HERE WE GO!

Ni Hao!

I have three more hours until I leave for the airport!! This is crazy!!! I've been up since three because I had to say goodbye to Elder Redding and a few other elders this morning...I can't believe I've already been in the MTC for nine weeks. I have loved the MTC, and I've never grown this much spiritually in such a short amount of time before, but I am so excited to go to Singapore!

Last Monday was an awesome last P-Day because I got to play ball with Elder A and a few others one last time, and I don't think I missed a shot. We were all happy the whole day, so when we had the opportunity to skype a man in Taiwan and teach, our lesson went really well. I never realized how important attitude and faith were until I came to the MTC. If we expect to have the Spirit with us and are worthy, 99% of the time we will have a more effective lesson. 

Tuesday was great because....We heard from an APOSTLE!!! Hooray! Elder Richard G. Scott spoke to us Tuesday night about prayer. I was amazed that he was able to take such a simple topic and delve so deeply into what prayer really is. Isn't it amazing that God commands us to talk to Him? There are so many powerful people in the world that don't have time for anybody but themselves...even we get that way sometimes, but our Heavenly Father WANTS to help us and wants us to pour out our souls to Him. I know that I need to do better at praying earnestly and sincerely. Prayer is a sacred privilege, and it shouldn't be something we only turn to in times of desperation. I also learned that I need to allow time during my prayers for Heavenly Father to answer my questions and speak back to me through the Holy Ghost. D and C 6,8, and 9 are all awesome sections about how to obtain an answer to prayer and what it should feel like. One thing that hit me is how important it is to make sure we're praying to follow God's will and not our own desires. Sometimes I think Heavenly Father isn't answering my prayers because He's not giving me what I want. This is something I need to fix! I know that the Lord has called me to succeed, not to fail. I know that in order to achieve things never before achieved, I need to do things I've never done before. I committed to serve with all that I have from this point on. 

Wednesday...Happy Birthday Elder Redding!!!!!! I love Elder Redding, and I'm so grateful we've been able to support each other in the MTC. He's my hero and best friend! I learned a lot from the Book of Mormon Wednesday morning, especially while reading in 1 Nephi. 16:23 talks about how even Lehi and the rest of Nephi's family were murmuring...I think that sometimes I murmur instead of acting in faith like Nephi. Murmuring=doubt=no faith. I need to do better at taking responsibility for what happens to me and trust that the Lord will take care of me. During companionship study we role played a little bit by trying to give one minute street-contacting lessons....it was so hard!!! It was very humbling, and taught me a lot about what I need to work on. This is what life is about! Doing hard things in order to learn your weaknesses and know what you need to improve...I've got a long way to go as far as Chinese haha. 

One thing that the MTC has helped me do is set goals. Without specific goals, it can be hard to stay motivated and reach your long term visions. I would invite all of you back home to set some specific spiritual, physical, social, intellectual, etc. goals in order to be motivated and hold yourself accountable. I promise you'll see improvement! Wednesday night I got to teach a native Chinese speaker about the Word of Wisdom all on my own....she told me she understood everything I said after the lesson (whew), but she told me I looked and felt so nervous that there was no way I was going to be able to invite the Spirit. This was very humbling, but also very helpful. I need to focus more on the doctrine and the Spirit, and less about what I'm saying. Luckily, to wrap up the night and cheer everyone up, we somehow started talking about veggie tales, and it brought back some good memories!

Thursday was super busy! We started off with basketball, and then moved mattresses out of a building for 2 hours! It was super tiring, but definitely a nice change of pace! One scripture that was my theme for the day is Alma 12:1-it talks about having unity in teaching and supporting your companion-I know this can apply to missionaries, friends, family...anyone! 2 by 2 is the way we do! When we are working together, the Spirit can be shared in a stronger way that is very unique and powerful. I also spent some time going through my scriptures and marking things with tabs that I could quickly share in lessons with investigators. This has been very helpful and convenient, and I would invite you to do this as well before you come on a mission! Just choose a few of your favorites!

Friday was In-Field-Orientation, and it was another awesome experience! I really do love the MTC! Haha I even forgot it was my birthday...but that's a good sign of hard work! The biggest things I learned during the orientation was how important goals are, and how important attitude is. We went over a lot of things, but basically, without belief there will be no action and no results. If we have a bad attitude about anything, we will never find a good thing as a result. I need to be optimistic at all times and trust the Lord that he'll take care of me at all times. 

Saturday was super good but also sad because we had to say goodbye to all of our teachers. I love them so much, and Im so grateful for the patience they've had with me. They have taught me so much more than Chinese, and I can't wait to see them again after I get home from singapore. We also started packing a little bit Saturday night....booooo!!! I have grown so close to my district, and I don't wanna say goodbye! We were able to all spend some time together and share testimonies. I love every single one of them, and I'm grateful for their examples.

Sunday was one of the best days ever! How often do you see 2500 missionaries participating in a temple dedication ceremony? It was absolutely incredible, and the Spirit was so strong. I am so grateful to live so close to the temple, and I am so happy that I have been able to be sealed to my family forever. I can't wait to share this with the people of Singapore! My district was also able to sing Nearer My God to Thee and I'll Go Where You want me to Go I'll Go in Sacrament meeting with a cello accompaniment, and it was so powerful! I love music!!!!! Sunday was just awesome...please watch You Never Know Mormon Message...Mom, it fits perfectly for you! Sometimes we just don't know how many people we impact. I know that my teachers and district don't know how much they've helped me, but I've tried to show that I love them and let them know. 

I can honestly say that I've felt the Spirit stronger here than anywhere else on Earth. I love the MTC so much, and I've kinda grown used to it! I'll be in Sinapore soon, and that's a very scary thought, but I know the Lord loves me and is already teaching the people there. I hope that I can be a tool in his hands, and I hope I can be the missionary He wants me to be. I love you all so much, and I'm so grateful for the support, letters, prayers, dear elders, and emails I've received while in the MTC. Thank you with all of my heart! Here we go!!!!

PS-the Civility Experiment Mormon Message is also an awesome video clip that'll just make you smile and give you tingles haha. Feel free to watch that too! Civility Experiment

Zai Jian!!