It's hard to believe that we just
completed our 7th week! Time really does fly by here. Sometimes the
thought comes to my head "I'm a missionary" and it just blows my mind.
What happened to that college freshman fresh out of high school? One
year later, I'm in a different place, doing different things. Time waits
for nobody.
We got a new district in our zone on Wednesday!
It was fun for Sister Good, Elder Davidson, Elder Tan and I to give
them an orientation. Two of the sisters - Sister Li and Sister Giang are
getting fast-tracked, and the other two Sister Haupt and Sister Komatsu
are both going to Taipei! And then we get another district this week as
well!
We all got a letter from our Taiwan
Mission President this week, asking for us to be prepared to teach the
whole first lesson, and preferably the second as well. It was kind of a
slap in the face. We only have two more weeks! I felt a little stressed
out this week having that on my mind. Our teachers gave us a lot of
helpful demonstrations for teaching the first lesson, but it just made
me feel so far behind and inadequate. It was very overwhelming - the
feeling of being stuck. Feeling like there has been little to no
progression in my language study for this past week. It may seem like so
little time, but I feel like my time here is precious and I'm worried
that I haven't given everything I've got to my studies. Sister Good and I
made a goal to master the first lesson by Saturday, and we decided to SYL for the rest of our time in the MTC. My mouth already hurts just thinking about it..
A
teacher of mine, Wang Jie Mei, was telling me about her experience in
Taichung on her mission. A time where she felt that similar sense of
being somewhat stuck and lost for 9 months of her mission. She told me
that those difficult times are key to our growth, because it is in those
moments when we realize that we can't do anything without the Lord. We
become humble during those times, because that's when we feel like we
have nothing left to be proud of. She said that it taught her a lesson:
A
Shepherd cares for his sheep. He loves them and provides for them.
Whenever a sheep runs away, he carefully brings it back to him. However,
if the sheep continues to run away, the Shepherd proceeds to break the
legs of the sheep with the intentions of preventing it from running
away. It's a difficult time for the sheep - painful, confusing,
worrisome. But the sheep is never neglected. The Shepherd carries the
sheep around with him - he nurtures it and cares for the sheep until its
legs are fully healed. By the time the sheep's legs are healed, it
won't leave the shepherd's side. It learns to rely on Him and trust in
Him.
I love this analogy. Likewise, we are
sheep. We tend to turn away from our Savior. But the more often we
leave, and the farther we wander - the harder it will be for us to come
back to Him. We have to experience the pain and the anguish that comes
from the consequences of our choices. We don't always notice it - but
it's during those times that the Lord is closest to us. He wants us to
trust in Him and rely on Him.
My other amazing
teacher, Mai Jie Mei had a really good talk with me. I told her I was
struggling and that I wanted to find a more effective study approach. I
was also experiencing frustration and discouragement, so she directed me
to a scripture that helped her on her mission.
D&C 58:4-6:
4 For after much tribulation
5 Remember this, which I tell
6 Behold, verily I say unto y
I felt so touched. I always seem to forget those promised blessings. "The hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand". Sister Giang was also having a pretty difficult week so she came and talked to me that same night - she felt so overwhelmed, seeing it was her first week at the MTC. She was also sad to be separated from her companion so soon since they're being fast-tracked. So, I showed her that scripture. I love the power of the spirit that comes from sharing comforting words through verses of scripture.
Liu Laoshi shared with us his favorite quote by Elder Maxwell: "Recall the new star that announced the birth at Bethlehem? It was in its precise orbit long before it so shone. We are likewise placed in human orbits to illuminate" We are all placed in specific places at specific times for specific reasons to illuminate. I'm going to Taipei for a reason. I'm at the MTC, at this time, in this zone and district, with these amazing teachers, and with my companion all for a specific reason.
I don't want to brag, but basically I have the most wonderful teachers in the whole MTC. They strive to lift us up when we are down. They know what we are all experiencing, because they have all been in our shoes. They are so loving and Christ-like. They give me hope that I will turn into someone like them.
Well, that's all for this week. Another week gone. I can't fathom time here - I've tried but it's not even worth questioning the confusing aspect of time in the MTC. On Friday, we receive the big news of whether we will be sent to the states for a couple transfers, or what our flight plans are to go to Taiwan! Lots of excitement going on! I hope everyone is doing well! I sure do miss all of you, and home cooked food!
Zai Jian!
Sister Hendricks
Me, Sister Good, Sister Komatsu, Sister haupt, and Sister Giang
Our new sisters!
Sister Oviatt, Sister Kirkham, Sister Good, Sister Crowell, me, Sister Payne, Sister Komatsu, Sister Giang, and Sister Haupt
Our zone is so big now!! And we have another district this week on their way!
Elder
Ostler, Elder Mertz, Sister Crowell, Sister Payne, Me, Sister Kirkham,
Sister Good, Elder Avery, Sister Oviatt, Sister Haupt, Elder Davidson,
Sister Komatsu, Elder Tan, Elder Harmon, Sister Giang, Elder Jones,
Elder Scovel, Elder Clawson, Elder Tolman, Elder Stevens, Elder Nelson,
and Elder Cin
Me, Sister Good, Elder Tan, and Elder Mertz -SNOW DAY!
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