New Companion

Adam has a new companion after working with Elder Collett for 12 weeks.  His new companion is Elder Clayson from Provo, UT.

With New Companion Elder Clayson

Saying Goodbye to Elder Collett, who left for his new area in Taichung

Adam learned a lot from Elder Collett over the last three months and they had some wonderful experiences together.  The following are selected photos from the last 2 months.

Adam at the Ciji Temple at the Lotus Pond

Overlooking the Nine Bend entrance to the temple

Service project helping a family move

Zone Conference with Pres. Teh

Ward activity 

With Elder Collett

Shihchung Ward at activity

With close up of Chinese name tag

Fancy buffet restaurant in Kaohsiung. Adam got to eat there several times as guests of kind people.

All Adam can eat!

Unlimited Haagen Dazs ice cream

From the roof of Adam's apartment overlooking Ai River 

Translator that Adam bought to language study

Instant translation

At Bro. Yu's baptism.

Adam's area in Kaohsiung 

Chinese puppets:gift from DeWitt family. Adam got the Monkey King!

With Yang Family

With Bro. Chio

With ward members.

With Bro. Hung-Tu Huang, who trained at UCSF and knew Grandpa Kwok

With Bro. Huang's family

Survived Typhoon Megi

Adam experienced his first real typhoon last Tuesday. He and Elder Collett were caught in it briefly and had to run after several important documents that were blown away from an open backpack.  Luckily, they retrieved the documents and no one was hurt.  To see a video of the typhoon experience, use this link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B42SnW9URilpYkUwQjRBYVN0SkE

Adam continues to do well.  He shared his testimony at church in Mandarin, in front of native Mandarin speakers.  He is teaching an English class and is also teaching several people interested in learning about the gospel.

Here are several recent photos:

Drying out documents rescued from the typhoon

Xiao Long Bao

With other missionaries in Kaohsiung

First 10 days in Kaohsiung

Adam is getting used to living in Kaohsiung although he got sick soon after arriving in the city.  He spiked a fever a few days ago but recovered quickly after getting some needed rest.  He helped complete the teaching of a mother and two daughters and, on Saturday, he performed his first baptism in Taiwan, saying the baptismal prayer in Mandarin.
He cooks his own breakfasts (eggs, toast, pancakes) but eats out the rest of the meals because it is cheaper.  They eat at home on Sundays and that's when they cook lunch and dinner.
He is very comfortable talking to people on the street and in their homes.  Here are some of the latest photos.

Fried rice for lunch

Local restaurant they frequent

Supermarket escalator ramp that keeps the shopping cart locked magnetically

Adam's bike with the mission slogan, "no success can compensate the failure in the home".  
Name of the church at the bottom. 

Adam on his bike

In full mission gear

With the family that got baptized on Saturday

Eyes half closed but with a great smile

Adam's bed is against the window.

Opposite end of the room

The apartment banner with all the missionaries' signature since June 2012.
Just beneath the "10" is the name of Vincent Lin, a former missionary from San Francisco.

First area: Kaohsiung City

Adam arrived in Taiwan safely Wednesday evening, local time.  He missed the super typhoon Meranti that came close to the southern end of Taiwan Wednesday and the second typhoon, Malakis, that came close to the northern end of Taiwan Saturday morning.
On Friday, Adam took the train to his first area, Kaohsiung (Gaoxiong), the major city on the west coast in southern part of Taiwan.  He found out that his friend, Vincent Lin, lived in that apartment when he was a missionary there several years ago.
Adam is serving in the Shihchung Ward in the Kaohsiung Taiwan West Stake.  "Shihchung" means the middle of the city so he is working in the main part of the city.  The members in the ward are super nice and Adam is glad to be in a welcoming environment.  His trainer is Elder Collett from Sandy, UT.  He is adapting well and is happy to serve in Taiwan.

With Mission President, Elder and Sister Teh at the Airport

At Mission Home

With Pres. and Sis. Teh at Mission Home

Apartment in Kaohsiung 

Selfie

Elder Collett eating fried egg on toast Adam made

At Airport

Adam had the amazing fortune of bumping into Amy and Thomas Glenn (and little Wilson) at the Salt Lake City Airport this morning.  In his usual self, Adam spotted a cute baby in a stroller and he made eye-contact and a funny face to him.  That got the attention of the parents, Amy and Thomas, who couldn't believe that it was Adam, whom they coached several years ago when he was auditioning for a Gilbert and Sullivan musical camp.
Adam is on his way to San Francisco and then on to Taiwan on the 787 Dreamliner, scheduled to arrive Wednesday evening local time.  Since we can't go to the airport during Adam's layover, we are really glad that Adam got to see our great friends from Calgary on his way out.  Here are the photos.

Making faces with Baby Wilson

Baby Wilson

With the Glenns

Last Sunday before departing for Taiwan

Adam got an extra preparation day on Saturday to do his laundry and start packing for his trip to Taiwan.  Aunt Carole's friends sent the following photos taken yesterday, where the missionaries got to pose with the flags of the countries they are heading to.  See how many flags you recognize.