June 5th,
2012
Sister
Coco Mack
MTC,
Provo, Utah
Nimen Hao!!!!
Ok. Here is something that I know. The concept of time is
totally bizarre and weird and it is definitely distorted here in the MTC. It
feels totally crazy to say that I have only been here for 2 weeks because about
a bajillion things have happened and it feels like much much longer. At the
same time I think whooooa there turbo, hang on a sec. I have been a
missionary for 2 weeks! Pretend that is a question mark. Someone messed up this
keyboard hardcore and the punctuation keys are extremely askew. My days are so
full and I am so happy!
I would like to continue on by saying that being a
missionary is very hard. And trying to teach lessons in Chinese is even harder.
But I am strengthened every day by the enthusiastic and hilarious missionaries
in my district, by my dear sweet companion, and of course the love I feel from
family and friends pricking my heart as reminders when I need it the most.
Quick side-note:I am so sorry that I speak so awkwardly. In addition to not
speaking fluid or coherent Chinese, I am adding broken and uncomfortably
awkward English to my long list of accomplishments! Just kidding! But
seriously...it is becoming a bit of problem. I am hoping that that means my
brain is in the process of switching to Chinese mode.
The exciting event of today is that we had a random fire
drill while my companion and I were both in the shower. A lady came in and just
told us to get outside as quickly as we could. We definitely should have taken
it more seriously but since we had the feeling it was just a drill we took the
time to get dressed and even brushed our hair. My companion had not washed off
her face make up in the shower but I thought she had taken the time to put it
on BEFORE we went outside and it made me laugh. Today has really been a
magnificent P.Day. It came just in time because yesterday was actually the
first day where I felt like....a hint of defeat.
We have a new investigator (he is actually our teacher but
he is portraying a real investigator he encountered on his mission) and when we
got in there to teach him he told us he only had 10 minutes though we were
supposed to have like 25 or 30. We both kind of panicked and were trying to
decide what to cut out on like the spur of the moment. Chen Dixiong..Brother
Chen...has a lot of challenges in his life that are causing him a lot of
sorrow. It was really tangible in the room even though we knew that it was just
like a scenario. I was desperate to communicate with him and help him
understand how much God loves him. I could feel it in that moment. But when I
really needed my Chinese most it just was not there and I panicked more and
stumbled even more. It was pretty rough. All of our other lessons up to this
point have been a lot smoother. There were positive aspects to the lesson like
I taught him how to pray and he said the closing prayer and he committed to
read 2 Nephi 31 and pray about it and his prayer was very sincere and sweet at
the end of the lesson...but I was still feeling very distraught. I was upset
with myself for not communicating what I wanted to communicate. I was
complaining like a big fat whiner to my companion. One of the elders overheard me when I said
that I just felt like a bad missionary and not a good teacher. He literally
leapt up out of his seat and told me to stop talking. He went into this whole
spiel about how amazing I am and blah blah blah...it was actually very
sweet but it is embarrassing for me to write. The point is, it was really
comforting. He always has such a positive attitude and he is always smiling and
laughing which I just love. It is a strength to me and a reminder that I need
to have more faith.
I was very humbled this week when in a teaching scenario in
which we got to speak English, I totally bombed it. I was grateful to have the
realization that teaching the gospel is a challenging thing for me, no matter
what language. And I am so glad I get to be here for like...9 more weeks to
work out the kinks.
Random MTC info....the MTC food is less than awesome. There
are a few things they do REAL well....like muffins and pudding. But the salads
are so BLAND compared to the luxurious 5 star ones that Flan made for me every
day.
AHHHHHHHHHH running out of time! I am sorry I am so
scatter-brained. There is never enough time to say all that I want to say,
but that just means I will have more stories for when we are all together
again. Something I just wanted to share in the line of my hard day
yesterday....
I have a stronger and stronger testimony of Alma 26 verse 12
every single day. It says: Yea, I know that I am nothing, as to my
strength I am weak, therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of
my God, for in his strength I can do all things, yea, behold, many mighty
miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name
forever.
Is not that beautiful. I have seen many mighty miracles in
my life since I have been in the MTC. I have seen it in my companion, who loves
me and takes crazy good care of me. She is my best friend and a beautiful
example every single day. I see it in my district who keeps me laughing when I
feel like I might lose it. I see it in my progress with Chinese although it is
slow...there is no way I could teach a lesson in Chinese about the restoration
of the gospel without the Lords help.
I know God can make us mighty, we just have to let him.
I love you all so much, I pray for you every single day.
Much love,
Ke Jie Mei
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