Saturday, August 13, 2011
Lin, Meng Yi.
and pink bowties (for men) worn for the Christmas program. Multi-talented Sister Du made all the
costumes.
holiday barbecue at her grandparents' home. It was a traditional sidewalk barbecue on a couple little
grills with family sitting around enjoying the delicious meats first and then some veggies and of course
fireworks!
Dr. Chen Jan-Yow, cardiologist, welcomed Elder Greene's visits every month. We appreciated his
personal interest and thoroughness.
"bo-bo" call around closing time. The elders did not enjoy its large droppings however!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011
LEAVING DEAR FRIENDS IN TAIWAN
Saying goodbye to Geena Li and Maggie Jiang, a new convert from Harbin, China, at our last Sunday before leaving Taiwan.
FRIENDSHIP - A PRICELESS TREASURE
The Lord has proclaimed in the scriptures that if we pay an honest tithe, not robbing God who has given us all, he “will open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” [3 Nephi 24:8, 10 and Malachi 3:10] Of course, while the Lord prospers those who keep His commandments and sometimes in material ways, “windows” seem to be a symbol of light, suggesting the spiritual blessings that come through obedience.
These last few weeks we have been showered with so much love: visits from friends, hugs, gifts, dinners, kind thoughts, and so forth, that it almost seems more than we can receive and we think of the “windows of heaven” being opened and showering down blessings. We have just had to turn down 3 lunch/dinner invitations due to lack of time. Friendship is one of those blessings that means so much to us and makes us sad to be leaving Taiwan. If it weren’t for our wonderful family back home we’d just have to consider staying!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
We Live to Die and Die to Live - a Joyful Message
Missionaries helping clean cemetery
Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gather at a huge cemetery in Taichung, Taiwan to give service and participate in the Qing Ming tomb sweeping festival. This is an annual event and LDS missionaries give service at many cemeteries throughout much of Taiwan. The city leaders and many families were very appreciative of the four hours of service that we gave and the city provided a lunch for us when we finished our work.
President and Sister Bishop are great at leading by example.
Elder and Sister Greene had to work hard to keep up with the Elders and Sisters.
Elder Maua'i from Hawaii hard at work.
Elders Mutton and Johnson learned that work is easier, more enjoyable, and they accomplish more when two people work together. In the background many abandonded tombs, burial plots, are in disrepair because there is no one around, or perhaps still living, to care for the final resting place of family members.
Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gather at a huge cemetery in Taichung, Taiwan to give service and participate in the Qing Ming tomb sweeping festival. This is an annual event and LDS missionaries give service at many cemeteries throughout much of Taiwan. The city leaders and many families were very appreciative of the four hours of service that we gave and the city provided a lunch for us when we finished our work. 
President and Sister Bishop are great at leading by example. 
Elder and Sister Greene had to work hard to keep up with the Elders and Sisters. 
Elder Maua'i from Hawaii hard at work. 
Elders Mutton and Johnson learned that work is easier, more enjoyable, and they accomplish more when two people work together. In the background many abandonded tombs, burial plots, are in disrepair because there is no one around, or perhaps still living, to care for the final resting place of family members. As we saw the numerous abandoned tombs, we felt sad that no one was there to remember the deceased. But we know for a surety that our Heavenly Father is aware of them and that their spirits and bodies will be reunited in the resurrection because Jesus Christ overcame death. Every living soul will receive this free gift from the Lord, and as prophesied in Isaiah 25:8 -He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces. . Our Heavenly Father, who notices even the tiniest sparrow, loves all His children and will not forget even one. A little children's song tells the whole story:
Did Jesus really live again? Yes when the third day came,
He wakened and He left the tomb, He called Mary's name.
Did Jesus walk with those He loved? Yes people touched His feet,
And of the fish and honeycomb, He did truly eat.
And there were nailprints in His hands and a spear wound in His side,
Did Jesus really live again, after He had died? Oh yes, and so shall I.
There were over 500 witnesses to the resurrection!
MISSIONARIES GIVING SERVICE Qing Ming Festival in Taichung
Sister Greene with a delightful group of Sisters who love to give service. 
Elder Wong, one of the Assistants to President Bishop, puts his whole heart into his work. Check out that fancy footwork! 
Sister Greene is living up to the label of a Bag Lady. 
President Bishop and Elder Greene loading up the bags, which is much more enjoyable than lifting weights for exercise. 
The bags of trash completely filled the truck which had to return a few times to cart off all that was bagged up. Our time was well spent in a worthwhile project. During our work a number of people expressed appreciation to us that we would come and clean up their cemetery. The Book of Mormon teaches us so much about the resurrection. We are so grateful for this knowledge in this sacred book of scripture. The Son of God will come to redeem his people, and shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last day, according to their works. Alma 33:22 How fitting to have the opportunity to serve our Taiwanese brothers and sisters at a time when the whole world of Christendom will soon be celebrating Easter, when Christ rose from the tomb and saved all mankind from everlasting death!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
THE NIGHT MARKET AND NEIGHBORS
The Night Market has everything that you might imagine with unusual sights, interesting people, mostly young college and high school students dressed in the most current clothing styles and fads, foods, ice cream, people with their pets and hundreds of shops with bargains galore. One of my favorites things is ice cream in a crepe shaped cone, with two scoops of ice cream, banana slices, a rolled cookie, whipped cream, a dripping of chocolate fudge and a cherry on top.
These three dogs were being pushed around the crouded streets in a stroller, and appeared to be enjoying the attention being given to them by almost everyone on the street. They have "Doggie" stores here where they specialize in clothing and toys for your dogs and the dogs are often given as much or more love and attention than the children receive.
Underground parking garages are great but can be a problem at times, especially when someone parks so close to your car that it is almost impossible to get in your own car. I guess that I will have to either lose a little weight or learn to keep my window open for easier access to my van under these stressful situations.
The local jade markets have an over-abundance of everything you can imagine in the way of Chinese jade and semi-precious stone jewelry, scrolls, artwork, statues, beautiful wood carvings and antiquities. It is a fun place to visit for a short time occasionally on our perparation days.
This wonderful elderly couple, he is 83 and she is 82, live on the ground floor below our apartment next to a juice stand and when they hear us saying "hello" to the young workers in the juice stands they very often come out and give us fresh fruit. I repay them with bottles of home-made pork and vegitable soup that I cook up a few times each month. We have tried to introduce them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by giving them church tracts and lots of hugs but they are Buddist and two of the most loving and kind people that we know. I often wish that my grandchildren could get to know them. They love to look at the pictures of our six children and 21 grandchildren and always have a smile and a twinkle in their eyes when they look at the pictures..
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