Hi everyone!
sister chord and i celebrated our one month at the MTC by spraying a can of silly string into the trash can. do not worry- there is photographic documentation of this crazy event. haha. i can't even believe it's been a month already. time is going by so fast and we just said goodbye to our older generation. next week, we'll get the next recruits and then we'll be the ones that look like we know so much (new missionaries are easily fooled) i'm really excited to meet our new sister and be able to help them not freak out their first week here. haha this week has been amazing and i am learning so much everyday. personal study time is so important to me. we are also learning so much as a district. our elders are great and we have gotten really close to the ones going to taichung with us. they are fun and it's exciting to work with them in the devotional on sunday, one of the sister told us a story about her granddaughter. she came home from primary and told her mom how much she loved the "awkward" song they sang in primary that week. the mom was confused and asked what the tune was. " mom- you know.....'awkward, ever awkward...'" (sung to the called to serve tune) haha sometimes i do feel pretty awkward. i think it's only going to get worse ahaha
we just got back from the temple (ps- provo temple cafeteria is not as good as the bountiful cafeteria...but what is?) the temple is such an amazing place. i feel so empowered when i leave. i know that Christ is with me on this mission and the blessings i receive in the temple help me serve better than i could on my own. i feel such strength from the blessings and covenants of the temple. is the nearest temple to shanghai the hong kong temple? that would be amazing to go back there. i really thought about the power of the atonement this week, especially in the temple. we are saved through Him. i was reading in alma 31- where Alma starts praying for him and his companions to be strengthened in Christ ( i think vs 30..) because of His prayers, they were strengthened and made able to bear all that was asked of them as missionaries. what a blessing to know that we can ask and receive the blessings of the Atonement in order to get God's work done. teaching the Atonement is spectacular. you tell people that they can overcome their sin and overcome their weaknesses through Christ and it brings a light into their eyes. i know whenever i teach, i feel His love for me. i feel the spirit giving me the words. it's amazing to be led by the spirit so much. i'm trying to listen better. i'm trying to have the peace and the calm demeanor that is requried to hear the spirit.
sister chord and i celebrated our one month at the MTC by spraying a can of silly string into the trash can. do not worry- there is photographic documentation of this crazy event. haha. i can't even believe it's been a month already. time is going by so fast and we just said goodbye to our older generation. next week, we'll get the next recruits and then we'll be the ones that look like we know so much (new missionaries are easily fooled) i'm really excited to meet our new sister and be able to help them not freak out their first week here. haha this week has been amazing and i am learning so much everyday. personal study time is so important to me. we are also learning so much as a district. our elders are great and we have gotten really close to the ones going to taichung with us. they are fun and it's exciting to work with them in the devotional on sunday, one of the sister told us a story about her granddaughter. she came home from primary and told her mom how much she loved the "awkward" song they sang in primary that week. the mom was confused and asked what the tune was. " mom- you know.....'awkward, ever awkward...'" (sung to the called to serve tune) haha sometimes i do feel pretty awkward. i think it's only going to get worse ahaha
we just got back from the temple (ps- provo temple cafeteria is not as good as the bountiful cafeteria...but what is?) the temple is such an amazing place. i feel so empowered when i leave. i know that Christ is with me on this mission and the blessings i receive in the temple help me serve better than i could on my own. i feel such strength from the blessings and covenants of the temple. is the nearest temple to shanghai the hong kong temple? that would be amazing to go back there. i really thought about the power of the atonement this week, especially in the temple. we are saved through Him. i was reading in alma 31- where Alma starts praying for him and his companions to be strengthened in Christ ( i think vs 30..) because of His prayers, they were strengthened and made able to bear all that was asked of them as missionaries. what a blessing to know that we can ask and receive the blessings of the Atonement in order to get God's work done. teaching the Atonement is spectacular. you tell people that they can overcome their sin and overcome their weaknesses through Christ and it brings a light into their eyes. i know whenever i teach, i feel His love for me. i feel the spirit giving me the words. it's amazing to be led by the spirit so much. i'm trying to listen better. i'm trying to have the peace and the calm demeanor that is requried to hear the spirit.
in my patriarchal blessing this week, i was reading and finding all the words that are used to describe me (or describe who i can become) amanda maloy gave me this idea. i wrote all the words down and had one of the more artist girls in my zone create a little card for me. i'll send a picture sometime (there is no way to send pictures besides just sending the SD card home. i'll send it to kelly eventually- kelly would you mind uploading them?) anyway, i got the card laminated and it's now hanging at my desk. it is a special reminder to me that God and Christ know me personally. they know my strengths (and my weaknesses) and they want me to succeed. how amazing that the Creator of the universe would be mindful of my daily needs.
i learned about the power Christ has this week. i was having a hard day and just wondering if i should really be here. Satan knows how to grab hold of you and make you doubt and fear and feel discouraged. this is not from God. any negativity you feel could never come from God. I talked with my branch president and he helped me realize the power i have, through Christ, over satan. satan can get in your head but with Christ, you can make him leave. Christ has such power and I have really felt that this week. whenever i feel down or confused or discouraged, i know i can turn to Christ and He will fill me with faith, hope, and charity. He is love and He fills me with His love, which overcomes any other feeling. in moroni chapter 7, we were reading as a class about charity. my teacher told us that if we have any other motivation to be a missionary besides the sincere desire to love and serve God's children, then your motivation will eventually run out. the ONLY thing that endures forever is charity. only when we are filled with God's love and strive to show that love will we succeed as missionaries. or as individuals. i think of mothers when i think of the pure love of Christ ( i think of my mother). mothers are so full of love and the only thing they desire is happiness for their children. they guide and teach and serve their children out of pure charity. i am striving to be more charitable and i'm praying for the people of Taiwan.
in TRC this week, we really felt guided by the spirit. in our preparation and in our teaching. i love being in there are feeling the spirit and really learning about people's needs. it is great. i also love it because i see returned missionaries, who were once where i am. and now they are fluent and the servived! haha it gives me hope and encourages me to study hard.
in Moroni 7:33 it says that when we have faith we can all things the Lord requires of us. a personal motto i've tried to incorporate into my life is "you xinxin, you banfa." where there is faith (xinxin) there is a way to get things accomplished (banfa). i have felt my faith in Christ strengthened as He keeps His promises and answers my prayers. He is ever faithful and we can turn to Him in all things. i am very aware that you all are moving tomorrow. i can kind of understand how you are feeling. BUT only Christ can truly understand how YOU are feeling. He knows you better than anyone. there might be some fear, excitment, confusion. He knows you and He will not leave you alone and comfortless. Turn to HIm and He will succor you (alma 7:11-14). the atonement was wrought so that we could use it- daily. i was thinking of you all in the temple today and praying for you all week. there are many prayers being said on your behalf. let Christ strengthen you and let HIm help you find purpose and light in your life. I am so so happy that all of you were accepted into SAS. what a blessing. I am so proud of you all. Mom- i love you. you will be the means by which God will bless so many people in shanghai. I know that because i saw you bless so many in tainjin. i love you all. be still and know that God is watching out for you. DC 123:24 ( i think) do all things cheerfully and then SEE THE HAND OF THE LORD BLESS YOU. man zou. be safe and stick together. family is more important than anything.
Kelly- send me your address for where ever i can reach you. your letters mean so much to me. more than you know. it's like having you here. i love you dearly
carli- i miss you more than words can say. you will change lives in china with your light and your testimony
luke- get that scooter! thank you for your emails. they mean so much to me. i love feeling your support and hearing about your life.
davis- i love you so much. i think of you often as i am constantly around worthy missionaries who remind me of you. i miss your laugh so much
blake- i am praying for you to have peace and feel God's love. He knows you and is ever mindful of where you are and what you are doing.
mom and dad- thank you for your love and support. i am loving being a missionary. this is wonderful. i love being a part of this work. i pray for you both to have strength and feel God's hand in your life.
i love you all. tell Dave west i got his letter and to please send more- hearing about eilee and karly and just everything was great. send pictures when you can. how was the reunion?! fly safe. i'll be following you out in about a month!!
all my love and prayers
-sister paige
if anyone wants to do some service for a missionary- one of the girls in my zone needs support. she loves chocolate peanut butter anything. you can just send it to me and i'll get it to her. i love you all. thank you for your support.
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