Taiwan Healthcare, McDonald's, and Glittery Sidewalks

11/15/15:  Xue Hua Bing. Literally one of the best treats in Taiwan. And it isn't even mango season. That place I ate this at is world famous. They make the ice from mango, and it is soft and fluffy, almost like the stuff you can scrape off an ice rink with your skates. Then they put mangoes, kiwi, strawberries, and mango syrup on it and you just pass out with delight. There is nothing like it in this world. It is super expensive too, about US $6.

These rock paths are 'supposed' to be good for your feet. Healthy. Imagine walking 50 yards on rocks sticking up out of the ground, think about how your feet would feel, and then tell me it's 'healthy'. Uggg. Taiwanese health. They yell at you for being out in the rain because you will get sick. Literally. Yell. Another funny thing about Taiwan, if you are sick at all, you go to the hospital. So don't be surprised if in future emails I say I went to the hospital. Everyone here wears surgical masks for either allergies or colds or any other form of the plague. Sneeze without a surgical mask and you will be shot. The common question asked when you wear a surgical mask is "have you gone to the hospital yet?" No I haven't! I have a cold! They quite literally go to the hospital for colds, and doctors are not considered reputable unless they prescribe mediation. I'm not kidding. If they don't even prescribe at least acetaminophen, people WILL NOT go visit them. The Taiwanese are crazy about health. Craaaaaaaaazy (said in a Olaf voice). 

 Asian Ronald McDonald. They had a party at the McDonalds right outside our house yesterday.

 this is what happens every time there is a red light. Granted, we are waiting because of construction, but all the motorscooters thread through the line of cars to get to the front, and then when the clock next to the red light hits 1, everyone hits the accelerator like in mario cart and goes ham.

sidewalks sparkle! They use some sort of material to make the sidewalks here that glimmers

Mango Land and Focusing on Christ

11/15/15

Family and Friends, 

So you know, it actually doesn't rain that much here. I'm totally serious. I expected it to rain every day and to be completely sick of being wet, which I am, but it never rains. Maybe it just isn't rainy season, but it has only rained about 3 times since I've gotten here, one of which was a typhoon. I am always wet with sweat. It's disgusting. It has never been so hard to put on clothes after you shower. Anyways, it is getting colder here (about 70s and absolutely perfect) and all the Taiwanese pull out their jackets and winter coats. Apparently it doesn't get too much colder here, so I am in for the best winter of my life. Without mangoes. Mango season ended right as I got here. Are you kidding me? I'm in the land of mangoes without any mangoes.

Interesting thing about Taiwanese movers, they lift with the back. Literally. They will carry this huge stack of boxes with their arms stretched behind them and the boxes leaning on their back. You would think that that form of lifting was less effective, but the Taiwanese have been seen lifting whole refrigerators by themselves by using the "Asian moving method". I don't know whether it legitimately is more effective or not, but there is an interesting analogy found in this. 

How often do we lift things with our hands out in front of us? I personally do. It is so easy to focus on how hard the language is or how all of our baptismal investigators won't answer our phone calls this week. When I do, it is so hard to see the end goal and my true purpose as a missionary: inviting others to come unto Christ. When we lift with our burdens behind us, we find we are able to carry more and are able to see more clearly where we are walking and where we want to go. You still have the weight, you still have to struggle, but at least you know where the staircase ends (am I right? we have all felt that feeling!). Here is where you get the classic scripture found in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I hope this next week I can apply that lesson I learned from the movers of Taiwan and lift with my back, setting the language and the struggles behind me so I can focus on what I really am doing for the next two years. Love and prayers to all those affected by what happened in France this past week and to all of you as well! You are the best!

Letter to Sarah 2

10/9/15

Couldn't resist responding to all those questions you've asked. They are awesome! The music we listen to is mostly sappy Mormon music but occasionally you get a good song that is worth listening to. Missionary humor is way different than regular humor. Most of it has to do with Gospel topics, and is kind of like a Seminary joke. It's horrible unless you are on a mission. We try to give out around 5 or 6 Book of Mormons a week. Something discovered getting along with companions.... Rough. It's pretty hard. Mostly, don't look for the faults. There are so so so many little things that you can pick out and criticize, but there are also so many big things that you can praise them on. You got to get past the little things to see the big things. Also, when criticizing others, it's interesting because I use the word 'I' a lot. Who would have thought? I've found when you take the word 'I' out of the equation, you look more positively on others. How to focus your prayers so they are more meaningful? I don't know if you have heard my solution before, but I sometimes like to say two prayers. One where I get everything out that I normally say, and then the next one you are forced to really think. To think deeper. It's awesome. Give it a try. It doesn't work for everyone, but it's a suggestion. How to not spiritual plateau. That's a good one. Along with making the scripture study more meaningful. So one of the greatest ironies of missionary work is that you don't have enough time to read the scriptures. We get one hour of personal study a day, and it certainly isn't enough. When studying, I have a few suggestions that might also help with not spiritually plateauing (That's a word? My auto correct isn't underlining plateauing!!). First, have a purpose. You need a reason to study other than "I need to study". Second, set aside the time. Third, keep a study journal. Those three things have helped me so stinking much. Having a purpose helps you really focus on learning something. Go into a study with a question or a topic you would like to learn about. Study about a quality you would like to possess, etc. Make it meaningful and take steps to actually apply it rather than read a chapter of the Book of Mormon and forget it the next day like I did throughout High School. Setting aside the time allows you to have a time where you can actually focus. Study journal is a super important part. Each time you study, write one thing down that you learned. One thing. It can be super short. When you do this, it helps you reflect on what you just did and actually get something out of it. When you go back, you have a journal filled of thoughts and impressions that are meaningful. I have some other advice on the whole Kelly thing that I would like to share with you, but I've got to do it next week I'm sorry. Those are some tips you can try and use as you would like. Ultimately, it's your own study. Good luck! Also, my ponderizing scripture is Philippians 4: 11-13, what is yours and the family's? I love you!

Letter to Sarah 2

November in Taiwan

the smog here is millions times worse than in Utah, it is pretty disgusting. And you aren't sending all these pictures to everyone right? I get like 7 emails from Cole every week and they are all pictures and it is kind of annoying... The next picture is this random glowing creepy thing they set up in a random field. It isn't even a building. It's like a huge Buddhist Billboard you can worship as you drive past...







These combined make a 差不多 (not much difference) 360 degree view from the top of the Buddhist temple I just sent a picture of. Absolutely gorgeous. The pictures don't do it justice. And we got this awesome Taiwanese treat where they wrap ice cream sprinkled with peanut shavings and cilantro in a thin stretchy tortilla-like wrapping. Soooooo yummy. 

Garbage Trucks and Beethoven

11/8/15

I will just get straight into the cultural stuff because there is quite a few. First, I officially hate garbage trucks. I cannot stand them. In Taiwan, they play the first few bars of Fur Elise over and over and over again as loud as they possibly can. Yes, like an ice cream truck. All the little kids run out, "Ice Cream!" NO! Garbage truck! They come in waves of three garbage trucks, because you have to recycle and sort all of your garbage in Taiwan--even at McDonald's. Unlike Americans who hermit their garbage for a week until garbage day, the Taiwanese take out the trash in separate little bags every night and wait in mobs for the stinky sweet sound of Beethoven. I'm not about that life. I'm content to get ready for bed every night without the first few bars of an already overplayed piece being pounded into my mind. I digress.

Well, you know you've been on a mission too long when you are talking about Disney characters and you mention Snow White and the 12 Dwarves. That is what happened to a Sister in my district when we were talking about what to do for our Language Party. Also, church jokes just become funny. What car do the Apostles like to drive? Honda, because they are all of one Accord.

I was reading back in my journal the other night and marking up entries where I talked about some of my favorite experiences thus far on my mission. How incredible they are. My companion Elder Boyce asks me every night what my favorite part of the day is, and it really is not very hard to come up with some amazing experience that happened that day. The miracles may be small, but when we look for them they are always there. Just last night we were street contacting at a MRT station, and we talked to a girl from Vietnam who casually said she might come to our church on Sunday if she got the time and bring her friend too. Granted, there wasn't much conviction in it, and she mostly seemed like she just wanted us to leave her alone, but overall it was a good contact and she went her way. 15 minutes later, guess who we talk to? Her friend! Her friend was even less interested and more short on time, but it was such a coincidence (in reality a miracle) that we were able to leave even the smallest impression on two people that live in the same apartment. So cool. The Lord definitely blesses us when we are trying. I love you all!

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Don't let Christian read this part. I have been looking desperately for Pokemon cards. Seriously. I have three Asians looking into it without any real success. Apparently, Pokemon cards are actually short in supply in Taiwan because they just aren't popular anymore. I still might be able to get my hands on some Chinese ones for Christian, but I might not make it before Christmas.

Shipping, as far as I have heard, takes about 2 to 3 weeks for packages. They are very expensive: between $20 and $40 each, so don't expect too many from Taiwan unfortunately... Hey, tell Tim Carr that my companion's girlfriend is his niece. What are the odds? Her name is Betsy Carr. Coolest thing about Chinese ever: the characters make sense. The characters for garage is the character for car, and then another character for car under what looks like a garage. It is so awesome. 車庫. The first one is car, and the second character is the car under the garage. Awesome huh??? Chinese may be complicated, but it makes sense! Also, there is this random building that you can see from the MRT that has a bunch of racist propaganda on it. It is really funny because one of the electronic signs says, "To avoid religious sexual abuse, stay away from lamas." Another sign clarifies, "To avoid religious sexual abuse, stay away from the lamas of Tibetan Buddhism", but at first glance we just about died laughing. I don't know why, but they just hate the lamas of Tibetan Buddhism, and it is just one building.

OH! Elder Stevenson is coming to our mission this month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you all! Bye!

October in Taiwan

It is oatmeal with raisins and freshly cut apple! Yes! In Taiwan! And yesterday we had pancakes cooked in bacon grease and coated in Nutella. It was very healthy! At least we didn't eat the bacon. Nobody told us that meats go bad quicker in Taiwan and so you have to put it in the freezer instead of the fridge... The stuff we eat for dinner and lunch here is interesting enough to make up for a boring breakfast, so don't worry about me missing out on cultural experiences because I am eating a healthy bowl of oatmeal 
for breakfast every morning ;)

 me outside Yoshinoya (really expensive! we can buy two regular meals for the price of one there), and a stalker picture of the middle aged dancing granny sessions that happen every night and in every park in Taiwan. There were actually three of these going on when I took the picture all just at Beitou 

this bridge is in Shipai, and the lighthouse is a revolving restaurant! Then there is a Heron in the middle of the river. Totally awesome. We biked there for exercise one morning