Already done with week 6?

 Léihdeih hóu (hello everyone),

I cannot believe week 6 is over already! Not because the week felt short, but because MTC as a whole is going so quickly. If anything, this week felt longer. Part of that is probably because I'm in Virginia now and with the time difference, I don't finish classes until 7pm, but nevertheless it felt long indeed. 

This week felt like mostly grammar, although we of course still practiced teaching lesson 2. We went over grammar for "Although...nevertheless", as well as reviewing the rest of the grammar we've learned as a whole. We did lots of practices and activities to practice these principles as well as some fun games. 

When we were going over giving directions, Sister Ko showed us a map of Hong Kong and had us direct her from point A to point B based off of wherever she wanted to go. We had a list of vocab to go off of and one of them was jyun, which means to turn, and one time when Sister Ko was going the wrong way, Sister Korth said "jyun around" and I started laughing so hard. I texted her about it and we both were dying. Sister Ko started going the wrong way again and so I yelled "tìhng" (stop) and shortly after, Sister Korth texts me "TÌHNG". It's such a silly thing but it was so hilarious in the moment. Sister Ko kept going the wrong way and I said "Someone needs to tell her to tìhng." or just repeatedly, "TÌHNG TÌHNG TÌHNG TÌHNG". It was pretty fun. 

On a sadder note, Friday was Sister Yau's last time sitting in on class with us because on Monday she will start teaching a new Mandarin speaking district. I think a lot of us were really sad because we've had her in class with us for so long. She said that it doesn't feel like she's only been with us for three weeks, it feels like she was with us since the beginning just because she's seen us change so much. That was really touching to me. Lots of us have commented on how hard it has been to adjust to MTC and to learn the language. It's really easy to put yourself down and feel inadequate. But, I think through all of our struggles, we've learned to really rely on the Lord and know that he will help us as we have faith and work hard.

One blessing that happened this week was from Monday. As we were going over grammar, Sister Yau was asking everyone what different words mean and I said like three answers because no one else was speaking. Then I got a private message from Sister Ko saying that her friend from Hong Kong who was in the room with her said "léih hóu ging" (you're super good) about me. I was very flattered and messaged her back "dō jeh"(thank you-for compliments). Sister Ko told me her friend, who's dad is a bishop in Hong Kong, said I can ask him to take me out to lunch/dinner if I serve in the area he's in. So we'll see if I get to meet him haha. If I do, I will try to ask him in Cantonese.

I think overall, I've noticed it has become easier to understand and speak Cantonese. As the teachers or the other missionaries speak, I can understand 90% of what they say. I think this has been a huge improvement. The Gift of Tongues is real and I can feel it working through me. I think speaking has also become easier in some aspects. If someone asks me a question in Cantonese, I can usually come up with an answer pretty quickly, I think the harder part is when I'm doing more of the talking and I'm trying to think of how to phrase my words and which words to use. I know, however, that as I work to increase my vocabulary, I'll see that become easier. My flash card collection has been growing and growing, I just haven't made time to study them too much. I'm going to try and make that more of a goal this week, so that whenever I have a few minutes, I can look over some terms. 

One other thing I've been working on still, is my memorization of the first vision. If you asked me now, I could probably say it by memory, just not super smoothly yet. I'm going to try to recite it at least 3 times a day so that can improve. 

Other than MTC things, I've been really looking forward to being able to go to Hong Kong in less than a month! (as long as my visa comes through) I know it's going to be a super long plane ride but Sister Johnson and I have already talked about bringing 5 crowns to play so that'll be fun. Maybe we could also quiz each other on vocab, and of course there's the go to scripture study. All I know is, once we land, it'll be exhilarating. Even though I'm positive that we won't feel completely prepared to just chat with someone in Cantonese, our teacher told us to, instead, be prepared to continue learning, and I think I am. I am so ready to meet the people of Hong Kong, to learn about their culture, their likes and dislikes, their goals. I know I will love them. I already feel God's love for them.

Sister Richardson and I had two TRC lessons scheduled for this week, but our second appointment was cancelled so we only did one. I think it went well though. It was only in english (our next Cantonese one is on Tuesday), but that made things easier in the way that we could express what we want to say without having to think so critically about how to say it. The person we taught really just wanted to know about God, who he is, his relationship with her, what he does. So we talked to her about who we believe he is (our loving Heavenly Father), and how we can know who he is through prayer. We told her that one good exercise to start doing if you want to grow more faith in God, is to look at times in your life where you think he might've helped you. She told us about how her and her husband's car got totaled a while ago but they were able to find a new one pretty quickly and her husband thinks that's from God because the new car is even nicer. We talked about how that's a good example and how you can think of firstly, they were blessed because they weren't in the car when it was hit, and secondly they were able to find a well working, arguably nicer car in a short amount of time. I think it's a good reminder for all of us to remember the times when we've been blessed and to recognize God's hand in our lives. Even in the small things, He is there. Which comes to my scripture for today:

This scripture is from Moroni 7 verse 24 in the Book of Mormon, and it reads:

24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.

As Christ and our Father our one in purpose, we know that as this scripture says all things good cometh of Christ, it can also say that these good things cometh from the Father. Both of them, together, have created such a beautiful world for us to live out our mortal lives on. We have so many things that make us happy, our families, our friends, our hobbies, our adventures. We have been given all these things and all the opportunities to do these things because we have a Heavenly Father and a Savior who both truly love us that much. I know that it is only through the power of Jesus Christ's atonement that we have the opportunity and the ability to return to our Father's presence again. As we use the power of the atonement to repent, and to every day work hard to be better and to follow Christ's example, our Father rejoices and is so proud of us. I have felt my savior's for me and the strength that He gives me. I know I would not be able to accomplish the responsibilities required for this mission without Him, and I only wish that everyone might come and experience that same knowledge.

I love you all so much and know that Heavenly Father is watching over you. I challenge you to look for Him in your lives and have faith that even when things are so hard, that He is leading you in the direction that will build you to be the strongest you can be.

This is the testimony which is in me and I say it in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

丁姊妹

Hearts! (except for Elder Ng who couldn't figure out how to do it

hōisāam Yèhsōu Gēidūk hauh kèih sing tòuh gaau wúi ge chyùhn gaau sih