A lot of Changes

Dear Family and Friends, 

A lot has happened this week.  A lot of changes.  I spent a lot of the week resting.  I went to the doctor again last Wednesday, and he suggested that I may need to return home to get better.    On Saturday, my Mission President and I discussed my options and decided that I needed to recover from my illness at home and then return to the mission field in a cycle or two or until I am healthy.  (cycle=6 weeks) 

We had transfers on Wednesday, so the timing was perfect.  A new Chinese sister came in and I left.  I travelled with the Mission President's wife.  It helped a little with the stress of coming home.  

I know that it was part of Heavenly Father's plan and I am trying to see the good and be optimistic.  I am sad that this is what needs to happen, but I am anxious to get better so that I can hopefully return to my mission.  I have learned a lot about myself and my relationship with Heavenly Father in the past few weeks, and I am trying to do His will.  

Also, in the next couple of weeks, my sister Amber's little boy Trey will finally be officially adopted.  They will be sealed together as an eternal family.  I am so glad that I will have the opportunity to attend that special family occasion.  

I love you all, 

Meg

P.S. If anyone wants to call me, my cell number is: 702-401-6997

Slow Week

Dear Family and Friends,

 

This week was kind of slow.  I was sick for most of it.  Starting Wednesday, my energy started decreasing fast.  Thursday through Saturday, I basically slept all day.  Sunday, I took two naps, and Monday one nap, and yesterday zero.  I am on the mend!  I am feeling much better now.  It was frustrating though, feeling sick for so long.  I feel bad for people with chronic illness.  I wold need more patience.  I definitely learned about more about myself those days though.  Maybe for another letter. 

 

On Sunday, our mission had eight baptisms.  Our Chinatown branch had five of them.  Four of them were from the other sisters in my apartment.  It is so exciting to see people follow the example of Jesus Christ and receive baptism!  I sang at this baptism.  I can't remember what it is called, but it is about when Jesus is baptized by John in the river Jordan.  I sang a duet with another woman in our branch.  I love singing!

 

Rachel asked me about the Chinatown Branch.  There are about 40 people who come to Church every Sunday.  Most of them are from China, a few from Taiwan, and few from other places.  There are only a few children.  As far as solid members, there are only a few of those two.  Our branch is mostly less active members and recent converts.  I like Gospel Principles class, because everything is brought back to the basics.  It is a great refresher.  The missionaries teach that one. 

 

Rachel also asked about what a typical day is like. 

6:30-7:00 We exercise.  Sometimes we go to park, sometimes we stay in the apartment and just stretch.

7:00-8:00 We get ready for the day.

8:00-9:00 Personal Study

9:00-10:00 Companionship Study

10:00-11:00 Language Study

11:00-12:00 Lunch, we usually eat lunch at our apartment.  I eat noodles or leftovers almost everyday.

12:00-6:00 We teach lesson, contact on the street, teach English class, sometime we have zone/district meetings.

6:00-7:00 Dinner, We usually eat out or eat leftovers.  Chinatown missionaries are given more money for food.

7:00-9:00 Usually we contact.

9:00-9:30 Daily Plannng

9:30-10:30 Socialize with my roomies, and get ready for bed.

There you have it! 

 

 We had another dinner appointment this week.  Her name is Wong Jiemei.  She is not a member, but does believe in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  She is older and has cancer.  She has such a good heart.  It was lovely to be with her.  Her home has a good spirit.  She fed us a ton of Chinese food.  Yum! 

 

Yesterday, we taught Yu Wen again.  It was great except for the fact that I usually "tingbudong" with him.  (I can't understand his Chinese.)  Hehe!  He came to church last Sunday, and really liked it.  In our meeting yesterday, we showed him "The Restoration" DVD.  It shows the story of Joseph Smith, and the restoration of Jesus Christ's church.  Without prompt, when the movie ended, Yu Wen said, "Wo xiangxin." (I believe it.)  Wow!  So cool!  We then talked to him about prophets more and asked him if he believes that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God.  He said yes!  He really is ready.  We have another meeting with him tomorrow.  And in a couple Sundays, a baptism!  Yea!

 

Everyday, I fall in love with the New Testament over and over again.  I love reading the stories and teachings of Jesus.  I liked these scriptures from my reading this week: John 6:35 - "And Jesus said unto them, I am the ^abread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never ^bthirst."; John 8:12 - "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the ^alight of the world: he that followeth me shall not ^bwalk in ^cdarkness, but shall have the light of life.", 31-32 - "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye ^acontinue in my word, then are ye my ^bdisciples indeed;  And ye shall ^aknow the ^btruth, and the ^ctruth shall make you ^dfree."; and John 11:9-10 - "Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man ^awalk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.  But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."  They all talk about how Jesus Christ is our greatest source of strength.  He is the bread that nourishes us and he is the light in our lives.  If we cling to him and this light, we will never walk in darkness.  :o)

 

I love you all so much!

 

Yan Jiemei

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Another great week in Chinatown!

Hey everybody! 

 

It has been another great week in Chinatown. 

 

Last week on P-day, we went to the American Museum of Natual History.  It was really cool, and reminded me of "Night at the Museum."  I got a picture with a Moai, a big stone head statue thing.  Cool!  I will probably go back again.  The museum was so big, and we didn't get to everything.

 

We have two new investigators this week.  One's name is Yu Wen and he is Zheng Hui's uncle.  We met him on the street contacting a couple weeks ago.  He is in his late 30's.  He is here alone.  The rest of his family is still in China.  He is pretty special.  When we told him about Joseph Smith's First Vision, he accepted it and believed it immediately.  He said he previously was hospitalized for the removal of a tumor on his brain.  While he was in the hospital, he fell into a coma for about 3 days.  He said that while he was in the coma, he had a dream that he talked to God and Jesus Christ.  From that point on he had faith that there is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  He said he finally knew it in his heart.  He said that while he was in the hospital, he got baptized into a Christian church, but he didn't feel like it was real.  He says that everything we teach him makes so much sense.  He is really great!  We now have our first investigator with a baptismal date!  June 26th!  Yea!  I really excited for him!

 

 Lin Xiu Mei is the other new investigator.  We have now met with her twice.  She is about 21.  She is pretty great too!  She actually called us randomly on our cell phone while we contacting.  Our phone number is on all of our pass along cards.  She is Christian, but was baptized in another church.  She is really interested in the Bible, so we watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with her.  She loved it, so we gave her a copy of the DVD.  Also, we asked her how she feels when she prays.  She got the biggest smile on her face and said she couldn't describe the feeling.  We told her that the feeling is called Shengling (the Spirit).  I am really excited for her too!

 

We had a special public affairs zone meeting yesterday. Starting on June 13-September 26, the church is going to be an ad campaign in New York, for Mormon.org.  If you have never seen it, I encourage you to check it out.  It's pretty cool.  There is going to be a large digital billboard in Times Square with a 30 second video feed.  There will be 11,000 taxis with the ad, and 200 with the video ad.  And there will be 3 Subway cars, that run in Rush hour, devoted entirely to the ad.  There won't be any other ads in those cars. I am pretty excited.  Missionaries do not proselyte in Times Square usually, but during this time period, we will be able to.  That would be so cool!  I love what the Church is doing to spread awareness.

 

Now for a spiritual thought.  I liked this from my Mission President:

 

"I love the teaching and wise insight of Samuel the Lamanite.  From his words in chapter 13 of Helaman has come some of the best advice I have received in life.  Two of the things I have come to know:
As we look back with hindsight at what we consider the mistakes and poor behavior of others, it is always easy to say to ourselves: "I would never have done that."  Don't be so sure.  In our moments of temptation and trials, we may discover, as Samuel described, that "we are worse than they" v. 26.  Learn from the past. Don't readily dismiss it as something that will never apply to you.
Beware of those who seek to flatter you - especially for your behavior which is contrary to direction and counsel from our prophets and Church leaders.  It is very alluring to follow those who suggest that you should "do whatsoever your heart desireth" or, "Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer"   If we choose to embrace those giving such support, we will find ourselves "walking after the pride of your own hearts." (v. 27)  Following such a path will lead to the loss of many precious blessings."

 

I love you all!  Thank you so much for your support!

 

Sister Yancey

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Summer is Here!

Qin ai de jiaren he pengyou!  (Dear Family and Friends)

 

Thank you to everyone who sent me letters and packages this week.  I truely feel loved.  This week has been really great.  Nothing really out of the ordinary.  We are still doing the work, and my Chinese is still bad.  Hehe!  I was told it would probably take 3 months for comprehension and 6 months for pretty good speaking skills.  That has been the trend here. 

 

We are struggling to meet the Standard of Excellence (goals/standards set for the mission) for lessons taught in a week.  People in Chinatown work 12+ hours a day to make ends meet.  Everyone is very busy.  We have some luck setting up appointments, but for most of them we are juked.  People stand us up all the time.  Yea for backup plans!

 

A couple of weeks ago, Sister Chen and I contacted 1093 people (in a week).  We contact a lot in Chinatown, to say the least.  Our Mission President sent us an email, telling us that it is an all time high for the mission!  Woot!  The Lord is definitely blessing us. 

 

I don't know if I have mentioned what we have been doing on P-days.  My first P-day, we got settled into our apartment.  Second P-day, we went to the New York Public Library.  I have been really slacking with taking pictures/videos.  I just don't want to look too much like a tourist.  And our missionary handbook, says to "Be careful not to look like a tourist."  P.S.  I love it when people ask me for directions.  It makes me feel like they think I have been in New York for a while, and I know my way around.  I don't.  Hehe!  But it is nice that they think I do. 

 

Last week, we went to 87th Street Chapel to hang out with other missionaries, and I ate "Street Meat" for my first time.  I got lamb over rice.  Pretty good.  Today, when we are done with emailing, we are going to the Museum of Natural History.  I am pretty excited.  The nice thing is, a lot of places here are free to go to just on Wednesdays and that is when our P-day is.  Yea!

 

I keep forgetting to say, that while on the mission, everyone has the opportunity/permission to go see one Broadway show.  Cool, eh!  I will wait until my mission is almost over, so that it will be a more special treat.  Sister Chen is done in October, so she is going to see "The Lion King" this summer with another sister.  There is an approved list of shows, including: "The Lion King", "Wicked", "Phantom of the Opera" and other shows that are Disney.  I would want to see "Aida," but it is not playing in New York.  My next choice would probably be "The Lion King," just because I heard it is really spiritual, and it would be really weird to see something like "Wicked" as a missionary.  :o)  I have a long while though before I will go. 

 

We are also allowed to go to Yankees games.  This session just started.  We are going to go soon.  We have to get Mission President approval.  I think that we are allowed to see a few baseball games.  Pretty much everyone in the mission requested to go to the first Wednesday game of the season.  Only a few people got permission, but I will get to go soon enough.  :o) 

 

We are also allowed to site-see on P-days, as long as we don't leave the island of Manhattan.  (We need permission to leave the area boundaries.)  I am in the Manhattan South zone.  Our area goes up to 125th Street.

 

I am very happy because I discovered an Italian Ice place really close to my apartment/our chapel.  Mmm!  I partake of the goodness often.  Because of the warmer weather, Italian Ice carts are popping up everywhere. 

 

Sister Chen taught me how to solve a Rubik's cube.  I am almost pro.  Hehe!  As a way of befriending and fellow-shipping English class students, potential investigators, investigators, and members, we play ping pong with them.  Sister Chen is helping me improve my skills.  There is a table at our church building.  Sister Chen told me that she has started a new tradition with the Sister Missionaries in Chinatown.  Everyone, including the Elders, can play ping pong really well, and can solve a Rubik's cube pretty quickly. 

 

Because apartments are really small in Chinatown, and a lot of times, multiple families live in one apartment, we do all of our lesson in the Chinatown Church building.  That also means that we don't get dinner appointments.  We had our first one on Sunday.  Sister Chen said that we are lucky if we get 2 a month.  The dinner appointment was at our Branch 1st Counselor's house.  He is an American.  It was such a nice break to eat American food.  I eat Chinese food or cheap noodles for every meal.  I am not complaining.  I like Chinese food, but Sister Cannon's Lasagna and fresh homemade cookies were a special treat.  :o)  Sister Chen and I are actually working on reactivating a sister in our branch.  She appreciates our meetings, and sometimes brings us leftover food from the restaurant that she owns.  She has a great heart.  We have high hopes for her. 

 

Everyone had interviews with President Smith this week.  He told me that he is impressed with me.  He said that Church Headquarters called him and asked him about me, and he told them that I am doing great, and if there is a problem, he will call them.  I am pretty happy.  I love New York and I love my mission!  It was tailored for me and the things that I need to learn! 

 

Sometimes contacting is hard because I don't like getting rejected.  I feel like they are rejecting a lot more than just me and it makes me sad.  My companion, Sister Chen had a great thought about contacting though. She told me that when she was new on her mission, it was hard for her to be rejected too.  She said that it became better when she changed her way of thinking.  The Lord has prepared certain people to receive our message at this time.  So when we are contacting, most people don't want to hear what we have to say.  But there are a few people whose interests are peaked.  These are the people we are looking for.  It doesn't matter if most people don't want to hear what we have to say; these are not the people we are looking for.  What matters is that we are diligent, and faithfully seek those people whom the Lord has prepared.  We have two new investigators who met through contacting this week.  Everything is great! 

 

I love you all so much!

 

Yan Jiemei

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