Holy holy cow! Everyone told me that a mission was hard. I always assumed they meant learning a language, or it was hard to convince investigators to join the church. But while that can be hard, a mission is actually, like physically hard to get through. I know that if I was going through this on my own there would be no way I would could do it. I know that God is supporting me and strengthening me and he is the only reason I am still going. Everyday, when I go to bed and I reflect, I can see his hand in my life in every way.
This week was not as exciting as last week. Just more busy. We are averaging teaching two investigators a day. One of our investigators is Isabel, who wouldn't even let us in the door the first time we contacted her and asked us what mercy meant in our second lesson with her. If anyone has a good answer to that question on the top of there heads, and would like to explain a concept like that in Malay to me I would like to hear it. She makes it hard, but I know that we learn a lot from teaching her.
Yesterday, while teaching her I was trying to explain very simply the Plan of Salvation. I was telling her that we lived with God before we came to this earth, but he sent us here to get bodies and to be happy. I started listing some things I was grateful for. I started with families, then friends, and at that point I had run out of all the nouns that I could remember in Malay. So I blurted out the only other noun I could remember in Malay. Which happened to be waffles.
For all you learning Malay out there, waffles, in Malay, is waffles.
My companion then stated that she was grateful for the earth, ducks, and ice cream. Which, are all very important things to be grateful for! We asked Isabel what she was grateful for and she just lit up! she went on and on about all the things she was grateful for. So, if nothing else, she knows that God loves her and has blessed her with many things in this life. Even the little things like waffles.
There was buzz around the MTC this week that President Nelson was going to come talk to us. Sadly, all the rumors were false. But we did get to hear from Sister Eubank, the General Relief Society first counselor. And oh my goodness was it amazing. She compared us all to Moses, and gave us reasons why Moses was able to do such big miracles.
At one point she was talking and she said that when we are first trying something, or trying to do something better, we often only give ourselves two weeks to do this. She then bore her testimony of looking towards the long term goals, and always giving yourself more then two weeks to become good at something.
I know that she was talking to me! Before I came the MTC I was so nervous, I felt like I was not good enough. I agreed with myself that I wasn't allowed to go home until I had been in the MTC for TWO WEEKS. Sister Eubank's looked me in the eyes that day and told me to give it longer than that. The day after she gave that talk marked exactly two weeks since I had arrived at the MTC.
The Lord knows us. He is aware of every single one of us. He knows what you need and when you need it. God has a plan for you, and he will help you reach it!
So I am still here at the MTC and I am even more excited to see what God has in store for me. Sister Dayley and I continue to improve our beat boxing skills, and I am working on my Australian accent. The Malay feels like it is coming slow, but I am always surprised when it comes time to teach a lesson and I realize I can find the words I need to teach.
This week, I continue my tirade of interesting moments. One of the days this weeks, I put on a dress backwards and didn't notice until after dinner. I also keep getting told (by three different people) that I look just like Hermione, or Emma Watson. Take your pick. Finally, one of the Australian Elders brought a bunch of veggie-mite he so kindly wanted to share with us.
Family, and friends. I can honestly say that veggie-mite tastes like death feels. It hurt me physically to taste it.
I love you all, sorry this email is all over the place. I hope you have an amazing week! Thank you for all the emails! They mean the world to me! Sorry about the pictures last week! I will try to figure them out!
Sister Skinner
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