2nd
Week - September 15-21
Thank
you for taking the time to write me individual letters. I am loving my time
here at the MTC. I have never been pushed –intellectually, physically, or
mentally as much as I have been here. There are times when I question my
abilities, but the Lord has definitely been with me. I find the Korean language
very difficult, but I have been able to learn it a lot faster than I have
learning Hindi or Khmer. I’m not saying I am fluent at all, but there
definitely something here (the Spirit) helping everyone in my branch and
district.
The
food here is absolutely horrendous. So, it may be safe to say that I won’t be
gaining weight here (jealous?!!). Other than that, the MTC is where I am
supposed to be now. I miss regular life and being with people that I love, but
I am so glad that I chose to serve a mission. The blessings I have received and
the closeness I feel with Christ is something I would never trade.
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| Korean Speaking District |
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| Sister Chao and Sister Rose |
Thank
you for all the packages and letters. They truly are bits of happiness in a
very trying day. I just re-read them whenever I need a little pick me up. I
love you and will ‘chat’ with you soon.
Love,
Sis
Chao
Emails
abstract to family members
The
MTC is really hard, but I am enjoying every minute of it. The classes are
incredibly hard because they are mostly in Korean. I am learning the language,
but it definitely is a trial... however, with every trial it brings me closer
to Christ and Heavenly Father. It truly amazes me how present the spirit is
here at the MTC. I am truly experiencing many blessings because of my decision
to serve a mission. Anyways, more details to come in another letter.
Thank
you so much for taking the time to write me an email. Things here at the MTC
are going very well. I currently live in 3M and I study in 7M. There are a lot
of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean missionaries in those buildings. It has been
really fun to run into all the missionaries and use whatever limited language
abilities I have to respond back to them. Yes, the MTC teachers have been
telling us to SYL (Speak your language) since Day 1. It has been helpful as my
companion and I try to learn more of the Korean language, but we are nowhere near
fluent. I am setting daily and weekly goals to help me increase my fluency. I
can string together very simple sentences! The Lord truly is helping me as I
learn the Korean language. If anything, the Lord is helping me understand my
teachers when they speak Hangumar.
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Currently,
there are 6 sister missionaries in my district and all of them are going to be
serving in Seoul South! I am so very excited because many of these sisters have
such kind and loving spirits. Although many of the elders and sisters in my
district are just out of high school, they are very mature and know exactly why
they are here. It truly is fun to see these elders and sisters grow from
teenagers to adults within a week. They still have a ways to go, but they truly
are going to change the world (in a spiritual aspect). I don't really know why
they call preparation day P-Days because we have no down time whatsoever. I
have no time to write letters, email, do laundry, eat, fold laundry, clean,
shower, exercise, study scriptures, and learn Korean. Haha. Since are days are
so long and jam packed, I can never tell what day it is! I am really excited to
go to the temple, it will be both a mental and physical break and
recharge.
I do eat, but it is not my favorite part of the
day. The branch is really good and I have been enjoying it. I have only been to
church once, but it looks like it will teach me a lot. In Sacrament, the
presidency randomly calls on one sister and brother to give a talk in Korean.
It is so scary! You could literally cut the tension with a knife! Luckily, they
did not call on me this past week, but who knows what will happen this Sunday.
They have a small fireside followed by a church film. Last Sunday I was able to
see a talk given by Elder Bednar about the Character of Christ. There were some
bright points that I really want to talk to you about. I think you would love
it because it reminded me so much about you!
Yeah,
sleep deprivation is definitely something that most of us sisters will have to
battle. How do they expect us to look pretty and smell nice in 30 minutes? Haha
the hard water is something I am adjusting to, but it is bearable. I truly am
loving my time here at the MTC. It is pushing me to my limits, but in a good
way. I am going into the inferno and coming out as a better person.
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I
am truly enjoying my experience here at the MTC. It has been very trying at
times, but I have definitely felt myself coming closer to Heavenly Father,
Jesus Christ and the spirit. The Korean language is hard to grasp at times, but
everything is coming together. I am truly amazed at how far my district and I
have come in a little over a week. I do not think that I would have been able
to survive without the presence of the spirit and my understanding
district/companion.
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Thank you for the package that you sent me, as well as the card. I have never laughed so hard in my entire life. The card
truly was a bright spot in a pretty difficult day.
Things here at the MTC are very difficult, but it definitely
has brought me closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I do not think that
I would have been able to survive without the presence of the spirit and my
understanding district/companion.
Korean
is a very difficult language, but oddly scientific. So, I am picking up on
things slowly but surely. So our first investigator was definitely a learning
experience. I think I was more worried about learning the language and
pronunciation that I neglected to follow the spirit. I have learned that I can
do it, but I have to be willing to let the spirit fill in the gaps whether that
be the language barrier or knowledge. Other than that, it has been an
incredible experience teaching our first "investigator." It turns out
that our investigator is our second teacher at the MTC. It is quite
embarrassing because he knows how bad we are at the language and teaching! I
jest. Both of my teachers are incredibly nice and are more than willing to help
us linguistically and spiritually. I have learned a lot in such a short amount
of time.
Another
thing I love about the MTC is the rigorous schedule. I never knew that I could
handle 16 hours days when it does not revolve around public health! I do still
crave naps every now and then, but overall I am learning to function on minimal
amounts of sleep.
The first Sunday was a bit terrifying because the branch
president randomly calls on one elder and sister to give a talk in Korean. In
the morning, you can cut the tension with a knife because everyone is scared
that they will get called on. They have a small fireside followed by a church film.
Last Sunday I was able to see a talk given by Elder Bednar about the Character
of Christ. There were some bright points that I really want to talk to you
about. I think you would love it because it reminded me so much about you!
Thank you for being such an amazing brother. I truly would
not be the same person without your continual guidance and love. Thank you for
everything!
Love,
Melanie
