4/13/16

     Soooo.    My teacher is probably the funniest person that has ever existed. We were sitting in class on Thursday and this Sister in my District who is from Korea pulled this tiny green jar out of her pocket. She then said, "I found this in my pocket. The pocket in my pajamas." At which point, I was like what? How is that even a thing? How do you not know what is in your pajama pocket? But then it got worse. She said "I have never seen it before!" Which completely blew me over the top and I blurted "How is it possible that you don't know what is in your pajamas? Whose pajamas are they? Have they always been your pajamas? Please, explain!" And she said that they are her pajamas and they have been for quite some time. Strange, right? Then she asked my teacher to read what it was because it was written in all characters. He told us that us that the characters said Thailand Grass Ointment. But the rest of the characters were in Thai and he couldn't read them. So then he opened it and smelled it and it kind of smelled like Mentholatum. He gestured like he was going to eat it and I got really excited and was like "Yeah I dare you! Eat it!" And then he put some on his tongue and almost died because it was so gross! And then he put it on his hand and his lips like Chapstick. Naturally I wanted to try. So I put some on my lips and rubbed the rest on my hand, because my hands have been very dry. I thought it could help! Some others put it on their hands and things. Within about 70 seconds my lips were the coldest that they have ever been in my life. Like possible hypothermia levels. It felt like my whole chin was frozen and swelling up. (Upon asking the other missionaries though, my face looked normal size) My teacher's reaction was similar, and everyone's hands were getting cold. We then figured that this grass ointment might be similar to Icy Hot. EXCEPT IT NEVER GOT HOT. We sat in class for about another two hours shivering because it was so cold. We turned up the heat and everything. This ointment is made to treat third degree burns I'm sure. Alas, I loved it. If I ever come across Thailand Grass ointment, I think I will buy some. I think it probably helps muscles.

So, I remember the days when I thought I was pretty good at being obedient. Not so! There is this thing called Exact Obedience and I am pretty sure that it is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Mostly just the going to bed on time and waking up at 6:30 instead of 6:32. But I know I will be blessed if I am obedient! I have seen it manifest in so many lives here in the MTC, I know it can be so in mine.

I went and got an X-Ray this week and made the doctor explain my results to me. I have a gas bubble in my left-ern Diaphragm. So did the girl I went there with. He said that it was okay, but the girl that had one too got pulled out of class yesterday and was told that here VISA wasn't being sent in, because the gas bubble wasn't okay and she has to go get it redone. So now I am a little scared that my VISA will get delayed too, but no one has approached me, so maybe my gas bubble is okay. (Even though it was way bigger than hers)

We have taught like a billion more times. The lady that I told you about before we taught two more times. The 3rd lesson went really well so we decided to extend baptism the next lesson. I was so excited. It was kind of a funny story. The lesson had gone a little bad and it seemed that in the heat of the moment my comp forgot how to speak Chinese. So I was talking a ton and that was bad and things were a little crazy and I was like there is no way that she will want to be baptized. But I bore my testimony and the spirit came in and I was like holy cow! Ye Yi Li, would you be willing to be baptized? and I was pretty sure she said: maybe once I know more, I will think about it. And I was like dang, but okay. That's good enough, we tried. THEN THE TABLES TURNED. Friday we walked into class and she was our teacher! The tricky MTC people make your teacher be your first investigator, and then a week in they start teaching you. Crazy! And she said, "Class, I encourage you to extend baptism. Dai Jie Mei and Jian Jie Mei asked Ye Yi Li to be baptized, and Ye Yi Li said yes." WHAT. SHE SAID YES? So I must have really misunderstood her, but moral of the story, WE GOT A BAPTISM. So I was happy. :) She is a good teacher. She is very strict, from China, and served a mission to Temple Square. (Shout out to you, Mom) She teaches us a lot though. I am learning very good Chinese from her! I can now pray, testify, share scriptures, extend invitations, and teach two lessons non scripted. So while it isn't a lot, it's been two weeks and I am happy with my progress. We are teaching two more investigators, one a day, and they are both our teachers. They help me learn so much!

I absolutely adore the girls in my room and we have so much fun! We do a lot of stuff together, and we go to the temple together on Wednesdays and eat lunch at the temple. They lift me up and help me a lot.

It's amazing how much I learn everyday, and how much I want to be better. I write in my journal at night about what I learned that will make me a better missionary, and my perspective changes every day. The list of to-dos is getting very long, but luckily we get credit for trying. I am trying to turn out when the natural man tempts me to turn in. I am learning to open my mouth with faith, so that the Lord may fill it. I am learning more fully the extent of Christ's atonement, and I know that there are souls waiting for me in Taiwan and their futures are in my hands. I want to be the best missionary possible so that I can do for them what has been done for me. I want to teach and be ready to share wherever I am. I am the Lord's servant and I am on his time, which gives me a great sense of purpose. I love the Lord and this gospel and I LOVE being a missionary. Already, it has been the best experience of my life. I love you all and hope that you have a great week! Thank you for the love, care, and support.

Love,
Dai JieMei

P.S. Amidst learning all of the things, I learned that I enjoy chugging water. So far I can do a liter in 12 seconds. Hopefully updates will come.