First of all I want you to know that I am VERY far from the mission office so I won't be getting letters very often. Feel freel to send something, but I won't be able to reply very quickly. Also make sure when you send it to put my name on it so that the mission president and staff can get it to me without much hassle.
It has been crazy, sorry for not getting an email out last week. But I'm pretty sure the phone call to my family was nice, I enjoyed it. It has been a good week of travel and a good few days chaun jiao.
After we landed we were met quickly by the president and whisked off to Taibei through Taoyan (where the airport is). We got a quick run down on what was going to happen and we learned a little about the area. Everyone was excited but very tired. We were then taken to the Bu (mission office) where they had us stay. They made a prediction that we would be up by 3:30 the following morning... I was up by 2:45. Anyways, after that night we left at 6:25 to run to the chang kai shek memorial, it was good and it was nice to get up and run and get the blood flowing. President told us some more of what we would do, then we jogged to breakfast (we had a breakfast sandwich with a fried egg, meat, tomato, lettuce and dou jiang (soymilk)) then back home and on the way the assistants were contacting and we contacted a little bit, including a few cars. We then learned about the mission. Thursday night we were taken out around taibei shi women neng chaun jiao (so that we could do missionary work). My babysitter was Xu Zhang Lao (he is a ben di/native) we naught some children with their mother who is a recent convert, and then another recent convert. I got to Dan Jones on a pretty big intersection after trying dong guao cha (winter mellon tea) then we went home. My MTC companion went out to his area with his trainer without knowing it. He is in an area that will fatten him up. Wu Mama (a fairly recent member, one of the oldest assistants' converts) feeds the missionaries all the time. WE all met up again, slept and learned more Friday then we were sent to our areas.
My new companion is Elder Bogle (not Boggle) Bao Zhang Lao from Ohio. WE are in Zhudong... our area borders on Taizhong, it's pretty big. My companion has been here for 5 transfers already and just became district leader. His previous companion, who finished out the transfer with us, was Elder White, Bai Zhang Lao. They are both all about work and seeing miracles and they said (and I have seen) that this area is on fire. They also said this ward is incredible. I should probably tell you more about the location before I talk more about the work. Like I said we are a ways from the mission office, we are almost the farthest south area on the west coast of the taibei mission. One of the areas (that I probably won't see very much) actually borders the top of Taizhong. We are right up against the mountains in the middle of the island. There are some hills, parks, rivers, schools... and lots of buildings and motor scooters. I am already eating the food. My first thing in the area was a taiwanese burrito, it's like crispy fried egg flakes, meat, boiled cabbage and sprouts, some other sorts of local stuff. It's pretty good. I have had dong uo xian nai (it's the same winter mellon tea but with milk), yeah it is better. I've had noodles and several other fairly normal things: dumplings, mango ice drink, lots and lots of fruit. Oh and some incredible steamed bread this morning... I think I will love the food even more as I get to try more. Saturday night we found a night market that my trainer hadn't been to until I came (5 transfers in!). That was cool and we met some cool families. Now to the most incredible things I have seen here. I have been able to contact a bit, teach several types of lessons and go to church.
Like I said we have great members, they love us and talked to me and our investigators a lot. We had an incredible family along with some other great investigators at church this week.
Chen Dixiong they met last Saturday and invited him to church the next day. He came. They set up another meeting for him and he came (this was the first sit down lesson with him and I was there, that was this Saturday) and we invited him to church again and gave him a baptismal date for 8/13. During the opening prayer for the lesson he started crying and said he felt gandong (moved) and God's presence. That was really cool. At church yesterday all the members were talking to him and our other investigators, one of the best ones who was a previous bishop met with him separately, they are already seeming to be good friends (he got a blessing from him last night for his health). He is reading the MEMJ and loving it, everything seems to be going great for him.
The Zhang family was pure gold that the previous companionship found and I get to see them baptized on 7/2. We met with them last night, wow, how incredible and ready they are. They are willing to do everything and they love the gospel. Their house is so light and happy.
There is a lot going on and we are also working on reactivation. Overall I am just excited and happy. Hopefully you understand what is going on.
I love you all,
Shen Yi Qian
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