Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Week 3 and Elder Bednar

Ok, here's the third try of posting this email: 
3rd week of the MTC life!!!!! 
So funny story first. I was in a lesson with Bik Ji Muih and we were inviting our investigator (our teacher) to church. I said "Church is the opportunity..." then stopped because he looked confused. He repeated it back to me and I confirmed yes. We kept going and the lesson ended. Later, in CLASS, I said a word that I thought meant "where". It actually meant fish market because I did one tone wrong. hahah if that wasn't funny enough, he was also like "And by the way, "gaiwui" means chicken conference. And then it dawned on me. I had said "Church is a chicken conference." 
I am now terrified to use the word "geiwui" (gay woe ee) because it sounds very close to "gaiwui" (guy woe ee) which means chicken conference. hahahahahahahahahahahaha we were laughing SO hard. I know that church is not a chicken conference.
 The Cantonese is coming, now the hardest part is keeping up the progress as fast as in the first and second week. (Also not saying wrong tones) We just have to be diligent in studying and not be afraid to make mistakes. It takes a lot of time and is very difficult, but so worth it and usually very fun!
So the highlights of the week were....
Amazing district lesson on being a consecrated missionary. Seriously so good, Elder Mccusker taught and did so well.
ELDER BEDNAR CAME AND SPOKE ON SUNDAY!
So there is this amazing video they only show in the MTC by Elder Ballard called Character of Christ. Instead of having a live speaker come for the devotional, we watched the video of Character of Christ (which changes lives) as an MTC, since we had so many new missionaries and they allow the new missionaries to watch it anyway. (We all watch a movie after the devotional. The options are Character of Christ, the Joseph Smith movie, The Testaments, and a few other church ones) After the video, Elder Bednar himself walked in, alongside his wife. Everyone was shocked and immediately stood up. I thought we were standing to sing a hymn, then I looked up and saw Elder Bednar! I was like 30 feet from an apostle! I seriously couldn't even breathe for a second. He said he sometimes likes to surprise everyone and come to the MTC because he knows they show Character of Christ on Sunday nights. He did a Q and A session with the hundreds of missionaries and I learned SO much.
Just a few things I loved about it...
A) The Spirit is the real teacher. I didn't ask my specific question, but it was still answered through the Spirit
B) "Our yearning is to be more like the Savior, not because we're a missionary, but because we are a baptized member of the church. You took upon yourself his name long before you got a badge." Our responsibility as baptized church members are equal to that of missionaries, and we should all be anxious and engaged to follow Christ and remember that we took his name upon ourselves. As missionaries, we are also his representatives and invite others to come unto him.
C) A personal revelation I had was that I always wanted my investigators to have "a working testimony." I realized that a working testimony is a testimony working toward conversion.
D) "Charity can become spiritually instinctive." 
E) "A girl does ten things and nine of the perfectly. Then she obsesses over the one she did mediocre. A boy does ten things and does one mediocre and is like yeah!" haha I could not believe that came out of an apostle's mouth! When one sister asked how to be the best missionary she could all the time, he said simply "Be a good girl." Basically, do what you know is right, do your best, and don't worry about perfection. Be worthy, not perfect.
Elder Keeron (the one who gave the AMAZING talk on refugees was also there.) He said "Thank you for who you are becoming. You won't become it in one day, but thank you. The Lord will bless you and you will love the work."
It was a powerful Sunday!!!!!
Yesterday our devotional was so good too. My favorite quote was "Diligence is more important than intelligence." Which is very comforting for us learning Cantonese!

I also accidentally called dabbing, "dalloping". Can you all imagine how behind I am going to be in pop culture after being on a mission for 18 months??? hahahaha I think Nana Ruby is more uptodate than me. :) 

This week really was a week of so much growth and continuing conversion. My testimony of the church grows every day, and I know of a surety that Christ lives and Heavenly Father loves us. I love teaching people about their Savior every day. You don't really realize how miraculous the gospel really is until you teach it. I hope we never take it for granted. 
I have been reading the New Testament this week, and I invite you all to read it as well! I often ask myself now "What would the Savior do?" and learning about his earthly ministry is so important to knowing who he is and understanding his character. Christ taught us to look outward, to strengthen others and help them in any way we can. I KNOW that serving others brings the most happiness. My companion LOVES the song "Come Unto Christ." I love the words too...Come unto Christ. Come unto him, and by his grace be made holy again. He's calling your name, he's waiting for you...with arms open wide. Come unto Christ." I know that our Redeemer, our brother, Jesus Christ, wants us to be close to him. To use the Atonement and be sanctified through it. The Atonement and Plan of Salvation has never felt so real and miraculous to me. It is wonderful, wonderful to me. I hope it still is for all of you. If you simply ponder and pray about it, I know Heavenly Father would love to strengthen your testimony of a gospel truth, and I know it will help you recognize and feel the Spirit. 
Love you all!

-- Sister Dopp

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