MTC - Week 3 - November 16, 2016

Ok so this week has been HARD!! It has tested me soo much, but there have been SO MANY blessings! 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were pretty rough this week... not gonna lie. Sister Cahoon and I were feeling pretty discouraged because our lessons weren't going super well and we felt as though we didn't understand ANY Chinese. 

I had been praying and begging Heavenly Father to help us in our lessons and help me to understand a little Chinese, and I felt as though I wasn't receiving His help. We had class on Friday night and it didn't go well. We both broke down in class and that is when I hit my lowest point on my mission so far. 

Our teacher came over and talked to us and bore his testimony.  He brought the Spirit so strongly and helped me too much! We honestly lucked out with the BEST teachers! But we still came back that night and were bummed.  I was up on my top bunk writing in my journal before lights out.  All of a sudden, I felt like something was very wrong.  I couldn't figure out what it was, but soon felt like I should check on Sister Cahoon below me.  I leaned down to see her and saw that she was having a really hard time. I immediately went down and sat with her on her bed.  I felt impressed to say a prayer with her, and it was a VERY COOL EXPERIENCE.  I said the prayer but I knew that I was not saying my own words.  I felt as thought Heavenly Father was speaking through me directly to Sister Cahoon. Incredible. Honestly, I will never forget it.  We both cried together as the spirit was so strong. I am so GRATEFUL for my companion, and I love her!!

As hard as this week was, it was also super awesome and pretty funny! So in one of our lessons, I was trying to tell our investigator that she could keep the pamphlet we were using. I tried to say "you can HAVE this" but instead I mixed up a word and accidentally said "you can HATE this" ahahah it was soo funny. Our investigator (who is our teacher) tried to stay serious, but laughed out loud and so we all started laughing. It was hilarious! 

Also Elder Turpin and Elder Larson in our district were teaching their investigator, and were talking about how Joseph Smith saw an angel, but because they said the word a little wrong, they said "Joseph Smith saw a DEAD BODY" hahah when they came back and told this to us we were laughing soooo hard!!! What makes the story funnier is that while teaching the lesson, one of the elders waved his arms like wings while saying it.. SOO FUNNY!! So yes Chinese is hard because if you say a word a little wrong.. it could mean something totally different! But it is hilarious! Teaching is awesome! :)

For all my Rexburg friends.. I SAW NOAH STEVENS!! He is at the MTC for the next couple weeks because he has been reassigned to serve in California! So crazy and I was so confused when I first saw him!! But yeah it makes me so happy to see him because I always hear someone yell "Hey Alyssa!!" and it is always him! Makes me smile! Hahah! .. for those of you who don't know Noah, he is one of my good friends from college! He was serving in St. George and while he was there got another mission call to serve in California! So it's awesome because now I see him in the lunch room and in the halls all the time! :)  

Also this week we think we found lice in our classroom...yeah actually not funny, but kinda.  One of the sisters found it in a baggie and then she threw the baggie across the room so everyone started freaking out. Then we went crazy and the Asian sisters in our district went crazy and IMMEDIATELY started deep cleaning our room. They got all the cleaning supplies out and started vacuuming and spraying the disinfectant everywhere and dusting!! Sister Cahoon and I were laughing soo hard and were just filming the whole thing!  

Devotional on Tuesday we got to hear from Elder Gary E. Stevenson and his wife and it was AWESOME!! They talked so much about the gift of tongues and HOLY COW DID I NEED THAT THIS WEEK!! It is so awesome and we have lucked out here, because we have heard from 2 apostles already!! YES!

Ok so this week has had its ups and downs.. but I have honestly learned so much! I read D&C 31:3 this week and wow that scripture spoke right to me. I loved it!! 

        Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation.

Thank you so much for the emails, letters and prayers this week! You are all amazing and I love you! I love being a missionary and I know that no matter how hard it is, this is exactly where I am supposed to be! I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ!

Sister Cahoon and I with my good friend, Noah