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!
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