A Week of "Lasts" - Our Mission is Complete

Our 18 month now-turned-21 months mission is over. We have trained another couple in Housing responsibilities. They are capable and amazing. They were originally assigned to a temple mission, then after their COVID run, they returned as member leadership support missionaries for a local ward, plus self reliance and teaching English. Now they’ve been asked by the mission president to head up Housing. They shine wherever they are asked to serve.

It was a week of "lasts", and it was tender and sweet. We led our last English group - treats were provided and everyone wanted their photo taken with us. We will miss this wonderful experience.

Last baptism attended - the gal in the olive skirt is a member of our English group and was baptized on this day. The one in the green skirt was also in our English group and was baptized a few weeks earlier. 

Our English group friend, to whom we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He will be baptized this week.

Then there was the last dryer-fixing run for a missionary apartment. Last beef noodle soup. Last hugs to the English Ward YSAs. Last last dryer run- again. Last temple session.                                                                                               

Our missionary departure group after a temple session

Last time to sit in Yong Kang park and take in the smells and sights and sounds in this lovely neighborhood park. The mission president treated us all to one last zhuabing and one last CoCo passion fruit drink. We enjoyed these treats at the park while he found some nearby park-goers, and shared with them an invitation to learn about the Gospel. Ever our missionary example. 

Us with President and Sister Peterson. 
Mission office and home in the 
background

President contacting several people 
in the park

Four young missionaries and another senior couple completed their missions the same time as us. We returned to the country dedication site to report back to the Lord of our labors. 

This is where we all started our missions, and this is where we end. The feeling is sweet and tender. We knelt in prayer in private spots to report to the Lord and rededicate ourselves to His work throughout our lives. 

Taiwan was dedicated on June 1, 1959 for the preaching of the Gospel by Elder Mark E. Peterson, at this spot and on this very step (fourth step up from the bottom). This is the garden associated with the Grand Hotel. We closed with a round of "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

Missions are hard work. Anyone who has been on one knows that. Even for seniors. The mission service is fraught with struggle - mental and physical, spiritual and emotional. But missions are also amazing. They are the brimmed to overflowing with miracles, tender mercies, light, truth, and testimony. Even for seniors. 

To sum up our past 21 months in a short blog post may not be adequate nor do it justice. Most of everything lies imbedded inside us now as part of our framework and compass. We are changed. We are more aware of God’s continuing hand in peoples lives. That which may seem small to the eye is usually the very greatest. We came, we served, and now we return. With a three month COVID-run in between. We are part of history - the COVID-19 history.

Missionaries bound for their home countries, 
ready to board the bus to the airport.

The COVID-run missionaries- those who came, were sent home because of COVID-19, and then were able to return. Or those who were called to serve elsewhere then reassigned back to their home country of Taiwan. And they came back stronger. Their testimonies shone. Their work continues, in spite of unprecedented barriers. They are the heroes. We have been honored to serve behind them - to encourage, help, support, and pray for them. These young missionaries are the heroes of our mission.

 These photos are from March 2020 as the COVID-19 exodus began.

They are also the miracles of this mission. Whenever we’d go to their apartments - whether for inspections or to do repairs, we ask them to share a recent miracle they’ve experienced. And in every case, their eyes lit up and they explained how the Lord led them to find someone with whom they could share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Or how a person’s heart was softened to allow their young adult son or daughter to finally be baptized. Or how their parents returned to Christ because of their missionary service and example. Hearing how the Lord worked through them reminded us that in small and simple means are great things brought to pass. 

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5:45 am - the soft jingling of the iPhone stirs my mind to consciousness. Our last day in Taiwan has begun. With our "within-three-day-negative-COVID-test" results in hand, we made our way to the airport. And then, just like that, we were home.

It's great to be back with family! It's great to be back in Colorado.

Happy Easter!

We will ever cherish the memories, the friends, the experiences of our Taiwan Taipei mission. We trust our efforts were helpful. We are grateful to the Lord for allowing us to serve there, and for the opportunity of representing Him and His sacred work. If you have questions about serving a senior mission, about Taiwan, or about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we'd love to hear from you. 

Email: coffey58@gmail.com

 

Worn out shoes, cracked and falling apart, glued back together. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7