Elder Bednar and Other Authorities Visit Taiwan!

Hey Family!!

Wow what a crazy week this one was. It was such a great week though. We had an Apostle of the Lord in Elder Bednar come to Taiwan (not to the mission, but here to Taiwan) also Elder Jensen (in the presidency of the 70) visit our mission and Elder Watson (also a 70) with Elder Reng (Asia area 70). It was an amazing experience. It opened my eyes to many things and made me have more of a desire to completely sanctify myself and come unto the Lord with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength.

This whole week was just full of planning and making sure that all went well in picking up the General Authority and making sure things all went smoothly. Even though he didn't visit the mission we were still in charge of transportation and helping him have a great stay in this amazing country of Taiwan. My companion and I were the back-up vehicle following them everywhere. It was fun; I forgot how tiring driving really is. I would much rather ride a bike, ha ha. But Wednesday morning we went to the train station to pick up Elder and Sister Jensen, Elder and Sister Watson, and Elder and Sister Reng. Elder Watson drove with us! It was a great experience to drive a 70 around. He was just a regular man, chatting up a storm with us, it was great. I learned many things from him, but above all I think is that even as a servant of the Lord he still is a person, and is not a robot. He is a sanctified soul in the work of the Lord, but still has his personality! It's a great thing to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't make us follow like Jesus Christ robots, but it takes our hearts and our desires (if granted by the free agency of us first) and changes them into fortified, unstoppable, rock solid testimonies that will carry the Church forth until the second coming of the Lord. It is a great feeling to know that Jesus Christ is the head of this Church, and has appointed these great loving, caring, humble men to watch over his vineyard here on earth. Also it's great to know that we have the opportunity to watch over the vineyard with them. What a great calling, that I think many missionaries look over and don't realize which is sad. Because once we realize the mantel and the importance of this calling, then we become unshakable tools in the hands of the Lord. Then the work of the Lord will become what He wants it to become. I had an amazing time learning from his example. It was also amazing, in the train station as I shook the hand of Elder Jensen the spirit rushed through me with the reassurance and testimony that he is called of God and is there to help us know His will. It was a great feeling, and strengthened my testimony of this church's organization and way of doing things. We then arrived at the chapel and had a mission conference with these men. It was amazing. I was called on by Elder Jensen to help him write some things on the board and help out with His presentation, but the best part of it was. Elder Watson had the feeling I guess to invite Elder Reng to share his testimony about a certain topic which I can't think of right now, and to do it in Chinese so the Chinese Elders and Sisters could better get the concept of Elder Jensen's teaching without having to go through the translation. As Elder Reng stood up, Elder Watson looked at me and signaled me to translate into English for Elder Jensen. So I went and stood by Elder Jensen, He put his head down (he is a giant) and closed his eyes, intently listening to my translation. I translated with ease, feeling the spirit rush through me with each word spoken. He humbly looked over and thanked me and continued His teaching. He testified that what they said is true, and that only because they shared those truths with their families were they able to accept the gospel in the end. It just hit me, that whatever the language, whatever the place in the world, the gospel is the same, and the one common denominator is the Holy Ghost. It is a wonderful thing to be able to work under the direction of the Holy Ghost. It was a great experience.

That same night we drove all the way out to the airport and picked up Elder Bednar and his wife. It was a great experience. Just standing in the presence of an apostle of the Lord lights me on fire. I just love them so much. It's such an amazing thing that they are living a sanctified life in the service of the Lord. I really hope I too can live a sanctified life, and always be in the service of the Lord. Because I know the purpose of our lifetime is to prepare ourselves and others for the second coming of the Lord! I know this is why we were all held back to come forth at this period of time. I know that we are foreordained and called of God. I know the temptations and things in today's world are as worse as they have ever been, but I also know that we as children of God have never been stronger. We can overcome anything, and this strength is needed in an ever so degrading world. This world is so filthy I can't even explain it with words. But it's bad, and the only way to peace, happiness, and hope in life is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and this gospel!! The next morning we went and picked up Elder Bednar from the hotel, he once again greeted us and shook our hands. Just looking in his eyes, gives you the feeling of being someone. His eyes are so pure and clean, he is a walking testimony of the Savior. The whole day Saturday we as missionaries weren't able to attend the meetings but we went out and did missionary work waiting for them to be over so we could escort them all back to the hotel for the night. 8pm came and we did just that. The next morning we once again picked them up and brought them for the stake conference which is why they originally came. We were able to attend this one because President wanted us to be there just in case they really needed us (Which I was totally fine of doing). We sat there through the program which was great. Then the last hour of the church was Elder Bednar. But one thing I want to say first is before he got up, his wife got up and talked for a bit. It was amazing to see his wife testify of her husband being a called witness of the Lord. It was with such great conviction and love toward him and her Heavenly Father. She then expressed how she was excited for us in the audience to have the opportunity to listen to this servant of the Lord. She demonstrated complete humility, and love for her husband, while all at the same time knowing and respecting his calling. It was a great thing to see, that which you see so little of in the world nowadays. But I learned a major lesson from Elder Bednar. The difference between an OBJECT and an AGENT! An OBJECT waits to be acted upon (fix me, help me, I want now, tell me) But an AGENT takes it upon his own actions and goes and gets it. He talked about especially in the church, we need to stop being OBJECTS and start being AGENTS. We need to take it upon ourselves to do the work of the Lord in His way! Stop thinking about ourselves, and how is it going to help us, think about others and how this will affect them. It was a very good thing. Something I've started already to kind of use in my life, but this was a great teaching and learning opportunity I had for the future starting now. I know how and why I need to change. I’m excited to change, and can't wait to see how the Lord will use me now even more that I’m changing to become more like Him. I love Him oh so very much, I’m so grateful for all that He has done for me. I know the Lord lives, I know He loves each and every one of us.

Another lesson I learned is, we always think of the Atonement as taking away our burdens. But we as members of the church usually don't understand the reality that the Atonement will strengthen our selves to overcome these burdens which will make them seem light. It's a big difference. Elder Bednar asked us please not to tell God what to do. Ask for the strength to deal with these things, then the Lord will give you the strength to do it. He won't necessarily take away the burden because there is always a lesson that needs to be learned, But he will help bare you up and allow you to come out of this trial with experience, wisdom, and a new found testimony of the reality of the Savior and His Atonement! It was a great view to look at from! I learned so much from revelation through the Holy Ghost. I just love this, my mission!

Well that was the week's highlight. It was a great one. I can't believe how fast time is flying by and how much stuff there still is that I need and want to get done. For some reason the Lord has seen it fit to trial me up and allow me to learn lessons. I sometimes ask myself why at this stage of my mission, why when I want to finish the strongest. But I know the Lord is teaching me self-control, something I've never really had throughout my life. I know what I’m going through right now, is exactly what the Lord wants me to go through! I know it's for my benefit, and I’m grateful for the trials that I’m going through right now. It truly is a blessing to go through trials!! Just have a good attitude and know that it's for your good!

I love this work so much. I’m so happy, I don't want to come home, but I’m excited to see my family! I also love you all so very much. Keep the commandments and learn to love the Lord. Show your love by praying sincerely, reading fervently, and attending church with a purpose. If you do these things, your life will be built on the rock of our Redeemer and you will never fail. I love you all, thank you for all you do!!

-Elder Rasmussen

One more quick thing.

When my companion and I were in the back up vehicle, we were talking with each other as we were heading to the priesthood meeting. The car in front of us has a mission president, two 70's, a president of the 70 and an Apostle of the Lord. It was an amazing honor to be a part of and think of. What a powerful car that was haha!!

The Drive to the Train Station, and a Train Ride.

Dearest family,

Sorry that I didn't write you all early this week. But we have been so so so very busy this whole week helping out the president so we had to move our preparation day to now, being Saturday. It has been a crazy transfer so far, I'm so tired and loving it. Like I've said before I just don't understand how my body can still move and get things done, I feel like my body should break down and stop anytime, but it just doesn't. I know the Lord is behind me helping me accomplish what He has called me to do. We've spent the last two weeks traveling the island to the most eastern parts of the mission to the most western parts of the mission. It's been really fun to be involved in interviews, because we get to know personally all of the missionaries and better understand their needs and how we can help them! But this week moving our preparation day to Saturday was hard. Because we have so many meetings, interviews, trainings, we haven't been able to stop for any second of any day. It's been peddle to the metal for 2 weeks straight, and not having that mid week Monday preparation day brake was a tough one. It was just driving myself into the ground, going home sleeping for all the time I could get, waking up praying for the strength to continue forward and driving myself into the ground again all day. It's been such an amazing learning experience. If I didn't learn how to stick to anything before my mission, I sure am learning that right now. Also all the little details that need to get taken care of, just all the things that need to be set up, things printed off for the missionaries, and things ready down to the littlest thing(turn air conditioning on before meeting starts) all needs to be perfect for the meeting to go accordingly. It's been somewhat stressful in some cases, but I love working under pressure, and counting on the Lord while doing so. I've literally never had so much fun. As I look at the transfer the schedule just keeps getting more and more busy, so I'm just preparing for the best. Especially this weekend, we have Elder Bednar coming to visit a stake in this mission, and Elder Jensen coming to visit our mission. We are in charge of transportation; we have been meeting with President Grimley a lot and getting all things straightened out. So we are going to execute it accordingly. I'm excited, I've been driving quite a bit, which is really different and weird in Taipei. There is a whole new meaning to drivers safety and your blindside. Because here in the city there are a million scooters that just zoom by you and don't really worry about things around them. So if you want to make a turn or anything, if you don't see a scooter on you right side or left side and turn into him/her then that is not a very fun situation. It is really dangerous. But it's so much fun. The craziest is as your driving down a one way road there are parked cars on the right side a wall of a building on the left. You be driving straight down this alley in your lane and there will be scooters passing by you in the narrowest of margins. If you scoot your car by inches then you will hit the car or scooter or wall. So you have to really pay attention and make sure you are driving straight. I have a story about driving. On last Thursday we were taking an elder to the train station to go home (he got called into the Taiwanese army, so he had to leave a transfer early) and the president asked if we could do so. I said yeah no problem; he asked me if I knew how to get there. I told him yes because it was in my last area. Well the train station is only about an 10 minute bike ride, let alone driving a car. Well 40 minutes later we still haven't arrived, and now being later in the day we only had 10 minutes before his train home left and he couldn't miss it. Well during all of this a crucial decision was made quickly by the driver (me) that could have stopped him from making it there and which in the long run got him there right in the neck of time. We took the wrong turn, so it led us into the inner city where the roads are crazy. I was driving straight and crossed the intersection thinking I was going toward the train station. As I focused in I found out something was very wrong. There was a bus and 2 other cars coming straight for me. I was so confused and caught up in the moment. Then I panicked, I looked at the road and soon to find out, that the 2 way road I was originally driving on all of a sudden switched to a one way road, going the other direction. Right in the nick of time, I flipped the car around and made the turn into the other road. It was so intense, then we made it to the train station. But we were on the other side of the road which you can’t pull a U-turn on. Well we were out of time, so we quickly pulled over to the side of the road, and said "well Elder Chen, We love you, but..........YOU GOTTA RUN, go go go!" ha ha, he got out of the car and sprinted over the walking over pass and into the train station. with minutes to spare we were praying we wouldn't get the missed the train phone call! Well the phone call didn't come, and we safely but slowly made it back to the mission home, parked the car and gasped with happiness and joy that we had finally made it. what a ride, and what an experience! I'll tell you what if driving in Taiwan is a lot more dangerous then riding a bike or maybe I'm just used to riding a bike. But wowzer, it's quit the drive!

I want to share another experience that happened the other day at the train station as we headed down to Xin Zhu for the specialized training meeting. Once again running out of time we took a taxi to the train station. We looked at our ticket and ran down to the ticket booth, directed to a train platform we hurriedly walked down the stairs to the platform in anticipation for the train to come. Each plat form has two sides. I was standing on the left side thinking that was our train. While doing so there was a train being boarded on the right side. I was standing there and a mom with a little boy in her arms passed by my face. I stopped her and told her that I have a message she needs to listen to about families. She said OK, which made me really excited. I started, then she stopped me, But I need to get on my train. My heart stopped and I was like oh man, well can you at least read this tract that I give you about families, she said yes. She boarded the train, I looked at my ticket, and asked the person next to me which train that this was. He pointed to the train behind us that was being boarded. My companion was in the middle of a contact, but knowing that the train would be leaving soon, I quickly yelled for him to get on the train, we grabbed our stuff and safely made it just in time before the train was ready to head off. As we walked to our seats, I heard somewhat of a scuffle up ahead. There was the mom sitting in her chair with her son in her arms and another lady standing in the isle talking to her. They were both in the process of looking at their tickets. The lady in the isle said "My tickets says this is my seat, and I just barely bought this ticket" then the mom said "really that's weird I bought mine a couple of days ago and its the same seat". The mom then looked down at her ticket and with a change of expression on her face, looked up and said oh man this tickets is for a different day. I bought the wrong ticket. She got up to move. (and on trains if you don't have a seat reserved you have to stand in the isle for the ride we were going to Xin Zhu which was a hour and half ride) As the mom got up I passed by the isle, instantly without hesitation or thought I took my ticket and handed it to the mom, saying "here you can take my seat" She was a little hesitant about it, but after I pretty much begged her she finally was willing to take the ticket and sat down in my seat. I walked to the back of that specific booth and stood, where I expected to spend the hour and a half ride down to Xin Zhu, but knowing that the mom who need my seat more than me would have a better ride, which was a good feeling to me. My companion (not knowing I had already given her a tract earlier) walked by her, and she looked at him and said "OK you can start" He was astonished and shocked "start what"? She said, "You can share the gospel with me, I have an interest in your church" He was dumbfounded, and then the mom kept asking my companion about me, so finally my companion just looked toward the back at me and said Elder Rasmussen, Come here! so I walked toward her and squatted down in the isle and started being asked questions after questions about our church, and what would happen with her and Buddhism if she was baptized. After a good talk, the seat next to her got off the train so she invited me to sit next to her, I was more than willing..............Let me take a funny detour here for a second. As I was talking with her I learned a brand new word that I thought I would never learn on my mission. We were talking and her kid, who loved me and I loved him, we spent the first 10 minutes just smiling at each other as he help onto my finger. I just love kids. But anyway the little boy started getting a little rowdy and wouldn't really settle down. So the mom just looked at me and said is it OK ..............? I just looked at her and said OK (I didn't understand the one word she used because I've never had any reason to study it........the word is WeiNai). I said yes, then as I watched her actions It clicked at I knew what the word meant. She just whipped out natural feeding for babies, and stated breast feeding her kid. I was just like well OK then, so I just acted like she did, like nothing was going on. I just continued to talk to her, and she was amazing. She was a prepared soul. I invited her to be baptized and she said yes. I set a date with her, and she was very willing to work toward this date to be baptized into the true church of God. It was a very very spiritual experience. (all while she was breastfeeding) ha ha the things that you see on your mission. (my favorite though is you'll be driving down the road and you'll see a mom holding up her 3 or 4 year old kid with no clothes on over the side of the road grate, pooping into it. It is a funny site I will never ever forget. It was just in the middle of traffic, oh was that funny. Or when the mom just tells the boy to pee in the plant in the middle of the park, the kid just whips down his clothes and goes to work. ha ha it's great. I love Taiwan.) But yeah it was an amazing lesson to me that people are more willing to listen if you first serve them and help them feel of your love for them. In PMG there is a section in chapter 9 called going about doing good. That is what we did this day, and it payed off with a very prepared soul waiting for the gospel.

I was on exchanges in Xin Zhu with the zone leaders and we had a very special experience. I was with one of the Elders, we had a lesson set up and they have been meeting with this man for many months and he is just not willing to be baptized. He is a Filipino, and he is catholic. The zone leaders couldn't figure out why he would get baptized. So we met with him and just asked a few questions and listened, waited for the spirit to tell us how to respond. How we could help this man come unto Christ. He says he believes Joseph Smith and all but just not willing to be baptized. We just asked a few more questions and used scriptures to teach him truth. The spirit was so penetrating and so strong that something happened next that awed me. It took him a minute to say it, and he held himself back for a few minutes, just like he has done for 24 years. He's had a secret and something he's been fighting for 24 years, no not even his parents know about it, no one does. He is gay. He told us, and this was the first time he's ever ever come out. After 24 years, he came out in a room with two 20 years old men. It was amazing, but the most amazing part about it is, he knows it’s not right, and has never acted upon that feeling. I was full of gratitude when he said that. He said he really wants to act upon it, but knows it's against God so he never has. But then he said that He was nervous to be baptized because he was scared if he was baptized, and got married like he wants to do and have kids that later down the road he would come out and start not loving his family. We read some scriptures and promised his that if he was baptized this feeling of gayness would be relieved and he would be able to love a woman, get married, and have kids. He was still a little apprehensive, but felt the spirit, knew he needed to be baptized, and was once again willing to work toward it. What an amazing experience, the spirit allowed a Son of God to come get help. I just love helping people through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's so much fun to see people change. You just see them living in a wreck. Like his man said, I can be happy. I just looked at him and told Him you are not happy. You have been fighting something this for 24 years and I know you don't want to do it. You aren't happy, he just looked at me and said yeah I know. We told him that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ he could completely overcome this and he wouldn't be bothered by it anymore! I'm truly grateful for the promises we can give because of the reality of the Atonement of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We just carry a message that can be promised and upheld to anyone. I love this so much.

Things are just going so good. I just love this all so much. It's getting harder and harder, but better and better as time goes on. I'm so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how it has shaped and changed my life. I'm also so grateful for the opportunity I have to testify of all these things on an everyday basis. Its sad that most of my time know is in training and helping the mission, so I don't get a ton of time to just do missionary work. But it is nice knowing that the preparation and training is helping other missionaries be effective tools and instruments in the hands of the Lord. I love this gospel. I know it's true. It is my life, I will continue to live it and magnify every calling I receive the rest of my life. I'm so grateful for all I've received and the opportunity I have to serve the Lord.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. I love you all oh so very much. You are all so amazing, and I'm not being trunky by saying this. But I can't wait to see you all!!

Love,

Elder Rasmussen

PS: MOM I'M SICK TO A LITTLE, BUT GET YOURSELF BETTER BECAUSE THE LORD NEEDS YOU! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOM, YOU ARE THE BOMB!!! same as all the rest of you too!!

This is a Gospel of Miracles!

MOM.......HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

I loved talking to you all yesterday, thank you all for being so amazing. I just love you all so very much!

Well for the week, it was a crazy tired week. I had a bunch of times that I thought I just couldn't move anymore, my body just wasn't fit for the job. But every time this happened the Lord picked me up and allowed me to move forward it was an amazing feeling. I don't know how I made it through the week but I did. It was one of the greatest weeks of my mission, also by far the most tired.

This Wednesday we had a Zone Leader Council so we spent the day on Tuesday preparing for that meeting. The topic we were preparing for was finding. But not just finding, finding with LOVE!! So probably a record in the world we spent 16 hours in the office preparing the video and the information for the meeting. It was worth the preparation though, the meeting went great. The spirit was strong and we were all edified by the spirit. We all learned more how to love the people, and how love will allow us to accomplish our commission as servants of the Lord. I was grateful I had the opportunity to learn about this. Love is my favorite topic, and it was great to study up on it to teach it to the other leaders in the mission. It is a very special topic to me. I've learned over the time on my mission what love truly is. I've learned from the Taiwanese people, I love these people so very much. Just seeing them happy is my soul’s deepest desire. Also I've learned love from the power of the Atonement of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I've felt that love of the savior flow through me, I've felt the power of the sacrament sweep away my tears and my hardships. I know Jesus is the Christ, and because God loves us he sent His Son here to atone for our sins and allow us to accomplish the reason we came down to earth in the first place, to gain a body and prepare ourselves to live with Him again. I cannot wait to live with Him again, also in the presence of my loving family members. How great this gospel is, it truly is the one and only true way to happiness.

The movie we made for the meeting went really good, and it was very inspiring. The spirit truly joined us in that meeting.

We also have received my international driver’s license, so I can drive now.....which is a scary thought. But Wednesday night I had the opportunity to drive to the airport and pick up the new missionaries. It was so much fun. The local missionaries go to the Philippines MTC for 3 weeks then come to the mission field. Because they were coming from a place a lot closer then America they arrived at 7pm. So we left at 6pm to pick them up at the airport. They flew in we waited and waited and waited at the gate. Finally they arrived. Now was the hard part. We had to wait in the airport with these missionaries for 3 hours until the America missionaries would come and the president then would arrive so we could take them back to our mission. It was a really cool thing, as we stood at the gate waiting for the missionaries to show up I had a renewal of the new missionary feeling. The blood all throughout my body started to boil and get fired up. I was so excited to see these new missionaries, and I soon found out that they were just excited to see us. As they walked out of the terminal they saw us as their already happy face just light up so much more. They were a great group of local missionaries. Three of them were coming to the Taipei mission and the other 2 were going to the Tai Zhong mission. They were so good though. They just loved seeing us and we had a great time in the airport together. We took them and got a bight to eat. Then we played some games waiting for the other missionaries. My companions would give them a situation, for example. You are on the road and you see a 16 year old smoking. Then I would look in my Book of Mormon, pick out a character, and tell them they have to find a scripture that has that character in it, and then use that scripture to teach this situation. It was so much fun, they loved it, and they were doing so well too. They just looked us in the eyes, used the scripture to help us overcome the situations problem, and testified of its truths. It was an amazing thing to see. I then learned the power of local missionaries. They really are so vital and important to the growth of the church. They teach so powerfully, and they know the environment and people. They can better connect with the people and can teach with the native tongue. It was a great experience. Time was almost up, and the new American missionaries were about to arrive. So I took all the missionaries and we waited for them too. Then I had an idea that as the young white missionaries came we could invite them to be baptized using standard invite. "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority of God?" (Obviously in Chinese). The new local missionaries were way excited to invite the new missionaries. So we saw them come out, we all went and lined up so they couldn't get by us, they stopped about 10 feet in front of us with drooping eyes after a grueling 16 hour plane ride, but with smiles of joy still painted on their faces. We invited them in Chinese to be baptized, they happily said "WILLING". We all had a good laugh and then split the Tai Zhong missionaries and the Tai Bei missionaries. We all went our own ways and took the missionaries back to the mission home where they would be staying for the next two days during orientation. We got them back and checked into the temple patron housing. By this time it was about 11 pm. They were dead tired, not much was said they just got checked in and right to bed. We told them we would meet them tomorrow morning at 6:30 to go running. We took them to the Memorial hall down the road a ways. It was really good little run we took them on; they loved the view and the building. Their first real look at Taiwan. We took them to breakfast, having their first Taiwanese breakfast sandwich. It was really good. Then we took them back to get ready for the long day ahead of them.

The rest of the day was orientation. We just taught them about the mission ways and the vision the mission has. We just pumped them up for the work. There is one elder that for some reason I just had an immediate connection too. I later found out that He actually went to Davis High School for a year and half. But for some reason or another He was worried about interrupting people as they talked to them on the roads, and just being rude. He was a little worried about contacting people and His Chinese wasn’t the best in the world. But for some reason, I saw a potential in Him, I saw what he could become. So I tried to focus on Him a little more and loosen Him up. For example we were walking together and were ready to cross the road. I saw a police officer coming down the road on a scooter; I yelled and flagged Him down. He stopped, and I contacted him and shared the gospel with Him. After the cop rode off, this elder looked at me and said “was that a police man”? I told Him it was, he was just like “can you do that”? My response was, He Elder we are in Taiwan you can do almost anything! (Said in a sharing gospel way, saying that nothing will stop the work.) I think that he was a little more excited and less worried. But the whole time during orientation He was just worrying and not thinking He could do it. So as we went to exchange money so they could buy their bikes. I saw a man walking down the road; I felt an impression to talk to Him. Without even thinking about I stuck out my arm and grabbed the arm of the Elder (as he was walking with the other group of Elders), I went to contact this man wearing ear phones. I said hello but this man rejected me. I just prayed in my heart please give this young new missionary a chance to see a miracle. So I kept talking to this man, He kept rejecting me. But I finally said, just listen I know you will love this message. He just said, Ok. So he took out his ear phones and listened, I literally dragged the new missionary to my side and said to him. “Ask him if he believes in God”! He asked him in his broken Chinese, but the man replied, no I don’t really know. Then I took over and taught him for about 3 minutes. Said we would like to meet with him and share with Him more about this God and His love for you. He said OK. I set up a time and then turned to the new missionary, I told him “Bear you testimony about God to Him”. The missionary looked the man in the eyes and used the best Chinese He could muster up and represented Jesus Christ right then and there on that street corner. He bore simple and pure testimony of God and His love for Him. It was an amazing spirit. The spirit filled all three of us. I then looked to the man and told him that I know what my companion said was true. The man replied “I know.” I just looked at him and said “you do?” He said you could feel it when he said it, you just could know it’s true. So we said good bye and said see you next week. I looked at the missionary, now his expressions had changes. He was smiling ear to ear, and said “this is awesome.” I told him what the man had said during the whole time, and he couldn’t stop smiling. I was excited too, that the Lord was so merciful that He allowed a prepared soul to walk in our path so this new missionary could receive this kind of experience and feel of the power of the work. I loved it, what a spiritual experience. This missionary went from a scared hesitant state into an excited happy state in an instant. The rest of the day he was just beaming. He looked at me and said “Why can’t you just be my trainer, then it would all be fine” That was a real comfort to me that I’ve been a help to him. Well soon to find out, I knew who his trainer would be. My son, yup Elder Workman is training Him. I was so excited, he is going to get my son, no wonder I had such a strong connection to him, because my missionary blood was going to train him. I’m way excited for them; they are going to do great wonders together in the hands of the Lord.

The next day all of the trainers arrived and we had the opportunity to meet with them and teach them about how to be better trainers and the things they were expected to do. After we were done we had all of them line up against the way and start singing called to serve (while the waiting to be trained missionaries were lined up outside the door awaiting to come it) This is my favorite scene, to see the new missionaries walking in, in anticipation of meeting whom they will be with for the first of their missions and the trainers standing there and singing waiting for their trainees to walk in also in anticipation of whom their companion will be. After the young missionaries walked in they lined up across the room of the trainers. President Grimley then calls out one new missionary, the missionary then steps out into the middle of the room (no man’s land) and waits to hear where he’s going followed by his trainer. It’s a really fun experience, the spirit actually is really strong and it’s fun to see the smiles and reactions as they are assigned to their trainers. We all went up and ate lunch at presidents house and sent them all off to their areas to start their missions. It was great to be a part of.

This weekend we also saw a huge miracle. Because the week was so busy we hadn’t had a lot of time to contact and find new investigators for our area. It was Sunday and we still didn’t have any new investigators. We set a goal to find five on Sunday. We got to Sunday night with 1 new investigator, a current investigator we wanted to go and visit, and 25 minutes to make it back in time for a meeting with president. Well we went out and started towards our investigators home, on the way we ran into a mom with 2 girls. They were walking to the part, they were already Christian, I told them that we would hope to sit with them and teach them about our about Jesus Christ. They sat down and right then and there on the corner street we taught a lesson with a mom and her two daughters. It was really cute, we were like we are going to say a prayer ok, and the daughters, especially the younger daughter, was like ok with a smile on her face. We prayed and taught them about the gospel being restored and the importance of the authority of God in being baptized. After we taught them we invited the mom to be baptized, she was a little hesitant. Then I turned to the younger sister asking her “If you feel these things are true, will you be baptized” She said yes, and then I asked the older sister, she also said yes. Then finally I looked at the mom and she said yes. It was the most wonderful thing in the world a mom and two daughters all willing to set baptismal dates. It was great. We were running out of time now, so we started to jog to the current investigators home Sister Song. Because it was mother’s day, and she had just given birth to twins we thought we’d give her a copy of the Family: Proclamation to the World and wish her a happy Mother’s Day. We made it there and she was very happy that we dropped by. But now we only had 8 minutes and were pretty far away from the office. We sprinted the whole way; we made it with 2 minutes to spare and our bodies full of sweat. It was very uncomfortable, but we were able to make it on time to meet with president also. It was a great night!! Full of miracles.

Well Family, I love this gospel. I’m having so much fun here in Taiwan. I just love the people and seeing them happy. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my rock in which I’m built. I know that through and in Him I can do all things. I have no doubt about a life built on the rock of the redeemer. As long as we follow the commandments we will be blessed and filled with the power of the Holy Ghost and be able to do all things. I love this work; I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Thank you all for supporting me. I keep you in my prayers!!

Love,

Elder Rasmussen

Elder Duff whom I was in the MTC with went home this morning because of the military starting school early. I loved him, and will miss him. He's done a great work here in Taiwan.