Hi Family,
Well, I have 20 days left until I leave for Hong Kong. Can you believe that!! I know, it's crazy but wonderful. It's hard to remember that time does not freeze here. I have been enjoying my time to learn here, but wow. I guess I actually leave soon. This means a lot of things. First off, we are trying to really work hard this last bit. We really want to make this a springboard to the mission field. That mostly summarizes things. We're trying not to get overwhelmed, but just to work hard. We've been getting letters from the sister in the previous district talking about her first few weeks in Hong Kong, and it's really brought this home to us. That Hong Kong exists, and that we will be doing work there so soon! You know, time has really been flying. I get the impression that my whole mission will feel like that. I'm also realizing that this is such precious time, and that this is going to be the experience of my life, and that I really want to treasure it. I know it's going to be incredibly hard, but that doesn't particularly matter. I'm also beginning to better understand the unique authority of my calling. I want to treasure that more, too. The next chance I might get to do this again will probably not be until I am 60 or so. So, I shall treasure it!
Well, what have I been up to lately? On Sunday, we somehow missed that it was daylight savings and got up an hour early accidentally...Really, since we are separated from the world a bit, there was no way we could have known unless we heard the one announcement they gave, which we somehow didn't hear. Ooops. Also, we've been teaching a lot. We've had to move some baptismal dates, but our investigators continue to teach us and things are moving ahead. I've learned a lot. Let's see, I've also been getting over my cold nicely. Thanks for the prayers and love. Ah, yes, also, two of our elders were just called to be zone leaders. This means that we are going to be a busy district, since I am coordinating sister (out of 6 people, 3 of us will be out of class for meetings regularly. At least we'll be together, though, right?) Honestly, I'm really excited to work with them. I have said this before and I'll say it again, our district is full of some amazing people. Speaking of that, my companions and I feel like absolute sisters by now (which we are!). We've learned a lot together, especially about stopping when we're confused or not feeling unified, and praying and talking through things right away. It's humbling to see who's actually guiding our companionship. It sure isn't any of us. (also, by the way, I might have mentioned that we're all very similar in the fact that we're very independant, so this is a miracle that we feel so unified and happy and loving. Also, did I mention that all of our fathers are engineers? Random, huh?)
So, I also haven't told you that we're not learning characters yet. We're not actually allowed to learn them until we get to the field and pass of some things. Which, honestly, is just fine with me. Makes sharing scriptures interesting, though. We have made up for this by marking with tabs and other little tricks.
Lastly, I'm realizing again how much I'm learning. We're really only learning to teach, because that is our purpose. So, I know that I won't understand a lot when I get to Hong Kong (because our vocab is only gospel related), but that I will still be able to teach and understand things that pertain to the gospel. In fact, in some lessons we've had here, I finish them and realize, "Wait! They were speaking Chinese to me and I understood it!" It's a miracle.
Well, I've got to go now. I'm sorry that this is a particularly random letter, but that's all there is to it. I just have so much to tell you that I just can't possibly make sense. I try hard to write down lists of things I want to include in the letter, but they'll never all make it in. So, here are the important things: I am so happy to be on this mission. I am excited to get the opportunity to be on the front lines of a stone-cut-out-of-a-mountain-rolling-forth-and-shall-not-be-stopped work! It's incredible. I really want to do everything I can to make the most of this precious time I have. Also, I have a revamp of a quote that's helped me: you've heard about "Forget yourself and go to work." Well, I want to "Use my whole self and go to work." I'm realizing more and more that Heavenly Father wants me to use my whole agency, my whole creativity, everything, for this work, and that I really should BE myself. It's more fun that way, too.
Well Family, I love you. Oodles. Hugs to all!
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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