AHHHH!! Halo! Apa kabar? (Hi! How are you?). I am so happy I finally get to tell you about everything I've been doing the past week. I guess I'll just start from the beginning.
After I said goodbye on Wednesday, I just walked with my host and got my badge, my ID, and my room key. I was told that I was a solo sister, which didn't surprise me because I haven't heard of anyone else going to Indonesia when I am and other sisters had been solo before. Then we walked to my room where I just dropped off my luggage and then we headed to the classroom. My teacher Sister Sheffield was there waiting for me. We studied how to introduce yourself to someone and ask questions like where you're from, how old you are, your family, etc. The whole time I was sitting there I thought we were just passing time until other missionaries came and then when class was over and I met my district I realized I was TOTALLY solo. There are no other missionaries in my class but me. Once it hit me, I was honestly so overwhelmed. That would mean the teacher would be paying attention to only me, the whole time we had class. But don't worry, I'm not anymore. After class I met my companion. Her name is Sister Dhakal and she is from New Zealand. She is going to Thailand! her parents were converted to the church in Thailand so I think it is awesome that she can go do the same! In my district, there are two other sisters, Sister Casper (New Jersey, she actually lived in the same building as me at BYU and I didn't even know) and Sister Capin (Australia) is her companion. They are also both going to Thailand. There are 3 other Elder companionships going to Thailand (two of them are also from Australia, which is so fun!) and one companionship of elders going to Singapore/Malaysia speaking Malay. Malay is really similar to Indonesian, so I can understand most of what they say. After that we had a opening devotional type thing with the new missionaries who had just arrived. Then we had dinner. The cafeteria is pretty good. It would be better if everything was warm, but a lot of times its a little cold when you get it. Otherwise its really good :) I always find something I can eat :) After that we did an activity called people and your purpose, which is where you as a group try to teach "investigators" a lesson. It was pretty hard because I'm pretty sure the investigators are supposed to give you challenging situations to make you really think. At the end of the day, I was very discouraged. I wasn't loving the whole situation and I was so worried about being alone. Right then I realized I would really have to rely on the atonement during this MTC experience. It's funny to see the difference in my journal from day one to now. The next day, things got better but I was still a little worried. i had class with my teacher Brother Rowle, who I really like too! I love my teachers! But that day we were told we were going to teach the next day and I was pretty scared because I had to do it by myself. My investigators name is Gina and she is from Jogja Indonesia in the middle of the island of Java. She was so nice!! So far I committed her to read from the Book of Mormon, pray to Heavenly Father, and repent of your sins. She is definitely easier on me than other investigators for the others in my district, probably because I am alone. The coordinator over the Asia area missionaries told me that she told him that I seemed really comfortable and confident as I teach. I was so relieved to hear that! She is so awesome and I am so glad I get to teach her. The days are now pretty similar because we do the same thing. Class for 3 hours a day, study for like 5, exercise, eat, all that stuff. The only day that has been different so far has been Sunday. I LOVE SUNDAY!! It is amazing! Each week every missionary prepares a 5 minute talk and they call up 3 to give it. It is nice to study how to give a talk because you can sit in the computer lab and go on lds.org and watch videos and find quotes. After sacrament, lunch, relief society, and district meeting, we decided to go to Choir practice. I love choir at the MTC because the Chorister is so hilarious and you definitely feel the spirit. Half the MTC goes, and it is just such a fun break. The devotional was a sister proffessor at BYU and she talked about the first missionaries and about how Samuel Smith was so discouraged his first few days, so he gave away two Books of Mormon and then left. The two he placed was to Brigham Young and Heber C Kimball. I love how really, it doesn't matter the numbers, just how obedient you are and God will provide you with fruits for your labors. Now to the language. I am so glad I am in a district with Thai missionaries because Indonesian is waaaayyy easier. You pronounce the alphabet really similar to Spanish and you say every vowel. It is spelled EXACTLY like it sounds. There aren't any stupid rules like in English. Im really glad I took Spanish in school so I could be prepared to learn this language :) I know how to pray, bear my testimony, I have my purpose memorized in English AND Indonesian, and so much more. The gift of tongues is so real. I honestly now LOVE that I am a solo missionary because I get my teachers all to myself. If I don't understand, they can't move on until I do. Or if i do understand, they can move faster. sometimes it seems like 5 weeks isn't enough, but when I think about all I've already learned I'm confident that I will be alright. Overall, now I love the MTC! I really do love it! That is all I wanted. I wanted to be happy on my mission, and I definitely am. I love the spirit here. The gift of tongues is so real.The spirit is so strong. One of my favorite parts of this past week when we were able to go to different rooms and watch movies, mostly they show previous MTC devotionals. We watched "The Character of Christ" which was given on Christmas Day at the MTC by David A Bednar. EVERYONE NEEDS TO WATCH IT! It really has changed my life. I hope they have it for everyone to watch on lds.org because it is just so amazing. He talks about how the Savior is always turning out towards other people. He never turns in and worries about himself. He gave other examples of members who turned out in times of so much trouble. It was amazing to hear him teach. To find yourself, you have to forget yourself. The only way to find yourself is to turn out towards other people, without the intent of helping yourself. I really need to do that here at the MTC. I need to turn out of my self and turn towards my district and my companion. I need to learn the language with the intent to help the people of Indonesia understand the gospel, not to help save me from embarassment. I know that if I do that, I will be a successful and happy missionary. Thank you all for sending me letters and emails! What I REALLY love is getting Dear Elder mail! It is literally the exact same as an email but I can read them during the week and not only my email time. I love hearing about every thing that's happening. I can't reply to everyone, but I'm still so thankful! so if I don't get to everyone personally please don't think I don't care about you! i am always so thankful for the support I feel every day from home. Saya Mengasihi anda. Saya tahu bahwa Gereja Yesus Kristus Dari Orang-Orang Suci Zaman Akhir adalah benar. Saya bersaksi bahwa Yesus Kristus adalah Jurusalamat kita. Saya berterima kasih bagi Pendamaian Yesus Kristus. I love you all! Sempai nanti! Love, Sister Davis aka kecil satu (little one)
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Sister Jacqueline DavisSister Davis is currently serving as a missionary in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ContactMission Address: Sister Jacqueline Davis Indonesia Jakarta Mission Jalan Senopati 115 Kebayoran Baru Jakarta 12190 INDONESIA Email: [email protected] Prepare to Serve Link: http://preparetoserve.com/indonesia-jakarta-mission Learn more about the LDS Church:www.lds.org
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August 2017
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