The P-Days are Coming Faster!

We got a surprise email from Elder Meanea today! He flies out to Taiwan tomorrow so they let him send us an email since he won't have a P-day until next Monday.

Wow Family! It seems like just five days ago I was doing this! The P-Days are going by faster than ever! ;-) Just kidding. It's the day before I get on a dead-dinosaur powered flying train that will take me over one of the largest expanses of water in the world, to arrive in a country where they use sticks to eat and speak in tongues. Just your average, ordinary, every day Missionary. Trying to preach the word. I am honestly so excited. This week has been a constant battle between my fear of actually entering the field, and my Faith in Christ. They can't exist in the same body at the same time, and it's been a constant struggle to choose the faith. But it's a choice that I'll make now and every day until I'm called back to that Heavenly Home. The more I think about it, the more I think the mission is training me for the future. God's preparing me to go home and do the same things I did in Taiwan, except with all the other worldly distractions. He's getting me ready now when it's easy, to go forward in the future. It's kind of a really cool thought. I'm really going to miss my Diqu (District) We've truly become a family here. They are all my friends for life, and they're all so different. Looking back I can see how God wanted me to love and know each one of them. In their own quiet ways, they have strengthened my testimony and shown me how to be more like the Savior. I'll be forever grateful for this time. The time I thought would never end, but in the end came much too quickly. I'm amazed by how little time we have. Yes, I have 22 months of mission left, but will I get blind-sided before the end, realizing how much more I could have given? There are things I did well at the MTC, and things that I regret not doing so well. But as Elder Councill once said, "I don't live with regrets, just goals to improve."

Thursday, September 8, 2016
We had in field orientation all day today, where we discussed topics such as finding, working with members, and goals and planning. About 9 hours of break-out sessions and classes. It looked like it was going to be a long day, but I tried to remember the whole time that if this wasn't going to improve my mission, Heavenly Father wouldn't have it as part of the program. It was actually very very good, and went by quickly.

Friday, September 9, 2016
We had our last service day today, so we said goodbye to the people who ran our building. It was a little sad. We've done that nine times now. Then we went to class and taught our new investigator Li. She is a tour guide and has heard a little about the Church. On Monday we taught about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. Today we discussed Christ and the Atonement with her. I have a firm testimony of the promise that when we Testify of Christ, the Holy Spirit will always attend us, and carry that testimony unto their very hearts. I felt it, and so did she, and so did Elder Potts. We couldn't stop smiling the rest of the day.

Saturday, September 10, 2016
We committed our last investigator, Ou to baptism today! It was also the last lesson we'll teach at the MTC. September 20th is his day. Then we spent the rest of the day reading last notes or watching video messages from our "Investigators" saying goodbye to us. It was a little bit hard. This has been my life for two months. And now I'm leaving behind these teachers that helped me become the missionary I'll enter the field as. It was also a huge mistake, but my whole zone started packing bags this last Wednesday. That didn't make us trunky at all. :-P Some suitcases have been sitting outside our rooms for nearly a week now. I think we might be just a bit excited to get in the field.

My stack of 1000 Chinese flash cards

Sunday, September 11, 2016
I don't think a week will go by without me stressing the sacredness and importance of the Sabbath. When I remember to go into the sacrament prayerfully, it is such a sacred experience. A thought that I had this week which will probably become more true is that I want to act in a way that would let any investigator attending church for the first time to feel that Spirit during church. I'm sure missionaries are a little scared sometimes wondering if they're going to be able to feel that Spirit, hoping everyone demonstrates how sacred it is. We had an exit devotional, and it just really made me want to be able to reflect Christ's love. This work is all about Christ. And then I had my last choir practice at the MTC, and Elder M. Russel Ballard came and spoke to us. Just, you know, the FOURTH APOSTLE we've met at the MTC. :-D He talked about how we are always going to be watched. So are we going to help our hinder Christ's work by our example?

Monday, September 12, 2016
Well, we woke up and sent one of the people in our district off to the airport. Elder Vera Ovehera is on his way to the France, Leon mission speaking Mandarin. We've got another on his way to Leeds England Mandarin Speaking at 8:50. I've loved all this week because I've gotten postcard style pictures from Labor day from all the families. Thank them all so much for me! I don't have all the pictures with me, so I don't remember exactly who, but just thank them all!