Transfer 14 - Week 2

Hello good people! Neihu is still great and what's more, the membership of the ward has increased by 1! Brother Wang Jian Xing got baptized! And double what's more, his son came up from Gaoxiong (the southern part of Taiwan, a good distance from Neihu) to baptize his father! They both shared their testimonies as part of the service and it was awesome! Before the baptism however, we had a special little treat. The Morphis family, a family from Montreal, Canada that has recently been touring Asia doing musical performances in many of the churches. It just so happened that they have a friend in Neihu and spur of the moment, decided to come to our ward for a special performance on the night of Brother Wang's baptism. It all went very smoothly. They performed at 6:30 and I also translated for their performance which was pretty insane! Then we had the baptism at 8:00 and it was very nice. Although it was incredibly hot, wearing a wool suit and running around making sure everything was in place for the performance and the baptism, by the time the night was through, Brother Wang's words,"I believe I will stay in this church forever." made it all worth it. He is one of the most humble people I've ever met, a friend to everyone. The Bishop wants to give him a calling in the next couple weeks to which Brother Wang said, " Whatever it is, I will do my best.". He's such a boss! So other than the baptism and performance, it was a rather ordinary week, truthfully. 

Actually, on second thought, we ran into about 3 less actives on the street, completely out of the blue. We had just talked about a certain less active, Brother Liu Jia Xin, in a missionary counsel meeting and his name was in the back of our minds. Neither I or Elder Chalmers had met him before. We went contacting at night in a part of the city less visited and came across a college-age looking kid and started talking to him. He said his name is Liu. We had the exact same thought and ask him,"Liu Jia Xin?". Of course, it was him. He ended up coming to the performance and baptism the following night and we're in the process of finding him some friends and getting him to feel the good word. We had similar experiences with two other less actives. Investigator pool, parched. Though as I sit in this internet cafe looking out the window, it's raining, so maybe that's a good sign. Should be a good week. 

​Ya it was a little hot and we are all a little antsy to go next door to the A/C... 

Transfer 13 - Week 4

The missionary work has started to pick up here! We finally got a real investigator to church! That is burdensome business in Linkou, I'll have you know. We also met a couple others last week whom's first words were basically I would like to get baptized because I believe in Christ. Those moments always allow an opportunity for one to marvel at the power of the Spirit and of Christ, and of God. It's hardly anything us missionaries do, in fact, because in both cases, both of these men contacted us on the street themselves. It is humbling, to go about for God and his purposes and to see these miracles displayed, simply because these people allowed the Spirit to touch their hearts. 

The first is Wang Jun Kai, I think I mentioned him in another email, a couple weeks back. The second is Hong Zheng Hua and we just ran into him last week. They both say they want to be baptized and both have dates for  August 9th. We're going to try and get them there! This transfer has gone by incredibly fast! We're on the 5th week already but I feel these 2 investigators are the start of many more good things to come. It is my hope that Elder Clark and I will be able to get another transfer together but we'll see how things go! Sorry, I don't have any pictures again this week... It's hard to take pictures! Love you all!! 

我愛你們噢！ 

Transfer 13 - Week 3

Well this last week we had our temple day on Wednesday as you might recall so it was a shorter week but still very good! First story, we were contacting an old, really nice man and had a good conversation going about Christianity and our church. Then, out of nowhere, in broken but understandable English says to me,"You are a very elegant man." I definitely let loose some giggles. 

Random stuff like this actually happens all the time but I realized none of you are aware of these classic moments so I thought I would share. Second Story. This was actually a couple weeks ago in our Gospel Principles class at church but it's worth mentioning. We were at the beginning of the class, introducing the investigators, newcomers, etc. and one man in the back, was a bit shy and couldn't be heard. A member, Sister Chen Wei, a very outgoing woman, yells,"That's Brother Lin! I've taught him with the missionaries before! I know why he's not baptized yet! It's TITHING!!" After everyone had gotten control of themselves and stopped laughing, I was still trying to keep it in but it was all priceless. 

Ok so now on to missionary work.We had finished lunch and I noticed this guy who had just pulled up with his scooter outside and I took notice of him (he looked kind of like a punk and was looking at me through the window) but didn't think much of it. A minute later we came out of the cafe during lunch when this cool guy, Eric (his English name) came up and started talking to us about church. We were just on our way to another appointment so we told him we couldn't talk long but we could meet him in two hours at the church and give him a tour. He said sure! So we met with him and gave him a tour and at the end invited him to baptism and he said yes! The only sad thing is that this was during exchanges so he's not actually my investigator... But team Jesus right! I think he'll get baptized about a month from now and will keep you updated. 

In our area, we found a really cool investigator. Equally as cool, just not as cool of a story. We were walking down the street, he seemed nice, we talked to him, has interest, exchanged information, set up a later time to meet, high fived goodbye and thanked God that we found a new investigator. Anyway, this email is a bit lengthy, because I don't have any pictures to send... Sorry! Oh and three Philippino less actives came to church! Apparently they've been living in Linkou for some time but haven't known where a church is because they don't speak any Chinese. So that was cool! 

Alright, love all of you! 

Transfer 13 - Week 2

Hello everyone! First off, I apologize for not saying last week that this week would be Temple Day and that I wouldn't be emailing on the usual Monday. 

But by now, you are all probably used to me not saying anything about it so no worries. Today we went to Taipei for the temple and it was great! Complete with brownies afterwards in the mission office. Yesterday we went to Bade (my last area) for zone conference and some specialized training from the Mission President. While there, I learned that one of my old investigators I found and taught got baptized a week ago! Pan Qi Wen! He's a beast!

Let's see, so this last week was actually a little difficult. The weather has started to get very hot and our investigator pool is still rather shallow so must of our time is out on the streets talking to people. We have managed to find a few good investigators who have real interest in the Gospel, the only problem is that they can only meet once a week and they work on Sundays so getting them to church is a challenge. We're currently working with a Brother Wen and another Brother Feng. The first, a cancer researcher and the second, a profession pistol shooter. They are both doing very well and slowly progressing, reading the Book of Mormon on their own and praying as well. They're great! Working on getting them to church somehow. We're really hoping and praying that this week we will be able to find some more good and new investigators. Since our area is new, we don't have any RC's to work with or anything like that so we really need to just build it up from the bottom. Oh get this. I officially have holes in the bottoms of my shoes! I'm official now. Nothing to worry about though, it actually makes me feel more hardcore and I see it as an advantage. 

So yep that is the update with Elder Hagedorn and Linkou. 

Love you all! Stay hungry, stay foolish.

Transfer 13 - Week 1

So this was my new companion and I's first week together and it was good! 

I was actually a little sick, and was blowing my nose like I've never blown before, I was actually a bit impressed by the amount of tissues I went through. I'm doing better now though! My throat is officially well and yes, singing in the shower has been sorely missed. A few days ago we were contacting down a sidewalk and this guy came up and contacted us! He asked if we were missionaries and told us that he had been a missionary before for another Christian church so we talked to him and he really wants to come to church and talk to us about our church! It was super cool! We'll be meeting with him this week and we're pretty excited about him. 

Lately, we have found many investigators, but yet no one seems to stick. We have been working with grandmas as well but they also have become "busy", meaning their interest is waning. We do, however, have high hopes for this missionary man. His name is Wang Jun Kai. We also found another investigator named Wen Wen Hong and we'll actually be seeing him tonight at the one and only KFC! Who wouldn't accept the Gospel over fried chicken? I've also recently been studying Chinese pretty hardcore lately, for the sake of being hardcore, and can definitely feel the effects of a good study session. 

The same thing goes for my personal study. I've been studying humility lately, always need to review, and came across some great scriptures that have changed my heart. I will just list a few, the first is Proverbs 27:2. It says in essence, do not seek to your boast over yourself but be humble and other people will boast of you. That was a terrible paraphrasing so I would suggest looking it up for yourself but it's well said. My favorite right now is Luke 14:10. It says to sit in the lowest seat and then they will find that you are worthy to sit in the higher seat and the glory will be yours. I feel that none of us can judge ourselves, we are all beggars before God and Christ. Mosiah 4:19. I cannot say smoothly so just look up the scriptures and know that they have affected me quite powerfully. Especially the one in Luke. 

I hope you all have a terrific week!

Transfer 12 - Week 6

Well my last companion, Elder Deal is now home back in Alabama! I just got a new companion, Elder Clark, and he is actually from Orem so we make a pretty exciting companionship. Provo and Orem, Utah! Whoo! 

So we were contacting the other night and ran into a really cool lady. She's been to Switzerland, Germany, France, China, Sweden, California, New York and all over the place. She's pretty much a boss. She's also loaded. Haha but that's besides the point. We taught her a little bit about our church on the side of the road and she's willing to meet with us and come to church! She actually talked about how having so much money doesn't really make her happy and she told us she wants to maybe go to America and become a Catholic Nun! Pretty awesome right? We just hope we can bring her into our church! 

Elder Clark is a really cool and smart guy. He does Rubix Cube so you know he's smart! We have some pretty high hopes for this transfer and right now our best investigators are probably are 2 grandmas. The one we met the other night and the other one, whom we met a few weeks ago. They're a bit slower accepting the Gospel, but they slowly open up to what we teach and we're excited about them! I wish you could meet these ladies, they're super funny! Sorry this week will be a bit shorter because I don't have much time left on my computer but I've got some pictures so it makes up for it! 

Love you all!!!　

Elder Deal, Elder Leo and I at the transfer meeting! Elder Deal doesn't know what to think about going home

Our water heater leaks, so Elder Clark took a straw, taped it to the tubes by the water leaker and positioned it right under the water drop. The water then goes through the straw, traveling at about a 45 degree angle, it goes through a little card tunnel, which stops the water, letting it slide down into the bucket below. Ingenious if I say so myself, though it was Elder Clark's contraption. Before I had just had a sponge right underneath the drop and would squeeze it out every morning and night.

Transfer 12 - Week 5

I can't believe this transfer is almost over! They are just getting faster and faster. My companion, Elder Deal goes home this Saturday and I will be getting a new companion on Friday at Transfer Meeting. Pretty insane. This past week was pretty cool because we were able to get two less actives to church! It's always hard to get people to come to church because it's so far away from where they actually live so you know when someone comes to church they actually have some real interest and are willing to meet with us, read the Book of Mormon, etc. Random Weather Update: The weather is actually fairly cool up here in Linkou and I'm so happy that I'm here for the summer! Every once in a while, for meetings and church we go down to Taoyuan and it so hot and crowded down there! I don't know how I ever was able to do that! So yes, all is well in Linkou ;) This week we were able to fun into a few high school students and teach them a bit about God. To be brutally honest, I'm still not sure if they are interested in God or just two cool foreigners who speak some mean Chinese but regardless, we're going to meet with them again and lay down the law! If they're not interested, it's still ok because at least we gave them some good impressions, not to mention their killer instagram photo with foreigners that I noticed one was posting after snapping a photo with us. (happens a lot actually.)

We just got back from lunch with our wonderful Ward Mission Leader who treated us to some delicious hot pot! Brother Lu is a boss. This week I'll be sending off my companion, he officially having bled out by that time. I always wanted to "kill" someone.

Happy Father's Day to my Dad!! So thankful that my Dad has always been there for me and I'm so excited for when I get home so him and I can eat a steak together while watching the game and reminiscing about our Taiwan missions. Love you Dad!