Another week has gone by
and “they have just flown so quickly,” which is what most people say. I'm
so glad to hear that you had a safe and fun trip to Arizona. I
noticed that it snowed and I was thinking about you all (especially you mom
because snow is not your favorite.) I keep you in my prayers always
but this week specifically that you would be watched over. Well,
how are things at home? How is everyone? Dad is your back better
from standing up and waiting for copies? Mom, are you sick? I
might have read one of your letters wrong but I hope you are feeling 100% or
are recovering. :-) I re-read you letters the night before
P-day (last night) so I can make sure to catch up on questions and be able to
share all the thoughts of one week. I write in the little column of
my planner, thoughts and all that.
First off, last night I
had a really hard time falling asleep and it wasn't until 12:30 a.m. that I
managed to fall asleep and then this morning one of the Korean sister (which we
are not fond of but we love ... because we are missionaries) got up
before 6:30 and was just really inconsiderate as far as noise and loud
door bangs. --The doors at the MTC are a little bit heavier so if
you don't hold them while they close they sound like someone is slamming a
door-- So all the preface is for that fact that if my thoughts are
not connected I'm just lacking in a little rest. Being P-day and all
I feel it is appropriate to take a quick nap ... better now than in class.
Oh yes, THANK YOU for
all the treats. I feel like it's Christmas or my birthday when I
get a package full of treats. I wanna tell you about Kwamsug (means
happiness in Thai) but I share if I have time at the end. I
did get the stickers and stamps. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
I saw that stamp on your letter and it was taped differently so I had a hunch
that there would be some in there. Before I opened the letter I
turned to my companions and just shared my prediction and that my mom is
awesome!!! And I am always grateful for your letters. Yesterday, I
was thinking that you just got back from a trip and you are probably exhausted
from traveling and the details of it but you still set me a letter. :-)
I so blessed with a supportive family because when I served as the coordinating
sister I was always sad for those missionaries that never got mail and how much
more I have an appreciation for you, mom and the effort you put into sending me
letters and love from home. On P-day sometimes it's hard for me to
just write one or two letters because my mind is on so many other things I need
to do and study. I know that I am a priority to you and I feel
yours and the families love each day. Thank you... Khoob Khun. I
don’t think I can fully express that in words but it means a lot to me.
Well this week was an
answer to a lot of prayers. 3 weeks till we go to Thailand so it is
even more effort than before. Luckily, I haven't felt tired here at
the MTC because I know that by doing the Lord's work, He is giving me the
strength I need to complete every day preparation and tasks. In the
two weeks I have been trying to give my best but I also needed to be open to
change. I know I'm not perfect but I hope that every day I am and we all
are learning how to be. So in the frustration I noticed that I
didn't take the time to see what I needed to change before asking others to
working on things. But long story short I needed to change myself
first and also be humble and be flexible. That's what companionship is
right? One person can't always be right and there needs to be
compromise and unity, if not the spirit is not with us and the end results with
no teaching being done. So as we had a very meaningful
companionship inventory ... like Travis said is important, it just solved so
many things. Our teaching has improved on so many levels and we
come out of our appointments feeling good and that the spirit was able to teach
the investigator. The MTC does teach us how to teach but I think it
also teaches us about ourselves. I learned that I need to
communicate more about what I'm thinking and instead of initially being
frustrated and expect people to know why... to explain -with love- how we can
improve. This week has been good, so good. Oh,
and to answer your question, I don't mind that you shared about my companions
with the young single adult members. But I have to say that I
love Sister Stolworthy and Sister Rodriguez. Heavenly Father knew
why we needed to be together; because I needed to learn these lessons, because
we get along so well and we love each other and we will be lifelong
friends.
This part might get
random but I am just addressing questions from letters. Mom how was your
lesson last Sunday? I am always interested in teaching skills because
that's what we do all day here. Last Sunday, for our film we
watched a talk by Elder Holland about the gift of teaching and at first I was
not engaged in the film because the role play seemed a little “corny” but It
totally caught my attention at the end because the more I thought about it,
teaching is a gift and a skill that everyone needs to work for, especially
teaching with the spirit. So I admire you a lot mom because I remember
when we were teaching Primary that you would always prepare you lessons a week
in advance (which is what Elder Holland said we should do) I know I can
repent there because I'd prepare my lesson the morning of the Sunday I taught
.. uhh oops. I will repent and from day one in the MTC... Prepare
is all I do now.
I was a little sad to
hear that the young adults in our ward didn't do as well for their service
project thing. You're absolutely right mom. That's what
we learn here too. For our investigators if they need to learn
about the word of wisdom and we go in and teach them the law of tithing we are
not meeting their need. We are just doing what WE think is right instead
of asking them what can help them and following the spirit. I know we
aren't perfect in serving/teaching but it is important to learn from it and be
better for the next time.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what
you share about Trina’s sleep walking. Although it is not good that
she sleep-walks which I hope she will overcome I smiled and laughed when I read
that. I could just picture it in my head. LOVE
IT. I miss the squirt.
Which to address the
other question... missing home. Well yes, I do miss you all
but I guess when I say that I don't miss home it's not in the attitude of I
don't care; it's more so that I have no time to think about anything else other
than missionary work. During the day we have every hour if not almost
every minute planned out (at least I do ... OH YEAH I finished the Book of
Mormon yesterday. AH, I have no time I wanna share) but I do
miss you all and love you all so much. I do think of you when I read
letters late at night or if I come across something, like a lesson and I have
our family picture in my scripture always. So you are always in my heart
but I like the scripture in Luke that he who looks back is not fit for the
kingdom. I'll look up the reference but the time is flying right
past me and as I fill each and every hour with something meaningful my mind is
so engaged (which is nice .. no cell phone distractions etc. hehe ) that
I can't think of anything else.
I have little time but
this week everything just seemed to fit together. As I read the
Book of Mormon I really came to know Christ. It's amazing the things I
learned and I wish I had more time to share it all but I know without a doubt
that it was translated through Joseph Smith by the power of God and we do
really come to know Christ through each and every page. It is key
to conversion and we always need to be learning and re-discovering our
testimony despite the number of times we read before.
This week for devotional
and spiritual upliftness, President McIff, he is in the MTC presidency here,
talked about how to keep ourselves healthy and 5 things of successful
missionaries. He is a doctor by profession but it was very good and
I don't have time to share but in Relief Society that we need to trust in the
Lord. Moroni 7:33. Sister Bradshaw
from the General Relief Society Board spoke about it in detail. It
was great!
Ok, really quick
I'm going to probably send home 2 maybe 3 boxes of things home next
week or the week after. (Weird how it's already time
eh?) One box is going to be all my clothes, one is just letters
and books etc. Oh, and quick question do you want me to send home
the blankets home too? Oh, and so our district is super lucky we
get the best of just about everything. We have had the chance to be part
of the 50th anniversary and we have heard from 3 apostles (which was AMAZING)
and we get to have general conference here!!!!!! And then when we get to Thailand
it will be 'sonkrang ' Not sure how to spell that in English but could
you Google that for me? Thailand New Year Celebration. When
we get to Thailand it will be the first out of three days of the New Year and
in celebration people throw what on you. I'm not able to look up
information but I'm interested to know more.
Have a great week!
I love you all. I know that as we trust and have optimism from
day to day we start to notice the small and simple things that the Lord
blesses us with. As I was noticing around the MTC this week;
we are just so blessed. I'm not sure what I'll see or experience
yet in Thailand but I know that we have so much big
and small. Especially the Book of Mormon that so many
people can have their own copy and if not multiple copies of the most
precious book of how we gain salvation. Everything we do has
an eternal purpose and it so nice to have that perspective of something so much
greater. Oh yeah, and this morning in the temple, a temple worker
said that the mural in the chapel was put in yesterday. If you
have time you should head to the temple this week! :-) It's beautiful.
LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
Sister Yeo
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