Week 5 in Taiwan

Hey everybody 

I'm feeling better! I went to the doctor the other day and turns out I had the stomach flu(at least I think that's what the chinese translates to, some sort of stomach virus)! That was not too much fun. We weren't sure what it was before going to the doctor and just figured something bad was in my stomach and wanted to come out so we got some laxatives at the pharmacy. Ya, I was super excited... So I popped them in my mouth and nothing happened the whole day. Then at the end of the night we were waiting for an investigator to meet us and boom, I felt something coming. I rushed to the bathroom in the back of the family mart we were in (just like a 7-11) and had the night of my life. Man, that rocked my world. Good thing there was a little support bar thing to the side of the toilet, I thought I was about to tear it off the wall! I felt like I was giving birth or something. So the next day we went to the doctor and after he diagnosed me I asked him if using laxatives was a good idea for what I have and he said no it wouldn't be good to use those... I've learned my lesson. I will never forget that fateful night in the back of a family mart in Xinfeng, Taiwan. 

Needless to say the whole week was a tough one. I still felt a bit sick, though I'm better now, and all our investigators appointments kept on falling through! Probably 60% of our appointments fell through for some reason. Either they would call us a few minutes before saying they couldn't or they wouldn't show up, we'd call them and then they wouldn't pick up! And while we were contacting we had a rather extravagant number of old ladies yelling at us to go away because they were the landlord or something and had video cameras watching us, so that was rather austere of them but it's alright. So we had a few rough contacting nights as well. But...! Despite some trials during the week we saw a miracle on Saturday! The Lin family had plans to get baptized the next day on Sunday so we decided to visit them and just make sure with them about the baptism and everything. When we got there however, only the dad was home. And at first we were kind of bummed because it's the wife and kids getting baptized, not him he hasn't been getting the lessons and has only been half interested. But when we realized after a second our opportunity to teach him one on one, or I guess two on one, we had to take it. And I guess he had the same thoughts! So we started talking to him about the baptism the next day and he said ya sure it's fine for all of them to get baptized but can I too? And we were like well you can't tomorrow but I'm sure we can work something out! So we set a date in April and we'll start to teach him weekly now too! He's such an awesome guy, his only problem is the Word of Wisdom, man does he love his tea. Haha he loves that stuff. But I know we can help him quit and I could see at the baptism yesterday with his family, they were so happy and they fit right in with our members. 

I know God is continually pushing along his Work and I'm glad I can help bring about a tiny little part of that. I'm so thankful for what this Gospel does for families and that we can live eternally with ours. I love you family so much. And of course, my dear friends, you are all amazing too. 

Love you all, 

Elder Hagedorn

Lin Family! So awesome. We'll get the dad too don't worry! Notice how he's holding the little candy in front of the baby's face so the baby looks forward hahaha

Elder Keime being a nasty little thing.

Colt right before he backflopped in the water hahahaha.

I'm insane! My face. Enough said.

A water buffalo in the city...? Cooooooolllll...

On our way to the beach last P-day and got lost!! Guy with the groovy hair is Colt, a recent convert. He's just like his hair. Pretty groovy guy. 

One of the sisters in my district had a birthday last P-day so we made brownies! Elder Orchard (nice haircut) and Elder K! 

Hahaha me trying to take a picture of myself with my Hershey's Dark kisses that I love. Accidentally snapped it too early but this works. Yum

Me doing my weekly email! Faded Paper Figures!!! Yea boy!! 

Laxatives! Spongebob is big here. From pens to skateboards to backpacks to pill bags...?

Taiwan for you. 

Lost. Picture!

Elder Keime with his wet butt muahahahah

Week 4 in Taiwan

Hello hello hello! 
This last week has been quite a challenge. It's still been Chinese New Year so all of our investigators have been gone, returning to their parents homes, because that's what you do during Chinese New Year. So we've had only a few people to teach. We've mainly contacted all day everyday. 

A few days ago I was feeling really sick and went to bed feeling like I needed to throw up. I woke up a few times throughout the night to throw up and it was not fun. When I woke up in the morning I was so tired and knew that there was a whole day of contacting ahead... I wasn't the most excited and I still felt really sick. 

During studies in the morning the whole time I just felt tired and sick like I wanted to sleep. When we walked out the door is when I really started to feel it. I started thinking what am I doing? I'm super sick and I'm about to go out and bike and walk around all day? Wow, this is kind of hard. While we were biking down our hill, leaving our apartment, I started to get a little emotional because I just felt so sick and tired and that this was going to be really hard. I still felt I needed to throw up and but I knew that sharing the Gospel is more important. I probably could have stayed home and slept, actually my companion asked if I wanted to, but I knew that I couldn't do that. When I was starting to feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, that wow this is really hard right now. Biking around all day, sweating, nauseated, trying to talk to people in a different language, pretty much all of them not listening, some swearing at me and just feeling like nothing basically. 

I asked myself the question what am I doing right now? I got the answer that I'm just being a missionary. I know that the Gospel is true and that it's worth sharing with everyone and that I shouldn't take that opportunity away from anyone because everyone deserves to hear about it. Missionary work can be tough sometimes but I know it's real. 

I hope that story made sense, I typed it very fast I have to go soon! But I love you all and I'll talk to you all next week! 

Kinder!! Saw this and had to get it. Don't know why but that chocolate is actually extraordinary.

"The Fashionable Ward Clerk."

I had to be very sneaky with this photo during Sacrament meeting... I'm bad I know but I had to capture this look. Enormous rug tassel scarf...?

An American member fed us. Went to a "Wild West Restaurant" and it felt just like I was in Chili's or something back in Provo. It was a GOOD burger. 

Greetings!  My name is Craig and I'm currently living in Taiwan.  Your son is serving here in the ward I attend.  Took him and his companion out for a good American meal tonight and thought I'd send you some pictures (apologies for the low quality) and let you know he's a great missionary.  I'm jealous of him just starting his mission; makes me wish I was just starting mine again in Phoenix.  After dinner they were off to go contacting and I wanted to go with them so badly. Just know he's doing great! Hope all is well.  Happy Chinese New Year!

Week 3 in Taiwan

Happy Chinese New Year! 

It's pretty wild here in Taiwan and I'm surprised I've slept at all seeing how at night it sounds worse than a war zone outstide (screams included). So this last week has been pretty great! Because of the New Year, we have had very little teaching appointments because every single person says "guo nian yihou" which means after the new year. New Years here is like all of our holidays combined into like 2 weeks of ultra holiday partying. So this last week we've pretty much contacted and biked around all day every day and this next week we will do the same but no big deal! After guo nian we're going to have so many appointments!! It's all going to be great. 

So every Wednesday, I teach a free English class at the church to whoever shows up. I teach the smallest kids... Like 4 years old. And they're crazy! One especially is. Jason. Grrrr.... He runs around in circles and climbs on chairs and refuses to speak English (which kind of defeats the point of coming but hey) and for some reason really likes to go behind me and punch my butt. So during the class it was pretty crazy as I'm sure you can all imagine. And all the other kids were enjoying themselves as well. I was just like hey, all I want to do is teach you kids how to sing Down By the Banks alright? I felt an utter fool but it's ok. It's been a battle every week. 

Another thing is that it has actually been very cold lately. Very windy and rainy and the wind almost blows me off my bike it's so strong! So going back up the hill everyday is quite the journey. There's a saying in this area and it's "jia you xinfeng zhanglaomen" which means keep going xinfeng elders. Xinfeng is our area. That hill is mean. But because of that, my butt is hard and my thighs are tight. Even trade I guess. Throughout the week I continued to meet people who knew my family and held me when I was a baby and can't believe how much I've grown up and changed, for good or bad they didn't clarify. So that's been awesome and I'll continue more about that with the pictures. Well I'd say that's about it. 

Every morning I wake up excited to get out the door and then every night I think I fall asleep within 5 seconds of getting in my bed. It's actually pretty great. This letter is shorter, but don't worry there are good stories in the photos! :) I love you all very much! p.s. if any of you happen to want to send me anything, send me hershey's kisses, special dark kind. Man those things are tasty. Muah! 

After one of our member new year meals. Turns out they have a family band! Noooiiiiice!

"Well we've got a few minutes of extra time, what do you want to do" "I've got some leftover gingerbread house kits left, wanna make those?" "ok" 

Finished product! Fell apart literally half a second after this photo. 

Tidying up our apartment and found this thing laying around... "What the, how long has that been there?" Anyone know the quote? Here's another "Esme, put your hands in the air!"

Dinner at my grandma's with the fam! So crazy. 

Eating a delicious zhuabing for dinner at my marvelous church. A zhuabing is a grilled tortilla thing filled with egg, veggies, cheese, hot sauce or whatever you want. Too good. Anyone recognize the tie? :)

Dinner at my grandma's with the fam! So crazy. 

This is a letter from Tess I got in the mtc. Sometimes I look at it because this owl sticker makes me giggle every time without fail. Thanks Tess

Love these things. Thank you :)

One of our New Year meals with a malfunctioning stove thing. This would light up about every 45 seconds. Elder K probably blew that thing out about 80 times haha. 

Story Time

The guy on the left I met at the mtc. He was Sean's companion in fact. When I met him and told him I was going to Taipei he told me hey that's where I'm from, my mom will treat you to dinner. And I thought I don't know how probable that is, that I would just happen to run into her... (foreshadowing perhaps?) So last night Me and Elder K arrived at our church after one of our appointments to get some stuff and then head back out. But we saw the other missionaries from our district and they invited us to go to one of their members houses to eat so we thought ok why not. When we got there, beautiful house by the way, the woodwork in it was fantastic, I noticed some of the family pictures and saw this guy! Elder Ni! I realized that I was in his house, being fed by his mom who isn't even one of my ward members but the other ward! I started to talk to her and told her the story of meeting her son at the mtc and she thought it was hilarious. And turns out she knows me already! As we were talking another member came up to me and asked if I was Hai Yang ( my chinese name) and I said yours truly. (I actually said yes) and he said I know your family and your grandma and I knew you! I held you as a baby! So the word spread about who I am and they pretty much all knew me already, well, my baby self. I started to talk to all of them and it was crazy that they all knew me. It's funny how God sometimes reminds you a little (or I guess in a pretty big way) about why you're where you are or why you're doing what you're doing. They also gave me a bunch of numbers of inactive friends who really want to meet me again haha. It's so awesome. I'm not sure if many other missionaries have had this type of experience, where everyone already knows you (members at least haha) and who you are and just gives you numbers of people to visit. I'm really blessed and I'm so happy to be in Taiwan. 

Week 2 in Taiwan

Good morning everyone! 

It's quite early here, 5:50am in fact, On P-days my companion and I wake up at 5:30 to come over to this little internet cafe to email. Come any later and it'll probably be full of people playing world of warcraft. But seriously though. Let's see this last week has been awesome! Taught a whole bunch of people and they're all progressing so it's great. 

Chinese is pretty tough though... I can speak ok but the problem is when they speak I don't have a clue what they're saying. It's strange, I know the words they're saying but it still doesn't make sense. So hopefully I can start to understand people better because that's kind of a big deal haha. But I know it'll come sometime so no big deal. I study Chinese a lot everyday, probably a combined total of like 2 hours and then all our lessons and contacting people really adds up. Plus, I've got God on my side! I'll understand these peeps in no time. This month we made a goal of 6 baptisms and we were both a bit hesitant at first because that's a lot of baptisms for this area apparently, I didn't know that before haha but we've went ahead and stuck with it because we know there's a way to accomplish it. So we've really been working hard to teach and find and help people committ so they can receive the blessing of baptism. It's going to be awesome, I'll update all of you with their progress and what's going on. Let's see the Lin family is a family of 4 and three have a baptismal date for 2 weeks from now, and we're still working on the dad. So hopefully he will too. We have the Zhang family who is totally awesome, the two sons have a date about 3 weeks from now and then after them, hopefully the rest will follow because they all love the church and the Gospel. We have others too but I'll wait til next week to tell you more about them. Things are going great. 

I also saw my grandma yesterday at church! She lives in a city right next to my area so that was awesome! I'll probably have dinner with her one of these days for Chinese New Year! So cool. I also met a whole bunch of other old family friends who apparently knew my family in Taiwan 18 years ago and held me when I was a baby and stuff. Weird. But cool. Let's see what else. My butt is pretty sore from biking the big hill everyday, sometimes twice a day but it's good. Looks good anyway. Haha just kidding, but not really. Missionary work is fun! There have been a few pretty cold, windy days though. So those were exciting. We probably looked pretty funny trying to go up the hill with just our white short sleeve shirts on while everyone else had huge jackets. Slowly trudging up the hill on our bikes, barely moving forward, the wind blowing against us. Our shirts, ties and pants all wet and dripping. We probably looked pretty pathetic and miserable. But hey it was kinda fun! Kind of. 

Well I think that's about it peeps. Taiwan is great. Awesome. I love you all so much and I'll talk to you next week!

Chinese new year decoration from Caroline! It's a Chinese character "fu" which means bless I'm pretty sure... She's too great right?

 With a bunch of people that apparently knew my family 18 years ago! Xiao kuazi included hahaha. That means "little fast thing"

 On my way to Hsinchu!! (Where I was born... ) So awesome and beautiful!

 A gift from one of the ward members!!!.....? Haha love it.

 Our office study area! My desk is the neat one... :) and the dragon Chinese New Year decoration that Caroline gave me is across our goal window! She's great right?

I believe this is "Xiao kuaizi" (little fast thing hahaha too good of a name) my sister Heather's best friend while growing up in Taiwan so long ago. Crazy! 

Got my new bike so that means we had an extra one laying around that we needed to take care of and put away. Good thing my companion is a skilled bike rider... I took this picture while riding if that counts for anything haha. 

We had mold growing on our stove..... Ha no just kidding that was just ramen boiling over the top on one of our pots while cooking. The green spices were at the top of the noodles and went over the top when it boiled too much so that stuff actually tastes good.

My new bike! Before the painting...

We paint our bikes so no one want to steal them! I kinda like it though haha.