Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Two days in the life of Elder Smith
After that we headed home and did our studies then rushed over to meet Brother McGowan to help him move some more things from his house. We started with moving some plants, and some other things, I think a bed, then Crozet and his nephew showed up to help as well. We moved the stuff to the other house. Then we headed back and grabbed the patio furniture and things. Then it started to rain, as well right before Crozet came we realized we couldn't find Putty(their dog) and so we searched for a good amount of time and saw him behind a neighbor’s house way at the tree line. So I ran down to get him and kind of felt weird like I was approaching a ferocious animal even though he is a small pug. I wasn't sure if he was going to run or not though, and then from the neighbors house that we are at...there is a really big dog that is barking at us...and it got a little intense...not really but it could have been. It felt like a scene from a weird animal movie. After that we continued to help him more from the house, drive and unload, and then return to finish up. We were there for a long time, then we had to fill the pod as well. By that time it was about 7 or so, and he offered dinner so we went to dinner with him at 5 Guys, that was really good, the milkshake was super, super good. After that is was 8 or so, and so we headed back and were super gross, and so we went to bed. It felt really good to serve and help Brother McGowan though.
-Elder ComeBackPutty
Wednesday July 19, 2017
Well it was quite the day, when we went out after interviews which was really good, we ran into a member that served a mission in LA as a senior couple and asked about Elder Wallace. So then they offered to take us to get some frozen yogurt....which as weird we were trying to focus on finding, but we went and ate really quick and then headed out, and we went across the street to talk to a lady and we went up teaching her the restoration along with many other things and answering different questions for 45 minutes. It was really, really cool. Her name was MinJoo, and. She was Korean, she was really nice though. It was really cool.
After that we headed home and ate our dinner, and then we headed to English class, and Wang LiZhu came in addition to Tina and DeJun. Elder Miller did an amazing job at helping them. After that, we cleaned up and did our companion study which was good.
-Elder ElderCounsel&FrozenYogurt
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
photos from Elder Smith
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| Our investigator Wang LiZhu took us out to dinner at a really good Chinese place |
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| Other Elders in Ward at members dinner |
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| Made my own Chinese's stir fry stuff with Eggplant and tofu |
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| Picture from our zone p-day activity of painting a bridge at UVA with the plan of salvation |
Bad Hair Cut Day but on with the work
Monday
Then we returned home and I cut Elder Bendel's hair, which turned out pretty good, then I cut my own, and since I did Elder Bendel's in the kitchen, I did mine there with our giant mirrors and I kind of just sat on the ground....well it was harder...and things kind of didn't worked...the cord was short..and yeah. It didn't turn out very well. I went too high with the #, and so I had to cut the top with a #5....and yeah it is probably the worst haircut I have given myself on my mission....oh well. After that we headed out, and didn't have much time so we left a pretty big mess in the kitchen.
After that we went to grounds/JPA...and we talked to very few Chinese people, but did give a Book of Mormon to Jessica and Owen on the Lawn which was good. They seemed pretty cool, they looked kind of Chinese from far away, but they weren't. It was a little interesting of an approach not the most standard and a little awkward...however it was good. I definitely feel like Elder Miller and I have to develop some companionship unity, but we are definitely improving.
Then we talked to some Koreans...and made our way to the Corner, and met Song Yi Feng again which was kind of cool( we met him last transfer with Elder Snow, but he never contacted us back) and so he gave us his number, but it was already in the phone..which is always a bit interesting. He doesn't talk much that is for sure. After that we realized it was 8:40 so then we had to head home.
We cleaned up the hair cutting mess, and some other things that needed to be cleaned...and I made a organized box for all of our supplies, which turned out pretty well. Then we headed to bed.
-Elder .....HairCutHayday...
Wednesday July 14, 2017
Well in the afternoon we met John from Shanghai and he is only going to be here for a day which is really lol we met him, and we met Amy Chang who was from Taiwan and is visiting for a workshop, she is a teacher in California. It was really cool, this is when we were on the corner.
Then later we had English Class, and three people came! As well a bear was in the trash at the Hydraulic building. Tina Tang, and Liu DeJun all came which was cool, YangLIJing also came. It was pretty good learned a lot from our mistakes and from things that work well. It was super awesome.
-Elder ReallyGoodDay#EnglishClass
Sunday July 16, 2017
Good good day, we found a ride for church in the morning because we were really worried about that. Brother Nichols was awesome and helped us out, however we went there as well hopefully to meet him so things would go smoother, but she left before we got there. At a stoplight a man motioned for us to roll down the window and asked, Mormon missionaries? And asked which church we were going to....then he followed us to the church, but after pulling into the parking lot we lost him and never met him. Sacrament meeting was really good, very peaceful, it reminded me of the temple. Then we had a good primary lesson with Sister Lu and Sister Witt helping Sister Lu share some thoughts which was good. After we left the entire primary class repeatedly yelled "stinky missionaries"...that was kind of funny. After church we went and tried to contact lots and lots of people. We contacted a few, the ones we were trying to find weren't home though. We tried to visit TianXu at Garden ct, Sunxin lin the taiwanese girl, she wasn't back, the pool people at ivy gardens...but met there neighbor through a through the door conversation...she said to come back and sounded Chinese.
After that we drove down 29 a long ways, and then down a long driveway to get to the Johnsons for dinner....wow....that is a really really big and nice house. Wow, they were really nice, Crozet was there too, and we had hamburgers/hot dogs/pork tenderloin which was all pretty good. Then it came to my turn for the spiritual thought, and I shared it from the Living Christ about the Sacrament. Also one of Brother Troy's cousins was there, and he didn't seem the most active in the church because I think his girlfriend was there who I think they are living together...not sure. However I definitely felt my purpose as a missionary to strengthen the members, and that God would help me do so. It was different than most dinners. I definitely made it a point for me to decide that for myself, and not hesitate about it.
After that we drove home, and contacted Aldous and mentioned Priesthood blessings to him because YangLi Jing is kind of sick, and we sent some other things off, then we headed home for studies which was also really good. For language study we went through Elder Miller's flashcards and I had him translate sentences from the words...I was impressed even if he was kind of frustrated.
Then we headed to bed.
-Elder SereneSunday
Monday, June 26, 2017
New and Old Richmond Virginia Mandarin Elders
Elder Raty is from Sandy. He is now with Elder Schellenberg in Richmond, and I am with Elder Miller from Ammon Idaho. He has been out for 5 months now and will probably be the one to train the new Taiwanese Elders that come in. I am kind of his Chinese tutor and things are going well. Some other information on him, he really likes playing the trumpet and is pretty good at it I hear. He also sang and did some theater in high school.
Update on the elders coming in, so we are actually getting three Elders from Taiwan, but one of them is also an american citizen and he will come in September and there will be no visa problems, but we are still waiting to know when the other two Taiwanese Elders will come.
Love
Elder Smith
Update on the elders coming in, so we are actually getting three Elders from Taiwan, but one of them is also an american citizen and he will come in September and there will be no visa problems, but we are still waiting to know when the other two Taiwanese Elders will come.
Love
Elder Smith
Monday, June 19, 2017
New Elder and the Mandarin work continues
Just for information 2 mandarin Elders will be going home in the next week and Elder Raty from Utah is coming out, but 3 Taiwanese Elders are to come, but are having visa issues so hopefully will be in Virginia in the next 2 weeks then Derek can help train them until he and Elder Schellenburg come home Aug. 16th.
Tuesday June 13, 2017
We woke up and the other Elders were heading out for the temple trip. We eat the Breakfast that was left for us from Sister Smith One thing for Elder Raty is that he isn't really going to have a home for the first week of his mission, which is kind of wild. Hopefully not too big of a problem though. First thing we did was go and meet with Yuan Peng at the Bailey bridge building. It was a really good lesson, and Yuan is doing well. We had a really good lesson with him about the restoration and the Book of Mormon, and found out that he actually is going to church, but only stays for the first hour because of his mom's church that he also attends. It felt really good tooo see him again and look at all the progress he has made since the first time we skyped with him. After that we went and ate at Subway really quick at the wal-mart off of Hull Street before we went and taught English to Sun ShanShan that lives in the Meadowbrook area. It was good, Elder Schellenberg did most of the english stuff because he had things planned with her. Following that we went and did some studies at the Manchester Elders apartment, well actually before that we went to the blue Fish Grill to talk to the owners about starting a Chinese group in one of the wards. It was their typical response, she was really nice and said she would be willing to help and things, but it seemed like she was just saying things to kind of pass the time and that nothing concrete would come from it.
Elder DayTwoInTheMissionHome
Wednesday June 14, 2017The morning started off well, that was until I stubbed my toe on the trundle bed that Elder Snow was using. I was talking with Elder Schellenberg and I realized that my toe was bleeding pretty bad, and the bathroom was occupied. I went up stairs with Elder Snow to the other bathroom, and started dressing my wound. Elder Schellenberg came up and notified me that there were many spots of blood on the carpet leading to the upstairs bathroom, which is the second time I have made a mess on the mission home carpet. As I was getting the bleeding to stop, Sister Smith came out and got some Neosporin for me, and the other Elders went down with her to clean up the mess. It actually took a decent sized little chunk thing out of my right pinky toe. So after that, I think breakfast started, President did bring up marriage and talked to Elder Snow and Richter if there is anyone waiting for them and things. Then surprisingly he asked me next, and so I said something like "anyone that will take me" or something like that. In response he said "well, you should be really particular about this" which was really good counsel from him, kind of at an unique moment.
We had our mandarin meeting which was really, really good. President started out with teaching us about being on time even if our car doesn't start and things like that. Then we talked about where we are at, and what we are going to do from here on out with the new Elders coming in, and how to train them, and if we have to close an area which will it be and things like that. It was really good, the Spirit was definitely present, you could feel it guiding present and what we needed to do as a program. I felt a little humbled to be there. There was one moment when President specifically asked for me input, I don't remember what I said, but mainly focused on how I felt that we really need to work with the members if this is going to go anywhere.
After that meeting we did interviews, and I started off and got my new temple recommend as well as a really good interview in which President made me feel really good and gave me confidence in that going home and going to school are good things that have to happen in life. He joked about if I would be willing to extend for a year, but then talked about the need to go home and things. He talked about his tomato plants and helping their roots grow deep.
Then we drove back to Charlottesville with Elder Raty. Lots of driving this past few weeks. We will struggle to stay near our allotted miles.
-Elder WonderfulWoundedWednesday
Thursday June 15, 2017
We tried some doors before Wang, but then end up going over to Wang which was really good. It started in an interesting way, and I'm not sure she understood why we came over. Anyways, after she sat down and agreed to listen we taught the Restoration, and then gave her a Book of Mormon, and she had really good questions, but I think more important than the questions, the way that she asked the questions seemed that she wanted to know, wasn't sure and maybe a little doubtful, but I felt there was real intent. It was really good, we invited her to pray, which she didn't because she felt weird, even after each of us offered a prayer, which was the first time that method hasn't worked. Regardless we set up a lesson for Saturday to skype with her, and planned to meet sometime next week as well. It was really good. After that, the hill across from North 38 apartments was filled with fireflys...it was kind of unbelievable, there were so, so many. It was like something from a movie, unfortunately our cameras aren't good enough so my memory is going to have to do. It was really cool though. Then we went to sleep, which is the third place for Elder Raty this week, and all was well.
-Elder LightingUpHarrisonburg
Tuesday June 13, 2017
We woke up and the other Elders were heading out for the temple trip. We eat the Breakfast that was left for us from Sister Smith One thing for Elder Raty is that he isn't really going to have a home for the first week of his mission, which is kind of wild. Hopefully not too big of a problem though. First thing we did was go and meet with Yuan Peng at the Bailey bridge building. It was a really good lesson, and Yuan is doing well. We had a really good lesson with him about the restoration and the Book of Mormon, and found out that he actually is going to church, but only stays for the first hour because of his mom's church that he also attends. It felt really good tooo see him again and look at all the progress he has made since the first time we skyped with him. After that we went and ate at Subway really quick at the wal-mart off of Hull Street before we went and taught English to Sun ShanShan that lives in the Meadowbrook area. It was good, Elder Schellenberg did most of the english stuff because he had things planned with her. Following that we went and did some studies at the Manchester Elders apartment, well actually before that we went to the blue Fish Grill to talk to the owners about starting a Chinese group in one of the wards. It was their typical response, she was really nice and said she would be willing to help and things, but it seemed like she was just saying things to kind of pass the time and that nothing concrete would come from it.
Elder DayTwoInTheMissionHome
Wednesday June 14, 2017The morning started off well, that was until I stubbed my toe on the trundle bed that Elder Snow was using. I was talking with Elder Schellenberg and I realized that my toe was bleeding pretty bad, and the bathroom was occupied. I went up stairs with Elder Snow to the other bathroom, and started dressing my wound. Elder Schellenberg came up and notified me that there were many spots of blood on the carpet leading to the upstairs bathroom, which is the second time I have made a mess on the mission home carpet. As I was getting the bleeding to stop, Sister Smith came out and got some Neosporin for me, and the other Elders went down with her to clean up the mess. It actually took a decent sized little chunk thing out of my right pinky toe. So after that, I think breakfast started, President did bring up marriage and talked to Elder Snow and Richter if there is anyone waiting for them and things. Then surprisingly he asked me next, and so I said something like "anyone that will take me" or something like that. In response he said "well, you should be really particular about this" which was really good counsel from him, kind of at an unique moment.
We had our mandarin meeting which was really, really good. President started out with teaching us about being on time even if our car doesn't start and things like that. Then we talked about where we are at, and what we are going to do from here on out with the new Elders coming in, and how to train them, and if we have to close an area which will it be and things like that. It was really good, the Spirit was definitely present, you could feel it guiding present and what we needed to do as a program. I felt a little humbled to be there. There was one moment when President specifically asked for me input, I don't remember what I said, but mainly focused on how I felt that we really need to work with the members if this is going to go anywhere.
After that meeting we did interviews, and I started off and got my new temple recommend as well as a really good interview in which President made me feel really good and gave me confidence in that going home and going to school are good things that have to happen in life. He joked about if I would be willing to extend for a year, but then talked about the need to go home and things. He talked about his tomato plants and helping their roots grow deep.
Then we drove back to Charlottesville with Elder Raty. Lots of driving this past few weeks. We will struggle to stay near our allotted miles.
-Elder WonderfulWoundedWednesday
Thursday June 15, 2017
We tried some doors before Wang, but then end up going over to Wang which was really good. It started in an interesting way, and I'm not sure she understood why we came over. Anyways, after she sat down and agreed to listen we taught the Restoration, and then gave her a Book of Mormon, and she had really good questions, but I think more important than the questions, the way that she asked the questions seemed that she wanted to know, wasn't sure and maybe a little doubtful, but I felt there was real intent. It was really good, we invited her to pray, which she didn't because she felt weird, even after each of us offered a prayer, which was the first time that method hasn't worked. Regardless we set up a lesson for Saturday to skype with her, and planned to meet sometime next week as well. It was really good. After that, the hill across from North 38 apartments was filled with fireflys...it was kind of unbelievable, there were so, so many. It was like something from a movie, unfortunately our cameras aren't good enough so my memory is going to have to do. It was really cool though. Then we went to sleep, which is the third place for Elder Raty this week, and all was well.
-Elder LightingUpHarrisonburg
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