Hello Family!
Happy burn money and make loud noises day! hahaha, today is a Chinese God's birthday (I assume) so everyone's outside burning they're money for the ancestors and blowing firecrackers! It was really quite the hoot the first couple times they did it (it's a God's birthday at least once a week), but today it seems just a little bit louder than normal :P
Answer some questions:
Favorite Mormon movie is The Testaments.
My Trainer was always impressed by my Chinese, but honestly my first couple days I really didn't understand too much. Just because the accents different here, and well it's Chinese :P Now I am no where near fluent, but I am dilligently working to speak as the natives do :)
My Favorite Hymn is Lead Kindly Light. (I believe Hymn #69)
Natalie I am not able to tell you what you should do when it comes to having a zero period, or taking summer classes. I personally wish I had done summer classes, and zero period.
Miranda I'm sure you can handle church, a job, drama and school. One thing I've learned on my mission is that there is time to do anything. But you really have to think about priorities. What's most important, and are you willing to sacrifice for that?
Taiwanese people don't really like really sweet things, and I'm too poor to buy candy. Easter came and went, nothing too big.
Yes I keep a Journal.
Sorry Mom, I still don't know what's going on for Mother's day. I don't know how or when I'll call you. It'll probably not be the most convienant time for you, but I'll let you know next week :)
Thank you everyone for you love and support. I would really like some more pictures though. I'm pretty sure you can send it though email (Nathan sent some earlier) but I'd really love it if you sent me some hard copies too.
I love you all. I'd like to close with my testimony, that everything is really in the Lord's hands. This last week we've kind of been struggling finding willing people, and helping them progress to baptism. We do everything we can in this life, and when it comes down to it rely on the Lordto fill in the gaps. I know that our Savior Lord Jesus Christ is waiting with his hand outstreatched to help us fill in our gaps, he is waiting for us to plead for his help. In 1820 a 14 year old boy did plead help and as result God's true church is back on Earth. I am incredibly grateful for the faith of that boy. I love you all, and I love this Church.
-Elder Tate
Tang zhanglao
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Jared 4-11
Everything in Taiwan is amazing! We watched conference this weekend and that was super fun. Lots of sitting down this weekend, and then today we went to another all you can eat place.... but that's okay, I was healthy last week :) Actually my companion and I have been trying to eat healthier because we're in a part of town that has a lot of really cheap all you can eat rice places. And well let's just say that I haven't lost my MTC weight yet... and we're going to really start our diet on Wednesday because tomorrow we're going to another really nice sit down place. Taiwan is just amazing.
Did you all do anything fun for spring break? Besides build stuff, and putting off losing weight :P
One of the members in my ward (my companion's new member) found your blog, and reads my emails home, it's funny how much Missionaries are loved here.
Our investigator Liu dixiong got baptized on Saturday, he's so golden it's amazing. He loved general conference, and is excited to be confirmed next sunday. It's amazing how much faith these people have here. We are working with some golden people. Duan dixiong is amazing , we've been trying to work around his work a lot, but if everything goes as planned, this saturday he will be baptized and he definitely has the faith to take upon himself this amazing covenant. And our college friend Wang dixiong just passed his baptismal interview but he disappeared on Sunday, but he's good. He'll be baptised next sunday.
I don't know if you remember, but I'd really appreciate some pictures of you all :)
I love it here. I love the people, I love the work. My companion is on his last 4 weeks of his mission, and it really makes me think about who I want I want be, and how I want change while I'm here, and I know that through the Lord I can become whatever he asks of me, and I'm excited to change. As general conference said I plan on being the one who the Lord can rely on. I love you all. You are the one I can rely on. I love you all, I would like pictures of you :)
-Elder Tate
Tang zhanglao.
Did you all do anything fun for spring break? Besides build stuff, and putting off losing weight :P
One of the members in my ward (my companion's new member) found your blog, and reads my emails home, it's funny how much Missionaries are loved here.
Our investigator Liu dixiong got baptized on Saturday, he's so golden it's amazing. He loved general conference, and is excited to be confirmed next sunday. It's amazing how much faith these people have here. We are working with some golden people. Duan dixiong is amazing , we've been trying to work around his work a lot, but if everything goes as planned, this saturday he will be baptized and he definitely has the faith to take upon himself this amazing covenant. And our college friend Wang dixiong just passed his baptismal interview but he disappeared on Sunday, but he's good. He'll be baptised next sunday.
I don't know if you remember, but I'd really appreciate some pictures of you all :)
I love it here. I love the people, I love the work. My companion is on his last 4 weeks of his mission, and it really makes me think about who I want I want be, and how I want change while I'm here, and I know that through the Lord I can become whatever he asks of me, and I'm excited to change. As general conference said I plan on being the one who the Lord can rely on. I love you all. You are the one I can rely on. I love you all, I would like pictures of you :)
-Elder Tate
Tang zhanglao.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Jared, 4-4
Okay, I have to admit that I find the difference between Jared's letters and Nathan's pretty funny. K
Hello Family!
Good to hear from you all :) I like to start by responding to other emails first so...
There's new things everyday, nothing that'd you all would be too interested in, but the rules of our mission are going through some new changes with the new president.
Concerning conference we actually have not watched it yet. We will have an opportunity this weekend, but we are postponed a week so they can translate it into Chinese. We'll still watch it in English, but just in a room of our chapel while our investigators watch the Chinese one. So as of right now I don't have a favorite :P
Our stake is all of Taichung. If you'd like to look up the population, it's pretty big. To help you understand the activity here: there are about 700 members in our ward, 120 that come actively.
My life really isn't like the best two years because well, I speak Chinese. :P
Whenever I get discouraged I just take a second and look at myself. Ask myself why am I discouraged. Most of the time it is because I want the gratification of people willing to meet, or I want my senior companion to say I did a good job in the lesson, or some other prideful desire. In reality I am doing the Lord's work. If I don't have the Holy Spirit with me I can accomplish nothing. If I am frustrated I will not have the Spirit, and therefore I am wasting my breathe. So at times I am frustrated, I remember my blessings, what I've been taught and try a new technique. And sometimes just for fun I'll start off by talking to someone by saying Shengri kuaile (Which means happy birthday)
My favorite seminary teacher was brother faustead.... the bald guy... I forgot his name :/
Preparation days are Monday, and yeah we are still really busy.
Weather is cold lately, and really windy. and there is a permenant smog over the city :)
I'm back to a normal companionship of two.
Mom you were talking about being old, but back in America, especially for grandma being old is a good life. Here in Taiwan, old people are forgotten. We've sat down with many old bei bei's that really just wanted someone to talk to. They are adorable. Old Asian are amazing, especially when you have to try and speak taiwanese with them.
Everything in Taiwan is amazing. Our new members are still active, Bai dixiong is such a kid. He's 30 years old, and plays video games all day; He also thinks church is boring and I'm 99% convinced he only comes because he knows he should, and if he didn't his wife would be disappointed. Just like any priest aged boy right?
Our investigator Liu dixiong just passed his baptismal interview and he's being baptised on Saturday, and he's great.
I love being here. I know this work is true. I've been learning a lot lately, especially on leadership. My Senior has really taught me a lot about listening to the council of leaders. And I've learned to just accept council from your leaders, from my zone leaders, Mission president, Prophet and especially from God. Accept the council you are given, don't ask questions, don't doubt, accept that they are called from God and do it. I love our leaders. I'm excited to here from the prophet. I love you all.
-Elder Tate
Tang zhanglao
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
Hello Family!
Good to hear from you all :) I like to start by responding to other emails first so...
There's new things everyday, nothing that'd you all would be too interested in, but the rules of our mission are going through some new changes with the new president.
Concerning conference we actually have not watched it yet. We will have an opportunity this weekend, but we are postponed a week so they can translate it into Chinese. We'll still watch it in English, but just in a room of our chapel while our investigators watch the Chinese one. So as of right now I don't have a favorite :P
Our stake is all of Taichung. If you'd like to look up the population, it's pretty big. To help you understand the activity here: there are about 700 members in our ward, 120 that come actively.
My life really isn't like the best two years because well, I speak Chinese. :P
Whenever I get discouraged I just take a second and look at myself. Ask myself why am I discouraged. Most of the time it is because I want the gratification of people willing to meet, or I want my senior companion to say I did a good job in the lesson, or some other prideful desire. In reality I am doing the Lord's work. If I don't have the Holy Spirit with me I can accomplish nothing. If I am frustrated I will not have the Spirit, and therefore I am wasting my breathe. So at times I am frustrated, I remember my blessings, what I've been taught and try a new technique. And sometimes just for fun I'll start off by talking to someone by saying Shengri kuaile (Which means happy birthday)
My favorite seminary teacher was brother faustead.... the bald guy... I forgot his name :/
Preparation days are Monday, and yeah we are still really busy.
Weather is cold lately, and really windy. and there is a permenant smog over the city :)
I'm back to a normal companionship of two.
Mom you were talking about being old, but back in America, especially for grandma being old is a good life. Here in Taiwan, old people are forgotten. We've sat down with many old bei bei's that really just wanted someone to talk to. They are adorable. Old Asian are amazing, especially when you have to try and speak taiwanese with them.
Everything in Taiwan is amazing. Our new members are still active, Bai dixiong is such a kid. He's 30 years old, and plays video games all day; He also thinks church is boring and I'm 99% convinced he only comes because he knows he should, and if he didn't his wife would be disappointed. Just like any priest aged boy right?
Our investigator Liu dixiong just passed his baptismal interview and he's being baptised on Saturday, and he's great.
I love being here. I know this work is true. I've been learning a lot lately, especially on leadership. My Senior has really taught me a lot about listening to the council of leaders. And I've learned to just accept council from your leaders, from my zone leaders, Mission president, Prophet and especially from God. Accept the council you are given, don't ask questions, don't doubt, accept that they are called from God and do it. I love our leaders. I'm excited to here from the prophet. I love you all.
-Elder Tate
Tang zhanglao
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
Nathan in Mexico
Mom, family, and friends:
I really enjoyed conference, and all the welfare stuff made me excited about what I'm doing here and what I hope to be involved in my entire life. One of the things I really liked was the story of the guy who gave up his coat to the newborn baby. I was really impressed that giving to the poor and needy is not something we do when it's convenient, but it requires real sacrifice. I've said to myself that I can't just give money to everyone I see on the streets here, because my money will soon run out. But during the talks, I thought of how careless I was with my money, most particularly how I eat out so often and how I want an expensive phone when I get back to the states, and I thought of how I should be less frivolous in that area so that I can dedicate a greater part of my income to the poor. I decided not to buy the phone, and I'm reconsidering my need for a car.
I had a funny and interesting experience. Friday night we had people over for the first time during my stay. We watched a movie, burned popcorn, and made nestle cookies. It was really fun. This Sunday was the second time I had people over, but it wasn't something I had planned for, so I was unprepared for how much of a disaster it was going to be.
I was at church right after this morning's general conference. I was kind of hoping someone would invite me to their house for lunch, but when nobody really seemed to notice, I decided to invite people over to my house. So I invited these girls over, and they were excited. Two of them had been there on Friday, but one hadn't seen the place. It was improvised, so I had no idea how much of a problem I would have.
We got home, and my companion had stayed home to watch conference on the computer instead of watching it at church. We made jokes about how we may show up to find him naked. Turns out we show up and he was naked! Luckily, I warned him to hide in his room before we came in. Then I realized that there was a bunch of trash by the door. The trash people only come by on a certain schedule, so if we're not home when they call, we can't get it to them. There were four bags by the door. I quickly put them into my room.
The next problem was simple laziness. The burnt popcorn was still on the table from Friday. Friday night it was so late we didn't feel like cleaning up, and Saturday I was at church all day, so I didn't really notice the popcorn. It was pretty embarrassing when they noticed it was still there. Next problem is that there's no water except early in the morning and late in the evening. Again, if we're not around when the water is, the dishes don't get washed. It had been a couple of days when we didn't get around to it, so the sink was full.
Cooking without water is a challenge, plus the three girls were from different parts of the world, and I as well, that we all had different techniques of cooking spaghetti. Luckily, my companion keeps a pitcher of water just in case, and we were able to cook the pasta. We used a half empty bottle of water that was on the table from my breakfast to wash our hands, and one of the girls had a bottle of water to drink for the meal. We used mustard and pepper to make the meat, and some pasta sauce for the pasta. Of course, we had just run out of napkins, and we couldn't wash our face with water, so we told a lot of jokes about washing our faces with each other's clothing. All in all, it was a fun experience which just shows a few of the problems we have here in Mexico.
I would suggest not going to see Sucker Punch. It's about a bunch of girls who get put in a mental asylum and are treated like whores. The movie is supposed to be how this girl rises up and conquers her weaknesses, supporting woman independence, but it seemed kind of contradictory when they're shown as sexy half-naked gun wielding every guy's fantasy type of women. It wasn't very uplifting and, from what I hear, the ending was very disappointing and depressing. I didn't see the ending because I left when I felt I had seen enough.
But I did see Shrek 4, which was very happy and uplifting. I especially liked the fat cat (he's one of my favorite characters).
We finished another workshop, and we only have one more class in another. In a week and a half we're done with all our workshops, and in three weeks we'll be back in the states. It's kind of scary, and everyone is acting disappointed. If you ever want a boost in your self-esteem, tell everyone you're going far away, and everyone will just shower you with praises :D.
I had a job interview last Friday for a programming position in BYU. I have a few others set up for when I get into the states. My old boss in the Computer Science department is begging me to come back, so I hope to be able to get 40 hours a week for the first two months.
I love you all,
Diego Tate
On Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 7:55 PM, k tate wrote:
Haooy conference weekend. Did you get to listen to conference? If so, how? Where? If you heard the talk by Elder Cook, then you heard the story about Miranda and her lost purse. Pretty cool, huh? I'm almost 50 and no one ever has, or most likely, never will, talk about me in general conference.
We're at the start of spring break and I don't see anything out of the ordinary on our radar. Dad has work. Miranda has two days she plans on spending doing drama type stuff. We're very boring. I keep trying of things to do that would make me less boring, but I keep coming up empty.
I heard in a conference talk that we should go to the temple with a question and have the faith to know that we'll recieve an answer. So I went to the temple fasting and asked if I should keep trying to publish traditionally or if I should self publish and I got the definate answer that I should clean my house. That wasn't what I was looking for, but after a few hours of housework I did feel better about my house and myself.
You'll be sad to hear the Tennisons are moving to Utah in a couple of weeks. They'll be missed.
Grandma fell and hurt her knee so she's not getting around much. It must be rough to be old and fragile.
There seemed to be an overriding theme in conference about the welfare program, which made me think that maybe our economic woes aren't nearing an end. I hadn't realized that the church welfare program is the modern day law of consecration.
I'm not sure what else to tell you. We miss you. The house is emptier than ever...I'll have to think of something that you'll find interesting to do so that next week I'll have something to say.
Much love,
Mom
I really enjoyed conference, and all the welfare stuff made me excited about what I'm doing here and what I hope to be involved in my entire life. One of the things I really liked was the story of the guy who gave up his coat to the newborn baby. I was really impressed that giving to the poor and needy is not something we do when it's convenient, but it requires real sacrifice. I've said to myself that I can't just give money to everyone I see on the streets here, because my money will soon run out. But during the talks, I thought of how careless I was with my money, most particularly how I eat out so often and how I want an expensive phone when I get back to the states, and I thought of how I should be less frivolous in that area so that I can dedicate a greater part of my income to the poor. I decided not to buy the phone, and I'm reconsidering my need for a car.
I had a funny and interesting experience. Friday night we had people over for the first time during my stay. We watched a movie, burned popcorn, and made nestle cookies. It was really fun. This Sunday was the second time I had people over, but it wasn't something I had planned for, so I was unprepared for how much of a disaster it was going to be.
I was at church right after this morning's general conference. I was kind of hoping someone would invite me to their house for lunch, but when nobody really seemed to notice, I decided to invite people over to my house. So I invited these girls over, and they were excited. Two of them had been there on Friday, but one hadn't seen the place. It was improvised, so I had no idea how much of a problem I would have.
We got home, and my companion had stayed home to watch conference on the computer instead of watching it at church. We made jokes about how we may show up to find him naked. Turns out we show up and he was naked! Luckily, I warned him to hide in his room before we came in. Then I realized that there was a bunch of trash by the door. The trash people only come by on a certain schedule, so if we're not home when they call, we can't get it to them. There were four bags by the door. I quickly put them into my room.
The next problem was simple laziness. The burnt popcorn was still on the table from Friday. Friday night it was so late we didn't feel like cleaning up, and Saturday I was at church all day, so I didn't really notice the popcorn. It was pretty embarrassing when they noticed it was still there. Next problem is that there's no water except early in the morning and late in the evening. Again, if we're not around when the water is, the dishes don't get washed. It had been a couple of days when we didn't get around to it, so the sink was full.
Cooking without water is a challenge, plus the three girls were from different parts of the world, and I as well, that we all had different techniques of cooking spaghetti. Luckily, my companion keeps a pitcher of water just in case, and we were able to cook the pasta. We used a half empty bottle of water that was on the table from my breakfast to wash our hands, and one of the girls had a bottle of water to drink for the meal. We used mustard and pepper to make the meat, and some pasta sauce for the pasta. Of course, we had just run out of napkins, and we couldn't wash our face with water, so we told a lot of jokes about washing our faces with each other's clothing. All in all, it was a fun experience which just shows a few of the problems we have here in Mexico.
I would suggest not going to see Sucker Punch. It's about a bunch of girls who get put in a mental asylum and are treated like whores. The movie is supposed to be how this girl rises up and conquers her weaknesses, supporting woman independence, but it seemed kind of contradictory when they're shown as sexy half-naked gun wielding every guy's fantasy type of women. It wasn't very uplifting and, from what I hear, the ending was very disappointing and depressing. I didn't see the ending because I left when I felt I had seen enough.
But I did see Shrek 4, which was very happy and uplifting. I especially liked the fat cat (he's one of my favorite characters).
We finished another workshop, and we only have one more class in another. In a week and a half we're done with all our workshops, and in three weeks we'll be back in the states. It's kind of scary, and everyone is acting disappointed. If you ever want a boost in your self-esteem, tell everyone you're going far away, and everyone will just shower you with praises :D.
I had a job interview last Friday for a programming position in BYU. I have a few others set up for when I get into the states. My old boss in the Computer Science department is begging me to come back, so I hope to be able to get 40 hours a week for the first two months.
I love you all,
Diego Tate
On Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 7:55 PM, k tate
Haooy conference weekend. Did you get to listen to conference? If so, how? Where? If you heard the talk by Elder Cook, then you heard the story about Miranda and her lost purse. Pretty cool, huh? I'm almost 50 and no one ever has, or most likely, never will, talk about me in general conference.
We're at the start of spring break and I don't see anything out of the ordinary on our radar. Dad has work. Miranda has two days she plans on spending doing drama type stuff. We're very boring. I keep trying of things to do that would make me less boring, but I keep coming up empty.
I heard in a conference talk that we should go to the temple with a question and have the faith to know that we'll recieve an answer. So I went to the temple fasting and asked if I should keep trying to publish traditionally or if I should self publish and I got the definate answer that I should clean my house. That wasn't what I was looking for, but after a few hours of housework I did feel better about my house and myself.
You'll be sad to hear the Tennisons are moving to Utah in a couple of weeks. They'll be missed.
Grandma fell and hurt her knee so she's not getting around much. It must be rough to be old and fragile.
There seemed to be an overriding theme in conference about the welfare program, which made me think that maybe our economic woes aren't nearing an end. I hadn't realized that the church welfare program is the modern day law of consecration.
I'm not sure what else to tell you. We miss you. The house is emptier than ever...I'll have to think of something that you'll find interesting to do so that next week I'll have something to say.
Much love,
Mom
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