Letter and Pictures From Brother Lyau

Hello David, Dianne & the> Family!

This is Brother Christopher J. Lyau ( My Chinese name is: Jyun-Rou Lyau) from Taichung , Taiwan . It was such a great privilege to know and to talk to Elder Blackham's parents last week. I am sending the most recent photos of your beloved son, Elder Blackham’s from Taiwan Taichung mission to you. I am sure you’ll love to see the pictures, won’t you?

I want to thank you for sending your wonderful son to Taiwan to serve a mission for us, the people in Taiwan . He is an excellent missionary. We are now the luckiest people in the world because of Elder Blackham! Like I said to you last week, I was so surprised at seeing his long lasting positive attitude towards everyone. I believe that he is the most loving, positive and the sunniest happy missionary that I have ever met. And like Elder Neal A. Maxwell has described his dear friend, Dean Nielson in his talk “Jesus, the Perfect Mentor” given at a Church Educational System fireside at Brigham Young University on 6 February 2000. Elder Maxwell said: “My memory of him is of a special young man who strove to put on the whole armor of God. I love him for his sweetness and his innocence….” I think Elder Blackham owns the same qualities like Dean Nielson has.

Well, thank you again for all of your sacrifices that you ave done for us! May God bless you and your family!

Chris

Dinner at Brother Sen's House-The two dishes with the basket were made by me

Dinner at Borther Sen's house- The one in pink

Eating the chicken foot- the first American that I ever seen.

Can you believe that he was really eating it?

dear family

Well life has been a wonderful ride this past few weeks I have really seen how to do missionary work there is so much joy in baseing your day around people and not places. I really have appreciated my leaders this week I had two exchanges this week one with the Zone leader elder de la cruiz from the phillipines. we basically just visited people all day and had alot of really short lessons it was a beautiful thing. Ireally have learned alot just by shadowing my leaders.
Well I had a very cool experience this last time we met with tony Cai we shared about scripture study and followed up on his word of wisdom and he has kept it for almost two weeks now he used to have a problem with every single one except for drugs, he told us that he doesnt even want them anymore and he has gone through his personal trials to get over it but now he has come so far he is prepared to be baptised and he has continued to progress everytime we meet with him. the lord really sees reason to bless those who put there trust in Him. I have seen Tony completely change his life, he has such a light about him he s almost glowing with the love of the gospel.

Oh cool story we visited a brother Zhang who was a member referral on sunday before church and while we were visiting him and about committed him for church his best church friend brother liao yao dong called me and I let him talk to brother Zhang. then after they talkid for a minute or two he said ok well I will see you at church. Then he came at two promptly and was able to attend sacrament meeting.

There is so much power in the testimony and invitation of members I have seen that that is the only way to do this work is with the members and otherwise it's like you are just waving a stick at a pinyatta blindfolded very rarly do you make real effective candy hits.

I just want to say just how much I love you all and am greatful I can be on my mission here in Taiwan and have had the experiences I have had. It is crazy how fast the last year has gone most of my older missionaries are going home ina week and there are so many people that just seem like the best of friends that I was with for so short an amount of time. I realize that everyday is so precious,God has this gift of life that he allows us to live. This church is true I know it more now than I have ever known. there is so much confusion in this world and strife contention but God allows us to have the light of his gospel lead us home. I know that this is true, God lives and loves me too, Jesus has paid for our sins and he will save all those who beleive and act upon his name. This is his season of love . Thank you all and I love you have a very merry christmas holiday season.Elder Blackham

dear family

well this week has been a wonderful week. our investigator brother liao Jia xiang passed his baptisimal interview but unfortunatly he didnt come to church this last sunday so we are postponeing his baptisim another week so that will be this next saturday but he is a very prepared soul he loves the gospel and has come so far learning and growing everyday . I love seeing people change their lives. My other investigator Tony is doing well he has now gone a full week without smoking and is really starting to progress quickly he came to church this past sunday and really enjoyed it he even takes notes while he is attending, he is a very dilligent student of the gospel. He really has a desire to change and become a better person and make the most of his life. He will be baptised next next saturday and the day after christmas will be a real present for me. I love this gospel you know we just got back from the temple and after waking up at five and being on a bus for some two hours to get to taibei and being able to go through and feel the spirit so strong and have that experience of being in the world but not of the world. The Taibei temple as you enter it has you take off your shoes and put them in a plastic bag then you proceed inside. It is a wonderful taste of the chinese culture that I personally think adds to the spirituallity of the temple experience like moses taking off his shoes in the presence of the lord likewise this is the house of the lord and we should respect it like such. well I have seen the lord work miracles like through me and we have found some really wonderful people to teach and I will tell you the one time I really feel like a missionary is when I am teaching lessons and sharing the gospel, when I am getting rejected by people on scooters,at their doors,on the phone, on the street the list continues. Rejection and failure is a large part of missionary work that I have been trying to get used to I know I have little to no trials but I know that whatever it is JesusChrist knows what I am going through and he has already paid for my every pain and sorrow. well i know that this church is true and that even when times get down You just need to pray and read your scritures the lord will provide and make all things ok. He will comfort us and when we pray and ask for anything we need to show our faith by getting up after we say amen and go to work.pray asif it is all up to God. work as if it is all up to you He will make up the diffeence. I know he does I have made it through half of His mission for me in Taiwan and I know that He will strengthen me to do anything He wants me to do. This is god's work and his Glory I cant mess it up. I love you all so very much and hope that you remember that this Christmas Season. I will be praying for you all and I really apreciate the prayers of safty I have used my share of heavenly help protecting me and my companion. once again I love you and hope to live up to your expectations.your son

Elder Brigham sky Blackham

Dear family

well I love you all and want you to know I am doing well I had a wonderful week at church. my companion was asked in preisthood so when do you express love to your companion? he replyed "everynight." it was really funny but true. nomatter how the day goes We say we love eachother every single night and hug and pray together those three little things have reallly helped out our conpanionship. we had an amazing experience this past week we were on the way to an appointment when some old garbarge soarting 70 year old 'Ama' Grandma had her cart tip over and all of her trash dumped out on the road I followed my companion and helped pick it all up and helped put it all back on her bike cart. It felt really good and she said thankyou. that was all of the chinese she knew but I kew it was what god wanted me to hearLove you