1/22/14 DAY 1 AT MTC:
Today was a good day because Heavenly Father loves me. I think they took it easy on us today. We got checked in, went to the classroom where we will spend most of our time, and picked up our language supplies. This is the biggest bag of books I've ever seen or lifted! We found the classroom and met my companion, Mu Jiemei [moo jyeh~may], (Sister Murri). She's from Texas, very nice and smart. When class began, our teacher only spoke Chinese but gave a really great lesson explaining why we are needed and thatGod has called us to teach people in Asia. It was awesome. Then New missionary orientation and members of the presidency gave a welcome and advice AND guess what? The ambassador from the Czech Republic visited. Cool huh?
Then we had a teaching experience. This guy was an unhappy BYU transfer student. I couldn't tell if he was a real investigator or an actor. We rotated through three people to teach. It was good experience but it was hard with so many people with differing ideas on where to take the teaching, but there were also some good comments and examples! For me, I felt it come back to God is our Father in Heaven, He loves us and wants us to be happy. You can get far with that!
1/23/14 DAY 2:
Today was a good day because Heavenly Father loves me. It was much harder today, but in a good way. woke at 6:30am went to gym, showered, went to class for personal language study time. Then we went to a "People and Purpose" workshop. I saw Elder Smith! It was super awesome! The workshop was about how we have one purpose and 1 message; the gospel. The gospel is about faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Go through the first few paragraphs of the first lesson {in Preach My Gospel} and every time you see the word "gospel" replace it with those 5 things, it's so cool! Okay so then hours more of studying. My mind is melted! Then dinner and a 2 1/2 hour meeting with our Branch Presidency and we finally got home where we are FREAKING OUT because we are teaching our investigator tomorrow! {in Chinese} I'm exhausted.
1/24/14 Day 3:
Today was a good day because Tianfu ai wo. I'm gonna pay for this in the morning, because it's late, but I HAVE to write about today! We had to prepare to meet our first investigator. Sister Murri and I prepared to jiaodao ta guan yu daogao he zenme to pray. We prayed beforehand that the Spirit could guide us and we could pass the language barrier with the Spirit. It was hard, the intro was difficult but once we got inside it was amazing. We weren't nervous, while it was hard to tell each word he was saying, he helped us out a bit and repeated things but after a bit, we kind of got a flow. I don't know how to describe it, except that the Spirit took over and we let it guide our wenti (questions) and info. I know theSpirit was there breaching the language barrier but the coolest thing about this experience was the bond Mu Jiemei and wo made. It was amazing. He would ask ,"Tingdedong ma?" (do you understand) and I would hear her say that she did, and I knew that even though I didn't get what he said, she got it and would help lead the conversation. Afterwards she said the same thing to me, that she wouldn't understand but I would start answering and she just trusted me. It was so GREAT! I know through the aholy Ghost we can teach him what Heavenly Father wants him to learn.
1/27/14 DAY 6:
Today was a good day because Tianfu ai wo. We taught our investigator today. Well, hopefully the Spirit taught him. We just spoke about : prophets are God's representatives and write scripture via God's revelation. He asked if we are the same as prophets (cuz we had said that we are representatives of Jesus Christ) so we explained that we are different. We help spread the gospel. but prophets hold priesthood authority and receive revelation, which led right into what we wanted to teach about, the priesthood. It's time for bed but everything is great, busy, tiring, spiritual. However, Satan is hard at work here. Some of God's strongest soldiers walk these halls, I can feel it. So Satan also sends his strongest to push our buttons-but don't worry we are still all good.
1/28/14 DAY 7:
Today was good because Heavenly Father loves me! We tried to teach about dispensations and the restoration but after the first half, things kind of fell apart. My companion and I didn't communicate very well, mostly on my part I think. But each day we get better and each day we get to try again. Tomorrow is p-day, yay! We had a devotional tonight; Elder Martino of Seventy. He and his wife spoke on members and missionary work. They said STATISTICS SHOW THAT INVESTIGATORS WHO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP/FRIENDSHIP WITH MEMBERS, AND WHO ARE TAUGHT WITH THAT MEMBER PRESENT, ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAY ACTIVE, ONCE BAPTIZED, AFTER THE MISSIONARIES LEAVE. No Surprise There! I STRONGLY encourage anyone who can to talk to your area missionaries, tell them of people who just had a baby or a family loss or just moved to the neighborhood. Then get to know these children of God by hosting them and the missionaries. It'll make a tremendous difference and you'll all make new friends! Win-win! I totally love this gospel and I love the MTC. My companion is awesome! Thanks for letters! They are so appreciated!
Today was a good day because Heavenly Father loves me. I think they took it easy on us today. We got checked in, went to the classroom where we will spend most of our time, and picked up our language supplies. This is the biggest bag of books I've ever seen or lifted! We found the classroom and met my companion, Mu Jiemei [moo jyeh~may], (Sister Murri). She's from Texas, very nice and smart. When class began, our teacher only spoke Chinese but gave a really great lesson explaining why we are needed and thatGod has called us to teach people in Asia. It was awesome. Then New missionary orientation and members of the presidency gave a welcome and advice AND guess what? The ambassador from the Czech Republic visited. Cool huh?
Then we had a teaching experience. This guy was an unhappy BYU transfer student. I couldn't tell if he was a real investigator or an actor. We rotated through three people to teach. It was good experience but it was hard with so many people with differing ideas on where to take the teaching, but there were also some good comments and examples! For me, I felt it come back to God is our Father in Heaven, He loves us and wants us to be happy. You can get far with that!
1/23/14 DAY 2:
Today was a good day because Heavenly Father loves me. It was much harder today, but in a good way. woke at 6:30am went to gym, showered, went to class for personal language study time. Then we went to a "People and Purpose" workshop. I saw Elder Smith! It was super awesome! The workshop was about how we have one purpose and 1 message; the gospel. The gospel is about faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Go through the first few paragraphs of the first lesson {in Preach My Gospel} and every time you see the word "gospel" replace it with those 5 things, it's so cool! Okay so then hours more of studying. My mind is melted! Then dinner and a 2 1/2 hour meeting with our Branch Presidency and we finally got home where we are FREAKING OUT because we are teaching our investigator tomorrow! {in Chinese} I'm exhausted.
1/24/14 Day 3:
Today was a good day because Tianfu ai wo. I'm gonna pay for this in the morning, because it's late, but I HAVE to write about today! We had to prepare to meet our first investigator. Sister Murri and I prepared to jiaodao ta guan yu daogao he zenme to pray. We prayed beforehand that the Spirit could guide us and we could pass the language barrier with the Spirit. It was hard, the intro was difficult but once we got inside it was amazing. We weren't nervous, while it was hard to tell each word he was saying, he helped us out a bit and repeated things but after a bit, we kind of got a flow. I don't know how to describe it, except that the Spirit took over and we let it guide our wenti (questions) and info. I know theSpirit was there breaching the language barrier but the coolest thing about this experience was the bond Mu Jiemei and wo made. It was amazing. He would ask ,"Tingdedong ma?" (do you understand) and I would hear her say that she did, and I knew that even though I didn't get what he said, she got it and would help lead the conversation. Afterwards she said the same thing to me, that she wouldn't understand but I would start answering and she just trusted me. It was so GREAT! I know through the aholy Ghost we can teach him what Heavenly Father wants him to learn.
1/27/14 DAY 6:
Today was a good day because Tianfu ai wo. We taught our investigator today. Well, hopefully the Spirit taught him. We just spoke about : prophets are God's representatives and write scripture via God's revelation. He asked if we are the same as prophets (cuz we had said that we are representatives of Jesus Christ) so we explained that we are different. We help spread the gospel. but prophets hold priesthood authority and receive revelation, which led right into what we wanted to teach about, the priesthood. It's time for bed but everything is great, busy, tiring, spiritual. However, Satan is hard at work here. Some of God's strongest soldiers walk these halls, I can feel it. So Satan also sends his strongest to push our buttons-but don't worry we are still all good.
1/28/14 DAY 7:
Today was good because Heavenly Father loves me! We tried to teach about dispensations and the restoration but after the first half, things kind of fell apart. My companion and I didn't communicate very well, mostly on my part I think. But each day we get better and each day we get to try again. Tomorrow is p-day, yay! We had a devotional tonight; Elder Martino of Seventy. He and his wife spoke on members and missionary work. They said STATISTICS SHOW THAT INVESTIGATORS WHO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP/FRIENDSHIP WITH MEMBERS, AND WHO ARE TAUGHT WITH THAT MEMBER PRESENT, ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAY ACTIVE, ONCE BAPTIZED, AFTER THE MISSIONARIES LEAVE. No Surprise There! I STRONGLY encourage anyone who can to talk to your area missionaries, tell them of people who just had a baby or a family loss or just moved to the neighborhood. Then get to know these children of God by hosting them and the missionaries. It'll make a tremendous difference and you'll all make new friends! Win-win! I totally love this gospel and I love the MTC. My companion is awesome! Thanks for letters! They are so appreciated!