well, its preperation day again. there is seriously a time warp here at the MTC. The days seem really long but then before i know it, it''s tuesday again and i get to write home to my family :) mom and dad- i got both of your letters yesterday. thank you so much! i loved hearing about the family and mom''s canal escapade. china is always an adventure! mom- i hope you're up to date on all your shots.....don't get some funky canal-disease on me. i was so happy to hear that you're now in our new house!! and with a new puppy! the pictures were so cute! and carli was cute too i guess...send pictures of the family whenever you can. i love seeing everyone! so davis starts seminary. i love the thought of him riding in a little scooter gang that early in the morning. haha davis- you will love it. i loved seminary and having it early in the morning really started my day off right. it will be fun :) when we sacrifice for the Lord, He blesses us in the biggest ways. what scriptures are you studying this year? how are classes going for everyone? how are the other kids at the school? and most important... how's rugby? :) i'm a little jealous. and really excited for all of you. i love you too. mom i loved hearing about all the people you get to interact with. it just makes me anxious to get back over to asia and be talking to and loving the chinese/taiwanese people. it is the people that make a place wonderful. you and dad have inspired in me a love for all people. i'm so grateful for all the times we have moved and all the opportunities i have had.
I'm so excited for everyone starting school! it is going to be a wonderful semester. i am praying and fasting for all the cousins going into a new semester. you all can do it. i'm thinking right now about each of you and what wonderful examples you are to me. if i can see how amazing you are, think of how much more Christ sees in you. He knows you're potential. pray to Him and let Him guide you. those days when i am closest to the spirit and the Savior are the days i am happiest. make time for the spiritual things that matter. 2 nephi 32:9 sanctify this semester to serving Him and He will bless you.remember to read your patriarchal blessing. that is personal revelation to you for your life. take advantage of that guidance from God.
dad- travel safe. i guess this is your last time to warn the people in taiwan that i am coming....haha. i am so excited i get to share the blessings of serving in taiwan with you. you will understand my experiences more than anyone and i'm so grateful you are my daddy and i am your daughter. you are a wonderful example. i thought we were moving to china so you could be with the family??!! what happened to that idea ;) i'm so grateful you are a hard worker and have helped me know what i should seek in a husband. you are the best dad ever. i shared some of your last letter with my zone jiemeimen and they all love you.
lisa- thank you for the luggage!! kelly- thank you for dropping it off. it is perfect. all the elders in my zone were super curious as to why i was getting called to the front desk. that luggage really is a blessing. i got to throw that ugly purple thing away- haha. but before i did, i searched through all the pockets and found a note and earrings from mom. haha! thank you so much mom! i think i was supposed to get them 9 weeks ago but i got that note right when i needed it. thank you mom for your support and love and confidence. wow- i wish i was as wonderful as you think i am. haha i love you so much and i'm so grateful for the little service you do that makes everyday special- even when i am apart from you. thank you for your constant love.
we did a session at the temple today and i was wondering if anyone has a blake/newman family name that i can do either here or in taiwan. it would just be special for me to have that opportunity to serve my ancestor as a missionary. so if anyone has one, send it to me and i would love to do it. the temple is amazing. i was thinking today about the covenants we have made. the baptismal convenant is the door to salvation. God wants all His children to be saved; however, He has so much more than that in store for us. He has exaltation and eternal life with our families. He leads us the baptism, but that is not the end. He brings us to the temple, where we recieve so many blessings and such strength and knowledge. but that is still not the end. He keeps giving us more and more and calling for us to continue on this path. we are able to be sealed to our true love for time and eternity. He blesses us with the ability to have families in the etenities. life is so sweet and filled with so many blessings. my family is the greatest blessing in my life. we have been sealed and if we continue following Christ, God will bring us home to Him. How great the wisdom and the love of our eternal Father. He has so much planned for us- in this life and the eternities. i am so grateful to be an instrument in His hands in helping and inviting people to start on the path of salvation and exaltation. and i'm so grateful my parents are engaged in this cause as well. just love the people. just know that the gospel can bless thier lives and seek to be a good influence. pray to know who to talk to and what to say. then act on the promptings
elder neil l anderson talked to us last tuesday devotional. He said so many wonderful things but his testimony touched my heart. he bore a solemn witness of the Savior. there were moments when it felt like he was looking right at me. i know that our prophet today holds all the keys of the priesthood. i know the apostles are called of God as one of 12 men called to witness of Christ. i know that our church is the only chruch that can offer salvation and exaltation. we know the way. we have been taught in our youth. i know that Christ leads this church through revelation and inspiration. He is the rock of our salvation.
i love you all and i'm praying for you. your names are being prayed for in the provo temple. i am so grateful for your support.
all my love,
Sister Newman Li JieMei
ps if Stephanie Maynes is reading this.....you should make it to mandarin TRC sometime! we have it on saturday morning and i would love to see you. and you will love it!! teaching at TRC is the best thing ever.