Well, first full week down, only 9ish more to go. I'll start with a couple of humorous anecdotes:
In one of our classes, our teacher was about to teach us a lesson as if we were investigating the LDS church. She told us that we could pretend to be non-practicing Buddhists, which led to a brief discussion of Buddhist beliefs. According to her, Buddhists are trying to reach Narnia. To her credit, she quickly caught her mistake, but of course we won't let it go...Could Nirvana really be better than Narnia?
Those missionaries in my district going to Taiwan had to get some additional medical tests done, including giving a stool sample. We had just been given the bags and the little containers in which to submit the sample. Stuck on these containers were labels saying: DO NOT DRINK. IF INGESTED ACCIDENTALLY, SEE A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. Oh the things law suits have done.
On a more serious and substantial note, my companion and I have already improved our teaching a lot. Teaching with someone takes quite a bit of getting used to, but we're getting much better at working together and being flexible within the lesson. I've been really blessed with a companion who wants to work hard and who cares about making sure the Spirit is with us when we teach. The MTC is a very unique fusion of education and spirituality. I know that the gift of tongues is present here. I can see it in our district. It's not the sort of gift of tongues that comes upon you suddenly, in a grand display of the power of God. It's more like a subtle (but very substantial) response to our hard work. I'm really grateful for the blessings I've received with the language, because Mandarin is dang hard.
I've had lots of opportunity to think about the significance of sustaining our leaders. There are tons of little specific rules for missionaries and at the MTC; everything from dressing at the same level of dressiness as your companion (e.g. both in suit coats or neither), no wide headbands for sisters (too faddish), etc. I don't know that I would keep all of the rules in the book if it were up to me, but I've been thinking about the importance of helping out the leaders by obeying them. First of all, I don't always know the reasons behind their rules, but also, the Lord doesn't promise infallibility in leadership, but he does promise blessings to those who sustain their leaders by following them. So not understanding the rules isn't rankling me as much as it might, which is good, because there are plenty of them.
Well, my time runs short once again. I love you all!
Love,
Sister Andersen
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
MTC Day 5
I've successfully completed my first four days in the MTC. So far, days seem to pass really quickly because we're so busy all the time. Even though I never feel like I have enough time to do and study everything that I want to, I generally like the feeling of being jam-packed busy. Here's a little break-down of my feelings:
Things I miss:
1. My family. And close friends, who may consider themselves part of my extended family. I do miss you all, but I not in an abnormal, crippling sort of way. I hope you're happy for me and not disappointed that I'm not more heartbroken.
2. Being able to pronounce my own name. They assign us Mandarin surnames that will go on our tags once we get out to the field, but we use them here too. Mine is pronounced something like "Soo-en", first tone (for anyone who knows anything about Chinese tones).
3. I think that's about it, for now. I'm sure I'll miss more things later. Except snacking, I do miss snacking now, but I guess grazing in my kitchen is a good habit to break anyway.
Things I love:
1. My companion. Sister Nelson is hilarious and awesome. Our paths would probably never have crossed outside of the MTC, but I feel really fortunate to have her around (which is good, since she must be within sight and hearing of me at all times for the next 10 weeks, except when we're in the bathroom).
2. Getting to focus on preparing for just one thing. There are a few different components (language, missionary lessons, etc.), but they are all sort of mixed together and mutually supportive, which is nice. I just really enjoy getting to put all of my thoughts and efforts into one thing.
3. Mandarin. It's almost a love-hate relationship. But mostly minus the hate. It is incredibly hard, but I like it. My district (the group of missionaries that I have class with all the time, including my companion) is a lot of fun, and our teachers are pretty great, too.
4. Getting to think and talk about the Gospel (the doctrines espoused by the LDS Church) all the time. Anyone reading this should know how important my faith is to me, so getting to be surrounded by it all the time is a very rewarding and engaging experience.
So it's basically been a good experience. I'm sure lower points will come, but why taint the goodness with nasty anticipation? Unnecessary. I'll try to write more about my daily life in future emails, but that will have to suffice for now. I love you all, and will love you even more if you write me!
Things I miss:
1. My family. And close friends, who may consider themselves part of my extended family. I do miss you all, but I not in an abnormal, crippling sort of way. I hope you're happy for me and not disappointed that I'm not more heartbroken.
2. Being able to pronounce my own name. They assign us Mandarin surnames that will go on our tags once we get out to the field, but we use them here too. Mine is pronounced something like "Soo-en", first tone (for anyone who knows anything about Chinese tones).
3. I think that's about it, for now. I'm sure I'll miss more things later. Except snacking, I do miss snacking now, but I guess grazing in my kitchen is a good habit to break anyway.
Things I love:
1. My companion. Sister Nelson is hilarious and awesome. Our paths would probably never have crossed outside of the MTC, but I feel really fortunate to have her around (which is good, since she must be within sight and hearing of me at all times for the next 10 weeks, except when we're in the bathroom).
2. Getting to focus on preparing for just one thing. There are a few different components (language, missionary lessons, etc.), but they are all sort of mixed together and mutually supportive, which is nice. I just really enjoy getting to put all of my thoughts and efforts into one thing.
3. Mandarin. It's almost a love-hate relationship. But mostly minus the hate. It is incredibly hard, but I like it. My district (the group of missionaries that I have class with all the time, including my companion) is a lot of fun, and our teachers are pretty great, too.
4. Getting to think and talk about the Gospel (the doctrines espoused by the LDS Church) all the time. Anyone reading this should know how important my faith is to me, so getting to be surrounded by it all the time is a very rewarding and engaging experience.
So it's basically been a good experience. I'm sure lower points will come, but why taint the goodness with nasty anticipation? Unnecessary. I'll try to write more about my daily life in future emails, but that will have to suffice for now. I love you all, and will love you even more if you write me!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
In the beginning
A week from today I'll enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, UT. I expect to stay there for about three months, studying Chinese and learning ways of presenting and explaining the Gospel (i.e. the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) to investigators (people being taught by the missionaries). From the MTC, I'll go directly to Taiwan where I'll stay until November 2009.
I decided to go on a mission sometime around February of this year. I had thought about it on and off throughout my life, but had been hunkering down to decide since about December. I made endless lists of pros and cons, but it really boiled down to trying to find out what I thought God would most like me to do with the next portion of my life. Fortunately, he decided to pass on that information to me during one of my church meetings at BYU, and I haven't looked back since. I've had a lot of time to think about the things I'm giving up (which probably aren't that weighty, but they feel substantial to me). The thing is, I've never made any sacrifice for the sake of my religious beliefs that I regretted; I think empirical evidence from my life is 100% consistent with the idea that blessings for sacrifices are way better than whatever was given up. Considering how difficult the sacrifices of a mission may be for me, I have no doubt that there are some pretty amazing blessings in store. To sum up, I feel great about the chance to serve a full-time mission.
Preparing to open the call with my moral support team (Jeff, Rem, and Kirsten, who is taking the picture).
Teleconferencing Mom and Dad in for the moment of call-receiving truth.
I decided to go on a mission sometime around February of this year. I had thought about it on and off throughout my life, but had been hunkering down to decide since about December. I made endless lists of pros and cons, but it really boiled down to trying to find out what I thought God would most like me to do with the next portion of my life. Fortunately, he decided to pass on that information to me during one of my church meetings at BYU, and I haven't looked back since. I've had a lot of time to think about the things I'm giving up (which probably aren't that weighty, but they feel substantial to me). The thing is, I've never made any sacrifice for the sake of my religious beliefs that I regretted; I think empirical evidence from my life is 100% consistent with the idea that blessings for sacrifices are way better than whatever was given up. Considering how difficult the sacrifices of a mission may be for me, I have no doubt that there are some pretty amazing blessings in store. To sum up, I feel great about the chance to serve a full-time mission.
Preparing to open the call with my moral support team (Jeff, Rem, and Kirsten, who is taking the picture).
Teleconferencing Mom and Dad in for the moment of call-receiving truth.
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