Hello
my Wonderful Family!
This is it! My last week in the MTC [Missionary Training Center]!
Can you believe it? Time has flown by. In 5 days I will be boarding a plane to
Japan! I can't wait!
This week was wonderful! Last P-day [preparation day], after I
wrote you we had a zone game of Thieves on campus (like capture the flag but
with 3 flags, a time limit, and 1 team guards while the other team tries to
thieve and you can only chase people within a certain distance of the flag). It
was so fun! The weather was beautiful and a lot of people came out to play. The
4 of us were Thieves and our team lost but it was a blast. Devotional was by
Elder Teh of the Seventy. He talked about how when the age-change was made he
spent lots of time trying to figure out what [why] and he came to his personal
conclusion that it was because of the youth of the church. Then the Seventy had
a meeting with President [Elder] Holland. He said, "Many of you may be
wondering what brought about this age change and may have come to the
conclusion that it's because of the youth of the church." (At this point,
Elder Teh said he was patting himself on the back.) Then Elder Holland said,
"If so, you're wrong." (Elder Teh: "Whoops.") Elder
Holland: "The change happened because the Lord is hastening his work in
these last days." Chills! Elder Teh then talked about Alma the Younger and
the sons of Mosiah and liken us to them; we probably weren't seeking to destroy
the church but maybe we weren't really doing much to build it. Then we had
something that shook us and softened our hearts. And then we were no longer
content to serve only in our wards and stakes and we recieved desires to serve
missions. Favorite quotes: We are training as hard as Olympians to be the very
best. We want everyone we come in contact with to be astonished and to feel
"surely this is more than just a young man or woman. Surely this is a just
disciple of the Lord." We are the weak things of the world that the Lord
will make strong.
I love those last two things he said. I know when I get to Japan
that there is no way my Japanese is going to be good enough to do this work--I
am one of the weak things of the world. But somehow the work will be done. And
then will have to know that it's because this is the Lord's work and our
message is from God.
Wednesday... We got our travel plans!!!!!!!!!!!! Me? Excited?
Really? You think so?
We're going to Japan!!!!!!!!!!!
We originally weren't supposed to get our plans until Friday, so
you can imagine our excitement when we come into the cafeteria and see
Patterson chorro [Elder Patterson] holding a big stack of them in his hands. We
definitely about had a party right there. Or we did. Might bit of excitement in
there. Heehee.
We fly from SLC [Salt Lake City] to LA, LA to Tokyo, and Tokyo
to Sendai. We have to be at the travel office at 3:30 am. Glup. No sleep! We'll get to Sendai around 8:00 pm Japan time. We have a 2 hour layover in LA so
hopefully I'll get to call then! Not a guarantee, but we'll see. I've also been
assigned as travel leader--making sure we all stay together and get to Sendai
safely. Thankfully our group only has 10 people in it so it looks like things
will go pretty smoothly.
We also got to do Skype TRC Wednesday with real Nihongin [Japanese
people] in Nihon [Japan] in Nihongo [Japanese]! It was so fun! I was afraid it
was going to be really difficult, demo [but] I understood about the same amount
I understand normally so it was no bigger deal than it normally is. It was
really fun! Definately a highlight of the MTC.
I don't know if y'all heard, but Thursday was Thanksgiving! It
was fantastic! Elder Nelson was our morning devotional speaker and he gave us
wonderful counsel about how to be good missionaries. After devotional, we all
ate a yummy traditional Thanksgiving lunch with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, sweet
potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Yum! Then we did a service project--making lentil
casserole mixes for Feed the Children. It was so fun! And actually we're in the
front page picture of the article Desert News wrote about the service project!
I can't access the website here because of the computer filters but I've seen
the picture of us all wearing our red hairnets and it's awesome! I'm on the
left in my gold sweater. Check it out! :D It was such a cool project--we even
had representatives from Church Humanitarian Services come and talk to us about
all the service the Church does. It was amazing! I want to go see Welfare
Square when I get back.
After the service project, we took our sack sandwich dinners
back to our residence hall and had a feast! It was so funny, we put a blanket
on the floor and gathered around the cutest package Stice shimai's [Sister
Stice’s] mom send her of salmon and treats and ginger ale and had a proper
Thanksgiving feat [feast] of sandwiches and dorritos. We had a grand
time--loved it.
Then there was a Thanksgiving Talen[t] show sort-of-a-thing and
then we watched Ephraim[’]s Rescue. So good! And the jokes in there--too funny!
Ellis shimai and I were dying!
Cool moment from Elder Nelson's devotional: We were singing
prelude hymns and we were in the middle of singing "Because I Have Been
Given Much" when Elder Nelson walked in. And you know, of course, everyone
stood up and we finished the rest of the song standing on our feet. And I was
just completely overwhelmed to tears with gratitude for the enormity of the
blessings God has given me--filled completely, toe to head with light and
happiness that completely bubbled over. It was amazing.
Other cool thing: When we left the movie the Christmas lights on
campus were turned on!!!
Friday I got a super cute package of chapstick and candy from
Sister Miles! It was so sweet! (haha, punny) Loved it!
That day we also had a really good lesson in Horne-sensai's [Teacher
Horne’s] class about setting goals (one of Horne-sensai's talents). We talked
about how setting goals is all about taking the hopes and desires God has given
us and turning them in to something we can accomplish.
Saturday was our Sister Training Leader's last day before they
got released so they 'tucked us in' to bed as their last act as STLs. It was so
funny and cute!
Sunday was Fast Sunday and Mission Conference! Sister Nally
talked about Christmas gifts and how this year we have the opportunity to
"be as wisemen of old--bearing gifts and traveling from afar" and
that we're so lucky [t]o get to have a "missionary Christmas" was
[as] we share Jesus' light--a Christmas light (like the one's turned on on
campus!)--a Christmas gift.
During our Zone sisters' meeting that day President Mack talked
about how it is a positive thing that we recognize our need for divine help; as
caregivers we are taught from Heaven things we would not otherwise learn
ourselves.
Then in our pre-departure lesson President Mack said "you
should--because of your mission--FOREVER daily have meaningful prayer, read
your scriptures, strive to be obedient, serve, and repent so that you can
always have the Holy Ghost."
Devotional was about Hastening the Work of Salvation. After we
went and watched Elder Bednar's "Becoming a Missionary." He said
"Your decision to serve a mission was made in the pre-existence."
And, "Become a missionary who is good for the mission." And,
"You cannot serve with all your heart, might, mind, and strength without
being forever changed because of it."
Okay. Most amazing thing yesterday: We were teaching Mai-san and
answering her questions and then asking her questions and then we were reading
in Alma 7:9-13 and then verses 14-16. And then we opened our mouths to start
talking when she turned to us and asked "When can I get baptized?"
WHAT???? We even had a sentence written down and translated into Nihongo [Japanese]
"you don't have to say yes to being baptized now" because she's
rejected the baptism invitation 3 times before. But I realized that when we
share all the blessings we recieve through living the commandments (like
baptism) the investigators will ask US when they can start living them.
So, after our lesson we came into the classroom all excited and
Villalobos-sensai [Teacher Villalobos] (our Zone resource sensai) was there and
got all interested and so we talked to him and he told us how a lot of our
district has really struggled with teaching Mai-san and he wanted to know
everything about how we plan and teach and what we thought allowed us to be
able to get through to Mai-san. It was really interesting to really reflect on
what worked for us; connecting with the kyudoshas [investigators?], applying
the gospel to their lives, ka do ka [mobilization?] and "want you to"
bunpos [questions? challenges?], planning lessons in Eigo [English] first and
then translating them and sharing meaningful scriptures and experiences. Our
chronological scripture study and card-box study.
Yesterday we also wrote our least weekly letter to Mack kaicho
[President Mack]. It was so sad! I so glad I got to have him as my Branch
President.
Mom, your Dear Elder--I don't know if you know but I've always
loved to liken that scripture to myself! It was so meaningful. Thank you. It
definitely inspired me.
In our TRC lesson we were teaching about revelation through
scripture and so we were all sharing our favorite scriptures (Ellis shimai
[Sister Ellis], me, and our member we were teaching) and I shared mine
(currently Enos 1:3-4) and then Ellis shimai shared hers' (currently Alma
32:41-42) and I had a flash of inspiration; Ellis shimai is always talking
about how she's a tree (sun, water, nature--her loves). And in that scripture
it talks about what a tree needs; to be nourished, diligence, faith, and
patience. And it dawned on me that that's what Ellis shimai--and maybe
every--companion needs. And when they have those things they will take root and
become a tree springing up unto everlasting life. Love, faith, diligence,
patience, long-suffering.
This week has been amazing. I've felt as I've tried to be more
obedient I've felt my study be more effective and my rate of learning has
increased. It's truly been a blessing. I can't wait to get to Japan and to
continue learning and growing and improving there. But I will miss the MTC. I
have learned so much here.
I think the number one thing I have learned is to rely on the
Lord. He is perfect. He knows everything. He has a plan. He can see how to turn
my life into a tapestry--but I'm on the other side of his weaving so I can't
see the beauty of the design. I just have to trust him. Like the stone cutter
who thought he knew how to make his work a thing of beauty, my knowledge is
nothing compared to the Lord's. The Master Architect is the true Stone Cutter
and He will shape my life and my efforts into something more amazing than I can
ever imagine. I am so grateful for Him and for His marvelous design.
I'm sure you can imagine how excited I am. I am certain my
mistakes will be many and my understanding will be small, but I want to be an
open-the-mouth missionary. And if God can but carry the message to their hearts
it will be enough.
It's snowing today--and actually sticking! You'll have to send
me pictures of the Christmas tree! If Lauren continues to grow she will be
quite the baller on the basketball team! Where are you having the piano
recital? The temple trip sounds like it was a great success! Good on Natalie
and Chris! Even if it doesn't snow in North Carolina on Christmas, you will
still have a perfect white Christmas in the House of the Lord. :)
I love you! Thank you for all the letters and emails and
encouragement! They make me smile and celebrate every time! I'm so glad you all
had a happy Thanksgiving! Best of luck with all the rest!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Your missionary,
Sister Bellows :)
P.S. Before we leave on Monday, all of us departing are singing
in Sacrament Meeting the EFY Medley but with different lyrics. Here they are!
Sopranos:
We go forth enlisted with Helaman's army
In numbers much greater than ever before
With power and spirit we faithfully witness
The Heavens have spoken and truth is restored.
Altos:
We set forth to serve our Heavenly Father
Who loves us and we love Him
Yes, we love Him
Sopranos and Altos:
We go forth enlisted as daughters of God
Men:
We have been born, as Nephi of old,
To goodly parents who love the Lord.
We have been taught, and we understand,
That we must do as the Lord commands.
We are as the army of Helaman.
We have been taught in our youth.
And we are now the Lord's missionaries
To bring the world His truth.
(Women and Men parts together and then...)
All:*
Heraman no yushi no yoni
Kodomo no toki ka--ra
Oshie u kemi koto ba--no
Betsu ta--eru
Women:
We go forth enlisted...
Men:
A marked generation...
All:
As servants of God.
*Nihongo Army of Helaman
We're excited!!
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