12 days until Christmas!
No, I don't think I need anything else in my package. I'll try and call around 2 New York time. I think all of the family's christmas morning rituals will be done by then.
We invited Jiang Ping to be baptised. She'll be going to china and won't be back til february and the baptism will have to wait til then. I think Jake will be coming in next week. That'll be cool to see him. That's absolutely insane that Will is turning 14...
Well, I'm sending my resume to Cui Xiao Feng (formerly ELder Cui) in Xi'an. He's gonna help me apply for work in english schools there. If I get accepted I don't wanna go until at least June... But I think I only plan on staying 6 months to one year. We'll see.
I hope you're having a great holiday season. The greatest thing that I have seen is a boost of unity between the missionaries and the ward. I'm just so happy with our busy, busy bishop who is making the best of what he can with the little bit of time he has for his calling. His mom had a stroke so please pray for her and him (Bishop Wu). The missionaries have also initiated tri-chinese ward temple trips for 2011. That's awesome.
Love you all!
Elder Eddy
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Email Home December 6 2010
Last saturday we got to help prepare food from the Bishop's storehouse with some recent converts. It was a great chance to show them what happens with our fast offerings.
It's been an interesting experience being a district leader for quite some time now. I think I initially took it upon myself to just supervise but I've been trying recently to inspire and help them grow, to realize greater potential for themselves.
Ummm... I don't have a coat. I honestly don't know what in the world happenedc to it... So maybe some money of my debit card would help. People keep telling me I'm not wearing enough and I just keep telling them I can handle it... It's snowing today...
Love ya!
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
It's been an interesting experience being a district leader for quite some time now. I think I initially took it upon myself to just supervise but I've been trying recently to inspire and help them grow, to realize greater potential for themselves.
Ummm... I don't have a coat. I honestly don't know what in the world happenedc to it... So maybe some money of my debit card would help. People keep telling me I'm not wearing enough and I just keep telling them I can handle it... It's snowing today...
Love ya!
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Email Home Novmber 29 2010
Thanksgiving was really fun. We had a ward party with lots of normal american thanksgiving food. The Chinese members were pretty confused. China doesn't have wild turkeys like we do so most of them don't even know what the bird looks like and like me think it tastes really bland. Qing Qing really enjoyed the gravy... and was eating/drinking it by itself. May Asai, a little japanese girl, shared the history of thanksgiving which was really good because I think less than a quarter of the people there were american.
Chinese people find it really odd how close western people get to their dogs... They probably wouldn't understand why Grandma and Grandpa were sad. Send them my sympathies.
Shirt sizes ... I would say most chinese people range between and men's small or medium. I don't know if we have anybody who needs anything right now... They're too new or they've already got the clothes but I'll let you know.
Last monday Elder Graham and I started reteaching somebody Elder Gabrielsen and I taught over a year ago. Seems like her year here has been tough and she's matured a lot. We also found some new investigators last week. Sang Yang Yang, and Sean Nie.
Well, I love you all!
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Chinese people find it really odd how close western people get to their dogs... They probably wouldn't understand why Grandma and Grandpa were sad. Send them my sympathies.
Shirt sizes ... I would say most chinese people range between and men's small or medium. I don't know if we have anybody who needs anything right now... They're too new or they've already got the clothes but I'll let you know.
Last monday Elder Graham and I started reteaching somebody Elder Gabrielsen and I taught over a year ago. Seems like her year here has been tough and she's matured a lot. We also found some new investigators last week. Sang Yang Yang, and Sean Nie.
Well, I love you all!
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Email Home November 22 2010
My socks, like my shoes, though bulky and unattractive, have held up better than any other missionaries socks I've seen. I haven't had a single hole and I'm pretty sure I haven't lost any... though they might be a little too warm for California.
I don't know how much the health test cost. They're gonna see if missionary medical will cover it. If it won't they're sending the bill to you.
As far as Christmas goes... Music is always nice. I'd love to have a live Christmas tree but that might be a little inconvenient. I honestly don't need much. I'd love to get slacks and white shirts for recent converts but that may get a little pricey. After my mission I'd love to learn how to paint landscapes Chinese style like Ma Yuan, but I would rather use my time on the mission for learning the language. So don't get my a Chinese painting book/set... yet. I was thinking of what I'd like for Christmas... One thing I'd love is for the family, you guys, to start having monthly service projects together, or maybe give up something that there's a monthly bill for and give that money to the church humanitarian aide, perpetual education, or mission fund. Do your home and visiting teaching. Fellowship new members and less actives. Pray for China to open. Pray that my recent converts, no matter what temporal situations they may be in, can feel Heavenly Father's love for them. Pray for the gift of charity. 'Have faith, have hope, live like his son, help others on their way.' Become like *'the house of Stephanas... they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.'
These are some things I wouldn't mind getting.
*1 Cor 16:15
We went to the temple on Saturday. we had some issues that delayed us a little... A slightly mentally... slow brother who wasn't endowed did about fifty confirmations that all had to be redone. And we definitely have some members who could improve their baptizing form. But they've got the right spirit and they're willing to do the work. They just need some guiding hands. The trip, though a little... odd, ended on a good note. I got to baptize and confirm Kevin Lin for his Grandpa.
Well, I gotta go.
Love ya!
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
I don't know how much the health test cost. They're gonna see if missionary medical will cover it. If it won't they're sending the bill to you.
As far as Christmas goes... Music is always nice. I'd love to have a live Christmas tree but that might be a little inconvenient. I honestly don't need much. I'd love to get slacks and white shirts for recent converts but that may get a little pricey. After my mission I'd love to learn how to paint landscapes Chinese style like Ma Yuan, but I would rather use my time on the mission for learning the language. So don't get my a Chinese painting book/set... yet. I was thinking of what I'd like for Christmas... One thing I'd love is for the family, you guys, to start having monthly service projects together, or maybe give up something that there's a monthly bill for and give that money to the church humanitarian aide, perpetual education, or mission fund. Do your home and visiting teaching. Fellowship new members and less actives. Pray for China to open. Pray that my recent converts, no matter what temporal situations they may be in, can feel Heavenly Father's love for them. Pray for the gift of charity. 'Have faith, have hope, live like his son, help others on their way.' Become like *'the house of Stephanas... they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.'
These are some things I wouldn't mind getting.
*1 Cor 16:15
We went to the temple on Saturday. we had some issues that delayed us a little... A slightly mentally... slow brother who wasn't endowed did about fifty confirmations that all had to be redone. And we definitely have some members who could improve their baptizing form. But they've got the right spirit and they're willing to do the work. They just need some guiding hands. The trip, though a little... odd, ended on a good note. I got to baptize and confirm Kevin Lin for his Grandpa.
Well, I gotta go.
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Monday, December 6, 2010
Email Home November 18 2010
OK, well I went to the doctor and... My cholesterol's a little low. The doctor says I should eat more and exercise but everything else is fine. I gave a copy of the test to sister Baum to email/fax to you.
(Ben's brother Zac got his mission call to serve in the Riverside California Spanish Speaking mission, he reports on his 19th birthday January 5th 2011)
Haha! Maybe Zac will get to serve in the Corona Stake. He's gonna have lots of people willing to feed him :) Does his mission president know he lived there for 13 years? He's gonna be having to ask the president for lots of family/friend meal permissions.
I could probably ask president bout eating with uncle steve again. We'll see what he says.
If Zac's able to I would say get the same shoes! I have seen SOOOO many missionaries (including ones who've been in driving areas) who's shoes' soles have worn down horribly! I've been in walking areas the whole time and my shoes have hardly worn at all. No, they may not be the prettiest but they'll hold up!
I was on exchanges with the zone leaders and we were looking up less active members and we found a brother Chen. I recognized him once I saw him, he comes to church maybe once a month. He's a really great brother and Even served as a branch president in Taiwan. I just wonder what's keeping him now. We invited him to keep coming.
I've realized my time is getting smaller and I keep desiring to make it better and better.
Elder Cui (who just went home) knows a Canadian member in Xi'an China who has an English school. He's going to recommend me for teaching and help me look for other jobs there. So I could be in China sometime next year. We'll see how that goes. President gave me permission to email him because writing letters to china is a pain and I'm one of the few friends this elder has.
I love you all,
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
(Ben's brother Zac got his mission call to serve in the Riverside California Spanish Speaking mission, he reports on his 19th birthday January 5th 2011)
Haha! Maybe Zac will get to serve in the Corona Stake. He's gonna have lots of people willing to feed him :) Does his mission president know he lived there for 13 years? He's gonna be having to ask the president for lots of family/friend meal permissions.
I could probably ask president bout eating with uncle steve again. We'll see what he says.
If Zac's able to I would say get the same shoes! I have seen SOOOO many missionaries (including ones who've been in driving areas) who's shoes' soles have worn down horribly! I've been in walking areas the whole time and my shoes have hardly worn at all. No, they may not be the prettiest but they'll hold up!
I was on exchanges with the zone leaders and we were looking up less active members and we found a brother Chen. I recognized him once I saw him, he comes to church maybe once a month. He's a really great brother and Even served as a branch president in Taiwan. I just wonder what's keeping him now. We invited him to keep coming.
I've realized my time is getting smaller and I keep desiring to make it better and better.
Elder Cui (who just went home) knows a Canadian member in Xi'an China who has an English school. He's going to recommend me for teaching and help me look for other jobs there. So I could be in China sometime next year. We'll see how that goes. President gave me permission to email him because writing letters to china is a pain and I'm one of the few friends this elder has.
I love you all,
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Email Home November 8 2010
It's Raining Slush!
Well, I'm really excited to find out where he's going! (Zac, Ben's brother is awaiting his mission call)
I've got a doctors appointment at 4:30 on Friday - it's been quite the headache trying to find a doctor. Some are closed for a few weeks, othhrs don't accept new patients, some only let schedule appointments on certain days (they wouldn't let a me schedule a future appointment if i was calling on a wednesday), and others receptionists don't know which insurances they accept or under which circumstances they accept certain insurances. So, I'll be paying for it in cash. I don't know how much it costs though but I'll need some money on my debit card.
We went to Zong's house yesturday. He's so awesome. He did have a little confusion about baptisms for the dead though - haha. He also showed us where he grew up on google earth:
Latitude (Y):36.858403 Longitude (X):114.403328 around tehre in this tiny place called Beizhang.
Transfers are tomorrow and I'm still in FLushing with Elder Graham. Still district leader.
We had stake conference on sunday. I love our stake president. He's a weirdo but also somewhat of a genius. Kind of liek Dumbledore or something. Zong really liked his talk and asked if I could get a copy for him.
I've kinda got a head ache ... So I'll wrap this up. There's some things I'd like in a package but I have to get onto the church store to look it up but this computer's web browser is out of date and so I can't see the new church store.
Love you all,
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Well, I'm really excited to find out where he's going! (Zac, Ben's brother is awaiting his mission call)
I've got a doctors appointment at 4:30 on Friday - it's been quite the headache trying to find a doctor. Some are closed for a few weeks, othhrs don't accept new patients, some only let schedule appointments on certain days (they wouldn't let a me schedule a future appointment if i was calling on a wednesday), and others receptionists don't know which insurances they accept or under which circumstances they accept certain insurances. So, I'll be paying for it in cash. I don't know how much it costs though but I'll need some money on my debit card.
We went to Zong's house yesturday. He's so awesome. He did have a little confusion about baptisms for the dead though - haha. He also showed us where he grew up on google earth:
Latitude (Y):36.858403 Longitude (X):114.403328 around tehre in this tiny place called Beizhang.
Transfers are tomorrow and I'm still in FLushing with Elder Graham. Still district leader.
We had stake conference on sunday. I love our stake president. He's a weirdo but also somewhat of a genius. Kind of liek Dumbledore or something. Zong really liked his talk and asked if I could get a copy for him.
I've kinda got a head ache ... So I'll wrap this up. There's some things I'd like in a package but I have to get onto the church store to look it up but this computer's web browser is out of date and so I can't see the new church store.
Love you all,
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Email Hme November 1 2010
I've tried calling the doctor to schedule an appointment - I've apparently got to learn that doctors work at different times than the times I'm at home - after nine o'clock at night. Hopefully I'll get an appointment before the end of the week.
We had a baptism this sunday for Brotehr Zong Zuo-Ling 宗作领. He was such a quick baptism but such a great brother to teach. He reminded me a lot of King Lamoni and his Father who in their humility beleived anything Ammon and his brothers, the missionaries said. On the otehr hand he also reminded me of Captain Moroni - He's very zealous about helping China.
I feel like my mission has opened my eyes to a much larger and complicated world but also made it possible for me to find my place and friends needed for my part in changing it.We had a baptism this sunday for Brotehr Zong Zuo-Ling 宗作领. He was such a quick baptism but such a great brother to teach. He reminded me a lot of King Lamoni and his Father who in their humility beleived anything Ammon and his brothers, the missionaries said. On the otehr hand he also reminded me of Captain Moroni - He's very zealous about helping China.
It makes me so pleased to hear that you're doing the essentials of family scripture study, prayer, and family home evening - It is treuly amazing the strength and enthusiasm that comes from a sincere effort to study and apply the word of God. There's a scarily sharp contrast when those things are neglected, so 加油！(jia you (jya yo) add oil, ie keep going!)
I love you all!
"A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”
- Jospeh Smith
Elder Benjamin James Eddy
狄俊明长老
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)