From: 巫冠辰
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 6:59 PM
To: verena
Subject: BARBECUE PARTY-2

HELLO!! MOM THIS IS BARBECUE PARTY.
GUAN CHEN

These are from the meal after zone leader council. The temple sister's investigator who asked me to baptize her!!

Excited Mom...Sad Secretary...

From: Taiwan Taipei Mission
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 6:45 PM
To: Verena
Subject: RE: Elder Brock Rasmussen

Dear Excited Mom,

He should be arriving on Delta flight 2004 at 7:05 PM.

Sincerely,

Sad Secretary

From: Verena
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 10:32 PM
To: Taiwan Taipei Mission
Subject: Elder Brock Rasmussen

Dear Office Staff,

We are hoping to get the actual flight plans for Elder Rasmussen’s return. We have an approximate time of 7p on Aug 2^nd for his arrival in to Salt Lake City, but we are not aware of the flight number or which airlines?

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Sister Verena Rasmussen (Excited mom!)

Hey Family,

Well things are just going so great. More and more trials come as the time comes closer and closer, but it's a great learning experience, so I’m grateful for this opportunity I have to work through trials in order to grow closer to God. This last week was a busy one. It was full of interviews, exchanges and just being busy doing things to get ready for the new missionaries who are coming on this week, and we have decided to rewrite the follow up method, into a return and report method which we believe will put more emphasis on being agents as missionaries and acting not being acted upon. The mission is improving so fast and oh so very much, we are seeing miracles. The missionaries are starting to be agents and are starting to get it. They are putting forth the effort in order to accomplish this great and marvelous work, it is a great time to be a missionary, things are changing, the second coming is nigh at hand. I’m grateful for the calling I have of being the Lord's missionary. I've experienced the lows and the highs the in-betweens and all others, and throughout it all I've grown and become what I believe the Lord wants me to become. I still have much to grow and do, but I believe I’m on the right path, and can't wait to very excitingly and enthusiastically start my life. I’m excited for the future and what it has in store.

This last week we have been video-taping the Taiwanese missionaries for the youth conference. We have them share how their testimony has grown because of this missionary experience; then we have them invite them to come on a mission. Then we usually have them do something exciting, or to get the group of young men and women to laugh. There will be 1000+ kids watching this video. This is twice as big as last year, because it's an all island youth conference. This Tuesday we will be meeting with a member who is a professional video person, and we will be cutting and putting together this video. There are some hilarious takes that are going to rock the youth conference, our missionaries are so good. It's going to be very fun. The youth will really enjoy the video and hopefully because of it they will have more energy and enthusiasm to serve missions. There are more and more natives serving, but there needs to be more. It’s going to be great though. I’ll have to bring home some of the tapes and show you, they are hilarious.

We had interviews 3 of the days last week, and were on exchanges 5 of the days last week. It was amazing, I really got a feel of the missionaries and the work that they are doing. They are doing great. We saw many, many miracles out in the field this week. People just willing to sit down and listen to the gospel, willing to set baptismal dates, and willing to come to church. It is an amazing thing to be a part of.

This Sunday was a great Sunday also. The Catholic college and their students came again. But this time instead of 20+ people they brought 50+ people. It was good just like last time, always my favorite is the question and answer section of the experience. Even though sometimes they don't get to a lot of questions because some of the leaders who are in attendance take a long time to explain something. But it is still good. It's just an interesting feeling sitting in front of 50+ people asking questions about the religion. Out of it 10 people gave us their information and hopefully will be willing to meet and learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So all in all it was a successful activity, and all the students loved it.

The other day for dinner we made our way to Wu Momma's house and had a barbecue with the old Song Shan crew. It was so good to see all them again. They are doing so well, there were two new faces that I didn't recognize, I soon found out that they were new investigators. That really made me feel good inside, they were just being brought in like family. When they are baptized they are already going to have the support system needed to stay active in the church. And all the kids are already friends, so things are going great in Song Shan. We ate so much food though; it was a never ending supply of amazing meat! Don’t get me wrong I love meat, but when you eat nothing but meat, you get full and right now my stomach is yelling at me because of how much meat I ate last night. It was so delicious though!! Wu Momma's other son Gaun Ting the one that will be baptized in December showed up, he was released from the military for the weekend, it just so happens it was this last weekend so I was able to see him. I love him so much, this family is just amazing. I told him if I could I would save the money and come back during Christmas break and baptized him, which he would love. But I told him, if I can make the money and do the necessary preparation. I didn't promise him, but I think that would be awesome. He is a stud. There is a new member that is 24 years old that is often with Wu Momma and he is 22, I want them to hook up, that would be a beautiful temple marriage in the coming years. I told Wu Momma to start working on that, she just laughed!! I love that ward, it has a special place in my heart.

Well family I just want to say, I know the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God, if we make a study habit of it, our life will change, and the quality of all that we do will improve. I know that God lives, and is glorified and given an example of so well through His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I love my Savior. I know he lives. He died for each and every one of us, so that we along with our families may not suffer the chains of death forever. I love this gospel, it has changed my life, and I know it will continue to do so. I thank God for the growth I've seen while I've been out here.

I love you family,
-Elder Rasmussen,
See ya in a week!

(I’m coming home to two brothers who are taller than me probably, and buffer than me, oh no what am I going to do..........?)

I've Gained a Strong Testimony of the Importance of Unity

FAMILY!!!

Hello family, the Lord is blessing us a lot, I'm glad to see that everyone is still strong in the faith, and doing what the Lord wants us to do. You are all a light to my life, thank you for all that you do!!

This week was a spiritual week, full of manifestations of the Spirit and full of meetings! Monday is when I went out to eat with Wu Momma and broke the news that she's coming to America. She was very worried, but Guan Chen called me and said after she talked to dad in Japanese she felt a lot better and is more excited to come. So I'm really excited about that, and can't wait to see her in America.

This week started in Hua Lian with the first of three specialized training meetings. It went great and we are still focusing on being unified in purpose. I just love this subject so much, unity is so important in every unit of life. If a group of people or a team doesn't have unity they have no way of progressing, and reaching their ultimate goal. This is especially true in a family unit, Satan is doing all he can by placing the wedge of disunity to stop our families from progressing. This is why it is so important to always eat together and have family home evening. Why we need to talk openly with each other and understand the needs of each others lives. We need to be willing to sacrifice ourselves for the benefit of the family. We need to take care of each other and always stand by each others side. I love this principle. This principle will not have raised voices, disobedient children, and will always make the home a temple, which it is the second most holy place on earth. I love unity; I've gained a strong testimony of the importance of unity, and how to gain a unified atmosphere!

This last week we also had an opportunity to go on many exchanges. In Hua Lian we had a really amazing miracle. We were going out for the night to contact. There is a young member whose English name is Skyler. He is a stud. He is 11 years old. We invited him to say the prayer for us to start our preaching the gospel time. He said the prayer and in the prayer said the cutest thing, "Please help the missionaries that they will find a prepared soul." He said Amen, We said Amen and we hit the streets, talking with everyone in sight, inviting them to come unto Jesus Christ. About 30 minutes later I saw a woman riding a bike. I stopped her and told her we wanted to take her to church. She said OK. So she followed us to the church. When we got there, there was a member there so she was able to be there for the lesson also. We let the Spirit teach her through the scriptures and she was golden. We would read scripture and ask her what they meant to her, she then would explain it beautifully, it was amazing. The member kept looking at me and telling me that she is good! It all started with a pray of faith from an 11 year old member of the church. We saw him later that night and told him his prayer was answered, he just smiled with the look as if, "I knew it would be answered." It was really cute. She set a baptismal date and will meet with the missionaries after I headed back up to Taipei, so hopefully she is doing great!!

Another amazing experience, which was completely led by the spirit and kind of confused me at first. This week in our three specialized training meeting we met with the Junior Companions, which ended the whole mission hearing the training this month, which is really good. They all get it know, now it's up to them whether or not to use it and accept it! But we were in the Tao Yuan and Xin Zhu specialized training meeting. We did a role play, the same one we did in the other two meetings, but this time I received revelation. Something that I wasn't so sure about because of the amount of time we had left. But I followed the inspiration, and the missionaries were visited by the Spirit because of it! As I was watching the missionaries do the role plays a thought entered my heart saying to do another role play. I opened my heart and listened more. The feeling told me after this role play was finished and they all sat back down in their seats, to have them do a specific thing. The distinct promise I received at that time was, "If you do this role play, each missionary will be filled with the spirit and gain testimony of the baptismal invite.” So I told my companion quickly the feeling I had. I went ahead and just started speaking not knowing what to say beforehand. I told OK in the next 5 minutes we are going to have a very spiritual experience, so I need every one of you to really focus in order for this to work. Then I explained to them as the spirit directed. In a minute I'm going to ask you to close your eyes, then I will explain a situation and when you open your eyes, you are going to say the baptismal invite! Then I said, regardless if you've just been on island for 3 weeks, no matter how good or bad your Chinese is, I want you to invite in Chinese, I promise you will be filled with the spirit. I then had them close their eyes. I started to explain what came into my heart. OK you are sitting across from someone that has been looking for the truth for 10 years; he has finally found it and knows he needs this gospel! OK open your eyes and help him receive this gospel! What happened next I will never forget. They slowly opened their eyes and started teaching this imaginary man in front of them. I looked into their eyes and noticed; they were inviting and teaching this man as if he was really there. The sincerity in the eyes of the missionaries was indescribable. I knew they were inviting from their hearts. They really wanted to help this imaginary man. As they started to invite each of their imaginary man to be baptized, sure enough as the Spirit promised me, the Holy Ghost filled the room and all of us were edified, all of us gained a testimony of the baptismal invite. After they finished inviting, I looked at them and felt love so strong. I just explained to them of their potential and calling, of what they can and will accomplish here in the mission field if they teach like that. There was power in that room. I was a very interesting experience of receiving the promptings of the spirit in the middle of a meeting, acting upon it, and seeing a miracle. I'm so grateful for our Heavenly Father, the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I'm so grateful for this gospel, I know it's true, and I would fail without it. I love my Savior, I love my God. I know that this life is given to man to prepare to meet them again. I can't wait!! I hope I may finish all the way to the end of my life, in the service of God. That I may always be a tool in his hand!

I love this work; I'm going to miss it. It's not over yet though; I still have 2 weeks left, which are going to be the best 2 weeks of my mission. I love you all!!

Keep building a spirit of unity in the family, and allow the Lord to make our family an immovable, complete, strong, missionary oriented, unit in His kingdom!!

-Elder Rasmussen

Birthday Party Pics!

I'm Getting the Greatest Going Home Gift!

Hey Family!! Good to see that things are going great!

Wow time is just flying by so fast! It's so crazy to think that I’m going to be seeing you all in 3 weeks. But I’m cherishing every second of my mission. It's full of trials and challenges that are testing me and I’m loving it. I know that through these trials I will become the missionary and member/servant of God that I need to become. I just love this work; I've been inspired and uplifted in every aspect of my life. My priorities have lined up, and my understanding of the importance of family has grown into a testimony that families are ordained of God. This mission has changed my life; I would be in the deep end without it. I’m grateful for this opportunity I have to serve the Lord, to preach the gospel, and call all unto repentance in order to receive the blessings of the Gospel! What an amazing calling I’m blessed to have. I couldn't be happier. I love this work, I love my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, I've grown close in relationship, and love teaching others of the reality of Him.

Well this last week was a good week. Not a ton of stuff happened kind of like your guy’s week, but we still saw many miracles and started interviews which were great. This month after discussing the mission with president, we decided that we need and would like to focus on UNITY! Being unified in purpose. Wow, this principle is amazing. I've had so much fun studying about power of unity. I've gained an appreciation for team and the importance of Unity in any organization especially the family! The one thing that rids unity is pride. We need to be humble, and be unified in direction, vision, and the way we do things. We will have differences but we need to talk them over and have the spirit let us meet in the middle and combine our ideas. It was a blast planning for this topic, and sharing it to the missionaries in Leadership Training Meeting, and in interviews. We've had many missionaries come up and thank us, also thank the mission because they feel like this is exactly what the mission needs right now. It's been really fun to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. The mission is taking off right now; it's going in the direction the Lord wants it to. You can just feel it, everyday it's getting better and better, and not digressing. You can feel the improvement in the attitude of the missionaries, and the number of souls being baptized. It’s going so great, the Lord is really blessing us a lot, and allowing us to see many miracles.

This week we went on two exchanges, one with the Central Zone Leaders and one with the Xin Zhu Zone Leaders. They were both great. I went to the Central Zone Leaders area with Elder Pan. That night was Wednesday so we had English class. We went and they put me in charge of sharing the spiritual thought at the end of the class. They decided they wanted to bring all the classes together and have one big spiritual thought. So I thought about it, and thought that teaching about the Atonement of Jesus Christ would be good for all of them to know. So I had them all come into the chapel, and set up chairs in a circle. They sat in a big circle and I told Elder Nelson to go in the middle of the circle. I grabbed candy, and said thank you all so much for coming to English class, we appreciate your participation. We have brought a treat today to give to you all for being so good. So I started on the right side of the circle. I asked the first person, are you willing to take this candy? She said yes, so I turned around and told Elder Nelson to do 10 push-ups. Everyone started laughing. Then I went to the second person, asked them. They too said yes. So I turned to Elder Nelson and told him to do 10 more push-ups, all started to laugh again. I continued to do so; until the 10th person started to question why does he have to do push-ups (he had done 100+ push-ups by now). I said because he wants you to have this candy. So she accepted it, and I turned to Elder Nelson and said do 10 more. By this time his face was red, his body was shaking a little, and the people in the room turned from smiling happy faces to worried, confused faces. The next in line to ask for candy was a little 10 year old girl. I asked her and she was the first person to reject the candy. I said OK, then I turned to Elder Nelson and said please do 10 more push-ups. People started to get mad at this point, questioning me, and starting to get a little angry at me for making him do all these push-ups. The next two accepted, and the next 5 rejected the candy, but in both situations he still did the push-ups for the candy. Then people started asking if they could help him do some of the 10 push-ups. I said no you can't sorry; he has to do them alone. I finally asked the last person if they would be willing to accept the piece of candy, she refused. For the last time I turned to him and told him to do 10 more. By this time, he was struggling to get one. He literally fell flat on his face and couldn't physically do anymore. Everyone was in awe, and the spirit hit the room. I looked at them and asked "why were you not willing to eat the candy?" They said, because he had to do push-ups, I then said "But he had to do them either way, regardless if you accepted the candy or not. " They just looked at me in a confused state. I then proceeded to explain the Atoning sacrifice of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Regardless if we accept or reject him, He suffered for our sins, and imperfections. The least we can do is allow him to help, not let Him suffer for nothing. He loves us, he died for us, and we reject him? Why? The spirit engulfed the room, and all were edified of the importance of the Atonement. Even the Buddhists in the room felt it!! I then told them, we missionaries carry the key to open up the gift of the Atonement, we invite every one of you to meet with us and feel of this power. After the class, we had 5 people that were willing to set up with us, and will be learning about the gospel. It went so well, the Lord was very merciful, and the Spirit touched their hearts. I'm so grateful for the spirit, and all that it does for us in everyday life, especially missionary work! Without it we would be nothing!

It was funny, in the Leadership training meeting, the last 15 minutes President had all those that would be going home this transfer to share their testimonies. My old companion as zone leader, Elder Clavel (I love him so much). But we were the last two, because he was translating that meeting. Right before his turn he came up and sat by me on the stand. He just smiled at me, and reminded me of the things we talked about as companions. How right when we are going to get home we are going to get a massage, and get our bodies back in alignment. ha ha, he gets up to share his testimony. The first few seconds went like this "Well Elders and Sisters my body is broken, I just found out this morning that my shoes are broken too, my clothes are in a mess. Elder Rasmussen and myself have talked about getting a massage when we get home, I can’t wait." (Everyone started laughing.) Then he went on to bare a strong testimony of the Savior. Then I got up, and this is how it went, "Well whomever has been on exchanges with me, or been my companion all know that I really want to get married. What Elder Clavel said is true, but there is one difference.".....I paused then said "Elder Clavel can go pay for a massage, I’ll just get a free one from my wife." (Everyone fell over laughing.) It was a good experience. I felt prompted to testify of Love. The power of love in a unit. I feel like that Lord has blessed me with the ability to love! I've learned what love is, and I know that it will bless me the rest of my life. This mission experience, really I can't use words to adequately express the change it has brought me. Yes I’m excited to go home, but no I’m not excited to leave the mission field. Lately it's been hitting me as reality; I can't act like it's never going to come, that I can stay in the mission field forever. But I know that I just need to keep using everyone second I have to its fullest potential. I love this work, I’m so grateful for it!

Guess what? July 31^st I am going to get the greatest going home gift I could ever hope for. China's dictator’s younger brother will be coming to check out our church. He will be attending the Sacrament session of church and then we will have a question and answering session. President has asked us to come, because he'll have interest towards missionaries. He is the highest up you can go in the government, just right under his brother. This could be a huge breakthrough for the church in China, I’m so excited for this opportunity. It's going to be a great experience. He is the head of religious affairs in China, I’m so excited.

Yesterday a sweet little miracle happened too. We were walking home to eat after church, and as we were on the street a scooter drove by me. I don't know why, but without thinking I just yelled for the scooter to stop. They stopped right in the middle of the road, turned around and came and parked right by my side. I asked them we want to take them to church. They said OK, we are looking for a church. Ha ha, I just laughed inside for the set up the Lord just gave us. I took them into the church, introduced them to the temple sisters, and we went to eat. We came back an hour or so later and saw them just getting out the doors. I asked the temple sisters, did you teach them that long, they said no, but they went and attended the singles activity that was tonight. Plus they both have baptismal dates. I couldn't help but just awe, int he amazing miracle that just happened. Two souls, driving by on scooter, pulled into the church by God, and leaving committed to preparing to be baptized. What an amazing feeling that was. I know this is the work of the Lord, they is no way it's not!!

Well I love you all so much beloved family. Thank you for all that you do, I much enjoy when you all write me and share your experiences and life with me. It lifts my spirit and makes me very very happy. I’m so grateful for an amazing family!

Love, Brock

Elder Rasmussen

PS: Anything that the kids would like me to bring back from Taiwan for them? Also, Josh if there really is a golf tournament, I’m so in. I can't wait, even though I haven't played in a long time, I think that I’m better right now then I was before. I’m just excited to be with you!!

I told Wu Momma about us buying her ticket. She was like, No!! ha ha... She feels really embarrassed, because she is a big person and things that if we did that for her she would be really just not feel good. I’m going to eat with her today, so I’ll talk to her about it. But that's just her personality, she doesn't like to be taken care of, she likes to do the taking care of! She is an amazing woman!

Josh I hope that you had a great birthday. 19 Years old you are just about as old as I am too, So you are an old fart also ;D