We have the Answers!

Family!!

Time just keeps flying by! It seems like yesterday that I last emailed all of you. But I hope and pray that all is still going well and you’re all moving right along and doing what the Lord would have each of you do.

This last week was an amazing week. The Lord is really blessing me this last transfer. Even though we only had 1 hour in our own area, I saw people’s lives change, missionaries happy, and the Spirit manifest in many different situations; it was a very spiritually filled week. I’m so happy! I can't even express the amount of joy and love I have been able to feel here on my mission in Taiwan. I love this country, especially the people. They are so cute; they make me so happy, and allow me to feel just like home. These people are amazing.....

Well this week I’d like to share a couple of amazing experiences that I was able to be a part of.

Monday night we went on exchanges with Elder Visser and Elder Seibert just two hardworking, sanctified missionaries. It was fun! I went with Elder Visser my companion with Elder Seibert. I don't know if you remember but I was Elder Visser's District Leader when He first came on island, and I was his Zone Leader. So it was great to be exchanges with him again. We share a special bond and really look up to each other. We said a prayer to start the exchange, and started talking to everyone. It was amazing, we didn't see a ton of success at the first, but then as I was riding down the side of the road, after just getting rejected, a scooter pulled up and stopped me. It was a woman, the first words that came out of her mouth were, "Hey is there a church around here" with startled eyes, I just smiled and said of course! I told her we represent the church that she needs to come to. I then invited her to sit down with us, and she was more than willing.

As we were sitting down she told us "I have some serious questions I've been thinking about for a long time I have to ask you two." She then asked me, "How old are you?" I told her "20 years old." She then stated, "Too young to answer the questions I have, you haven't had any life experience yet." Without even thinking about it these words blurted out of my mouth "We have all the answers!" Then I said because (as I held up the Book of Mormon) of this book. She then with a surprised look on her face started to go off. I don't know what the purpose of my life is, why I’m here. Why I need to go through life, why this, why that. I just listened in joy, with the knowledge that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would answer every one of these questions.

After she finished, I bore simple but power testimony, "although I’m only 20 years old, I know why I’m here, What I’m supposed to do, and How to do it!" She said "OK tell me" I then told her that I wouldn't tell her but said "If I just tell you it has no purpose, you have to go found out on your own, by reading the Book of Mormon." She looked at the book, and we gave her a copy. We invited her to study it and find out for herself, she said "I absolutely will". We then proceeded into teaching her about baptism and the importance of it. We invited her, once God answers your prayer and tells you that these things are true, through the power of the Holy Ghost, Will you be baptized by someone holding the priesthood Authority of God? She said, YES I will. If his will help me find out the questions I've been pondering my whole life. I was just so filled with the spirit, the Lord lead us as we portrayed the message of this wonderful Gospel. I’m so grateful for the Spirit and the guidance it gives us in all aspects of life. She is a prepared soul, thirsting for the Gospel, and she found it!! Heavenly Father really does love all of His children, and prepares a way to overcome anything and everything that we go through in life. I love Heavenly Father, I’m grateful for the relationship I have with Him!!

This week we also had, Zone Leader Council, which went absolutely amazing. This month we are focusing on Unity. Being unified in purpose, or being ONE! the spirit joined that meeting, and we all better understood the meaning and importance of unity. It's been fun studying up on this topic, and personally better understanding so that I may teach it. I've learned and gained a testimony of the importance of UNITY! It is important in anything that will become successful. Sports teams, businesses, families, but most important, CHURCH! We must be unified with God, Be ONE, or we have no way of returning to his presence. We are focusing on how to become one, which is to follow the invites that are given out in each meeting. If all of our missionaries accomplish the invite, the mission will be one! We are also focusing on the priesthood line of authority, in understanding that if we do what our priesthood leaders invite us to do, as long as it is in line with the gospel, then we will blessed for doing so. But when we think our way may be better, that is when the fruits of apostasy start. Studying this, has enlightened me, and helped me better understand the importance of the organization in the kingdom of God. I’m so grateful I have to work around president, train missionaries, and learn. I have learned so much valuable and precious things here in the office. I’m so grateful for the Lord allowing me this amazing opportunity. I’m going to miss this work very much. But I know I was supposed to serve a mission, I know that I've learned what I needed to learn, in order to serve the Lord the rest of my life, and continue in righteousness in all I do. Being an example of the believer! I love life! It's an amazing time to learn and grow!

Also this last week I had the opportunity to baptize a young 18 year old women that I found on the street, and passed over to the temple sisters. It was a great baptismal service. She is a prepared soul, and was very happy as she came up out of the water. I just love seeing people covenanting with God, and showing their faith in Him. It is a beautiful sight! What an amazing experience. Even though our area may not be exploding with investigators, I just love getting calls like..."this person you contacted while on exchanges is getting baptized". Nothing sounds more beautiful to my ears then that. I’m grateful for this work.

Well family, I love you all, and I’m so grateful to call you my family! Keep working hard and doing all you can to serve the Lord in all things. Continue to develop your testimonies of the Lord, and this Gospel. Because it is true, I know it!

Love-
Elder Rasmussen

Thank you family! See you in 5 weeks!

Hey Family,

Looks like things are going great! You’re all healthy and well, that is good and a blessing. Just keep remembering who we are, as children of God, and the potential that we have to become, but is so often blocked and obscured by the lures of Satan. Always remember, God has a plan for each and every one of you, and it won't be stopped by Satan or anyone else, unless we allow them to.

Well the first week of my last transfer was crazy full with miracles left and right. I don't know if it's because the Lord is just blessing me in my last transfer or not, but it was so much fun. Even though we don't have a lot of time to really think about and take complete care of the people in our area, which I was sad about at first because it's hard to help souls be baptized then prepare for the temple as an assistant, but I keep getting phone calls and seeing investigators that I contacted getting baptized. There has been 2 or 3 in the past week, and one that the temple sisters was teaching Sister Wang, she passed her interview yesterday, and asked if I could baptize her. My joy is full....I love this work, and it just keeps moving right along nothing wavering and not leaning this or that way, it is one eternal, straight, rolling forward work, that I have the opportunity to be a part of!

I was on exchanges last week with the North Zone Leaders. It was pouring rain because the outskirts of a Typhoon influenced the weather in Taiwan. We were contacting and I saw a women. I told her who I was, and she excitingly stated “I’m a Christian also”. I told her that we are different and I wanted to sit down with her to teach her about it. She said OK. I got to know her; she had only been baptized for a year and a half. She had a complete hope and desire to better know Christ and follow His teaching. She was amazing. I asked her if we could say a prayer together. She obviously said OK! I then proceeded to tell her, but the way we prayer may be quite different then the way you pray in your church. “Oh really?” she stated. I said “We start by saying Heavenly Father, and then close in the name of Jesus Christ” She then said “yeah that's how we do it also” I asked her “but you pray to Christ right?” “Yes, we do” she replied. I then asked her, “Why then do you say Heavenly Father?” “Aren't they the same,” she asked? I then asked her, “When Jesus Christ prayed while he was on the earth, to whom did He pray to?” She stated, “The Father.” I said “OK if he prayed unto the Father, shouldn't we? Also if they were the same, you’re saying that Jesus Christ was praying to Himself who was in Heaven at the same time He was on the earth?” She had a confused look on her face, and was like oh yeah I guess you’re right. Then she asked me, “But aren't God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost one?” I asked her if she remembered when Jesus Christ was baptized. She replied with the knowledge of that experience. I asked her to teach me what happened. She simply stated a few things about it, then I added “When Christ was baptized, He was standing in the water, the dove symbolized the presence of the Holy Ghost, and the Father spoke from Heaven! Here are 3 different things, in different places at the same time, do you think they are one?” She just thought for a minute then said....”Yeah you’re right, they aren't, so from now on when I pray I need to pray unto the Father right?” That question was music to my ears. She was getting it, and the spirit was testifying to her that these things are true. Then I asked her if she believes that God loves us, she obviously said yes. Then I asked her how we learn the words of God, she said through prophets. So then I told her that a way God shows his love for us is by giving us prophets. She agreed. Then I asked her, “Do you think that God loves the people in the Bible more than he does us?” She replied “No, the same probably.” Then I asked, “Then why would God give us prophets then, and not now?” She said, “I don't know, He probably would give them now.” I asked her, “Where is he?” She didn't know, then I proceeded to share the pattern of apostasy, and the forming of many Christian churches that profess to know the truth but lack the very simple but crucial understanding of whom God is! I shared the simple but powerful and profound message of the restoration, I told her because of this we have the Book of Mormon and a living prophet. After she heard all this she looked at me and said “Wow, your church is so much cooler than mine!” I couldn't help but laugh a little, then I told her, “It's not about which one is cooler, we won’t compare with other churches, we are just sharing the truth that is taught in the Bible, and now in the Book of Mormon.” She then asked me, “OK where is your church? I want to go tomorrow and check it out.” I told her, and set up a time for her to meet the missionaries that take care of her area. I then asked her, “When you know these things are true will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper Priesthood Authority of God”? She thought for a minute, “This means that I’m going to have to give up on my church right now, and be baptized into this church.” I boldly but lovingly said “Yes”! She said, “If I receive an answer I will absolutely be baptized into this church.” Music to my ears once again, this whole time during this contact the symphony of the spirit was playing throughout my whole body, my hairs on my arms where standing up, and the spirit of the Lord joined us that day, sitting outside of the MRT station. I asked her if she would be willing to say a closing prayer for us. She accepted. She prayed the correct way; I asked her how she felt she said, “Different, I really feel something.” I explained the spirit to her. She said, “Now I know how to really communicate with God.” It was a wonderful miracle to be a part of. It was a soul hungering for truth and she found it. I got a call yesterday, and it was her. She was at the church. This made me so happy, she was being an AGENT finding out for herself the truthfulness of these things. I just love the Holy Ghost, and just love this work so very much. I’m so happy, and I know that this work is moving forward not being stopped by anything. It's up to us to choose whether or not to jump on and help out, or get ran over by the rolling power of the Gospel! I love this work, and the teaching of Christ!! What an amazing miracle, brought to past by the hand of the Lord!

On the same exchanges that night we were walking home. We were walking under a bridge and I saw a group of four guys smoking. The very first thought I had was look at these punks. We need to tell them what’s right, and that smoking is not good for the body. So we walked up to them, and I asked them, “Why do you all smoke?” They just kind of looked at me with the “whose this guy” look on their faces. I asked them their age and they all said about 20. So I thought of the way I started that contact, which wasn't the best. So I just lightened up the mood a bit, and just started to be their friend. They were really cool. One of them was dressed in all black, completely Gothic style. He spoke great English, I asked him where he learned his English, he told me that he had live in Maryland! I was a little surprised, but that was interesting. I asked him if he goes to church, he said not since he was young. I kind of got the, I don't care about what you’re saying feeling. So I kind of had that feeling back toward him, but then a thought ran through my heart about the Gothic kids in high school. They are usually not highly regarded, and they are Gothic for a reason. They don't just get born Gothic, something usually happens in life, usually with family, so they start to dress and act like that in order to get attention, or be different. I then remembered how kids sometimes made fun of them, and they didn't respect them at all. My heart changed at that moment, and I felt a love that was true! I love him, I started to tear up as a question came into my mind, I then proceeded to ask him, “Do you believe that God loves you?” He just looked at me, and started to get teary eyes, stating back to me, “That's a good question, and something I don't know?” The spirit of the Lord filled my entire being, I humbly testified of God, and His love for him. How much he cares for him, and wants him to become happier! He then replied “I don't know, but this is why I’m studying philosophy, so I can figure it out.” I then asked him, “Do you have any hope in your life.” He then said, “That is a good question too, I don't know if I do or not!” With a blank look on his face while he said this, I asked him if he would be willing to come back unto God. I told him that in Maryland we have missionaries that I want him to meet, and start to learn about the gospel. He said OK and we swapped information. We were running out of time, so we had to get home quickly. I shook his hand and said goodnight. This experience taught me an eternal truth. We are all the same!! All of our spirits are the same in the eyes of God. Although the world may think that our bodies and outward appearances are different, and even may differ as in classes of good looking, smart, rich, popular. In the eyes of God, we are all the same. If you took away the bodies of the world, you would find the not so good looking, maybe not a lot of friends, but disciple of Jesus Christ's spirit would completely and look significantly better than the others. This life and the gospel, is a spiritual matter. We are improving the spirit. The body is a temporal place for the spirit to preside. We will all be given a perfect body, but it’s the spirit that matters. We can't judge others, and we can't put away the book by the cover. We need to know what matters the most. The outward appearance means nothing in the eyes of God. We need to fear God, not man. If we fear man, we will be forever miserable; we will be stuck in the gutters of the filth of the world. But if we fear God, we will fly among the house tops, happy, peaceful, and full of love. I know the principle of Godly potential is real and true. We all have the same opportunity and chance to do so, we just must choose!

The two exchanges we went on were full of miracles, all from the mercy and help from the Lord.

Another thing I saw that was really funny. Is the way that the north zone leaders killed the cockroaches in their apartment. When we were there, there were two about 2 inch long really fat and juicy cockroaches running around. They said watch this, one of them took a broom, and the other took a can of spray and a lighter. One would push the broom and pin the cockroach between the wall and the broom bristles. He would whack it, and make the cockroach momentarily flip onto its back. Then the other companion would spray it, and light it on fire. It was soon dead. Ha ha, I was laughing so hard, it was so smart, and a perfect example of companionship unity, ha ha! I've gotten used to these huge cockroaches, they are just nasty, but they are there and you can't do anything about it. We had one crawling all over our kitchen the other day, mmmmmmm yummy!!

I can't believe that time is going by so fast! I don't know why but I feel inclined to say this. Even though I’m serving the Lord, and ordained an Elder and ambassador of the truth, even though I breathe, eat, sleep, drink, and think the gospel, even though I study it every day, and teach it on a regular basis, even though by the sounds of it Satan should have no chance with me or any missionary. I want to testify that I am going through much what any regular church member would go through, even more so I’m being tempted the hardest I've probably ever have in my entire life. I know Satan wants me down, and wants me down fast. He doesn't want me to be a tool in the hands of the Lord. But I testify that if you study the scriptures, pray with real intent, and partake of the sacrament every week, these temptations will be a small thing. I've felt the power of the Atonement protect me as I've been doing what’s right. I don't know what is going on at home, or if any of you are struggling with anything. But I just want to tell you, that it is for your good. You need this challenge to become like God. I know that to be true, these last couple weeks have been the hardest most challenging weeks of my life. Not because of sin, but because of small things that would be totally fine if I wasn't a missionary. I testify that the Lord lives, he is our Savior. He knows the feeling, intents, and needs of our hearts. He will give, as long as we give first. We must sanctify our lives, we must live according to the ordinances of the gospel, and we must obey Him in order to receive his help. But I testify and know His help is real, it changes our lives, and gives us the strength to overcome ANYTHING! Hang in there, be still, and know that He is God. Develop a personal relationship with Him, and thank him for all you have!

I love you all, thank you all so very much for all that you do for me! Please continue to prayer that I may finish strong, and endure to the end! Know that all is well, my body’s breaking down, I’m tired, and sometimes I feel like I just can't even think straight. But it's all for my good, ha ha. I love this work, and wouldn't want to be anywhere else!!

Thank you family! See you in 5 weeks!

-Elder Rasmussen

I'm Excited to Make this Last Transfer of My Mission the Best!

My beloved family!!

Sounds like things are all going very smooth and happy. That is so good to know, I’m grateful that the Lord is taking care of my loved ones back at home. Well I also need to testify that the Lord is taking care of your other little one mom and dad, that little one is me. I've been cared for and shaped by the Lord, and will be eternally grateful for this change in my life. I’ll also want to testify that I know through trials and tests we may all grow and develop the traits needed to come unto the Savior, and all the things needed for eternal life. I’m grateful for this mission experience, it has changed my life. I’m loving it!

Well family I’m dying in the mission home. President has said before that assistants can't die in the office (for many reasons). I was expecting to leave, but Thursday night he told me he can't have me leave. Too many good things are happening. I was a little confused, and then as I talked to him about it, he said I've been thinking about it a long time, whether or not to have you die in the office. Then he just promised me that this is exactly what the Lord wants, and that there isn't a question in his mind that I shouldn't be here. I’m exactly where I need to be, and exactly where the mission needs me to be. It was a comforting thing to know that I’m where the Lord wants me to be. I was a little bummed to end my mission in the office, but now I’m so stoked. After meeting with president I received a new idea or way of thinking about this whole situation. I’m so excited for this last transfer of my mission. It's going to rock! I just know so many miracles are going to happy. I also know it will be the hardest transfer of my mission, I can only imagine the temptation that Satan is waiting and wanting to give me. He doesn't want me to finish strong, he hopes I will fail. But I tell you what, I know why I’m here, I know who I serve, whom I’m called of. This week my favorite scripture is 3 Nephi 5:13 "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I have been called of Him to declare His word, unto His people, that they may have everlasting life.” This is theme scripture of my mission. As I read this Scripture in personal study this week, it just hit me to the core. It testified why I’m here, what I need to do, and why I need to do it! It was a great answer to my prayers. I just can't wait for this last transfer, I’m so stoked!! Man it's going to be amazing!!!!!!

Well this last week just like your guy's week, mine was full of miracles, and amazing things. First thing I would like to say is I love The Wu Family!! They took us out to lunch on Saturday after they went to the temple. I haven't eaten with them in a while, it was a great thing to see them. I love them so much, I’m so grateful for the Lord and the opportunity I have to be acquainted with this amazing family. They have made my mission a success. I just love seeing them so active in the gospel, and so willing to help the cause of missionary work in Taiwan. We were deciding where we wanted to eat, Wu Momma was like we need to hurry because I have to help the missionaries teach at 1,1:30, 2:00......She named all the times she was going to be present for the missionary lessons, I just thought to myself talk about dedication, and talk about just giving yourself to the Lord. She is an amazing example. She just makes me smile every time I see her.

Anyway I would like to share an amazing miracle that happened this last week. Usually as assistants we will visit random district meetings to just see how the district leaders are doing. But this transfer we have been really busy so we haven't had time to visit any district meetings. It was the last week in the transfer; we were really busy getting ready for the new missionaries to come. My companion found out a little earlier that one of the district meetings that are held in the Jin Hua chapel had been moved to Wednesday. So he said it starts at one, would you like to go participate. I thought about it, we had a meeting at 1:00 already for my companion to start applying to BYU Hawaii. So I said well, we'll be really late, and won’t even get there in time for the teaching part of it. So I just said probably not. About 10 minutes later, my companion, Elder You just said I just feel like we should go to this district meeting. So I agreed and said OK we'll go. So after we figured out his college stuff, we went down to the district meeting. We got there for the last 5 minutes of teaching, and for the role play part of it. The role play was to get with our companion and plan how you can better be finding agents of the Lord. So the district leader told us all to split up in companionships and start the role play. As he did so, my companion got up and started to leave the room. I asked him where are you going? He said I need to go the restroom. The first thought I had was just, why? We just got here, and now we are just going to leave again. But I just followed him and as he walked into the restroom I passed the doors of the 1st floor chapel. I saw the two temple sisters, my trainee Elder Workman, his trainee Elder Thatcher and a middle aged women sitting there. Soon to realize that they were giving a tour to this women. As my companion came out of the bathroom he said OK lets go back. So as we started to go back, we passed back through the door. One of the temple sisters caught my eye, and the next thing I knew before I walked into the room a voice from behind me, Elder Rasmussen. I turned around and it was the temple sister. She said, this new member has been saying your name over and over and is really struggling. Can you come help her out? I asked who it was. She said Sister Liu Zhi. I thought for a minute and it clicked. When I was on exchanges in Tao Yuan, I contacted her on the street. Taught her the changing power of the Atonement and set a date with her on the street to be baptized. She was baptized and was struggling with faith a little. So I walked slowly into the chapel where they were all seated. I just walked in and kind of stood there. She turned her head and let of a ‘I remember you but not fully’ facial expression. I asked her if I could sit by her. She said yes of course. I went and sat next to her. She asked me if I was Elder Rasmussen. I said yes, and she started crying. She started to share her feeling and the things that she was struggling with. I just listened, and it was amazing, I was led completely by the spirit. For the next hour we just talked, sang songs, prayed, and talked about her potential as a daughter of God. The spirit was so strong. I had a feeling to ask her to close her eyes. She closed her eyes and I told her to imagine that God was sitting with her holding her in His Holy arms. She did so. I started to ask her questions, what happened was the most interesting thing I've ever been a part of. This spirit of the Lord rested upon us and it was as if the Lord was really there. As I asked her questions and responded to her answers it was as if she was literally talking to God. I was able to be the voice of the Lord that day. I was able to stand as a representative of the Lord at that moment in time. I know it was true, because I felt it. She started saying things like why me. I feel like I really want to follow everything the Lord asks me to, and I do until Sunday morning I just have a strong feeling that I don't want to go to church. I was thinking about it and it hit me. The trial that I’m going through right now could connect to sister Liu. Then I remembered the letter that dad hat written me, and I remembered that I had brought it with me that day. I pulled it out and shared my trial that I’m going through right now, and the things that my dad had shared with me. I pulled out all the scriptures that dad shared with me, and every single one was exactly what she needed, and I mean exactly. She just cried the whole time we shared scriptures together. I then told her and thanked her, that now I know why I am going through this trial. Because if I wasn't, my dad wouldn't have written me a letter, and if I hadn't gotten a letter I wouldn't have had these things to share with you. She just smiled and was grateful for all things. We rejoiced together and were edified together. Then it hit me why we needed to attend this district meeting. It wasn't this district meeting, but it was the thing going on in the other room that needed attending to. Another amazing part, the other day my companion after working out really hard, his muscles were really sore. He came to me kind of complaining, asking why do my muscles have to be sore? I explained to him, that after you work out your muscles, they are broken down and sore, because as they do so, they have the opportunity to grow into something stronger. He was like OK. I didn't think anything of it. But as we finished with Sister Liu, my companion was talking to her, and then just stated, “Just like when you work out, your muscles get torn down, but just to become stronger in the after math. In life we have trials and troubles, we may get torn by them and think there is no way out, but in the end we will become stronger because of it.” I just thought back to that morning that my companion asked me about the working out thing. I just know that the Lord has his way of doing his work, and it will not be hindered. It was amazing to see just so many things fall into place, and work out so perfectly. She left this time, happy and with a new found hope in enduring to the end. Her road is going to be hard, but I know she can do it. I just think of life, life isn't easy, it never was, and will never be easy, but the attitude we have towards all these things is the way we get through life either happy or sad. I love my life, I’m so grateful for an amazing family that has helped me and blessed me in all that I do. I love this work so much also! Wow it's all just so great!

This week we also picked up the new oncoming missionaries. It's always fun to see new faces and fresh faith straight from the MTC. We had a great orientation and they are all great missionaries who will see much success in their missions. It's fun to see the improvement of the MTC. I don't know why, but the Chinese capability of the MTC nowadays is crazy. Back in the day when I first came on, I couldn't say anything. But these elders lately have been just rocking it. It just shows that when the Lord is in charge things are always on the upgrade. It's great to see the organization of the church and the missionary force just rolling right on forward, and becoming the world’s safety line. Taiwan for the most part just loves the missionaries. They adore us, and just love how happy we are, and how full of life. A lot of people are being baptized lately, and a lot of people are coming to church and progressing in the gospel. It's is a great sight in Taiwan right now!

Well that was our week, full of miracles and doing the work of the Lord. Today is the start of my last transfer as a missionary in the service of God. It's sad, but exciting. I’m excited to make this last transfer the best. No regrets.

Love you all so very much

-Elder Rasmussen

It's not about how big you are or how strong you are, but working in unison that counts!

My beloved family!!

Wow! What a miracle full week. This week was an amazing opportunity to see the hand of the Lord in all things. It has been an amazing week to see the work of the Lord in Taiwan grow and explode. I’m telling you everything here is going amazing. The people are more and more being acceptable to the gospel and the teaching of it. I just love more than anything seeing a lost souls of God not knowing what they are doing in life, running into the gospel (not knowing in most cases that it was planned by God), and then just shooting sky high, and seeing their life completely change. Lately we have found a man Brother Wang, he is 21 years old. He is doing so well. He loves it! Also this past Saturday he brought his little brother who is a year younger than him. They are both amazing, and so humble. They are so willing to learn about the gospel, and so willing to change their lives and follow the teaching of the gospel. It's amazing to see these brothers together learning about the gospel. They remind me about Josh and me. It's a great experience.

Well last week we had the opportunity to go watch the dragon boat festival races. It was really interesting and an exciting experience. We got there right in time for the final races. We watched the winning team paddle across the finish line. What’s amazing about this sport of boat racing is, it's not about how big you are or how strong you are, but you have to be in perfect unison in order to get the boat to move in the way and manner that it is supposed to move. It's great to see them so unified and so united in purpose. Which reminded me of God, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, how they are united perfectly and how badly they want each and every one of us to return to their presence. But I made another observation, the seats that we were sitting in where right by the winning team’s tent thing. Well they came back and were happy that they had just won, taking pictures and just having fun. Then I saw something kind of contradictory if you ask me. I watched many of them start smoking, and everyone start to drink lots of beer. I thought it was interesting, that they had just won an athletic race and the way they celebrate is by breaking the Word of Wisdom. I thought it was interesting. It just proves how great and how much more the things of God are than mans. It was a good experience thought and was great to see a part of the traditions in the Taiwanese culture.

This week we also went down to Hua Lian, it was great. We went on exchanges with the district leader down there and his companion. We saw so many miracles. Every goal that we set was reached and accomplished by the hand and guidance of the Lord. We saw a total of 6 New Investigators found in that night between the 4 of us. It was a great night in Hua Lian. It is a great place, and not to mention, breath-takingly beautiful. It is absolutely amazing, when we come back as a family I will definitely take you all there. The train ride down is full of dark blue ocean, with light blue sky, white waves, and islands in the background. Wow it was amazing. Hua Lian is still working on building a stake, the missionaries we have there are doing really well, and are setting it up with the members. The work there is doing amazing. The Lord is being very merciful to that area and allowing the work to explode there. It has been fun to see the change of the area as we've gotten faith filled Elders and Sisters down there to work in the Lord’s Vineyard. It's amazing to see, regardless of the area, if you have a missionary that is willing to work, has faith in Christ, he/she will see many many miracles, and be able to take part in all the necessary blessings of the gospel and of missionary work. Hua Lian is a great place, I much enjoyed my stay there and enjoyed being a part of the building a stake feeling for a night. Then we took the 3 hour train ride back to Taipei.

I want to tell a simple experience that I enjoyed on the street the other day. As I was contacting I ran into a man from Canada. He was a nice fellow, but had no hope or interest in church. I asked him more about his background, and then he stated "I've read many books about Christianity in Taiwan, I've been to all churches and I haven't been persuaded yet. Nothing they've said has moved me and nothing will. They all carry the same message, and I just don't believe it can make me move toward believing." I just prayed that the spirit would help me. I said but you've never heard our message, he said yup I've talked too many of your missionaries they've tried and tried, but nothing. I just prayed in my heart of how to help this man, because he was so humble but just didn't believe these things. I thought of our purpose "To Invite". I told him, I know these things were true. We missionaries have an important and exciting thing to invite everyone to do. I turned to Moroni 10:3-5. I invited Him to read it. I then told him, I’m only 20 years old, anything I say you've either heard before or have more experience than I. But one thing I can testify is of these things and their validity. I know there true. I know if you are willing to read them and ask God if they are true, the spirit will move you. I know man can't move you, but the spirit can and he will. This man humbly looked at me and said, "Thank you, that is the best answer I've heard in my 20+ years in Taiwan, I’ll seriously think about it, thank you!” Then we shook hands and parted. I felt a warmth of fulfilling my commitment. We can't force anyone into anything, but we can teach, then invite, allowing them to choose what they want to do. I know I was led by the spirit, and did what they Lord wanted me to do. I hope that man felt the power of the scriptures, and takes up the invite. Because if he does, I know he'll receive an answer, because the Lord does not lie. Also I’d like to invite Josh, Cade, Britton, and Abby. Take up the promise in Moroni, and find out for yourself independent of dad, mom or any other person, the truthfulness of these things. I know if you do exactly as Moroni 10:3-5 says, you will receive an answer through the power of the Holy Ghost. Try it! Plant this small seed in your heart, and watch it grow. Because it will, you just have to allow it too!

This last week, we had our specialized training meeting. It has been so much fun. We have been focusing on becoming an agent rather than being an object. I’m writing a talk on it right now, that hopefully in the near future I’ll be able to send home. It's helped me understand the importance of acting and not being acted upon. Taking it upon yourself with the hope and faith in God to do all things. This specialized training meeting, we invited all the senior companions, because we feel like zone leaders get it, most of the district leaders get it, but sometimes we feel there is a gap that rarely gets bridged from the district leaders to the senior companions, therefore the junior companions also don't get the right information passed down. So we met with all of the senior companions, and taught them this principle. I feel like it went really really well. We focus on being an Finding Agent of the Lord. Just like SARS (search and rescue squad) we are Gods SSARS (salvation search and rescue squad) we focused on the setting of a war and having a lost or fallen comrade in the face of danger. How these men, because they are one in purpose will do anything to get to their fallen comrade to help him. We as servants of the Lord and members of this church are Gods SSARS. We have made a promise in the pre-earth life to come and search and rescue those lost sons and daughters of God. We have come to find them, once their found to address the wounds of their life through the gospel of Jesus Christ, then to apply medicine to help them, which is through faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It is a great connection that President Erying so beautifully portrayed in His talk "Man Down". We let them listen to a part of his talk, about the war we are going through between Good and Evil.....This was a great learning experience for me to learn about being an Agent, and the importance thereof in the church of God. This church is living, therefore we as members have to be living also. We can't be lazy objects that get out of bed on Sunday and head to church. We must be those living agents that go about doing good continually and go about establishing and setting up the kingdom of God on the earth today, here in this last dispensation before the coming of the Lord.

I know that the battle between us and Satan is real. I get influenced by it every day. More and more the closer that I get to finishing my mission. It's like Satan just wants me to finish on a lower note, because he has the knowledge of how much I've been blessed throughout my mission. Just as it is with all of us, he knows how we've lived our lives. He knows how much we've been blessed by the one he doesn't care much for. We are the children of God I know it. I know that we have the potential that Satan will never have of becoming like God, perfect, full of love and faith. I can't wait for the perfect day that I can stand at the feet of the Savior and thank him for all he's done for me - to stand there with my perfected family, in love, peace, and hope in all things. I love my life so much! I love all of the trials that I’m going through. I know sometimes they seem so deep, so terrifying that I can't move on, but I testify that God lives. He loves us. I also testify that Jesus is the Christ!! I know it, I know Christ accomplished the Atonement for this very purpose, of allowing us to return and live with them in perfection. I love my Savior, I hope and pray that I may serve Him and in His church for the rest of my life. Never stopping at anything to accomplish the task at hand. I love this work, it has changed my life, I hope that I can take the things I've learned and change the life's of others while I’m here on my mission and after the fact also. I love all of you, with all my heart. I know our family is ordained of God. I Just hope because of this fact, that we may all learn our responsibilities and understand we all have imperfections. There is no need of getting angry with each other because it will never, and has never fixed any problem. We need to become as a child, submissive, meek, humble, full of love, and patience. I testify as we do that, our family will become more unified and unstoppable in the work of the Lord. We can be an example of the believers, and help many others come to know of the truth because of our example. Thank you all so very much in all you do. You are all example to me, and make me so very happy. I can't wait to see you all!!

-Elder Rasmussen