MTC Week 7: Messy Cakes

Kia ora 朋友和家庭！

The day I leave for Auckland is coming soon, but the Lord still has a lot to teach me here.  This week was an adjustment, but I've come home every night thinking it was just a really good day, so it hasn't been too crazy. 

Oh... :

• Sister Hoe and Sister Chou moved out last week, leaving Sister Cummings and I alone, and are subject to strangers moving in without notice. We miss them a lot, but we've been dealing pretty well with the change. (We leave our room to talk to people a lot more!)
• Gibson (Elder Campbell) left last week and now Jenna (Hermana Berg) is gone, so my only friends on campus are Chinese-speaking, which is great, but it was nice to see a friendly face around.
• Snow! - It is freezing here, and I'm pretty sure I jinxed it by saying "Hopefully it won't snow before we leave". It's my windbreaker and a bunch of layers against nature now.

Woo!:

1. I have my own half of the room now, so that's cool
2. Sister Hoe and Sister Chou moved out because a Taiwanese sister just got here, and will be leaving at the same time as us. She is the only sister in her 3 person native Chinese-speaker district so now Sister Hoe and Sister Chou are her companions. She's super nice and sweet, and I can actually understand her when she speaks Mandarin. I love Ling Jiemei！
3. At the devotional last night Brother and Sister Rahlf of the MTC presidency spoke. Earlier in the day they came to our Sacrament Meeting and they asked to talk to our district. They asked us to participate in the devotional, by answering questions and reading passages on the screen when they asked us. My district was so nervous! I'm really proud of us, though, because we handled it well, and I thought it was a pretty good bonding experience.
4. Temple session with the Elders this morning- it was freezing but we got breakfast at the temple cafeteria and it was such a good change of pace!
5. Snow! I thought I didn't like snow because earlier this year I remember wishing it was warm by the time March rolled. But, it snowed pretty much all day yesterday, and snow is just so pretty and delicate and fun when it's actively snowing, or when the stuff on the ground is fresh and untouched. It really brightened my morning!
6. I love choir, and playing volleyball with the newer Mandarin district, which rocks.
7. Hermana Webb is off serving and I am so proud of her!

中文 （Chinese) :

• qidai means either excited 期待, or umbilical cord 脐带 depending how you pronounce it. Risky business.
• zaogao 糟糕 means messy cakes or "Oh no!". So now sometimes in English I end up saying "messy cakes".

Spiritual:

We started non-member/native-speaker TRC's this last week and they went pretty well. These people have some hard, but really thoughtful questions, and I love helping them learn more. It's still a little nerve-wracking, and there are still a lot of words we don't know, but we are doing pretty well.

Simple Truth

I'm going to try and write some simple truths at the end of my emails as much as I have time.  To those who aren't too familiar with my beliefs, this might be interesting and informative -- otherwise it might be a good reminder of truths we believe in.

God is our loving Father in Heaven.  We are His children.  "Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and He hath created His children that they should possess it." 3 Nephi 17:36. I know that we lived with God before we came here to Earth, and He loves us as a father would love his own children.  He wants us to be happy and to learn the grow here on Earth.

I love you all and I am so grateful for your love and support.

馬姐妹  (Ma JieMei)

Sister Martinez 

Temple this morning (7 am!) [UFO ?]

Snowy Sunday!

'Tis the season: Sister Martinez, Sister Hoe, Sister Chou, Sister Cummings

MTC Week 6: Dragon Twist Wind

Kia ora 家庭和平邮!

This week has been a whirlwind! 

Highs:

• My relationship with my district members and companion and zone members are at an all time high, and I just love them.
• I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be serving the Lord in this significant capacity
• My companion and I really got over a language/teaching bump this week.  At the most recent TRC practice we had with Xue Laoshi, he told us he felt the amount we improved in just 1 week probably matched the improvement for span of the all the prior weeks combined. We really felt the Spirit during our lesson and were able to express ourselves in Chinese without reading wrote script. 
• I bought notebook for a bai-bai shu, which is basically a yearbook for friends on the mission.
• I was able to get contact information for some different Taiwanese missionaries who just left to go back to their own countries to serve their missions. I'm really grateful for the opportunity I've had to reach out to them. I've noticed if I attempt to cross the language barrier, they are really nice and like to talk in as much Chinglish they can to communicate with me. 
• We didn't host this week
• A new Mandarin district just came in, and one of the sisters is serving in my mission!  I will probably be her companion one of these days!). It's weird but cool to see how 6-7 weeks marks such an improvement in my learning.

Lows:

• Today one of my roommates from my district was told to move as she's an international missionary-- not sure on the situation yet but I can't help but feel sad we won't be in the same room for the next few weeks.
• Taiwanese and Mandarin-speaking friends are leaving/left. Gibson Campbell is leaving. The romantic language speakers we've made friends with just left. It's really exciting for them but It is weird to be some of the most senior people at the entire MTC.

Language:

• As I've really grown in my Chinese language comprehension, I'm able to pick up on some cool things. I'm gonna try and include some of those as I pick up on them from now on.
• Volcano in Chinese = Fire Mountain
• Tornado = Dragon Twist Wind
• Our idiom "long time no see" probably came from the Chinese "hao jiu bu jian". The grammar actually makes sense in Chinese.
• Very fun (^^)

Spiritual:

• On Tuesday Elder Cook came to speak to us at our devotional! The main message I got was the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is true and precious! I've been able to gain a stronger and stronger testimony of it as I've studied and pondered its words. 
• During Elder Cook's address I couldn't help but feel sad I didn't have an easily accessible Book of Mormon to use to share the gospel with Mandarin speakers. I can't yet read characters, and Mandarin speakers don't need to read romanized language, and won't fully appreciate the English scripture. They used to print copies of the Book of Mormon called the "study edition" which has Chinese characters, Romanization, and English, side-by-side, but they discontinued printing in order to revise the Romanization. Some people still have these Book of Mormon copies from before they were discontinued. As Elder Cook spoke, I felt sad I did not have access to it, because I knew it would be such a blessing to be able to share the word of God spontaneously in lessons. After the devotional I got a message from my mom that a family friend had a copy and sent it to me! (Shout out to Sister Carpenter and her mom ♡). It was 100% a blessing and an answer to the prayer of my heart. I feel like it was sent to me only when I could really appreciate it. It's been such a blessing to use during TRCs and for my personal Chinese study!

I love you all!

馬姐妹  (Ma JieMei)

Sister Martinez

A missionary from my District is in the hospital. 

This is a photo of us offering "finger hearts" for a quick recovery!

Oh what amazing things can be found on the free food table!

MTC Week 5: The Grind

Kia Ora 朋友和家庭 !

This week has honestly been one of the hardest weeks here at the MTC- therefore on the mission. All the other 9-weekers have told us that week 5 is usually pretty unpleasant-- you get sick of the monotony of the MTC, and you feel ready enough to go out to the field-- yet you are only half-way through your stay here. That feeling of yearning to 'go and do' has definitely hit! However, as I've kept going day-by-day, I still find joy being here, and it's not like I don't have more to learn here.  At this point, the adjusting is pretty much done, we are just grinding away, strengthening our testimonies, teaching skills and language skills. 

It is kind of crazy to think I've been out a month already, though! (We celebrated on the 11th with a little extra dessert.)

Upsides:

• Hosting again; It's really fun to see how the work continues on and on, wherever I might be in my missionary adventure
• I'm nervous to jinx myself, but the fall weather, though a bit cold, has been pretty pleasant here. 
• This week during our service assignment (we put out and put away chairs/bleachers for devotionals), I went and talked to an Elder from Taiwan. He doesn't know English too well, but we were able to communicate briefly through a mix of Mandarin and English. He randomly asked me if I knew any French- he wanted to know how to say a couple things so he could surprise his little sister who just started taking French at school. It really made my day to be able to share a language I love with someone, and that I was able to connect a bit through my Chinese.
• Sister Cummings and I fulfilled our callings as greeters this week, it was really fun to welcome the missionaries who just came in on Wednesday, and to be able to be excited every time a person came into Sacrament Meeting. Usually I would just be focused on myself.

Downsides:

• Hosting again; We have a lot of lessons to plan as a companionship for TRCs and TRC practice, and we don't have companionship study on the days we host. It's alright though, we go and do what we are asked, and I never regret it!
• I've needed to go through a process of realizing not everyone thinks the same way I do- and not everyone is going to like me! It's been interesting to feel a little lonely, but be able to open up to the Lord and friends and feel more peace. God knows what trials we need in order to grow. Having a thriving social life isn't really a thing at the MTC when the schedule is packed, there are few girls to talk to, and relations with Elders is limited. I'm excited to be in the field, distracted by the work and socializing with the people of New Zealand. For now I'm finding contentment with the fact I'm where the Lord wants me to be, learning what the Lord wants me to learn.

Spiritual Thoughts:

1. So first of all, I didn't mention that a couple weeks ago we had Elder Choi and his wife come speak to us and they might be one of my favorite of the Seventy. They showed a video of the Lion King to explain to us that we should remember who we are. My favorite quote from that devotional was, regarding basically anything "If you don't like it, like it."
2. On Tuesday Jean B. Bingham and her husband addressed us. They really emphasized the need missionaries have to develop grit. This generation is infamous for wanting quick answers and solutions, and otherwise tossing in the towel. Life is hard- there is a lot expected of us. BUT, we told God we were willing to come to Earth, and we promised to try our best, and continue forward. So we need to keep that promise, have grit, and continue forward. 
3. Gabe, Sam, this is for you- relating to that grit, comes the idea of Video Game Theory. We discussed as a district afterward (a Branch presidency member is the one who brought it up, I swear) that life follows Video Game Theory. We are meant to fail, and keep getting back up and moving forward, in order to learn. Our Level 1 boss from when we were in Elementary school is easily overcome at this point in life. Remember that, soon, if you keep trying, you will have the strength to overcome your current trial, and later on it will even seem easy.
4. Finally, yesterday Sheri L. Dew came to speak to us!! She loves President Nelson and shared how even in his old age he is going on tours to contribute to The Gathering of Israel. I recommend looking at The Church News on his meeting with Reverend Amos C. Brown. I would just like to share the message that if we just try to have love for each other,  we can help others come to Christ, and improve others' lives without another thought.

I'm thinking of all of you and I pray you are able to tackle your current endeavors head-on. 

Love, 

馬姐妹  (Ma JieMei)

Sister Martinez 

1: Fire alarm = class outside!

2: Flower Friday with District C

MTC Week 4: General Conference

Kia Ora 朋友和家庭 (Friends and Family)!

Before I get into anything, I'd like to invite you (if you watched General Conference), to email me a little thought about it-- an impression you had, your favorite talk or line, or anything else you can think of.  (General Conference memes are welcome, if appropriate - haha).  I would love to hear your thoughts on the events and topics discussed this weekend -- only if you'd like to share, of course!

Otherwise, I'm a couple days from half-way through my stay here at the MTC.  Some days I feel like I'm going to be serving my whole mission here, but when I look at it now, my time here is going by very quickly.

My testimony is ever growing and changing, and I'm gaining a great witness of God's hand in my life.  As I learn to teach about Christ's gospel I have to evaluate my own testimony and understanding, then back-track to see how I originally came to the conclusion that its principles are true.  This makes me question my own foundations-- not to doubt them, but to remember them and rebuild them so that I can share simple truths with interested people with confidence and love.

Positives this week: 

1. My zone had the opportunity to host again. The experience went much smoother this time, and I had the opportunity to witness some particularly touching good-byes. It reminded me that the people here left their homes for that worthy of a cause, to serve the Lord.
2. Tapioca pudding ! [ヽ(^o^)丿]
3. I'm not sure my own Chinese is progressing much but I can tell as a whole, my district is progressing a lot in their skill and ability to speak Mandarin
4. The Cantonese Sisters in my Zone were assigned to missions in the States 'till further notice. They left this morning which is very sad but also very happy! They will be safe in the field until Hong Kong is safe for them to enter. (Shout out to Sister Chase and Sister Shanpum). I am so happy for them to finally go out to the field!
5. I think I’m the most excited and happy to be serving my mission than I ever had been before. I just feel so much more peace and joy in my life now than I have in a long while, and I know it's because of Christ.
6. Sister Cummings' mom sent us chopsticks, a pair for everyone in our district. It was sweet to see how excited the Elder's were to pick out which ones they wanted

Not-as-Positive this week: A head cold is circulating around the MTC, so as you could assume, it was a very tiring week -- not only for me, but for my companion, Sister Cummings.

Spiritual:  GENERAL CONFERENCE.  I am just floored by the talks and changes announced this conference. I received many answers to my questions and prayers this conference and I know that everyone can have the same experience if they have faith in the Lord. For example, the Young Women's program changes were answers to struggles and prayers which I had as a youth. It gave me great assurance that the Lord hears our cries and our worries, and He addresses them in His own time. I am extremely thankful for the Prophet to communicate to us what God would have us know, and I'm grateful to be able to grow up in the midst of changes. I’m in turn able to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for them as they come. The Lord is truly giving us freedom and responsibility to choose to serve Him how we see is needed. I'm excited to re-read the talks from this conference and to prepare for the next one as well!

Also, what GREAT joy we can have as we realize the power contained in making, keeping and remembering our covenants at baptism, and later in the temple.  I notice this power being emphasized many times during Conference, and I hope you all can pay extra mind to it this week.  I've found a great assurance and power as I've remembered my covenants this last week.

I love you all and God loves and cares for you.  He, more than anyone else, knows your circumstances and needs.  I hope you have a wonderful week, full of delicious food and laughter!

MaJieMei
馬姐妹
Sister Martinez

1/2: General Conference

3: Chopsticks

4: Class obstacle course to learn our directions in Chinese.