A VISIT TO THE CHAING KAI SHEK MEMORIAL

Last week we had the opportunity of attending a session in the Taipei LDS Temple and afterward we spent a couple of hours visiting the huge and elaborate 20 acre Chiang Kai Shek Memorial just a few blocks from the temple. Within the walls of the Memorial are numerous beautiful sculptured gardens with all kinds of follage, encluding a cactus garden that reminded us of when we lived in Arizona. The buildings were huge and contained concert halls, an art gallary, a museum and various stores.

This is the main Memorial building which contains a huge statue of Chaing Kai Shek sitting in the upper chamber much like Abraham Lincoln in Washington, DC.

One of the concert halls with gardens on one side and a very large tiled parade grounds, about the size of a half a dozen football fields side by side, in front of the building.

There were a number of different groups of highschool girls marching in formations on the parade field and as we walked across the parade field all of the girls in one of the units became very excited and broke ranks and came running to us wanting their pictures taken with us. We felt like movie stars with adoring fans surrounding us and trying to get as close to us as they could.

It had been sprinkling and the girls all had light plastic rain coats on but the sprinkling didn't dampen their enthusiasm and excitement. If we could have spoken Chinese, more than a few phrases, we would have had a willing group to listen to a gospel message.

PLANTING THE SEED OF FAITH

I found a book with many pictures of beautiful wood carvings in Taipei, Taiwan. This picture, a wood carving of a plant growing in the wood carving of a person's hands, reminded me of a scripture in the "Book of Mormon", Alma chapter 32 verse 28:

"Now we will compare the word (of God) unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me."
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We have experienced a number of serious trials while serving our mission in Taiwan which has made us realize to an even greater extent our dependence on God. We often reflect on the scripture from Proverbs 3:5,6 that says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

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It is easy to talk about having faith but faith is something that has to be worked on constantly, like nurturing a plant. As Paul the Apostle said, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). When we feel weak in faith and weighed down by our own problems and the sorrow we see others bear, we turn to the scriptures and words of latter-day prophets.

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These words of the prophet Alma teach us that the word of God helps strengthen faith and that if we can just muster the strength to "desire to believe", the word can be "planted in [our] heart" and enlighten our understanding. " This is just like planting a seed in soil and having faith that with good care it will grow. We know this is true; when it is hard to sleep at night or concentrate on our daily tasks because of our concerns, our prayers in the name of Christ and study of the prophets has given us peace. We have had many faith promoting experiences occur this past year that has strengthened us, such as help from doctors, people who have come into our lives at unexpected times, thoughts that have come into our minds, help from our family members, and support from missionaries and other friends here in Taiwan. Our faith has also been strengthened seeing how our children and other friends have dealt with major challenges in their lives through the help of the Lord.

A VISIT TO THE PAST IN LUGONG

Desks from an old school in Lugong. This part of the larger town has been kept and rebuilt to how it was a hundred years ago.

Jim at the entrance to a court-yard of a private residence

A small private Buddist Temple with children playing basketball in the front court-yard..

JoAnn and Sister Nora Bishop, the mission president's wife, at the entrance to a residence on a cobble stone walkway. The door appears to be much older than the combined age of these two dear sisters.

School was out and these young high-school girls were delighted to see us and wanted to have pictures taken with us. They laughed a lot, loved to talk to us in English and were a joy to be with.

THE OPENING OF A NEW RESTAURANT

The big department store across from the mission office was gutted and three large restaurants were constructed in place of the store. A big celebration was held as part of the grand opening, complete with Chinese dancing "dogs," drums and firecrackers going off, filling the air with loud noise and thick smoke. About a dozen young men in bright costumes participated in the ceremony.

The dancers were very good at keeping the attention of the crowd of people assembled to watch.

This was part of a Buddist ritual that was intended to bring good luck and prosperity to the newly opened restaurants. It was very intertaining.

A WONDERFUL CONVERSION 35 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Our special friends, Brother and Sister Lin, Meng Yi.

BROTHER LIN'S BAPTISM ON OUR 45TH ANNIVERSARY

Brother and Sister Lin, Meng Yi at his baptism on August 27, 2010. We, along with other missionaries had the wonderful experience of teaching him, an educated man who is very fluent in English. His wife was a member for 35 years and his son and daughter were both returned missionaries and both married other returned missionaries. This was a long-awaited blessing in their lives. Elder Greene was asked to speak at the baptismal service and after being baptized by his son Nelson, Brother Lin was invited to speak and bear his testimony. He spoke at length about his resistance to the gospel for 35 years and what brought about his conversion. He was very humble and his experience of finding peace through the teachings of the Book of Mormon was touching and brought tears to many eyes and even a little laughter at times. Many photos were taken after the baptism and then all enjoyed some wonderful food: beautiful cakes, fruit, and all sorts of treats.

The Lin family with daughter Annie and husband Riley on the left, son Nelson (right) and wife Crystal (kneeling) with Sister Lin's mother and 5 grandchildren. Missionaries-Elder Cocke and Elder Petters in the back with the Greenes.

Many family, friends and ward members attending the baptism

and sharing in the joy of the occasion.

The Lins surprised us with a beautifully decorated anniversary cake!

The picture simply does not do this beautiful cake justice!

What a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary!
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days . . . . . and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" Doctrine and Covenants 18:15

A FAREWELL, A BIRTHDAY AND A TEMPLE VISIT

Our office lunch at a local barbeque restaurant to honor our Recorder, Elder Chuang, who will soon leave to finish his mission proselyting on the streets of Taiwan, inviting people to come unto Christ. Left to right, the Greenes, President and Sister Bishop, Elders Porter, Yang, Chuang, Taylor and Mix.

Sister Greene is recognized on her birthday with some wonderful banana nut bread made by the Mission President's wife, Sister Bishop. It was nice to share with many of the Missionary Sisters and Elders that day.

Missionaries from the Taichung Zone in the courtyard between the

Taipei Temple and the Stake Center and Church Office Buildings.

The Missionaries love attending the Taipei Temple!

BUSH LEAVES & NEW ENGLISH TEACHERS ARRIVE

A going-away dinner party at our apartment for "Bush" who leaves to attend the university in Japan soon. He was taught the gospel by Sister Greene and other missionaries and is still awaiting his baptismal date.

Jana Hogan made a farewell cake for Bush.

Another dinner at our apartment with friends and the 4 new Zhanghua English teachers. Front: Alexandra, Elder and Sister Greene; Back (left to right): Anna Lisa, Elizabeth, Kailey, Karyn, Jana & Kevin Hogan. These teachers will be with us until January 2011.

Another dinner with our 8 new Berhan English teachers: front: Alex, Meg, Whitney, Kristi, Libby. Back: Greenes, Katy, Laura, Erin, Allison, Jana and Kevin Hogan. The twelve teachers are a tremendous blessing to our little Branch here in Taichung as are our good friends the Hogans and Alexandra.

MEET A PROPHET OF GOD!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, pictured here, is Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He, along with the church's President Thomas S. Monson and First Counselor Henry D. Eyring, along with the current Twelve Apostles make up the governing leadership of the church. Like the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ during His ministery on earth, these good and righteous men were also called by Priesthood authority and ordained to those high and holy callings by the power of God and by the laying on of hands and are revered and sustained by the fourteen million members of the church world-wide. Talks by these, and other Prophets of decades past can be found by logging onto the Church web site at
http://www.lds.org/. Find Gospel Library and click on General Conference. You can then select the language that you would like to hear or read the talk in. It is also recorded as a video for those wishing to see the person speaking. After selecting the language you desire it will then make available for you to access General Conference talks by year, topic and the name of the General Authority speaking. I testify that God's words and desires are voiced through these modern-day Prophets today as they were 2000 years ago through the original Disciples of Christ. We know from ancient and modern-day Prophets of our life before our birth, why we came to earth and our eternal life after this mortal existence and that knowledge and assurance is available to you too.

President and Sister Uchtdorf, in two seperate missionary conferences, met with, taught and counseled approximately 300 missionaries in the Taichung and Taipei, Taiwan Missions. Sunday evening they brought a wonderful spirit to a special members' conference in the sports arena in Taipei attended by over 6,000 faithful Taiwan church members and friends who were inspired by the messages shared and the beautiful uplifting music provided by a choir of about 300, accompanied by violins.

President Uchtdorf with his grandsons and a few of the office missionary staff.

Sister Greene and I had the wonderful opportunity of talking with and experiencing the kind and loving spirit of a Prophet of God and we testify that he is in fact one of God's Prophets on earth today.

THE GOSPEL REACHES ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN

One of our missionaries finished his mission about ten days ago and while traveling home he continued serving as a missionary by teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to those he met. From one of the cities where he had a layover he called in a number of contacts, through the missionary referral network. One young man was Chinese and spoke only Mandarin and was on his way to Iceland, which is part of the Denmark Mission. With only 12 missionaries in Iceland, and none able to speak Mandarin, two of our missionaries, Elder Porter and Elder Chuang, have been teaching him using "Skype" on the Internet. It is exciting to watch them teaching, thousands of miles from each other, with their scriptures in front of them while looking at each other on the monitor. This is truly a "You Ban Fa" "There is a way" experience.

Here in Taichung there are dozens of these mechanical men, motorized manikins, waving their flags up and down with both "hands"at the oncoming traffic. The first time I saw one in the middle of the street I had to take a quick second look because it looked very human. Sister Greene was a good sport and agreed to pose with the good looking guy in a yellow rain coat.

The people here in Taichung are some of the most friendly and caring people that we have ever seen. This couple, with their handicapped daughter, park their food truck on the street near the mission office where they cook breakfast hamburgers, with a fried egg in them. They always call out to us with a happy greeting and are genuine in their feelings toward us.

Each day, as we cross the same busy intersection on our way to the office, we see this little man who supports himself by selling flowers from one basket and gum from the other to people stopped at the traffic light. He has no arms below his elbows but he works hard at selling his wares to the people at the stop light waiting for it to change. I quite often buy a flower or a pack of gum, and even though he doesn't speak English and I speak very little Mandarin, he has become a dear friend. He was gone for a couple of weeks and we were worried that perhaps something had happened to him. A few days ago we came to the intersection and saw him on the sidewalk across the street. I waved one hand at him and he lit up like a Christmas tree, putting down both baskets he started waving at us with both arms in the air. This is another example of a true "You Ban Fa" "there is a way," man who hasn't let adversity stop him.

These two men are brothers and they own a taxi cab. They park on a main street across from the mission home near the hospital, along with about a dozen other cabs, and wait for customers. They like to practice their English with us and always call out "good morning, how are you?" The older brother brings a chair and a portable radio in his trunk and they sit at the same spot, under the same tree each morning. These people and the many shop keepers near our apartment brighten each new day. The taxi drivers even asked for copies of their pictures. We so often remember the words to the well know hymn---"As I have loved you love one another. This new commandment love one another. By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Our hearts are full of love for these, the Lord's children in Taiwan.

WHAT A CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY,THE 4TH OF JULY!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th of July. Alvin Chong Chen chose this day to be baptized, and in-as-much as I have known him since he was in our English class four or five months ago, and have carried on a weekly email conversation with him, sending him General Conference talks and the lds.org web site, he asked me to baptize and confirm him. His English is very good and he reads everything he can about the church, including "Jesus the Christ." The two Assistants to the mission president, Elders Oldham and Taylor taught the majority of the lessons, with me sitting in helping and sharing my testimony during the sessions.

For the past few months, without an official calling, he has taken it upon himself to be the official hymn book custodian for our small English speaking branch, handing out the hymn books before the meetings and collecting them after the meetings. Sister Greene has developed a special relationship with him and often shares scriptures and conference talks with him. She was asked to speak at his baptism and gave a beautifully inspiring talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Our wonderful eleven English teachers will be leaving this week and a new group has already arrived to replace them. ` Our Gospel Doctrine teacher, Susan Butterfield and our Relief Society president Megan Gaian will be greatly missed. These bright and dedicated young LDS women, with the majority of the eleven being college graduates, come on six-month contracts and provide a great service while they are in Taichung. Other English teachers served as the Primary President, the Young Woman's President, the Ward chorister and counselors in various ward organizations.

Susan Williams, Carly Ostler and Candice Gonsalves are happy to be going home after their life-changing experience teaching in Taichung, Taiwan.

NEW TAIWAN, TAICHUNG MISSION PRESIDENT ARRIVES

Sisters Ramsey and Kilgore, along with about 24 missionaries from the Taichung Zone, await the arrival of President and Sister Bishop, the New Taiwan, Taichung Mission President. President Bishop and his wife were escorted to Taichung from Taipei early Wednesday morning June 30, 2010 by Michael and Laurie Hoer, the departing mission president.

Missionaries anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new president. Each missionary had a red long- stem rose to present to the president and his wife.

The final farewell to President and Sister Hoer before they leave the mission. They will be missed.

President Bishop greeting Sister Greene, the mission office secretary.

President and Sister Clark T. Bishop from Orem, Utah.