Monday was a chill day. We spent the bulk of the day in my companion's first area with the Elders in that area and some members. We played board games and ate some food. It was a nice time even though I'm not the biggest board game fan. I'm just along for the ride. The night was good also. We got some good member visits lined up along with a member dinner at McDonald's. He's not from our ward but he likes going and visiting missionaries so today he wanted to visit us. After that, we just planned some good old English class. This weeks topic is planets!!
Tuesday was a good day. I got out for my first run in a bit and it felt pretty nice. We also had our first District Council of the transfer and we had it here in 三峽. It was pretty nice not having to bike all the way to the Chapel and we had more time to be in our area. At night we had a lesson with our most progressing investigator and he finished the commandments lesson and is excited to get baptized! We shared tithing with him and we honestly thought it might pose a problem but he accepted it!! What a miracle. He still has some other small hurdles to get over but he's definitely going to make it!!
Wednesday was lit. We had an interesting day with nothing super special going down. We did go to a new 7/11 today which was kind of cool. I guess only missionaries would think going to a different convenience store would be cool. It was and we got to call some formers. Aside from that, we had English Class, which was actually fun! We taught them the planets and it was pretty cool. Turns out they don't learn about that stuff as young as we do so we got to teach them the English and the Chinese words for it all. It was a nice, rainy day.
Thursday was a pleasant, drizzly day. The rain was pretty much off and on all day which made biking even more pleasant than it already is. We also had a lesson with our new referral who is set for a baptismal goal! All he needs is to come to church and he should be ready. On top of that, we played basketball with our friend Sam and his brother one last time before Sam leaves for school. He sadly didn't have an interest in continuing to learn the gospel but he's a good kid so I am sure he will have the interest again someday. That was pretty much the day though. Pretty exciting to bike all around and enjoy the weather.
Friday was a hard day. Did studies and weekly planning along with a doctor's visit. Nothing super special, but we did get a text from our most progressing investigator and he is the most awesome older fellow ever and he told us to not prepare for his baptism because he doesn't want to go forward with it anymore. Talk about heartbreak.
Saturday was wild. We had a great day because we were able to go to 台北 and participate in some cool meetings and stuff. The first one was a performance of Lamb of God! It was so well done! I felt the Spirit so strong and it was just such a great performance. There were some other missionaries that performed in it and President Peterson was in it too! It was a great time then we went and got dinner with a member afterward because we had a Stake Conference session tonight. We were originally gonna practice teaching with members and that's why we went but after 2 and a quarter hours of sitting through the meeting, we didn't even get to do anything. It was way disappointing but nothing is ever a waste of time. We were still able to learn some things.
Pretty busy Sunday. We still had to get out the door early because we had to get to the Stake Center early for our weekly Coordination Meeting. After that meeting we had some lunch and then buckled up for round two of Stake Conference, once again going over the 2-hour mark and it was pretty ok. Before all the meetings I got to see Sister Born again and we had a nice conversation and she's way hype. Not much has changed since the good old Gilbert days. At night I conducted a baptismal interview for the Sisters in my District and they are going to be having another baptism this week! Good for them!
Monday was another working day. We had a normal day though, studies and we went out knocking. Knocking was fun and we got to talk to lots of people. At night we had a member visit too and got to share about family history. I am excited to go to the temple and do some of my own family names!
Tuesday was pretty interesting. We had District Council and it was really nice and fun. After Council we went to 板橋 which is a city close to the Chapel and we visited the Elders that serve there at their apartment to grab some stuff and then we went to the hospital. This hospital is a bit bigger and a little better and still told Elder Settles the same stuff. He isn't happy and thinks he's getting fooled but I withhold my opinion. I'm not the one with a medical degree but those doctors have one... anyways after that, we ate a quick dinner and then walked around a big mall in that city. That whole area was Elder Settles' first area so he took great pride in being able to show me around and I just let him do his thing and we had a good time. Then we made our way home from the long day. I am very excited for the temple tomorrow!
Elder Heber Chase Ciminski
謝希伯長老