I arrived in Taiwan safe and sound and I am with my new comp/trainer in my new area. I have an amazing trainer, his name is Elder Beus from Utah. He is one of the hardest working people I have met. He seriously doesn’t waste a second of time, which is a good thing because the harder we work the more we'll be blessed. I have never worked so hard before. Literally all day we are biking. I probably bike about 15-20 miles a day, we go all over the place. Oh my area is Xihu by the way (pronounced She-Who). The ward here is solid. There are about 100 members, there are never less than 100 people at sacrament meeting (so we hear). The bishop is a great guy, seriously he is so professional and just looks like a bishop (goes to show how the church leaders really are chosen by God). The ward is great, we had a little munch and mingle yesterday after church, I asked them how often they do that and they said most Sundays. So thats kinda cool how united they are, munch and mingle like every sunday, great for receiving referrals too. The ward building is new and super super nice (honestly the Xihu church is nicer than ours in New Canaan). But don’t let that deceive you of this area. Xihu is a great place and all, but it is pretty run down. You can definitely tell I’m in a foreign place. I have seen many gross and dirty places, however, the church building here is abnormally nice. Everyone knows about the Mormon church here because of how beautiful and new it is. Its the only building with wood doors, floors, etc. you rarely ever see wood here, everything is like made out of metal sheets, tile, or just random pieces of material slapped together. Don’t get me wrong though, its not a horrible place, this is definitely not a third world country or anything. Everyone has a car, scooter, or bike and a decent apartment. My apartment is not too shabby. However for the first 2 days and nights elder beus and I had to stay in another companion's apartment next to our area, and that apartment was just gross. Luckily our new apartment (we moved in today by the way) is way nicer. The beds are great (we sleep on these weird bamboo futon things on top of the mattress- feels great).
I gave my first intro/testimony to the ward yesterday (about 3-5 min, nothing too long). The ward was just so impressed with my chinese and would refuse to believe I have only been on the island for 4 days. They kept saying to me afterwards, "you sound like a missionary who has been on the island for at least a year." However, I still don’t think my chinese is any where near good. I can talk and everyone can understand me perfectly but its so difficult for me to understand the locals here (they slur so much and talk at like mach 5 speed).
The people in general here in Taiwan are just amazing. Everyone is sooooooo nice - members and nonmembers alike. No one ever refuses you to come into their home. When we tract everyone invites us into their home for a drink and small meal. If you try to turn them down when they offer food, you cant... they will not take no for an answer. Seriously, they will literally force the food into your mouth. I’m not kidding, on numerous occasions a person, usually the children, will grab the food they offer me and stick it in my mouth. Luckily the food usually tastes good, but sometimes I have no idea what is going into my stomach. The fruit here is absolutely delicious. I am obsessed with the pineapple and in about a month we will have mango season which I here is to die for.
I love the food here! I have rice, noodles, beef, dumplings, manapua type steamed bread, etc. everyday. I am in love with the food here. It will be a great two years. Oh and the wonderful thing is I can eat so much and still lose weight. I have already lost weight because every other day we get up at 6 and run about 2-3 miles (every area has a track to run at). On the days we don’t run, so every other day, we lift. Luckily every apartment in the mission has a bunch of weights and stuff so its really easy to stay in fit here. I love it. It’s required we lift and run every morning. President Hoer is obsessed with exercising so we have a great program. So this week I promise I will take tons of pics and send those along with the MTC pics I have. love you and dad and the rest of the fam so much. Keep praying for me!
Love, Jeremy
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