S1:E3 The One Where We Prepare to Leave for Hong Kong

 

Hey everyone, how's your week?

This week has been challenging and spiritual. I'm gonna keep this email short since we're kinda busy and have to get a swab test in awhile for our flight to Hong Kong tomorrow.

The past few days were a little hard for me to learn how to be patient with my companion. I had to learn how to accept who she is and to love her for who she is. My patience was really tested but I didn't want to quarrel with her of course, I needed to learn how to humble myself and adjust. It reminded me of almost all the topics of the devotionals, that we cannot control people's thoughts, actions, or who they are but we can control how we react and respond to them and the situation with love. 

                                                                             

 

I invite all of you to think of a Christlike attribute you wish to obtain. Mine is PATIENCE!! Because I barely have any haha. We can all acquire it together so we won't feel so alone. Let me know what Christlike attribute you want to achieve for this month or week, and let's work on it together!

Our devotional last night was cool with an area seventy. I learned that we are all like emergency lights. We are the bearers and sharers of light to those who have little to no hope in times of darkness. I forgot his name, I think it was Elder Melecio and his wife? I didn't really hear his name.

We got to call some people this week who strengthened my testimony. I'm grateful for people who trust us and share with us about how they are feeling. One of the sisters we called, sister Pacheco, speaks in Bicolano. I didn't understand what she was saying, only my companion did. But the gifts of the Spirit is real. When you have the heart to listen intently, the Spirit will help you understand what they mean. I felt her love for her son who is serving a mission right now. I also felt her love for God and I know she felt the Spirit because I can see it in her eyes!

Listening to people's testimonies is something I discovered I love doing. Not only does it strengthen my testimony, but it allows the Spirit to work with me because the Spirit helps me feel and understand their love. The Spirit also helps me know what to share. 

I'm learning to love and love the work!

Sister Sy

XUE JIEMEI

                                                

S1:E2 The One Where I Gain 5 kg and Lose 3 of my Wisdom Teeth

 

 Hi everyone!

This has been an exhausting week. I got 3 of my wisdom teeth out! The worst experience of my life, it was really really REALLY painful + having a strong gag reflex wasn't helping. I always hum hymns when I'm in the dental clinic because it calms me down. I never knew I could shake so much and be so terrified, I can't even stop myself from shaking so bad. My whole body was shaking and I was just so terrified but my dentists were so patient with me. Elder Rampton is like 72 years old, and his wife is like 66 years old. They keep cheering for me because they know I'm so scared. Sister Rampton was hugging me and kissing my head because she knew that it took so much courage to be there. I was crying so hard too, the tears just didn't stop from going down. I tried to hold it but I just caaan't!! A painful experience but it'll help me avoid a much more painful experience in the future. Elder Rampton talked to me calmly and told me that I was so brave and they just wanted to do the best for me so I wouldn't have health problems in the future. I hugged them after because they were so patient and understanding, and I'm so grateful for that.

I got to do a one-on-one with my teacher, brother Ibarra who served in Cebu East Mission. He asked me about my family, companionship, and goals. It was a great opportunity to be able to evaluate myself and I realized how my relationship with the Holy Ghost has been improving. There are so many new ideas and revelations I receive from reading the scriptures. Sometimes I get shocked because I wonder where it comes from! The Spirit is really strong here at the MTC, and my district helps a lot with it. They are so full of insights but they are all so humble.

There are 6 of us in the Job District:

• Elder Inocentes (District Leader - Antipolo Mission)

• Elder Calma (San Pablo Mission)

• Sister Jacinto (Tacloban Mission)

• Sister Catubay (Taiwan Taipei Mission) 

• Sister Diaz (China Hong Kong Mission)

• Sister Sy (China Hong Kong Mission)

We are all from different parts of the Philippines, we all have different missions, we all have different backgrounds and attitudes but we all have one purpose which makes us united and one. 

We also got to do practice teaching which is super scary but there is no growth in comfort! We need to stretch a little so we can be able to learn. It's scary but it's for our own benefit.

We had a district led reflection where everyone shares something about what they learned and I really felt the spirit and started to cry because of what my district mates shared. They don't know what goes on in my mind, but somehow, they share and say what I exactly need to hear and know. They are all so inspired, and I know that they are truly called of God to this great work. I know they'll be great missionaries! Even if all of them feel inadequate because of the pressure we feel here at the MTC, I know they'll bless lots of people with their simple but powerful testimonies. They are so well-prepared.

What I learned this week:

1. "What is in a name?" Remember.. remember what your name has done. Remember its works. Remember the name and its reputation.

2. What manner of man or woman ought ye to be? .. Even as the Savior

3. Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy [potential to become like Heavenly Father]

4. Understand not to be understood. Learn to listen to people and care for them.

5. Be the master of technology and don't be slaves to it. The leaders want to immunize a generation to get rid of temptations such as social media, so that the future generation won't have a hard time to deal with it. We should figure out a way for the next generation to have it easier.

6. Stress is necessary for growth - but not too much of it. Know your limits. 

7. Control what you think and reframe your thoughts!

8. Be intentional in all you do.

9. Repentance: change your focus. Be better! Don't be "good at staying good". Repentance is not always about the big things, there are little things you can focus on. Start in the small and simple things. Repentance is not just for sins, repentance is also learning how to read the scriptures more effectively, being more specific in your prayers.

10. When Adam and Eve ate from the fruit of knowledge, they hid from God. And God asked them where they were. God knew where they were! Yet why did he ask that question? .. Heavenly Father doesn't want us to hide from him. He wants us to go to Him! When we make mistakes, Heavenly Father already knows yet He wants US to come to Him.

11. Missionary work is like a seed. You can count the seeds in an apple but you cannot count the apples a seed can make.

12. Are you objects or agents? Will you be acted upon or act? Be agents and act, never choose to be acted upon.

13. The path will be difficult and you will be exhausted but do ALL you can do. 

14. We are meant to be in the place where Heavenly Father assigned us to be in.

15. You have control over your life. You are responsible for anything that happens in your life because you make your own choices so never blame others for the choices you make!

There are so many other things I've learned. I'm enjoying my time here at the MTC, I have a great companion who makes me laugh but at the same time encourages and strengthens me. I have great roomies who are so fun to be with, we have a great bond together. Food here is great but you won't enjoy it with wisdom teeth that's healing. Room is cold and the blanket is really just a design and doesn't help at all for those who get cold so quickly. People here are kind and fun to talk to. I've been learning some words in Thai from my Thai friends (sawadeeka phelan! Fendeekha phelan!) We have awesome leaders here at the MTC, President and Sister Maurer are super kind and approachable. Elder and Sister Byrnes are so sweet. Elder and Sister Young are the cutest!

 

My Hong Kong itinerary is here, it's getting real! I leave on September 29th. Getting a swab on 27th, so please pray for me to have courage!!

I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon, specifically Moroni 10:3-5. I know the Book of Mormon is true, I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of Christ that holds the priesthood authority. I'm so grateful and blessed to be here. Thank you mommy and daddy for choosing to accept this true and everlasting gospel. Without your decision, I would've never learned what true joy is. 

Love,

Sister Sy

XUE JIEMEI

S1:E1 The One Where I Travel Alone and Arrive at The Manila MTC

 Hello, everyone! 

I am finally Sister Sy  When I arrived inside the airport, I was scared because I was alone by myself. After waiting for awhile, I approached a sister who looked uneasy finding for someone and she was also wearing a Sunday's Best. I asked her if she was Sister Millor and she gave the biggest sigh because she felt so relieved after finding me haha. She was from San Remegio but I was so confused because she barely spoke any Cebuano, so I had to unleash my Tagalog speaking skills  She was very sweet and kind, thankfully she liked talking so that was nice. While waiting for our plane for almost an hour, we saw Elder and Sister Choi and I told Sister Millor (Legaspi Mission) to come with me and say hi to them. We talked a bit and it was comforting to know that we weren't alone.

                                            

                                            

                                                         

We finally rode the plane and I was excited to ride one again  I got a little dizzy and deaf from the flying but they gave us a delicious Filipino snack so that was nice too. When we were leaving Cebu, that's when it finally hit me that I won't be back after 18 months and I kinda wanted to back out a little but I guess those were just mixed thoughts. We finally landed in Manila and there were 2 girls holding a "LDS Missionaries" sign and then we waited for like 30 minutes until the van arrived. I felt so sleepy so I slept in the van and then we arrived at Privato Hotel.

                                                         

                                                           

We waited for like an hour to be able to go up to our rooms. They also gave us breakfast and lunch, it wasn't the best but I was so hungry already. I was alone in my room for a few hours so I was just preparing my stuff. Then my roommate, Sister Lizaso (QC North Mission) arrived and she told me that we could go to the roof deck and that's where we met all the other sister missionaries. Finally got to talk some English and Bisaya.   When we went back to our room, me and Sister Lizaso were just talking all night about our personal lives like school, where we come from, stories we heard about the mission and more. It was hard to sleep because I tried so hard not to cough hahahaha she might think I have Covid but it was just the aircon.

                                                        

                                           

We arrived at the Manila MTC on Friday!! The van was so cold and the van was so full also. We had to do something like a treasure hunt, we had to go to places so we could surrender our phones, get vaccinated, answer a few forms, get vitamins (which weren't even chewable, so I only ate 1 and we're supposed to take 1 everyday but it's hard for me. I'll probably buy vitamins today because it's PDAY.

                                           

My MTC experience has been okay so far. I'm learning a lot, I can't remember all of it but they're in my notes. All I can remember from yesterday was that "Miracles always happen in the action". I belong to the Job District under the Cumorah branch. Our sacrament is scary, because we have to prepare like 2 talks about 2 topics and then we don't know who the speaker will be until it's announced during the conducting part  We have so many classes and we have a lot of assignments which is a good and a bad thing because we don't know which one to prioritize first and we get to forget ourselves and focus on the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

                                           

The food here at the cafeteria is FEI CHANG HAO!! I love the breakfast and I'm eating a lot I guess. I look forward to every meal and I know it's not allowed to take food from the cafeteria but we sneak in a Nutella sandwich whenever it's available hehe! We get so hungry in the afternoon, I think God can understand 

                                                    

                                  

So far these are what I've learned in the MTC devotionals, classes and workshops:

1. "Sacrifice • Blessings • Joy" … I am part of the Lord's finest team. The Lord, the most magnificent being, trusts me and is confident in me [and all the missionaries].

2. True doctrine understood changes attitudes and behavior.

3. Make SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timebound

4. "Missionary Work in Social Media" … No matter what era we live in, our Heavenly Father has prepared [another] way for us to reach people and bring the glad tidings of great joy. The pandemic allowed missionaries to share their talents and new creative ways to share the gospel in this kind of time.

5. Cultivate your desire, then act that desire.

                                             

       

6. Allow the Master, our Savior to finish the work you are working so hard on. Do ALL you can, then let the Lord seal and finish what you've done.

7. Success means doing well over the things you can control.

8. Will you choose to act or to be acted upon?

9. The results of a mission (or even life in general) will be a reflection of the choices you are making. It is entirely up to you!

10. You cannot convert people beyond your own conversion.

11. A diamond only becomes a diamond when pressure is placed. 

12. We are all pieces of a puzzle that complete the whole puzzle. Our talents are all different but they unite with one another.

13. You cannot control your circumstances but you can control your attitude.

14. Begin with the end in mind

15. Stop looking at the world through your eyes' perspective only. Look at the world through other people's eyes the only way they can see it.

16. Miracles take action. Miracles always happen in the action.

                                                      

*I can't send photos from my camera yet but I'll send it when I'm at Hong Kong. We can't download canon connect and my wire can't connect to the phone they gave. Sorry mom, I know I promised 100 pics hahaha* 

Pre Departure Bits & Pieces

 

                                      

                                  After setting apart with my Stake President

                                                   

Too excited being at the airport!

                                                                   It is time!

                                                              Hi ROMS hehe..

 

Bye Cebu hello MTC!