First Pics...yeah!

"The comp and me."


"Our district...we are all going to Taiwan, Taichong."


"First day in the MTC with comp...'dork dots' on our tags"

"The sleeping quarters."

"Obviously hard at work!"

Booyah!

Seriously the most intense 30 minutes of my life is beginning now! Go! Ok so week two ish. Well techinically today is the beginning of our 3 week of time in the MTC. Everything in the MTC is weird, good weird.

So

Tuesday: I got double the packages- one from Court BS and one fromt he front desk which came via Dad. Sorry about the demerit on your church record, eek. She told me about BSU winning, excellent- so i wore my bsu shirt to gym and then about Mack's homecoming. Said it was outstanding and then of course the rest of you (mom and dad) told me more deets about it. Shout out to Mack- excellent talk from what I heard. And crazy that his mission president was Dad's teacher in Jeru, that is a stellar man for sure. That night we had a devotional by a member of the 2nd quorum of the 70 Lowell Snow. He spoke on choice and how we in every choice should ultimately choose God or something that moves us closer to him. Afterwards he asked us to all meet in our individual districts where we each shared why we chose to serve a mission. It was a very cool experience because we all have such different "conversion" stories that bring together different pieces of truth about the gospel to create a powerful force of truth- God's Royal Army, if you will.

Wed: Ok this was my first kind of difficult day in the MTC. Just feeling overwhelmed and bah! inadequate but that is ok because I know I have been called and the Lord already knows I can do this so I just need to believe in myself more and have faith in this plan for me. I can handle that, because ultimately he knows me oh so well. Don't worry too much mom it wasn't super bad just a meh sort of day. But that was quickly turned around by several of the other sisters who I live with, they are so awesome ans so encouraging. Especially when it comes to the Chinese. Again, mom, don't freak it was all good.

Thurs: Not much thursday just preparing for our lesson in the Teaching Expereince (where we teach a fake/real investigator). My comp and I planned our lesson which was an interesting experience for both of us because we appraoched it completely different but in the end we figured it out and we able to practice once our twice that night. Oh and shout out to Ryan... I played volleyball for gym. There was a lot of she-thinking going on :)

Friday: Much more practice for the TE. That night we were pretty nervous about the next morning when we would be teaching. We practiced a lot but it is still pretty scary to think about teaching. We had to contact in Chinese for the first 5 mintues and then teach a 30 minute lesson-lesson 1 from PMG. Well sort of- you see here we focus on teaching people rather than lessons. Because really it is all about the people and not shoving the gospel down their throat. And really really it is the spirit that is the teacher. WE have watched a few clips of this missionary show "the district" and there is this one segment where they interviewed converts and investigators and asked them about missionaries and they ALL said that it wasn't the lessons they were taught but the spirit that the missionaries brought to them that really converted them.

Satruday: WE TAUGHT!!! And it went OH SO WELL! Seriously Clark! Oh my! The spirit was absolutely there and we got to teach two ladies who were legitly (not a word) chinese. Luckily we were teaching in English but still it was cool. One was from mainland and one was from Taichong! So cool. They were members but they still had concerns that we (i think) were able to address. Very cool. Sister VS and I were comfortable teaching together and my comp- wow she rocked it by creating an analogy about the atonement and someone paying for us when we don't have enought money in line at the gorcery store. Ya know what I am talking about? Well it was perfect because one of the ladies we were teaching worked at Wal-mart so it was perfect for her. It was cool and inspired. And man to testify to someone that they are a child of God. IT's a very cool experience, one I hope to have more of. That night we watched a talk that Elder Bednar gave at the MTC a year or so ago about recogninzing the spirit. He said the question he gets most often is "how do I know what I am feeling is the spirit and not just my own feelings or me answering my question?" His answer- quit worrying about it, quit analyzing it, all good thoughts and feelings come from the holy ghost so just act. move forward with faith and confidence and act. Also- the gym is closed for some reason so we are having a horse shoe tournament as a district, ha!

And of course SUNDAY!!! The best day ever in the MTC. Highlights included Sister Elaine Dalton speaking to the relief society. the main point of her talk was that we, as sister missionaries, are fulfilling our young women theme. She had us all stand up and recite the theme, very powerful in a room of sister missionaries- who happen to be the bomb dot com. sorry! She also told us to do three things that apparently they are telling all youth to do 100% 1. pray every night and every morning, 2. read the scriptures every day and 3. smile, because the gospel is happy. it is a happy thing. I got to see Kristen Shelley again, she makes me cry. She feels like my mom when I hug her. ANDDD Mere, uh, surprised me at the temple. Let me set the record straight I did not plan it nor did she. She just showed up so I didn't break any rules but WHOA it was good to see her. And just to hug someone I love! eek it was nice. nice stuff.

Monday morn: this morning really. we got to go to the temple finally! Felt like a deep, much needed, breath of fresh air. I will definitely look forward to that every week. The Provo temple is so gorgeous inside, I just like it.

Ok so that's about it. I love you all and pray for you every night. AND I know that your prayers- well I can feel them, often. I love that. Sorry about the pictures, I still haven't gotten them back from being printed so I will send those via snail asap.

love bekah

Mission Launch Day

The looooonnng awaited FIRST letter!

Bahhhhh!!! Family I love you! I can't believe I am a missionary right this very second. Ok so this email thing, phew, it is exciting but a bit stressful because we only have a half hour and wooo I love this new life of mine.

So the run down:

Wednesday: very deer in the headlights-ish. Especially when I had to give the closing prayer in front of all the new missionaries. I was pretty nervous about that one but at least I had some cute earrings (thanks aunt chris). Oh mind you there were 500 new missionaries. I took a picture with me and my comp (THE Sister De Vicotria, more commonly known as Sister victoria secrets) and our dork dots on the first day so I will be sending that with other pics of the first few days. I met my district that Tuesday and we were all pretty awk. There are 8 of us and we are all going to the same mission which is not the norm and pretty awesome if you ask me.

Ok I am going to explain my district real quick. They/we have too much fun. Seriously it is sometimes a problem because learning chinese and laughing at everything doesn't really go hand in hand. One of the elders, elder ostvig was roommates with jeff bronson. courtney's older brother so that is about the only slightly "cool" connection I had with any of them. But seriously so fun. Constantly laughing. Sister VS and I are going to try our hardest to get things a little bit more under control but it is nice to feel like this can be fun, ya know. Because, whoa, that Chinese.... super depressing. rather it would be depressing if I didn't know that the Lord know I can handle the language or he knows that I will be really good at smiling at people as they speak Chinese to them and I don't understand a word. (but to be honest- I have already learned how to bear my testimony AND pray in chinese, it is mostly chinglish at this point but I know it will come in time and with some serious work on my part.)

Back to the sched: Wed was my first meal in the cafeteria and I think they made it the best meal so we didn't run in the other direction on the first day. Since then the food is pretty- cafeteria-ish. Not disgusting but very processed and deepfried and yikes. Taiwan will be a nice change- so I suppose the food is where I head down and power through. Although on Wed and Sun they serve ice cream and instead of having ice cream I get a banana and a bowl of the hot fudge sauce and do my own little fondue, if you will. Absolutely delish. Oh and the chocolate milk on tap, I'm not complaining. Wed night we had a live teaching sesh- which is basically where you are in a group of 30 or so missionaries and there is a actor in front who acts like an investigator and it is like a group teaching situation.

Thurs: still deer in the headlights, worse than wed but made it through the day because I saw a few key people that I LOVE. Thurs I ran into Courtney, Calvin, Taylor Price (you can tell the Price's I said hi from them) and a guy that I was friends with freshman year who is teaching and who saw Ashley often. I played 4-square during gym and dominated the king position for a bit. Two different classses each 3 hours long where we learn chinese and some spiritual goodness. That night we met our branch presidency who are so great. The branch president is the only one who speaks chinese. And our whole zone is chinese speaking so it makes for a amazing sunday, but I will get to that.

Fri: First shower in the MTC so I finally felt like I was living here for real. I am having a hard time with Chinese in general but and even harder time with the tones so Friday I spent a lot of time practicing tones with my comp (who had one semester of chinese at byu and she is SO patient with me). I swear tones would be easier if my dear mom would have given me singing lessons (joke joke, major joke). But really it is like you are singing what you say and the tones are hard to hit because they are high and low plus you are putting sounds together that are so unfamiliar. But I did get through the first paragraph of the intro to the BOM in pinyin (look it up, its romanized chinese characters). Oh! This is for all you p90X fans out there: one of the other sisters in my apt who is in my zone and going to Taipei knows the Ab Ripper X program so we are doing that during gym time. It's a problem because my abs are sore but I laugh all day so it hurts to laugh. Bu hao (not good). I ran into Ben Miles also. Oh and this was the first day of mail so thanks to my faithful mother for masteriing dear elder on behalf of all you who haven't yet. Here is where I am going to stress that if you write me you dear elder me. SEriously! I don't have enough time to email and read emails so dear elder me. This will change when I get to Taiwan and have more time to email. I got a secret letter delivery from Ash (she left it with someone who gaave it to me) which was SO great.

Sat: Finally felt almost 100% adjusted to this new life. Although I have to admit during the first few days I was giving myself more personal pep talks then I thought I would need. But that was ok because it just helped me remember and reaffirm to myself how awesome this work is and how I am here for a reason and there are people in Taiwan who only this girl, Bekah DeMordaunt or Sister DeMordaunt or Meng(fourth tone) Jeimei (mychinese name) can teach. Sat,. was weird because I could hear the BYU football game and thought of dad sitting so close. It was kind of awesome but kind of pep-talk-ish time. Oh we get to work out everyday and that really helps to break up the days. If I didn't mention that already. Also, it feels like we just eat,eat, and eat some more. It is weird.

Sunday was the best day ever (so far): It was my little birthday which made it awesome to begin with but then it waws fast sunday so it was just jam packed with the spirit. Mission conf (where all the elders and sisters are in one giant meeting) was cool. Basically all the members of the MTC presidency spoke. plus we are all singing and 2,700 missionaries in one room- well I felt like I should be paying big bucks to be there. It was the best. Then we had fast and testimony meeting as a zone (45 in my zone, all chinese speaking). And most testimonies were in chinese which was neat because you can really feel spirit of what they are saying without understanding them. Also I could understand more words than I would have expected. I ran into Kristin Shelley in the cafeteria (my dinner time is at 5:20 MELISSAAAA!!! and we went to the temple just a bit before then). That was so good to see her. Ah I got all teary eyed abd she got all teary eyed, loved it.

Ok real quick I need a few things: the body shop green vial, cotton balls, eye make up removes and an eye lash curler because someone (mom, mere or live) jacked it while we were all getting ready wed morning. I am sending a hand written letter today to the fam with pictures. I love my companion so much, did I mention that already? Mere write me about your calling lady! Ben - be good boy, tuffy. Sarah lacey gabrielson, job?? And if you want to send food we have all the candy and junk food available to us so homemade anothing would be delish. I love you all!!! I so love the MTC but it gets me almost too pumped to get into the mission field. Oh and most p-days I will be chiecking email after 1 pm because we go to the temple monday morning. I love you all one more time!!! I miss you though too, don't worry it isn't too fun that I am forgetting all the people I love. Ok 30 seconds- phew. love sister d!!

Here I Go!

Alrighty folks...I'm off! For a good 18 months, a real good 18 months that is. I CAN'T WAIT!!! AND I only have to wait 2 ish more days until I officially enter the MTC as a real legit missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't believe how quickly it has come and I love that it is here- the mission. Woo! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to go share the best gift ever- the gospel! I am one lucky girl! And even luckier to have wonderful friends and family supporting me on this crazy adventure. I love you all (not sure who reads this but I love you anyways) and thank you for your love and encouragement. Cross your fingers for me with the Chinese and say a little prayer or two that the people of Taiwan will listen to what I have to say (and if they don't listen just pray that they will let me love them)! Ooooo yay! See you in 18 months.

*note* Some member of my family will be posting my weekly letters/pictures home on this blog. I don't want you thinking I would break rules or something by blogging on the mission, no sir. I love me some rules (especially that one about skirts and nylons).

Mockingjay

This is reason #379 that I am pleased as punch to be leaving on Sept. 1 and no sooner (or later).

Read it.

Stolen. Read it.

I stole this. Please forgive me C.B.S. but I loved it too much.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He tells me to stop. And when He returns for His own..He will have no problem recognizing me.
Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.