>Subject: Re: Any Ground Hogs There?

>Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 08:21:24 +0000

>

>No ground hogs that I'm aware of. I haven't much time, but I'll try and answer all the questions again. I saw the pictures of Talsan's Christmas, they were really cute. ... It must be these chinese keyboards that give strange additions. You can't insure bikes here, but it should be fine. I haven't had an opportunity to weigh myself since getting here, so I don't know if I've lost or gained. But Elder Fairbanks last companion gained 15lbs in 2 move calls here in Hualian. E.F. or Fu zhang lao, has less than 4 months left. I took a plane here from Taipei...as if I hadn't already flown enough the day before. The airforce is here in Hualien and they fly their tremendously loud airplanes everyday. We just started teaching one of the guys who flies them. He speaks english. He said that he escorted the president of Taiwan by flying next to his plane, just last week...pretty cool, eh? I bought the bike here in hualien...today I bought a box to put on the back...don't worry, I only spent $700 on that. Then I bought a book for studying characters for $600. ... I wont start using that book yet though...I need to learn how to communicate before I work on reading and writing...It's a little more important to be able to understand and speak when it comes to teaching the gospel. They use trains for long distances. We live in an apartment on the 3rd floor. I played piano in the MTC for priesthood meeting twice. Both times I played Nearer my God to Thee and I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go. It went well. Otherwise, I don't really get a chance, we're really busy all the time. I think that answers them all for this week. I'll apologize now if in the future I'm not able to answer them all, I'll try though.

>The work is somewhat slow. We stay busy, but not busy enough teaching. We need to find more investigators. This week was the first baptism and confirmation that I've seen since I got here. It was a sister. Our district here has 4 Elders (Me, Fu, Elder Smith, and Elder Pili-pronounced PEELEE) and 2 sisters (Ridge and Force). There are two branches in our area. The sisters work within both and the other branch has four other elders. Fu is our district leader and Smith and Pili are the zone leaders...so I'm the only elder in our district without an additional calling. Our zone probably has 30-40 missionaries, only one of which was in my district in the MTC. Pray for investigators to listen to our message ...

>Otherwise, I'm getting used to everything - the routine - a little more, but I'm still really struggling with the language. It is so hard! But all the other missionaries have been here so long and are all really good. They understand all that is said, whereas I understand next to nothing. Even when I understand everyword the person says, I still have trouble making out the meaning. It is a tough language. But I'm not really discouraged, I know that it will come, it's just that it's never taken me this long to become good at something that I've put my mind to. I know this is good for me though - humbling. I will continue to press forward relying on the Lord. I will see you all soon. I look forward to hearing from and writing to you again next week.