Shendeernü

It's been a pretty great week! Really really busy trying to help that couple with the Chinese wife and it was good. We met with them last Monday night and then Wednesday when he told us he had smoked again. That means that we would push back his baptism. They have to not be smoking for at least 7 days before they can be baptized. He actually did it and his wife didn't know until right before they met with us that night. He told us how much of a struggle it's been for him. He has been smoking every single day for the past ten years. He used to smoke 20 cigarettes per day when he was in China, but then when he was exercising he felt a big pain in his chest. He knew he had to cut back on it, so he got down to 3 per day, and now completely going cold turkey on it has given him some withdrawals. But we taught them and have been helping them and he hasn't smoked for 4 days now! Which is more than the past ten years combined. He's really happy and his wife is also so happy. 

The funny thing about teaching them this whole time is that right when we started we were trying to focus on the wife. She had no concept of God and she didn't seem to be feeling anything. As she read and started praying though she's gotten feelings that it's all true. She has shared her testimony with us and I can see how much happier she is and how much she's learned. We weren't too focused on her husband cause he seemed all good, turns out she's been helping him along just as he's been helping her! They had their baptismal interview over video call with President Peterson and they passed!! They were nervous in the beginning but they made it. As we were helping them fill out their baptismal record I asked them who they wanted to baptize them? They sat and thought about it for awhile and told me they didn't know. They were thinking about people in the ward, but couldn't really decide who. Then they asked if we could baptize them ( it's an honor when you have someone who wants you to baptize them, but since it's their choice, missionaries don't want to influence their decision). Needless to say we were both super happy! This will be Elder Merrill's first baptism in Taiwan! I'll be baptizing the husband and he will baptize the wife. What's really cool is that when I was at the same point on my mission that Elder Merrill is right now, I baptized a married couple. And now he is too! So they will be baptized next Saturday! Stay tuned for pictures.

We are working with one of our friends who is our other friend's friend haha. His name is Dan. A 16 year old super smart kid. The story behind him is that we've been teaching his friend for about 3 months now. He's a super good kid and he likes church a lot. He wanted to get baptized, but his parents won't let him. We did a fast with him about two weeks ago and by the end of the fast his friend hit us up. His friend Dan is basically Golden. Since those two weeks he's fully embraced the gospel and been to see the temple in Taipei. He is going to get baptized at the end of this month. When he came to church yesterday he had a name plate on his shirt which said "Shendeernü" which is PinYin for 神的兒女 which means Children of God in English. It's some kind of club for student members of the church in Taiwan and he was way excited about it haha. A bunch of members saw him and as they talked to him they would ask him questions like:" what ward are you from?" He would just tell them he hasn't been baptized yet. It was super funny to see their faces when he said that. He's gonna be a big help to this ward for sure. 

So last Friday was my year mark on the Island of Taiwan. I've actually been out of America for a year now which is weird to think about. I burned a white shirt on our roof for the celebration. It was really interesting to think about how many experiences I've had as a missionary since then and what I've come to learn and know. I know that this is the best thing I could be doing right now serving, I don't know what's going to be in the future for me in a year when I'm back home, so I'm just thinking about how I can serve the best I can. I made new goals and thought of things I can do to really be the best missionary I can and use every day to serve. I know that if we have righteous desires to help people, then God will grant them and we can do so much for others. I'm so excited for this next year of experiences and learning so much and even more than I did last year. 

Rice fields and burning my shirt.

Love you

-Elder Thayne