Transfer 4 - Week 5

Good morning good morning good morning! 

This last week was an interesting one because there was a typhoon! Though apparently the typhoon came in from the East side of Taiwan and then swept down South. I'm over on the West side of Taiwan so I wasn't affected as much but Xinzhuang still received a little bit of a hit. 

In some cases, rather large. (see pictures) We ended up having to stay indoors a couple days and let me tell you, I don't know if I've ever been more bored in my life! We basically just called people but you can only call people for so long until you slowly slip into madness. Ha no just kidding but yes we did in fact go a little crazy. To fight off the waves of insanity from slowly sinking in, we built a fort out of our beds and made calls inside of that. Surprisingly, it helped. (also see pictures) It was a very interesting week for sure. It was shorter because my last P-day was Wednesday and then Friday and Saturday we had to stay indoors so not too much happened this week... It's been good though. 

Let's see. I bought a classical guitar last week so it's been nice to be able to play that every once in a while. Songs like ,"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and stuff like that, but on the guitar! So that's been very good. At night I probably have about 10-15 minutes to play so I try and make the time worth it! Also it is my dear sister Melody's birthday! So everybody post on her Facebook or something! Investigators wise, a lot of our investigators have gone out of town, to visit family and stuff, it's kind of random. One is moving to Texas and will probably get baptized over there because he's been doing really well and has been loving the Book of Mormon so we're both happy and sad about him but oh well! A few are on summer vacation and down South for a couple months, a couple have left out of town to visit their families. So it's strange all of our investigators have decided to leave about the same time so we really need to try and find some new ones this next week! Because our pool has unexpectedly shrunk! But it should be fun, love good ol' contacting. 

Man this email is lame but it's ok because I took more pictures! I made it my goal to at least take one picure everyday and I've done it this month so far! Hope you enjoy the pictures!

 

Love,

Elder Hagedorn

Our lovely church!

A Patagonia store... My dream come true.

Making calls in the tent! Like my T-shirt?

Typhoon!!

Dang...

Transfer 4 - Week 4

Hello everyone! 

Sorry I forgot to tell you last week but this week my P day is different because it's a temple day. Every once in a while we get to go to the temple so our P day gets moved to Wednesday. So I'm going to the temple pretty soon! But let's see this last week was pretty good! It was a bit slower because a couple of our investigators have gone out of town for the Summer so we had to try and find some new ones. 

We came across a few guys in a board game store last week! We went in there and started talking to the guy working there and started talking about God and we got into a little bit of a debate. (Whoops) His belief was that there are multiple Gods and that whatever a person believes in, is real. So I asked him,"So there's a lot of Gods today then, because people themselves have slowly created new Gods." And then he was like exactly. So then I said to him,"Hmm... People can create Gods?" This really confused him and we had a very entertaining discussion at this point that I won't go into detail about. He was very animated though, I'll have you know and his gesticulations and pounding on the desk claiming Zeus was his God was very humorous. 

Needless to say towards the end he wasn't very open and as we were getting ready to leave his brother came in and started talking to us. The original guy left and then we started talking to his brother about God and his beliefs and he had very similar beliefs to his brother, though he was a bit more logical and reasonable, more willing to listen than his brother. We gave him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read the introduction and particularly think about the last paragraph of it. He was a really cool guy and we're excited to see him again this week! We were also able to finally go guitar contacting! We went together with the Sister missionaries in our area to a park. It was pretty good! They got a new investigator and we did too! The power of music is great! Looking forward to this next week!  It'll be great! Sorry this email is shorter, but this morning I am pretty tired so... Sleep. It'll get ya. 

Things are going well! We'll continue to plug away over here in Xinzhuang!

 

Love,

Elder Hagedorn

With one of our investigators at Taipei 101!

Apparently you can get married in Taipei 101 so here is a little poster of all these cute wedding pictures... Should we hold hands?

Oh ya.

With the Sisters from our ward!

Went to the one American member in our ward's house for the 4th! He made burgers and hot dogs for us... It was heaven! Those are precious over here in Taiwan.

Transfer 4 - Week 3

Good Morning everyone! 

This last week was good! We have some great new investigators and Chen Bo Han got baptized! I'll start off with talking a little about one of our new investigators and English class students, Nick, or Brother Ye. He has very good English and has some Christian background which is really nice cause he understands things a bit faster. He's super nice and cool and we took him on a temple tour a few days ago! When walking into the church (the tour is actually in the church, which is the building right across from the temple. So you can look out the window and see the temple) he stopped and looked around for a second and said it feels really peaceful in here. Then he looked out the window and said I imagine it's more peaceful in there. That was kind of how most of the tour went. We walked around looking at the paintings while he asked questions and upon answering them he would say that makes sense, think for a few moments and then ask another question. We talked about our purpose in life, John the Baptist and authority, importance of temples and Jesus Christ in general. He's awesome and every time we talk about the Gospel he eats it all up! Another investigator we have is Julius! He's a bit slower but he's still cool. He is pretty strong in his own Christian church, which I believe is Reformed Baptist. When we first met him he was pretty opposed to our church and reading the Book of Mormon. But during those first few visits we had Leo (Recent Convert of a few weeks ago) help us teach and they've actually become pretty good friends. Leo helped him open up a bit I think. 

Yesterday we met with him and this time he had many, many questions. We taught from the scriptures and knowing he wouldn't readily accept Book of Mormon scriptures, we only used the bible to teach the Plan of Salvation. He believes more firmly in the New Testament so we stuck with scriptures from there. When we would talk about a part of the Plan of Salvation, he would not really agree so we would say well actually we've learned a bit about this through the Bible, in 1 Corinthians it talks a bit about this. Then he would read it and say I don't really understand. So we'd explain it and slowly, very slowly he would accept what we taught, though rather hesitantly. 

It's definitely a slower process with him but at the end of the lesson we committed him to read the Book of Mormon which he was very much against a couple weeks ago! So he's pretty awesome and we're happy that he's willing to read and pray. And then this week Chen Bo Han got baptized! He brought his wife and kids whom we haven't been teaching but we hope to start seeing the whole family soon! At the baptism all the members were talking to the family, getting to know them and stuff. It was beautiful to see. It seemed his family fit pretty well into church that day and I can imagine them all becoming members so I hope that day is soon! Will keep you updated on that. Also another cool experience with Bo Han is that when we taught him tithing for the first time a while back we were a bit apprehensive. But, starting the lesson, he said the opening prayer and in his prayer he said something like,"Heavenly Father, this is my belief. I know that this is the true faith and whatever the missionaries say to do, I will do it." So I thought to myself, well that's a good way to start off a lesson to tithing! So we taught him tithing and he said no problem! He also quit coffee, tea and smoking within a few days of us teaching him. The man is a total saint and the most humble guy you'll ever come across! He has 4 Mercedes Benz but you wouldn't know that upon meeting him because he's so nice and wears average clothes. Love him! 

Well that was pretty much the week and I'll talk to you all next week! Shout out to Tess Happy Birthday!

Transfer 4 - Week 2

Hello good people!

This week has not been too shabby. We were able to meet with Brother Lin, the one that we were able to find last week by talking to the old man first. He has a solid Christian background which has been very nice, so when we taught him about Joseph Smith and the Restoration, he understood it all and only had a few questions here and there. At the end of the lesson he simply asked,"Well, how do I know if it's true?" We then told him by reading the Book of Mormon he could know and he said he would read and pray. That was 2 days ago so we will be seeing him again soon and I'll let you know how it goes next week! He's awesome though. Also this last week Elder Morgan and I have gotten closer and started working better together I'd say.

He continues to chug along in the language and he's starting to get the hang of it! (Chinese. It'll get ya) A new investigator came to English class a few nights ago, Nick, who just eats up everything we tell him. He came to church yesterday and in all of the classes he was very attentive and told us that he likes the atmosphere and the church's way of learning. He also has Christian background and is curious about our church's beliefs. We taught him the Restoration and he was kind of the same as Brother Lin, he just wanted to know how to know it's true! We've had some greate opportunities of teaching amazing people recently and I'm very thankful! 

Sorry this email is shorter than usual but this morning, I'm especially tired quite truthfully. I love you all and hope your summer is going well so far!

 

Love,

Elder Hagedorn

Not quite the World's Best Cup of Coffee. But it will do.

Biking around in some back neighborhoods looking for peeps!

We were cleaning this building for service and then we found this weird thing. Elder Morgan... touching the ground?

Transfer 4 - Week 1

The past week has not been too shabby at all! 

First full week with Elder Morgan and he's opened up a little, turns out this guy is a dork like me so that's all fine and dandy! 

One of the highlights of the week was we took one of our investigators, Brother Chen Bo Han up to Taipei city for a temple tour. He told me he might bring his wife which really surprised me because he's told us before that his wife does not like the church and actually opposed us meeting with him. I told him that that would be awesome if he brought her but I wasn't really expecting her to actually come and suspected maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part. Upon arriving at the temple, we found no one there. Calling him I found out that he was a bit lost and was looking for a place to park his car. I gave him the address and then we waited. About 20 minutes later, him and his wife, sweating and panting, from being outside in the heat and speed walking, come inside and we give them a few minutes to cool down. Surprised to see his wife, I introduce myself and we chat for a few minutes and she seems a little uncomfortable and perhaps was a little hesitant about coming in the first place. 

Throughout the tour we walk around the church looking at the various pictures on the wall of Gospel artwork, just as any other tour goes. The first half of the tour she is a bit reserved and simply follows our little group quietly on her husband's side. Chen Bo Han is loving the tour by the way, basically his usual self. Towards the end of the tour however, we go into the chapel and the topic turns to eternal families, because the tour was about the Plan of Salvation and our belief that they are eternal and how the Gospel blesses them. She seems to prick up a bit and starts to listen more intently. We then bear testimony about how the Gospel does bless families and that they can be eternal by going through the temple. 

After a few peaceful moments of us all sitting in the chapel quietly together, We ask Brother Chen to say a prayer and at the end of his simple prayer, his wife was wiping away tears from her cheeks. I'm so thankful for the spirit that the temple brings and how it can allow anyone to feel that sweet spirit if they are willing to open up to it. Brother Chen will be getting baptized on the 29th and I have no doubt that his wife will start to meet with us as well, and he, as a member, can help us teach her. This week many things have happened besides that. Another story is a few days ago I was on exchanges with one of my zone leaders and as we were waiting for an investigator, he called us changing it to 30 minutes later. So, having an extra 30 minutes, we left the church and started contacting people outside on the streets by our church. 

Walking down the street we both looked around and there weren't too many people out in the middle of the day. As we walked I saw an old man down a sidestreet washing his scooter and usually I wouldn't think much because the older people here in Taiwan are just about all Buddhist and not very open at all to us missionaries. I had an impression to talk to him anyway though so I say to my companion, "Hey there's someone." and he says "You want to talk to him?" And I say, "Yes." So we start talking to him for a few minutes and it turns out he's basically just like any other old man in Taiwan, fun to talk to but as soon as we start talking about church stuff he just starts to say he's Buddhist and isn't interested. 

As we both realize it's about time to go back to the church and are about to end it, another man on his scooter pulls right up to us and declares,"Jesus is true God." in heavily accented English. Hardly even moving, because he pulled up so close to us, we start talking to him and he sets up a time to meet with us that same night at the church. Upon meeting him, at this time I'm back with my normal companion, Elder Morgan, we find out he joined another Christian church about 8 years ago and was baptized there. He left that church however, because he felt his ministers there did not practice what they taught and he also felt that there interpretation of the Holy Ghost must be wrong. That of receiving a fire in your heart and then starting to utter unintelligible words. I told him that I agreed and was glad he was here. We taught him about God's relationship with us and how he communicates with us through the Holy Ghost, feelings of peace, comfort and joy. He said he has felt that while reading the bible and praying but never in church, because he said his other church though teaching that we are all brother and sisters, did not treat him so. I told him that God truly is our Heavenly Father, and that perhaps after 8 years of searching for "a church with the truth" he had found it. 

After a pause, he said "Well I've been living here on this street most of my life and have always known your church but my other church told me to stay away from yours so I've never come." Again, after a sigh, I told him that I was very glad he had come and that God would answer his prayers because He will, to any honest seeker of truth. Which is just what Brother Lin is. I'm thankful for the Spirit and its subtle promptings to help us find those who are looking for truth. We hope to continue meeting with this man this next week and help him find the truth that he has been searching for. I'm sorry my English has regressed, so this is poorly written. But at least my Chinese has improved! Happy Father's Day to everyone! I love you all.

Love,

Elder Hagedorn

Put some NBA posters up in celebration of the finals! Tight.

 Oh ya.

At a BBQ place with one of our RC's Leo and his son Daniel. Soooo goooood

Transfer 3 - Week 5

Hey peeps! 

Well I've got some news for you all. I'm going to be training next transfer! Next time I email I'll have a new companion, a cute little greenie :) though I still pretty much am one haha. It's been a good run with Elder Beck but alas, all good things must come to an end I guess! This last week has been great too! Leo will be getting baptized this Thursday, which will actually be the day of the trainer meeting I'll be going to so that'll be a fun day! 

Let's see this last week the biggest thing was probably just meeting with Leo and making sure he was ready and all that jazz. He's definitely ready! We brought him to the temple to give him a tour and he loved it! Said while on the tour he felt all tingly and warm and was showing me his goosebumps and was like "I get a really cool feeling when I pray and read the scriptures and it feels even bigger right now. It's like a seventh sense I have or something." And I laughed and told him everyone can feel it, it's the Holy Ghost and he was like really? That's so cool! Oh man Leo is so awesome! 

After the temple tour he wanted to take us out to eat for dinner so Elder Beck and I were like "We're sooooo down." That's kind of our phrase. And he took us to the nicest place I think I've ever been too! We pull up outside this hotel place that looks like it's straight out of Beverly Hills. A big courtyard with a fountain in front with Aston Martins parked on the side and here us two, sweaty missionaries are walking up with glazed eyes and  probably making small whimpering noises thinking about the hidden wonders lying inside this castle. It was a buffet. OH YA!!! It was delicious!!!! I thought I was going to keel over and die from eating that stuff. They made pasta right on the spot for you! My favorite food! Man I have not seen some real Italian pasta in sooooo long! It was a blissful reunion I assure you. It was awesome though. I have pictures :) 


Other than that though it was pretty much a normal week I'd say. All our investigators are slowly progressing, learning more and more and just being cute and stuff. I'm pretty intimidated to be training next week but hey let's do it! Time is just flying by it's crazy. Seems like yesterday I had just stepped on the island and didn't know anything and now I'm going to be teaching someone just like that! Should be fun! Anyway I love you all so much and hope all is well back home! All is pretty good over here in Taiwan! 

Love,

Elder Hagedorn

Some of the grub at the buffet! 

 The buffet! Part of it.

This was at a different place. Steak, noodles, unlimited ice cream, and that is a cup of egg drop soup with a really good bread thing over it. All for 4 bucks. Oh ya

  

At a night market. I splurged

Transfer 3 - Week 4

Hey everybody this last week has been amazing! 

Highlight of the week was definitely going on a hike. Now that was something else! You'll all see in the pictures I send. Let's see Leo is still doing great! We taught him the whole Plan of Salvation as well as the Word of Wisdom this week and he accepted it all he's awesome! He is such a beast and these next two weeks we really got to buckle down to make his baptismal date on June 6th. 

Here's a cool story though. We have an investigator who's been an investigator for over a year, been meeting with missionaries and nothing has ever really happened. The first time we met him he didn't seem to have too much interest so we didn't think too much about him. Except recently he's been coming to church every week and has been loving it! We don't really know what happened because all we did was meet with him and teach a little about prayer, reading scriptures and coming to church, not too special of a lesson... But we think he's been coming to church more because he's been getting some good friends and enjoys church now. We took a look at his record and we noticed that he's never had a lesson where a member was there too to help teach him. All the lessons have always only been with missionaries. 

So we thought it might be helpful if we got a member to help teach so after church we met with him and had our ward's first counselor help teach. During the lesson we reviewed the Plan of Salvation and it turns out he had a lot of questions about it, regarding Buddhist beliefs like reincarnation and things that Elder Beck and I don't know too much about. But with our member there, he was able to answer all his questions, because he actually used to be a Buddhist. We had a lesson set up after so we had to go after about half an hour, but he wanted to stay after we left and keep talking to our member about it all. It was awesome! Members are great! We plan to invite him to be baptized next time we meet with him. I think he's just had a few questions while he's been meeting with missionaries but we just haven't been able to answer them because we know nothing about Buddhist beliefs haha. 

Also we started meeting with a new family! The Huang family! they've been coming to the free English class we do  for a good time and for some reason have never set up with missionaries. They've never really been interested. But when we talked to them after English class they were like,"Ya we'd love to meet! What time works?" So that was really strange because they've been coming to English class for over a year on a weekly basis and have never been interested but all of a sudden they are! Pretty cool. So we taught them in a restaurant a few days ago and they're pretty great! They have 3 daughters and a niece, Bobby, who is pretty much always with them. They are so stinking cute. Maybe I'll get a picture this next week. Didn't have time to go guitar contacting again this week... We just have a lot of other stuff going on we don't have time to go contacting! But things are pretty good! 

I love you all and miss you! Also shout out to Heather! Happy birthday! Love you :)

Love,

Elder Hagedorn

Me! On the way down. 

What a beautiful man. 

I was waiting forever for this lady to move so I could get a picture but she would not budge so this is good enough! 

If you stuck out your hand, they would just land on you! It sounds lame but it was probably one of the coolest things I've ever done. It was straight out of a Disney movie or something. 

Hike!

I look like a little kid. But cool little spot on the side of the trail.

Saw a stinking monkey! 

Lovely paved path hike. 

Waterfall at the end of the hike!