March 31st 2013

Hello my beautiful family!!!

Sky Happy Birthday you beautiful woman! When I tell people here that you are already married they think it is crazy you got married that young. But they don't get married until they are 38. So no worries. You are still super young. You are only as old as you feel. I'm still 14.

This week was so GOOD. My best friend Chen Da Wei was baptized! This literally was the most special baptismal service I have ever attended. I am so full of gratitute that I came to Taiwan and met this beautiful man. You guys will all meet him one day. When he comes to Utah to live at my house. At his baptismal service I was able to baptize him. If he is the only man I get to baptize on my mission, I'm fine with that. So after investigators are baptized, they share the feelings they've had and their testimony. When Brother Chen got up there and shared the feeling he had and his testimony, tears were shed. To say the least. The Spirit was so strong. I know without a doubt, Heavenly Father has been preparing Chen Da Wei to receive the Gospel for his entire life. His faith in our Saviour is already so strong. He knows this Church is His true Church. SO COOL! The Church is so TRUE! I love it.

I know I came to Taiwan to meet this man and to teach him the Gospel. He has strengthened my testimony so much that I am supposed to be here. I know I am here for a specific reason. To meet these beautiful people and help them understand the Gospel. I am so grateful to be here. The Church is TRUE. Thas whats up.

I love you all. More than you know. Keep being you. Because you are the greatest!
Love, Elder Relyea

P.s. HAPPY APRIL FOOLS... FOOLZ!

March 17th 2013

Hello all of those that I love!

Transfers came and I am still chillin' in Wanda!... Sykes. I'm super stoked I didn't move. Now I can see my Sugar Daddy get baptized! YEAH! He will be baptized next week. So stoked for him. And my companion is a Whitey. It is so weird. haha. I have completely gotten used to speaking Chinese all the time. Actually mostly Chinglish. My son and I would speak so much Chinglish.

My new companion is Elder Bromley. He is 6'6 and from Toole, Utah. This is his 3rd transfer... So it is like I'm still training. Haha. But it is GREAT! We've seen crazy miracles already. And more will come! He is a bit shy. But no worries, he is about to break out of his shell. I know it. He is my 5th companion. I've only had one other white companion. haha. So it is new.

This week has been nuts. So good. We truly have seen so many miracles. The Lord is blessing us like crazy. On Friday we taught 5 lessons and found 2 new investigators. I don't know if I've ever taught that many lessons in one day before in this area. So, Elder Bromley's bike hasn't come from his last area yet. We've been walking... So much. I feel those missionaries who don't have bike's pain! For real. Walking is the worst. BUT, since we we're walking so much, we have met so many awesome people! So, in reality, it is a huge blessing. I feel if we did have bikes we definitely would not have met all of the great people we met this week.

On Friday we had such a cool/special experience. Elder Bromley was leading us in finding. Just walking where ever he felt we needed to go. And we ran into the coolest man. His name is Zhuang Zheng Wen. Brother Zhuang is a great man. He is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair. As we started to get to know him and teach him, my companion and I kneeled down on the ground. As we prayed and testified with this sweet man, the spirit was so strong. Brother Zhuang truly has been prepared to hear the Gospel. I believe Elder Bromley was led by the Spirit to the point where we met Brother Zhuang. We are meeting with him this Saturday. And I am STOKED!

I love this work with my whole heart. Everyday I am so tired. But it is the best kind of tired. Sometimes I feel physically exhausted, but spiritually I am ready to go. Heavenly Father blesses his missionaries so much. He is putting prepared people in our path. And I know as we follow the Spirit, we will see miracles. We will help more people come unto Christ and learn this Gospel!

I am Elder Bromley's breaker because I am his first companion other than his Trainer. I'm grateful for Elder Bromley. We will learn and grow so much this transfer.

I love you all with my whole heart. This Gospel is true. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us SO much!!! That is what's up.

Love, Elder Relyea

March 10th

YOOO!!!

CAI WEI GUO GOT BAPTIZED!!! YEAHHHH! He is such a great man with such a big heart! Yesterday he recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost and I could not be more stoked for him. Full on love that man.

Lately I have been so happy. A little too happy. This week we find out if we move or not. And if we do we move on Fridee. I have a feeling I will move. I have been in this area for a good 4 months. I have loved this area so much. The ward is crazy awesome, the invesigators here are great, and I have learned and grown so much. This past week I read a talk in the Febuary Liahona about Integrity. It has helped me realize so much. I encourage you ALL to go check it out. It is so great.

Yesterday I ate pig stomach. It wasn't bad. I've realized every part of the pig tastes about the same. Except their heart. Heart just tastes like straight up blood. And ears just taste like ears.

We met with our homie Chen Da Wei yesterday. Aka our Sugar Daddy. He calls us his Sugar Sons. hahaha. He is the best. We have a real connection. He is a person I definitely feel I met in the pre-earth life and promised I would meet here. It is so cool. He will be baptized at the end of this month. Yesterday we taught him the Plan of Salvation. It was my favourite time teaching the Plan of Salvation. He just gets it. He is number one. Hees eyes are number one. Hees hands are number one. Hees laaygs are number one.

I love this Gospel. It is so true. I love being a missionary. I love Taiwan. I love Taiwanese people. I love my Son. I love the Scriptures. I'm so grateful for the Prophet. I love everything about my life right now. Go have the best week ever!

Love, Elder Relyea

March 3rd

Hello everyone that I love!

This past week was great. Everyweek is great. Everyday is great. This past week we got to go on exchanges with Elder Thatcher! He came and worked with Elder Weng and I. He is the Assistant the President so he can do what he wants. So stoked we got to go on exchanges, especially because he has two weeks left on his mission! He slept at our house and we were up until 1 chattin up a storm. So weird how fast time is. Doesn't even feel real. I cannot believe Andy is home! Send him my love. This transfer is almost over... Elder Weng and I will most likely separate. :( I will miss this duff. He has taught me so much. I have learned so much from him and we have learned so much together. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for him in the future. He will for sure be a leader of this mission. He has so many leader attributes. So proud of my Son.

This coming Saturday our good friend Cai Wei Guo will be getting baptized! YEAH! He is the man. This past Saturday he passed his baptismal interview. Then yesterday in Priesthood he was introducing himself and he bore his testimony of why he wants to be baptized. He said he want the Holy Ghost with him at all times. So cool! So happy for him and his decision to follow the Savior.

We have this investigator Chen Da Wei. And he is so sick. He gratuated from Mississippi University so his English is crazy good. A week ago we took him to the Bishop's house for a Family Home Evening. That night he told me all the ladies in America used to call him "Sugar Daddy". hahaha. So now on the phone when I answer sometimes I'll be like, "What's up, Sugar Daddy." Then we laugh. He is the best.

I can't even explain in words how grateful I am that Heavenly Father has allowed me to meet all of these amazing people. He truly has put the most prepared people in our path. Heavenly Father knows what is up. He is helping these wonderful people prepare to accept the Gospel everyday. And if I can just open my mouth and tell everyone about his happy message we will find those who are prepared. I am so grateful for this time. I am so grateful for the Gospel! And the Savior. If the mission has helped me learn anything it is definitely getting to know my Savior. I love Him so much and He loves everyone of us. I also love you all! Have the happiest, greatest week of your lives!

Love, Elder Relyea

February 24th

Yooooooo, my best friends! This past week was so good. I love missionary work! Man, for real. It is so good. There is nothing like truly getting lost in the work. Completely forgetting yourself and getting lost in the work of the Lord. Truly being an instrument in His hands. Iss da behhst.

My companion is super funny. Our companionship love grows day by day. This past week we had a bonding experience. He used his electric razor and shaved my leg for me. Hahaha. Definite bonding going on here. This transfer has three more weeks and I do not want to move out of Wanda! For real. As time goes on I love this place, ward, people more and more. And so many miracle are happening!\

In March we are hoping to have 3 baptisms! YEAH! So stoked. A Cai Wei Guo, Chen Da Wei(David), And Chen De Fa. They are all so great! Next week Cai Wei Guo will have his baptismal interview and then the other two will be baptized at the end of the month. You can pray for them to make their baptismal dates! They all have great faith and are so prepared. The Lord truly places prepared people in our path erryday. This is why I love missionary work so much. Following the Spirit, talking to everyone, just spreading this Happy Message to the world. And honestly the Taiwanese people are so prepared. I'm so blessed to be here in Taiwan.

During Guonian we met this Mama. Lin Mama, and this week she set up to do a Temple Tour. She came like 45 minutes early... :/ We got to chat for a while before the Temple Seesters got there. She got personal real fast.. She told me she thinks her husband is cheating on her, and she started to cry... I was able to bear my testimony to her that everyone has different challenges and trials. But no matter what your trials are, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will help her. I told her Heavenly Father has his reasons and that He loves her so much. It was a cool experience. She will be meeting with the Sister missionaries. :)

Well, my companion has been waiting for me for a while now. We gotta go buy our delicious breakfast sandwiches(white bread, apples, raisens, cheese, tons of lettuce, tomatoes, it's delicious). I love you all! For real. Thank you all for your love. I feel it every single day! This Gospel is true! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love us so much! Never forget it!

Love, Elder Relyea

GUONIAN!! February 10th 2013

What up?! Man, Guonian is so crazy. The other night we were on the street and it felt like it was 4 in the morning. No one was out. Everyone was in their houses eating like crazy. So during Guonian member Families feed us a ton. And our first family that fed us gave us............... McDonald's. Haha. Can't remember the last time I ate a Big Mac. That family is super cool though. The Shen Family. Then yesterday a family gave us lunch. So many Dumplings. I swear I ate at least 25 huge guys. Then last night our Bishop fed us. Our Bishop and his wife are so cool.

This week I was riding my bike and my handlebars broke in half. Haha. So I have to stick my brake in my handlebar hole. Haha. People think I'm weird.

Well, that is about all folks. I love you all with my whole heart. I love mission work. Hopefully our good friend Brother Cai will be baptized this month. He is a great man with great faith! So we will see what happens.

Have the best week of your lives! Know I will be eating so much. Everyday. Until I'm sick. It's gonna be a good time.

Love, Elder Relyea

GUONIAN February 3rd

What up everyone that I love! Oh Man! It is almost the Chinese New Year and everything is nuts to butts! Literally they don't sleep. Outside our apartment is a super busy street, last night I woke up at 3:40 and I could hear people just chattin' it up. Havin a party. Since it is the New Year there are SO many people in our area. Riding bikes is even more intense than usual. But it is sweet. I realized I love riding my bike in a big city, besides the fact that pretty much all I am breathing in is bus smoke. Can't be good for my lungs, but no warries! I love it.

I have been hearing about Guonian(New Year) ever since I got on the Island. I hear it is a crazy time for missionaries because members just feed you like crazy. So much food. My last companion told me at night you are so full when you wake up in the morning you don't need to eat breakfast. And by the time lunch comes... You still don't want to eat. But you have to. The tradition here for Guonian is if members give you food you must eat it. If you don't it is super disrespectful. And we all know that I can eat a ton... So no worries... :/ I'm a little scared. But, it will just be another sweet adventure. That might involve throwing up. I'm not scared.

Recently we've just been finding as much as possible and helping our investies prepare for Baptism! Yeah! It is sweet. We have one investie named Cai dixiong. He is so cool. He's been a Christian for a long time. He is such a humble man. His right arm doesn't work too well and he is missing probably 4 of his front teeth. He is the man. I'll take a picture with him this week so you can see him. He is so down to learn, come to church, pray, read the Book of Mormon. Yesterday we taught him the Plan of Salvation and it was so great. He is so willing to accept and to learn.

Last night we had a Fireside. We had 2 investies come and one Potential who set up for tomorrow. Stoked! And yesterday i got to see my Homie Daniel, who lives in Hualian. He came up for the Fireside. He leaves on his mission in March. He is going to Taizhong! Elder Croft could train him! Sick!

I love missionary work with my whole heart. I know this is the Lord's work. I love going out everyday and telling everyone about the Gospel. I love meeting these people and seeing them change their lives, making their lives better through the Gospel. I love it! There is nothing better. I love you all with my whole heart!

Love, Elder Relyea