Qin ai wode jiating he pengyou!

Qin ai wode jiating he pengyou!

 

Women zhege libai you hen duo de gaibian.  This week, there were a lot of changes that took places.  Sister Jorgensen, my first companion, actually went home.  She was sick, and not getting better, and so she took a medical release.  I think it is for the best.  I know have a new companion.  Her name is Sister Camille Lee.  She is from AZ/UT.  I already know her, because we have been roommates this whole time.  I am really good friends with her, so I was super excited to hear that she was going to be my new companion.  Sister Reid is still my companion too.  I am in a trio now.  This happened on Saturday.  Also, the whole MTC changed their schedule.  I now have P-Day on Tuesday.  We went to the Temple this morning and it was great.  It set such a great mood for the rest of my day.  We also ate breakfast at the Temple cafeteria, because of our new temple time, we completely missed breakfast.  Yummy yum yum!  Hen hao chi!

 

I hope everyone had a great Easter.  Mine was really good.  My zone had an Easter egg hunt.  Everyone was so excited about it and that was fun to see.  We also took pictures all together at the Temple.  We had a great fireside too.  Stephen B. Allen came and showed us bunch of old LDS commericials, called Frontier Videos, and applied every tagline to missionary work.  Those commericials are so cheesy and fun!  We had a fabulous speical musical number too!  It made me really miss classical music.  I can't listen to my music here.  An elder from Hungary played "Vivaldi in A minor" by Bach.  It was fantastic!  I love it when I feel the Spirit through music!

 

Some funnies.  Chinese is hard!  Hehe! A couple weeks ago, I told our investigator that praying would bring darkness (hei'an) to her life.  I meant to say comfort (anxin).  Oops!  My companion corrected me really quickly.  And then a few days ago, I asked our investigator if he read his pamphlet (xiaocezi), except I really asked if he had his little bunny (xiaotuzi).  He started so hard!  It was so funny!  People are still teasing me about that one.  The next day, we had a no English day, and we decided that if you did speak English, you had to carry around a big rock.  The elders in my district drew a bunny on it and wrote xiaotuzi on the other side.  Hehe!  Don't worry, my Chinese is getting better, yi bu yi bu.  Step by step. 

 

Some spiritual thoughts:  No one, not even ourselves realize our potential.  Don't rob God of helping to you to become what he needs you to become.  The Lord can do more with your life than you can, so why not let him.  Here's a thought regarding the Tree of Life.  What if the great and spacious building doesn't exist and is a false image of reality, and if you try and go there, you will actually fall into the pit of despair.  Don't ever let go of the iron rod.  It is the only path, the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life.

 

Our last Tuesday devotional was great too! We had Elder Richard G. Scott come.  That was the first time we have seen an apostle come since I have been here.  His talk was amazing.  The Spirit was really strong!  It felt especially strong when he gave us an apostalic blessing of the gift of tongues, extra help and support,  and when he bore witness that Jesus Christ lives.  A humble person, with weaknesses, who holds the keys of apostalship stood in my midst and declared that the Lord lives, and is a glorified resurrected being who has perfect love, and will help me in my mission and in my life.  Elder Scott declared, "Iknow  He lives."  It was so cool, and I could feel the Spirit bear witness to my heart that his words are true.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to hear him speak. 

 

I know that this is the true Church of God and that it was restored to the Earth through Joseph Smith, a prophet of God.  It is the same church that existed anciently containing Jesus Christ's authority.  I love the gospel!!!!!  I love my mission!!!!!  This is the greatest blessing in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thank you for everyone's letters and support.  I love you all!

 

Wo ai nimen!

 

Yan Jiemei

Sister Yancey

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I can't believe it is Monday again!

Qin wode jiaren he pengyou!

 

Zhege libai hen hao.  Wo ganjue kuaile he productive.  This week flew by!  I can't believe it is Monday again!  Not much out of the ordinary happened this week.  Women jiaodao hen duo de mudaoyoumen.  The weather was beautiful.  I am learning a lot about developing healthy relationships with people.  The MTC is such a great place for learning! 

 

Sister Jorgensen and I sang for the senior couple orientation meeting and did well.  I auditioned again this week with a solo piece.  I sang "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul" from the "Joseph Smith" oratorio by Rob Gardner.  (It's the same piece I sang at the sacrament meeting before I left for my mission.)  Sister Sorensen (we call her Ms. Mozart) played for me.  I forgot the words twice in the audition.  I was frustrated and felt embarrassed.  They wanted to use me anyway, and that same day, I got a letter asking if I would sing in Relief Society.  I performed yesterday.  It was so much fun!  Relief Society at the MTC is with all the sisters in the gym.  We always have a guest speaker, and it feels more like a sisters-only devotional.  We had Sister Marsha Beck yesterday.  I realized later that that was the largest group of people I have ever sang for (there were at least 250 people), and I didn't mess up once, and my voice felt good.  All day, people were coming up to me and complimenting my performance.  It felt really good!

 

On Wednesday, when we got new missionaries, I got to host a new sister.  I showed her to her new room, took her to get her new tags, books, and showed her to her classroom.  It was fun.  I felt like she was my little child.  Hehe!

 

My teachers tell me that my Chinese is getting better and better.  I am developing a testimony of SYL-ing. 

 

Okay, now for some spiritual stuff.  My favorites from the week:

• President Hinckley asked: "Does the testimony of Jesus Christ still burn in your bosom, as it did when you were a young missionary?"  That is a great thing to ponder, and strive for, to feel the Spirit as strongly now as you did when you felt the most power of the Spirit in your life.  :o)
• In the Bible Dictionary under "Prayer", I liked this: "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship."
• I liked what President Uchtdorf said in the last April Conference.  He said that those who diligently seek will eventually come to know Christ.  Piece by piece, like a puzzle, the picture becomes clearer and clearer.
• In Preach My Gospel, it says that all that is unfair in life can be made right through the Atonement.  Remember what the Lord has done for you, and use the Atonement because that is why it is there. 
• Strive to establish a celestial culture in your home, with celestial thoughts, choices, and traditions.  President Boyd K. Packer said, "Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into his presence.  To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality."
• The scriptures are our handbook for every aspect of our lives. 

I hope that everyone is doing well.  Heaven Father loves you and wants the best for you, because you are his precious children.  I am constantly grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission.  Look for the blessings of the Lord in your life.  He has blessed me so much.  Don't forget that God gives us weaknesses so that we can come closer to him. 

 

I love you all!

 

Yan Jiemei

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Hen Hao de libai

Ni Hao Wode Jiaren!

 

This week was really good.  I have learned a lot about myself and I felt good most of the week.  I am starting to get along really great with my new companion, and I can see now that this was for my good, the changes.  I am trying to learn how to be open but not too open.  President Baker, my branch president, told me that my openness is one of my best qualities, and my investigators will appreciate that.  I am learning where the balance is.  I am also learning how to be socially and emotionally independent, in a good way.  :o)

 

I am working on managing my anxiety still.  I read a great scripture last night in JS-History 1:15-16.  When Joseph was in the sacred grove, the power of the Satan came upon him.  He exerted all of his energies to call upon God to deliver him from the power of the evil one.  That is what we need to do when we are feeling the influence of Satan in our lives.  When we sincerely ask the Lord for help, he will not abandon us in our time of need.  He loves us so much, and wants to help us.  God gives us weaknesses so that we can come closer to him.  In Choir the other day, we sang a song that I had never heard of, by Janice Kapp Perry.  I loved the lyrics.  It's called "I Marvel at the Miracle."  I especially liked the second verse: "I wearied at my weaknesses, And trials filled my days.  I cried out; Lord, my burden's hard, Is there no other way?  He said, I give men weaknesses, And if they come to me, I give them strength to overcome, And I will make them free."  What a great song!  We are always told to make the Lord our best friend.  I am striving to be congruent with that concept.  In relief society yesterday, the speaker said that "your mission is the MTC for the rest of your life."  I am trying to learn and absorb as much as I can from this experience.  I constantly think about how lucky I am to be serving a mission.  The Lord has blessed me so much and I am so grateful for this most wonderful gift. 

 

People keep telling me that my Chinese is getting better.  That makes me feel so happy.  I started to learn characters this week.  I only know a few, but I want to be able to read the Book of Mormon in Chinese by the time I come home.  My laoshi pulled me aside the other day and told me that he is pleased with my SYL-ing (Speaking my Language), and that my Chinese is improving.  He also said that I am a good influence for those around me, and that he can tell that I am working hard.  It always feels good to receive compliments.  I feel grateful that I have a companion that has good Chinese so that I can learn from her. 

 

Sister Jorgensen and I found a pianist, and we re-auditioned for a Special Musical Number.  They loved us again and the arrangement that our pianist Sister Sorensen (we call her Ms. Mozart) created.  We were asked to sing today at a Senior Couple Orientation Meeting.  I am excited.  Yesterday, our musical number in Sacrament meeting fell through, so Sister Jorgensen and I sang our song, "Nearer, My God, to Thee" there also.  I love singing!  It feels so good!  People like to hear us and that feels good too!  People were so nice and told us that we sounded like angels.  :o)

 

I got my orthotics a few days ago.  They feel great.  When I wear them, my feet don't hurt anymore.

 

I was asked by my laoshi the other day where I am from.  He told me that I have a subtle Southern accent.  I thought that was kind of funny.  Hehe!

 

About a week ago, I started to get sick of my long hair.  It was past my elbows, and took too long to do in the mornings.  I spontaneously decided to cut it.  I got it cut on Thursday.  It is so short now!  I cut over a foot off.  It doesn't even touch my shoulders!  Everyone likes it a lot and they tell me that I look more professional and mature.  I like it too!  And I can do my hair so fast now in the mornings.  Pictures to come! 

 

Sister Reid and I got a new investigator.  Her name is Lin and she is the sister of one of our other investigators.  Teaching people about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is the best thing I have ever done.  It is so amazing for someone to come to know God, and how this knowledge can change their lives.  The Spirit is the greatest teacher.  I am its student everyday.  I love it when our lessons feel like a spiritual powerhouse.  I know at those times that the Spirit is testifying to the hearts of our investigators the truth of what we are teaching.  I love being a missionary!

 

Thank you so much for everyone's love and support.  I love you!  God loves you! 

 

Til next week!

 

Yan Jiemei

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Qin wode jiaren he pengyoumen

Qin wode jiaren he pengyoumen,

 

Xie Xie for the dearelders (dearelder.com) and the snail mail.  It seriously is a pick me up during the week.  It helps me to know that I haven't been forgotten about and that you support me!  Thank you!

 

This week has been better than last week.  Thank you for all your prayers and words of encouragement. 

 

I helped teach three lessons in Chinese this week to our two investigators Lin and Li.  I don't understand much of what is said, because my Chinese is still in its infancy and my companion came to the MTC already knowing Chinese, but the Lord has blessed me with the gift of discernment.  I am starting to understand their needs without knowing sometimes what is being said.  The Lord loves all of his children and this is His glorious work.  I do know the 1st vision in Chinese, so I was able to share that and my testimony on Joseph Smith with Lin and Li.  It was really scary, I thought I would forget the words in the moment, but the Lord helped me, and will always help me. 

 

I have been struggling this week with getting used to my new companion.  I was so close to Sister Jorgensen that this companionship seems awful and disconnected in comparison.  I am praying and trying to figure out what the Lord would have me learn for this new companionship with Sister Reid.  I loved what Katelynd Blake wrote to me the other day: "They are strengthening and preparing you and are making out of you what the Lord needs you to do and be to build his Kingdom."  The greatest amount of growth occurs when we are the most uncomfortable.  It is through our trials that the Lord builds us up and makes us stronger.  I met with the District President, President Bertasso, this week. He is a very wise man.  We talked about the Atonement and becoming like Christ.  Here is a scripture sequence to ponder in case I don't have enough time to talk about them: Alma 7:11-12; D&C 101: 39-40; D&C 103:9-10; Moroni 7:47-48; Moroni 10:32; and Moroni 6:4.

 

I started to learn Chinese characters this week, mostly to help me read along in the scriptures with my investigators.  I only know a handful of characters.  Anyway, I discovered that the character for my Chinese surname translates to "tight" or "stern."  Haha!  I had a complex about it for like an hour.  Haha!  And then my laoshi told me that most of the time the Chinese don't think about the translation of surname, they are just a name.  So for all you Yancey's out there, just know that your Chinese Surname means "stern".  Haha!

 

On Wednesday, we got a brand new group of Chinese speaking missionaries.  The Wednesday before, the older districts left, and so for a week, it was just the 16 people that I came in with in our zone.  So, on Wednesday, I was so excited, I could hardly stand it.  We got 11 new elders and 6 new sisters.  They are all very nice, and add a little more spice to my life.  Hehe!  Most of them are going to Taiwan.  The Chinese zone usually plays 4-square (siwang qiu - death ball) at gym, and the lines were pretty small for a while.  The Germans almost took over the game, but now with 17 new Chinese, we are back in the game.  Haha!

 

On Thursday, Sister Jorgensen and I made the spontaneous decision to try out for a musical number.  We auditioned in front of Sister Nally, Sister Brown, and President Brown (the MTC president).  I have to say, Sister Jorgensen and I sound great together.  Our voices blend really well.  They told us that we sounded beautiful, and a lot of people try out with "Nearer, My God to Thee", but not very many people do it well, and we did it very well.  What a compliment!  Because of the spontaneity, we accompanied ourselves on the piano.  They said that they want to use us, but we need to come back next week with a pianist.  We found one the other day.  I am so excited!  I recorded us practicing, so I will send that home soon. 

 

April 1st was super fun.  It was fun to see what people did for April Fools.  Our elders put toilet seat covers on all of our desk chairs.  The elders from my old district set up a classroom in the men's restroom, with desks, pictures on the wall, and a plant.  Haha! 

 

General Conference was wonderful.  I encourage everyone to watch it or read it who hasn't (www.lds.org).  My favorite scriptures used in conference were D&C 50: 40-44 and D&C 19:16-18.  Look them up!  :o)  Saturday was a beautiful warm sunny spring day, but when I woke up on Saturday, Utah was a winter wonderland.  I was a little sad at first, until I saw the sun reflect off of the snow in mountains and the it glistening in the trees.  God loves us so much that he created this beautiful world for us! 

 

Businessweek or Newsweek (I don't remember which) is doing an article about the MTC, actually about Chinese speaking LDS businessmen, and they interviewed my district for it.  Keep a look out for that.  Also, there was a tv special about the MTC called "Army of Faith: Inside the MTC".  Look for a rerun of it on BYUTV.  And play Where's Meg (Waldo). I am in the special 4 times. 

 

 

I love you all!  I love being a missionary!

 

Yan Jiemei

 

 

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St. Patrick's Day pictures and more!

My Sweet Roommates on St. Patrick's Day!
Sister Smith, Sister Reid (My new companion), Me, Sister Jorgensen*(My favorite companion), Sister Lethco, Sister Lee.

Take 2

Take 3 Body Shot

My first district 18C Spelling Taiwan
Sister Jorgensen, E. Honeycutt, E. Woodruff, E. Thomas*(my fav.), Elder Bawnatyne, & Me.

Take 2

Very Asian

Weird (gigui)

Serious pose