last Preperation day at the MTC! oh my goodness. ok- there is a world outside of these gates.
we are all getting really excited to be leaving. i have really truly loved my time here at the MTC but i'm excited that it is almost time to move on. we were in the temple today and i was so overwhelmed with the love the Lord has- for me, for my family, and for everyone. i have such a love for this gospel that i felt so strongly in the temple today. the celestial room is the goal i have for all those i meet and teach. to be able to have those blessings and promises is the ultimate goal for this life. i have grown in my knowledge of the gospel and everytime i learn something new, i am just more and more grateful to the Lord for the perfection of the plan. i am so grateful for this gospel and this opportunity to serve. as i was in the temple, i was also thinking about so many of you. i truly felt your love. i saw the faces of each of my family members and i cannot tell you how much you mean to me. i pray for you multiple times a day and i know the Lord is watching over you. i am so grateful for your prayers and your love- i can feel it. this is the last time i will be going through a US temple for a while. fear is not the first word that comes to mind when i think about leaving. its more like HOPE and FAITH. i know that God is watching over me and i am praying to be in the right place at the right time every time. i am praying to see those that are prepared. mom- i know that Jim is prepared to hear this gospel. and i know that "God has gone before your face" (like it says in the scriptures) and He has been a part of Jim's life, even if JIm didnt know it. there is something that he needs to hear. study for Jim and what you think his needs might be. i am most impressed to tell you to just be a friend. just love him and then teaching wont be scary or stressful. it will be an opportunity to tell a friend about our Best Friend, Jesus Christ, and allow Christ to communicate with them. it really is never about what the missionary says or how well we explain things. it is about bringing the spirit and letting the spirit guide our words. in TRC this week, we were talking about gaining revelation in church and there was a pause in the conversation. i sat for a moment thinking about what i wanted to say. and then, i started talking about service. and how at church we can serve others and how we need to look for service opportunities. i asked the volunteer if he would be willing to pray for opportunities to serve. he said yes, and then said it's strange that i would bring that up because they were just talking about service on sunday and he felt like this was God telling him he needed to be looking for service opportunities. whatever i said were not my own words- they were Christ's words and His promises and His love for this volunteer.' "as to my own strength i am weak, but with Christ i can do all things" i felt that this week. i will never be good enough. even if my chinese is perfect. even if i am an excellent teacher. i will never be enough by myself. none of will be. but with Christ, we can be enough. as we work to improve, we can be better tools in HIS hands; but He is always the Master. we need to let Him work through us and make us better than we could ever be on our own. i am so grateful that i can constantly reminded that i can't do this without Him. mom- let Him use your love and your compassion and your ability to set people at ease. let Him speak His words through you. i love you and i'm praying for you as you begin to teach. we had a fake baptism this week and we all had a chance to participate and i spoke on baptism. it was really great and it just made me so excited for when it's a real investigator and a real baptism and a person really gets to start a new life in Christ. baptism is such a blessing.
Chen JM was sick on sunday and slept most of the day which means i got a lot of time to study. she is better now and i love her to pieces. We are doing wonderfully and she has been the best first companion. i am praying for my trainer and hoping she is ready to get a greenie like me. i love her already.
ok we got our flight plans this thursday- it's a big deal to get plans and everyone was really excited. they come on red pieces of paper. so for the last 3 weeks we have been jealously looking at everyone with red papers. but it was finally our turn this week!! we leave the SLC airport at 11:25 am- which is great because it's not too early. and then we arrive at LAX at 12:25 and have a 3 hour layover. we'll be leaving for TAIWAN (ok- this is really happening) at 3:15 LA time. we will be calling home between 1:30-4pm utah time. so between 3:30-6:00 am your time i think. I AM SO EXCITD TO TALK TO YOU ALL. and i'm sorry that the timing is terrible. dear elder me when would be the best time in that block. i don't want to miss this cahnce to hear you all. blake- please dear elder me your number so that i can call you too. kelly- i am calling you- and THANK YOU for posting those pictures. i'm glad my package got to you safely. if you want to send me a letter or anything, do it so it gets here by monday. i don't want to miss it. anyone sending dearelders should send the last one by sunday because they don't forward those on to us. and i wouldn't want to miss it. i really don't need anything package-wise. i am just so exctied to get out there and i feel very taken care of. i am so grateful for all your love and support.
mom and dad- i got the translator!! i am so exctied to use it and i am grateful for the gift. your support means so much to me. i love you both so much. and i really can't tell you how much your letters mean to me. i am praying for you everyday
sorry that this letter is shorter and more business-y but i'm sure i will have alot to say next week. WHEN I'M IN TAIWAN!! i can't believe it.
i know Christ lives and love us. i know that He can constantly be teaching and guiding us if we let Him. I know this is His church restored on the earth. He is leading Thomas S Monson. I have been called of God and I am so excited to bring others closer to Christ. 3 Nephi 5:13
we bore testimony to a man in english today- that was the hardest thing i've done for a long time!! i have been given the gift to speak mandarin to bring taiwanese daughters of God back to His prescence. i am so grateful for this opportunity. i love you all. thank you for your letters and love.
talk to you in a week!! i am so excited!
all my love,
Sister paige Newman
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