Hello my dear family!
It's been another incredible week here at the MTC! I can't
believe it's November! Only a month and a handful of days and I'll be in Japan!
Can you believe I've been here at the MTC for a month already?
So, super cool story from last P-day; Mom, did you realize the
family names you sent me for the temple were the ones Paige and I did the
baptisms and confirmations for while we were at BYU on January 29th? And that last Tuesday, the day Sister Ellis,
Sister Smith, Sister Stice and I did the initiatories for them was October
29th? That was so cool to link my family together with all my wonderful
friends!
The devotional that evening was also really cool. The speaker
was Carlos Goday of the Quorum of the Seventy from Brazil so he had a really
fun accent and was so excited about this gospel. He shared his experience with
his conversion and his advice to us to help those we teach become life-long
faithful members of the church through a focus on conversion and
fellow-shipping. He said the first time he was in a Mormon church was for a
youth activity and the game they were playing was "poor poor little kitty
cat" (I hope you've heard of this game, it is hilarious) and he said he
thought "oh, it's a little weird what they do here in this church"
but as he was leaving the Sister Missionaries asked him if he wanted to know
more and he said yes because he wanted to know why these people were so happy
with nothing. Well, he was baptized and was on fire, but because he didn't have
a support group for going to church he stopped coming. But when he finally
found a friend when he stopped by the church again a year later, it was then
that he was fully converted, and there were amazing blessings because of his
conversion. He said he keeps track of his sister missionaries because to them
he may be just one of many, but to him they are the only ones, and they are
angels to him. Eventually he was able to seal one of his missionaries' son and
daughter-in-law together in the temple. He said "It's never one, it's
always generations." It was so wonderful. I loved the principles he taught
and his enthusiasm for this gospel. It was a wonderful Tuesday.
Guess what cool awesome thing we got to do on Wednesday! We got
to host new missionaries for the first time!!!! It was so fun! I loved it! It
was so fun to get to do something new and help someone else. All the new
sisters I hosted were all so nervous and quiet and scared. Daw. Reminds me of
someone else I knew four weeks ago... :) It was so fun to welcome them and try
and help their first day start off with enthusiasm and happiness! One was going
to Oklahoma, one to Mexico City, one to South Dakota, and another one to
Chicago. We got to take them around to get their name-tags, their books, drop
off their luggage at their residence halls, and then drop them off at class. It
sure was interesting trying to lug all their suitcases around. Since hosting is
the only time at the MTC that you're authorized to be away from your companion
and we would drop them off at certain entrances of buildings to pick up things
and them meet them on the other side, it got pretty interesting when I had 3
huge suitcases and had to try and manhandle them around to the other side of
the buildings! I'm sure you can picture how gracefully I managed that. :)
My roommates and I like to use gym time to just run around and
play and get out all our pent up energy from sitting around in class all day so
actually [we do] workouts when we get back to our residence halls at night
(when we have about 45 minutes to get ready for bed). We got this one
lunges-happy workout from a Chorro [elder] in our zone that we call the Peta-G
(his name). My thighs have never been so sore in my entire life. Haha.
The most amazing thing happened on Friday; we were back at our
residence hall getting ready for class after gym when one of the MTC employees
came around to do our room inspection. And so as she was checking things off we
got talking and she mentioned she served a mission in Iowa. Turns out she just
got back 2-ish months ago, met Tyler and my cousins, and loved Grandma and
Grandpa! When I said I was a Bellows she said "You look like a
Bellows!". It was so neat. She told me a story about how one time on her
mission she and her companion were having a difficult time--her companion had
just thrown out her back, she was frustrated--and they decided to just stop by
Grandma and Grandpa's house because they loved visiting them. She said Grandma
was taking a nap and her companion went to lie down, so she was sitting on the
couch with her scriptures and Grandpa rolled in, gave her a smile, pulled out
his scriptures, and asked, "Where are we reading?" She told him and
he opened up to the chapter, shared a few insights, and then just sat quietly
next to her, reading. She said it was one of them most spiritual and uplifting
moments of her mission. She said his funeral was one of the saddest parts of
her mission for her. She had so many good things to say about him and Grandma
and it just made me feel: Wherever I go I am constantly blessed because of the
goodness and wonderful lives and examples of my grandparents and my family. It
was such a special, tender blessing from Heavenly father to be able to meet
this sister and hear more about Grandma and Grandpa from her. It made me feel
like they really aren't that far away. Her name is Jeanette Tompson. Family, do
you have any questions for her or want more info? I possibly might see her
again. Or maybe someone could email her and get more stories about Grandma and
Grandpa!
So, Saturday I feel asleep for the first time during class, haha. Well, not
actually class, just study time. Ellis Shimai and I went into a teeny-tiny
study room to read the Book of Mormon in Japanese for Nihongo [Japanese] practice
and 30 minutes later we both woke up. We were so tired, haha. I'm surprised it hasn't
happened sooner. Another cool thing that happened that day: We got to do TRC
for the first time and guess who we were teaching: Yuu T. Bate's father,
Brother Taguchi! It was so crazy! Small world des ne [isn’t it]? He had lots of
tips for us on our Japanese. Whoops. Oh well... :)
Sunday was Fast Sunday!
It meant we had a little bit of a different schedule. No breakfast or lunch,
obviously, and instead of Relief Society/Elder's Quorum we had a super awesome,
2 hour long mission conference with the MTC Presidency! I especially loved
Sister Nally's talk (Mom, is that the one who Brother Kirkman is related to?).
She told lots of awesome conversion stories and related how all of us are in
the MTC because of our footsteps on the path of discipleship. It was really wonderful.
Everything else was normal schedule for the most part; District Sunday School, Temple Walk, Devotional (I loved
Brother Kohlert's talk about the 5 questions he wants to ask his recently RM
grandson; Did you learn that all the Lord expects of you is that you do the
best you can? Will you keep reading the BOM and renew your testimony of it
regularly? Have you learned how to make relationships work? Have you learned
how to work through your trials? Do you have a deep love for the Savior?), but
no choir. Dinner was delicious, as per the usual result of Fast Sunday. We also had a really cool Zone Sister's
meeting with President Mack about how we've changed since coming to the MTC. I
fasted for the Spirit and help with Nihongo [Japanese]. We actually had a
Nihongo day only yesterday... yup it kind of flopped around lunch time. But I
had a 10-serve streak in volleyball and a supes awesome spike! And I ran the
last 5 minutes of gym on the track and it felt sooooo goood! And we had TRC
againon
Monday and it went much better
even though my language skills are so limited. It was such an uplifting
experience. Oh, and I got a letter from Kelsea English this week! So fun! It
made my day!
The other day in personal study I had a flash of inspiration
that helped me understand the word "glory[”] as it's used in the
scriptures: Glory is power that is recieved by righteousness (like purity and
virtue). So when we are righteous we recieve power--which is the glory of God.
Can you really believe it's been 4 weeks? I've grown so much
since being here--I thought before that I had a desire for missionary work, but
since being here that desire's grown a hundred-fold. I am coming so much to
love my Savior and to feel of his love and to realize how little I understand
how incomprehensible and complete that love is for us.
Lauren, send me a picture of your wolf flag! Horne sensai [Teacher
Horne] served in Nagoya, Tsukumoto served in Fukuoka--and she's having a baby
girl in March! No Earthquake training as of yet, Pops. :) We have a particle
song to the tune of "[My] Favorite Things" [from The Sound of Music] which goes: [“]Wa is the subject and ni shows
direction, no says "it's mine" and it shows some possession, for 2nd
subjects we always use ga, these are the particles we hold in awe! O is the
object and gets all the action, mada up until, he general direction, de place
of action or by the means of, these are the particles we've come to love! To's
a full list, ya's not finished, ka is either/or. Kara is from and to is
quotation, and for "also" we use mo![”] I met President Hiatt's
cousins(?) at Devotional Tuesday!
They're a couple going to Louisville Kentucky. Sister Ellis is one of the 4
missionaries in my district not going to Sendai. :( I will miss her when she's
in Tokyo! We've had 2 snows so far! Can you send me my pink peacoat? I met someone
going to Anaheim California Vietnamese speaking the other day. Hee--something.
I told him to say hi to Elder Lindsay for me. For the Christmas letter... I
have no idea. If you send me a preview I'll give you some input! We've taught
all the discussions in Nihongo [Japanese]. I'm glad Rebecca's kids got my
letter! The Provo MTC is great so tell Riley not to worry. So excited for
Ashley! Sore throat is better. Glad the campout went well Dad! Good luck with
choir Lauren! I wish I could be there to hear you sing! It would be so funny if
we were on the same plane Dad! The shimaitachi [sisters] would love to meet
you. :) I hope the Hardy's add a lama to their chicken/cow/goat/giraffe
menagerie. Don't give up on anyone! Ellis shimai [Sister Ellis] has 4 siblings
who aren't members and we talk all the time about having a perfect brightness
of hope for all to come unto Christ and partake of his love--2 Nephi 21:20. Don't give up! I hope you survive your
papers Candice!
I love you all sooooooooooooo much! Thank you so much for all
the dear elders and emails!!!!!! They truly uplift me and make my days so
wonderful! :) I know God is watching for my family. :)
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Your missionary,
Sister Bellows :)
P.S. Watch this Mormon Message! I loved it so much. Reminded me
of Grandma and Grandpa: Enduring Love, http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-06-010-enduring-love?lang=eng
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