May 30, 2016 - Birthday in Taiwan

Dear family and Friends,

This week we spent a lot of time contacting and in lessons with Grandpa Sun and our model friend. We go contacting at parks and libraries like this.

I thought these sculptures and the sky were just wonderful.

I got to play my violin in church on Sunday while the sister missionaries in our ward sang. We played Joseph Smith's First Prayer. For some reason I really appreciated the beauty of that song this week, it really touched me.

Today is my birthday and we are going to the hospital because Elder Nipper has an ear infection. Woohoo that should be fun!

It was nice of Elder Nipper take this picture of us. Elder Nipper really likes to take selfies so he didn't min at all even though he isn't feeling well.  We are sitting at the Internet Cafe where we go to write emails home.

I like my new companion, Elder Nipper. He is actually a genius when it comes to the gospel. He wants to be a seminary teacher and a family councilor so I am actually very grateful for him because he is teaching me a lot.

Here are some more pictures from our trip to Taipei to go to the temple. 

Bus ride on the road to the Taipei temple.

Two of my old companions are in my new zone in Taizhong. It was nice to see Elder Watson (MTC companion) and Elder Coleman (1st YongKang companion) again.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the birthday package! There is a member here who really likes to bake us stuff so I think I will give her the cake and frosting mixes to her. hehe... ;)

There's definately nowhere I would rather be celebrating my birthday!

I love you all Sincerely Elder Erwin

May 22, 2016 - First Week in TaiZhong

This week we only have an hour to email today and then an hour on Wednesday because we are going to the temple... So no p-day but the temple will be worth missing a p-day.

Monday: I got on a train and moved to Taizhong which is so beautiful. I love living in the city! I love the tall buildings and all the lights and things to see. 

Tuesday: We, as a district in Taizhong, are fortunate enough to have a Costco literally next to the chapel. So on Tuesday before district meeting we all go and eat Costco together. It is really weird to eat something like Costco food after a year of rice. We have an investigator named Tony who lives on the 29th floor! We had a lesson there and the view was amazing. It was a great lesson and he is great man and is getting ready for baptism in the upcoming month.

​This is a really bad pic from the 29th floor but if you have ever been in a really tall building before it is super cool. The view is kind of like being in heaven, above all things.  

Wednesday: We met a super guy named Wade. He is interested in the church because he works for "Nu Skin" which was started by a member of the church. He works in the Hotel One in Taizhong which also houses a bunch of office buildings. So we go there to meet with him. It is really beautiful. 

Thursday: This week I have been so spoiled with the luxury of city life. We have another investigator who is a grandpa and he took us to a very nice restaurant in a hotel next to his home. He is also getting ready for baptism on the same day as Tony. He shares the same last name as my dear friend CaiPing. We call him Grandpa Sun. 

Friday: We had our first real lesson with Grandpa Sun and he is really ready for the gospel. We found out that he started paying tithing without us knowing so he is really prepared. 

Saturday: We gave a blessing to a less active member who came seeking our help. I know that the words of the blessing will come to fruition. 

Sunday: We had a lesson with one more person. He is also another Investigator who, if all things go to plan, will be baptized on June 25th, the same day as Tony, and Grandpa Sun. I really have faith that these three men are all prepared and will be ready by that day. The work is going full force here in Taizhong, so many miracles and people just appearing to be taught. I am so glad to be here! 

 
 

My Grandma Sherry has a friend named Marina who lives in Taiwan. She has been kind and sent me a couple of little packages full of candy. When our district went to the temple on Monday, she was there working! What a wonderful surprise to finally meet up with her. She is in the picture below standing to my left.

It's my birthday this coming Monday and my family sent me a birthday package. It is wonderful to get mail from home! They gave me a few p-day t-shirts, ties and matching socks. It was much appreciated! The picture below is me pulling funny faces while wearing the fun Plan of Salvation t-shirt I got for my birthday.

I love you all!  Elder Erwin  

May 16, 2016 - Moving Again!

Well I moved again.... I am now in Taizhong not far from the mission home, it is only 10 minutes away from me now. My new companion is named Elder Blake Nipper. He is from Oklahoma and has been on his mission for 2 years. He extended so he will be going home at the end of this transfer. So in 6 weeks, I will get another new companion.

I had to said goodbye to all these lovely people yesterday which broke my heart a little.

I have loved XingYing and my time was cut super short. Besides the move, there wasn't too much to report, we just had a long week of contacting. 

I saw this which made me a little sad. Birds Be Warned!

This is what the local farmers do to scare away the birds from eating the crops of the fields. It made me think of the pirates movies. Yo Ho Yo Ho... A Pirates life for me.

Brother Oung will be getting baptized in the next couple weeks and I will be excited to see pictures. Also I saw Elder Wills and he said Wyatt will be getting baptized in the next couple weeks. It breaks my heart that I won't be there, but It brings me joy that they are on the path and it really isn't about me.  I am loving my mission and I am excited to be in Zhongming area of TaiZhong!

May 8, 2016 - Mother's Day Skype and Ice Cream

It was so wonderful to Skype with my family this week!

Other than getting to Skype with my family on Mother's Day, there isn't too much to say about this week so I will just share some highlights. 

We went to JiaYi again for ZTM. We did a little exchange with other elders for a practice of talking with everyone. So I was companions with Elder Spach for 10 minutes! We had a blast talking to everyone on the roads.

This week we have been working on getting Brother Oung ready for baptism. He is really close and I am excited for the day he gets baptized. 

We got to go to a cultural event held at an old traditional Taiwanese house . They had some really strange music and good food. I met a woman from Austria and we used Chinese to communicate because her English wasn't good. It was weird talking to a white person but still having to use Chinese... We then had a Preach My Gospel class for the youth and that was fun. We talked about the importance of the scriptures.

Sunday was super fun because for FHE me and Elder June put together an obstacle course as a metaphor for life. We got it on video because we are allowed to record things now, which is crazy! Crazy Chinese Mama put on the mission impossible music in the background so it makes it even more funny. It was a wonderful week here in XinYing, 

It is time for Taiwanese Ice Cream because it is getting really hot here.

I love you all! Especially My sweet Mama Julie! Happy Mother's Day! Glad I could see the family and I will see you at Christmas!

LOVE Elder Erwin

May 1, 2016 - Pranked By The Sister Missionaries

Well I didn't want to say anything about it because I wasn't sure but since coming to Taiwan I have gotten sick a lot... I realized that I have developed what I am pretty sure is an allergy to milk. 

Monday and Tuesday: I got my haircut but it doesn't really look like it because I am not cutting the top... I am going to see how long it can get on top before it becomes a problem. The rest of these days I was very sick to my stomach from eating cereal and milk... I have known for over a month now but I wanted to eat cereal so bad! I regret my choice. 

Wednesday: We have started this cool thing here in XinYing where we go to this elementary school once a week and teach English so that is fun. 

Thursday: We went to visit a disabled member and we got a ride because it is super far. We normally just ride there on our bikes but the member we were going with was getting tired after a few minutes. So he called another member to drive us. She is a member of a group of people called Hakka people. They are from China but migrated all over the world so they have been in Taiwan far longer than most Taiwanese people. She was listening to Hakka music in her car it was so beautiful. After being a missionary in Taiwan where there are so many different people and languages I think I might want to go into something where I can use my language skills. I don't know if I have what it takes but I really would love it.

Friday: We went on exchanges in Jiayi which was interesting I found out that Elder Rosen knows my dear friend Jack Ashton!! How you might ask? He played in his orchestra! Small world 

Saturday: We returned and we got pranked by the sisters... We went to the church for a lesson and this is what we came out to... The Sisters are Lihai (impressive, awesome) (said like the prophet lehi but with two more strong tones on each syllable) 

Sunday: We found out that the guy who was so mean to us is a member and just moved in... That was a plot twister. Elder June and I have decided that XinYing should be a reality TV show because of all the craziness that happens here. I love you all.