October 23, 2016 - Mountain Adventure

At the start of this week we went hiking.  I really enjoy taking pictures... I won't ever make it a profession but a hobby... maybe.  

The tea fields are amazing and so green. All of Taiwan is green and things don't go dormant like they do in Utah. There are some trees that lose their leaves at this time of year but their leaves grow back like a month later. My companion, Elder Fuller is one quarter Taiwanese. His parents both went to Taiwan on their missions so they both speak Mandarin but my companion didn't speak it until he came to Taiwan.

 Elder Fuller Hanging Out in the Tea Field

Above the Clouds

This week we had a mission tour. Elder Randy D. Funk of the Asia area presidency came and addressed us. It was very uplifting and much appreciated. I played the violin. I saw my some of my MTC friends like Elder Spach and Elder Warner. 

We have a member here in Taibao that calls everyday asking if we want to eat food because she owns a restaurant. We have now been probably 8 times since I have been in Taibao. We owe her big time. I will get a picture there with her. 

Our investigator Brother Wu now has a baptismal date for November 19th. His wife is a member and her brother is a senior missionary here in JiaYi so I am sure he will hit that date.  Keep praying for him. 

That is about it for this week.

Love you all! 

Elder Erwin

October 16, 2016 - Baptism, Bees and a Broken Bike

This week was pretty slow, I am tired but I think I am getting healthier from all the biking we have been doing. 

Last week I played at a grandma's baptism. Old people almost never get baptized in Taiwan so that was cool. 

We took our bikes to JiaYi city on Tuesday... We have to go there for DTM every week but we usually take a 45 minute bus. It was like an hour and fifteen minute ride and a couple giant hills and extreme pain. haha.

Most of our time was spent out and about.  One day we went and contacted and ran straight into a bee farm. They were swarming across the road we were riding on. Amazingly, we came out on the other end just fine! We were riding our bikes a lot and my companion's bike broke, it was really bad. We still don't know how but the derailleur compacted in on itself. It was really strange. So we walked to the closest bike shop... more than 4 miles. 

This week really got us. But we saw some beautiful fields and talked to some nice old people who don't speak Chinese they are that old. It gave me a chance to practice my Taiwanese. I know just enough to make them laugh. What more could you ask for then that?

I love you all! 

October 9, 2016 - Island Traveler

Dear Family and Friends

I had to get online 4 hours early today because I am playing the violin at a baptism that is a 45 minute bus ride away so we had to get all our things done early this morning.

This week was full of riding all over our area. We started by going to the west coast to contact by the ocean. My legs and backside are very tired. I would love to know how many miles we went but... The world may never know. Living in Taibao is really different, always looking for people but they seem to all be hiding somewhere. I serve in all of JiaYi County. Taibao is just one of the cities in JiaYi County and that is where our church is and where we live. Our area is from the ocean all the way to the east mountains which then becomes the Taipei Mission's area on the other side. 

We ended up seeing one of the most gorgeous sunsets I have ever seen in my life when we went to the ocean. If you look closely you can see the crescent moon and a planet to its left. And yes, that is my back in the picture.

We also went to a place called "North Port" which was weird because it wasn't to the North and it isn't by the ocean. Apparently it is haunted according to my old companion, Elder Millett who is now my zone leader.  There are a ton of giant temples there. They are cool but are also a little terrifying. There is just a creepy feeling because the inside is full of idols and it is dark and lit up with red lights... so it is a little scary... if you know what I mean

We also visited a town called "New Port" and a place called "Ma Yu Liao" but I don't have any pictures of them.

I love you all have a great week!

October 2, 2016 - Megi the Typhoon

This week we got destroyed by a nasty typhoon named Megi. Taiwan has been hit by 3 typhoons in 2 weeks. Megi hit us last Tuesday, September 27. The first 2 typhoons didn't have much to them for those of us on the west side of the island but this 3rd one was a doozy. We attempted to go out into it and lasted about an hour before it just felt too dangerous to continue. There was no one else outside... Then we decided to go to the roof of our apartment and enjoy getting pelted by water and wind. It was really not the greatest choice, but I really enjoyed the storm. We got soaking wet. In this picture, if you look closely, you can see I am being cheesy because I am soaking wet from being out in the rain that accompanied Megi.

​TaiBao was flooded really bad so when the Typhoon ended there were still no people willing to go outside, but we went out and explored and didn't really see anyone.

This is a park in TaiBao. Most of the trees lost half their branches.

My Companion, Elder Fuller, riding his bike in the flooded street. 

TaiBao is a city in the area I am serving. My area covers a large part of the county of JaiYi. It is very rural and there are only about 20 members in the branch that come to church... so it is really different, but not bad. 

The week was not exactly full of lessons because Taiwanese people take typhoons very seriously, so for a couple days before and after no one wants to do anything. The government closed down most food places for a couple days so we scavenged for food. We had to eat 7-11 food and at some back alley places that were not shut down by the government. But we survived the typhoon and the scary food.

We are enjoying the Taiwanese fall, blistering hot and humid in the day and cool in the nights. The trees are even dying. Last year I was in a city so there was no sign of a season change but here there is a little bit. 

Taiwan Sunset, after the typhoon

We did service for some handicapped people this week. They wanted us to teach them English but we mostly just played games with them because English is really hard and they would have been frustrated. 

I had a surprise visitor this week. One of the members from XingYing, (my 4th area) found out that I was in TaiBao and came to visit me since it's only 30 minutes. I attached a picture of me with him. He is 40 years old but looks younger than 30...

Other than the typhoon, and a visit from the past, there is not too much to report.

Love you all! Elder Erwin