4/27/16
The MTC where classrooms become churches!

I'm not even sure what happened this week. It's a pretty big blur. But good kind of missionary work blur! It has been a week of learning, fulfillment, and progression. Our classrooms are hallowed places of learning mixed with the spirit. Sometimes I don't know if I'm learning Chinese or the Gospel. Probably both.

So last night, Elder Oaks came to speak to us! His talk was very different from what I expected. For a little more than half of his talk he read excerpts from Preach My Gospel. At the beginning I was guilty of thinking "What? We are here to hear your words, we can read Preach My Gospel anytime!" But oh boy how I was wrong, and in for some humbling. His talk wasn't about PMG, but it definitely reminded me of the importance and purpose. He was pulling quotes out of the whole book about how we can become better missionaries, and helpful ways to teach. It is an inspired guide for missionaries. His wife said something interesting that I knew, but only now fully realize the implications. Everyone here on this earth fought the war in heaven, but most people don't even know that they did that. The people on this earth already stood up for truth and what they believe and they have no recollection. They didn't fight the fight just to come here and give up. I know that it is my responsibility as a missionary to invite and help them to bring back their recollection of those truths.

During this devotional the MTC choir sang. we sang a song that was arranged by our director, Brother Eggett. It's a progression of our missionary journey that includes the four songs "I hope they call me on a mission", "The Lord needs valiant servants", "Army of Helaman", and "Called to Serve". We went from being four years old hoping that someday we could be called on a mission, to being confident that we could be the Lord's valiant servants, to becoming strong like unto soldiers in the Army of Helaman, to the point we are now, called to serve our Lord, chosen to witness His name. I don't think that I have ever been able to sing a song with such conviction. I am a missionary, and I love it. There is nothing I would rather be doing right now than serving a mission for the Lord, and I'm grateful everyday for this opportunity.

Our lessons this week were pretty normal until last night. We were teaching HanGeHui (our teacher) and we decided that we wanted to take him to the church and show some of the paintings and the baptismal font. Unfortunately we have none of those things. So naturally, we pretended. I wanted it to still be special though, so I prayed beforehand that even though we were in our classroom and a hallway, that it could be like a church. Oh how my prayers were answered. As we took him through the hallways and introduced the paintings, HanGeHui had so many questions and desires to see more. We took him into the classroom where we had pushed desks into a square to kind of a little bit represent a font. (This was my comp's idea, and I thought it could be good. When we walked in our teacher started laughing out loud, and I just kind of stared at him like "What the heck (maybe I shouldn't say that, sorry) did you want us to do?" And he sobered up real quick, back into character) Anyways, we took him in there and explained baptism and the covenants that we make. I asked how he felt and he said that our church felt Holy, like a peaceful place. I realized then that the whole time we taught, since we "entered the church", the feeling that I get in one of our church buildings had been there. It was so real, and I know we were blessed. I have never felt the spirit so strong in a lesson, throughout the whole thing. HanGeHui has been praying about whether he wants to be baptized and during the lesson he told us that he would like to be baptized, and I felt it too. There was an undeniable power.

Unfortunately, moving on to the bad news, we only have one more lesson with HanGeHui, because our teacher is leaving us this Saturday. So we will not get to see him through to baptism or teach him more about our church. This is a sad thing! We will very much miss our our teacher and the love and care that he puts into our learning. I know that he would do anything to make us successful missionaries, and I love that.

Our musical number on Sunday went very well! My roommate, Sister Goldrup, and I played a duet of "Our Savior's Love" and my companion accompanied us. It went well and was a very beautiful arrangement. I think it brought the spirit a lot! I'm grateful for musical talents and a roommate that plays the violin too! She is kind of awesome. We are running buddies and she got me back into my running groove. We do about 4 miles a day because that is all we have time for, but maybe if we get faster, we can do more! But she leaves in two weeks, so that is sad. I will miss our roommates a lot! But we will get the new girls in our room and then we can be friends.

Sorry for the long email today! I just really love being a missionary and I really love to talk a lot, which isn't a good combination I guess! Though I sometimes get frustrated, I have gained a testimony that God's work cannot be frustrated. Sometimes I worry that I won't be able to teach well enough to bring people unto Christ, but then we get into planning or a lesson and the Holy Spirit guides. This isn't my mission, it is the Lord's, and I know He will help me and fight for me every step of the way. I love the spirit that has accompanied me since I was set apart. Being a missionary is amazing, and I am already dreading the day that I will have to remove my name tag. Thank you all for your love and support, you are the best family ever!

DaiJieMei