It was a basically normal week. I'd say it was one of the more
stressful weeks in terms of my companionship. Nothing went wrong in particular, but as I've said before Sister Nelson and I are very different, and we're still figuring out how to enjoy being together 24/7. However, I'd say the worst of that is over and I think we're both getting better at being encouraging and helpful to each other. She is a great blessing to me, and probably even more so because of how much we learn together about how to be thoughtful and aware of someone else's needs.
I thought maybe I would share with you a typical day's schedule, especially for anyone who has no idea what I do with my time. Every week we basically have the same schedule. Almost every day has some unique meeting or something that only happens on that day, but you don't need to know about every one of those. I'll give you Thursday as an example:
6:30am
We need to be up by this time, every day, but on Thursdays a little earlier because we report for service at 6:30. All missionaries in the MTC spend about an hour every week cleaning, which saves a lot of money over the course of a year.
7:45
Breakfast! On Thursdays we get sack breakfast so we can take it back to our room and get ready.
8:45
We have an hour of personal Gospel study time very day. I usually split it between studying out of the Book of Mormon, and preparing for our upcoming teaching.
9:45
We also have an hour of companionship study. This is supposed to help us build companionship unity and prepare for the lessons we'll teach. We are allowed to speak English during this time if we want to (or Chinglish).
10:30
Sister Kuang teaches us for several hours most mornings. We usually get to practice teaching with another district at some point, do language study stuff, study from our missionary manual thing (Preach My Gospel).
1:00
Lunch time! This time we do eat at the cafeteria, where we may or may not be getting fat on MTC food. (I don't think my weight has changed significantly since I got here, but some people do gain quite a bit.)
1:45
MDLS--Missionary Directed Language Study (I think it's pretty self-explanatory. We do whatever we want to study Chinese.)
2:45
Weekly Planning Meeting. My district has an hour planning session every week, where we set goals and plan together. More goals. More planning.
3:45
Brother Hodges, our other teacher, teaches us most afternoons. Basically the same sort of stuff as Sister Kuang.
6:00
Dinner
6:45
Gym time (I know, having it right after dinner is a bit unfortunate). I run, go on an elliptical, play volleyball.
8:00
Missionary Directed Time (Almost like MDLS, but we don't have to study Chinese.)
9:00
Daily Planning Session, done in companionships, for the next day. Goal setting, scheduling when to get stuff done, etc.
9:30
We're back at the dorm for the night.
10:15
Quiet time. Be in the room. Quietly.
10:30
In bed.
So that's a typical day for me. They fly by, believe me.
One of my favorite things about the MTC is the "your best is enough feeling" that I get pretty much all the time. I guess there is comparing of self that goes on, but in my experience teachers don't expect all their students to excel: they just expect them to do their best. I know all the missionaries in my district have been blessed a lot as far as the language goes, but for some it definitely comes easier than for others. It's just really great that how smart you are isn't the point. If a missionary works hard, and cares about the people he teaches, and loves what he's teaching, and tries to be obedient, that's good enough. It's like the antithesis of a highly competitive academic program, because everyone's success is enhanced by everyone else's success.
Well, I must be off. My companion is a little stressed because she forgot some of her laundry at the dorm (I write during laundry), so we need to go get it. We start teaching in Chinese this week--pray for me, or at least think happy thoughts about me.
Love,
Sister Andersen
Monday, June 16, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Sunday Photos at Provo Temple
Sisters Andersen and Nelson
Elders Van Wagoner, Mackay, Eng, Forbush, Parker, KingMonday, June 9, 2008
MTC Day 26
It's been another amazing week here at the MTC. I'm really getting into this SYL (Speak Your Language) thing. Sundays and Mondays are the hardest because we have church meetings on Sunday and Preparation Day Monday, but other than that I've done a lot better. I can tell how much more my Chinese improves when I really commit to not speaking English except during the times when we're "allowed" to (quote marks because we obviously can all the time, but are asked not to sometimes). I'm getting pretty good at pantomiming. I've also gotten good at not giving up and switching to English when I don't communicate properly through my pantomimes (example: Today when I thought I saw a jeep with flames painted all over it. I tried to communicate this insignificant observation to my companion, resorting to acting out blowing out birthday cake candles to say "fire". I think she thought that I thought I saw a jeep that was actually on fire. I let it go at that, since I didn't have any good ideas to act out paint). It will be an exciting day when I can actually communicate every idea that I come up with in a given day, all in Chinese.
This week my district had a great experience at the Referral Center. The RC is a call center. People make requests over phone, on the church website, or on behalf of friends to receive church materials (Book of Mormon, Bible, church videos, etc). We call them and ask if they got it, if they would like something else, and if so, if the missionaries can deliver it and share a message with them. When they agree to have the missionaries deliver something, or when they suggest a friend or relative who we can contact because they think they would be interested, this is a referral. Missionaries are all about goals. Everything has a goal. The RC is no exception. For the last few weeks, our weekly goal as a district has been 16 referrals (2/person). We got 15 two weeks in a row, and then we decided to really put our hearts and prayers into it. This week we went in and got 24. I guess that might not sound that dramatic or exciting, but believe me, it was the cause of much rejoicing and thanksgiving.
As I mentioned, goals are one thing that have begun taking over my life. Another thing is meetings. We have meetings all the time. Fortunately, the meetings are usually pretty amazing, if you want them to be. I mean, anyone can get bored in a meeting, and some meetings may be impossible to be excited about, but I think that 99% of my MTC meetings so far have given me good reason to be excited. I hear all sorts of scriptures that I've read I don't know how many times before, but in a light that I probably would never have realized on my own. It's great.
Well, I wish that I had better stories, but it's a little difficult to come up with action-packed anything when you're living at the MTC. I love it, though, and I hope there's something to keep your attention in these messages so you'll still be reading when I get to Taiwan. That should provide some fodder for more engaging writing.
Much missionary love,
Sister Andersen
This week my district had a great experience at the Referral Center. The RC is a call center. People make requests over phone, on the church website, or on behalf of friends to receive church materials (Book of Mormon, Bible, church videos, etc). We call them and ask if they got it, if they would like something else, and if so, if the missionaries can deliver it and share a message with them. When they agree to have the missionaries deliver something, or when they suggest a friend or relative who we can contact because they think they would be interested, this is a referral. Missionaries are all about goals. Everything has a goal. The RC is no exception. For the last few weeks, our weekly goal as a district has been 16 referrals (2/person). We got 15 two weeks in a row, and then we decided to really put our hearts and prayers into it. This week we went in and got 24. I guess that might not sound that dramatic or exciting, but believe me, it was the cause of much rejoicing and thanksgiving.
As I mentioned, goals are one thing that have begun taking over my life. Another thing is meetings. We have meetings all the time. Fortunately, the meetings are usually pretty amazing, if you want them to be. I mean, anyone can get bored in a meeting, and some meetings may be impossible to be excited about, but I think that 99% of my MTC meetings so far have given me good reason to be excited. I hear all sorts of scriptures that I've read I don't know how many times before, but in a light that I probably would never have realized on my own. It's great.
Well, I wish that I had better stories, but it's a little difficult to come up with action-packed anything when you're living at the MTC. I love it, though, and I hope there's something to keep your attention in these messages so you'll still be reading when I get to Taiwan. That should provide some fodder for more engaging writing.
Much missionary love,
Sister Andersen
Friday, June 6, 2008
MTC District
(left to right) Elder Parker, Elder Van Wagoner, Sister Nelson, Elder King, Elder Mackay, me, Elder Eng, and Elder Forbush.Monday, June 2, 2008
MTC Day 19
It's back to preparation day already! I can't believe how fast the time goes. I guess I expected it to drag by at first, and pick up later. Maybe it will start dragging at some other time...
I am once again established as the one who knows all the weird words. I blame this mostly on my parents, and perhaps indirectly on Grandpa. I've discovered that saying things like "Mecca", and "circumlocution" invites blank stares. I wonder if this reputation will continue throughout my life, or if I'll be able to teach everyone in the world all the words that I have ever heard. The former is probably more likely.
One of my favorite things about the MTC is hearing all the different languages people are learning. Often during study time, missionaries will sit on benches outside. Sometimes we use each other to practice introducing ourselves, bearing testimony, asking for referrals, etc. This week, in addition to bearing my own testimony in Mandarin I don't know how many times, I heard testimony is Cambodian, Vietnamese, German, and Spanish. Pretty amazing.
I've started myself on a Spanish fast while I'm in the MTC. This is probably one of the hardest things I've done since I got here, but I think it's for the better. I hadn't been speaking Spanish too much, but on a regular basis because there are so many Spanish speakers and Spanish students around here. I decided that I would give it up temporarily as a way of putting all my efforts into my current calling from the Lord, which is fundamentally connected to my studying Mandarin. As I think I've said before, in my experience the Lord always blesses us for giving up things in his service, and I don't doubt that this will be the case as I try to consecrate all of my resources of time and mental ability to my mission call. I hope that there is room in my life for both Spanish and Mandarin, but for the next little while it's all Mandarin all the time.
My companion continues to endear herself to me. She's definitely the cute, feminine one of the two of us. She has her "cute MTC clothes" and her "ugly bike-riding clothes." Assuming those are the only two clothing categories, mine must all fall into the "ugly bike-riding" part. She also amused both of us by opening a lesson that we taught by asking the investigator what her favorite sport was. This may not have been my number one get-to-know-you question to a 35-year-old Chinese woman, but at least now we know that Sister Gong would rather swim than play football.
Well, this week's letter reaches its end. Missionary work is still awesome.
Love,
Sister Andersen
I am once again established as the one who knows all the weird words. I blame this mostly on my parents, and perhaps indirectly on Grandpa. I've discovered that saying things like "Mecca", and "circumlocution" invites blank stares. I wonder if this reputation will continue throughout my life, or if I'll be able to teach everyone in the world all the words that I have ever heard. The former is probably more likely.
One of my favorite things about the MTC is hearing all the different languages people are learning. Often during study time, missionaries will sit on benches outside. Sometimes we use each other to practice introducing ourselves, bearing testimony, asking for referrals, etc. This week, in addition to bearing my own testimony in Mandarin I don't know how many times, I heard testimony is Cambodian, Vietnamese, German, and Spanish. Pretty amazing.
I've started myself on a Spanish fast while I'm in the MTC. This is probably one of the hardest things I've done since I got here, but I think it's for the better. I hadn't been speaking Spanish too much, but on a regular basis because there are so many Spanish speakers and Spanish students around here. I decided that I would give it up temporarily as a way of putting all my efforts into my current calling from the Lord, which is fundamentally connected to my studying Mandarin. As I think I've said before, in my experience the Lord always blesses us for giving up things in his service, and I don't doubt that this will be the case as I try to consecrate all of my resources of time and mental ability to my mission call. I hope that there is room in my life for both Spanish and Mandarin, but for the next little while it's all Mandarin all the time.
My companion continues to endear herself to me. She's definitely the cute, feminine one of the two of us. She has her "cute MTC clothes" and her "ugly bike-riding clothes." Assuming those are the only two clothing categories, mine must all fall into the "ugly bike-riding" part. She also amused both of us by opening a lesson that we taught by asking the investigator what her favorite sport was. This may not have been my number one get-to-know-you question to a 35-year-old Chinese woman, but at least now we know that Sister Gong would rather swim than play football.
Well, this week's letter reaches its end. Missionary work is still awesome.
Love,
Sister Andersen
Monday, May 26, 2008
MTC Day 12
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
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 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!
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