February 11, 2013
Happy New Year! According to the lunar calendar, February 9th was "New Years Eve" and the 10th was New years! Here, New years is a HUGE deal. People keep feeding us EVERY DAY! It's so weird. People we don't even know invite us to eat with them.Anyways, more on guonian (new years) later.
Monday I was a thief. We went to a bookstore to buy red paper and a calligraphy pen so my companion could write fancy letters to put on people's doors (I don't know how to say what it really is in english... but its way cooler than it sounds) anyways, and I was like, hey I need a new pen, so I grabbed one. We were super rushed because it was almost our time to email so my companion handed me her money and asked me to help her buy a part of it while she ran and got some other stuff. I quickly checked out and waited by the door for her. We then ran off to email. Then you were all graced with an email from me. Then we went out to eat. Then I had this weird feeling to look in my bag. Then I found that pen. At first I thought, hmm weird. Did I buy this? Of course I did, I would never steal anything in my life. But I kept having this weird feeling... Did I buy this? Xiao JM, Did I buy this pen? She said she didn't know because she wasn't there... I eat a little more and the feeling won't go away. We dig through our bags to find the receipts and lo and behold I AM A THIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I STOLE THAT PEN! I was a wreck!!!!!!!!!!!! First, I've never stolen anything in my LIFE. Second, I'm a MISSIONARY in a foreign country where police can beat you up if they feel like it. I was a mess. I ran to my bike and rode as fast as I could back to the bookstore. The whole way there I was a wreck, torn in a thousand pieces. Here I was, a FELON on foreign soil. I asked my companion about a dozen times if I would be killed... She kept laughing but wouldn't say what would happen if they found out! Of course, it was an accident, but how am I supposed to explain that in chinese!? I kept rehearsing how to say "I accidentally stole this pen. I'd like to pay for it now" while freaking out and feeling ultra GUILTY. My companion kept laughing and laughing. Longest 10 minute bike ride EVER. We pull in and I throw the pen on the counter and say I'm so sorry! The check-out girl blankly looks at me and says, "oh did you forget to put this on the counter? No problem. 40NT." I pay and promptly leave. GEEZZZZ all worked up about nothing. However, I will be much more cautious about merchandise from now on haha.
That night we went out to eat with Chen JM (who went through the temple this week!!!) She was really excited and left Tuesday afternoon. After she went through, she was able to attend a sealing/wedding Thursday morning. She said there was such a special spirit there, and she is SO happy she was able to go and so are we!!! Tuesday we had a wonderful district training meeting.I was asked by our zone leaders to share with them my experience with crazy people lately and how to deal effectively but lovingly with them. To make a really long story short, there are a few people with mental problems that find their way to the church because we accept everyone. There is no problem with that obviously, but on a few occasions they have acted inappropriately (it just took me 6 tries to spell inappropriately... wah!) and we've had to escort them out. Many missionaries have been concerned about the balance between love and safety, President Chen came and talked with us and gave us some advice. We were all really grateful for his help and are looking forward to keeping the chapel a safe and peaceful place. Afterwards, we met with Zhang JM. She is progressing wonderfully!!! She had some questions about the plan of salvation that we were able to help her understand. Sometimes we feel that life is unfair because of things that have happened in our lives, but once we see the big picture and understand our divine potential, we are able to realize that these things are for our good. The longer I'm on a mission, the more I am grateful for all my life experiences that have been able to help others overcome adversities in their lives. God really does have His hand in everything.
Remember how 2 weeks ago we had that fancy english meeting and got lots of new things to make our class more professional? Well one of those things included this big fancy banner to put up at the doors when people come into English at night. As english leader, they trusted it into my possession. We left Wednesday morning with it in hand so we could take it to the church before we went to our lessons that day. After a few random unexpected visits to people's houses, we found ourselves at the chapel a few hours later, but without the banner! Those things are ultra expensive and my companion is freaking out because she was the one who grabbed it that morning. We quickly said a prayer to know where to go to find it. Both of us had the feeling to go back home, so we raced there. In a country where things are often stolen, we were so grateful to find it sitting against a tree by our apartment! Yayy!!! That day happened to be "practice english day" so Xiao JM said she would offer a prayer of thanks that we were able to find it. "And thank you can find big... fancy... tube..." hahahha it was the cutest english ever. Days where she speaks english take a lot of patience, but her english is really improving! I'm so proud of her. Every time she says a prayer in english I feel like a mom who's kid just tied his shoes for the first time. Atta girl!!!
Thursday we had interviews with President Bishop which happens about ever 3 or 4 months. I never really know what to say in interviews, but they always make me so grateful for President and Sister Bishop's love and dedication to this mission. It is not an easy task to be mission president, but they do it really well. I'm grateful for all that they do. They go home this June, and we will get a new president. Today it was announced who they are. President and Sister Blickenstaff. I'm excited to meet them and of course will tell you more when the time comes. Friday we had a crazy service project... We helped one of our investigators clean her house... more correctly, her clothes. She has more clothes than our whole family COMBINED probably. Her house is not a house, it is a closet. She has not washed clothes nor worn something more than once or twice in several years... and she doesn't throw any of it away. I was absolutely shocked. We were able to help her get a good start and hope we can continue to help her break this crazyyyyy habit. She shops daily (except sunday, which is a great start!) Saturday we had a really wonderful lesson with another sister who was treated poorly as a child. Boy verses Girl is a big issue for some families, and in hers it was really bad. She still feels a lot of hatred towards her family and doesn't understand why we all want families, especially for eternity. We shared with her about the plan of salvation, and Enos 1. At first, Enos wants to change himself. As he repents and helps himself become a better person, he has a desire to pray for his family and brethren. The Lord can truly help us change the desires of our hearts if we let Him. Just like coming on a mission. I was set on Italy for the longest time, but once I started to pray for the Lord to help me make the right choice, my desires began to change and serving a mission became the priority for me. I love how the Book of Mormon is filled with stories and examples that can bless our lives and help us understand why things happen the way they do. I love getting to testify of its truthfulness every day! Sunday we had some new friends come to church, so that was really fun! The streets were empty, but we were able to visit some families and "bai nian" with them, or celebrate the new year. I love these people so much!
Well my time is coming to a close. I just ate a ton of food, and tonight will eat even more. Guonian is terrible for my desires to look halfway decent by the time I get home, but tastes REALLY good. Oh well. The atmosphere around here is really exciting with the new year. It will be celebrated all this week, so that's fun. I hear fireworks ALL the time, but can never see them because there are too many skyscrapers. One downside is that mail is shut down for a few weeks.. GAHHH. I sent a few letters to some people, and I apologize that they won't get them for a long time. SORRY but I still love you all. I am so happy we were able to surprise skype!!! Thank you so much!!!
Keep being wonderful!
Love, Sister Song
Happy New Year! According to the lunar calendar, February 9th was "New Years Eve" and the 10th was New years! Here, New years is a HUGE deal. People keep feeding us EVERY DAY! It's so weird. People we don't even know invite us to eat with them.Anyways, more on guonian (new years) later.
Monday I was a thief. We went to a bookstore to buy red paper and a calligraphy pen so my companion could write fancy letters to put on people's doors (I don't know how to say what it really is in english... but its way cooler than it sounds) anyways, and I was like, hey I need a new pen, so I grabbed one. We were super rushed because it was almost our time to email so my companion handed me her money and asked me to help her buy a part of it while she ran and got some other stuff. I quickly checked out and waited by the door for her. We then ran off to email. Then you were all graced with an email from me. Then we went out to eat. Then I had this weird feeling to look in my bag. Then I found that pen. At first I thought, hmm weird. Did I buy this? Of course I did, I would never steal anything in my life. But I kept having this weird feeling... Did I buy this? Xiao JM, Did I buy this pen? She said she didn't know because she wasn't there... I eat a little more and the feeling won't go away. We dig through our bags to find the receipts and lo and behold I AM A THIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I STOLE THAT PEN! I was a wreck!!!!!!!!!!!! First, I've never stolen anything in my LIFE. Second, I'm a MISSIONARY in a foreign country where police can beat you up if they feel like it. I was a mess. I ran to my bike and rode as fast as I could back to the bookstore. The whole way there I was a wreck, torn in a thousand pieces. Here I was, a FELON on foreign soil. I asked my companion about a dozen times if I would be killed... She kept laughing but wouldn't say what would happen if they found out! Of course, it was an accident, but how am I supposed to explain that in chinese!? I kept rehearsing how to say "I accidentally stole this pen. I'd like to pay for it now" while freaking out and feeling ultra GUILTY. My companion kept laughing and laughing. Longest 10 minute bike ride EVER. We pull in and I throw the pen on the counter and say I'm so sorry! The check-out girl blankly looks at me and says, "oh did you forget to put this on the counter? No problem. 40NT." I pay and promptly leave. GEEZZZZ all worked up about nothing. However, I will be much more cautious about merchandise from now on haha.
That night we went out to eat with Chen JM (who went through the temple this week!!!) She was really excited and left Tuesday afternoon. After she went through, she was able to attend a sealing/wedding Thursday morning. She said there was such a special spirit there, and she is SO happy she was able to go and so are we!!! Tuesday we had a wonderful district training meeting.I was asked by our zone leaders to share with them my experience with crazy people lately and how to deal effectively but lovingly with them. To make a really long story short, there are a few people with mental problems that find their way to the church because we accept everyone. There is no problem with that obviously, but on a few occasions they have acted inappropriately (it just took me 6 tries to spell inappropriately... wah!) and we've had to escort them out. Many missionaries have been concerned about the balance between love and safety, President Chen came and talked with us and gave us some advice. We were all really grateful for his help and are looking forward to keeping the chapel a safe and peaceful place. Afterwards, we met with Zhang JM. She is progressing wonderfully!!! She had some questions about the plan of salvation that we were able to help her understand. Sometimes we feel that life is unfair because of things that have happened in our lives, but once we see the big picture and understand our divine potential, we are able to realize that these things are for our good. The longer I'm on a mission, the more I am grateful for all my life experiences that have been able to help others overcome adversities in their lives. God really does have His hand in everything.
Remember how 2 weeks ago we had that fancy english meeting and got lots of new things to make our class more professional? Well one of those things included this big fancy banner to put up at the doors when people come into English at night. As english leader, they trusted it into my possession. We left Wednesday morning with it in hand so we could take it to the church before we went to our lessons that day. After a few random unexpected visits to people's houses, we found ourselves at the chapel a few hours later, but without the banner! Those things are ultra expensive and my companion is freaking out because she was the one who grabbed it that morning. We quickly said a prayer to know where to go to find it. Both of us had the feeling to go back home, so we raced there. In a country where things are often stolen, we were so grateful to find it sitting against a tree by our apartment! Yayy!!! That day happened to be "practice english day" so Xiao JM said she would offer a prayer of thanks that we were able to find it. "And thank you can find big... fancy... tube..." hahahha it was the cutest english ever. Days where she speaks english take a lot of patience, but her english is really improving! I'm so proud of her. Every time she says a prayer in english I feel like a mom who's kid just tied his shoes for the first time. Atta girl!!!
Thursday we had interviews with President Bishop which happens about ever 3 or 4 months. I never really know what to say in interviews, but they always make me so grateful for President and Sister Bishop's love and dedication to this mission. It is not an easy task to be mission president, but they do it really well. I'm grateful for all that they do. They go home this June, and we will get a new president. Today it was announced who they are. President and Sister Blickenstaff. I'm excited to meet them and of course will tell you more when the time comes. Friday we had a crazy service project... We helped one of our investigators clean her house... more correctly, her clothes. She has more clothes than our whole family COMBINED probably. Her house is not a house, it is a closet. She has not washed clothes nor worn something more than once or twice in several years... and she doesn't throw any of it away. I was absolutely shocked. We were able to help her get a good start and hope we can continue to help her break this crazyyyyy habit. She shops daily (except sunday, which is a great start!) Saturday we had a really wonderful lesson with another sister who was treated poorly as a child. Boy verses Girl is a big issue for some families, and in hers it was really bad. She still feels a lot of hatred towards her family and doesn't understand why we all want families, especially for eternity. We shared with her about the plan of salvation, and Enos 1. At first, Enos wants to change himself. As he repents and helps himself become a better person, he has a desire to pray for his family and brethren. The Lord can truly help us change the desires of our hearts if we let Him. Just like coming on a mission. I was set on Italy for the longest time, but once I started to pray for the Lord to help me make the right choice, my desires began to change and serving a mission became the priority for me. I love how the Book of Mormon is filled with stories and examples that can bless our lives and help us understand why things happen the way they do. I love getting to testify of its truthfulness every day! Sunday we had some new friends come to church, so that was really fun! The streets were empty, but we were able to visit some families and "bai nian" with them, or celebrate the new year. I love these people so much!
Well my time is coming to a close. I just ate a ton of food, and tonight will eat even more. Guonian is terrible for my desires to look halfway decent by the time I get home, but tastes REALLY good. Oh well. The atmosphere around here is really exciting with the new year. It will be celebrated all this week, so that's fun. I hear fireworks ALL the time, but can never see them because there are too many skyscrapers. One downside is that mail is shut down for a few weeks.. GAHHH. I sent a few letters to some people, and I apologize that they won't get them for a long time. SORRY but I still love you all. I am so happy we were able to surprise skype!!! Thank you so much!!!
Keep being wonderful!
Love, Sister Song
No comments:
Post a Comment