Selamat pagi!! This is my last Thursday to email from the MTC! The schedules change next week and my pday will be on Tuesday, so expect to hear from me then. And then I'm basically out of here. In 11 days. Finally.
Jenna Eve Morgan. I can't believe you're getting married on Saturday. I love you so so much and I will totally be there in Spirit mmmk? YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!!
So, surprise surprise. Cool things are still happening at the MTC. But before I get there, let me just mention that church on Sunday was the Sister Norton show. I led all the music, gave a talk (about your cherry trees, daddy!), and the closing prayer. And Sunday was such a sublime day. Seriously, did anyone look outside??? It was gorgeous! We went on our temple walk at about 1 and the flowers were so pretty and everything was green and it was sunny and we took some sweet jumping pictures. It was one of those days where I was in such a good mood that I was writing stuff like this in my journal: "There is seriously never an ordinary day here. How can there be when I'm seeing miracles everyday and everything is so beautiful! You get to talk to amazing people everyday! Life is the coolest gift."
Tuesday was the raddest though. Elder Scott came to speak to us and it blew my mind. Seriously. He answered so many questions that I've had for a while. Then he bestowed an apostolic blessing on all of us learning languages to have the gift of tongues. My friends, apostolic blessings are pretty awesome. The whole time I've been learning Malay, my Mandarin has just slipped, slipped away. After the devotional on Tuesday night, I was showering and phrases of Mandarin just kept coming to my mind. Here's where it gets really cool though. I was a host for new missionaries yesterday, and the sister that I hosted was from SHENZHEN! Shenzhen, as in the place I'd go to church in China. Right next to Zhongshan, my hometown. Sister Yue Gao. And she's the sweetest thing ever! She speaks English but not extremely well, and it just happened to be that all the phrases that I had remembered the night before were the ones that I needed to be able to communicate with her and help her find everything she needs. She was so impressed with my Chinese and I think I was even impressed! It shocked me. I have no doubt in my mind that it was the Spirit because frankly, I seriously fail at Mandarin now. It was the coolest experience.
Also, in the past week I've eaten dinner with President Brown, President Nally, and President McIff...the MTC presidency. It's like every time we sit down to eat one of them pops up and sits down next to us and just wants to chat the whole time. It's been cool getting to know them, they're amazing men. They were shocked to find out that we're an all sister district. Apparently they've never seen it while they've been in the presidency.
I think that pretty much wraps everything up. I have the coolest family in the world. Both sides. Thank you all for writing me this week, Aunt Traci, Stoney, Grandma Dionne, Aunt Shawna, Mom, Dad, Dax. I love you so much and will try to write you soon! I miss you and pray for all of you every day. (Dearelder.com you are seriously so cool! Thank you.)
Have such a happy Easter this Sunday! I know that our Savior lives. Seek Him every single day and I promise you His peace and love will come flowing into your life.
Dengan kasih,
Sister Norton
HFI
(Note from mother ~ Mikelle loves to read comments to her blog ~ I send them to her ... so please leave them if you feel so inclined to. Thank you :)
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What!? Kelle! I can't believe that. I got chills reading about the apostolic blessing, china shower phrases and your experience with Sister Yue Gao. So wonderful. Our Father in Heaven is so great.
ReplyDeleteYou're so great. I love you sister missionary lady.
I love reading your letters! You are truly an inspiration to me. Can't wait for the next installment!
ReplyDeleteWe thought about you in primary, Mikelle. Yes, that other little world of primary keeps going over here. Today I tried the "challenge and promise" phrasing as I testified of the powerful meaning of the song we were singing about Jesus' resurection for Easter. I was impressed how well they "got it" nodding their heads and agreeing with a sincere look on their beautiful little faces.
ReplyDeleteKids are investigators, you know. There is no MTC for primary workers, we are all just serving the best we can where the Lord needs us.
Keep up your great work. Your sweetness and diligence is a blessing to all who come in contact with you--including those who pop up to eat lunch and chat, be your companion or be specifically placed where you can speak chinese to help, of course your family and last---those who are privileged to read your blog!!!