Sister Olsen, me, Sis. Johnston. They're in our zone, but going to Taichung
Hello!
I've already found a few situations that I just don't know
what to say (like my farewell talk) but I'm trying really hard to be receptive
and listen to the spirit. So what's the update on Lys and Manuel's house? I'd
like to hear from them once they get settled down but for the time being, I understand
they're super busy with the house and everything. I can't tell you how thankful
I am that dad found all those names for me to take to the temple. I
haven't had any experiences with those people yet, but I know I will.
Someone said in a devotional or something to pray for angels to help you, and
now I know which angels I'm praying for to help me.
Thank you so much to Becky Tanner for sending me a package!
Also for all your letters and dear elders. They really do make my day so
much better (:
Me and Sis Bowman are learning a lot. We are different
in so many ways, which can be hard sometimes (nonetheless, thank you so much
for teaching me the importance of being on time) but we've learned to work
things out so far. Everyone in my district is going to Taipei, except for
Elder Anderson who's going to Boston and his comp Elder Wimmer, going to
Houston. I'm wearing all my old clothes, except for the dresses.
Sometimes you just have to throw on a dress and go, you know? But I'm
definitely glad that I'm keeping all my new stuff for Taiwan. The immunizations
I've gotten are ones I needed for the Taiwan visa, and my boosters were just
out of date. While I'm on the subject, we signed our new visas last
monday so hopefully it should only take 30 days and we'll be able to go to
Taiwan on time! But Yeah, I shouldn't need any more shots.
SO. Now for the good stuff. This week has been a great week
of learning and improvement. We made new language goals, and that's been really
good to help keep our district on task and working hard. For the Tuesday
devotional, another apostle came! M. Russell Ballard!! Ahh it was amazing to
see another apostle. The spirit you feel when he walks in is just incredible.
We (the choir) sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer, and it was really cool to kind
of bear my testimony of that in front him. Our choir director, Brother
Eggett, said that just in our 500 or so missionaries who were singing, we'd all
probably share that story a million times over the next two years. That's
overwhelming to think about! I can't imagine how much good that will do.
And I finally memorized Joseph Smith's first vision in zhongwen! That was a
rough one. Now I'm working on D&C 4... pray for me please haha. So
anyway, Elder Ballard talked about missionary work, and how it's important to
gain all the knowledge and skills we can right now, because it will last
throughout all of our lives. When he left, he shook the girl’s hand who
gave the prayer, and it was so precious. I can't imagine what it would be
like to be in an apostle's direct presence and shake his hand. Then that made
me think of would it would be like to be in the presence of Christ, and touch
his hands. What a day that will be.
On sunday nights after the devotional, we always watch some
kind of movie. This week we watched legacy, but in mandarin. Haha
we all thought it would have subtitles. Psych! It did not. So I
understood about 4%. They talk so fast! Haha and it was weird to see
Joseph Smith and all these white guys talking in zhongwen. I guess that
will be me on day though!
Our investigators this week... oh boy. I'll start with
Liang Jiemei, our less active. So she's engaged, right? She finally told
her fiance's mom and then her mom flipped and said she won't let her marry her
son unless she goes on a mission! So here's our friend, Liang JM, drinking and
partying on the weekends, doesn't pray, hates reading the moermenjing, hates
the missionaries, and is dead set on going on a mission just so she can get
married. Me and my tongban couldn't help but just laugh when we got out
because we had no idea what to think! I mean, it's great that she wants to go
but it's for the completely wrong reasons. the next lesson we tried to
get down to her testimony and find out what she really knows, but that didn't
end up too well. Any insight on how to explain the atonement without being
too harsh because of her sins and that she needs to repent would be much
appreciated (: However on sunday, I did watch a really good talk that might
help. It was an old BYU devotional with Brad Wilcox about grace. We're
going to try talking about that and see how it goes. But hey, even if it
doesn't, it at least broadened my own understanding! I highly recommend
watching it (: Our lessons with He Jiemei were fine.. She's growing a testimony
but it's just a slow process. I did get to teach the jiu en jihua (plan of
salvation) for the first time and that was good. You just can't progress
without faith though.
On sunday I also bore my testimony for fast sunday, and it
was actually pretty decent! I guess I'm better than I think I am. Okay
that's false, pretty much all I can do is bear my testimony hahah. But I'm
working on everything else (: I also translated for Sister Woodfield, and that
was pretty cool! We're the oldest district in our zone now, and it's crazy to
think that once I had to have it translated for me. I really am loving
the MTC, I don't care what anyone else says. We have so much fun, we
learn so much, and we feel the spirit all the time. I know that this is
God's work, and that he's helping me literally through every step of the
way. I love you guys! Jia you!
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