안녕하세요!!
TGI P-Day! This week went by so fast and so many big things happened! I'm starting to realize what people mean when they say your time in the MTC flies by! It's really weird how time passes here. Each day seems to crawl along slower than a snail and then all of the sudden it's been 2 1/2-3ish weeks! I guess MTC time goes by fast in hindsight. Anyway, I have lots to write this week and not a lot of time!
First of all, we found out our MTC investigator is actually our new teacher! Apparently this is some big, cruel MTC secret! Haha. So I completely butchered 한국말 in front of the guy I'll be spending four hours a day with for the next 6+ weeks. Haha. But I really love Chandler 형제님 (Brother Chandler). He's such a fun teacher. He helps us learn in a way that is really fun and exciting. The other day, for example, we were all falling asleep so it took us outside and we had a surprise race to the flagpoles. Not to brag or anything, but I'm definitely the fastest girl in my district. I even beat some of the Elders...just gotta make that known. ;) He also took us outside and we learned to count in Chinese (we have to learn both Korean and Chinese number systems because they use both in Korean...ugh!) by counting our steps as we walked around the MTC. I really love my MTC teachers! They are the best...and so patient with me and my broken 한국말!
Another crazy thing that happened this week: On Sunday I was minding my own business and reading my 몰몬경 (Book of Mormon) when President Perriton called me out of class and said he needed to talk to me. I was deathly afraid that I was in trouble because I sometimes sing normal non-church songs in the shower...There is a Light that Never Goes Out, Go Your Own Way, and Baby it's Cold Outside are my current shower anthems (lol). I was certain someone had ratted me out and I was gonna get a talking to. But it was even worse! I got called to be an STL! Just before President Perriton came in, I was looking at the Sunday schedule and thinking to myself "I'm so glad I don't have a leadership calling because the leaders are so busy on Sundays." Lol. Heavenly Father knows me too well. I'm a little nervous, but I am trying to remind myself that stuff like this really doesn't matter when you're in the MTC because the MTC is basically just a big playground/preschool for baby missionaries like me to learn how to be big kids. And maybe this means I've done my time and I'm off the hook for having to do this in the real field! Haha. But in all seriousness, I really love my new calling because it gives me the opportunity to serve the sisters, who I just love so much! And serving them makes me love them on an even higher level! I really have a great zone and a great Heavenly Father!
I had a really great learning experience last p-day that I want to share! Last week we were walking to the temple and I was wondering to myself if it would really be that big of a deal if I told my y'all my temple time. As I was sitting in the temple, I decided that I would follow the example of Adam and Eve and be obedient, even if I didn't know exactly why. I decided to keep my secret temple time a secret! I was kind of sad though because that means I probably won't get to see a lot of people before I leave. But when I was walking home with the Sisters, I ran into Julianne! It was so good to see her and such a blessing because I was feeling really homesick/funsick. Later that night I saw Lauren too! And I saw Sioux, from my old ward (she works in the Korean department now). I knew that Heavenly Father was blessing me for my desire and decision to be exactly obedient. God really does know us and takes our needs into consideration. Never forget that!!
I have been getting a little claustrophobic here at the MTC. Even though the landscaping is beautiful and I know they work so hard to make this place nice for us missionaries, the trees seem so tall and they block the mountains. There are also so few windows (and few windows with views of anything except MTC buildings) that sometimes I feel really sad. This is so silly, but the other day I was running on the track on the top floor of 18M and some missionaries had pulled up the blinds to clean the windows. I stopped and pressed my face to the window like Ferris Bueller. I felt like Ariel because I really missed being "Part of That World" and I almost started to sing at the top of my lungs! Haha. Sometimes I think people here think I'm crazy.
Another funny/embarrassing thing that happened this week: The other day one of the Korean Elders was holding the door open for me and I was so tired that I accidentally said 사람합니다 (I love you) instead of 감사합니다 (thank you). He was really confused at first, especially considering that apparently holding the door open is a sign of flirtation in Korea. But we both just stared laughing. That was not a shining moment for Johns 자매! Haha.
Okay, now the moment we've all been waiting for!! Our special speaker at the Devotional on Tuesday night was the one and only Elder Holland!! Wow, that was a cool experience! Sister Cooper and I were able to get seats at the very front--three rows back from the podium! We were on the international broadcast!! Elder Holland's message was so great and exactly what I needed to hear! He spoke to us about the three keys to personal conversion and the way we can stay strong after our missions. The three keys are:
1. Obedience: I really loved a point that Elder Holland made. He said that the mission (and this church in general) "isn't Burger King." In other words, we do things the Lord's way, and you don't have it your way. He explained to us the love, effort, care, and sacrifice we will pour into our investigators then he made a really excellent point: "We are God's investigators." He cares about us and our personal conversionpics from this week like we care about our investigators' conversion, but on an even deeper and more incomprehensible level.
2. Always have the Spirit: The only way a missionary can be successful is by having the spirit. How do we have the spirit? By being obedient. In fact, Elder Holland said that back when he was on the board that was writing Preach My Gospel, they had a major debate about the title of the manual. The title of PMG comes from D&C 50:13-14. The entire scripture says, "Preach my gospel by the Spirit." They committee was originally going to title the manual Preach my Gospel by the Spirit, but decided it was too long. Therefore, we must always remember to have the Spirit with us, because it is the only correct way to teach Christ's gospel.
3. Open Your Mouth: The final way to be successful and gain personal conversion is to open your mouth! "We only have words to work with." Truth is stated in words, words lead to faith, faith leads to action, action leads to progression. "One way to measure the success of your mission is by how much you talk." Elder Holland then share the story of Enoch (Moses 6, Moses 7:13) and challenged us to go back to our rooms and compile our 20+ favorite "Open your mouth" scriptures. Friends, family, everyone reading this: Please go do that! It is amazing what you will find and how inspired you will be! Heavenly Father qualifies those he calls (and you don't have to be a missionary to have a purpose/call to action).
There's just so much to write and I'm out of time! I am going to have to send out handwritten letters to fill everyone in on all of the details!
사람합니다!
"I you love!"
Johns 자매
P.S.- Tell Slater's mommy that I ran into him for a second this morning and gave him a big huge handshake for her because I'm not allowed to hug Elders. Haha.
 |
| Me and my New Zealander soul sister |
 |
| The Whole Zone |
 |
| My awesome Korean friends |
