4 Weeks Left in the MTC

Hi Everbody!

This week has been an interesting week especially since it has been filled with many ups and downs usually concerning Mongolian. We taught the third lesson again at the TRC and me and Sister Adams felt that it didn't go very well. No one felt prepared for the lesson since we had so many things going on that week. We had to observe an English class and then teach we then had to host for the new missionaries and so many other things were happening. Me and Sis. Adams had also tried a new way of studying. We tried to just study the vocabulary needed and not write out sentences so that we weren't memorizing a script. So that way we could practice making sentences in our head based on the vocabulary. That is a lot harder than it sounds and by Thursday we were very stressed. So we wrote down some sentences on Thursday and started memorizing.
All the volunteers ended up being male which for some reason is more intimadating since they aren't as nice to us beginners. We ended up teaching someone who teaches English to the Mongolians here. His name is Brother Gaberial. We asked a lot of questions about "how was church?" and "if he had questions from last week's lesson?" but of course we didn't understand anything he said and he had to repeat it a zillion times. Sometimes we just moved on and pretended that we understood. He said something about having to work instead of going to church and we never understood what he was saying about last week's lesson. I think I only understood the work thing was he used alot of hand motions. He asked alot of questions throughout the lesson especially about Repentance. I could only catch a few words of what he said and sometimes I didn't catch anything. I would always have to turn to my companion who caught on quicker and she would answer. I leave for Mongolia in four weeks and I can't even talk to people let alone understand them! In two weeks we are going to talk nothing but Mongolian!! We tried that for an hour and it is sooo hard! I don't know in vocabulary, only gospel vocabulary. I want to try and study other vocabulary more but I'm always preparing for my lesson. And half the time I forget the lesson we just taught because we move onto another lesson. I still have no idea how I'm going to become a returned missionary speaker from my present situation with Mongolian.
Anyways, back to the TRC. Later that night we ran into Bro. Gaberial as his class was out bearing their testimonies. We were outside doing language study. He came and talked to us about how we felt the lesson went. We said that we didn't feel that great about it. He then asked us how we measure our performances or the lessons. I don't remember what we said but he said that it is determined by the presence of the Holy Ghost. He said that as an investigator he could feel that we cared about him and wanted him to understand. He could feel the Spirit as we bore our testimonies in broken Mongolian and when we asked him to pray. It was very uplifting to get some feedback from the investigator. We just need to keep the focus that the investigator is what matters and if they feel the spirit.
We finally had an Apostle come speak at our devotional. We had Richard G. Scott, one of my favorites. He talked about feeling and following the promptings of the spirit. He gave us many examples from his life where following the spirit has saved his life. He also talked about prayer and how we shouldn't take that special privilege to talk to our Heavenly Father for granted. He blessed us as missionaries to have the gift of tongues and that we would be protected while we served. It was wonderful to hear his testimony of the living Christ and that he knows that he lives and loves all of us.
Here are some quotes and scriptures for the week:
"If you have struggles in your life don't, don't ever think that there is something wrong with you. Seeing your weaknesses means that you are moving closer to God" -Gordon B. Hinckley
"Those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves"
"If you ever have negative feelings towards anyone try to remember their testimonies and their love for the Savior." -my district leader, Elder Burns
The Church is true and keep the faith!
Sister Sumsion