A mission should not be the highlight of your life but the foundation for the rest of your life

Hey family and friends!

I love it here at the MTC during this wonderful Christmas season. It was snowing a little today and it left a nice little amount snow on the ground which made me think of my white Christmases at home in VA!

It has been a crazy week but lots of uplifting moments and memories. We are receiving our new missionaries tomorrow. 19 total and 4 of them are sisters. One of them is going to the Belgium mission Chinese speaking. President Baker said it is the first one that he has first heard of going to Belgium! The mandarin speakers are everywhere I guess.

 Last Tuesday we were able to hear from Elder Hallstrom of the 70. His talk was really powerful and it really reminded me of why am I here on a mission.

He talked about how it is my choice where or not this mission will change my life. I want this mission to change my life so I will be 100% obedient to receive all the blessings I can.

He also talked about how we need to expect to get answers which I really liked because sometimes I think I will not get an answer so I don't because I am fearful.

I need to have what I want my investigators to have. That is why I am here at the MTC to gain a better testimony myself. I can only convert people to the level of my conversion.

I am going to choose to be happy! I am pretty good at this one but there is always room for improvement. Don't let other people determine your happiness!

He also talked a lot about sometimes missionaries don't progress because they put limitations on themselves. It is not God but their own fears and worries. I really felt like he was talking to me during this. I have hit a wall with learning and it is because I am scared of not being good enough. i am scared that I won't be able to learn this language which is foolish because God is on MY side. He will help me!

Elder Hallstrom also stated "A mission should not be the highlight of your life but the foundation for the rest of your life"

I agree! The mission is teaching me great study skills of the scriptures, language, doctrine! I am becoming a scholar I feel like!

In our district meeting afterward we talked about what we all learned.  I talked about how my friend told me the MTC is a refiners fire for the missionary. God is burning off all my sharp edges and is smoothing them.

I need to learn as much vocab as I can because then God can steer me in a wider direction.

 

Our progressing investigators are doing great! (These are our teachers who take on roles of people who they taught and we teach them now) We are finally connecting with Pan which is good because we have visited with him 6 times. He is doing awesome! She quit drinking tea without any problem. This was our biggest concern with her.

I was reading in Jacob 7 I like how in verse 7 it says " I could not be shaken". i want to be like Jacob. When someone comes and tries to shake me I want to be firm in my beliefs!

On Sunday for Relief Society Sister Elaine Dalton CAME!!!! It was amazing! She really focused on how one virtuous woman can change the world! I as a sister missionary am part of the change that can happen in the world. She showed us a cool youtube video of a flash mob in a California mall but it was all Christmas music! It was amazing to see all types of people stop and listen! you should try to find it!

I am doing a lot better this week! I am re focused and ready to learn. I have felt that because I have so much potential Satan has been really trying to get me down. I will not let him win so I have kept my chin up! I can do this! I have been promised so many blessing and they will come but I first have to work on the input and let God take care of the output!

Today I was talking with the worker in the mail room and he asked me where my family lived. I gave him a confused look and then he asked again and it clicked. My English is going but my Chinese is improving LOADS! Sometimes as I read back over my journal I think this doesn't make sense because it is in English grammar. I am sure that you have noticed that in my letter. Oops

I am so excited to go to Taiwan. I only have 5 weeks left and I feel the pressure to learn the language! I am starting to fel a real love for these people. I am feeling a genuine care about them and their needs as I am teaching these progressing investigators. I want to help them so badly and when they don't do their commitments I am sad because I am just trying to help them better understand the gospel!

I love this church! I love being a missionary during this Christmas season! The spirit is so strong here. The feeling I get while being here is one of peace and joy. I am constantly being reminded of the reason for Christmas. Christ was born as a baby to die for me and my sins! Oh how my heart is so happy and grateful for him!

The 12 days of Christmas are going great. No one is even guessing it is me! The boys I mean Elders are all like it has to be one of the girls! It also helps me not focus on myself but on others!

This work is not about ME it is about others and how I can bring them this message of hope faith and love.

I love this church! I know it is true! I hope we all remember the reason for the season. It is all about that baby who was born in a manger who came to atone for all of our pains suffering sicknesses and afflictions. Read Alma 7: 11-14.

Love,

Sister Latimer

Lei jie mei