But I thought you'd like to see his newest one.

Meeting up with missionary friends at our mission conference.

Elder Brady and I might just be goofballs!

Zone Conference

Well, that is pretty much it for this week. I love you all more than the world!!!

Sincerely, Elder Erwin