Sister Peng wasn't able to upload any pictures this week as the computer kept shutting down every time she tried. Sorry.
Dearest Madre and other wonderful people,
How are you? I don't know why I ask, since I still
won't know how you are all doing.... But you know, it's a question of common courtesy.
Just so you all know that I do care. :) Anyways, I'm doing good.
Still tired, but at least I am still alive right? Also, I am
understanding why people say that your mission is perhaps the hardest thing you
will ever do with your life, as well as the most rewarding. Though, currently I
am on the "hard" part of the mission... Anyways, I'll get to
explaining why in a sec... but first off: How was General
Conference? I haven't seen it yet, we'll be watching it next week... not
sure if it'll be in English or Chinese.... Hopefully English...
Probably in Chinese... yeah.... sigh... Everything is in Chinese... I'm
understanding more and more, but it's always very hard on my brain. I
laugh whenever we have language study time, because every day/all day is
language study time for me... Wow... Side tracked! Anyways...
It's weird to think how much my life has changed since last
year. Last year's October General Conference will forever be remembered
by me as the conference that changed my life. Before then, I didn't even
think I was going on a mission. But with a few words from Heavenly
Father's living representative on the earth, and from strong impressions by the
Holy Ghost (which led to many hours of tearing up anytime I even thought of
missionary work) I knew that I had to serve a mission. I don't know if I
can say I left on a mission because I thought it would be fun/cool
experience. I left because I knew it's what my Father wanted me to
do. My plan was to finish college as early as I could, find a job, get married...
etc... But Heavenly Father knew I was forgetting a step: a mission. I
know I've only just begun my mission, but I can tell that it will have
everlasting effects on the rest of my life, and even past that. I've
learned so much already! I've grown in faith and testimony of the love
Heavenly Father and Jesus has for me. I'm learning how to share the
gospel to others, so that when the time comes, I'll be able to raise my family
in the faith. I'm learning how to love everyone, and how to put their needs
above my own. I'm learning how to have patience, and how to overcome
trials. I'm learning how to be more thankful and prayerful. I'm
learning that I am truly a daughter of a King, and that this work is truly His
work and His glory.
The Lord knew I needed to go on a mission to grow and to
reach my potential. Not everyone needs to go on a mission, to learn what I've
been learning. Everyone is different. But I know for me, I needed a
bit of a push to grow up and to be prepared to meet life head on. So
that's what the Lord did. He gave me a push....
So anyways, yeah, this week has been hard... not impossible
just hard. And it's not even because of the missionary work that's made
it hard... It's probably been my own attitude and mood... Lately I've
been feeling myself get frustrated more often, or lacking confidence in
myself... It's mainly because of the English Class we have to
teach... You've probably noticed that I don't write much about English
Class... For me, it's the hardest part of this mission... So in
Taiwan, as well as other places, we teach a free English Class for a service to
the community. I'm in charge of teaching the kids ages 3-12
English. Normally we have about 35 kids who attend. My companion and
I split the kids up into two groups. One group will first be taught by
me, while the other group gets to play games with my companion. After
about 45 minutes, they will switch... Well... I totally feel inadequate
as a teacher, and I don't know how to teach children a new language...
It's also hard since many of these kids have a hard time sitting still for
longer than 2 minutes.... I've tried different methods for teaching
them... but no success thus far....
Every time I teach them, I leave exhausted and spiritually
drained. I feel that the Lord has placed an impossible feat for me to
overcome.... but I know that's not true... The Lord would not call me to
this work if he didn't think I couldn't do it... So, I've been trying to become
more like Christ, the perfect example of a teacher. Christ loved little
kids... He was patient and caring towards them... Christ also was
willing to do anything the Father asked, no matter how difficult it was to
do. The most major example is the Atonement. Christ suffered and
died for us, because the Lord needed to have a way to cleanse us of our sins...
The Lord is only asking me to spend a couple of hours teaching little
children... Christ also taught so that all could understand... This is my
challenge.... Since the kids are of such different age ranges... but there
must be something I can do... Sigh... Anyways, sorry, just venting... and also
asking for advice and help from anyone who has some to offer.... Thanks!
A good thing that happened this week was we had a companion
exchange! I love Liu JM, but it was also fun to see how other
missionaries do this work. This time, Liu JM went to San Ming, and I
stayed in Ping Dong, which means I basically got to be kind of like a Senior
Companion for a day. That was fun! And Exhasting! I can relate to
how exhausted Liu JM must be from training me and being Senior Companion...
You're constantly thinking of what you have to do, and what you will have to
do, and what you will have to do if the first thing that you had to do fell through...
if that makes sense... :P Anyways, good news, I didn't get lost!!!
Yay!!! So, the Sister Training Leader who spent the day with me was Huang
JM. She is super nice, and a super fantastic missionary. Also, for
being a native Taiwanese person, her English is great. Mostly because her
actual companion, Sister Smith, is refusing to use Chinese with her... so, I'm
thinking of doing the same with Liu JM, since Liu JM really wants her English
to improve. :P Haha! Though, every time I try to speak, I forget about
speaking English, so I'll start talking in Chinese. And once I get half
way through the sentence, I'll switch to English. Haha! It just makes us both
confused... but it's fun! :D
Also, another fun thing this week is that the Single Adults
and the missionaries had a combined activity making pizza! Yum! It
was just a lot of RC's (recent converts), investigators, LA's (less actives), missionaries, and ward
missionaries there. And we made pizza- Taiwan style! Basically,
Taiwan style pizza just has pretty much anything you could ever think of
putting on a pizza... from squash and corn, to broccoli and peas and carrots...
yum! Haha! :D When I get back, we can have a Taiwanese pizza party.
:D It's really fun. :D And interesting...
Anyways, as to our investigators... we only have a couple of
people who are progressing towards baptism. We have a lot of
investigators, but most of them are only willing to meet with us and aren't
willing to keep the commitments we give them... or don't even have interest in
the Gospel at all.... Don't know why they want to meet with us... most of them
are probably bored.... yup.... Sigh... Our Zone is trying something that
we call: Family Hunting. Since Families are blessed even more by the
gospel, we are targeting families whenever we go out contacting. If there
are a lot of people, around us, but there is a family a little bit a ways, we
have to go to the family first... Yup! It's been very interesting
to try and do that at stop lights... don't worry, we're being safe! Haha! :D
Anyways, once again, I've written a novel.... Perhaps
I should become a writer... Or a reporter... lately, I've been thinking it
would be fun to be a reporter for a newspaper or something and write
specifically on family friendly activities and events that occur... yup...
Anyways...
Spiritual thought: Moroni
7:45-46
45 And acharity suffereth long, and is bkind, and cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not
her own, is not easily dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in
iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not
charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto
charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail
Charity is probably the most
important attribute. Work hard to develop it, and I promise you, you will
find more joy and peace in this life and for all eternity.
Well, I've got to go. I love
all of you! Be great! Pray Always! Feast on the Word of God!
Love, Sister Nicholle Peng
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