So, how are things going here? Grand, just grand. I had a bit of a plateau for about three days last week (any plateau is too long), but I've been pushing forward and learning oodles. Lots. And yet my brain has not burst. Halleluiah! It's still rather fun, but I am beginning to realize just how much more I need to learn. Ack! Onward!
So, yes, all my fellow Muscovites left me this week. I got to see my beloved Hermana St Pierre the night before she left and we took tearful pictures. But actually, we're both really excited. How fun to do this together!
So, what funny mistakes have I made in my lessons this week? Hee hee. Lots. But here's a good one. The word for "concerns" with different tones means "children." So, in a lesson about prayer, my companion says, so what concerns do you have that you could pray about? The investigator (a 17 year old) made a face, so I thought she didnt' want to answer, so I said "We all have our own private concerns. But we can pray to Heavenly Father about anything." We were actually saying "what children do you have that you could pray about? And, "We all have our own private children." Oh dear. Yet funny.
By the way, we are teaching 3 different investigators. We teach at least once a day, which is kind of a lot and kind of not enough. All of our investigators are either our teachers or fellow missionaries, but it's still good to learn to teach what they really need to hear. It's really good practice in following the Spirit. We make sure to teach the doctrine, but spend a lot of time making sure we know their concerns and where they're coming from. An important teaching point.
There will be many more such instances, but as long as we are sincere and show love for the investigator and make sure they know that God loves them and can answer them better than we can, it really won't ruin the work. We're trying our best, and it will turn out ok.
So, next Monday, our older Cantonese district leaves! Yikes! Two going to Hong Kong, one to Toronto! This is exciting, but kinda sad. Also, this means that we have to become the 'mature' district, for when the new one comes in. Oh dear, what a long ways we have to go. But as I've said, we're working hard. . . .
Speaking of my companions, all three of us are doing well, and increasing in love and patience. Also, we're learning how to teach together in unity a lot better. I mean, yesterday we prepared the 1st lesson for our new investigator (we had to do it quickly because we just got this new investigator - he's a native of Hong Kong, a missionary in another district), didn't take in notes, and managed to teach to his needs, I'm fairly sure. This means we are getting more on the same page. Hooray! This is hard when we learn at different paces.
Speaking of learning, I just recently started memorizing the 1st vision account, and I'm realizing how different written Cantonese is from spoken. To bring back our conversation on language morphing, it's also cool to see that older people pronounce a lot of things differently and even use different words. That means more vocab for me! Hooray!
Well, I just ran out of time. Know that I love you. Lots. I have such a wonderful family, and I know it. I hope you're still doing well. Thanks for your long letters. Keep it up!
Love! In vast quantities!
Sister Nielsen
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