MTC Week 3

Léih hóu everyone! 

Here's Sister DelHoyo back again with your weekly update. This week we started language learning! It's crazy to think that that was just this week because we've already learned so much! We firstly got our Chinese names so that we could send them in to the Mission (they have to start making our nametags). I just used my surname that I received from my Mandarin class which is 丁(Dīng) so you can call me 丁姊妹 (Dīng jímuih {Sister Ding/ Sister DelHoyo}). We went over four different language learning sections this week. Meet Someone, Offer a Prayer, Testify, and Extend an Invitation. I'm definitely more familiar with the offer a prayer section than anything else because I've been practicing praying in Cantonese everytime I go to pray! I know, however, that as I keep practicing the other lessons and just speaking more, I will feel the language come more easily. I think everyone in my district is doing really well though! I know the tones concept can be really hard to grasp in the beginning and you have to learn how to hear yourself when you're speaking,  but I think everyone is taking it very well and working hard! I try to help out the others when I can with my limited knowledge and I can tell they are really trying. Another thing we started this week was TRC lessons! The TRC (Training Resource Center) is a tool we can use to practice teaching lessons to people before we go out in the field. The volunteers are either nonmembers or members pretending to be nonmembers, but we aren't allowed to ask them at any point if they are actually members. My companion, Sister Richardson, and I had two TRC appointments this week. Our first one was a bit of a rough start. The guy that we were teaching was very straight to the point and clear about his opinions on the material we were teaching. There were a few times when he just straight up told us he didn't like what we were talking about. I think my companion really didn't like the experience because he told her "I actually kind of hate everything you just said". I worked my way around the situation by explaining it a different way and he seemed to like that better, but I know it would be really hard to hear that said to your face on your first teaching experience. It was interesting though because his survey that we received which detailed his thoughts on the experience, seemed pretty positive overall. At least we gave him something to take away from the lesson. Our next TRC appointment was considerably smoother. The guy we taught was very polite but also very open with his questions and concerns. We were able to get through much more of the lesson with him and I think he enjoyed it. His survey was basically 100% positive which was good to see. The MTC teachers want everyone to start teaching TRC lessons in Cantonese next week. Like, already?? We just started learning the language 4 days ago! Sister Richardson and I are going to do two more english TRC lessons this week and then have our first Cantonese lesson the following week, but in class we will be doing a practice lesson in Cantonese and it's a pretty stressful thought. It's just very frustrating to want to say something but not know how to. Especially because of my Mandarin learning, when the teachers will ask how to say a word in Cantonese I will think of how to say it in Mandarin but not know what the Cantonese equivalent is. One thing I am grateful for, however, is the fact that the grammar between Mandarin and Cantonese is virtually the same so I don't have to learn any new concepts, just vocabulary and fluency. I know with time, it will become easier to speak and understand, I am just eagerly awaiting that point. In other news, I've been trying to get everything in order for my trip to Hong Kong. The one vaccine I didn't have done, typhoid, is apparently difficult to find right now. You can get the vaccine by taking it orally or through the shot. We were going to get the pills, but when we called the pharmacy, and we called multiple pharmacies, they were out and the manufacturer was also out. So our next step was to find somewhere I could get the shot. We prayed very earnestly that we could find a way to get the vaccine. I need to have all my required vaccinations done at latest by two weeks before I travel or I'd get temporarily reassigned. Our prayers were definitely answered. We found a travel clinic in LA that would take me this weekend! So I actually went down with my mom today to get it done and now that is another load off of our shoulders. The last thing I am now waiting on is my visa. We put the application in the mail at the end of May, whereas some put there's in as early as March (we didn't even get the paperwork until May though). Those in my district who did put their applications in that early, just received their visas this week. We are praying and hoping that mine, as well as three others in my district who put theirs in in May, will all come in time for us to go to Hong Kong. I would be very grateful for any extra prayers for us! Our one Elder, Elder Ng, actually told us this past day, that he was notified by his stake president that he is being temporarily reassigned. He lives in Toronto and has been temporarily reassigned to the Vancouver mission. He wasn't told the reason behind his reassignment, though my mom speculates it might be because of Canada's strict border control recently. Whatever the case, I know that the Lord sends us to where we need to go, and he will definitely teach some people in Vancouver who need to hear his words. He is a great Elder! Other than that, not much has been going on. I am continuing to study my scriptures, my language, and the teaching materials, and am loving it all! As I continue to work, I know that the Lord will bless me as he will bless you all! I will be sure to continue these emails and I hope that they can brighten someone's day, even if it's just something for me to do haha. 

I love you all! Stay safe!

丁姊妹 aka Sister DelHoyo

Moses 5:55-58

55 And thus the works of darkness began to prevail among all the sons of men.

56 And God cursed the earth with a sore curse, and was angry with the wicked, with all the sons of men whom he had made;

57 For they would not hearken unto his voice, nor believe on his Only Begotten Son, even him whom he declared should come in the meridian of time, who was prepared from before the foundation of the world.

58 And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The beautiful sky our Heavenly Father has given us

A funny little doodle I drew for Sister Johnson