I love all of my letters, packages and cards from everyone! Thanks so much! You guys are incredible, it made my birthday wonderful. It didn't feel like a birthday until the packages though! Just a regular day. I forgot it was my birthday until I came to Temple Square and people started singing to me. But I did get to go to the cheesecake factory! It was soooo good! I got Reese's PB cheesecake this time and I loved it!
How is AZ? I miss it. There is a sister from Pinetop here named Sister Hale and I see Sister Shumway all the time! I also saw Colton Edwards and I think I saw Brandon Nicoll with him! But I was in the middle of a tour so I could not talk to them!!! It made my day though. White Mountain people! woooo! It was also so much fun to see Mom's friend, Elisha, and Aunt Debbie and her family. Seeing people from home makes me feel so good!
Finally some pictures!
So we went to church in the Joseph Smith Building and it is beautiful. Our chapel is white like Heaven. Its seriously like entering the kingdom of God. All I can do is stare at the ceiling because its like being in a dream. Everything is whitish and oh my gosh I always think I'm a princess. We only go to sacrament meeting because we need to get back to the square as soon as we can. It's kind of nice only having to go to sacrament meeting. I'm not even afraid to admit it.
The Mandarin tours are very difficult. I smile a lot but I also talk and Sister Weng translates for me. But you know how I love to hear myself talk? Well, apparently I talk too much and I need to slow down so Sister Weng and I have been role playing during our prep hour so I can practice keeping it simple and short. But I am learning a lot of Mandarin. I can say quite a few things now and I can also sing "I am a Child of God" in Mandarin.
Yesterday I was introducing myself and talking about what missionaries do in mandarin and a couple of people thought I was fluent! I was so proud because they said I speak it beautifully. In the beginning the investigators had NO idea what I was saying and Sister Weng always had to tell everyone what I was trying to say. I'm getting much better... still not good but better.
I talk to myself in mandarin while I'm in the shower and it helps. My roommates think I'm weird but they love it. I love them. I love the Asian people! They are so funny and sweet!
So yesterday during a mandarin tour we were in the tabernacle. It was my turn to speak so I told our group how many pipes there were (in mandarin and I have to work on my numbers because I guess I said the wrong amount) but anyway when we left the tabernacle, one of them came to Sister Weng and I and said she prayed in the tabernacle and felt a great warmth and wants to meet with missionaries! The best part is she is from Taiwan, not China, so she can practice religion!
So we have been getting lots of referrals for people all over the world- most of which are from China. It is amazing how quickly the gospel is spreading and to people and countries who are not even exposed to it. Keep praying for China!
Today, President gave me a referral. I have no idea why I am trusted with this referral but it's a man in Pakistan! I can't mess this up!! I start teaching this man over the phone tomorrow.
This week we have had our ups and downs. It seems there were more downs than ups this week- it was very hard! This week I have learned how important faith really is. I have really grown a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ. This mission is not glamourous. It is very hard. We never sit down and we run from one end of the square to the other all day to teach and give tours. There are also lots of people who come here with wrong intentions which can be very difficult. This week was especially hard and sometimes I feel like I am not cut out for this. And even though I went back and forth about serving a mission, I know I am supposed to be here. I have absolutely no idea why yet but Heavenly Father must trust me to send me to a place where people are coming to us and seeking out the gospel. It a humbling experience. Even though it is difficult at times I love every minute of it. EVERY MINUTE.
Yesterday we gave a tour to some young women! They were 17. I asked them if they wanted to serve missions and they weren't sure so I spent ten minutes explaining to them why they should and how much it will benefit them if they do. But don't worry I wasn't forceful. Anyway some of them seemed convinced that it is a great way to spend a year and a half of their lives. That was the best tour I ever gave because I had so much faith that Heavenly Father would help me. I love life. But I miss going shopping. My Asian friends are not materialistic people because they have nothing where they come from. They like saving money for some reason. But I still love them.
Yesterday I was introducing myself and talking about what missionaries do in mandarin and a couple of people thought I was fluent! I was so proud because they said I speak it beautifully. In the beginning the investigators had NO idea what I was saying and Sister Weng always had to tell everyone what I was trying to say. I'm getting much better... still not good but better.
I talk to myself in mandarin while I'm in the shower and it helps. My roommates think I'm weird but they love it. I love them. I love the Asian people! They are so funny and sweet!
So yesterday during a mandarin tour we were in the tabernacle. It was my turn to speak so I told our group how many pipes there were (in mandarin and I have to work on my numbers because I guess I said the wrong amount) but anyway when we left the tabernacle, one of them came to Sister Weng and I and said she prayed in the tabernacle and felt a great warmth and wants to meet with missionaries! The best part is she is from Taiwan, not China, so she can practice religion!
So we have been getting lots of referrals for people all over the world- most of which are from China. It is amazing how quickly the gospel is spreading and to people and countries who are not even exposed to it. Keep praying for China!
Today, President gave me a referral. I have no idea why I am trusted with this referral but it's a man in Pakistan! I can't mess this up!! I start teaching this man over the phone tomorrow.
This week we have had our ups and downs. It seems there were more downs than ups this week- it was very hard! This week I have learned how important faith really is. I have really grown a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ. This mission is not glamourous. It is very hard. We never sit down and we run from one end of the square to the other all day to teach and give tours. There are also lots of people who come here with wrong intentions which can be very difficult. This week was especially hard and sometimes I feel like I am not cut out for this. And even though I went back and forth about serving a mission, I know I am supposed to be here. I have absolutely no idea why yet but Heavenly Father must trust me to send me to a place where people are coming to us and seeking out the gospel. It a humbling experience. Even though it is difficult at times I love every minute of it. EVERY MINUTE.
Yesterday we gave a tour to some young women! They were 17. I asked them if they wanted to serve missions and they weren't sure so I spent ten minutes explaining to them why they should and how much it will benefit them if they do. But don't worry I wasn't forceful. Anyway some of them seemed convinced that it is a great way to spend a year and a half of their lives. That was the best tour I ever gave because I had so much faith that Heavenly Father would help me. I love life. But I miss going shopping. My Asian friends are not materialistic people because they have nothing where they come from. They like saving money for some reason. But I still love them.
Thanks so much to all my family for supporting me, sending me letters, birthday cards and gifts! Each little thing means so much! I wish I had more time to write and I am working on responding to each person individually. Our days begin very early and end very late. I LOVE it though! I wouldn't want to be doing anything else at this time in my life!
I love you all!
Sister Macy Park
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