Hello and welcome back to the show! For those of you just joining us, I’m Gyst Starblayze, the fanciest elf in town, and I’ll be your host this evening. Today we’re pleased to bring you Gary Gardiner, recently returned from the far reaches of Taiwan where he… well, we’ll let him tell you all about it.

We’ve already opened up our panel to some questions from viewers. Let’s see here, our first viewer is “Scruf,” an engineer from Houston, Texas…

Gary: Um, Gyst… sorry for interrupting, but if I may… is Texas still part of the US now?

*Gyst Starblayze blinks twice silently, somewhat thrown off*

Gary: You know, or is it its own independent country?

Gyst Starblayze: You’re not serious, are you? *looks questioningly into Gary’s expressionless eyes*

Gary: I, uh…

Gyst Starblayze: *cutting him off* ...a Scruf from Houston writes: “I am always curious how a person’s first immersion in another culture changes their perspective or notion of "normalcy." Tell us, Gary, How has your opinion changed of America and Americans?”

Gary: *takes his foot out of his mouth* I think I just answered that question. But beyond that, yes, I can tell you there are some major differences in my views of Americans. My first thought while stepping off the airplane on American soil last week was “Oh my heavens, they are all so fat!”
Look folks, I just spent the last two years riding my bike around Taiwan telling people about how good church can be, and let me tell you, I didn’t see anyone HALF the size of the random Joe Shmoe I saw at the airport. My own family is included. My little brother seems to have doubled in size, and my youngest sister… I swear she’s grown 12 inches taller. It’s downright freaky. It quite threw me off at the baggage claim. I, on the other hand, have significantly lost weight. Rice and two years of bike-riding do that to you. However, coupled with the powerful assistance of my mom’s home cooking, I plan to remedy this problem shortly.

Additionally, I’d have to say that my experience serving a mission in Taiwan opened my eyes to how literally spoiled I am. To understand my feelings toward this foreign environment, one must keep in mind my background and upbringing. I owe all of who I am and who I ever hope to become to my mother and my childhood surroundings. I come from Utah, which is commonly known as being literally flooded with Latter-day Saints (mormon.org). This had a significant impact on my upbringing.

So, the complete immersion to the outside Taiwanese world, as well as intimate work with some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met, caused me to quickly become aware of a difference in cultures and values. I wrote my Mom about it. I’ll just read a part of one weekly letter I sent her:
“Mom said it! I’ve been spoiled! In this week’s letter Mom mentioned how much we take for granted the general authorities [church leaders] who stroll in and out of our meetings. Well, let me tell you about being spoiled. There are many other things I took for granted too. Like at church… the people sitting on all sides of us, for the most part, weren’t divorced. Unlike most of the people we’re working with now, the people I knew growing up valued marriage as something more than just a piece of paper at the police station they signed one morning on the way to work. I was spoiled thinking that most people agreed with me that abortion is not a good thing. I was spoiled being taught that money was a tool for a greater cause – not the end-all-be-all of existence. I took for granted that when I didn’t do good on a test my parents still thought I had value. I didn’t really appreciate the fact that any time I wanted to talk to Dad I could count on him not being drunk. I didn’t really think much of the fact that my brothers and sisters have the same parents as I do. I’ll say it again for emphasis – I was spoiled!
I’m going to spoil my kids too.”

But despite the harsh awakening I experienced, Taiwan also softened my heart. I’ve never felt a stronger love for my country or my family than when I was away from them in Taiwan. While there, I learned what true family love means. I learned why so many people fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy. And remember, Taiwan is not a very oppressed country. It’s one of the more civilized and advanced in the world. But… it’s just not the same. And you can feel that difference.

Gyst Starblayze: Well, Gary, you sure said quite a mouthful. I’m sure we all got all the answers we were looking for and more…

Gary: Oh, um, yeah. Everyone’s still asking me if I’m adjusted yet. It usually takes a few weeks for returned missionaries to loose up their tie and put the soapbox away.

Gyst Starblayze: And somehow that brings us to our next question. This one comes from an… Ix… uh… geez, I can’t read this name. Let’s just put him on the line, can we?

Ixchael: Uh, hi. Gary, I have some quick questions for ya. May I?

Gary: Go for it.

Ixchael: What were the goals set before heading out, and did you meet them?

Gary: Before heading out, all I knew about missionary work is that it is remarkably different in different areas of the world. It’s all the same God and same message, but the methods of sharing it, the people and culture, they are all different. I had no clue what I was diving into. It was the biggest leap of faith and trial of courage in my life. After applying, I just had to wait for the letter in the mail to tell me where I was assigned. So, not even knowing where to begin, I didn’t have very specific goals. One goal, however, was just to become the most effective instrument in God’s hands as I could… to do what he’d have me do. That was my goal.

Ixchael: And did you meet it?

Gary: I sure hope so. That’s something you’ll have to ask the Man in Charge himself, though.

Ixchael: Have the things you experienced changed you (for the better or worse)?

Gary: Absolutely, and it was all for the good! Really good! When I set out, I had absolutely no idea how much I’d change, learn, and grow. I had no clue who I’d become. I don’t hesitate at all to say that my entire life previous to my mission pales in comparison to the two years of my mission. I’m “Made in Taiwan.” I’d love to tell you more about that change someday.

Ixchael: To what degree have you been able to keep up with the news of the world?

Gary: Very very very poorly. As missionaries, we don’t spend time watching TV, reading the paper, listening to the radio, or even talking to the locals about news in general. People on the streets told us that Bin Laden was captured, the Regan died, and that a hurricane would be here “tomorrow.” That was it. The hurricane never came, by the way.
Also, we’d only write one email a week, and that was to our family at home.

Ixchael: Did you pick up any local customs that you won’t get rid of any time soon?

Gary: You betcha! In Taiwan they always have fruit on hand to give to guests. Yummy! They always take off their shoes at the door, and they say “way” when answering the phone.
I also picked up a few other habits that weren’t necessarily Taiwanese. For instance, I learned to smile at people in the store. I learned to wave to people as they drive by. I learned how to express appreciation for people and the wonderful things they do.

Ixchael: In general, how would you describe the local population?

Gary: Short, black hair, black eyes, glasses, busy, eats lots of rice.

Ixchael: What did you miss the most when abroad and/or returning? There’s always something.

Gary: When abroad, I most missed variety in my diet. (Did I mention they only eat rice there?)
When home, I most missed the people... not the population in general, but a handful of magnificent people. The people I love more than anyone in the world live in Taiwan.

Gyst Starblayze: Okay, that’s enough out of the Ixster. We’ve got another caller waiting on the line.

Blackrabbit: Did you speak the native language before you left? If not, did you attempt to learn it while there? If so, was this made easier by instant exposure to the language, or do you think you would have found it easier with books and/or instruction? If you didn't know it and/or didn't learn it, why not?

Gary: Before my mission, no, I did not speak Mandarin Chinese. And oh yes, I attempted to learn it. I still am.
Complete and total immersion into the culture, plus a lot of prayers, did the trick nicely. There’s still soooo much to learn, but the things I learned in two years far exceeded the amount possible in the given time.

Gyst Starblayze: Next we have a letter from one of my personal favorites, Yoldie! She writes:
What was the most positive thing that happened to you? Then, what was the most negative? Then, who is the most memorable person you met and relate one xp why so? If not, did you hug people a lot? What artwork have you done in last six months - can you share it?

Gary: Hmmm, some tough ones. So many positive experiences, so few negative. So many great people.
No, I didn’t hug many people. You see, as a missionary, our contact with the opposite sex is limited to handshakes, and I’m not really big into hugging guys, so that makes for very few hugs. But that rule is gone now that I’m not a missionary. Anyone want a hug?
Artwork…hmm, that’s something I haven’t done in a long long time, unless you consider making a construction paper fireplace brick by brick for a Christmas Party backdrop artwork. I consider it more along the lines of monotony. Anyone want some artwork done?

Going back to the previous questions, since it’s impossible for me to decide what is my most positive and most negative experiences are and who the most memorable person is… how about I just tell a story that includes a little of both?

One fine afternoon my companion (we always work in pairs) and I were at an outside market giving people a chance to look into the church and Christianity. A nice lady named Ms. Wang pulled up in her flashy red car and said to my companion that she was a member but her youngest daughter wasn’t and she’d like us to come over sometime to introduce the gospel to her. We naturally were happy to visit, and thus it all began.

Ms. Wang was divorced, and since missionaries have a rule against entering homes of opposite-sex singles we took old 70-something-year-old Brother Wang to come with us. This man resembles Yoda in every way. I’ll have to introduce him to you sometime. He’s great.

Anyway, on the first day of our visit, Ms. Wang basically just hid in the kitchen, never coming out, and leaving us with her three little children. Her son, 11, and one daughter, 10, had already been baptized, but at the time their youngest sister, now 9, had not. (In the church children wait until 8 years old until being baptized).

So, we started talking to the kids. They were the most angelic children I’ve ever met. They were so sweet. I love them to death. How heaven’s three best angels got sent to the same family is beyond me. My little angel, who I will refer to using her English name Amy since it’s unlikely that many people can read Chinese, just made my heart want to melt.

These children seriously didn’t need much help. They were borderline perfect. However, we decided to take the opportunity of teaching Amy to indirectly help their mom, Ms. Wang. Ms. Wang’s life had basically been flushed down the tube for the past 7 years since her divorce. Right after the divorce, needing to support the three children (which is a lot in Taiwan), she took up a night job at a karaoke bar (which is an extremely unwholesome environment). Things started falling apart from there. She took up smoking, drinking, eating betel nut (which is an addictive drug nut in Taiwan somewhat similar to chewing tobacco), fell away from association with friends and with the church, and she spent the following 7 years constantly sick, in pain, and deep in debt.

She didn’t open up to us right away (hence, she kept herself busy in the kitchen the whole time of our first visit). But, we kept coming back, showing her that we still loved her and weren’t giving up on her and her family. It touched her heart and she started opening the thick wall she’d built around her and her family for protection.

In a miraculous visit which came as an answer to fervent prayer and which I’ll never forget, we invited Ms. Wang to quit her job, trust in God, live his teachings, and turn her life around. She felt the truth of it all and felt God’s supporting hand. She accepted. It was miraculous to see how fast her life turned around. Within days she found a good job and her health immediately improved. She’d beam with happiness constantly. I’ve never seen anything warmer than her glowing smile.

Her story goes on quite a bit, but I’ll end it now as a commercial break is coming up. Suffice it to say that Amy and her family are forever changed, and they are some of the greatest sources of joy in my life today. I love them so much.

Thanks for letting me share that experience. Running it through my mind again brought back sweet memories. I hope that answered your question.

Miri: What's the last thing you did before you left?

Gary: Ate sandwiches (really really good ones – I’m going back to that shop ASAP) with my family.

Miri: What's the first thing you did when you got back?

Gary: I went to the temple (http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1297-1,00.html) with my parents.

Miri: And when will you post pictures?

Gary: As soon as I find a place to upload them. Any suggestions?

Locnar: 1. Whats the one event in the last two years you would like to re-live again and again.
2. What was the most memorable woman over the last two years like? (we all know you met many women, but who stands out)

Gary: 1. My last companion falling though the seat of his chair while eating one day, and 2. Um…can I say Amy?

Gyst Starblayze: Well folks, that just about wraps it up for our time this evening. I’m sure there are many more viewers with more questions, so if you’d like to know more, just send in your question and we’ll be sure to pick it up next time. Thanks for watching. We love you all!

Gary: Take care, all! Hail Scarab!