SHENGDANJIE KUAILE!!!!!! December 25

Feliz Navidad!!! Today is Christmas here in Taiwan!!! I love Christmas with my whole heart. Being a missionary last night was the best. Riding around the streets of Taipei spreading Christmas Joy to the people of Taiwan. SO FUN! Last night we visited our friend Shi dixiong and gave him some gifts. We left it outside his door (we couldn't knock because he wouldn't hear it) then slid a note that said: "Merry Christmas. -Love Santa" I love Christmas.

Yesterday we had a huge Zone meeting for Christmas. It was awesome. Ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, salad, fruit, sweet potatoes, and rolls. It was delicious. I have haven't had american food(besides Mcd's) In so long. So good. Then there was a talent show. I helped my homie Elder Davidson play guitar for his. And Elder White (Not Caleb's relative, I asked) played pinano. Elder Davidson is probably one of the most Christlike people I have ever met. In the MTC he wrote a song and yesterday he got to perform it. To say the least it brought some people to tears. Pulled hard on some heart strings. Including mine.

I love Christmas because we get to remember our Saviour. The perfect example that he set for us. I am so beyond grateful for Him and everything he has done for me. I love him so much. I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to represent him. To serve my brothers and sisters here in Taiwan. I love this work. It is the happiest work. I LOFF IIT.

I love you all so much. Have the best Christmas of your lives. Remember the Saviour. His love for you. And mine. :)

Love, Elder Relyea

December 16

Yooooooooooooooooooooooooo What upppppppppppppppppp!?!?!

How are you all?! I have my son! I will send some pikachurs. He is adorable. Seriously so funny. Makes me laugh so hard. The first picture is before we knew we were companions. It is called baby-sitting you go out with a brand new missionary and just Chuan the Jiao. Aka do missionary work. We saw so many miracles. We met a Huang Dixiong. So cool. We set a baptismal date with him on the street. This hardly ever happens. It was so cool. The Spirit was so strong! I know we are going to see some crazy miracles and success!

My son's name is Elder Weng. He is from Gaoxiong. Which is the South of Taiwan. It is Taiwan's second biggest city. Elder Weng and I have a ton in common. He likes skateboarding, can beatbox, plays ukelele, likes to cook, ect... All in all we are best friends. I love my son. Every time I introduce him I say, "This is my son, Elder Weng!" He is great. And the best part about him is he loves missionary work! He is already such a great missionary. He knows all the lessons, he is a G. I love my Son.

Other than that everything is about the same. This past week we met with a super cool guy, Wang Dixiong. He is super cool. Two weeks ago he said a prayer and then after he was done praying Elder Zhong called him and set up a time with him. So cool. He felt the Spirit so strong in our lesson. He said when he walked into the Chapel and started meeting with us he had a super peaceful feeling. Yeah, that is the Spirit, Homie! He is cool. We are meeting with him this Wednesday after English class. We also are meeting with a Lin Dixiong who is so good. He will get baptized. I think with his wife too. We haven't started teaching his wife yet, but it is coming. No worries. Heavenly Father wants them to be baptized together. It'll work out. Our good friend Shi Dixiong is not doing so well. He might get kicked out of his house. I'm gonna talk to our Bishop see what we can do. Pray for him! He needs it.

You guys, I love missionary work with my whole heart. It is the greatest invention. Makes me so happy. I love this Gospel. I have seen it change lives. I know Jesus Christ is our Saviour. He loves us all so much. He died for us. He knows what we are going through. This Christmas Season remember the Love the Saviour has for all of us and spread that love with everyone you see! I love you all so much! Merry Christmas!

Love, Elder Relyea

December 9th

What is uuuuuuuuuppppp?!?!

This week has been so off the walls crazy good. Our good friend Hua dixiong was baptized on Satuday. The ward I am serving in (Wanda) has three companionships. And on Saturday every companionship had a baptism. It was so cool! So very cool. This Church is so true. :)

On another note I got a call this past week from my mission father (Elder Peterson) and my good friend Elder Thatcher (they are the assistants to the President) and they told me next transfer I would be Training!!! Haha. I'm so beyond stoked. Just a tad nervous because I still don't know how to order properly at Restaurants. At McDonalds I just say "that hamburger." Haha. It is going to be so fun though. I'm stoked to have a son.

Other than that everything is about the same. Did I tell you guys I went to Ping Dong? Probably... That was awesome. Close to no missionaries get that opportunity because it is in Taizhong's mission boundries. That was an adventure.

I love this Gospel with my whole heart. I have seen it change lives and I know without a doubt it has changed mine. Before Hua dixiong met with the missionaries he chewed Binlang and drank so much alcohol. He could drink a whole bottle of some hard stuff and not be phazed. But through this Gospel and Heavenly Father's help he is a changed man. And so happy. So cool. This church is so true. I love it. I love missionary work. AND I love TAIWAN!

Love you all with my whole heart!

Elder Relyea

December 2nd--ping DONG

What uuuuuuupppppppp?!?!

This week was awesome. So great. Yesterday was such a crazy day. We got to go to Ping Dong! Which is almost the very bottom of the island, and it is in Taizhong's mission. Haha. My companion had to go and have his body checked because he'll go to the Army pretty soon. After he's home. But he got to see his family! It was so cool. He's family is great. I got to chat with his family for like an hour and a half as they were checkin his bod. After he was done we went to Ping Dong's church. The second hour and Priestood. When we walked into Sundae School my friend from the MTC Elder Magnuson was there. Haha. We walked in and he was like "ELDER RELYEA!" There were like 30 people watching us. Haha. So funny. So Pind Dong is the most beautiful place. Literally for the past two weeks, it has rained everyday. We go to Ping Dong and it is sunny and beautiful. Then we went and visited Elder Zhong's Aunt and Uncle. Susu and Gugu. haha. Then we left. It only took two hours to get there because we took the fast train. Gao tie. So crazy. I fell asleep for 5 minutes then we were in Taipei again. Weird. Then last night was so awesome. We met two families that became new investies! YES! One family we only met the two brothers but they are great. We told them about the Book of Mormon and the older brother was STOKED. Haha. When we told him we could give him a copy he was so excited. He was like, "Ohhhhh. Really?!" Haha. It was awesome. Then we met a Lin family. So great. So humble. So ready for the Gospel! It is just a dad, daughter, and a son. Praying with them in there little house was so great. The dad was so grateful for us sharing with them. I love them so much.

Our friend Hua dixiong passed his Baptismal interview so he will be baptized on Saturday! YES! We met with our friend Shi dixiong and he was so grateful we washed his clothes. Elder Zhong has collected tons of white shirts, so we gave him three. He was happy. I gave him a Hi-chew and he showed me inside his mouth again. He has probably 3 1/2 teeth. Haha. Good news though, I saw toothpaste and his toothbrush, so he still brushes. I love him so much.

Well guys, I love bean a missionary so much. I love these people with my whole heart. There are not more humble people walking the earth. I love it here. Thank you all for being my homies. I love you all. A LOT!

Love, Elder Relyea

November 25

Hellooooooo!!!

This past week was great. I can't really remember everything that happened and I don't have that much time so I'll just tell you my favourite parts. Hao bu hao?

Yesterday, my good friend Wayne(Shi dixiong, the sweet deaf man), he didn't come to church because he knows he has a special smell about him(a little bit like turtles). But at the end of church he came to the chapel just to tell us he wasn't able to wash his body or clothes. We offered to come to his house to help him wash his clothes. When we got to his house he didn't have any laundry detergent. We're buying some for him today. :) But then we met with him and taught him all about the Book of Mormon. It was so sweet. I just read the Introduction with him. Truly made me realize how grateful I am for the Book of Mormon. It is the best book ever written! Thank you ancient prophets and Joseph Smith!!! Love you guys. Straight up studs.

Alright, I have no time today. But just know I love Taiwan with my whole heart. I love these people. I'm so grateful to be where I am. I hope you all had the best Thanksgivings of your lives. The only Thanksgiving food I ate this year was Pumpkin Pie. But it was delicious. And I ate a ton.

I love you all so much! Have the greatest week of your lives!

Love,

Elder Relyea

November 18- gr8 tymes

Hellooooooooooooooooooooo Erryone that I love!

This week was great! I love Taiwan. I love Taiwanese people. For real. I'll be chillin at a stop light, then start talking to the person next to me and they are so great. These people make my day every singe day. It is so great. I love them. And they are so ready for the GOSPEL! Yeahyeahheeeeeeeee!

This week we met with our best friend Shi dixiong. He is the sweet old deaf man. His name is Wayne. Haha. Party on, Wayne. He is such a special man. He is crazy smart. We walk into his apartment and there are books and newspapers stacked taller than me. Crazy. The whole time we meet with him we just write on a note pad. He told us he doesn't like sign language because in most countries it is different. He likes English because he's able to communicate with more people. Yesterday he came to Church! Yes. We had a member, who types faster than a cheetah... Running. I don't think Cheetah's can type that fast, Sit next to him and type what was happening during Church. I don't think he liked it very much though. He is a very special man. When we were meeting with him he set a baptismal date! And he told us every week he wants to read one book out of the Book of Mormon. So sweet. Alma will probably take more than a week... But he is GREAT!

Last night we visited a great young mom with two ADORABLE kids. She is less-active. She and her kids are so freaking cool. One is a boy he is 4 and one is a girl she is 5. So cute. The little boy everytime he would look at me he would start busting up laughing. Haha. Taiwanese kids are the cutest kids. I will have one someday.


I'm so grateful/STOKED to be here in Taiwan! I love this work with my whole heart! I had an interview with President Day this week and he told me next transfer I will become Senior Companion. So I'll be with some little Noobie. I'm super stoked. A bit scared because I still have no idea how to get around Taipei. haha. It will be fun.

I love you all so much!!! Keep being who you are, because you people are the best!

Love,

Elder Relyea

November 11

Hellooooo my best friends!

This week was so great. So many awesome things happened. This week we met a Brother Xu on the street. He is in his 60's. He's so funny. We set him up for Sunday at noon. Right after church but he showed up at like 9:20. So instead of Priesthood we met with him. He didn't sleep the night before, he played a game called Majiang with his friends all night. Haha. Nice. He is a character. He told us since his wife passed away he has tons of freedom. Haha. He doesn't have to tip-toe around the house anymore. Haha.

This week I was riding my bike and next to me some person was also riding a bike. They were singing to themselves and I was like, "Yes, I'm not the only one."

Yesterday at Church we met a man that the Sisters met the day before. He is special. His name is Shi(Sure) Dixiong(Brother), and he is deaf. But he has amazing English. How we communicate with him is we write on a note pad. I've never wanted to be able to speak(do you say speak?) Sign Language so bad in my life. But he is so great. He wants an English Book of Mormon. We're meeting with him this week. I'm so stoked. He is a sweet heart.

Yesterday we visited a new member. Her name is Sister Yang. Haha. She is great. She is the definition of a Cat Lady. In her 40's, not married, lives alone, and has 8 cats. No, she says she has 8 cats, but I know there are more in that house. All her cats are super cool though. They look like mini Siberian Tigers. So sick. One was straight up cuddlin' with my hand. I'm gonna find her a Husband. :)

Yesterday we saw such a SWEET miracle with a less-active. His name is Brother You(Yo). He smokes 4 packs a day. Last Thursday we went and visited him. He is a great man. Right when we walked into his house I saw his guitar and he told me to play it. Tuned it up for him, as we chatted I played some Kings of Convience like stuff(definitely helped). He told me about his bad habbits. He told me he didn't know if he could change his bad habbits. I bore my testimony on the power of prayer and scripture study and invited him to start praying. Then last night he called and told my companion he prayed and read scriptures and he wanted us to visit him. When we went over his whole perspective was completely changed. He knew from prayer and the scriptures he was given strength! And he wants to change his life and start coming to Church! YEAH! SO cool! So happy.

This Church is so true! There is so much power in prayer and the Scriptures! No matter how far down you are, it doesn't matter. Heavenly Father knows our situations, he knows what is up! And will help us! I love this work with my whole heart and I am so grateful to be here. Thank you all for being the best people on the earth. I love you all so much.

Love,

Elder Relyea

November 4th. The big city....

HELLOOOO!!!!!!!

This past week has been NUTS! So many great things happened! I got transferred to Wanda... Which is right in the middle of Taibei. Haha. It is so crazy! I went from Taidong, the farthest South you can go, then Zhunan is literally on the other side of the Island, now I am right in the middle of Taibei. Haha. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE! Riding bikes is crazy. Haha. But so fun. I already love it here so much. Last night we had a fireside. There is a fireside the first week of every month. They are so cool! SO many missionaries. I will get to see Lancey Pants all the time! And all my homies from the MTC. At the fireside New Converts get to share their conversion stories. So awesome. Last night there was an Aborigonie guy. Aborigonie's are the best people. They literally are Native Americans that just live in Taiwan and speak chinese. Aka.... Lamanites. But they are the best people, hearts of straight gold. I love them. Last night, this guys testimony was so powerful. Brought the Spirit so strong. I LOVE THIS CHURCH!

My new companion is another Taiwanese guy! His name is Elder Zhong and he is the BEST! So happy all the time. So stoked to be alive. This transfer is his last transfer. His 17th transfer. So many. I'm only on my 4th. Haha. We are going to see so many miracles, I know it!

I love this work with my whole heart. It is the happiest work. It's not even work. It is so good. Taiwanese people are the best people ever born! I love them so much. All of them. Haha. I love this Gospel, it truly will make us the happiest we can possibly be! I know that for sure.

I love you all so much. Thank you all for everything you do and all the love you've given to me. Have the best week of your lives!

October 30

Hello people that I love a ton!

So we got move calls last week.... And Elder Relyea is Leafing Zhunan. Pretty nuts. I'm so grateful for the time I have had here in Zhunan. I feel like I've learned so much here! It's crazy.

Today we get to go to the Temple! I'm STOKED!!!!!! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I have no time, but just know. I know this Gospel is so flippin true! I love this work with my whole shart.... Heart! It is the happiest work in the world! I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and he loves every single person personally. I'm trying to be more like him errysingle day! Thank you all for bean the best people in the world. Be happy!

Love you!

Elder Relyea aka Ye Zhanglao

10/14

Hellooooooooo, What uuuuuuuuuup, Famary!

This week has been nuts. So good. CONFERENCE WAS SOOO GOOD! The first session I cried so much. Haha. Such a baby. I was watching it with my friend from Guademala(He's so sick. He speaks perfect Spanish, English, and Chinese), I think he was a little freaked out. He kept looking over at me. Haha. Man, I am so grateful for the leaders of the Church! They are such studs! I love them all so much.

This week I probably had the best day of my mission. I got to go on exchanges with my Zone Leader Elder Wolfgramm. STUD. Seriously, best missionary I've met. I learned so much. We found 4 new investies! Blew my mind. The whole day was comepletely led by the Spirit. Before, I thought people here in Zhunan didn't really like the missionaries, turns out, they do. That was just my negative perspective. But, no worries, I flipped that right upside down! I know being a Christlike missionary is the most important thing. Truly loving these people, when talking to them, giving them all my time and attention. I know that is what the Savior would do. I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK! It is so great. Conference reminded me that the Savior spent all his time helping people. If it was service or spreading the Gospel, he was always helping. That is the missionary I want to become. Truly Christlike. I know I am just a instrument in the hands of the Lord! It's awesome!

On my bike I've started making up spiritual songs about missionary work. Haha.

Well, I think that is about it. I ate fried Chicken bum two days ago. Here in Taiwan it's like they forget to take the Chicken's skin off before they cook it. It is super chewy. Mmm.

Alright, Love you all with my whole heart!!!! Hugs and kisses(gay voice).

October 7

HErrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

This week was great. I truly am loving my new area more and more everyday! The members here are so far beyond awesome. And the Bishop is the MAN. There is one Member here named Xu(Shu) Dixiong and he is Dope. He is the number one wii tennis players in Taiwan. haha. So sick. He won 100,000 dollars... Taiwanese dollars. But that is still 3,333.33! Crazy. He is sick. And he can play Tears in Heaven(is that what it's called?) by Eric Clapton. Which is always a plus.

One of my favourite parts of the week: We are standing outside of McDonalds when this lady and her baby girl walk by. I tell her her baby is adorable. She thanks me and walks inside. Then she comes back out and gives me and my companion ice cream cones. What a Sweetheart! Seriously made my day! So nice. The people here in Taiwan have hearts of straight Gold. I love Taiwan ren(people)!!!

So I love being a missionary so much. This week my companion had to go to a training in Taipei so I went to Xinzhu and I was with Two other missionaries. It was weird being in a tri-panionship again. Super weird contacting that way. But it was great. We did so much finding. I met a kid and his English name was Big Head. Haha. He was cool. Everytime we go street contacting we talk to the coolest people. That is why I love being a missionary. We find these awesome people and just invite them to pray with us and make their lives better, happier. I love missionary work.

This weeks English class was awesome. Haha. It was just Nydia and Becky again. We talked about Mexican food, plastic surgery, why girls some girls are insecure. They asked me if I like natural girls or girls that wear tons of make up.. Then I taught them, "Modest is hottest." Haha. I love English class.

Alright I love you all so much. Thank you for being the best people in the world. I love this gospel and Missionary work so much. I'm STOKED to watch Conference this Saturday! Love you all.

Love, Elder Relyea

September 30

Dear people that I love a toooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnn!

 

This week was great. Super good. Here in Zhunan the weather is so different from Taidong. Taidong-so flippin hot or raining. Zhunan- not that hot, always windy. It seriously is so freaking windy here. It's like the Chicago of Taiwan(Haha. Thought of that on my bike the other day. Since my Companion is Taiwanese I've had to start making jokes with myself... I've also been talking to myself on my bike a lot more thanusual lately). This past week I hit my three months on island mark! I've almost been gone for 6 flippn months! What the fangpi?! So weird. Time isn't a real thing.

 

This week I've really learned a lot. I've been reading in Alma 26. When Ammon is giving a reccount of his adventures, when the Lord tells him to have patience in his afflictions and I will give unto you success. Here in Zhunan as a missionary you need patience. Since everysingle person is Buddist and no one is really willing to listen. My testimony of the Book of Mormon was definitely strengthened this week. I'm so grateful for Ammon and His Brethren. STUDS. Straight up G's.

 

Wednesday we had English class. Of course I was stoked. It started.... no one was there. Haha. But then two sweethearts came. Nydia and Becky. Pretty much we just chatted the whole time. Haha. The best way to learn is practice right? So if we just speak English the whole time, no worries. It was great. This week I've also eaten some interesting things. Both from pigs. One day I ate Pig heart noodles. They were discusting. They tasted like straight up blood. And remember disecting the pig in Hike School? How that smells? That's a little bit how they tasted. And this week it was the Moon Festival this past week so yesterday everyone was kao-in some rou aka cooking some meat. On Friday we had a BBQ activity with the ward. This is what they barbeque here: Entire fish, sausage, schish-ka-bab, and pig's blood pudding. And I ate all of it. Pigs blood pudding definitely isn't as bad as it sounds. They sell it at all the 7/11's. haha.

 

Alright you guys. I love mission work. Yesterday I was just riding my bike and I stopped at a red light. Talked to this lady for a minute. She said my Chinese was Excellent! Made my day. :) Yesterday while I was riding my bike(Roxanne) I talked to myself for at least a half an hour in a New Zealand accent. Just narrating what was happening.... Uhhhh. I now know why missionaries come home so weird. I'm going to be so weird when I get home. Haha.

 

I love you all with my whole XIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For real. Thank you for everything you've done for me.

 

Love,

 

Ye Zhang Lao

September 23

Hellooooooooooooo everyone!!!

 

This letter will be super short.... Soddy. This past week was NUTS. So crazy. On Thursday we packed all of our stuff and went to Taipei(a 6 hour train ride). When we got there we got to go to the Temple. It was so nice. I felt rejuvenated. Spritually and physically. I was so happy. That night we slept at President and Sister day's house. EldAH WRIAAGHHHT and I shared a room. We had miget beds. The bed when to his knees. Haha. Then Friday I got to see all my homies from the MTC! they all came to Taipei for move calls! It was so awesome to see them all. They anounced all the trainers and Trainees first and then everyone else....

 

I got called to Zhunan which is on the West coast. I went from the East coast to the West Coast. haha. I do not belong in Taibei. haha. I love my new companion Elder Lusubudan! He is from Taiwan, Gaoxiong! We speak so much Chinese! He can speak pretty good english though. The ward here is so flippin great. For real. All the members are DOWN to help us. It is so cool.

 

Change is crazy. But good. I reflect on the words of Garth,

 

"It's like a new pair of underwear... At first their constrictive, and then they become a part of you!"

 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your lovin' and support.

  

Elder Lusubudan! And Youzi susu aka Uncle Grapefruit

Eric and Kevin's baptism!!!!!!!!

Me and Wu dixiong. I love that boy. His undies are nice huh.

September 16

Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo everyoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Man, this week was so good. So nuts. But so great. Saw some crazy miracles! It was so SICK! We found out if we're moving or not... Stay tuned.

Monday we went to the most beautiful place in the world. I'll send a picture. TAIWAN IS SO BEAUTIFUL! I'm so blessed to be here. Monday night we were biking home and I saw this kid. Walking his bike. I stopped to talk to him. His name was Sirius. Sirius Black de Sirius. haha. He is the coolest kid! He set a baptismal date on the street! Seriously happiest kid ever, he wants to follow Jesus Christ! SICK!

Tuesday was awesome. President and Sister Day came down to Taidong for the first time. To give you a little idea how far it is, 6+ hours on a train, and 1 hour on a plane... We're pretty far from Taipei. Haha. We all had interviews with President. I love him so much. Such an inspired man. For real. Brings the Spirit so strong. Then Elder Peterson and I got to get them lunch. We had no idea what to get them because Sister Day is a pretty picky eater. We decided on wraps (Of course, classic us). Guess what, she hated them. Haha. And we got Watermelon juice to drink. She wouldn't drink that because there were seeds in the bottom... Haha. She's such a sweetheart though. Really, she's my Mom of the mission. She told us all, if we ever had a bad day, and just need someone to talk to, to call her. She's great. Then we had District meeting. I love every person in this district. So much. This night a family took us out to dinner... Seafood. This was REAL seafood. Shrimp as big as my head, the kind where you have to rip off all the parts... Head, legs, crunchy stuff on it's back, everything. So yummy..... :/ And we ate some nicely peppered snail. Haha.

Wednesday was such a great day. Service, we picked up garbage in a parking lot for an hour. :) I was stoked about it, my companion wasn't. Haha. Then we had MM meeting with our mission leader at his restaurant. Such good food. They have this Watermelon drank. It is like you are eating a watermelon but it's already chewed for you... What? It's delicious. Then we had English Class. Probably the best English class yet. First we talked about the best thing that happened to them the past week. Then we talked about our childhood dreams. What we wanted to be when we grew up. So great. I told them I wanted to be a police officer. A sick one though. And I told them how when I was younger I just new I would be famous. I don't know for what, just famous. Then Song Said, "But Relyea, you are famous. We are all here because of your reputation. If you move, I won't come anymore." I love Song. Such a good guy. We're besties. After they told me what they wanted to be when they grew up, I went around and told them all how they did those things in some small way. It was such a good class.

Thursday before WPS we visited Wu dixiong. He was sleeping. He came out of his house in only his undies(super small boxers), and he peed in the water irrogation system. Haha. Then we met with him. Taught him the W.o.W. Talked about World of Warcraft. Just kidding, Word of Wisdom. It was so great. Then we had WPS... It was rough this week. I was so sleepy. But by the end it was good. This night we met with a Zeng Dixiong. He was super cool. He told us about his love for Japanese woman. Haha.

Friday was awesome, Elder Peterson went to Hualian on X-changes with the Zone Leaders. Elder Townsend was here with me. We met with Wu dixiong again and he had read the Word of Wisdom pamphlet 10 times!.... What. Haha. He told us he pretty much memorized it. So sick. Then we met with Hou Dixiong. My best friend. We were chillin in his little house eating some dragon fruit. His wife was eating some and he says in English, "She doesn't need that, she's already too fat." Hahaha. So funny because his wife doesn't speak a word of English. Haha. I hope you guys think this is at least a little funny. I laughed so hard. Best part of the day... KEVIN PASSED HIS BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE'LL GET BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY WITH HIS BROTHER! So great.

Saturday, Kevin and Eric were baptized together. Happiest day of my life. I was so happy for them The whole time I wanted to cry. Haha. From Happiness.

I also found out I'm moving from Taidong. I'm sad but it will be good. I love YOU ALL!!!!

September 9

Dear People that I love a tooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnn!!!!!!

Ni haooooooooooo!!! This week was so good. So many good things happened. Missions are the best. :) For real.

Mundayeeee, last P-day was so nice. Had Chubway here for the first time. It sucked. Haha. I got the Honey oat bread. The oats were so hard I thought they were bones from the Chicken (that's the norm here. You'll be eating chicken, oh, huge bone). We ate under this Gazebo thing. It was beautiful. Then we watched Toy Story 3. So good. Then after our Branch President had us over for din din. Guess what we had........ Gali. Aka Curry. But guess again, I actually liked it. It was super duper mild, but tasted nice. I didn't want to throw up everything I had eaten the past 24 hours. They have this little boy who is 2. His name is Dede. Cutest kid I've ever met. At Church, he'll run up to you and grab your leg. Haha. Makes me want to have a little asian even more.

Tuesdee, we went to Yuli for a Zone Conference. After the Conference I stayed in Yuli with Elder Bowler. Yuli is the smallest area in the whole mission. Rice fields as green as the underbelly of a sea turtle as far as the eye can see. SO beautiful. The stars there are so good. We met this ahma. Aka grandma. And she had the oldest copy of the Book of Mormon I've ever seen. Half the cover page was gone. It was about 6 inches thick from water damage. I think it was the very first Chinese translated B.o.M. I should have taken a picture! But I didn't.... Sorry. I ate pigs blood... It was in my Hot and sour soup. It wasn't bad(I actually couldn't even taste it). Today Eric had his Baptismal interview.... and he PASSED!!! "I.... Passed. I'M GONNA GRADUATE!" Name that movie.

Wednesday, we tried visiting an Investigator. Wu dixiong, but he was at work. We visited a potential family that lives right by his house. They are so great. They are 3 lil kids in this family. One is 9, cutest little girl. She has super short hair, but is so adorable. and then two sons. One is 11 and the other is like 15. They are so great. I want them to accept the Gospel. So bad. The mom is the one who is missing one of her front teeth. She is a straight up sweet heart. Then we went and sang at the Hospital. I love this service. Sometimes it makes me super sad to see some of these people in so much pain, but I know singing some happy tunes makes them feel better. Then we had English class! This week we talked all about dreams. Turns out, Taiwanese people have super boring dreams. Not one of them has ever had a flying dream. We talked all about Lucid Dreaming, of course I talked about Thatch Batch. :) Talked about how crazy Deja vu is. Haha. That was funny. After I met with Eric. We talked about him getting the priesthood! Ah! It was so sweet!

Thursday, we had WPS. Usually WPS is 3 hours. This week it was almost 4, because President wants us to go through tons of questions for each of our investigators. It was really good though. Super productive. Then we got wraps. :) It is Lai Dixiong's birthday this day. The one who isn't a member but his whole family is. And Lai jiemei wanted us to do a musical thing at the birthday party. So we practiced with the Seesters. We got his cake then went to his house. Such a great family party. Before he blew out his candles he told us his two goals/wishes(I guess they tell you here). He said, "I want to quit smoking and join the Church." .................. It was so cool! His oldest daughter who is 16 started crying. SO, we're going to start meeting with him!!! How sick is that! He'll be baptized. I know it. When we did our musical guy, we sang Love at Home. Lai dixiong's two brother's were there. The WHOLE time we were singing they had their iPhones in our faces. Taking so many pictures. Haha. It was funny. One of his brother's freaking loved me. We're best friends. He said he's going to find me in America and we'll eat Steak. I think that's what he said. :/ He asked me for my facebook information. Haha.

Fridai, for lunch we just cleaned our apartment. I'm becoming quite the work horse these days. Cleaned for 55 minutes ate for 5. PB&J. Of course. Classic me. Then we went on exchanges with Nan taidong. South Taidong. I was with You Zhanglao. He's from Taizhong. Haha. He's great. We tried to visit my best friend Hou dixiong (the one with no teeth). But he wasn't home. Don't worry, we left a note. Last week, Hou dixiong found a huge bees nest in his yard (he has a huge yard, he pretty much lives in a jungle of beautiful plants). He picked up the bee hive and a huge swarm of Tiger Head bees came out and attacked him. He said about thirty bees were just going to town on his body. WHAT?! How crazy is that! He could have Died! But, thankfully, he didn't. Best part about this experience, he feels God saved him. And that God still has things for him to do here on earth. So cool. He's the best man. I love him. I'll get a better picture of us. :)

Saturday, I was still with You zhanglao and the first and we went and visited Gou dx. The best part of this day was the night time. We were just finding. We met this kid right outside of his house named Jin dixiong (English name Simon... Kath). He was SO COOL! Super duper Christian. His faith was crazy. But he moves to Gaoxiong for College today. But he's willing to meet with the missionaries there. Then on our way home we saw this beautiful family about to go into their house. We talked to the dad and the lil meimei (little sister). She was ADORABLE. So shy, everytime we would say hi she would put her head on her dad's chest. This family was great. And, I think they have interest. We'll see. Pray.

Sundae, was great. We had 5 investies at Church. That was a miracle. After church we met with Eric and Kevin and watched Finding Faith in Christ. It was so great. They will be baptized this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so STOKED FOR THEM!!!!!!!!!!1

I LOVE YOU ALL! Seriously so much!

September 2

Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

This week was nuts. So good. I literally can't believe how fast the time is going by. It is blowing my mind. Weeks feel like minutes. Haha.

Last monday we watched HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON! I was so stoked. It was so great. Being on a mission makes the simplest things better. Stupid jokes become super funny and good movies become the best movie you've ever seen in your life. It's pretty cool. Nothing really happened this night. We went tracting(knocking doors) and I realized it's just like trick-or-treating except we're giving the treat... The Gospel. :) Then we met with our investigator Yao dixiong. He's great. So flippin busy with work.

Tuesdee, I went to Yuli. It is pretty much the Vernal of Taiwan. There are no people. We would be riding our bikes on a street, not a single person on the road. So weird, because in Taidong, people are everywhere. The Elder who is there his name is Elder Liu aka Daniel. He hasn't even been baptized for a year, and he is a duanchuan. Which is just a member who is a temporary missionary. He is so cool. His testimony is amazing. Blows my mind. He's the one in the picture.

Wednesday, coming back to Taidong we took the wrong train. Haha. That was crazy. When we got back we had district meeting. Then we went to meet one of our investigators. He wasn't at his friends house where he usually is. We asked these Lil' Homies if they knew where he was, one said he would take us to where he was. Me and this lil guy raced on our bikes. Haha. He was a quick lil duffer. Our investie Wu dixiong was playin some B-ball. I got to show them how bad I am. But I made some 3's, so no worries. Thank you first two weeks in the MTC when I hadn't discovered Volleyball yet. Then we went and ate some fried rice at Didi's. The lady there is the biggest tianxin. She know's we can't drink tea, so she makes us a special drink everytime we go. She's so nice. Then we had English class... It was pretty boring this week. BUT, we read some sick stories. For example: The Parable of the Eagle. Look it up. It's SICK.

Thursday, we tried to meet with Guodx but he forgot. Had WPS. It wasn't too bad this week. Stayed awake the whole time which is always good. This night we met with the Elder's quorum president and his family. Had some more seafood pizza. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Super weird. Found out one has crab, shrimp, and squid. Haha. Delicious. They gave us a referral, one of their neighbors. Went and visited them, while Bi zhanglao was visiting them, I talked to this dad. He was super cool. Has two sons. He seemed super interested in our message. Then we met this little guy named Hank. He is sick. He's 9. We didn't ask for his number, then he was like, "here, i'll give you my dad's number." We were like... Sick.

Friday, I had my first dream in Chinese! We tried to meet with Guodx again but he forgot AGAIN. Our peike's family lives super close to Guodx's place. So he invited us to come and eat tons of food with him. The food was haihao(okay). Here they will just put whole pieces of chicken in soup. Skin, bone, errything. It's pretty gross. Then we went to Hualian. Which is a three hour train ride. It's not even half way to Taipei. That gives you an idea how far away from taipei we are. Haha. I love going to Hualian. Get to go on exchanges with my homie Eldah Wriaght! Ma Aussie frend! We slept at there house and stayed up SO late. Then guess what, the next morning had to get up at 5. Haha. That sucked. And we couldn't sleep on the train because we had to do studies... Worst thing trying to stay awake.

Saturday, we raked up some leaves today. And it was weird thinking in Utah it will be Fall soon. I love fall. Flanny skating weather. It's the BEST. We had tons of lessons today. We met with a Caidixiong and he was so cool. So happy. I invited to be baptized and I barely finished the invite when he said, "Yes!" I asked him why, and he said he feels like it's the right thing to do. He is already praying everyday! He's great. This day we went to a part member's house and did service for like an hour and a half. Cleaned outside their house. The dad is the only one in the family who isn't a member. And it was so awesome because he hasn't been willing to meet with the missionaries for over 6 months. They gave us din din. Ate some chicken stomach. It was so bad. So chewy... :/ We had a lesson with the family. This seriously was the best night. We were laughing the whole time. Haha. Such a cool experience. They had an 8 year old little girl. And her biggest wish is that her Dad can baptize her. She prays for her dad every single day. WHAT?! Can you think of a more innocent wish in the world? How cool would it be if we taught him until he got baptized. So cool.

Sundae, was a good day. When we got to church only one of our investigators was there. But after Sacrament started 3 more walked in. That was a miracle. We met with Eric after church (His brother Kevin didn't come), Eric is so close to baptism. Probably next week. He is so ready. Made a beautiful dinner this night. I'll send a picture. It was delicious. Then we went to go visit that Huang dixiong's family. They are SO great! But this time He wasn't as stoked on our message. I want to teach them so badly. Then we visited Hank and his family. Met his older sister named Mary. Talked to his dad, asked his dad if we could come back and visit his son. He said no. :( So sad. Hank and Mary are so cool. They said if we come back their dad might beat them. Sometimes I hate parents. Heavenly Father knows their situation. This night we met a man named Dragon Wildman. Haha. He speaks English, Spanish and of course Chinese. He was sick. Remember when I told you about Chuck? He is friends with Chuck.

I love you all so much! Thank you for all the love you give me. I'm so grateful for all of you! Know that I am so happy doing missionary work! I love talking to these people all day, everday! I love you! Have the best week of your lives!

August 26th

Hellooooooooooo beautiful people!!!!!!!! This week was nuts. "the bathrooms here are nuts."

Munday, was sweet. We went to a waterfall. It was pretty sweeeeet. When we went shopping we met a man from Fance who is also a missionary. For an Indian Religion. He was pretty cool. His name is Mark. This night we ate dinner with Nian dx. He took us to this super nice Steak house. It was a 5 course meal. Haha. Whoa. Yep, Monday was kind of boring...

Toosdee, we had Diqu huiyi. District meeting. I love my whole discrict. They are all so great. Then I had to take a language assesment thing for the MTC so we had to find a computer with a microphone. We went to a member's music store, and he's got a recording studio above the store. Haha. It was way too nice for what I was doing. Haha. There were drums, Dad gitahs, mum gitahs, I wanted to play all of them... But I didn't. We met with one of our investigators Cai dixiong. He's a 13 year old and has ADD for sure. No doubt about it. Haha. His mom is super loud. When we were leaving she was giving us high 5's and when we would high five she would say, "Yesu ai ni!" Aka Jesus loves you. Haha. It was funny.

Wednesday, we went to Hualian for Zone Conference... That lasted 6 hours. But it was all super good. One of our Assistants knows Colby Relyea. At this Zone Conference I got to say a lil talk for about two minutes. I talked about the importance of the Spirit in everything we do in Missionary work. My homie Elder Wright talked wright(haha) before me and told such an awesome story about following the Spirit to find a family. He's one of my besties I've met here. We were in the MTC together. We also got mail, the thing about being in Taidong is it's the farthest place away from Taipei. It's as South as you can get. So mail is Rare. and so nice. :) On the way home we met this guy from Kentucky. He was super cool. He is here for a Buddhist Program and then he was just traveling around Taiwan. We chatted about religion (of course), and he asked such simple questions. Like, "why do you guys believe in God?" It was so cool to think about this question. It really strengthened my testimony telling him why I do believe in God. Then when we got back we had English class. :) Nothing really awesome happened. Ted asked a question, "what is the difference between precious and cherish?" So we got all into Verbs, nouns, adjectives, it was crazy. I pretty much just winged it, so I don't know how much I taught them is correct. Haha.

Thursday, in the morning we went and visited an investigator Guo dixiong. He is so cool. We talked all about families. And then we had WPS. Man, WPS was rough this week. Haha. First 15 minutes, I was almost out. BUT, I pulled through. Towards the middle I feel like I was in the state between sleep and consciousness, weird thing is, I was still talking. After we went and met with one of our new investigators, Wu dixiong. He is this 17 year old. Super happy, super cool. We talked about prophets. Then we went and ate wraps, classic us. We pretty much go everyday. All the ladies there know us. Haha. They're tianxin's. This day was a complete vegetarian day. We were on our way to 7 to make calls when President called us and told us to go home because of the Typhoon. Went home, cleaned my bathroom that I KNOW hadn't been cleaned in at least 5 years. Wiped up all the mold/pubes/spider webs/spiders. That was fun. Haha. It looks nice now.

Friday we went to Luye. Which is about 20 minutes away. And met with our two investigators that will probably be baptized in a week or two!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!! I'm stoked. They are two brothers. Eric and Kevin. They've only missed church once in 3 months. What. How cool is that. I love them. We talked about President Monson.

Saturday, we met with Nian dixiong. He is an interesting man. I think he's meeting with us because he doesn't have any friends, not because he wants to learn the Gospel. Which is sad. The Sister's had a baptism today! It was awesome. The baptismal font here can only fill up like 3 feet deep. Haha. So when He was baptizing her it was super awkward. First her foot came out, and then he didn't get her head all the way under, then finally he got her all the way under. After the baptism we watched the Joseph Smith movie with Eric and Kevin. It was hilarious in Chinese. Haha.

Sundae, Church was awesome. That Wu dixiong I mentioned earlier came to church with one of his homies. We met with them Before church and set baptismal dates with both of them. It was siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick. Okay. Yes, I'm almost out of time.


I love you all!!!!! So much. Go have the best week of your lives!

Love Elder Relyea.

 

August 19th... Nature poem!

Helloooooooooooo!!!!!!!

This week was so awesome. So awesome. Monday we had a picnic with the District. aka ate pb&j's on this path thing. It was nice. :) When we went shopping I found SHOE GLUE for my loafies!!! I was so STOKED! I will wear those until I literally can't wear them anymore. "At first they're constrictive, and then they become a part of you!" Those guys aren't just shoes anymore. We watched Lion King. Love that one. "Correction! I know yo fada." Monday night we met the nicest little lady. And when I say little lady I mean she was like 4'2. Haha. Such a sweet heart. Except we couldn't have a lesson with her because there wasn't another man in her house. :( She was so nice, and she seriously wanted to learn! We'll go back and teach her. She's so prepared.

Toosdee, we had WPS. And if you don't know what WPS is, you sit with your companion for 3 hours and plan the whole week... It's rough sometimes. Elder Relyea gets pretty sleepy. Haha. But this week it was great. Stayed awake the whole time! Then we met with our friend STEPHEN. He told us he had a test that day and before the test he prayed and asked for help to focus. He told us he could focus the whole time when he usually can't! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet! And he read the whole 1st lesson Pamphlet. We gave him a Book of Mormon. Before the lesson he gave us chocolate marshmallow pies. :) He's so nice. Then we met with Nian DX. I feel like he is telling us he believes all of these things are true because it's what we want to hear and that he really doesn't know for himself. So, we really focused on him getting an answer. I bore my testimony that I know these things will make us the happiest. He's taking us out for steak tonight. He's a tianxin(sweet heart).

Wednesday, I love Wednesdays. This Wednesday we had District Meeting. Always a good time. Then on Wednesdays we meet with our Ward Mission leader and he owns this restaurant so we get free din din. And it is delicious. We get french toast and peanut butter toast. I discovered if you combine them, it's a nice treat. And then we have English Class! Haha. This week was awesome. Taught them Poetry. And we wrote a poem together as a class. It's called the Nature Poem. And it goes like this.

Nature Poem

Nature is like our mom,
so we call her Mother Nature.
Whatever you ask for, she will give you.
Change a lot, like a woman.
She feeds human beings,
like the way our Mom did.
All may change, but Jesus never.
So Jesus is like our Dad.

Haha. It's beautiful, huh.

Thursday, when we went running this morning there was the most glorious rainbow I've ever seen. It was even doubled for a minute. Great way to shart the day. Today we went and taught Guo dx the Word of Wisdom. He tolds us he has a Kidney stone. Oooooh, sorry homie. But they don't pee them out here, they either break them up, or do an operation... But he said whenever he needs something, we show up and tell him exactly what he needs to hear. He called us angels. So SWEET! Missions are the best. :) Then we found two lil homies. One is 17 and one is like 12. The 17 year old is Wu. He seemed sketchy at first, but he came to church yesterday. And guess what? Elder Peterson and I were doing two different lessons, so I was with a member and Wu dx. And I taught him baptism and he set a baptismal dayyyyeeeeeeeeeete! Yeahhhhhhhh! It was awesome. The Spirit was there for sure. He was so willing/stoked about baptism. So cool.

Fridee, we went to Luye which is about 25 minutes away to teach two investies that will be baptized super soon! We taught them the Law of Chastity. They are 15 and 17 year old broha's. There was one awkward part.... Haha. But it was fine. Then we got back and ate dinner at this....... Interesting place. It was a pick it yourself place. Nothing was really... good. My companion got this stuff with lil fishies in it... And I ate one. Oh, it was so bad. So bad. Like a whole rotten lake in my mouth. Haha.

Saturdee, ate some wrap guys for lunch. Love those. Had to take some surveys for the MTC..... Then Elder Peterson had to take one about me. While he was doing that I got so tyty. Haha. It's like if I sit down for more than 10 minutes my body thinks it's time to sleep. It's not good. After surveys we went finding! I met the coolest kid from Lithuania. Haha. His name was Ignac. Like Ignacio. What are you doing here? He's here for the Hot Air balloon festival. Taught him a little bit about the Gospel. And told him if he sees the missionaries in Lithuania he should go talk to them to learn more about the Book of Mormon.

Sundae, Sundae's are always really good. Church is great. I'm understanding more and more which is nice. After dinner we went finding. I love finding. We met the coolest Waiguoren. Aka foreigner. He is from California and he is here to surf and teach English. I was thinking if we could swim, he could teach us to surf and in return we would teach him the Gospel. While surfing. :) That would be great. What better way to learn the Gospel? Finding is becoming easier and easier. I love just being best friends with the people here. I'm understanding my Purpose more and more. And how vital invites are. If I don't invite them, then there is no way they can learn more about the Gospel.

I love this work. It is so HAPPY! It's awesome. I love this Gospel so much. Seeing how this Gospel makes people so much happier is the coolest thing to watch. I love you all. With my whole xin. Have the best week of your lives. :)

August 13

Herrrrrrrrrrooooooooohhhhhhhhhh!!!!

This week was a great time to be alive in Taidong! I love Taidong!!! We had move calls this week and........................................................................................................................................................................ I'm staying in Taidong with Elder Peterson! YEAHHHHHH!!! I'm stoked. Heavenly Father knows how much I love it here and all the people here. :)

Monday, was a very nice time. We watched Tangled...... It's so nice being able to take a break from reality for little bit. Pretend I'm Flynn Rider... :/ This day we met with Yao dixiong. (Dixiong is Brother in Chinese) He is so SICK! We taught him all about the Book of Mormon. He told us he really wants to come to church, but he has to get work off. Then we met with Brent. He told us he doesn't want to meet with us. :( BUT, everytime he uses his English name, who is he going to think of? The Missionaries! His lesson was really good though. I felt the Spirit super strong. I bore my testimony on the power of Prayer.

Toosdaiii, we went to Yuli for a district leader meeting. I got to chill with my Australian mate Eldah WRIGHT! Ahhhh, I love Eem! He vented to me about his companion the whole time. Made me so grateful for Elder Peterson. He also asked me a question I've never really thought about before. He asked, "Ye Zhanglao, why are you happy all the time?"....... Haha. I was stumped. I thought about the question all day. And I think I'm happy because I have so much to be happy about! I also came to the conclusion that there are infinite answers to this question. Something interesting to think about though. What makes us truly happy? This day we met with Nian dixiong, and he is so AWESOME! He is reading and praying every single day!

Wednesday we had to go to Yuli again for a Zone training guy. It was 3 hours..... I gave a spiritual thought about always being grateful and relying on the Lord all the time. I read from Alma 26, this is when Ammon glories in the Lord. Such a good Chapter! Go read it. The last verse talks about how Heavenly Father is mindfull of everyone of His children. I know this is true. :) This night we had English class. Yeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!! We talked about personification... Again... I was asking for examples and this new guy Song was like, "The car is farting." Hahaha. I laughed way hard. We were the only ones laughing in the class. Haha. Then for the spiritual thought I taught them how to pray. I shared Enos' story. Then after this kid, Michael came up to me and said he was super confused. He had never really heard that God is our Father in Heaven. I had a lesson with him. Taught him all about Heavenly Father, Prayer, the Holy Ghost. And then he said his first prayer at the end! His english is good enough that I got to teach him in english. Which I've never done before. But it was awesome.

Thursday.... I can't really remember what happened.... We went on exchanges with the South elders. I was with Elder Slawson. He is a good Missionary. He is already graduated from College. What? I haven't even started College. Haha. He was a private school kid, so it makes sense. Haha.

Friday, I was still with Elder Slawson until 3. I ate spring rolls for lunch. We eat them like everyday. They are so good. Mom, I think of you everytime I eat them because you would LOVE them. I think they are vegitarian.... I honestly have no idea what is in them. But they are Hao chi (How chir) aka delicious. Then we get this fruit and vegatable one. It has sprouts, apple, guava, a raisen? maybe, cucumber, seaweed, carrot, I think. It is super good. We taught Nian dixiong again. This man is GOLD! We taught him the Plan of Salvation. Talked about families. It's super sad because he told us he really wants to find a wife. He lives alone, doesn't really have any friends. So sad. He's retired so he just chills all day, everyday. But he can read the B.o.M!!! He is a straight up tianxin (sweetheart). I love him.

Saturday, we exercised as a district. Sister Winters is Training a new missionary. She was in my younger genny in the MTC. She's a shy lil Q.tip. But her Chinese is Goooood. Way better than mine when I got on island. During lunch I met this kid named Stephen. We were eating in 7/11 and I could tell this guy needed a friend. Started talking to him. Turns out he really did. We had a lesson with him. He told us he has a hard time making friends. We taught him all about prayer. Invited him to church. He said he loves sleep. Haha. Well, so do I buddy.

Sundae, STEPHEN CAME TO CHURCH!!! And so did Nian dixiong. It was awesome! We met with Stephen after and said he felt really good at church like everyone really cared about him. So awesome.

I love you all so much!!!!!!! Peace out!! Have the best week of your lives!

August 4th

What's uuuuuuuuuup?!

This week was awesome! For real. So many ups and downs. But so good. :) Last P-day was SECK. We went to to this crazy bridge that goes to this island. It was so siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick. It was ridiculously windy. We hiked to the very top of the island and the wind up there was NUTS. "The bathrooms here are nuts." Tried to take my shirt off like 8 times. Haha. When we got back we met with a guy named Yaodixiong. Super cool young guy. First question he asks after the prayer, "can you guys tell me about baptism?" Haha..... "What.... Uh, Yeah. yeah we can." We set a baptismal date and he told us, "Yeah, I really want to prepare for this. So I want to come to Church and meet with you guys regularly." This man is Awesome. After the lesson we went to a member's house for Dindin and Family Home Evening. They had Dominoes! Crab and Shrimp pizza! It wasn't bad. Their son (this chunky lil duffer) ate and drank so much and so fast. After he was done he threw up some liquid crap right on the floor. Hahaaaaaaa. They were so nonchalant about the whole thing. Just threw some tissues on the puke. Haha. It was crazy. I wanted to laugh so bad because I think throwing up is the funniest thing. Then I shared the Joseph Smith story. All in all, good night.

Tuesday Huangzhanglao and I went on X-changes. We were biking to my favourite man's house (Hou dixiong) and I met this man named Nian dixiong. I knew he was interesting because he was walking down the street with a helmet on.... Haha. I set him up for the next day. We were English Contacting (giving out tons of flyers for our English Class) and Huang ZL was contacting these two girls. He told me to go over there. They asked me how old I am. Me:19 Them:(ridiculous amount of giggles) Ni hen shuai! Aka you're very handsome. Haha. It's nice because here in Taiwan you are told you are handsome about 10 times a day. Confidence boost for sure. And you think it would lose it's meaning after a while... It hasn't. :)

Wednesday we met with Nian dixiong. He is a sweet heart. He poured us some Coconut Juice. My companion was convinced there was some special stuff in it.... There wasn't. We set a baptismal date with him. He told us he doesn't have any friends. :( We told him, "We're your friends!" This night there was a "Typhoon" in Taiwan. So we had to go home at 6:30. So no English Class. I was bummed. I said "typhoon" because the weather in Taidong was awesome.

Thursday there still was the "Typhoon" so we could have stayed in. But Elder Peterson called President Day and asked if our district could go out and work. He said Yes. I originally wanted to just chill all day(classic me) but I'm so happy we went out! We met this man named Pan dixiong. Super cool. I'm going to call him Peter. :) Then we had WPS (weekly planning session). Then we went and found! We talked to this guy Zhoudixiong. Really cool. I taught him all about prayer. Felt the Spirit super strong when I was explaining prayer and how he can receive answers. Then I talked to this lady Han jiemei. Straight up tianxin. Aka sweet heart. I understood almost everything she said!!!!!!!! She called us Shuai like 10 times. Haha. Then I talked to this kid. He didn't have an English name. So I named him Brent right there on the street. Haha. He kinda looked like Brent Shear. He was super cool. Finding is becoming my favourite thing! These people are so awesome! I love meeting tons of them everyday.

Friday was a great day. Started off playing frisbee with the District. It was sick. Dove twice. I have never been so itchy in my life. But I scored, so it was woooooooorth it. This night was an awesome finding night. I talked to a kind of crazy man. He spoke really good English. Who thought the Church was started in Las Vegas. Him:"Yes. I know your church. It was started in Las Vegas." Me:"Uhh. No, it was actually start(cut off) Him:"No, no. Read your history. It was started in Las Vegas." Haha. That was interesting. Talked to a ton of waiguoren aka Foreigners. 4 from Canada and 1 guy from England who is studying Chinese here. He was super cool. It was so weird contacting him in English. It is so much easier in Chinese. Which sounds super weird to say, but it's true. Talked to this man outside a lime juice stand. The whole time he just told me about the girl who worked there. Him:"Her name is Didi(Chinese word for little brother). She speaks English. You come here, buy here a drink, speak English with her." Haha. I love these people.

Sundae was awesome. Nian dixiong came to church!!! When he would introduce himself he would say he is excited to prepare for baptism. So cool.

Okay, my time is almost out. I love you all!!!!!! I LOVE THIS WORK!

7/29/12

Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! This week was awesome. Last P-day the Sister's made a cake... In their microwave and brought it to us... It was pretty much just batter. But still good. AND THERE WAS A GUITAR AT THE CHAPEL!!! Played that forever. :)))) And a Sister in my District likes the good tunies. Then we went and we all bought the same Open! Taidong shirts and took family pictures in them. Haha. It was weird. My companion was the Mom. "Okay, everyone over here! No! What?! NO! Okay, everyone smile! Be happy! Okay, don't move, one more!" That's what he sounded like.... Haha. Just kidding. But close. Then we ate McD's and watched Mulan. :) So nice. I've never laughed so hard at Mulan before in my life. "Say that to my face, ya limp noodle!" Hahaaaa. Then this night our district went to a member's house for dinner and to our suprise there was a white girl there. What the? She was from Austria. Right when she said where she is from I wanted to say so badly, "Austria, Beautiful! Let's put anotha shrimp on the bahbee!" But... I didn't. She was super cool though. Just traveling through Asia. She just graduated in International Business... So cool. We taught her the Restoration. It was awesome. She thanked us for going out and doing such a good thing.

Tuesday, we went on Exchanges. Elder Xu came to Taidong and my companion went to Yuli. Pretty crazy because Xuzhanglao doesn't really know Taidong. BUT, we got around fine. My terrible sense of Direction wasn't too bad. This night we found the coolest guy named Lidixiong. He was like 20. Super willing to meet. We set a baptismal date with him. Comes to find out, he doesn't freaking live in our area. So we have to give him to the South Taidong elders. Sad, but no worries.

Wendsday was such an awesome day! Right when we left the appartment I forgot my Tag.... I've never felt so naked in my life. I had to go to Yuli to pick up my companion. Our Train left at 11:25. Xuzhanglao HAD to go to this airsoft store to get some gas for his gas powered airsoft gun. Haha. We left the store at about 11:04. Seriously had to ride so flippin fast the whole way. I felt like Lance Armstrong. My quads have never burned so bad. We bought our ticket at about 11:23 and ran to our train! We made it. Then when we got to Yuli, my companion was holding up the whole train for the way back! Haha. It was awesome. My english class was sooooo funny this week. Sonny brought me some Mochi things... She's a straight up sweetie. We talked about puns and Palindromes. Haha. I gave them the palindrome gohangasalamiimalasagnahog. They did not understand what that meant at all. Haha. "What is a lasagna Hog?" "Why are you hanging a salami?" Haha. Sophia was saying she went to Taipei and watched D-Rod(Dennis Rodman), Scotty Pippin, and Jason Williams play some B-ball. She was like, "Jason Williams, he is so talented! Soooooooo attractive! What do you call them? White Chocolate? Soooooo attractive!" hahahaha. I was laughing so hard. I love English class.

Thursday, my one month on island mark!!! Siiiiiick! Mom, Guess what?! This day was a completely vegetarian day... On accident. Haha. For dinner I had these sesame noodles that tasted SO bad. Like bitter rotten Peanut butter crap. So bad BUT, I ate all of them. This night we met with 4 lil Grom's. It was really cool. I said the 1st vision for the first time. :) That was cool.

Friday I was SO exhausted for some reason. I was the mean kind of tired. Mindy definitely would have said, "Where did my Ry go?" Haha.Good day though. We visited this family. And when we got there the door was open and there was an arm hanging out of the door holding a cig. It was the mom. She is a sweetheart. Missing one of her front teeth. Smokes all the time. I want to help her so bad.

Saturday was awesome. In Personal study I read a quote by Mother Teresa (Mama T) "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." So cool. Just made me remember without love this work is nothing. If we don't have love for these people, they will know. And feel it. That is why I'm so happy to be in Taiwan! It is so easy to love these people! This night we had a talent show at the Chapel. It was really cool. This man we met on the street said he was going to come and he didn't. His name is Yudixiong. He is so good. "Gold Jerry, pure gold!" Seriously so awesome.

Sundae was great. I always love Sundae's. Finding was so good this night. I met this man who was wearing a Zoo York T-shirt and asked him if he Skateboards. He doesn't. But he speaks awesome English and works at this restaurant. I told him we will come and get some food sometime. Finding is becoming easier and easier. I'm talking to more and more people. THESE PEOPLE ARE SO AWESOME! I love them all. All of them. :)

I love you guys so much. Thanks for being my friends. :) Have the best week of your life. I know Heavely Father answers every single one of our prayers. That was made very clear to me this week. Okay. I love you all.

July 22

Dear Everyone! Helllooooooooooooooooo!

Last P-day we just chilled so hard. Went to this restraunt called A-ma's. That is Grandma in Taiwanese. A-ma is the definition of a little old lady. Haha. She's probably... 85..ish. But she works so hard. I've seen her sit down like twice and we've been there a ton. When you go there they give you this special drink. It's really special. It's a bean drink and I call it Pond Juice. It looks like it is straight from a Pond. Haha. But it's not bad. The other day it was warm... Just made it more like a real pond. After A-ma's we went to this beach, and when I came to Taiwan the first time we stayed in a hostile right on the same Beach!!! So crazy! After that we watched Incredibles. So sick. Then this night we went to one of our investigator's house. Yang dixiong(His English name is Andy. Haha), we went there to talk to his mom about him getting baptized. He wants to get baptized so bad, but his mom won't let him. We brought our Branch President with us, we did everything in our power to tell her Baptism is only a good thing, but she still didn't change. It sucks because he has the Testimony! He will be blessed though. I know it.

Tuesday, we were supossed to be at the chapel at 5:45 in the morning to go to Hualian for a meeting........ We woke up at 5:42. Hahaa. This reminded me of every morning before school. haha. We had a Zone Training in Hualian which is a three hour train ride. The first thing they told us about was the Sister's dress code. They want them to look more lively. More Blake Lively. Not so much like Sister Wives. When we got back we went Enlglish contacting. Which is you just go around talking about our free English class. I love Enlish contacting because I only have to know how to say a few things. Ni tingguo women de yingwen ban ma? I say that over and over. Haha. I met a lady named Kevita. SUCH A SWEETHEART. She thanked me like 6 times for coming to Taiwan and sharing our happy message. Meeting people like her make everything I do worth it.

Wednesday, we were supposed to meed Hou Dixiong(man with no teeth) for lunch, but he wouldn't answer his phone. So we went to his house and he was eating lunch with his family. He totally spaced lunch. Haha. No worries, he invited us in to eat with him. I felt like we were intruding, for real. But they are so freaking nice. We ate this shrimp that looked like it was still alive, but wasn't. We had to peel off all the stuff of of them... Head, legs, shell guy, everything. Supry'singly they were really good. They put out a plate of fengli aka Pineapple..... I ate the whole plate pretty much... :/ Sorry. They are too good to us. Today we went to the hospital and sang to all the old people. We sang to this woman who is 94. Be Still My Soul is Zhongwen. It sounded so good. That was cool. Then had English class. I played Two Truths and a Lie with them. Haha. It was so fun. Paul, the 75ish man, first thing he says... "I'm a millionare." Hahaaha. He's awesome. He has some mole hair that's 6 inches long. At least.

Okay 19-20-21 all kinda meshed together. On the 19th I went on Exchanges with the South Elders. I was with You Zhanglao. He's from Taizhong. He's awesome. On the 19th I ate McDonald's here for the first time. It's HAO CHI! Aka delicious. Weirdly good. I don't know what they do here to make it so much better... I ate it for dinner two days in a row. Haha. On the 20th we were contacting on a super busy street, and Elder Peterson turns around to go talk to a man in his car... This man is probably the best person we've found just on the street. He is SO awesome! We talked to him for probably 15 minutes and I love him so much. His name is Yu Dixiong.

And Yesterday was awesome. I always love Sundae's. Even though I don't understand much, the spirit is so strong. Last night we met with a less active named Zhu dixiong. He said he was having a lot of doubts. We told him to CPR. Come to Church, Pray, and Read the scriptures. The Spirit was so strong. At the end he said twice he wasn't doubting as much. Such a cool experience. He remindes me of the big guy on Seseme Street with really long hair. "Hey Big Bird." Super deep voice. Ya know?

Alright, I love you guys!!!!!! So much. Have the best week of your lives. PEACE!

July 15

Ni Hao!!!!!

This week was off the chain. It was so good. Seriously though, it feels like yesterday I was writing you. So flippin weird. So after I e-mailed you last week we did thdutieth then we went shoppin. We have a grocery store here called Carre Four. It's the Taiwanese equivalent to... Wal-mart. It's nice. Then we went to the church and ate so much fruit. So good. And then we watched Empirer's New Groove. WE CAN WATCH MOVIES! Sister Day is redoing the list. I recommended How to Train Your Dragon of course. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard and Empirer's New Groove before. It was nice to watch a real movie. :)

Toozdai, we went real running. Holy. It was so bad. Because I only have my vans. Haha. My calves have never been so sore in their lives(they are still sore). Stairs were terrible. I'm buying running shoes today. That'll be nice. We had District Meeting this day. That was cool. Then one of the Zone Leader's, Elder Townsend and I went on exchanges. It was sick. He was also born in Taidong so he knows all of these less actives and former investies we could visit. We visited the coolest guy. Lai dixiong I think is his name. He gave us this frozen pineapple in a bag thing. It was so good.

Wednesday, this was a good day. Elder Peterson(Bi zhanglao(my companion(my trainer(my dad)))) got a referral on the street for this family. So we thought we would go find them. We didn't even know if we turned onto the right street, biked on that forever, and then they were all chillin outside. It was a miracle we found them. They are so cool. Right when we got there they got chairs for us, poured us some water. I'm telling you, the people here are amazing. So it's a family, and three of the kids came to church yesterday!!!! They were so bored in Sacrament. Haha. But, so was I. I looked at them cross eyed for a while. Haha. Then on Wendesday, I taught my English class. There were 10 people there! What. More than triple last week. I gave them a ton of idioms. Haha. They love them. "Okay guys. Have you heard this one. I gave my two cents.........." Silence.......... "Can anyone guess what it means?"......... Then I tell them the meaning. Haha. They loved the "He's in the doghouse" one. Haha. The spiritual thought was so cool. I didn't even know what I was going to share. I started off with how our Heavenly Father is perfect and he loves all of us perfectly. It was so cool. I love Yingwen ban. aka English Class.

Thursday I went to Yuli because my companion had to go to Taiwan for a training meeting(he's District Leader). So I went and chilled with the Yuli elders. I was there from thursday mid-day to Saturday at 5... It felt like I was gone for a year. All of the days there feel like one day so I'll just say some stuff that happened. First off, they had a guitar and Ukelele in their apartment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO grateful. And the guitar even had a capo... I've never spelled that before... It was so fun though. I forgot everything! By day two I started to remember. I played every Desert Noises song I know how to play. :) AND, Elder Bowler had a song by Kyle Henderson. A Hymn! Nearer My God To Thee. You should look it up. We listened to it like 8 times... It wasn't enough. In Yuli guess what I ate....... Two disgusting things... chou doufu and..... Curry. Chou doufu aka stinky as crap toufu. Literally when you eat it, it tastes/smells like there is a bathroom(out house) chillin in your mouth. So bad. And the curry actually wasn't bad at all. I had 6 dumplings with curry in them. At them all. Didn't throw up. Yuli is like as country as you can get in the Taipei mission. It smells like Idaho. Aka Cows. It is SO BEAUTIFUL though. We biked to this little village, it was so cool. So cool.

Got back on Saturday around 5 and at 7 these elder's in our district, South Taidong had a baptism! So awesome. And two of our investigators came. Mai dixiong(Mikilo), came. He is so awesome. He's the one who doesn't have any friends. I love this man. I'll get a picture with him this week and show you. It was nice to get back in Taidong. You know when you go on vacation and then you walk in your house and you feel like you haven't been there for years. That's how it felt walking back into the apartment.

Sundae, was so good. We had 7 people come to church!!! It was nuts trying to keep track of all of them. Haha. It was so cool though. The ward here is so SICK! I love every person. And all these little asians running around all the time. So flippin cute. And good news, I'm starting to understand more and more. haha. So that's nice.

Okay, I love you all so much!!!! You beautiful people. I'm grateful for all of you. I'm so grateful I get to be in not just Taiwan but Taidong! Everything here is so awesome. I love it all. :) Missions are the cooletht thing. I'm so grateful for this Gospel and everything it teaches us! And that I get to teach people about it! Okay. I love you all. Have the best week of your LIVES!

Another Letter from the Ry-Guy

Ni Haoooooooooooooo evleeonnneee! 

 

This week was awesome! Crazy. These days are going by so flippin fast. I feel like yesterday I was just e-mailing you.... After I e-mailed last week we went to houzi shan aka MONKEY MOUNTAIN! It was so sick. I promise I will send tons of Pictures next week. There were monkeys errywhere. Right in front of me. I was holding a banana one climbed right up my body. Haha. It was a sick first P-day to say the least. After houzi shan we went to this frozen ice place. They love ice treats here. But for some reason they put beans and this slimy gooey stuff. The gooey stuff is like the consistency of... You know those balls that have all those stretchy... tassels on them. Haha. I don't know how to describe this ball. BUT, the gooey stuff is like the consistency of one of those... tassels. It's weird. And they love it here. And since members are buying them for us we have to eat all of it. Which is nice.

 

Tuesday, my companion had to got to Hualian for a training meeting. He is District Leader. So I got to go on Exchanges with my Australian MATE, ELDAH WRIGHT! It was awesome. His Chinese is so bad. Haha. I mean, so is mine, but with his Australian accent, it's so funny hearing him pronunciate things. Haha. We met with three of their investies, they were all so amazing.

 

Wednesday, I taught my first Yingwen Ban. Aka English Class. Haha. Their English is way better than mine. I have three students. Paul, Sunny, and Ted. Paul is 75? I think, sweet heart. I asked him if he's heard of the Beatles... He hadn't. Sunny is middle aged woman, so nice. They are both retired teachers. Ted is just Ted. haha. He's like 42 probably. He's cool. Since it was the 4th of July I thought I'd tell a patriotic story. I chose The Boston Tea Party. Turns out I don't know a lot about that story. Haha. This is how it went. Yeah, so, Britain was like taxing America like crazy... So they were not too happy. Then they dressed up Native Americans... and threw all the tea into the harbor... Any questions? That's how it went. They were so confused. Haha. Sorry, guys. It was way fun though.

 

Thursday, we went to our mission Leader's house and helped him get this metal water tub thing on top of his roof. After he took us to eat. To drink we had sweetened asparagus juice, appetizer: Pigs ear, intesties, and seaweed. Then we had noodles. The pig ear was especially nice. Mom, you would have loved it. Hahah. :) The noodles were delicious. This day was a tough finding day. Everyone was so flippin busy. We had our first weekly planning sesh, which includes companion inventory. It was great. Elder Peterson is awesome. Such a great trainer. His Chinese is so ridiculous. It's nice.

 

Friday we went and visited the Houjiating again. I love them. They call me shuizhanglao. Translation: Elder Handsome. Haha. That's a confidence booster. Everytime we visit them they give us so much MANGO. Which makes me so happy, because mango is my favourite thing to eat. It is so freaking good. Soooooooooooooooooooooo good. I want you guys to come to Taiwan and eat it. So you can know. The picture of the two people that is Houdixiong and Houjiemei. Houdixiong doesn't have any teeth. And in the picture he doesn't look like the happiest man, but he is. Everytime he smiles it makes me so happy. I'll get another picture with him where he's smiling. It will make your life better. I promise.

 

Saturday, we went to Hualian again and met with our new Mission President and his wife. I love them! They are so awesome. Seriously so cool. Sister Day told us if we are ever having a tough day, and we just need a mama to talk to we can call her. She is such a sweet heart. That night we had a lesson fall through, but then a man showed up at the church. His name is Maidixiong. He's so nice. He told us he doesn't have any friends. He's from one of the Islands off Taiwan and his whole family is there. We told him he has three new friends. Us and Sister Burton. That's the sister who found him. I'm just going to love the crap out of him.

 

Sundae was awesome. In church I have no idea what is going on. Haha. But it's great. The branch members are so awesome. In Priesthood meeting the teacher asked me what women should we respect... I said my Mission President... Haha. That's just one example of where I wish I could speak Chinese.

 

This work is awesome. I love being a missionary. I'm learning so much every single day. I love you all so much. Thank you for bean you. :)

Elder Handsome's best friend   

Monkey's

Elder Relyea's first letter from Taiwan

Ryan was in the MTC for 8 weeks. He had an amazing experience there and loved every second of it. His letters while he was in the MTC were pretty short so I didn't bother posting any of those, but last week was his first week in Taiwan and he had a great week! It makes it so much easier for us that he is loving it so much!!

Hehrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

 

Good news, first night I was here I did not throw up curry everywhere. So it was a good shart... I mean start. TAIWAN IS AWESOME! It is crazy! And I love it! Haha. I have no idea what is going on most of the time, but it is awesome. I've had some sick experiences already! I'll share them in a bit.

 

So the flight here was awesome. Literally, I love every single person that was in my zone. And I love traveling. So :) When we got to Japan our flight was delayed an hour and a half, so we just chilled hard in Japan. That was fun. I got a mango-peach vitamin water. That was delicious. So we got to Taiwan about two hours late. Rode a bus for a bit, President Grimely chatted with us when we were on the bus. He is so awesome. I love him and I barely know him. So we got to the mission home at 1:30, went to bed at 2 and got up at 6. Haha. That was fun. And from jetlag everyone in my room woke up at 4. haha. And in my room it was Chatman, Allred, and Hodges my HOMIES from the MTC. So that was awesome.

 

Thursday, we went to the dedicatory spot where Taiwan was Dedicated to have Missionary work done here. Mom, in my message I left you I kept saying dedidicory. haha. That's a hard word. It was cool, when we were there President had us all say our own dedicatory prayers. Dedicating ourselves to missionary work. After that we had orientations... Then we met our Trainers. My trainer is awesome. His name is Elder Peterson. Bizhanglao. His Chinese is so retardedly good. It's awesome. After we met our trainers we were off to our areas! Haha. Crazy. "It's all happening. It's all happening." George, name that movie. We rode a train for 3 hours down to hualien. We got to travel with Elder Wright and Elder Devisser. Elder Wright is my Austrailian mate! AH, GOODAY MATE! TOITALLY! We stayed the night there. Then in the morning we rode another train to our area, Taidong. It is the most south-east you can get. IT IS BEAUTIFUL!!! Heavenly Father knew I didn't want to be in a huge city... He's watchin out for me.

 

Friday, On the train to our area, there was this lady. Her shirt said: "smoking lady give delight." Haha. And she got this box lunch. The meet looked like what Sebulba eats in Phantom Menace. Ya know? Super delicious. We got home, did our 4 hours of studies(seems long, but when you're used to the MTC. Aka 8 hours a day in a classroom, 4 is nice to me), then we went and met Houdixiong. This awesome member. He was helping us teach Guodixiong. This investigator who owns a dry cleaner... Which will be nice when he gets baptized. :) Then that night we went and had a family home evening with the Hou jiating. Different Hou than who helped us. These guys are soooooooooooo nice! The dad doesn't have any teeth. Hahahaha. He is my favourite person I've ever met. I'll get a picture with him so you can see him. He speaks some english and he asked me 3 times how many girlfriends I have. Hahaha. And they gave us mangguo. BEST THING I'VE EVER EATEN.

 

Saturday, we went to a ward activity where we play softball. It was sick. Super fun. Every peson in this branch aka ward is awesome. All such sweet people. There was this one little baller who reminded me of K-dog (Kenton). He was like 8 and way better than me at Softball. Haha. Later that night, we were ridin our bikes (classic us), and I saw this girl. Decided to talk to her. Her name was Jessica. She was a SWEET HEART. Had the best spirit about her. Turns out she's Christian. I bore my testimony on the Savior and the Atonement. She guess how long I'd been here. She thought 2 years. Haha. Close... 3 days. She was blown away. I told her Heavenly Father helped me. We gave her a Book of Mormon. She was so grateful. She could speak a little English. She thanked us for coming to Taiwan and sharing this happy message. Such a cool experience. Things like this want me to talk to every single person! And believe me, we try to.

 

Sundae, we went to this recent convert less actives house and invited him to come to church. He was showering, but he came anyway! :) I had to bear my testimony.... Haha. But honesty, I wasn't too nervous. Not as nervous as I usually am to bear wo de jianzheng. EVERY PERSON IN THE WARD IS AWESOME! All these cute lil asians running around. I'm adopting a Little asian. It's for sure. We had two investigators who had never come to church come yesterday!!!!! And they loved it. So cool. So freaking cool.

 

I already love this work SO much! And it is just getting better by the day! I cannot wait till I can actually communicate with them! These people are so ready for the Gospel. So humble, so nice. I love them. :) I'm so grateful to be in Taiwan and to be speaking Zhongwen.

 

I love you all so much. Seriously. Thank you, for being you.

 

Love, Yezhanglao aka Elder Relyea

 

Fun Fact: Ye means leaf. I'm Elder Leaf. :)

Elder Relyea and Elder Thatcher. FHC in Taiwan!!!