Leih Hou!
So one hour to write weekly emails and blog is not enough time! I could go on for hours about the MTC and being a missionary, but I will try my best to consolidate!
Being in the MTC is one of the best experiences of my life and I think one of the main reasons for it is because of my district. In the short time we've been here, we have truly become a district family! We get along really well. We can be totally crazy and slap happy, but we can also be SO spiritual and I absolutely love it! We are a pretty musical group so we like to sing hymns in Cantonese just for fun and have "jam sessions." I am so blessed to have my district in my life! I must've done something right for the Lord to put me with them!
My companion Sister Leonard has been sick the past few days and even lost her voice for a couple days! And when you're learning a tonal language and have to teach an investigator, that's rough! I give her major props for sticking it out this past week and diligently being an awesome missionary and companion! I am so blessed to have her and I hope we end up in the field together!
It's hard to believe I've learned so much in the less than 2 weeks that I've been here! There are definitely highs and lows with the language and teaching in Cantonese, but the Lord is with me every step of the way! The language is coming along pretty well. I can piece together simple sentences, and I am working on my weakness of understanding people when they talk to me. My brain can't process Cantonese fast enough. I can talk in Cantonese for a while but the minute someone speaks to me I go blank, even on some of the simplest words I use on a daily basis. Maybe I need to start praying and asking for the gift of the interpretation of tongues! Haha! I'm constantly surrounded by the Spirit which is a very good thing! I feel it in my scripture study, language class, and most importantly when my companion and I are teaching an investigator.
So, fun news! The Tuesday Night MTC Devotional is going to be broadcast to all the MTC's around the world tomorrow night at 7pm MST! Since I'm in the MTC Choir, our performance of a beautiful arrangement of "More Holiness Give Me" will be broadcasted during it. I don't know if it will be on BYUTV orlds.org at any point, but if you can find it, you should watch it! Since this is a worldwide event, everyone is speculating that an apostle will be speaking which would be so cool! I will let you know next week who speaks! :)
We had a discussion in class one day about the fundamentals of teaching investigators and being a missionary and it was one of the most spiritual things! Elder Love made a good point that when teaching others, we have to be careful not to firehose them. It's hard to do because there is so much we know and want to share, but we just have to remember to share a little at a time so we don't overwhelm the investigator. We watched a clip from Elder Holland and he said, "You are your first convert. You are the Lord's investigator. You have to do and be what you want your investigator to do and be." I loved that! It is so true!
Scripture of the week: John 15:5 - Read it positively. With the Lord, we can do everything.
Quote of the week: No matter how intense the darkness of doubt, we choose how long and to what extent we allow it to influence us (Elder Vern P. Stanfill).
Mormon Message of the week: You Never Know
Sister Maggie Shiffert
Literally 10 lbs. worth of books! That should be fun finding room for in my suitcase!
My district with our teacher Jong Hing Daih (the one in the middle of the elders)
Sister Maggie Shiffert and her MTC Companion, Lauren Leonard
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