I'm Moving Back to Song Shan!!

Hey guys how are you all doing?

Yeah so Rob is training and He is district leader now, it was way cool to see him a bunch over the weekend. He is going to do a great job I’m really excited for him and this opportunity he has to help a new missionary get into the groove and to help a district out!! I love him so much.

So this week was crazy, mainly because of transfers...You'll never guess where I got called too...........

Song Shan!!!!

Yup, that's right I’m back in Song Shan. I’m so excited, I totally didn't believe the assistants when they called me and told me I’m going senior companion at Song Shan.. I was surprised, I didn't think there would be any possible way to do that...I’m so excited to work here again. We are white washing, or starting up The Nan Gan Area again. Our district is sweet too, it's going to be so much fun serving in this ward again. Wu Guan Chen called we with his mom and Sister Liang, they said we heard your coming back to Song Shan. I told them that I was, they were so excited that I could come back to this ward. I’m really so excited it's not even funny. Also my companion Elder Van Wagoner sounds really sweet. I’m way stoked to work with him, I don't know why right now but I’ve have the feeling of the fire that I had when I was in Song Shan before. I’m so excited to work with him and I know we are going to have crazy success, because we both like to contact, serve the Lord, and want to help these people come unto him. This is going to be a way fun transfer I’m stoked. It was so good to ride into Song Shan again, I mean it's only been 3 months since I left but it's felt like forever. It was just like returning home I loved it. A sweet part in my heart that was locked up came out and the love for the ward, area, and members came right back. Tonight we are going to eat with sister Liang and Sister Pan at Wu Guan Chen mom's noodle shop. I think that is one of the main reasons I got called back here to Song Shan to help his mom get baptized. But yeah I’m really excited to work in this area again...I know the Lord will allow us to be tools in his hands.....Also I’M IN THE CITY :D (Xin Zhu was fun but it is much different than the city) I love the city, there are Sooooooo many people to talk to and contact.

So that is the biggest update on the week, but some other great things happened...

All the new missionaries came in on Wed, and because my companion is training and Elder Park his trainee had already arrived they wanted in Taipei so Elder Park could be with all the new missionaries. So we took a train to the city and stayed there at the temple annex for 2 days. it was great, I love the block that the chapel and temple sits on, it really does have a different feeling than any other place in the city. It's protecting and covered by a bubble of righteousness from God, Really it has that kind of feeling. But the best part about it was I got to go out with one of the new missionaries and babysit him for the night. It was great, first of all it was the first night of contacting I’ve had in the city for a long time, then also the new missionary was with me. It was like a perfect situation. He was so nervous, he was sweating so bad it was pretty funny. It was so cute though, His Chinese is awful but he was trying so hard. I know the Lord will bless him for that effort that he put forth. I mean he was talking to everyone with me it was great. We saw huge miracles. There was a family of 4 sitting on the temple ground so I went and talked to them. The Husband was like you guys have a basketball court in there. I was like yeah, do you like basketball He was like I love basketball. I was like well have you guys ever been to church they said no. I looked around and Sister Carroll and her "mom" were standing outside, so I was like hey those two sisters can give you guys a tour of it and you can go see, they said OK. So I ran over to Sister Carroll and they took them on a tour. When they were inside the temple tour sisters took over. After I talked to the temple tour sisters they said that the family was amazing, and set up for next week to learn about the church. That was awesome a beautiful family of 4. Then we were out on the street and a man and women with a 2 year old kid in a stroller were a ways away. but I felt like I needed to talk with them, so I ran to catch up, I was huffing and puffing a little when a arrived at their side (which they were a little weirded out by) But we started teaching them. They were actually from Australia, it was cool, we taught them in English. They were already Christian. I shared the apostasy and the new missionary Elder Card shared the restoration (in English, luckily) I asked them if Jesus Christ really restored his church, and you guys came to find out that it's true would you guys be baptized into his church. They said they would. So we set them up and the missionaries will start to help them develop faith and do what they need to do in order to know these things are true. That was another huge miracle that we saw. It was so much fun. Just some of the things that he would said were hilarious.

ex. You can communicate with God through prayer.
Tou guo Dao gao ni keyi gen shen gou tong. But he would say tou guo dao gao ni shen gou tong gen ta
Through Prayer you can with God Communicate. through prayer you god communicate with him

Just things like that, it was a great experience. He is going to be a great missionary. I was talking to a lot of people in English too, because here in Taipei a lot of people speak English. He was like freaking out, THEY SPEAK ENGLISH he said....haha I just started laughing. Then he was like you don't say Zi Jian (goodbye) I was like very little we just say bye- bye, just like in America, he was dumbfounded that you could do that in a country so far away, it was funny.

The next day when all the Trainees were meeting their trainers they were in meetings and stuff so us junior companions had the opportunity to go out and contact. It was great we went out for about 2 hours...It was so much fun, I love contacting in the city!! After we were done I had 20 people that were interested in the gospel, plus two families. It was a great thing to see the Lord's hands in the work. Also to know that without the Lord it is impossible to do these things. It's all through the Lord, and the second we think it's by our own power we will fail. Everything is through the Lord and his blessing regardless what part in life. I love my savior so much. I know he lives and guides this church.

So that was the best part of the week. Also we had a great time this weekend with the ward and getting ready to move. We also had a dying missionary our zone leader Elder Yeh who lives in Gao Xiong. It was full of members feeding us!! It was so good though. I really do love Xin Zhu, it has been a good experience for me and allowed me to grow in ways that I never thought were possible. I learned to love the people more, I learned to not worry about numbers but know that you are giving your all to the Lord, I also learned the most important thing I could have learned according to me. I learned to fear God not Man. Not to worry about what other people think about me. Because what other people think about me is a worldly thing, we need to fear God and do what God would want us to do. Once we start fearing man, we will lower our standards and won't reach the goals that we have or maybe have never set. But once we fear God, our standards will be that of what He personally has set for us, and our goals will be impossible according to man's thoughts but totally possible in the eyes of the Lord and those humans who are following Him and his teachings! Not worrying about what other think about me has changed my mission, but also has changed my life. I loved my companion Elder Choi from Korea, I learned so much from him. It was so great to feel his love and learn from him. My Chinese has improved a lot from him, he really helped me a lot. It was cool to help him learn English too, his English was getting really good. He is a stud, I love him.

I’m excited for this next chapter in my mission...Maybe there is some things that I didn't finish here that I need too. I don't know but I plan on sanctifying myself to the Lord, and trust that He will help me understand what my purpose of being here really is!

It's going to be interesting to white wash, starting with absolutely no new investigators..It's going to be crucial to trust in the Lord to bring us success. But I’m excited for this new opportunity My companion and I have of being in this promised Land.
IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT!!!

Something cool, Wu Guan Chen is going to Duan Chuan, which is for a week he goes with an elder and actually does all the missionary work. He cut his hair short and everything, he looks great. He is a stud, he is going to be a sweet missionary. He is doing a year of college, then Dang Bing (the military that must be done), then he will go on his mission. I love that kid. But we really want to help his mom get baptized, can you guys pray and pray and pray for her that she will be willing to accept the gospel. Lately she has been doing really good, she is reading and praying and doing the things needed to be baptized but just isn't quite there yet. I believe that she'll make it by the end of next month. I’m excited to start working with her.

It's going to be a great transfer, I’m really excited.

I love you guys so much. I know God lives. He lived and we really do communicate with him through prayer. I know this because I’ve talked with him many times. The Holy Ghost has made witness to me that He lives, and that His Son Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer. His atonement is real, it changes lives, it's given me true happiness and peace in my life. I know that as we continue to do what the Lord has asked us to do we will know that we can return to live with him forever, just like Enos says in the closing verses of his life!!! I love this work, this church, and TAIWAN...

Thank you guys so much.

Love your son and brother

Elder Rasmussen

Looks Like I Might Be Moving Again!

This week was a great week!

First of all I can't believe that Steve is home and that I’m past my year mark on my mission, it's crazy time really just flies by, it's a scary thought if you’re not doing anything worthwhile with your time. I’m sitting here watching all these grown men on internet chat lines, sitting in chairs, playing online role playing games, smoking and chewing bing lang (equivalent but a little worse than chewing tobacco, and makes your whole mouth and teeth red)...It really is a sad sight, knowing none of them have a direction in life, if they have families not spending any time with them and not having any goals...Just wasting away time...Time just goes by hour by hour they are playing these games disregarding the outside world playing in their little virtual world..Sooner or later they are going to end up on their deathbed, in front of kids, or at work not knowing where those precious moments went spending time with their family, hanging out with friends, and experiencing the ups and downs of life...It literally makes me hurt inside!! The worst part about it is, and the part that makes me hurt the most is before my mission I did pretty much the same thing with xbox...I’m vowed to myself to never buy an xbox or gaming system ever again, I testify that it ruined my life, lucky for the atonement of Jesus Christ has changed that very life that was controlled by the gaming world just a year ago...I would exhort all kids not to play AT ALL!! There is absolutely no point and I mean none..You get nothing out of it. Get out and experience something new, find out a new talent, play the piano, practice sports make more lasting relationships with those friends that will help you and protect you during your teenage years from that very power none as Satan that makes video games ok in one’s life....It is worthless....You learn nothing, and if it brings happiness it is for a very, very short period of time..Change our lives, get out and help the world, we are on this earth to serve others not game systems!!! I know you can play a little and love to do other things, that’s ok, but these men are men with no other wants and desired they thrive off the virtual world they are living, not thinking about the real world and how to improve...Be careful or the grasps of video games will control your life and won't let you get out easy..!!! You may think that you can just turn it off whenever, well tell yourself that 4 hours later!! It's addicting and abusing to ones soul!!!! STOP!

Sorry for the rage, but man I just don't like that because I see how badly it influenced my life before and I want to help those that have the same problem that I had before...

This week was great, on Wed we went to a youth conference...There were 500 youth there from Taipei, they had just finished 2 days of pulling handcarts and doing a trek and now they were in the mountains in a way beautiful place...It was a beautiful area...We had a stage set up and we did a program for the kids that looked rather tired. But first we ate, it was literally the most food that I’ve ever seen in my entire life, it was amazing. We ate the great food, then we had the program..We (missionaries) started out by singing a song (the one that I had to go higher in my voice then I even thought was possible for a man to go), then we shared the history of Taiwan and missionary work, because right now we have 2 senior missionaries who were apart of the original 8 who set foot in and opened up Taiwan to missionary work..it was a very inspirational message. The theme tonight was to get the youth excited to serve their own missions. Then they played the video of all the local missionaries challenging them to serve missions. They videotaped all of them, and man was it funny...It really allowed us to feel the spirit but stay loose at the same time. It was great. The last song we sang a swaying song...so we missionaries gathered arms and swayed back and forth....It reminded me of camps when I was younger and the feeling of brotherhood. It was a great feeling of peace and comfort to know this was "a camp of zion" 500 + youth and 50 missionaries. We were all there to learn and pay tribute to the one that makes this possible, that is our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. It was a sensational feeling...I can't wait to have my own family, I remember that feeling from a special place in my heart and life, that is being around you guys. I love my family with all my heart. They are my life, I love being with you guys because I always have that feeling of "Zion’s Camp" in a worthy family bound by the power of the Priesthood to live beyond the curse of death together forever. What a wonderful and so real and true feeling we all get to enjoy.

Also We found out that my companion is training the Korean elder, and we also found out because of his visa he had to come a week early. So he is already here. He is cool, his English is cool, but most of the time they speak Chinese because Elder Choi has to teach him Chinese and train him. It's pretty cool though. He is really brave and willing to do the work of the Lord. He shared the spiritual thought as we ate at a members house yesterday and he asked them for referrals which was great. But this means that I’m moving once again...The Lord just loves moving me around. But I’m grateful because in every area and with every companion I learn new things that the Lord knows I need to progress and become the man, father, missionary, servant and disciple that he wants and knows that I can and should become. It will be interesting to see where I will be going.

He family there is a member right now in my ward Chen De Li His family lives in america Utah Spanish Fork, he has to finish his work contract and then will move there to live with them. I told him I wanted my family to have a family dinner with them. He'll be going to utah the end of August for a couple of weeks I told him my family would love to treat him to a family night dinner etc...He'll give me his number and stuff!!!!! I just think that would be a great experience for the kids to know a man that I’m knowing and working with...He is an amazing member, he served a mission back in the day and is a stud of a man. His family is great too, they still aren't used to the English in America but still can speak a little....So if you guys would be willing I’ll give him your information and you guys can call and set that up!!! It would be awesome....Thanks :D

Well Family, short letter for a short week. I’m still loving my mission...I know God Lives, He loves each and everyone of us. He is aware of all of our needs and concerns. He is willing to help us if were willing to ask! I know Jesus Christ is my Savior, I know his atonement is real and takes a lasting, true, and eternal change in those that are willing to accept that specific sacrifice...This work and opportunity is the best choice I’ve ever made, and is lining me up with a vision some of the other most important choices I’ll make (school, work, MARRIAGE, KIDS, etc....) I really do love my life, I also love my family..My loving and caring mom, my dad who is the literal man of my life, my younger brother who towers over me in height but touches my heart every time I’m with him, my other brother who is joined with me in missionary work in another place, my other brother who has love beyond measure and shares that with everyone, the other brother who everyone loves to be around because of the Christ like light that he radiates, and my loving sister who words can't describe.......You guys are my life, I love you guys so much!!!

till next week...I love you!

-Elder Rasmussen

Trials Bring Learning and Growth!

I love you Guys!!!! It looks like you guys had a great week....For me I had one of the hardest but greatest weeks also....For you know if there is no hard there is no great :D Through all trial comes learning and growing and best as in the scriptures it explains we receive trials to remember that very Lord that gave us life.....Through trials my understanding of My Savior Jesus Christ, has grown to a knowledge that has changed my life......Just love life, it is the greatest time ever to be with family and friends and learn and grow.

So as far as my week, last p-day as you probably all know by now we went golfing. It was the most fun thing I've ever done...I got way burnt, and I've never had so much fun shooting a 99 haha....I only lost 1 ball which was good...It was great to get back out there and stand on the course watching the ball fly up and down, I forgot how great the golfing atmosphere is, everyone is friends, I love it. I can't wait to get back up and started on golfing... Rockin' the Heineken Hat, drinking pop, and getting burnt it was the all in all experience, haha.

We had zone conference which was great. We learned about the spirit and the role of it in teaching and missionary work. It was great to get a refresher of the importance of the spirit. Also the zone I'm in right now struggles a little with finding new investigators so they also talked about finding! It was a really good zone conference, I learned a lot from it. But after zone conference came the rough part. We sung for a youth conference that we are going to attend. If anyone knows me they know I don't and can't sing. Then being Naive and not knowing what the tenors and stuff are I picked to go with the tenors. In this particular song they go extremely high, yes higher than I ever thought men were meant to go! So I was singing on the top of my lungs going as high as I literally possibly could go for 2 hours. I've never had such a bad headache...It hurt so much...Plus I didn't get any dinner...I was hurting... I never knew singing could be such a good workout it was a crazy experience. Then we made it home right in time for English class which made it being inside the whole day...being inside for that long makes you tired and isn't very fun but it was good.

This last week I started letting a little Satan temptations getting to me...We had three days of all people rejecting and no one accepting... getting stood up left and right it was rough. I started losing a little power and spirit. I started questioning things a little. Why am I really here? Am I just wasting my time? No one is progressing at all. Our work is just in vain!! I've never felt this way before...We were in our Wps (weekly planning session) and we talked about it, why are we not seeing success. We’re working hard, we’re being obedient we’re trying to do what the Lord would have us do....I was confused what to do...Throughout the wps I had a warm, comforting feeling come over my whole body that changed my whole thought process....You’re doing good it said, keep working hard, have faith and you will see success. So, I was like hey companion we don't need to worry about it, the Lord is going to take care of it...We just have to do our part to the best of our ability... That night as we were tracting we ran into a family the zhan family. They were in the middle of eating, and in Taiwan when they are eating the excuse is always we’re busy or we have no time. But they let us right in...The wife has wanted to have a religion for a long time but hasn't received an answer from God which one is correct and doesn't know what to do. The husband is willing also to learn about Jesus Christ...They are a beautiful family....What a miracle, the Lord took care of the rest just like he told me a couple hours earlier, it was a good knowledge of the Lord's hands in this work. I learned two things from this experience, one that Satan is real and tries to get us down in all things and two Jesus Christ is also real, he leads this Church and lives....He will take care of us if we are willing to just do what he asks us to do....This was a very strong testimony and faith builder. What an experience!!

From that night till now as I type to you guys, the Lord has allowed us to find 7 new investigators....The Lord is preparing his children and helping us accomplish our purpose. I went on exchanges with the zone leaders, I went with Elder Broadhead the one that I went golfing with. We found 3 new investigators on this exchange. The funniest one is we set up a guy (Mr. Wu) that night for the next morning. We woke up the next morning and road our bikes to the church in order to meet with him. He showed up 10 minutes early, we planned on having a 30 minute lesson and had other things we wanted to do...1 hour or so later we finished. haha, we taught 15 minutes and he talked 45 minutes. It was funny....He just wouldn't let us talk...Half way through the lesson Elder Broadhead gave me a little note that said, maybe next time we can put in a movie and maybe then he'll stop talking and be able to feel the spirit. I started laughing inside as I read that note...But he came to church this last week, and he's willing to progress and do the things we ask him to do...So it will be interesting to see what happens with him, and whether or not he's willing to really progress and follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by the proper authority!! It was a great exchange, many, many, miracles happened as they always do on exchanges!

Then on Sunday, we get outside to get on our bikes and head to church...I strap my helmet on, tuck in my pant leg to my sock, unlock my bike, pull it out and get on ready to go, then only to hear a "oh no" I look up and my companion is looking at his bike tire. It is completely flat. So we had to walk!! We ended up being 20 minutes late to church and dripping with sweat, only to put on our suit coats when we got to the church, it was quite the experience. We also had to walk everywhere that day because we had no bike. We ate at a member’s house for the singles family night. That was way fun, turns out the man’s house (Liu Hui Zhang). He is the dad of the guy's wedding we danced at... So we got there and we were eating talking with the singles and they played the wedding stuff. They watched the after party so we got to see us dancing again, oh how embarrassing, then we watched the engagement pictures. It was great! I really can't wait to get married. Such an amazing thing to love and support someone!! To always have an eternal friend and always live in love. To not have any money when you start, to live in a small apartment, and going to school together, nothing sounds better. I can't wait...... But then after we were all done eating, he says the missionaries have prepared a message to share with us...Well we didn't prepare anything and my companion said Elder Rasmussen has prepared a message to share with us....Man oh man what do I do? Suddenly I remember I had just read in the Ensign the stories on the life of President Monson, Elder Erying, and Elder Uchtdorf....Something I noticed in all three of those is how they all treat their wives. So I thought these are all singles trying to find a spouse so I talked about that as my message. How Jesus Christ set an example of how to treat people and allow people to feel your love for them. So I asked the question what can we do to show our love for others? Then we went around the room and everyone answered. It turned out to be a really good spiritual message. Then I bore my testimony of Jesus Christ and Eternal Families. It was a great night!!

This Monday we went to a way sweet place. We have some old investigators and a member out at a very far place by the ocean...so we went out there. We found 2 new investigators out there and something really cool happened. We ate at a little sit down, and it started to rain a little bit. After the rain was gone I instantly looked outside and it was all yellow. The whole sky and surrounding had turned yellow, with a rainbow in the sky. It was a very, very, cool sight that I've never seen before. It was beautiful...

Last night we went out contacting. I saw a kid with way long hair. He was carrying a cello on his back. So I started talking to him, he was 16 years old and his name was Mr. Chen...He lives by himself. I asked him if he believes in God. He said if He did exist there wouldn't be so many bad things on the earth. I then just simply shared the message of the restoration, how we can know that he lives....I asked him how he felt as I shared the restoration with him. He said he felt a feeling that he has never felt before, I asked him to explain that feeling. He was like I can't. So then I helped him understand that is the Holy Ghost telling you this is true. I went on to bare solemn testimony that God lives, because I know him and have a relationship..... I felt the spirit flow through my entire body as I testified of that very God that gave me life...I invited him to say the closing prayer, after the prayer I asked him how he felt, he just smiled and said I feel great. I told him God can see you right now, he listened to your prayer, and this feeling you’re having right now is him telling you He exists...he just kept smiling. Then he committed to start saying his own prayers...We will meet with him on Thursday...It was a very spiritual contact. I'm so grateful for the spirit and the blessing it brings to our lives...I love this work so much....

Also today we get to go to the temple!!!!! :D

Well I love you guys so much...Thank you so much for all the support. I know God lives and Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know this independent of any other man. The Holy Ghost, many times, has made this truth manifest unto me.... This is the testimony and spirit that I carry with me and share with everyone in my path...

Love,

Elder Rasmussen

PS. CNBC-The business channel did a report on our mission and came here. You can go watch that and see a little about our mission. It was pretty interesting to watch. There are many, many, rich successful business owners that served in this mission, that's why they decided to do it. [Here is the link you can copy and paste in your browser: http://classic.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1519591548&play=1]

You Find out Your Real Character Through Trials!

FAMILY.........

Looks like Josh had a blast. Man he looks all grown up and mature it's really cool to see him in all these pictures, I love him so much I miss hanging out with him every day!! He's a stud and he looks great.....Whatever he does just make sure that he keeps reading his scriptures and saying prayers every day, going to church every week, and when accepting a church calling doing it beyond expectations because the Lord's expectations are perfect. But I’m really proud of him....I bet he goes to Belize on his mission!!

But for my week...We've been still finding a lot of people and doing great work and trying really hard. But the people that told us would come to church never ended up coming, but it's alright I’ve been loving church lately. I’ve been really focusing on partaking of the sacrament and renewing the covenant I made when I was baptized at the age of 8. It has been cool also to really picture eating the body of my Savior, and drinking the blood. I know that sounds a little weird but I’ve been really focusing on that aspect of church and have been praying before and preparing to receive a remission of that week’s sins. Every time I partake of the sacrament I feel my sins washed away and have a clean slate. I never had that feeling before my mission and never really focused on the Atonement like I should have. But I guess it's always better late than never. So it’s all going really well.

As far as this week, we taught 2 new investigators that are excellent. They are really truly prepared. One of them is going to America on August 21st and the other is staying in Taiwan. They both committed to reading the scriptures and praying. They said they would get baptized but weren't willing to actually set the date yet. But they have a date in mind and will go home and prayer about it. It was a huge relief because we've been working so hard and not a ton of success. But that was the Lord’s answer to many prayers and much sweat. It has been quite an experience in this area, much different than any other area I’ve served in. It’s a little hard to take it where you think it should go being the junior companion but it's going so great. I love my companion and we are doing so well together. It's fun with him, and I’m learning a lot. I’m so happy with him in this area. But there is a Korean Elder coming on next transfer and my companion is Korean so there is a good chance that he will be training so we'll have to see if I’ll be moving or I’ll stay in this area and he'll move. I’m almost at my year mark; time really is flying by so fast. I don't want it to be over, but I’m enjoying every minute of it. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Well maybe if Josh got called here also, that would be way cool. But down in South America the work is exploding so if he went there that would be sweet also. I met a friend in the MTC and she wrote me the other day saying they average 40 lessons with a member present every week. If they don't have a member present they can't count it as a lesson. It's crazy, she said the area she is in right now has so many golden investigators and they are just baptizing left and right. Taiwan definitely has that kind of potential I’ve already seen it on my mission, but the members here aren't ready for that kind of potential, they aren't doing member work like they need to be doing. They aren't inviting their friends or anything. But it will come sooner or later when they'll have all their friends lining up to hear the gospel and receive of the blessing of the gospel.

This last week was fun, on Tuesday and Wednesday my companion had to go to Taipei for a training meeting, so I had the opportunity to take around two different men on each day to do missionary work. It was cool, many miracles were seen. It was cool to see how the youth in Taiwan are getting prepared to serve missions. One of them wouldn't contact at all and was scared to open his mouth but in teaching he was good and was willing to help me teach and willing to help the investigator feel of the truthfulness of these things. Then the other one loves contacting. He's 18 years old and he loves to talk to everyone just like it should be. We saw lots of miracles together and it’s fun to work with him. I’ve done some splits with him before. His English is also pretty good, his name is Jasper. He just got back from BYU from EFY. So that was fun to lead them and guide them and just go do missionary work. We were going to where we planned on tracting and I got a feeling to go back one more road and start there. So we did, we started tracting and we tracted into a less active member. We were able to sit down with him and strengthen his faith; he's still got a ton of work to do. But then as we left his house a kid on a bike flew by. I yelled at him to stop and come to find out I had contacted him a month back. So we sat down on the stairs and taught him right there on the street. He set up for another time and as he came and we taught him the second time he is really prepared. When we invited him to be baptized he said he'll have to ask his mom, which kind of scared me because most of the time that never works out. But his mom knew he was meeting with us, and his dad read the pamphlet that we gave him and he said that he liked it. So that made me feel a little bit better about him talking to his family. But that was a cool miracle with that young man to witness. Then with Jasper I ran into a guy who 10 years ago ran into missionaries and they gave him a Book of Mormon. He is now about 32 years old, it was cool to see him. I was able to teach him on the street and hopefully we'll be able to find another time to meet with him and help him start coming to church and knowing these things are true. So that was another way cool miracle that I was able to see. The Lord really is letting us find a lot of people, and we are seeing miracles.

Things are going good, it's hard sometimes but I know through the hard times is when you grow the most and learn the most. I love trials. I love them because you find out your real character through trials, and you find out how much your faith in Jesus Christ really is. It's a cool thing to be able to rely on the Savior and be lifted above that which you are able to do. We are working really hard, there are areas we can improve and we're working on it. But I know sooner or later we'll find a way to help this area explode and help the children of the Lord come unto His fold and know He exists.

I know God lives. I know Him, I love him, I serve Him. This is his work and no one else's. The second we think it's anyone else's we'll fail. I love my Savior Jesus Christ; I know that through the Atoning sacrifice of his body and blood I’ve been cleansed of my sins before the mission. I know that I’m clean and that I carry a testimony to the world that is strong and firm just like my patriarchal blessing said I'd have the opportunity to do. I love the Lord for allowing me to receive a personal knowing witness that he lives and love each and every one of us. I love nothing more than to stand in front of people and tell them I know that God lives, and I know that this is his gospel. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives; it's already changed mine and continues to do so day by day. I can't wait to come home and be with my family and again, but know that right now my duty and opportunity is here in Taiwan. My whole heart, might, mind and strength are here!! I love you guys with all my heart. I hope you guys know that. I also love this country, the people, (not the food completely...yet) and everything about it. I’m so grateful for the Lord allowing me to serve Him and allowing me to be a part of many of his miracles. This work is true, we are all involved. We told Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when we were baptized that we would care for those around us and share the gospel with our friends. We need to start doing it, happiness that we've never felt before is awaiting us. Continue to read Preach My Gospel. Read it every day; study it on your own to. Live by the principles, know it so when a Buddhist, another Christian, or a non believer asks you about our church you can confidently through the spirit tell them exactly what a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes, exactly what the teaching of Jesus Christ really are, and exactly what we need to return to live with him again. It’s all in the book. But once it's becomes our life we won’t need to use the book anymore because people will see the book in work by our actions. This gospel is so true, I love my life!!!!!

I love you so much family, thank you so much for all the support and love that you show me. I’m so glad that you guys are my family members I love being around you guys. You guys give me a good feeling and allow me to become the best I can become, and you guys provide me an atmosphere to grow into what the Lord wants me to become. Thank you for that...

Love your son and Older Brother,

Elder Rasmussen

A Talk I Wrote on Charity...

Charity in the Bible dictionary says charity: The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection, the pure love of Christ. Do I have that kind of love? Right now I would say probably not, but through the Lord I've been developing that kind of love, and I know we all can!! To rephrase it's not actually a we can thing, it's a we absolutely must thing. We must develop charity! Charity is the most important attribute for Salvation. The Lord has said "Except they should have charity they were nothing"(2 Nephi 26:30). We could be good at everything, good looking, having a worldly perfect life but without charity "it profiteth me nothing"(1 Cor 13:1-3). I believe there are three areas that need charity the most 1-Family life/marriage 2-Inside the gospel/missionary work 3-at the judgment bar of God. Mostly I want to talk about first two then briefly on the third.

FAMILY LIFE/MARRIAGE

The bond between husband and wife is a very sacred bond Heavenly Father has entrusted us with. We must "carry them (our spouse) all the days of old"(1 cor 63:9). Just as the angel comforts in that scripture we must be our spouses Angel. We must bare their burdens and carry them! The only way to accomplish this is through charity. Through real, pure charity there would be no fights or arguments and with that true love of Christ absolutely no divorces. Because through charity we forgive! through a Charity filled home you would not "(lose) the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them"(Jacob 2:35) But instead "ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and serve one another"(Mosiah 4:15) I watched one morning as I sat and ate my breakfast, two cheerful loving young boys running into the breakfast shop(soon to find out was ran by their parents). The youngest, his smile quickly turned to a sad a frustrated look and out the shop he went. Wondering what was going on I looked around quickly to find a mom with a frustrated angry look on her face. The young boy had forgotten a book from home. A book!! The happy morning smile of a young man was ruined because of a book that was left at home. What’s more important a book or your relationship with your child? I know all parents would say the child, but do we always act in that way? Do we get frustrated and mad when something was left at home, and now we have to turn the car around to get it? (as an example). You have to turn around to get it anyway, why add a couple mad faces and some comments in with it? Brush it off, and enjoy the sacred relationships we have with our family! Then comes the opposite of charity, selfishness, the proud. Me, me, me instead of them, them, them. Satan's onslaught on families is never ending and only getting stronger by the second. By the time you’re done reading this Satan will have destroyed many families....don't let this happen. Fight back!! "And the Lord said that: ye shall defend your families even unto blood shed."(Alma) Fight Back!! Satan is powerful, but the family based on Jesus Christ's teachings puts up a wall that Satan can't match against. Everyday say I love you, everyday forgive for wrong doings, just love, love, love. Not any love but the love of Charity, pure selfless love. Husbands "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life"(Eccl 9:9) Wife's "To love their husbands, and to love their children"(Titus 2:4). Serve, serve, serve! No excuse not to! Do this you'll have a successful marriage regardless how many fiery darts Satan throws at you and your family!!

INSIDE GOSPEL/MISSIONARY WORK

Everything Christ did was out of charity (1 Ne 19:9). Healed the sick, cared for the poor, taught the unlearned and learned. Then the most sacrificial, charitable event in the History of mankind, he died for each and every one of us. The perfect charity reacquired to have nailed driven through your hands and wrists, hung up on a cross, then to say to the father to forgive the people "For they know not what they do", and then humbly giving up the spirit to go back to the one he loves and calls dad. Are we willing to be "they who have endured crosses of the world"(2 Ne 9:18) Are we willing to follow His perfect example and carry our crosses with Him, in hope that we will live with him some day? We may be mocked for doing what is Right....But was Jesus Not mocked? Our friends may betray us for choosing the right...Was Jesus not betrayed by Judas. We may not be accepted of the world for keeping the standards of the church..."He is despised and rejected of men"(Mosiah 14:3) was Jesus even being perfect not spit upon, whipped, yelled at, and cursed? Yes even He was rejected of his own. "Your loyalty is first to the Lord"(missionary handbook) Live not in fear of mans judgment!!! Don't pick what will my "friends" think about me, pick what will my "true friend Jesus Christ" think about me. Think this in every situation. In doing stuff with the world According to a living prophet President Hinckley, "Don't be stupid". Don't follow the ways of the world that doesn't have a bit of charity involved. The world is lustful, covetness, greedy, and all about self gratification, nothing to do with charity. Run, run far away, get out of the world. Live in it but not of it. Stand as far away from the edge as possible. Or don't even go up the mountain to get to the edge in the first place. Fortify yourself, then take your testimony and teach the gospel to a world that is in an ever so desperate state. This world needs the cleansing ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionary work, missionary work, missionary work!! We all need to be involved. This gospel isn't a get baptized, sit back and enjoy the ride gospel!! Do you remember what we promised when we were baptized? "Desirous to...bear one another burdens....mourn with those that mourn....comfort those that stand in need of comfort....to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places" (Mosiah 18:8-10) "yeah let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you"(Alma 34:27) We need to get off the couch and invite people to be baptized. "That none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God....Join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God"(Alma 5:5-6) Join together, help your fellow brothers and sisters know God. Help them who will be forever grateful for that invite you gave them to come to church, Mutual, Family Home Evening, or even meet with the missionaries. Pray and diligently study for the charity to do missionary work. How do we develop the charity? Enos provided a great example of receiving things from God. "After I had prayed and labored will all diligence, the Lord said unto me, I will grant unto these according your desires"(Enos 1:12). It involves prayer and putting it into action. In Preach my Gospel it tells us to prayer fervently to receive this gift, also study, then look for opportunities to serve others. The word gift is a very important key word!! A gift is to be given something. We can't wake up one morning and all of a sudden tell ourselves we have charity. Because it is a gift from God it must be earned, then be given to us as a gift from the hands of God himself. We have to do all we can to develop the true gift of charity, once we do missionary work will become a way of life, Not just a turn 19 or 21 and serve a mission, or serve a couples mission, then 2 years or so your done, sign out, you've done your job, pat yourself on the back. There is more, missionary work can and should be a way of life. I have an Aunt, Aunt Nola, if anyone wants an example of living the missionary life look to her. She's still young in heart, and I'm sure since she was born she was given the charitable heart for a lifetime missionary service. At family home evening (when she could make it) she would tell me stories of her doing missionary work. i didn't realize or understand the importance of the work she was doing. Not until I've personally come out to join her in the service of the Lord. She is an amazing example, that we never retire from missionary work!! President Gordon B. Hinckley Said "That there is a better way to do missionary work then just tracting, which is through the members"(paraphrased). We must put forth out Love and befriend those that don't have the gospel yet. Spread the happiness. This is a happy, absolutely perfect gospel....So share it!!! "and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the highest"(Luke 6:35)

AT THE JUDGEMENT BAR

"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and who so is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him"(Moroni 7:47). Through charity we are accepted into God's kingdom to live with Him. Because of charity we receive eternal life and exaltation, the ability to eternally progress, the ability to live with our families forever, the ability to become Gods. The Question is why wouldn't we want charity? Well we should want it and absolutely need it. Heavenly Father has told us through scriptures we need charity to live with Him. Because we must have charity he is willing to help us develop it. Do all you can, I want to see everyone in the Celestial Kingdom, in a perfect happy state of life!!!

Through studying charity I have grown to realize the true pure love of Christ. To even start to understand the Love of the Savior has for each of us is a big step for me in my life. I've come to love my Savior, Truly love him. His perfect charity led him to accomplish the single thing that has changed my life, that is His Atonement. I know without a single doubt the atonement is real, because I've seen the Healing Power work in my life, as well as in the life's of others. Jesus Christ is our Savior, He already suffered for our sins, now we just need to personally accept that suffering. When we don't repent the savior in essence suffered for no reason (he suffered because of his pure love) because we won’t allow that suffering to change our lives. We need to use the atonement, repent every day, and come unto Christ. He loves us and Lives. I know he lives!! He is the only way be which we will receive exaltation. So let us turn unto Him I so beg and pray for in His Sacred name even Jesus Christ, Amen!