November 27, 2011

Dear family,

So this past week was pretty good.
I got the package on Friday (the day after thanksgiving) so close! but that's OK. I gave the cookies to my comp. He said that they were way good.

Yesterday, Zeng di xiong went to church for the first time. Which is awesome. But the only problem is he lives in Xin Zhu. Which is up north. Not even in my mission. And that's where he goes to church when he doesn't have work. So when he gets baptized, he will be baptized in that area. I won't even be able to go to his baptism. But he is really excited to be baptized. His goal is for the 24th of December. He only has one possible thing preventing him from getting wet in the white clothing. And that is his wife. His wife fandui's him getting baptized. She is fine with him going to church and learning and reading and praying and doing everything. Except getting baptized. They have this idol in their house that is some kind of god that she worships and she doesn't want him to get baptized so that he can still worship the idol with her.
So that is that. We are meeting with him tomorrow.

On Friday the sisters have a baptism of 3. A single mom and two of her kids. I did their interviews. They are pretty good. And our recent convert Liu zhen jie will be doing the baptism.
The Li family already moved to taibei. sad face. But now they are close to the temple. And they call everyday to say hi. We may not ever see them again. We saw them for about three seconds before they rode their scooter all the 6 hours to taibei.

We didn't have any turkey. But we made some mashed potatoes. They were good. The garments a perfect.
Sisi is that Andy Clark's brother?
Tell pop's I don't need anything and I got him a Christmas present that we can share. It is funny. But it is all in bopomofo so he wont be able to read it. But he can learn.
Oh the only thing I think i might want is a picture of my baptism to show people

Love elder graham
桂長老桂俊杰

This is me and yeh di xiong

November 20, 2011 - WofW testimony / Li family baptism!

OK so this week was pretty cool. To start off the week we had 4 first time sit downs. Pretty good for only 3 hours worth of proselyting. Then on Tuesday we sat down with a guy we met three months ago. And at first he could meet three times a week, but now he can only meet once a week. And so he has been making really slooowwwww progress. And the entire time, he has had Word of Wisdom issues (alcohol, smoking, coffee, and tea (the member shared WoW with him the first lesson)), and he tried giving back his Book of Mormon because he didn't think he could keep the Word of Wisdom. But on Tuesday when we met, he was so awesome. He reads about a chapter a day from the Book of Mormon, and prays several times a day. And on Tuesday we followed up on the word of wisdom stuff. He said he stopped drinking and smoking first. Then when he was at work he had enough energy to last throughout the day without coffee or tea. And then he shared his testimony of the WoW with us. He said that before when he was at work he would always be really tired and feel like he needs to sit down and take breaks. But now he has enough energy to be standing up and walking around all day long. And he also told us that he is starting to tell all of his co-workers about the Church and the WoW. So that is Zeng di xiong. He said he would love to be baptized (when before that was out of the question), the only problem is for the next month, he has to work on Sundays. OK so that was on Tuesday. Wednesday was just Wednesday.
On Thursday we sat down with a guy whom we contacted about two and a half months ago. He had read through chapter 14 in first Nephi and an entire liahona and had lots of questions. We only meet with him a few times a month, but he keeps his reading up which is really important.
Friday was... weekly planning sesh.
Saturday was crazy. First, right out the door, we went to the church for the wards Missionary day activity. At this point the Li family was already at the church good to go for their baptism. Us missionaries did some funny skits and some instruction. Then 12 was lunch of some kind of seaweed soup stuff. Then we went outside in the rain and did missionary work with the members for 4 hours! Then we came back to the church all wet for a testimony meeting and then dinner. Which was sooooo good. A lady named Pong jie mei who lived in England for a while made american style pasta. It was soooooooo000oo000ooo good. I had three massive plates of it. And she made a ton. There was a whole pot of leftovers. Then Wu di xiong finally showed up for his baptismal interview (45 min late). Then the Li family's baptism started. Then right before they were about to go into the water, Wu di xiong passed his interview and I had to help him fill it all out. Then the Zone leaders left without signing it. So it was crazy and then they had to come back all the while the Li family's baptism is going on. In the end it all worked out. Except the guy who passed his interview didn't come to church and hasn't answered his phone....
There is no such thing as thanksgiving here. I didn't get the package yet. And I don't think I need anything else. Gotta go. A member is taking us to a steak house. yummy
Love Elda gwaaaammmm

November 13, 2011 - Li family / Haagen-Dazs!

Hello family,
The season is changing here in Taiwan as well. It has gotten really cold the last few days and was nonstop rain for 4 days straight.
The Li family. Holy cow. It has been a roller coaster with them this week. The wife has always wanted to be baptized. And so does the husband, but he wants to move to Taibei, and she doesn't. They are on the verge of getting divorced. He wants to go to Taibei because his dad has cancer and has to go to the hospital. And at the hospitals here ... someone has to stay with you at all times to take care of you. Anyway. She doesn't want to go because if they go then she has to live with her sister, and sleep on the floor. But anyway, they figured that all out and are doing good now. On Saturday they passed their baptismal interview. Their baptism is set for the 19th. Right after the ward's "missionary day". What a perfect ending!
Elder Gong is an ABC which means he is "American Born Chinese".
Yes I got the deodorant, thank you. And old spice is wayyyy better than axe. And I gave the candy to my companion. But the peanuts were way good.
And some people here have added me on facebook and have been complaining that whomever is controlling my fb is not adding them. Haha so yeah.
We also have another investigator named Wu di xiong. He gets what is going on but he is just super shy.
I'm not sure if you guys have ever had Haagen dazs ice cream but it is literally the best ice cream ever. No matter what flavor you get. At the place that we went to, it was ALL YOU CAN EAT. But if you want to take some home with you, it is 100元 (which is around 3 USD) for ONE scoop. One scoop. 3 dollars. Crazy. But it is sooooo good.
So yeah that's kinda it. I don't really need or want anything else. All is well.

Love the Graham boy

桂長老桂俊杰Elder Graham

November 6, 2011 - Rudi got baptized

Hello family,
So this week we had a mission conference with Elder Gong. He is ABC. And his wife is American. Anyway, it was a really good conference. I learned a lot.
I have sent the picture of Rudi before, but I found out that he got baptized after I left. So I am sending it again.

We were supposed to go to the temple this week but it ended up not happening. We will go next move call. If I am still here in the north...
I do get headaches sometimes. But I still have plenty of medicine from when I first went into the MTC.
I think you guys will be getting a letter in the mail saying something to the effect of "your missionary only has a few months left... encourage him/her to keep doing their best... what airport do you want him/her to fly into" etc. I heard that those get sent out on my 13th move call.
Kami. Guess what. In Taiwan there is a building that is 101 (taibei) stories high. And another one that is 85 (gaoxiong). Just so you know.

So this week... The Li family didn't answer their phone for a few days. Which scared me. But then on Thursday they finally answered. They weren't answering because li jiemei was in the hospital for some kind of surgery. And li di xiong was working extra hours. But they are doing fine now. Unfortunately we had to push back their goal because we still have a lot of things to teach them even though they have been to church plenty of times. They are really excited for their baptism on the 19th. On that day, our ward is having "missionary day" and them being baptized is a perfect ending to a day of being a member missionary. So that should be a good experience for the Li family, us and the ward!

We have another investigator that is kinda... different. Like he can read and comprehend everything we teach and he keeps all of his commitments. But I can't tell if he has a really really really bad social disorder, or if it is a mental problem. I really want to help him. So we will keep meeting with him and helping him come unto Christ. If it comes to the point of him wanting to be baptized then we might have to get him into a second interview.

I didn't get the deodorant yet... And I don't think I need anything else. And I don't really need anything for Christmas either. Just save the money for when I get home.

Oh yeah. And today we are going to a place that is all you can eat. for 12 bucks. Its really nice. It has all you can eat Haggen daz ice cream. I don't know how to spell that. But it is the very best ice cream in the world. It has all the meats and sea food and drinks and anything else you could want. Soooooo gooooood

Love
THE Elder Graham
桂長老桂俊杰

October 30, 2011

Well family hello!

This week was good.
Right now we have a few progressing investigators. The Li3 couple is doing good. The only problem is that they don't have any time to meet and they haven't heard all of the lessons. But they are extremely willing and cannot wait to be baptized. Their goal is for the 12th of November. They are really funny/odd couple. Sister Li likes to hug and kiss all the things that we give her. And she is super short and speaks with a really high pitched voice. But that's OK. We are all Gods children.

The other one is a man who we contacted about 2 months ago on Elder Ipsen's fourth day on island. At the time he spent most of his time in miao li. Which is in the Taibei mission. So we referred him to the missionaries there. Then one day last week I got a call from Elder Gilespie (my old companion in yuan lin who is also training) and he said that the miao li elders had re-referred Brother Zeng to him and that he actually lives in my area and he has a meeting set up for that night! It was pretty cool. Our awesome peike committed him to meet with us three times a week. So right now we are focusing on "revelation through prayer" "revelation through the Book of Mormon" and "revelation through church attendance" And that has been going good so far.
OK I'm sorry that is all I have to report on right now.

I hope you guys enjoy the pictures.

Yummy fish heads and

Cow hearts I think!

See ya in a year,

桂長老桂俊杰

Elder Graham

October 23, 2011 - 5 new investigators!

Well this week was a lot better. Our finding went pretty good I think. We got 5 new investigators (people who we sat down with for the first time, shared a full first lesson and set up another time) and they are all pretty solid. Now we just have to start working with the ward to get them in the water. Last night we met with one of the recent converts here in dong hai. He told us he doesn't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and he said its hard being the only member in his family and at school. And that he is kinda debating not coming to church anymore. Then this morning I was reading in 3rd Nephi verse 33 "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work."
I thought it was an appropriate scripture. Last night he said he really wanted to know. And he is willing to read and pray until he gets an answer. So I really hope that helps him.

We also had a couple come to church yesterday, the Lee family. After church we sat down with them and had a great lesson with a great member. They are kinda poor, and they said they might be moving soon if Li di xiong gets fired from his job. But they said that if they don't have to move, they want to be baptized. So we gave them a baptismal goal for the 12th of next month.

Way to go dad for beating the pastor at Foosball.
Seeing the pictures of dad was funny. He has a grey beard.
I would sent you guys a picture that I took this morning of the view from out apartment but my card reader isn't working so I need to go buy a new one soon.

Well that's all I have for today, This elder has to go!
Elder Graham

October 16, 2011

Weelllllll family hello,

Today we don't have a lot of time because li mama is taking us out to eat with a white guy who served here like 8 years ago. He brought his pregnant wife. She is pretty preggo.
We haven't been able to teach the 86 year old yet. Which is sad but we are going to teach him the plan of salvation and baptize him before he dies. He is super old.

Dad told me all about his experience at the hospital. Ewww....

We have tried our best to meet with the 11 year old kid. But he lives on the mountain (30-40 minute bike ride away. Up hill). So that isn't fun. And we don't want to go up there unless he confirms ... and its really hard to get a hold of him. He doesn't have a cell phone or a home phone. His drunkard dad is the only one with a phone.

I already bought a study notebook. The only thing I think I need is deodorant. There aren't a lot of kinds here. Anything good is super expensive... And I already have a jacket from last winter.

So this week we have been in finding mode. We have been talking to everybody and everything we see. We have seen a few blessings from that. We are now teaching a couple that should be getting baptized in the next few weeks.
But we are starting to work better with the ward which is really good.

Anyway. Sorry for the lack of pictures, we haven't been doing anything cool the last few preparation days.

Elder Graham has g2g
See ya in a year,
桂長老桂俊杰
Elder Graham

October 9, 2011 - Conference & meeting some really cool people

Dear family and anybody else that listens,

So I finally figured out my battery problem, it wasn't charging properly.
Conference was way good. We got to watch the whole thing this time! The only problem is that I filled up my Gospel Study Journal that mom got me before I left on my mission. sad face. But I will buy another one today. So yeah it was pretty good.

Yesterday we went with the bishop and the first counselor to a really old member's house and she is like in her 80's and she wanted us to give her non-member husband a blessing. He is 86. He is 大陸人. Mainland Chinese. Super old. But he is sick and needed a blessing. Afterwords the first counselor asked him if he wanted to hear the gospel. He said yes. So our newest investigator is 86 years old and doesn't speak Taiwanese. Sweet. I've always wanted to baptize somebody that old. But the only problem is his body is so frail and small. We would need AT LEAST 3 people in the water with him to baptize him. But the bishop said that would be OK. Sweet

It isn't as cold anymore, but all the members say that it will get really cold and extremely windy in like 3 weeks.

So this week we met some really cool people. Including an 11 year old kid who knows members and went to the zoo with our stake a few weeks ago. What happened is we went to visit a less active/ part member family. And they weren't there even after calling before hand and asking if we could come over. On the way out of the neighborhood a super drunk guy yelled "HEEELLLLLOOOOOOO!!!" And I'm not way into talking to drunk people but my companion was like, "lets go talk to that guy!". Of course I didn't want to, but the guy was really nice even though he was WASTED. And his drunk wife was really nice too. They belong to "The True Jesus Church" "真耶穌教會". But they were very welcoming and they said that their son had gone to the zoo with some of the members of our church. We talked to the kid and he is very interested because he has a friend already in the church. I distracted the drunk family and kept them busy talking about how in America we only eat hamburgers. (and how my companion had cheese on his burgers and that is why he is so much taller than me). While I was having this ridiculous conversation, my companion was having a good conversation about the Book of Mormon with the 11 year old kid. We gave him a book of Mormon and prayed with him. I learned my lesson about talking to EVERYBODY. Even if they are drunk and chewing bin lang and smoking. They might have a kid that is golden. I am very glad that my companion had the feeling and the guts to go talk to the drunk family.

Well Elder Graham has to go now.

See ya in a year,

桂長老桂俊杰

Elder Graham