Apostles, Charity, and a Clever Title

It is hard to believe that Elder Meanea is half-way through his MTC stay this Saturday! He is so grateful for your love and support. 

My beloved Family!

What a week. Every week I spend here is truly a humbling and learning experience for me. Thank you all so much for the prayers and support that you are sending my way.

Thursday, August 4, 2016
We taught Ding again today. We usually teach one lesson a day at least, alternating between Ding and Zhou. We helped explain what our Purpose was in visiting Ding, since we hadn't really mentioned our purpose. It's so hard to teach these "Investigators" because they teach our classes and know what we're supposed to do in lessons with them. We also taught Zhou today, and I recited the First Vision to him in Chinese. There is so much power in Joseph's account. We challenged him to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about the truthfulness, so we'll see how that goes!

Friday, August 5, 2016
I made a goal today (after a little math) to write down five blessings a day that I see. And do it in Chinese. Therefore, if I stay faithful to it, by the end of my mission, I will have 3535 blessings written down in Chinese. I have so many blessings that I could see instead of being discouraged when things go wrong, or when I don't get my Chinese right. I did this because our learning time was really difficult, because the teachers only speak Chinese, and we have to try as well. I got really frustrated half-way through, and couldn't learn a thing. We had a small break, and I realized that I was going against my favorite quote. "Fear and Faith cannot occupy the same body at the same time." Frustration will never help me, and the Lord never wants it.

I found a pazelle in the MTC store!

Satuday, August 6, 2016
Wow. We had TRC today, and these are Chinese speaking Church Member volunteers that we go and teach lessons to. We had about seven minutes to prepare, but we got there, and both our investigators shared very spiritual experiences with us. We taught what we could, and both really appreciated our lessons. Ding also accepted Baptism today! We don't know when, but she accepted it!

Sunday, August 7, 2016
Again an amazing Sabbath. We had a Mission Conference because it was fast Sunday, which was very moving since one of our MTC presidency was released due to medical problems. Elder Potts was released as District Leader today. They replace them every three weeks. We had a special Choir practice to prepare for our devotional from President of UVU Matthew Holland. He gave a great devotional about Joseph Smith, and at the end we sang "Praise to the Man." I love our devotionals. During study time I went through the entire Topical Guide entry about Charity. Because that's the basis of our Work. Is to love our fellow man, enough to leave our homes and families, sacrifice our native language, and live to have the spirit so they can know Christ, for that is life eternal. My favorite scripture was Mark 12:30-31

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

 I've been praying to love my investigators and District a lot this week. I know as I let go of myself and hold on to God, that I'll be more easily able to bear the burdens, and accept the blessings that God offers me.

Monday, August 8, 2016
Another lesson with Ding today. She was tired, but we got to help her understand the introduction to the Book of Mormon better, so it was a good lesson. 

A cardboard sword we built.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Elder Andersen gave our Devotional today! Yeah, that Apostle. Boom. I was so excited for the end, just so I could hear the testimony he is set apart to always bear, as a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was really in our discussion after that I felt the Spirit, because we all bore our testimonies, and mine was of things I hadn't even though to share before I stood up. So many small blessings happen every day. I just have to see them.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016
We went to the temple early and did some initiatory work for an Elder in our district's family. His Grandma gave him the password to her Family Search account, so we have a wealth of names. Hehehe...We then went back and I went on splits because half of us wanted to nap and the other half wanted to go to the gym. And by gym I mean gymnasium, not like muscle-guys and weight lifting. Apparently I give really good one-liners, because some of the Elders in my district are always bringing up something I said a week or two before. Who knows? I don't. We'll teach Zhou again tonight about the Atonement, and I hope we can connect with him again. 

Me at the Temple today.

P-day ramen so we could wait to get dressed longer.

Faith, not fear. I can't wait to talk to you all again next week! Keep praying, because I know God always hears you.


-Elder Meanea