May 3, 2010

This whole experience so far has been a good but nonetheless hard one. This language is kicking my tush. But i am learning a lot. My companions name is elder Mensink, he is originally from holland but moved here to Texas. He is a very good companion. I have awesome chinese teachers (han laoshi) they are both very spiritual and help a lot. I am writing this while i do my laundry and it is crazy crowded in here and i had to scramble to get a computer. I also wanted to tell you guys that sadly I will not be allowed to call home on mother’s day. I notice a difference in the types of missionaries people are going to be. You have the ones that are trying really hard and are respectful and then you have the ones who goof off and still act like 4th graders, but o well. Yesterday we got to go to the temple and walk around and take pictures! It was great. OOO and btw my name tag does have Chinese characters on it! Well I have two other elders in my room besides my companion their names are elder Wilson, from Wyoming, and elder Balkman, from Seattle. Elder Balkman has a prosthetic leg and is one of those people that just inspires you like crazy. He works so hard and never complains and it makes me think how dumb I must sound if I complain about something. Anyway I have been having a great experience and it feels like these past few days have been weeks. I don't think i have ever studied this much and this hard for a very very very long time. The days seem like there aren't enough hours in a day to do everything. My district is a brand new district and they are using us as the testers of a new language program they made for mandarin speakers. The program is designed to make our comprehension of what the people say go through the roof. I do notice i can understand things easier....but speaking it is a whole different story. Dad i completely understand what you meant about how the people that have been here for a few weeks act like they own the place hah, but it is good because the zone leaders for my district are amazing elders. Elder Gedes, from Washington, and elder Tito, from Australia (and Polynesian and awesome). We as a district have worked on quiet dignity in everything we do and you can totally tell a mandarin elder vs. any other language elder ;) because of respect and maturity ;). I am going to be sending a letter in the mail, but it won’t be as long as this. Dad, if you have any advice or scriptures to help with feeling the spirit more or help with overwhelmedness, please send :). I love you all. Mom i love you. Hailee, I love you.