September 24, 2012
I have been here for 12 weeks now. It is crazy! Some big things have happened in the last week... Move call came and took my old companion to Gaoxiong, and brought me a new one from Fengyuan. She is so great! We have only known each other for about 2 hours now, but her name is Sister Sumko and she is from Bountiful Utah. I bet we'll get along great! I attached a picture of her and will keep ya'll updated on the wonderful work here in Zhanghua. Looking back on the last 12 weeks of my life... woah. Hahaha I have grown and changed SO much. My chinese has improved dramatically. I mean, I'm still lousy, but so much LESS lousy than before haha! I can understand what most people say most the time, but it's buyiding. I've started learning characters which is really hard but fun. I eat way more than just ice cream, don't worry. Chocolate and peanut butter too... heh heh, just kidding!!! I eat tons of rice and vegetables too, fruit of course, and noodles sometimes. I also eat lots of jelly stuff. It's like normal jello but way better and a million flavors, including peanut. I have definitely gained weight, but hopefully its more muscle than anything else haha. Oh well, I am only in Taiwan once, right? Haha
This week was really great. Sister Wainright and I were able to have a 3rd companion, Sister Tanner for the last few days since her companion is training. We were able to get a lot done and talk to almost 400 people last week! We have seen this goal really bless our work and we've been finding so many new people to teach. The wards are growing so much. We went to a kaorou, or bbq, but it is not like a normal bbq at all haha. First we ate noodles and toast, then was tofu, then came corn, and then came meat. Everyone just sits around little fires and there is a karaoke machine. It was so much fun!!! I also put a picture of some adorable little asians. The work is great!
Momma, so you're teaching classes now?? You are so LEHI!!! (chinese: awesome) Yes, it's pronounced like Lehi in the Book of Mormon, but kind of like you're yelling, LEE HIGH. How did you get started doing that? In Chinese I'd call you Song Laoshi (Teacher Smart!)
I'm glad you and Mary had a lot of fun, and I'm sure she misses you too. Seems like you've been getting to sew a bit more lately, that's great!!! You and Andrew did great on that Trick or Treat one!!! I'm SOOO glad you were able to have a missionary moment!!! I can't tell you enough how great it is to have members accompany the missionaries to lessons. I hope you get to do that often, because it makes all the difference in the world. I wish I would have been a better missionary in our home ward, the members help really makes all the difference. I was just so zoned in on whatever I was doing, I didn't even really realize when missionaries had investigators at church. That will be a huge change when I get home. I hope you both continue to help out the missionaries and their investigators there whenever you can!!! It is the happiest kind of work, and we can do it together!!! I feel like the personal experiences you shared with her were absolutely perfect. You are quite the missionary!!! I hope you and dad are still planning on going next year :) I am so happy for you both.
I can't believe Ryan is a month old... Rachelle and Sharalyn will have babies when I get back too! Man I am missing out on some important stuff, but this work will allow other families to have these same kinds of wonderful experiences! Absolutely worth it! Let me know how the backpacks turn out! I SOO wish I could watch Mama Mia with you and eat really buttery popcorn, but we've got a date for that next November :) I'm sorry I've been really bad about writing snail mail, but since my previous companion Sister Wainright is going home in a few weeks, she wanted to go out and do things every p-day. We can only write letters during that time, so I was rarely able to write you guys. You should be getting some soon though. This move call will probably be more relaxed.
About your talk, I am so pumped you get to talk about the restoration. That is something I get to teach every day. My first thought is to tell you to read Preach My Gospel chapter 3, lesson 1. It is a WONDERFUL explanation of the restoration and the many miracles behind it. One of my personal favorite aspects of the Restoration is that it is what stands our church apart from any other. All religions have really great parts! We know that for sure, but when Christ came to earth and established His church, only one church, why would there be more than one now? The message of the restoration is not a "here, let me tell you why you're church is bad and mine is good" NO. That's not it! Our purpose is to add to the truths people already treasure. We are all striving to do good things, help others, and become better people. The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us those tools. I forget where it is, but in D&C, there is a scripture that talks about how this gospel helps us have peace in this life, and eternal life in the next. The Church not only gives us immediate blessings, but those blessings are eternal and lasting. Because Joseph Smith restored the gospel, we have a living prophet that guides our families. Because Jospeh Smith restored the gospel, we have the Book of Mormon, which gives us all answers to life. Because Joseph Smith restored the gospel, we can all have all the blessings God so wants to give us. I know he is a true prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is our true and living prophet. I'm SO excited for general conference in a few weeks. I hope you are all planning on watching it! Sorry my thoughts aren't too organized but I know you're talk will go wonderfully!
Well I don't have much time this week since we need to go home and unpack and such, but I will write more next week!!!
Love always, Sister Smart
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