SAFE AND SOUND AND ALL IS WELL

"We said a prayer on the sidewalk and the next person we talked to was this mom. 

We sat down and had a great lesson and gave her a Book of Mormon. I love teaching. 

I love the spirit you feel when you get to share truth with others."

WOW! A crazy week on the island of Taiwan. We are all safe and sound and all is well! 

DRENCHED IN THE RAIN

Typhoon Soudelor rolled into Taiwan with a fury. It has been crazy. Winds and rains like I've never seen before. I've weathered several typhoons while in Taiwan and this wasn't even comparable. Super cool to look outside and watch the storm. This will give us missionaries plenty of service opportunities. Awesome! President Dieter F. Uchtdorf personally called President Jergensen to make sure that all the missionaries were safe and inside and stayed where they were supposed to be until the typhoon passed. So President Jergensen had us call and relay this information.

This last week Elder Stewart and I got in a car accident on the freeway. My companion was driving. Driving is crazy here.  We are OK!  Such a Big blessing. We did have to spend a full day at the police station filling out paperwork and Elder Stewart did have to take some alcohol tests. What a crazy adventure.  

I went on 2 exchanges this week. Both with two different Zone Leaders - Elder Taulepa from Australia and Elder Loke from Malaysia. So so cool. Elder Taulepa and I went out finding and met some really cool people. We said a prayer on the sidewalk and the next person we talked to was this mom. She was really nice. We sat down with her and had a great lesson and gave her a Book of Mormon. I love teaching. I love the spirit you feel when you get to share truth with others. It was really cool. Elder Taulepa was so nice and told me on the exchange that he felt so strongly that I was where I needed to be serving and that I am the right man to help him and the other missionaries. It meant the world to me to hear those words. Overall a great exchange!

Elder Taulepa and Elder Willes

The other exchange I had was with Elder Loke. It was great. We were out contacting and we met a girl with my same name! It was crazy because my name Wei2 is very rare and that was the first time I've ever talked to somebody with my same name. It was cool. She didn't have a lot of interest in meeting with us but she did take a Book of Mormon and that was cool! Also, we met with a less active member, Brother Guo1. We are really pushing to help him. We had a great spiritual lesson with him and we hope he will be coming to church tomorrow! We are praying for him!

Elder Loke and Wei2 and Wei 2

Brother Guo1 DX and Elder Willes

A really spiritual contact (Daphne) with Elder Loke and Elder Willes

We had the Mission Leadership Council last week and Sister Jergensen made us Cafe Rio!!! Big burritos with rice and beans and everything! Let's just say we were all in HEAVEN for an hour. Incredible! The meeting went really well. Our motto for the month is "Captained by Christ." President and Sister Jergensen gave an example of how when we are on a boat we don't always see or hear the captain but he's always there. Just like Christ. He's always there for us and we are the servants. He trusts us to go and do. So it was a really powerful meeting and we are all striving everyday to be Captained by Christ! Really really cool. 

Awesome chefs in the kitchen. Awesome people!

One of the highlights of the week, yesterday (Friday), we actually got to take all of our recent converts (Chen JM, Huang2 DX, Lai4 JM, and Wang2 JM Vanessa) to the temple to do temple baptisms. It was such a neat experience. They all loved it. Wang2 JM got really scared of the water before she went in but once she got in the temple the spirit calmed her and she loved it. They all loved it! It was such a great night! How cool is that, that I get to see people I love move forward by going to the temple? The best.

Our other recent convert Chen JM spoke at the new member fireside last Sunday. She talked about the spirit she felt strongly when Elder Stewart and I shared D&C 121:6-8. "Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever. My son, peace be unto they soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all they foes." Chen JM then said that God has helped her to share the gospel. She has already given us 4 referrals! 3 don't live in our area but Penny has already set a baptismal date and is doing really well! Wow when we just open our mouths the Lord will tell us what to say. Such a big miracle. 

I'm so glad Nate had a boss time in Fiji. That is such a fun and cool pre-mission experience. Also, knowing that Jake and dad were at scout camp brings back some good memories! Mom I'm so glad you and the family are able to meet some of my Taiwanese buddies. They love you! 

Sorry this week has been such a blur. D&C 123:17.  

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; 

and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, 

and for his arm to be revealed."

Just love it. We can't control our situation at times or other people's decisions, but we can control our attitude and our diligence. This scripture has helped me out a lot lately. Love this work. Love Jesus Christ. So grateful to have a perfect and fixed example to follow everyday. Love you all!

Have a great week! 

Elder Willes

MORE FROM TAIWAN

The baptismal font at the Toufen Chapel

A really spiritual contact that we referred to the Muzha Sisters