Dearest
Family!!
HAPPY
VALENTINES DAY!!
The one
holiday I was never fond of but I’m still being happy today. Thank
you all so very much for the valentines. :-) It came in at a time when I needed
it. Well, to be honest this was the hardest week to go through
yet. Last Tuesday, we had another great devotional from Elder
Richard Edgley who talked about the importance of exact obedience. He
also talked about my favorite scripture; but actually this time D&C 18: 11
stood out to me. It’s the second verse on my plaque and I never
thought of it in the way that he described. He shared a story about
how he baptized a sister and years later her daughter came to greet him and said
that he baptized her mother. He went on to say that he could project how
many generations were and will be blessed by that one baptism. It’s
hard to fully express how that touched me that night but I’m so glad that the
spirit taught me because I had such an appreciation for the missionaries that
came to YOUR doors mom and dad. Even though I will probably never know
them, I am grateful that they followed the spirit to come and teach you and
that you mom and dad had the faith to accept the message and act on it; cause I
know I wouldn't be here on a mission if you didn't.
So Thursday's
highlight was welcoming in another district. I'll keep this day
short because I really loved Sunday and want to share that day with you.
The new district is all Elders and man, was that different! I
forget that these young men are 19 years old and so you can only imagine the
humor that came along with that. But we (the zone leaders and
I) conducted the meeting while the branch presidency had personal interviews
with the missionaries. I was so touched because at the close of the
meeting, he said to all the new elders, "If you ever want to know what
kind of missionary to be, look at these three." I was so
grateful for his nice words but also felt the responsibility that statement
came with. In general, the world looks to us missionaries and what we do
and say so. I think it’s important to
always be doing what is truly representative of Christ. I realized
I skipped over Wednesday but it was class and eating and sitting basically;
always amazing lessons and personal revelation.
Friday and
Saturday just tanked.
On
Thursday when I got my immunization shots, they gave me typhoid and polio in my
right arm and the Japanese encephalitis in the left. My arms were
sore on Thursday, I felt a little sniffle by Thursday night because the Elders
have been sick this week and such. So lo and behold, I woke up sick on
Friday. It was awful! My upper body ached; especially my arms
and I had a headache and a stuffy nose. That morning was hard to
get through. I told myself countless time throughout the day, to
put on a smile and do my best. Don't worry mom, I am better now ...
almost. :-) Every morning I had / have a bowl of cereal and two
cups of orange juice. By the end of the day, I’ve had about 6 cups
of OJ. :P For lunch I have soup ... lots of soup and just eat whatever for
dinner; whatever meaning what they serve.
So I'm
taking care of myself and so are my sweet companions. I've had medication
regularly and about half a bag of cough drops. Friday was still a
good day. MOM and DAD (and Trav and Trina!) I LOVE YOU!! YOU ARE
AMAZING!! My district was so impressed
with how you wrapped my package with the blanket. I needed it on Friday;
it was just a miserable day and I felt like my body was literally going to fall
apart. I started feeling better Friday night but Saturday morning
wasn't promising. I was worse. So after doing our Saturday Service
we came back to residency and I crashed. I felt bad for my Khuus
(companions) because I slept through personal study time and gym. I
physically couldn't get out of bed, but I slept with the green blanket and my
purple bear Trina sent me and it had the fragrance of home. I loved it!
I think I just had a fever but I wouldn't want any other missionary to have
what I had cause It was NOT fun!! Plus
the mail room closes at 2 p.m. on Saturdays so no mail :-(
It’s ok
though because when I thought about it, I realized that I’m worrying too much
about myself and I'm letting a small thing like being sick be a road block for
me. The lesson on Saturday night was hard to work through because
physically I couldn't hack it but then, I remember the people in
Thailand. Someone out there needs me, they're struggling through things
much worse than a cold and if I'm not prepared to share the message of the
gospel with them; I'm going to be so sad that I missed out on an opportunity to
tell another soul that God knows they're worth it and He loves
them. Also found the blessing I was given when I was set apart and
the reminder that Christ went through everything and even more.
So I prayed a lot this past week about several different things. I'm
also so glad to have the companions that I have. At times I do get a little frustrated (to be
honest) but when I was sick this weekend, they made sure they knew how I was
feeling. Sister Stolworthy is amazing because I think I had this look
like I needed a hug on Saturday and without even saying anything, she just knew
and was right there giving me one. :-)
So all
sickness was about gone yesterday morning. Faith in trails! Yay. I know
Heavenly Father is mindful of what I need and he blessed me my whole life with
the most wonderful angel; yes, you mom! I loved your gift! It
hangs above my bed and I'm going to the copy-center today to shrink that talk
and stick it in my scriptures. On Sunday
nights, we watch different films and this past Sunday, we watched one from
Elder Bednar who came to the MTC this last Christmas and he talked about the
Character of Christ. I wished you could have been here to hear it because
I was so moved by it and really motivated to do what he challenged us
to do. He talked about Characteristics of Christ and he
said that moral qualities are "strongly developed, strikingly displayed
and consistently lived."
He shared
an amazing story about a woman who lost her only daughter but when she found
out about the two other mothers whose daughters were in the same accident and
injured badly, she was concerned for them. It was amazing how she
turned outward in love towards the other mothers when most of the time we have
a tendency to turn inward and focus on our sorrow. So in the last
minute I have, I loved what he said about journal writing.
That sometimes, when we hear talks, we tend to re-write what is being
said. He said that we should focus on how we feel and record
that because chances are the talk being given will be published elsewhere
but you won't remember how you felt in that exact moment. What has
stuck with me from this talk is the power of conversion. I've
been learning ever since I came to the MTC that I need to be
converted. I need to have true conversion and know
what that feels like before I try to teach people in Thailand about
it.
He said
that a testimony is not enough! It is the foundation but it is not
the final destination and that conversion is to be consistently true to
what you know. We all have to pay the price for our conversion
and Alma 23:5-6 is worth studying. :-)
I wrote in my notes that night, to forget myself, and get to work. Every
day we teach and even if they are just our teachers doing role-play;
they are role-playing as real people who have been taught in
Thailand. All my thoughts are about them now. I
don't know them yet, but I love them already. Like you said mom, I
want to be that angel for someone over there.
I love
you all very much and I hope you have a great day filled with
love.
Love
always,
Sister
Yeo
p.s. Your
valentines might be coming randomly throughout the week. Oh,
and can you tell Trav I never got his letter.
p.s.s. Many of my fiends sent me stuff but I don't
have their addresses so please convey my “thanks” for are Aaron Barrus, Chelsey
McCarty and Abby Holyok. Also, can you do me a favor and tell
Sam I said “hi.” I haven't heard from her since the first week--so
yeah.
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