HELLO HELLO HELLO FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!
Ok you guys are going to think I'm crazy but I cant speak, spell or interpret English anymore. The worst part is I can't speak Chinese either. Soooooooo it's been hard to communicate. I have a hard time with English and Chinese. So if I spell something wrong or if I don't make sense ... I'm sorry. I feel like my Chinese is also declining. I know a lot more vocab than I used to do but by listening to everyone else speak Chinese I am listening to how white american cow boys speak it. And I think I need to listen to foreigners.
So this week was really hard but I am so grateful for the Tender Mercies that God has provided in my life. Everyday (at least once) I recognize a moment of peace and comfort. Usually every night, when EVERYBODY is walking back to the residence hall I get this feeling of "good job". You made it through the day and you worked hard. That is one of my favorite feelings. Another morning this week when I was doing my service project I looked out the window and the sun was just rising over the mountains. I felt so blessed. I was being hard on myself that morning and a feeling of "hold on, you can do it" came over me. Another time was when I was reading in the D&C about keeping the Sabbath day holy. The Holy Ghost bore the truth of the Gospel to me. I make sure that I always have my journal on me so that I can record these feelings. They are small and very short but they are very powerful!
Ok you guys are going to think I'm crazy but I cant speak, spell or interpret English anymore. The worst part is I can't speak Chinese either. Soooooooo it's been hard to communicate. I have a hard time with English and Chinese. So if I spell something wrong or if I don't make sense ... I'm sorry. I feel like my Chinese is also declining. I know a lot more vocab than I used to do but by listening to everyone else speak Chinese I am listening to how white american cow boys speak it. And I think I need to listen to foreigners.
So this week was really hard but I am so grateful for the Tender Mercies that God has provided in my life. Everyday (at least once) I recognize a moment of peace and comfort. Usually every night, when EVERYBODY is walking back to the residence hall I get this feeling of "good job". You made it through the day and you worked hard. That is one of my favorite feelings. Another morning this week when I was doing my service project I looked out the window and the sun was just rising over the mountains. I felt so blessed. I was being hard on myself that morning and a feeling of "hold on, you can do it" came over me. Another time was when I was reading in the D&C about keeping the Sabbath day holy. The Holy Ghost bore the truth of the Gospel to me. I make sure that I always have my journal on me so that I can record these feelings. They are small and very short but they are very powerful!
Monday:
We got to see Sister Andrewson off to the bus. It was so sad seeing her leave. She had two big shirts that she always wore at certain times of the day (Getting breakfast and gym time). She handed them down to us and so Sister Liu and I wear them. They are soooo comfy! But they make me miss her.
We got to see Sister Andrewson off to the bus. It was so sad seeing her leave. She had two big shirts that she always wore at certain times of the day (Getting breakfast and gym time). She handed them down to us and so Sister Liu and I wear them. They are soooo comfy! But they make me miss her.
Tuesday: We got three new missionaries! And they are from China and Taiwan. Well, one girl was from New Zealand. How cool is that?! Well, because we are the new sister training leaders we got to host them for the night. It was really fun getting to know new people. I also got a package from the Packs!! YAY!!!!!!! |
Wednesday:
<---- Today I got to Host! And that is when I saw Karly. I was actually hosting one of her best friends. What a small world! I also got to see Lexi Poulson. She seems to be liking it here.
I think today was the first day that I actually STRETCHED my brain. Instead of memorizing terms I tried to memorize the first vision. That was hard but I got it memorized in two days. :) Now I need to work on my flow.
We had a mix up with the new missionaries. So the ones that were from Taiwan and China were put into English branches. WHAT!?!? And they don't understand English. Ummmm....OK?? But apparently they wanted to learn english and so they were put in there. Sister Liu and I bought treats for them and made cards to help them feel welcome! Well...we still gave it to them and we are all good friends now but it was kinda weird giving it to them because we aren't their leaders....
Tonight was the first night that I wanted to cry. MOM IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!!! psh jk. You sent me that letter about putting Christmas away and my heart just broke. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! And everything else you said too. This was when I really started to miss ya'll.
<---- Today I got to Host! And that is when I saw Karly. I was actually hosting one of her best friends. What a small world! I also got to see Lexi Poulson. She seems to be liking it here.
I think today was the first day that I actually STRETCHED my brain. Instead of memorizing terms I tried to memorize the first vision. That was hard but I got it memorized in two days. :) Now I need to work on my flow.
We had a mix up with the new missionaries. So the ones that were from Taiwan and China were put into English branches. WHAT!?!? And they don't understand English. Ummmm....OK?? But apparently they wanted to learn english and so they were put in there. Sister Liu and I bought treats for them and made cards to help them feel welcome! Well...we still gave it to them and we are all good friends now but it was kinda weird giving it to them because we aren't their leaders....
Tonight was the first night that I wanted to cry. MOM IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!!! psh jk. You sent me that letter about putting Christmas away and my heart just broke. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! And everything else you said too. This was when I really started to miss ya'll.
Thursday:
Today was a total roller coaster!! At the beginning of the day I felt really good (physically and mentally) but then as the day went on my confidence declined dramatically. I was really discouraged about my Chinese. I know I can do it but I am having a hard time being patient.
Today was a total roller coaster!! At the beginning of the day I felt really good (physically and mentally) but then as the day went on my confidence declined dramatically. I was really discouraged about my Chinese. I know I can do it but I am having a hard time being patient.
Friday: Today was the first day that I fell asleep in class. Well, the teacher was helping someone individually and I was studying flashcards. I never thought that a dictionary as a pillow would be so appealing. I have noticed that I always feel the Spirit when Liao Lao Shi is teaching. He is so smart and so nice and encouraging. He knows how to invite the spirit and make you work HARD! It is great though. He teaches us for 3 hours every night :) Oh and I got to see my cousin Melissa!!! ------> It's the Sisters Graham! |
Saturday:
We got to teach at the TRC this morning! And that's when I saw Jake Pehrson. It was cool to see someone from home. Our first appointment was special. We were able to invite the spirit and the lady was able to open up to us immediately. Maybe it was also because we are girls? She talked about how she sometimes felt like God didn't love her anymore and why we have to endure so many trials. She was such a sweetheart! She cried and we cried. We both bore our testimonies to her that God really does love her and that He will never stop. We told her to remember all of the blessings that she has been given. She told us that God blesses her everyday and that today we were her blessing. AWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!! Honestly she was MY blessing. She gave us so much encouragement and advice. When she said the closing prayer I lost it and just bawled. We left the room ... and our district was so confused. Bad or good? The best.
We also had our first Training Leader interviews. There is only one other companionship. And we all live together. So it was kinda weird interviewing them. Usually we just ask if we can help them with anything or if anything is wrong. How the companionship is doing and roommates. But we all know each other...Still we had to interview. So far everyone is doing well :))
Sunday:
It was my first fast Sunday here. Fasting wasn't that hard because I had meetings all the way up until dinner. Everyone else just studied until then - and watched the clock.
We had an amazing missionary conference and devotional! I love everyone that they bring in to speak to us. They all have such fun stories and experiences :)
Tonight I watched Legacy in Mandarin. I understood probably about 50% of it. There were some words that I recognized and then had to ponder over and then I got what it meant. But then I would miss the whole next thing they said. I forgot a notepad and pencil to write words that I didn't understand. oops.
We got to teach at the TRC this morning! And that's when I saw Jake Pehrson. It was cool to see someone from home. Our first appointment was special. We were able to invite the spirit and the lady was able to open up to us immediately. Maybe it was also because we are girls? She talked about how she sometimes felt like God didn't love her anymore and why we have to endure so many trials. She was such a sweetheart! She cried and we cried. We both bore our testimonies to her that God really does love her and that He will never stop. We told her to remember all of the blessings that she has been given. She told us that God blesses her everyday and that today we were her blessing. AWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!! Honestly she was MY blessing. She gave us so much encouragement and advice. When she said the closing prayer I lost it and just bawled. We left the room ... and our district was so confused. Bad or good? The best.
We also had our first Training Leader interviews. There is only one other companionship. And we all live together. So it was kinda weird interviewing them. Usually we just ask if we can help them with anything or if anything is wrong. How the companionship is doing and roommates. But we all know each other...Still we had to interview. So far everyone is doing well :))
Sunday:
It was my first fast Sunday here. Fasting wasn't that hard because I had meetings all the way up until dinner. Everyone else just studied until then - and watched the clock.
We had an amazing missionary conference and devotional! I love everyone that they bring in to speak to us. They all have such fun stories and experiences :)
Tonight I watched Legacy in Mandarin. I understood probably about 50% of it. There were some words that I recognized and then had to ponder over and then I got what it meant. But then I would miss the whole next thing they said. I forgot a notepad and pencil to write words that I didn't understand. oops.
This is what the elders do when they have a break!--> Quote of the week: "Faith is not about everything turning out OK, it is about being OK no matter how everything turns out." -This was part of the Sunday Conference. Wish I could share more but I forgot my Spiritual Journal back in my room.... Love you all and hope everything is going well. -Sister Sierra Joy Graham |