Nihao jiating he pengyoumen!
Wow, I had to go back and check my sent e-mails to see what week it was. The time has gone by so fast! Well, sometimes it seems to go by fast. At other times, I feel like I will always be at the MTC and that I will never leave! But the MTC is still overall pretty great.
This past week has been a bit crazier with a lot of changes. When I first got to the MTC, I only had one companion, Sister Biancardi, and Sister Price was with another Sister, Sister Kwan. But Sister Kwan lived in Taiwan (sounds like a children's book or something) and so she speaks like perfect Chinese, she just needs to learn some gospel terms. Anyway, so she was supposed to "fast track" and leave for Taiwan like weeks ago, but now she's having a hard time getting her visa, so she's back with us in our district! It's really awesome having her here because she helps everyone with their Chinese so much, she's so nice and really wonderful, and we're basically the same person. We bonded over a hilarious Lord of the Rings joke. So our new addition to the district is very welcome and I'm so happy!
On the other hand, we also lost someone as well. One of the Elders had to go home because he was having anxiety issues and just couldn't heal from that while he was on a mission, what with all of the stressful parts of a mission plus trying to learn Chinese. It was really sad, but he is doing okay now, better than he was, and I have never before met a harder-working, more humble missionary. I know he'll do well, wherever his path takes him.
As for funny little tidbits of things that happen while here at the MTC, last Wednesday, not too long after I finished typing up my last e-mail, my companions and I collected our laundry and went to go fold it. Normal stuff, right? So I'm folding my whites, and I pick up a white underwear top that is definitely not a woman's top. It's super totally not mine, and it's super totally a men's top. So naturally I squeal like the little girl I am and throw it on my bed. I'm freaking out, but not too bad, because it's only a top, y'know, it's not like it's underwear bottoms. Well. I continue folding, I calm down and stop freaking out, when I pick up an underwear bottom that is most certainly not mine and is most certainly a men's underwear bottom. This time I shriek like someone being pursued by a chainsaw murderer, throw it on my bed, and proceed to freak our further by jumping up and down. My companions are like Oh my goodness calm down what is wrong with you, but then they saw the offending underwears and they proceed to freak out in a similar manner as to what I was then doing. So. I had to dispose of some men's underwear while on my mission. I just wanted to go put it in a lost and found or something so that I never had to touch it again, but apparently, according to an Elder in my district, "That is weird, no one would look for underwear in the lost and found, just be a big girl and dispose of them." So I did. It was weird. I don't want to do it again. But looking back on that little moment, it's super hilarious.
On Sunday, we went and saw The Testaments. For the third time. But we watched it in Mandarin again! It was great. I actually understood way more than I thought I would. Did I understand every line? No. Did I rely on being able to read the lips of the actors who were speaking in English to know what they were saying most of the time? Um yes. But this time, I could pick out more words that I knew. And this time, there were no uppity English sisters to shush me when I very fervently quoted "Meiyou Misaiya!" with the bad guy so that was wonderful. I love that movie! I love Chinese!
Also on Sunday, Sister Biancardi and I were called to be the Sister Training Leaders of our zone! Yay lots of meetings! But really, it's pretty great. The whole two days I've had this calling have been pretty good. We only have like 6 sisters in our zone, other than my companion and I. The zone two weeks older than us just left yesterday, they're all going to Taipei. It was sad to see them go, but we're excited for them! And now our district and our sister district are the oldest! It's super weird and I don't quite know how I feel about it, but mostly I feel like a big kid.
Well, we get our travel plans on Friday! I'm super super super excited. Yes, go and count them again if you like, but that is three "super"s. Why? Because as wonderful and spiritual as the MTC is, I want to teach real people and eat not-cafeteria food and go live in England which is, admittedly, way cooler than Provo. So yes, I'm very excited. But I'm also way nervous! Everyone in my district and our sister district is going to Taichung, except for me. I didn't realize until like two nights ago that they all get to travel together and I will be travelling internationally by myself. Yikes. That night I was thinking about it, I had a nightmare that everyone left on a Tuesday like they're supposed to and I didn't leave until like five days after that, then I got lost in the airport and ended up in like Portugal or something. It was just a dream, don't worry. I'm not currently lost in Portugal, though that would be pretty sweet actually if I was. But I know that the Lord will help me! And I know that He knows my fears and my desires and He grants them according to my righteousness.
Well, unfortunately this week was more filled with more sorrow than joy, but I've come to realize through the help of others and through my Heavenly Father that the hard times, the struggles, and the trials are necessary. If you or someone you know right now are going through one of those hard times, just try to remember that it won't last forever. There is a balm in Gilead, and you always have one source who will help you. Jesus Christ, our Savior, knows exactly what we've been through. He knows the pain that we feel. While it's hard to remember sometimes, if you don't have the strength to stand anymore, then just kneel and pour your heart out in prayer. It really does help. I can promise each one of you that you can go to the Lord with anything, and in due time, He will help you. Now I don't know in what form that help will come. He might send someone else to comfort you and help you feel better. Sometimes when I'm feeling sad, I think of a hymn with comforting lyrics. Sometimes I find a scripture that comforts me. Sometimes I have to forget about myself and think about how I can help others before I feel better. But in whatever form it might be, I promise you will receive an answer to every single heartfelt prayer. I love this gospel, I love how it helps me meet challenges. The gospel will not take away trials and make life easy. But it will change you and your heart, it will make you more able to deal with your trials and the difficulties of life.
I love you all and I hope you have had wonderful weeks! Thank you for your prayers, inspiration, and support! I really have to rely on those sometimes, and I think I speak for all missionaries when I say that. Remember the Lord loves you and he wants you to be happy! Matthew 11:28-30.
Ai,
Sister Larson
Since we didn't get any pictures this week, I'll add a bonus section from a personal email sent to me. Meagan has mentioned making up verses to songs in the past so here is her opening verse to the MTC version of "For the First Time in Forever" from "Frozen."
The window is open, so's that door
I didn't know they did that anymore!
Who knew we had a thousand salad plates?
For weeks I've roamed these shaded halls
Why have a hallway with no walls?
Finally they're opening up the gates!
There'll be actual real live people
It'll be totally strange
But wow am I so ready for this change!
For the first time in forever
There'll be lessons, they'll be real!
For the first time in forever
I could eat a home cooked meal
And I know it is totally crazy to dream I'd find success,
but for the first time in forever
I'll always wear a dress!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Chapter 6 : The Not-So-Terribly-Ancient Art of Tongue Scraping
Nihao jiating he pengyou! (Hello family and friends!)
So this week has been pretty great overall. A few exciting things, lots of less exciting things, but I always feel the Spirit and I learn more Chinese everyday! So here goes.
Last Wednesday I think, after I e-mailed, an Elder in our district gave us gifts from his parents. There's a bit of back story to this actually. His dad is an orthodontist, and like the second week we were here, he talked about how he scrapes his tongue when he brushes his teeth. I was like oh yeah, I brush my tongue too, but he said no, I scrape it. I was a little confused, but then he described how his dad invented a "tongue scraper" and how it's a legitimate thing, and that he could get us one if we wanted. Naturally, my companions and I just laughed at him, because that's ridiculous. But a few weeks later, I found that it sounded cooler and cooler, so he had his parents send us some. They're pretty much amazing. So every night now, I scrape my tongue. It gets all of the bad breath germs off. It's super nasty when you do it, and I'm pretty sure all of the Sisters on our floor are judging us big time for it, but my breath has never been fresher!
This week we also got our Chinese name tags! It's super exciting. All of the Mandarin name tags, from both zones, were in our classroom, so everyone kept coming in and asking, hey where are the name tags? And we would say um not here so don't ask. But they figured it out. Everyone is so excited to go on to the field! Only everyone is like "YAY TAIWAN" and I'm over here like "yay england". Oh well, I'm still super excited. Only three more weeks!
On Thursday for TRC, we got to teach a family! It was pretty much the most exciting thing ever. I didn't realize how much I would miss associating with anyone who's like not a young adult. It was this dad who went Chinese speaking on his mission and then three of his kids who are in a Chinese immersion program at school. Half of the day they speak Chinese and half the day they speak English, so needless to say I got one-upped by a 12 year old with my Chinese. But it was really fun to teach them and they were just so cute! We were talking about revelation through church attendance and they liked telling us about Primary and their "xiao ke", little class. Also, the little seven year old was talking about how he's excited to be baptized. We asked when his birthday was and guess what? He's my twin!! On December 28 he'll turn 8 and get baptized and I was just so excited I might have scared him a bit. But it was cool. I hope I have the opportunity to teach families in England a few times!
Sometime this week, I can't remember when, it was either Thursday or Friday night at like 10, we were going to the vending machines in our sushe (dorm) and just chilling, eating our snacks, when the fire alarm went off. Sister Biancardi and I screamed because it was loud, and then we were like wait what do we do? Our sister training leader was like just walk outside, go down the stairs, let's go! And we didn't have shoes on, we were in our pajamas, and we had nothing but our vending machine snacks. So we go outside, with all the sisters in their various states of dress, some in robes, some in PJs, and we're huddled together, freezing, with no idea why we're doing it. Some nice employee let us into 19M, the gym where we have devotionals, and so we just hung out in the gym until like 10:20 when they stopped the fire alarm and checked to make sure everything was okay. We think the cause was that someone on the second floor burned their popcorn. The second floor is where the Yingwens (English speakers) live. Makes sense, dui bu dui. (yes or no). It was exciting and probably the most adventurous thing to happen to us since... well since being here really. :)
In class the other day, we listened to a part of my favorite talk from Ezra Taft Benson called Beware of Pride. I remembered reading it when I was younger, I think it was a topic for one of my sacrament talks or we talked about it in FHE one time. It is so amazing, and it really helps you see that almost everyone has an issue with pride. I know it's something I struggle with really bad. President Benson says that pride at its core is an issue because of competition, we want to compete with others. It's not that we have something special that makes us proud, it's the fact that we have more of something than someone else that constitutes pride. I would encourage you all to go listen to it or read it, it is just so amazing!!
So Monday was St. Patrick's Day. We ate donuts with green sprinkles on them for breakfast! And then my companions and I were trying to all wear green, but we realized that none of us has anything that is straight up green. So we were looking for something kind of green, and ended up arguing about colors for 15 minutes. Haha, it was pretty funny, because Sister Price has a BLUE sweater that she just insists is teal, while Sister Biancardi and I were telling her, no, that's blue. And then I was wearing like a sea foam-y green shirt I borrowed, and we argued about that, and then we were trying to distinguish green from teal from blue from turquoise and it was just really hilarious. We still don't agree on the colors, but we agree to disagree. The funniest part was that we asked the Zhanglaomen (Elders) and they were like "this is blue, this is green, what is teal, I don't know colors because I'm a man." It was great. Oh! And then at lunch, there was a table set up in the cafeteria where you could decorate a shamrock sugar cookie with frosting and sprinkles! It tasted like a brick, but it was a festive brick and I loved it!
My companions and i have recently been rewriting the lyrics to songs from animated classics, like Frozen and The Swan Princess, to fit situations as a missionary, at the MTC and in the field. In the Swan Princess, there's this one song that talks about how all the prince does is practice because he wants to find the princess (naturally). So we took that line and made it "Day after day all that we every do is ROLE-PLAY, ROLE-PLAY, ROLE-PLAY!" Because it's totally true. And then with Frozen, we love singing "For the First Time in Forever" because it talks about how the windows and doors are open, and for the first time in forever there will be actual real live people. We don't even need to rewrite those ones. It's all true. Except for the whole finding romance part, that's a big BU KEYI (can't do that). At any rate, we need some way to stay sane and this is our way of doing that!
The Chinese is coming along pretty well. The most frustrating thing is the stupid tones. You say one word a different way and it means something totally different. For example: xianzhi first tone first tone means prophet. Xianzhi fourth tone fourth tone means limitations. Heavenly Father loves us, so He gives us limitations, no wait, prophets. Ugh it's so frustrating. But we are trying to SYL more and more and I think we're getting better.
On Sunday we got to watch Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. I love that movie. Mostly because I love Joseph Smith, he's my favorite prophet. I love how he always put his trust in the Lord, how he wasn't quick to anger, how he loved everyone and saw their eternal potential. He is one amazing role model because he was one amazing man. We memorized Joseph Smith's First Vision from Joseph Smith-History so we can tell investigators about it. Every time you tell an investigator about the First Vision, it immediately invites the Spirit and testifies to them of this powerful moment. It changes their hearts and their views on what the church really is. We are always encouraged to find a "main message" of our lessons, one word that describes what it's all about. I believe that the message of the Restoration is love. Heavenly Father loves us, so He gave us this earth so we can one day become like Him, if we work towards doing so. Jesus Christ loves us, so He suffered for our sins so that we are able to overcome physical and spiritual death. I love the message of hope as well that this gospel brings! I think in the D&C somewhere, possibly section 25, it talks about laying aside the things of this world and hoping for the things of a better one. I constantly have that hope in my heart, especially on a mission where things are hard and I get frustrated, homesick, and lonely. I know that all of this hard work that I do will pay off one day, and that I can find joy in the journey now.
I love you all and I hope you are having a marvelous week! Remember to keep love in your hearts and keep being nice to the missionaries in your area! They love and appreciate it, I know it! I'm so grateful for all of the prayers offered on my behalf and on behalf of missionaries everywhere. Honestly, I think that's how we manage to get up and go to work everyday. Wo ai nimen!
Ai,
Sister Larson :)
So this week has been pretty great overall. A few exciting things, lots of less exciting things, but I always feel the Spirit and I learn more Chinese everyday! So here goes.
 |
| Flowers! It's almost springtime! And they're purple, which is awesome. |
Last Wednesday I think, after I e-mailed, an Elder in our district gave us gifts from his parents. There's a bit of back story to this actually. His dad is an orthodontist, and like the second week we were here, he talked about how he scrapes his tongue when he brushes his teeth. I was like oh yeah, I brush my tongue too, but he said no, I scrape it. I was a little confused, but then he described how his dad invented a "tongue scraper" and how it's a legitimate thing, and that he could get us one if we wanted. Naturally, my companions and I just laughed at him, because that's ridiculous. But a few weeks later, I found that it sounded cooler and cooler, so he had his parents send us some. They're pretty much amazing. So every night now, I scrape my tongue. It gets all of the bad breath germs off. It's super nasty when you do it, and I'm pretty sure all of the Sisters on our floor are judging us big time for it, but my breath has never been fresher!
 |
| The key to fresh breath has arrived. |
 |
| My Chinese and my English name tags on my beautiful polka dot scripture case. I'm so excited to one day wear it! |
 |
| Me with my Chinese name tag on! It's so awesome yay! |
On Thursday for TRC, we got to teach a family! It was pretty much the most exciting thing ever. I didn't realize how much I would miss associating with anyone who's like not a young adult. It was this dad who went Chinese speaking on his mission and then three of his kids who are in a Chinese immersion program at school. Half of the day they speak Chinese and half the day they speak English, so needless to say I got one-upped by a 12 year old with my Chinese. But it was really fun to teach them and they were just so cute! We were talking about revelation through church attendance and they liked telling us about Primary and their "xiao ke", little class. Also, the little seven year old was talking about how he's excited to be baptized. We asked when his birthday was and guess what? He's my twin!! On December 28 he'll turn 8 and get baptized and I was just so excited I might have scared him a bit. But it was cool. I hope I have the opportunity to teach families in England a few times!
Sometime this week, I can't remember when, it was either Thursday or Friday night at like 10, we were going to the vending machines in our sushe (dorm) and just chilling, eating our snacks, when the fire alarm went off. Sister Biancardi and I screamed because it was loud, and then we were like wait what do we do? Our sister training leader was like just walk outside, go down the stairs, let's go! And we didn't have shoes on, we were in our pajamas, and we had nothing but our vending machine snacks. So we go outside, with all the sisters in their various states of dress, some in robes, some in PJs, and we're huddled together, freezing, with no idea why we're doing it. Some nice employee let us into 19M, the gym where we have devotionals, and so we just hung out in the gym until like 10:20 when they stopped the fire alarm and checked to make sure everything was okay. We think the cause was that someone on the second floor burned their popcorn. The second floor is where the Yingwens (English speakers) live. Makes sense, dui bu dui. (yes or no). It was exciting and probably the most adventurous thing to happen to us since... well since being here really. :)
In class the other day, we listened to a part of my favorite talk from Ezra Taft Benson called Beware of Pride. I remembered reading it when I was younger, I think it was a topic for one of my sacrament talks or we talked about it in FHE one time. It is so amazing, and it really helps you see that almost everyone has an issue with pride. I know it's something I struggle with really bad. President Benson says that pride at its core is an issue because of competition, we want to compete with others. It's not that we have something special that makes us proud, it's the fact that we have more of something than someone else that constitutes pride. I would encourage you all to go listen to it or read it, it is just so amazing!!
So Monday was St. Patrick's Day. We ate donuts with green sprinkles on them for breakfast! And then my companions and I were trying to all wear green, but we realized that none of us has anything that is straight up green. So we were looking for something kind of green, and ended up arguing about colors for 15 minutes. Haha, it was pretty funny, because Sister Price has a BLUE sweater that she just insists is teal, while Sister Biancardi and I were telling her, no, that's blue. And then I was wearing like a sea foam-y green shirt I borrowed, and we argued about that, and then we were trying to distinguish green from teal from blue from turquoise and it was just really hilarious. We still don't agree on the colors, but we agree to disagree. The funniest part was that we asked the Zhanglaomen (Elders) and they were like "this is blue, this is green, what is teal, I don't know colors because I'm a man." It was great. Oh! And then at lunch, there was a table set up in the cafeteria where you could decorate a shamrock sugar cookie with frosting and sprinkles! It tasted like a brick, but it was a festive brick and I loved it!
 |
| Our St. Patrick's day cookies! And my companion's shoe, because she wanted to be in the picture. |
My companions and i have recently been rewriting the lyrics to songs from animated classics, like Frozen and The Swan Princess, to fit situations as a missionary, at the MTC and in the field. In the Swan Princess, there's this one song that talks about how all the prince does is practice because he wants to find the princess (naturally). So we took that line and made it "Day after day all that we every do is ROLE-PLAY, ROLE-PLAY, ROLE-PLAY!" Because it's totally true. And then with Frozen, we love singing "For the First Time in Forever" because it talks about how the windows and doors are open, and for the first time in forever there will be actual real live people. We don't even need to rewrite those ones. It's all true. Except for the whole finding romance part, that's a big BU KEYI (can't do that). At any rate, we need some way to stay sane and this is our way of doing that!
The Chinese is coming along pretty well. The most frustrating thing is the stupid tones. You say one word a different way and it means something totally different. For example: xianzhi first tone first tone means prophet. Xianzhi fourth tone fourth tone means limitations. Heavenly Father loves us, so He gives us limitations, no wait, prophets. Ugh it's so frustrating. But we are trying to SYL more and more and I think we're getting better.
 |
| This is Elder Johnson with his "batman" mask he made one day. That sums up his personality. |
On Sunday we got to watch Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. I love that movie. Mostly because I love Joseph Smith, he's my favorite prophet. I love how he always put his trust in the Lord, how he wasn't quick to anger, how he loved everyone and saw their eternal potential. He is one amazing role model because he was one amazing man. We memorized Joseph Smith's First Vision from Joseph Smith-History so we can tell investigators about it. Every time you tell an investigator about the First Vision, it immediately invites the Spirit and testifies to them of this powerful moment. It changes their hearts and their views on what the church really is. We are always encouraged to find a "main message" of our lessons, one word that describes what it's all about. I believe that the message of the Restoration is love. Heavenly Father loves us, so He gave us this earth so we can one day become like Him, if we work towards doing so. Jesus Christ loves us, so He suffered for our sins so that we are able to overcome physical and spiritual death. I love the message of hope as well that this gospel brings! I think in the D&C somewhere, possibly section 25, it talks about laying aside the things of this world and hoping for the things of a better one. I constantly have that hope in my heart, especially on a mission where things are hard and I get frustrated, homesick, and lonely. I know that all of this hard work that I do will pay off one day, and that I can find joy in the journey now.
I love you all and I hope you are having a marvelous week! Remember to keep love in your hearts and keep being nice to the missionaries in your area! They love and appreciate it, I know it! I'm so grateful for all of the prayers offered on my behalf and on behalf of missionaries everywhere. Honestly, I think that's how we manage to get up and go to work everyday. Wo ai nimen!
Ai,
Sister Larson :)
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Chapter 5: Meagan's Chinese is very standard, and the entertainment value of shampoo lids
Dear family and friends,
Wow, has it really been 5 weeks already? That's crazy! Honestly, sometimes it feels like I just got here and other days I feel like I was born at the MTC and this is all I know. Either way, the MTC is still rockin' and I had some great experiences this week!
So my companions and I always have gym time, everyday except Sunday and P-day. But sometimes we don't like to go to the gym and ride stationary bikes or run around a track. So sometimes we just "work out" and "stretch" in our rooms. One day this past week we decided to go up on the top bunk and throw a loofah at each other, like playing catch. It sounds really lame when I type it out, but it was fun in the moment. We also kicked a shampoo lid to each other in the shower one day. We just like to have fun. :)
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| We get really, really bored sometimes. At least we find ways to entertain ourselves. She was saying "I'm like a fruit fly!" |
During lunch, we get really bored because we have 45 minutes but we eat in like 15. We usually don't get mail until dinner time, so the post office isn't fun. And the bookstore only has so many items you can look at before it gets really super boring. So one day this week we went on a nature walk and explored the expansive, wild grounds of the MTC. I found a stick, some leaves, and a dead worm I named Sherman. Honestly, I don't know what the dead worm was about, I think I was just really tired that day. I definitely picked him up, which is really gross looking back. Let's just say that in the moment, everything I do makes sense to me. Haha.
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| Ducks! Wildlife! It exists! We were so excited to see these ducks, it's a little bit sad. |
This past Sunday was, in a word, awesome. We always have Relief Society as a huge group with all of the sister missionaries. My companions and I accidentally got there way super early, so Sister Biancardi and I were asked to say the prayer. It was cool because we got to sit on the stand and pray in front of like everyone and be on the camera. And the lady who asked me to say the prayer was a mission president's wife for my mission a few years ago! She gave me a huge hug and proceeded to tell me everything about Leeds. It was so awesome. Heavenly Father definitely knows me. It's hard being the only person in the MTC going to Leeds, especially when I'm the only one speaking Mandarin. But He always finds a way to make me feel less lonely, and I'm so grateful for that! Also on Sunday, on our temple walk, I saw my entire BYU student ward! It was so amazing, because two of my best friends are in that ward. I gave them huge hugs and, okay, I totally cried a little bit. They just got mission calls so I could tell them in person how proud and excited I was. I got to hug one of my roommates that was there. I said hi to my fantastic bishopric. It was just awesome.
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| On our temple walks, the Elders in our district like to take full advantage of the peace and quiet at the temple... by sleeping. Several couples walked by outside the fence and laughed at us. (I was totally sleeping most of the time too.) |
As for my Chinese, we had to take a Language Speaking Assessment this past week. It was hard, because the questions were like, "You just taught Sister Jones that God loves her. Now ask her three questions about how she feels," or "Teach Brother Green about the great apostasy. Go." And it's pretty difficult, because it gives you like a minute to think about it and then you have to talk. And you only get one chance to record your answer. So I definitely laughed in one of my recordings because my answer was so stupid. But I did better than I thought I did! I get the compliment from teachers that I am "Very standard," which at first I thought was offensive, like, "Oh, you're so average, keep up the grade-C work," but then they were like, "No, it means that you don't have an accent, you sound like an Asian," and then I was like, "Well. That's better." Just kidding, I was humble about it.
Cultural side note, Chinese speakers are very humble about accepting compliments. They're like teenage girls with compliments. "Oh, that skirt is so pretty!" "Oh, please, it wasn't even that expensive." "Wow, you're wife's cooking is so good!" "Nah, it's just average cooking." These are real examples from my grammar book. Also, in response to compliments, they say "Nali, nali," which literally means "Where, where?" but I just think it's funny.
So our district is pretty close, but we've been trying to work on really having district unity. Today we plan to go to the temple together, which should be fun, and we also try to sit next to each other at lunch. Well, one day an Elder in our district was sitting at the opposite end of the table from us, waiting for his companion and we told him to come sit with us. He said no because he was too lazy and didn't want to get up. So naturally, we dragged his chair over to come sit by us, saying "WE WILL HAVE DISTRICT UNITY! WE WILL! DON'T TRY TO STOP US!" Okay, maybe we didn't say exactly that, but we were thinking it. Our district is like our family that we have here and we're with them all the time, so it's important to get along and try to make each other better.
Well, the last exciting thing is that as most of you know, the BYU president was released yesterday. So President Eyring was doing that, and then was supposed to come talk to the missionaries at the MTC last night at devotional. But something came up and he couldn't and we didn't figure that out until like five minutes before it started. We were a bit disappointed. But the real speaker was also great, and he's from Idaho, so he said that anyone who has a companion from Idaho is blessed. I looked pointedly at my companions when he said that, haha!
Well I hope you all are having a great week and doing wonderful things! I would encourage you all to really strive to be member missionaries! I know it can be scary to share the gospel with people, especially when you think they might not care. But with every time you share your testimony or invite someone to church, it gets easier. Also, get to know the missionaries in your ward! We are constantly being told to get to know the members and work with them, but I think it would be nice for the members to go introduce themselves as well. With members and missionaries working together, the work will be hastened and more of Heavenly Father's children will be brought to the knowledge that will make them the most happy. I love this church and I want to tell anyone and everyone about it, it's so amazing and wonderful. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement, I really love them. Wo ai nimen! (I love you all!)
Ai,
Sister Larson
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Chapter 4 The discovery of chicken nuggets with tails, and probable harm is done to Ji Zhanglao
Meagan is trying new food, and trying to keep things lively in her district...
Qin'ai de jiating he pengyou, (Dear family and friends, without the tone marks because I can't do it and I'm too lazy to figure out how,)
I hope you are all doing well and have had a fantastic week! I definitely have. I feel like this week there's so much to write about, even though every day is like exactly the same, haha. I had to keep a sticky note of things I wanted to mention in my e-mail so that I could remember everything.
The first thing I wrote on my list was that my companions and I sing all the time. I don't know why I wrote that. I mean, we do, but it's not super exciting. I guess we do get a lot of strange looks when we randomly burst into "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from Les Miserables in the hallway of our classroom building. That's about all I have to say about that.
One funny thing is that our teachers here at the MTC like to make Asian jokes that would be a little bit racist. But they're like, "No, it's not racist, because I'm Asian." Both of them that say that are super white. One is from Australia, and the other one is from Utah or something. But they're convinced that they're Asian. One evening during class, they just went off on all of the little Asian things they do now, like saying "Good morning!" during any time of the day, because that's all the English some of the people in their missions knew. Or they just say "Hello!" with an Asian accent and they bow when they shake your hand. Not ironically. They just do that. Because they're Asian. I wonder what weird kind of cultural things I'm going to pick up in a British nation speaking Chinese. That will be super fun when I get back. :)
We are getting new Mandarin speakers in our zone today!!!!! I'm so so so so excited to not be the "new missionaries" anymore. One Elder in the older district referred to us as the new missionaries a few days ago, and I was so mad. I was thinking "I have almost been here a MONTH, excuse me, sir, I am so not a new missionary!" But we are the youngest district, and so we technically are the new missionaries. But not anymore! We're getting 6 new Elders and 2 new Sisters today! I can't wait to meet them, tell them that "the MTC is so fun, it's no big deal, you'll get used to it," and see what the shell-shocked face looks like that I know I wore my first day here. It's gonna be so fun.
So last Monday, a week ago, at our early morning service assignment, I lost my ID card. I went back to look for it before breakfast, and I still couldn't find it, so later that afternoon I bought a new one for a dollar. It almost broke me, but I had to. The only major bummer was that I lost the key to my dorm as well because that was with my old ID. Then this Monday, at the same service place, I found my old ID card!!! It doesn't work anymore, so that's sort of dumb, but my key still does because it's a metal key and... yeah. I was so excited, I ran out of the classroom where I found it yelling "It's a Christmas miracle!" and everyone thought I was weird. So nothing new. Then yesterday, I left my ID in the classroom while going to lunch and so we had to go back to the classroom, but then I couldn't find it in my bag, so we went to the dorm, but it wasn't there and then I realized I put it in a secret pocket in my bag (I have no idea why) and then my companions were mad and I went back to the classroom and then we finally ate lunch. It was an ordeal. It was hilarious.
This week during testimony meeting, it was wonderful to hear some testimonies from people in my zone. We gave them mostly in English, which was nice because then we could really understand the feelings of their hearts. I think I've mentioned before that my entire zone is going to Taiwan, Taizhong and I'm the only one going somewhere else, so it's a little interesting when people get up and say, "I know we will help the people of Taiwan," "I'm so excited for us to go to Taiwan," "Yay Taiwan!" and I just sit there and let them have their moment. It doesn't really matter. So one Elder gets up and is like "I know we will be great missionaries in Taiwan," and I'm thinking nothing of it and then he adds, "And New York," and looks at me and I'm thinking, Who's going to New York? And then it hit me, that he thought I was going to New York. I just smiled and didn't bother correcting him, because it wasn't a big deal, but my whole district turns to look at me and they giggle because, it's kinda funny. So then that Elder's companion gets up and says something similar, and someone from the audience whisper-yells "England! She's going to England!" and he was like "Oh, I mean England, sorry, you're going to England" and it was really funny.
This week at Sunday dinner I ate shrimp! Well, they said it was shrimp. It looked like and tasted like a chicken nugget with a tail, but apparently it was shrimp. It wasn't so bad. Look at me, trying new foods! I'm so adventurous!
This Sunday as well we watched The Testaments, only in English this time. It was amazing as usual, I love that movie, only there's one line where the bad guy is like "There is no Messiah!" and in Chinese it's "Meiyou Misaiya!" and so my companions and I whispered that really loud when he said that line and we got shushed by some uppity English speakers. Everyone else thought it was funny. And it totally was.
Also on Sunday (Sunday is a very eventful day) we always walk to the temple and sit on the grounds and watch the cute families, which sounds creepy, but it's okay if you're a missionary because you miss your own family. So it's okay. Haha. And we also see some couples who come to the temple just to make out. Really? You're going to go to the temple to do that?? Gross! I basically hate it. But this Sunday, we saw a couple standing not too far from us. They kissed a bit, then the girl pulled back and wiped some tears, so we thought it was a break-up and we were totally watching them like creepers. But then they kissed again and he picked her up and twirled her around! I'm pretty sure we witnessed an engagement. I wanted to clap. But I didn't. Because that would be too weird.
Every night before we say companionship prayer and go to bed, my companions and I sing the song "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul" in Chinese. It's awesome! We hope to have it memorized by the time we leave, who knows, but it really brings the Spirit and they lyrics are amazing. One of my favorite lines say "Thy pure word, hath it not been my one delight? My joy by day, my dream by night. Then let my lips proclaim it still, and all my life reflect thy will." I think that perfectly sums up my mission. I think about teaching, about Chinese, about the Savior constantly. It's the last thing I think of before I go to bed. I am so sad that I'm already done with a month of my mission! I only have 17 left and there's so much to learn! I'm wonderfully excited for the opportunities that lay in wait for me.
I hope you all feel the Savior's love everyday. Remember that in order to do that, you need to be diligent in praying and studying the scriptures. There are so many promised blessings in the scriptures if we can obey! "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." I love this scripture and I know it is true. The Lord will always come through on His promises when we make an effort to do what He says.
Have a wonderful Wednesday! Wo ai nimen! (I love you all!)
Love,
Sister Larson
P.S. I forgot to write about this. Last time I mentioned Ji Zhanglao. Elder Johnson in particular loves him. Well, Elder Johnson also loves to tease me and do annoying things. So on Monday, he hid our Ji Jiemei (Sister Chicken), that we had made out of a black glove that day, outside like we did to Ji Zhanglao and we didn't find her until Tuesday morning. The poor chicken shrank in the cold and got a hole in her so she died. We were so sad. The Elders thought it was funny, and Elder Johnson did something to annoy me, I don't remember what. So, in a moment of anger, I stabbed Ji Zhanglao. I killed him. And then we put licorice inside of him so it looked like he was bleeding. The Elders just barely forgave me quite recently and they were rather upset otherwise. His limp, lifeless form hangs up in our classroom and they remind me every five seconds that I'm a murderer. I felt pretty bad, and I did apologize. But at least now we don't have to hear all the time that Ji Zhanglao is cooler than Filbert, or Ji Jiemei, or us.
Qin'ai de jiating he pengyou, (Dear family and friends, without the tone marks because I can't do it and I'm too lazy to figure out how,)
I hope you are all doing well and have had a fantastic week! I definitely have. I feel like this week there's so much to write about, even though every day is like exactly the same, haha. I had to keep a sticky note of things I wanted to mention in my e-mail so that I could remember everything.
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| My crazy companion with her package! she was so excited to get one, she was like a little kid. |
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| My still crazy companion with another package. Every time, she's so excited. like a four-year old. It's awesome. |
One funny thing is that our teachers here at the MTC like to make Asian jokes that would be a little bit racist. But they're like, "No, it's not racist, because I'm Asian." Both of them that say that are super white. One is from Australia, and the other one is from Utah or something. But they're convinced that they're Asian. One evening during class, they just went off on all of the little Asian things they do now, like saying "Good morning!" during any time of the day, because that's all the English some of the people in their missions knew. Or they just say "Hello!" with an Asian accent and they bow when they shake your hand. Not ironically. They just do that. Because they're Asian. I wonder what weird kind of cultural things I'm going to pick up in a British nation speaking Chinese. That will be super fun when I get back. :)
We are getting new Mandarin speakers in our zone today!!!!! I'm so so so so excited to not be the "new missionaries" anymore. One Elder in the older district referred to us as the new missionaries a few days ago, and I was so mad. I was thinking "I have almost been here a MONTH, excuse me, sir, I am so not a new missionary!" But we are the youngest district, and so we technically are the new missionaries. But not anymore! We're getting 6 new Elders and 2 new Sisters today! I can't wait to meet them, tell them that "the MTC is so fun, it's no big deal, you'll get used to it," and see what the shell-shocked face looks like that I know I wore my first day here. It's gonna be so fun.
 | |
|
This week during testimony meeting, it was wonderful to hear some testimonies from people in my zone. We gave them mostly in English, which was nice because then we could really understand the feelings of their hearts. I think I've mentioned before that my entire zone is going to Taiwan, Taizhong and I'm the only one going somewhere else, so it's a little interesting when people get up and say, "I know we will help the people of Taiwan," "I'm so excited for us to go to Taiwan," "Yay Taiwan!" and I just sit there and let them have their moment. It doesn't really matter. So one Elder gets up and is like "I know we will be great missionaries in Taiwan," and I'm thinking nothing of it and then he adds, "And New York," and looks at me and I'm thinking, Who's going to New York? And then it hit me, that he thought I was going to New York. I just smiled and didn't bother correcting him, because it wasn't a big deal, but my whole district turns to look at me and they giggle because, it's kinda funny. So then that Elder's companion gets up and says something similar, and someone from the audience whisper-yells "England! She's going to England!" and he was like "Oh, I mean England, sorry, you're going to England" and it was really funny.
This week at Sunday dinner I ate shrimp! Well, they said it was shrimp. It looked like and tasted like a chicken nugget with a tail, but apparently it was shrimp. It wasn't so bad. Look at me, trying new foods! I'm so adventurous!
 | |
|
Also on Sunday (Sunday is a very eventful day) we always walk to the temple and sit on the grounds and watch the cute families, which sounds creepy, but it's okay if you're a missionary because you miss your own family. So it's okay. Haha. And we also see some couples who come to the temple just to make out. Really? You're going to go to the temple to do that?? Gross! I basically hate it. But this Sunday, we saw a couple standing not too far from us. They kissed a bit, then the girl pulled back and wiped some tears, so we thought it was a break-up and we were totally watching them like creepers. But then they kissed again and he picked her up and twirled her around! I'm pretty sure we witnessed an engagement. I wanted to clap. But I didn't. Because that would be too weird.
Every night before we say companionship prayer and go to bed, my companions and I sing the song "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul" in Chinese. It's awesome! We hope to have it memorized by the time we leave, who knows, but it really brings the Spirit and they lyrics are amazing. One of my favorite lines say "Thy pure word, hath it not been my one delight? My joy by day, my dream by night. Then let my lips proclaim it still, and all my life reflect thy will." I think that perfectly sums up my mission. I think about teaching, about Chinese, about the Savior constantly. It's the last thing I think of before I go to bed. I am so sad that I'm already done with a month of my mission! I only have 17 left and there's so much to learn! I'm wonderfully excited for the opportunities that lay in wait for me.
I hope you all feel the Savior's love everyday. Remember that in order to do that, you need to be diligent in praying and studying the scriptures. There are so many promised blessings in the scriptures if we can obey! "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." I love this scripture and I know it is true. The Lord will always come through on His promises when we make an effort to do what He says.
Have a wonderful Wednesday! Wo ai nimen! (I love you all!)
Sister Larson
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| Ji Zhanglao and Ji Jiemei, may they rest in peace and be happy in the glove chicken spirit world. Their love story lives on! |
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| Ji zhanglao's lifeless body. It is hanging up. I don't know why. |
P.S. I forgot to write about this. Last time I mentioned Ji Zhanglao. Elder Johnson in particular loves him. Well, Elder Johnson also loves to tease me and do annoying things. So on Monday, he hid our Ji Jiemei (Sister Chicken), that we had made out of a black glove that day, outside like we did to Ji Zhanglao and we didn't find her until Tuesday morning. The poor chicken shrank in the cold and got a hole in her so she died. We were so sad. The Elders thought it was funny, and Elder Johnson did something to annoy me, I don't remember what. So, in a moment of anger, I stabbed Ji Zhanglao. I killed him. And then we put licorice inside of him so it looked like he was bleeding. The Elders just barely forgave me quite recently and they were rather upset otherwise. His limp, lifeless form hangs up in our classroom and they remind me every five seconds that I'm a murderer. I felt pretty bad, and I did apologize. But at least now we don't have to hear all the time that Ji Zhanglao is cooler than Filbert, or Ji Jiemei, or us.
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