Week 11

First Full Week In Washington
So I completed my first full week in the mission field! It was weird, and I don't know if it was what I was expecting or not... It's kind of like an emotional roller coaster... sometimes you are just walking the CONSTANTLY wet streets of Washington, and people just keep rejecting you, or you are teaching an investigator or a less active and all of a sudden everything is worth it. It's weird but I like it. I'm glad I got the opportunity to try it first in English, because I think the whole culture shock with the missionary shock would have been pretty rough. Now at least when I go to Taiwan I will at least be used to the missionary life. 

Speaking of which, still no news on visas. It's okay though, because the people here are really nice and I am really enjoying my experiences here. I am pretty excited for Taiwan though, because every time I talk to someone who has gone to Taiwan, they tell me about all the awesome things I will get to experience there. 

This week was a really nice week. Since it was Christmas week, we were able to eat with families on both Christmas eve and Christmas. Both of the meals we ate were so good; a bunch of turkey and ham  and other delicious things. And I even got to Skype the family home on Christmas. That was really nice, although nothing had really changed because it had only been a couple of months since I saw them.. It might be a little different in 6 months when I call home for mothers day.

It is so beautiful up here. Every once in a while I am like "I could live here one day" but at the same time it is kind of hard, because it is always wet outside, even when it isn't raining. 

Our new investigator I told you about last week, Teonie, got the flu this week, so we weren't able to meet with her. We are going to try to meet with her today, but if she's still sick there isn't much else we can do. 

I don't know what else to write about.. My companions are both really great. Elder Grant is such a good missionary, and he helps me understand what I should be doing. He is about to go home so he knows all the mission secrets. Elder Nelson is almost as new as me, so it really helps me feel like I wasn't just thrown into it, we are both learning together.

Thank you all for your support and love, things are good up here in Washington. Still pray for my visa! Let's hope I get it soon! I love you all, Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Love,

Elder Quist

Week 10

I am in WASHINGTON!
Wow! I am in Washington State! Pretty weird, especially since I was just in the MTC last Saturday! So this is how it all happened: 
We asked the travel office on Monday what the plan was for us Mandarin speakers, and they told us that if we didn't leave by Friday we would stay here till Christmas, because from Friday to this Friday was supposed to be a black out week, which basically meant no church travel between that time. So Monday left.. no news. Then Tuesday, and even Wednesday. By Thursday people were pretty convinced that we had no more chance. I was pretty discouraged, I just wish we could've gotten an answer. So I prayed and just asked to find out that Thursday whether or not I would be in the MTC on Christmas, all I need is a sign!  

 

After I said that prayer I went to class, and within the first 30 minutes the boss over Asian speakers came in and said we would all be leaving before Christmas, and that we would be reassigned for a couple of weeks till our visas come! It was so crazy, we were all so excited and ready to leave the MTC. So that night we got our reassignments, and everyone in my mission were called to Washington, all the Elders to Washington Federal Way and all the Sisters to Spokane! The Sisters left Friday morning at 6:30, so they had about 12 hours notice, and we left Saturday at 3:30. Pretty crazy! And the craziest part is that a few weeks ago, when I first thought I was going to be reassigned, I prayed and asked to know a little more about what my plan was. That night I had a dream I got reassigned to Washington! I didn't even think about it until I got my call though! Man I know prayer is so real! 

 

Now I am in Washington, and I am companions with an Elder Grant, who has been here for 22 months, and is my trainer, and an Elder Nelson, who has only been here for 2 weeks. It's actually kind of funny, because Elder Nelson actually came to the MTC a month after me, but just stayed there for 3 weeks. They are both really awesome. 

 

Washington State is pretty rainy, it rains all the time,  and when I see the sun I am really surprised (and it usually only lasts a few minutes at a time), but it is so beautiful up here. It is not as cold as I thought it would be! Everyone told me it was way colder than Utah, but they didn't know what they were talking about. 

 

So the Saturday I got here was kind of hectic. They weren't super ready for us to come (because they had a 2 day notice) so we kind of just quickly met with the Mission President, President Eaton (who is really awesome by the way) and then met our companions and left. That Saturday we tried to set up a bunk bed for me in the apartment, and eventually figured it out. After that, we had Little Caesers, because that's what a member gave us to eat. Then that night I got to speak mandarin with a ward member! My companions were all really impressed, and now they think I can actually speak Mandarin super well (little do they know). Then we went and we got to go meet the Bishop.

 

Sunday was a little faster. We went to ward council for the Lakeholm ward, and then to the rest of church there. It was nice to just settle down and have Sacrament. After church we went around the ward giving secret santa gifts away from someone in the ward, and we got to meet and talk to the members we helped. Then that night we had dinner at a really nice member's house! The food was so good, and for dessert we had berry cobbler.  After that we had a lesson with a new potential investigator. Her name is Teonie Heck and she was alone with one of her kids. She was really nice and sweet. We taught her about the Restoration and she kept saying stuff like, this is what I really need in my life. Then, when the spirit felt right, Elder Nelson asked her if, after we taught her, she would be willing to accept baptism. She immediately said yes! It was so amazing. The spirit was so strong! When we actually gave her a date, she was a little nervous, but said she would try to make that date. We are going back on Wednesday to teach her again.

 

Thank you all so much for your emails! Thank you Taylor and Nate for your emails. Taylor happy birthday yesterday! Sorry I don't know your email so I couldn't send you an email! But I love you and Happy Birthday, see you Thursday!

 

Thank you Onna for the letter, it was nice and bought me breakfast at the airport!

 

It's going good here! It's beautiful and nice! I don't know when I am going to Taiwan, anywhere from 1 to 5 weeks... so wish me luck on that and I will keep you all updated!

 

I love you all,

Elder Quist

Week 9

SO I WILL GO TO TAIWAN... EVENTUALLY
Unfortunately, I have some bad news. As of right now, I have no visa, so I do not know when I will make it to Taiwan. Right now they have just decided to keep us at the MTC, because they think we will get our visas soon, but they aren't sure. So we could be here for a few more weeks, or we could go to Taiwan or get reassigned this week, we don't know. It's kind of sad, but I know the Lord knows what he is doing. 

Last night I watched "Character of Christ", which is a video of a talk given by Elder Bednar during a Christmas Devotional. In the talk, he talks about what the Character of Christ is, and the Character of Christ is turning out towards others when the natural man would turn inward and be selfish. It's a great talk about not focusing on ourselves, and becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. It really helped me this week, because sometimes I want to be disappointed, or ask for the pity of others, because I feel like I should be leaving the MTC, but this talk taught me to reach out to others when I felt like I needed someone to reach out to me. I am comforted, and I know that whatever happens is the Lord's will. But I am still praying so hard to make it to Taiwan as soon as possible! 

This week was nice though, because I got to see Hannah and the rest of the family when they dropped Hannah off at the MTC. I didn't think I could host, but it turned out that I had time, so I did it, and I was walking up towards the road from the MTC, I saw the Oliver's truck pulling into the MTC! I knew it was them, because I saw about 8 people packed into that truck. So I waited by the spot I thought they would stop, and when they stopped I went over and said hi to all of them! Unfortunately, Elders aren't supposed to host sisters, so I just got to say hi and go. But it was really nice to see all of you! And then Onna sent me a nice package the next day with some delicious food! Thanks for that, it actually happen to be about the same time I found out I wouldn't get my visa, so it was nice to have some caramels to eat while I contemplated the woes of my mission life.  Then I got to see Hannah again at the Sunday night devotional. We both watched Character of Christ, and we talked for a bit after it. She told me she wasn't going to be able to email until Wednesday, because that's her PDAY, so I was supposed to pass along the word that she is happy and doing well. 

I hear that Chrissy is moving back to Utah. That's exciting! Except I don't really concern myself with people in the family who don't email me.. Just kidding Chrissy! Good luck wherever you are.

 

I hear Nate and Jan are heading out to Utah soon. Good luck you guys! Don't forget about me while you guys spend Christmas together, and I may only get to call for 30 minutes, if I am still at the MTC.. But I guess I will see what happens.

Happy Birthday Dad! I hope everything is going well for you! I hope work is slowing down, and you can spend a lot of time with Elin over these next few weeks.

Thanks everyone for your letters and packages, they all really help! Keep praying for me, and I will keep praying for all of you. Hopefully next time I send this weekly email I will be out of Utah, but who knows? 

Love you all,

Elder Quist

Week 8

I'M GOING TO TAIWAN!!! Maybe...
I was pretty convinced I would get reassigned last week, but I prayed everyday about making it to Taiwan. Lo and behold, last Thursday night we opened our mailbox and I had my travel plans to Taiwan! We all celebrated so much! Then we went to the travel office to make sure it was a for sure thing... Sadly they said they are really hopeful we will get it, not 100 percent sure. But I am supposed to leave next Tuesday from Salt Lake at 8:45 am. From there I go to Seattle, (I get there like at 9:45 am). After Seattle we fly to Tokyo, we get there 3:30 pm Tokyo time.. the next day. Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of us.. So that means we get there like at 11:30 pm our time... Long flight. After that we go from Tokyo like at 6:00 pm or 6:30 and leave to Taiwan. We get there 8:45 or so, and I think Tokyo is an hour ahead of Taiwan, so it's like a 3 hour flight. So finally, at about 5:00 am our time, I arrive in Taiwan. I might be a couple of hours off on some of those things, because I left my plans in the residence, but that's what I believe. Hopefully, pray for me. But we have a sister going with us who told us her mom is really invested in our visa process, and she told the sister that our visas were approved and in America. But I we are still not 100 percent. I think we are going, and that's just such a powerful testament to prayer, because they told us they were certain we would not get our visas. I know prayer works! But whatever still happens happens for a reason.

Besides that the week was pretty boring. The devotional on Tuesday was really good, it was Elder Evans, and he talked about sharing the gift (in reference to the LDS video). I am supposed to challenge you all to share the gift this Christmas with someone who doesn't have it, so there you are, you have been challenged. www.mormon.org/christmas . 

 

Hannah,you only have two more days! The next two days will go by so fast, and then the 4 days after that are the slowest days of your life, so be ready for that. But after the first week time just flies here, I can't believe I only have a week left! I am going to try and host, but I don't know if I will be able to.. especially since I will probably dry clean my suit on Wednesday. But I will make sure to look for this Sunday at the devotional. Everyone goes to the same movie (The Character of Christ) their first week at the MTC and their last week at the MTC, so if you go to that movie I will see you there! 

 

The spirit here is amazing, I know this church is true. The video of "The Gift" is a very special video, and if you haven't seen it yet watch it today. I love you all! Still pray for me!

Elder Quist 

 

Week 7

THANKSGIVING WEEK IN THE MTC
First things first, I thought I would tell you my visa news as of right now. We asked today, and the travel office told us we will likely be reassigned.. I am a little disappointed, because my Mandarin may go bad, and I won't be able to go with my district to Taiwan. But it's okay, because I know it's the Lord's choice, and whatever happens is His will. However, that doesn't mean you can't all still pray that everything still works out, because I know I will be praying as hard as I can. 

Besides the news I mentioned in the previous paragraph, this last week was really good! Last Monday we Skyped people in Taiwan for the first time. It was really fun, and the guy we skyped was really awesome. He joined the church last year, even though his parents weren't members. He would sneak to church every Sunday, and finally his mom (who had known all along.. I think.. remember he said most of this is Mandarin) asked him where he went every Sunday. He said he was going to church, and that he really believed it was true. She wasn't mad, and told him it was alright. He really wants to go on a mission, and he might after he is done with school. He was so cool, and asked for our emails so he could email us. 

Then on Tuesday Elder Oaks came and talked to us! It was really amazing to get to listen to an apostle, he was so good.  And then on Thanksgiving we had another apostle come! Elder Bednar came in the morning and talked to us. But he didn't even give a talk; rather, he sent out about 50 or so cell phones into the audience, and asked each of us to text a certain number any questions we had for him. The rest of the meeting was just questions and answer, and it was so great! 

After Elder Bednar we had lunch, which wasn't so bad.. not as bad as it could be. I got to eat pie and stuffing and turkey, so that was good. After that we got to go to a humanitarian program, and learn about all the things we do in the church for others. Then we did a service project, where we filled baggies with food, I don't know how much we made, but I think we made hundreds of thousands of little food baggies. Following the service project we ate dinner as a district in our class room, they were just sack dinners but it's okay because we all brought food from our residence and had a lot of food. 

We then got to watch a special missionary Thanksgiving program, where missionaries performed and we did a little Thanksgiving program, it was really fun, but after that we got to watch Meet the Mormons! We were all so excited, and I thought it was so good! I hope it helps with bringing people to the gospel. And as a finale to our whole day the MTC presidency put up the Christmas lights in the MTC! It was one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever!!! 

Finally on Sunday we had vocal come for our devotional. I almost liked it more than any other devotional, because the spirit they brought with the music was amazing, and I really miss music. 

A special experience I had this week that I wanted to share- In our Mandarin class once a week someone will pick a chapter of the Book of Mormon we can read and discuss as a class. I went this week and chose 1 Nephi 21. It talks all about the atonement and missionary work. We discussed why we do missionary work, and it's because the Lord has made a promise that He will reach out to everyone, and we, as missionaries, are the tools he uses to do that. People are looking for Christ, and Christ wants to show them that He does remember them. However, a lot of times He needs us to reach out for Him. He needs us to extend the hand that He so wishes He could extend Himself. When we say we are representatives of the Savior, we really mean it. We are representing the Savior in reaching out to the lost sheep. I also shared a quote I had in my scriptures-

 I testify that the Savior’s Atonement lifts from us not only the burden of our sins but also the burden of our disappointments and sorrows, our heartaches and our despair.¹⁴ From the beginning, trust in such help was to give us both a reason and a way to improve, an incentive to lay down our burdens and take up our salvation. There can and will be plenty of difficulties in life. Nevertheless, the soul that comes unto Christ, who knows His voice and strives to do as He did, finds a strength, as the hymn says, “beyond [his] own.”¹⁵ The Savior reminds us that He has “graven [us] upon the palms of [His] hands.”¹⁶ Considering the incomprehensible cost of the Crucifixion and Atonement, I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now. When He says to the poor in spirit, “Come unto me,” He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way.Brothers and sisters, whatever your distress, please don’t give up and please don’t yield to fear. (That's from Elder Hollands 2006 talk Broken things to Mend)

Things are going really well here. I only have 2 weeks left! Even if I get reassigned I will be okay. Thank you all for your emails and packages, I love all of you. PRAY FOR MY VISA. Thank you 

Love,

Elder Quist