Emails 5/30/16

Congratulations to Nicole!! :D That's so cool she graduated, I remember when I graduated and I was soo happy! :) I'm glad Grandma seems to be  doing well! That must've been pretty cool to have all the grandparents there for her! :) Everyone looks really great! :) Haha I didn't know Lehi had a song until I graduated, either. :) 

Here's my weekly email to President Blickenstaff: 

Dear President, 
This week was pretty good. I thought a lot about Moses and his experience as well as the talk by Elder Holland where often times before or after we reach a "Spiritual high," the adversary tries to get his hits in. These last two weeks, I have been very concerned with whether or not I have been doing well enough in this new position. I realized as I thought about it that a lot of these thoughts were coming from him. I have been trying to focus more on what I can do and the things I can do right now to be the most effective. As I have turned more to the Lord in times of stress or worry, I have tried to follow Joseph Smith's example and turn to the Lord and pray more fervently to Him. 
This week, we were able to see some huge miracles through planning and having faith in our plan and working hard. In particular, yesterday, Elder Ward and I had a lesson set up for Sunday night and had a new investigator that week already, so we needed one more. We planned to go to a certain street in our area and try to get a sit-down lesson with someone who we could then add for church. At that time, we went to the place we had planned to go, found someone and started talking to him. He wasn't interested and time was running out. I was bummed, but I knew we had done all we could, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man facing us, looking like he wanted to talk to us. I turned to him and he started talking. He said he had started investigating other Christian churches and was curious about our message. He asked us if we could sit down with him and we had a full first lesson with him and added him for next week and he agreed to come to church next week! There have been several miracles like that we have seen with planning and with focusing on finding those who have been prepared. 

I was able to go on exchanges with a missionary in the zone this week, and he seems to be doing well. We focused on contacting and searching for those whom God has prepared us to find. His Chinese seems to be coming along pretty well! If someone "bu yong'ed" (said they didn't want to talk to us) us, we would quickly go to the next person and contact them. We were able to see miracles from this as well. We contacted a lady at a light who wouldn't say a word to us, and the scripture from Alma 32 came to mind, where Alma immediately turns about and talks to the crowd of the prepared people. So we left and contacted the next guy, who ended up adding for later in the week and seemed interested in our message! 

Over all, it's been a good week and I'm glad to be here and with Elder Ward! I have a lot to learn from him!

Alright, this week was good! Monday we went to Costco, so that was cool. :) I bought muffins and milk, yay! :D Monday night, we went to find some people to teach and had an active member lesson with the xie family. Brother Xie is the Elder's Quorum president. He's amazing. When he speaks, he speaks with power. :) It was really cool. We were almost brought to tears when he said the closing prayer, the Spirit was so strong. :) It was pretty awesome. :) 

Tuesday, we went on exchanges, where we switched companions for a day, had some lessons, contacted some people, then Wednesday did more contacting, switched back, and then had a lesson with Robert and Belle. They are investigators and Robert is super awesome! :D He has a goal to get baptized for 6-25. We thought we had given him a goal that was too early, so we discussed it with him, and he said something like, "Elders, I can tell that you love me and want to give me this blessing because you're so enthusiastic about this work and it makes me want to be better to hit this goal, so let's keep it at 6-25." Wow!! :D That was sooo cool!! :D Afterwards, we went to visit a couple less active kids and then had English class at night. 

Thursday was MLC meeting. It was sooo awesome!! :D It took all day, which was cool because it was a huge spiritual boost, but a bummer, because we weren't able to proselyte in our area for an entire day. :/ 

Friday was good. Weekly planning, met with Robert and Belle, lots of contacting at night. 

Saturday was a day of miracles. We had a 60th anniversary of missionary work broadcast in the morning which was really cool, but because of that, we didn't get good studies in. It showed that night when we had a lesson. It was our first meet with a potential investigator. We didn't teach him well. We needed the Spirit and God's help, but we didn't do our part that day to have it. We were able to set him again, fortunately, so maybe we'll have another chance. The miracle was that we were humbled from that experience and at 8 had two VERY important appointments--Elder Ward was meeting with a less active member who hadn't been to church in years and talking about the importance of the Gospel and church. I was conducting a baptismal interview. The miracle was that we said a really intense, sincere prayer asking for forgiveness and for help, and both appointments went well. The baptismal interview was one of the best I've ever been a part of. The Holy Ghost was SO strong! :) 

Sunday was another day of miracles. We needed another investigator, so we planned to get a miracle sit-down lesson with someone, which we were able to do! God is a God of miracles. :) We were also able to help 5 less-active members come to sacrament meeting yesterday, which really pumped up the ward. :) It was an awesome week! :D There were plenty of ups and downs, but if we trust in God, He will help us. :) Love you guys so much and I hope you all have a great week! 

Sorry I ran out of time and didn't have time to go through all the emails this week. :(  I love you lots and I'll try to write more to you guys next week! Love you so much and I'm praying for you!! 

-- 

Elder Fleming

Mission Blog Post

Elder Fleming is on the Taiwan Taichung Mission Blog.

Here is the link if you want to see the entire post:
Mission Leadership Council

There was a training for the zone and mission leaders. In the pictures, we could see Elder Fleming's MTC companion, Elder Ludwig. We also spotted Elder Booth as well as another sister missionary from his original MTC district

Emails 05/23/16

Wow, that's pretty cool! :) I didn't know that he (President Blickenstaff) emailed you. Yeah, he called me last Saturday and told me the news. I was pretty shocked. I would have been ok not going zone leader, because it's a lot of work! :o It's been good so far, although pretty stressful as well. There were a couple days to be honest that I didn't know if I would be able to do it. But so far, so good. :) It's a lot more busy, because we have to follow up with the districts and the district leaders often and do companion exchanges I think about once a week. It's been pretty intense, but so far pretty fun as well. I've had to work super hard this week. It's pretty amazing that when we work as hard as we can and give our all to  the Lord and we don't know if we'll make it to the next day--or even to the end of that day--that the Lord gives us power to do His work. That's been pretty cool. :) 

We usually report to the AP's, and sometimes President. And yeah, my area has a bunch of missionaries again. :) The district I'm in has 8 missionaries including us. :) We border on the other zone as well, so we also see missionaries from Ping Dong stake as well because we all do English here and we share this church. :) 

Elder Ward is good. He works SUPER hard. It's good, but sometimes really intense! :o He's got this transfer and next transfer left. I haven't had a companion as old as Elder Ward since my trainer, Elder Bak. :) 

I am now in Gao Xiong, San Min Qu. It is a pretty cool place and I think the second smallest proselyting area in Taiwan! :o It's pretty cool here and there are a lot of people here to talk to. This is also the most city-like area I've been to as well. Yuan Lin was the second biggest. :) 

Anyway, Monday was pretty alright. We waited at the train station for a long time to make sure all the missionaries arrived safely and to say hi to them. We emailed, ate dinner and went to work! We pretty much just contacted that night. Good stuff. :) Tuesday was pretty great! We did service for a lady who is SUPER prepared for the Gospel--but her husband doesn't want her to meet with the missionaries. Lame. We'll have to see what we can do there. We went to DTM, district training meeting, which was pretty great, because I didn't have to lead it! ;) That was nice. :) Next week we have to do zone training meeting, though, so that will be really stressful. Afterwards, we did some language pass-offs for some missionaries who are new and still in training and then did English proselyting, where we stand on corners of a road with tracts and signs and give them to people who want to come to English class. :) Then dinner, then contacting, then we had to go to a meeting with the Stake presidency which was pretty awesome! It went pretty well and we were able to talk with the stake president and get new ideas from him and how he wants to direct the stake and how we can direct the zone to work with the stake. 

Wednesday, we contacted in the morning, someone didn't show up to a lesson ("fang'ed" us, that happens a lot) met with a guy and his wife, who were pretty awesome! Then went and had a lesson with a couple less active younger boys about 14 and 11, I think. Then we contacted to dinner, then had English meeting, then English class. English was pretty good. Elder Ward and I are teaching intermediate class, which is pretty cool. I haven't taught with a companion an English class in a LONG time. :) Probably since right after training! :o It's also been a long time since I've taught intermediate class before, too! :) 

Thursday was pretty good. We met with a Baptist preacher who is from Ohio, who came over here and started proselyting here. He's pretty cool and really willing to listen and to share. We had to hand him off to the other Elders, though, because he doesn't live in our area. Then we contacted all afternoon until dinner, ate, then helped an English student with translating some stuff, then contacted some more, were going to meet with someone but then he fang'ed us, then met with our investigator with a baptismal goal. He seems really solid! :D Friday was weekly planning, then exchanges. I had to lead the area already. It was a little stressful, but not too bad. I didn't get lost, so that was pretty good. :D We contacted, ate dinner, contacted, called some phones, met with our less active, who's about to get rescued and then contacted some more until we came home. It was a pretty good day. Also, we were able to get someone to set up to meet with us the next day on the road, so that was a miracle! 

Saturday, our guy who set up with us fang'ed us, but set up for another time (because it was raining), so we contacted, ate lunch, then contacted again, and then switched back, so I was back with Elder Ward again. It's pretty nice as zone leaders now, because we are usually supposed to both stay in our area and proselyte here, so we can get extra lessons and see miracles in our area and stuff! I just feel bad for the missionaries that have to come here, because they don't get any time in their area for a day. :/ It's great for us, though! :) 

We met with a part-member family in the afternoon, who are all super great! I hope we can continue working with and visiting them. :) Then we contacted and a member took us out to dinner. Then we called phones, then contacted from 7 to 9, I think. 

Sunday was pretty great! We have 1:30 pm church, which for a missionary is pretty great! :D We were able to do all our morning studies, contact for a little bit, pack dinner for after church because we had a lesson set up afterwards (he fang'ed us, too), and then scheduled to be back on the roads by 5:45. Church went great. Sacrament was amazing! :) It's so great that we have an opportunity every week to renew our baptismal covenant and to was away all the mistakes we made of that week! 

Afterwards, was contacting in the rain. We didn't have any real success at first, because the Taiwanese are a little grumpy in the rain usually and normally aren't as willing to talk with us or anything. After about an hour of intense rain contacting, we started seeing some success. :) Sacrifice brings blessings. :) so does obedience. :) 

Well, that's about all for the week. :) Also, I got to go to Costco today, which was great! :D I bought a Costco card, because I got a good deal on it! Only $600NT! ($17USD) :D Yay! 

I love you and I hope you had a great week this week! You've always been in my prayers! :) I love you!

-- 

Elder Fleming

Email from President Blickenstaff 05/18/16

Dear Brother and Sister Fleming and family,

I am pleased to inform you that your son, Elder Zachary Keith Fleming, has been called to serve as Zone Leader in the Taiwan Taichung Mission. 

Only the most experienced, obedient and energetic Elders are called to be Zone Leaders. Zone Leaders not only must set and unwavering example, but also spend much of their time training and motivating other missionaries in their zone. He will supervise several districts and be a source of counsel and advice for the missionaries in his zone. I am confident your son will fulfill these duties with the utmost diligence. 

Please continue to encourage your son to reach out in excellence as he serves the Lord in this new calling. You can be proud of him and his efforts. He is certainly living up to the trust the Lord has placed in him as he serves here in the Taiwan Taichung Mission. 

Sincerely, 

President Kurt L Blickenstaff

Taiwan Taichung Mission

Emails 05/16/16

I'm in Gao Xiong with Elder Ward, now. :) It should be pretty fun. :) 

Well, this week was good. Monday, we met with Bob. He's awesome (I think I told you about his lesson last week where he got his answer). He now has a baptismal goal again for June 18th! Thanks for your prayers!! :D It helped him a lot! :) But Monday we met with him.

Tuesday, we had DTM, and visited people. I have a new planner and I forgot a lot of what happened last week... :/ But Tuesday was good. :) Wednesday was normal, I think. We had English class and our member, brother Shen came. I don't know if I've told you about him. He's pretty funny. :) He is deaf and a little special. He's a sweet guy, but he takes a little patience sometimes. He came to English, and I think for the first time in a while, we had a pretty good English class! :D We were also able to set up to meet with one of our English students on Saturday! :D Thursday I can't remember what happened... :/

Friday I sang to the ama's one last time. :) I'll send pictures in a minute. :) I'll miss singing to them every week. :/ Saturday, we met with our English student. Since she's a female, we have to have a male member accompany the lesson. We asked the Huang family (the mom's awesome and her daughter, Lisa just got back from her mission in Taibei. She's an awesome peike--"peike" means "member at a lesson") There is a male in the family around 17, who we thought was going to come with them because we told them that we needed him, but I guess there was a miscommunication and he didn't come. :o So it was my companion and I and 4 females at the church. We started calling our 3 other males in the branch and none of them answered. We were super stressed and scared that we would have to cancel the lesson and we just felt super awkward. We have permission in Heng Chun that we can meet with females if we meet in public, and Sister Huang knew that, so she saved the lesson by asking if we all wanted to go get ice cream together. I was soooo grateful that she saved us!! :D We got ice cream and ended up having a really good lesson. I thought that the coolest part was that even though we were stressed out, we turned to bearing our testimony. I thought that it was awesome that when we didn't know what to do during the lesson we just testified. I was also amazed that we were able to teach in unity. :) It was a huge miracle! :) Also, our English student brought a friend, so that was really cool, too!

Saturday night, we visited an LA member who is about to be rescued (she has a calling and just needs to come to church one more time!) Can you help me pray for her? :) Her name is Sister Li (or Stella). :) They're such a great family. :)

Sunday was interesting; we had a broadcast, so I wasn't able to announce that I was leaving, so I just told the members afterwards. I'll miss them!

Here is my email to President: :)

I am so glad I had the opportunity to serve in Heng Chun! When I was first called to go there, I was a little hesitant to go, but it became one of my favorite areas. I really enjoyed serving with Elder Grisenti, and I learned so much from him! I learned a lot from him and we had a great transfer.

I feel like last transfer was the "ideal transfer" for me. I was able to set goals with my companion and we worked hard to hit them. We hit many of our goals, and even though we didn't hit all our goals, we were still able to work hard and see miracles from our efforts. I feel peace leaving Heng Chun knowing that I did my best and that I worked hard through out the transfer. I was able to get to know Elder Grisenti and come to know him and love him during the transfer. I want to thank you for assigning me to serve in Heng Chun!

I plan to have another "ideal transfer" here with Elder Ward. It is always cool to start something new, because I feel like when we do, we have to rely very much on our faith, because we are still developing the skills. I think that when we are in situations where we have to rely more on our faith, we are able to see miracles, and I am excited to try hard and work with Elder Ward!

Anyway, I love you and I pray for you all the time. :)

--
Elder Fleming

A couple of my favorite people in HengChun--Brother Ding and Brother Shen. :) So many good memories... :)

Elder Grisenti, the Li family, Bob and President Wang and I, and Dean and I :) 

Elder Grisenti, Monica and Tiffany, and my son (Elder Anderson) is on the news! :D 

Emails 5/9/16

It was nice to see and talk to you, too. :) I love you lots! I am glad I got to Skype you today. :)  It wasn't too hard to say goodbye, thankfully, and that might be the last time we do that on Skype! :o 

Ok this is the weekly email. :) I'm going to try to be fast and summarize this week. :) 

Monday was good. Bought some stuff. I'll send a picture later. :) Met with Bob. He's doing alright. 

Tuesday was pretty good. We went to Ping Dong (2.5 hours by bus) for monthly zone training meeting. Afterwards, we did exchanges with the zone leaders. We went and proselyted in their area that night and the following day to learn from each other and stuff. That was fun. Wednesday afternoon we came back because we have English class at night. I was worried that exchanges would hurt our numbers pretty bad for finding and lessons, but in the end, we saw some miracles and everything worked out pretty well. :) We had English class. I don't know if I've told you guys about Brother Shen yet... :) he's funny. :) 

Thursday we had some lessons, met with an investigator, Dean. That was good. :) 

Friday was pretty busy. Weekly planning and we had a couple lessons set up as well so we had to work around that, then our time for our lesson ended up getting changed on us last minute, but we were still able to meet with them, which was good. That was the super cool miracle 93-year-old and his son that we met with. :) So they became new investigators and then we met with an LA member for dinner. Then we visited Monica, another investigator. She's doing alright, but we have to help her with her faith. 

Saturday was pretty good. We visited and investigator, stopped by this rice thing to look at it on our way to another lesson, so we didn't have long, but then some people wanted us to model for them! Haha it was funny and really random! :) But we modeled for them in front of this rice field and they took pictures of us. I'm not sure what it was for; they didn't tell us... :) 

Sunday was good. Our RC was at church with her investigator mom, we got another investigator at church as well, and apparently this white guy came and visited and he was a previous mission president's son! :o That was pretty cool. :) He was super cool. :) Yeah, that's about it for the week. :) 

I love you lots and I hope you get to see some miracles this week, too! :D

-- 

Elder Fleming

New shoes I bought last week from our branch president, Elder Bak visited (maybe you already have those pictures...), rice field where people asked us to model for them, and last night's curry rice dinner. :) 

Mother's Day Skype 5/8/16

 They started by singing "Army of Helaman" in English and Mandarin. Awesome. 

 Even Powder said hi. 

 Elder Fleming looked and sounded great. :)