Sunday, November 13, 2016
A pending baptism!
A few quick updates and happenings from this week:
It's been such a good week! Every week is good actually; missionary life is the best! We went to TWO chidaobaos this week (basically buffets with better food) because I guess our members love us haha. One was a steak house and the other was a hotpot place. That's my favorite thing to eat here. We went grocery shopping and we found some really good normal American food, so that was nice too! We went to a morning market and had to run away from a creepy guy who kept asking where we live. That's one of the first REAL crazies I've met here. Sister Bello says she seems to attract them for some reason. We got stuck at the church with a kid whose parents didn't come to pick them up after English class until 10:15pm and President had us take a taxi home. My bike box broke and we fixed it with ALOT of zip ties. I realized that my Chinese, although I have improved alot has a LONG way to go. I'm pretty limited in the subjects I can talk about. I have much studying to do! I really do feel like my ward here in Zhanghua that I am serving has become my family. It is amazing.
New companion!
I have a new companion: Sister Bello!!! It's soo exciting! We are already great friends. She is from Utah and her family has 8 children, she is also the oldest. She wants to study elementary/childhood education and she is an AMAZING missionary.This week we went to a night market for my first time because we had an appointment with a member and some of her nonmember friends who w e were able to refer to the missionaries who live in their areas. At the night market I bought a succulent. His name is Henry. We also had a member give us shoes which was really sweet of her. We did hair masks and had to get Sister Bello's bike fixed three times. Please ignore the bumps on my head from my helmet. Haha
I'm no longer in training, so we have lesson study time and we leave the house earlier. We have so much more time to really be involved in the work. Because she is new, I am leading the are and I'm realizing just how much I really love the people here in Zhanghua 3rd ward. We have already seen so many miracles.
We have seen so much success in our contacting as we've been using the Book of Mormon. That doesn't mean we found a new investigator with every conversation, but I do feel like our work is a lot more effective. I truly feel like Aaron who "expounded on the scriptures" (Alma 22:12) I feel like I am doing what I was called to do here in Taiwan. We truly are giving others the opportunity to accept the Gospel. The Book of Mormon makes our purpose VERY clear to those we speak with and they have a better idea of what they are saying no to when they "bu yong" us. Contacting with the Book of Mormon really is so much fun! I love the detective work of listening to a conversation and listening to the Spirit to identify the needs of the person and find a scripture to help them.
I've been learning that I am just a very happy person. All of my companions so far, including the Sister Training Leaders I have been on exchanges with have told me that one of the things they loved about me and one of the things they learned our time together was an attitude of happiness regardless of the circumstances. I did not realize that I am an "unusually" happy person before, but it really comes down to this: I am following the plan that the Lord has for me in my life, so of course I'm happy! I have no reason not to be happy! What I love about missionary work i that when it really comes down to it, we are not responsible for the outcome, but only for the effort we put in to sharing this AMAZING and happy message of the Living Christ. What a wonderful life! I've never been happier nor more satisfied that I am here and now, doing His work.
I love you all and your are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hurrah for Israel!!
With Love,
Sister Keogh
Sunday, October 30, 2016
News of the week - slightly longer version
Thursday though we went over to our Ward mission leader's house and ate lunch with him and his wife. His wife is not a member and has some strong Buddhist beliefs. We taught her the Plan of Salvation though, and she said she could believe all of it. I really hope that as she's taught she can come to know the gospel is true, just like her husband. It would be so awesome if in just a little over a year they could go to the temple together and be sealed.
Saturday night was our second attempt at our fireside about the life of Christ. We had about 45 or 50 people attend, which we decided for a 3 ward activity on a Saturday night in Taiwan is pretty good. We know of at least 3 nonmember that attended,but the other wards certainly could have had had more people attend. It was a little bit crazy of a day for us as we had just come back from exchanges, but with some persistence and a while lot of faith, it was successful. There was such a strong spirit there testifying of the Savior, His life, works and Atonement and His reality. Sister Hendrix and I both felt the Spirit confirm that the Lord acknowledged and approved of the time and energy we put into using our talents and unique abilities to provide this opportunity for other to learn for Christ. I know many who attend were touched in just he way the Lord knew they needed, and Sister Hendrix and I both had very significant impressions throughout the evening. For me, it was the confirmation I was called to Taiwan specifically because of those living here. I looked around at the audience and I saw the members of my ward that I have come to love the people who have become my family and I just felt so grateful for the opportunity I have to be serving here, particularly in Zhanghua. The Stake President and bishops of the wards attended and the support from the members was really felt as they did what they could to support this activity and invite others to come unto Christ. I don't know if we will get new investigators because of this activity tomorrow, but maybe next week or next month those touched by the Spirit testifying of truth will be prepared to take the first steps toward covenanting with our Father to follow Christ. It is obvious that we cannot do this great work alone and wee need members to not only support us but actively participate in the process of finding, teaching and baptizing. I think this activity was a HUGE step in the right direction and those steps, couples with the Spirit surely will begin toe bless this area as members begin fulfilling their responsibility to share. I think if the district and especially our district leader had been more supportive we would have had more success, but we did our best with what we had and the Lord really did consecrate our efforts.
I have some more thoughts about Book of Mormon contacting and exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders, but I will have to save those for next week as time is running out and we have to organize transfers today.
Hurrah for Israel!
With love,
Sister Keogh
Saturday night was our second attempt at our fireside about the life of Christ. We had about 45 or 50 people attend, which we decided for a 3 ward activity on a Saturday night in Taiwan is pretty good. We know of at least 3 nonmember that attended,but the other wards certainly could have had had more people attend. It was a little bit crazy of a day for us as we had just come back from exchanges, but with some persistence and a while lot of faith, it was successful. There was such a strong spirit there testifying of the Savior, His life, works and Atonement and His reality. Sister Hendrix and I both felt the Spirit confirm that the Lord acknowledged and approved of the time and energy we put into using our talents and unique abilities to provide this opportunity for other to learn for Christ. I know many who attend were touched in just he way the Lord knew they needed, and Sister Hendrix and I both had very significant impressions throughout the evening. For me, it was the confirmation I was called to Taiwan specifically because of those living here. I looked around at the audience and I saw the members of my ward that I have come to love the people who have become my family and I just felt so grateful for the opportunity I have to be serving here, particularly in Zhanghua. The Stake President and bishops of the wards attended and the support from the members was really felt as they did what they could to support this activity and invite others to come unto Christ. I don't know if we will get new investigators because of this activity tomorrow, but maybe next week or next month those touched by the Spirit testifying of truth will be prepared to take the first steps toward covenanting with our Father to follow Christ. It is obvious that we cannot do this great work alone and wee need members to not only support us but actively participate in the process of finding, teaching and baptizing. I think this activity was a HUGE step in the right direction and those steps, couples with the Spirit surely will begin toe bless this area as members begin fulfilling their responsibility to share. I think if the district and especially our district leader had been more supportive we would have had more success, but we did our best with what we had and the Lord really did consecrate our efforts.
I have some more thoughts about Book of Mormon contacting and exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders, but I will have to save those for next week as time is running out and we have to organize transfers today.
Hurrah for Israel!
With love,
Sister Keogh
News of the week - slightly longer version
Thursday though we went over to our Ward mission leader's house and ate lunch with him and his wife. His wife is not a member and has some strong Buddhist beliefs. We taught her the Plan of Salvation though, and she said she could believe all of it. I really hope that as she's taught she can come to know the gospel is true, just like her husband. It would be so awesome if in just a little over a year they could go to the temple together and be sealed.
Saturday night was our second attempt at our fireside about the life of Christ. We had about 45 or 50 people attend, which we decided for a 3 ward activity on a Saturday night in Taiwan is pretty good. We know of at least 3 nonmember that attended,but the other wards certainly could have had had more people attend. It was a little bit crazy of a day for us as we had just come back from exchanges, but with some persistence and a while lot of faith, it was successful. There was such a strong spirit there testifying of the Savior, His life, works and Atonement and His reality. Sister Hendrix and I both felt the Spirit confirm that the Lord acknowledged and approved of the time and energy we put into using our talents and unique abilities to provide this opportunity for other to learn for Christ. I know many who attend were touched in just he way the Lord knew they needed, and Sister Hendrix and I both had very significant impressions throughout the evening. For me, it was the confirmation I was called to Taiwan specifically because of those living here. I looked around at the audience and I saw the members of my ward that I have come to love the people who have become my family and I just felt so grateful for the opportunity I have to be serving here, particularly in Zhanghua. The Stake President and bishops of the wards attended and the support from the members was really felt as they did what they could to support this activity and invite others to come unto Christ. I don't know if we will get new investigators because of this activity tomorrow, but maybe next week or next month those touched by the Spirit testifying of truth will be prepared to take the first steps toward covenanting with our Father to follow Christ. It is obvious that we cannot do this great work alone and wee need members to not only support us but actively participate in the process of finding, teaching and baptizing. I think this activity was a HUGE step in the right direction and those steps, couples with the Spirit surely will begin toe bless this area as members begin fulfilling their responsibility to share. I think if the district and especially our district leader had been more supportive we would have had more success, but we did our best with what we had and the Lord really did consecrate our efforts.
I have some more thoughts about Book of Mormon contacting and exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders, but I will have to save those for next week as time is running out and we have to organize transfers today.
Hurrah for Israel!
With love,
Sister Keogh
Saturday night was our second attempt at our fireside about the life of Christ. We had about 45 or 50 people attend, which we decided for a 3 ward activity on a Saturday night in Taiwan is pretty good. We know of at least 3 nonmember that attended,but the other wards certainly could have had had more people attend. It was a little bit crazy of a day for us as we had just come back from exchanges, but with some persistence and a while lot of faith, it was successful. There was such a strong spirit there testifying of the Savior, His life, works and Atonement and His reality. Sister Hendrix and I both felt the Spirit confirm that the Lord acknowledged and approved of the time and energy we put into using our talents and unique abilities to provide this opportunity for other to learn for Christ. I know many who attend were touched in just he way the Lord knew they needed, and Sister Hendrix and I both had very significant impressions throughout the evening. For me, it was the confirmation I was called to Taiwan specifically because of those living here. I looked around at the audience and I saw the members of my ward that I have come to love the people who have become my family and I just felt so grateful for the opportunity I have to be serving here, particularly in Zhanghua. The Stake President and bishops of the wards attended and the support from the members was really felt as they did what they could to support this activity and invite others to come unto Christ. I don't know if we will get new investigators because of this activity tomorrow, but maybe next week or next month those touched by the Spirit testifying of truth will be prepared to take the first steps toward covenanting with our Father to follow Christ. It is obvious that we cannot do this great work alone and wee need members to not only support us but actively participate in the process of finding, teaching and baptizing. I think this activity was a HUGE step in the right direction and those steps, couples with the Spirit surely will begin toe bless this area as members begin fulfilling their responsibility to share. I think if the district and especially our district leader had been more supportive we would have had more success, but we did our best with what we had and the Lord really did consecrate our efforts.
I have some more thoughts about Book of Mormon contacting and exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders, but I will have to save those for next week as time is running out and we have to organize transfers today.
Hurrah for Israel!
With love,
Sister Keogh
News of the week - Short version
Well, we had my first "real" transfer call! Sister Hendrix is leaving. My new companion is Sister Bello, Sister Hendrix's MTC companion. I'm excited for a new transfer and new adventures. We also had exchanges this weekend, so we had a temporary split with the Sister Training Leaders for additional training and feedback. It was amazing! We saw so many miracles and met so many amazing people. Someone called us and told Sister Greenhaulgh, (the sister I exchanged with) that he has been wanting to attend a a church for a while, but he didn't know which one. Somehow he met missionaries or something and got the number of the sister missionaries living in his area. He asked when Church was on Sunday, and what he should wear. There really are people searching for the Gospel!
Our investigators are all doing okay, but it is a little frustrating because although they are still learning about the Gospel, they aren't really progressing towards baptism and they don't come to church. :( We are trying our best to enlist our members to help us out in fellow-shipping them.
We also did our AWESOME fireside again and had a lot more success on it.
Our investigators are all doing okay, but it is a little frustrating because although they are still learning about the Gospel, they aren't really progressing towards baptism and they don't come to church. :( We are trying our best to enlist our members to help us out in fellow-shipping them.
We also did our AWESOME fireside again and had a lot more success on it.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Updates 10/23
Well, this week was a baptism (not ours :( ) I got really sick, we had to drop Chester, which was pretty disappointing, the President of the Asia Area, President Funk visited our mission and President Teh had me sing at the meeting. Ting Hui, our 9 year old, finally sit still for an entire lesson and we found a really yummy fall-like milk drink and no investigators came to church...
Here's some info about my area:
Population Totals
Zhanghua: 235,000
Lugang: 86,000
Population total: I'm guessing around 400,000 people live in our area
Spiritual thoughts to come
Love,
Sister Keogh
Here's some info about my area:
Population Totals
Zhanghua: 235,000
Lugang: 86,000
Population total: I'm guessing around 400,000 people live in our area
Spiritual thoughts to come
Love,
Sister Keogh
Monday, October 17, 2016
Weekly update
This week we had haircut, pizza, sickness, puppies, buses, and no-shows. I cut Sister Hendrix's hair and now she is SO cute!! Our FAVE member, Ke Jiemei bought all the missionaries pizza and we had a very awkward district lunch. The sisters in 1st ward gave us their cold/throat sickness thing, and we had to spend some time recovering. Chester, our investigator, showed us his ADORABLE puppies finally, and I learned I am still VERY allergic to dogs. :( Chester lives in Lukang which is a 10/15 mile bike ride, so we rode the bus to see him. We went to meet with him about 3 times this week. We really do love him, but right now he isn't making a lot of progress, or really trying at all... so we decided we may have to give him some time to decide if he really wants to find the truth. We have a new investigator who seemed really excited to meet with us, but then didn't show up to our lesson and it was pretty awkward because we had several members there to help us.
Sister Hendrix and I have 2 more weeks of training left and we are sadly ignoring the calendar! Haha. I'm learning so much, sweating a lot, eating wayyy too much good food, and loving Taiwan!!
P.S. Sister Hendrix washed my hair in the sink at the church this week lol... long story, she trimmed my hair again, then the people in our ward, our ward mission leader, literally forgot our names... awkward. We've only been here for THREE months!
P.S.S. you can use normal forever stamps to send letters here to Taiwan, here's the address!!
Taiwan Taichung Mission
#498-11 , Wu Chuan Road
Taichung 404-46 Taiwan
Sister Hendrix and I have 2 more weeks of training left and we are sadly ignoring the calendar! Haha. I'm learning so much, sweating a lot, eating wayyy too much good food, and loving Taiwan!!
P.S. Sister Hendrix washed my hair in the sink at the church this week lol... long story, she trimmed my hair again, then the people in our ward, our ward mission leader, literally forgot our names... awkward. We've only been here for THREE months!
P.S.S. you can use normal forever stamps to send letters here to Taiwan, here's the address!!
Taiwan Taichung Mission
#498-11 , Wu Chuan Road
Taichung 404-46 Taiwan
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Typhoon!
Wow! What a week! We discovered new delicious food, had a typhoon, got stuck on the roof (in the typhoon...), went to birthday party, got lots of free food, had some outstanding study sessions, and saved the world! Attached are the videos of the typhoon that kept us stuck in the house allllllll day. We went up to the roof to check it out, and Sister Hendrix shut the door, locking us on the roof. We have been learning a lot about the Plan of Salvation, God's plan of happiness for us here on earth and in the life to come. I look forward to study time every day! I've been realizing how important that time is everyday to open your heart to the Spirit and the things God has to teach and tell us. It's such a blessing to have that time each day, and I encourage all of you to do the same. Take some time everyday for your thoughts, for prayer, for pondering, and reading the Book of Mormon; this is how we build our testimonies and find direction and peace. I love you all, enjoy the pictures from the storm!
Hurrah for Israel! - Sister Keogh
Hurrah for Israel! - Sister Keogh
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Week four in Taiwan
I'm loving Zhanghua, and Hemei, and Lugang and Shengang, and all of our secondary areas. I love the Lord and I love this work! Hurrah for Israel!
Sunday, August 7, 2016
First assignment!
Aug 04
Well, I'm in Taiwan! A sad thing happened: I left my journal
on the plane... really really sad. Taiwan is pretty much what I expected
it to be. It looks like a normal large city (maybe a little less
organized) except all the writing is in Chinese. From the moment I saw
the lighted border of the island from the plane window, I felt SO much
love for this place and it's people. I can feel already this really will
be the best time of my life. I already feel at home, and I haven't even
met my trainer or moved to my apt. yet. When I got my mission call, it
seemed impossible, alien-like... but now it feels like I've always
belonged here. The Lord truly prepares us for our roles in His work and
He also prepares the people we will serve and those we serve with. I'm
here in Taiwan because the Lord's children here need me, and I can already feel that I need them. I love this, I love Taiwan, I love the Gospel, and I love the Lord!Aug 06
First morning in my area. Last night we had a lesson with Tony, and RC and Janice, a new investigator he brought to the lesson. I think I followed the conversation pretty well, but it took so much energy to understand that I couldn't think of responses (and it didn't help I kept falling asleep.) My companion is so patient. She asked me specific questions to help me participate in the lesson, so that was really helpful. We are whitewashing a closed area, so that means that we are both brand new. We don't know anyone, and no one knows us. The area book that is supposed to have records of our investigators and converts is well... quite terrible. Being a missionary feels like a dream, We are incredibly busy all the time talking with people, and chuanjiao-ing. (: I LOVE IT! There are no worries. You just put your head down and get to work. Missionary life is so exhausting and so fulfilling. I'm so excited for what Sister Hendrix and I can see happen here in Changhua.
ALSO: Miracle of the week!! I left my journal not on the plane, but on the bus from the airport and I told the AP. He said "Oh no! Journals are gold. Pray you'll get it back, and I'll pray too. The Lord protects the records of his people!" Yesterday we got a phone call: MY JOURNAL HAS BEEN FOUND AND IT IS BEING SHIPPED TO THE MISSION HOME!!! So excited. My journal really was important and this tender mercy is greatly appreciated.
I love being a missionary, and I LOVE TAIWAN!! I'm so happy here trying my best to fulfill the Lord's will. My companion is fantastic. She's a wonderful examples and we are a lot alike so we get along well. I know this is going to be a successful and effective companionship. The adjustment to Taiwan and to missionary life is a real concern that missionaries face, but I feel like I'm handling it well. I already love the people, and the ward seems so kind. It's hard because we are both new to the area and reliable information is scarce, but we are managing it well and our meeting with ward leadership this week will really help us out. Sister Hendrix really knows what she is doing!! I love this work and being here in Changhua with Sister Hendrix. It really is where the Lord needs me.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Arrived safely in Taiwan!
I arrived safely in Taiwan. Here's a picture of me with Elder and Sister Teh.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Week 8!
I can't believe I have been here for 2 months! I feel like I just got here yesterday, but then also I feel like I've been here for an eternity!! Haha
This week some cool things happened:
1) Sister Smith and I both left our key cards at home and we borrowed someone else's so that we could go back to the residency and grab ours. Unfortunately, her card had been demagnitized and wasn't working. On the 5th time, I said a little prayer and said "It really would be easier if this would just work. We have a lesson in 10 minutes and we don't really have time to find another card." Time #6, no luck, and just as we were about to give up, try #7, the lock flashed green and the door clicked open. Sister Smith said "Oh! It worked! I was praying for that!"
Okay so I think I never explained the investigator thing fully. My investigators are characters. Our teachers act as investigators they had on their missions and we teach them. I treat them as real investigators, and I pray for them etc. but they aren't real people. We teach converts on Mondays for TRC "Teach Real Converts". The first 3 weeks we had live people from Provo, and now we Skype people in Taiwan. We have the option to teach Golden Tag investigators, and I think they are real investigators, but they only speak English, and we don't have any golden tags right now because we have too many other things to work on.
Our investigators are good, but their baptism date kind of snuck up on us and we haven't finished teaching all the necessary commandments etc. They are both willing and excited about their baptisms, but I don't think either one is really as ready as we would like them to be. Unfortunately, we don't have any more time, because we have one last lesson with them before we leave for Taiwan. I don't think we will get any of them through the baptismal interview in order to have the "service" on Saturday. We will have to let them know we are moving the baptism "goal" date a little later to help them prepare and tell them that we are leaving so new missionaries will help them.
Here's cool thing #2:
2) Sister Smith and I were standing outside the door before we went into teach our teacher as our "investigator." We were discussing how after each lesson, they write their thoughts and evaluations. Both of us said "I really wish we could see that so we know how to improve." We had a decent lesson, and when our teacher came back, he said, I think the Spirit is guiding me to change our lesson plan. He asked if we wanted teaching feedback and let us read his evaluation notes!
God knows us and He loves us! I love you all!
"It's a beautiful day to save souls."
-Sister Keogh/Qi Jiemei
齊姐妹
This week some cool things happened:
1) Sister Smith and I both left our key cards at home and we borrowed someone else's so that we could go back to the residency and grab ours. Unfortunately, her card had been demagnitized and wasn't working. On the 5th time, I said a little prayer and said "It really would be easier if this would just work. We have a lesson in 10 minutes and we don't really have time to find another card." Time #6, no luck, and just as we were about to give up, try #7, the lock flashed green and the door clicked open. Sister Smith said "Oh! It worked! I was praying for that!"
Okay so I think I never explained the investigator thing fully. My investigators are characters. Our teachers act as investigators they had on their missions and we teach them. I treat them as real investigators, and I pray for them etc. but they aren't real people. We teach converts on Mondays for TRC "Teach Real Converts". The first 3 weeks we had live people from Provo, and now we Skype people in Taiwan. We have the option to teach Golden Tag investigators, and I think they are real investigators, but they only speak English, and we don't have any golden tags right now because we have too many other things to work on.
Our investigators are good, but their baptism date kind of snuck up on us and we haven't finished teaching all the necessary commandments etc. They are both willing and excited about their baptisms, but I don't think either one is really as ready as we would like them to be. Unfortunately, we don't have any more time, because we have one last lesson with them before we leave for Taiwan. I don't think we will get any of them through the baptismal interview in order to have the "service" on Saturday. We will have to let them know we are moving the baptism "goal" date a little later to help them prepare and tell them that we are leaving so new missionaries will help them.
Here's cool thing #2:
2) Sister Smith and I were standing outside the door before we went into teach our teacher as our "investigator." We were discussing how after each lesson, they write their thoughts and evaluations. Both of us said "I really wish we could see that so we know how to improve." We had a decent lesson, and when our teacher came back, he said, I think the Spirit is guiding me to change our lesson plan. He asked if we wanted teaching feedback and let us read his evaluation notes!
God knows us and He loves us! I love you all!
"It's a beautiful day to save souls."
-Sister Keogh/Qi Jiemei
齊姐妹
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Week 7 at the MTC
Well, we've officially been here long enough that our little dorm feels like home!
We had a good, but rather uneventful week. I redid my entire language study plan because I've been feeling really stuck lately and need some new ideas. Preach My Gospel is such a great resource to help plan and organize everything we do as missionaries.
We had a great devotional last night about missionary work, and about how we come unto the Lord. It was chalk full of wonderful things, so I'll just leave you with this quote from the saints in the Martin Willy Handcart Company who walked thousands of miles and gave up everything they had, sometimes including family members or limbs to make it to Zion because the Lord had commanded them to go. "We came to know the Lord in our extremities and the price we paid to know Him was a privilege to pay."
My prayer is that we can all come to say this is true for ourselves, that we know the Lord, and His Son Jesus Christ, that will know that the place where faith lives is the extremity. How can we expect to know and understand the Savior if we never learn to sacrifice our will as He did in the Garden of Gethsemane?
I love you all, and you're in my prayers
Wo ai ni, Qi Jiemei
We had a good, but rather uneventful week. I redid my entire language study plan because I've been feeling really stuck lately and need some new ideas. Preach My Gospel is such a great resource to help plan and organize everything we do as missionaries.
We had a great devotional last night about missionary work, and about how we come unto the Lord. It was chalk full of wonderful things, so I'll just leave you with this quote from the saints in the Martin Willy Handcart Company who walked thousands of miles and gave up everything they had, sometimes including family members or limbs to make it to Zion because the Lord had commanded them to go. "We came to know the Lord in our extremities and the price we paid to know Him was a privilege to pay."
My prayer is that we can all come to say this is true for ourselves, that we know the Lord, and His Son Jesus Christ, that will know that the place where faith lives is the extremity. How can we expect to know and understand the Savior if we never learn to sacrifice our will as He did in the Garden of Gethsemane?
I love you all, and you're in my prayers
Wo ai ni, Qi Jiemei
Thursday, July 7, 2016
MTC schedule
I've had a couple questions about the MTC life, so I thought I would give you all a quick run down:
Wednesdays are P-days:
Laundry, Temple (when it's open), and lots of e-mailing. Because there isn't alot that needs done on P-days at the MTC, our Branch President allows us to email for longer than the one hour. After dinner, P-day is over and we have a 3 hour class block until 9pm when we plan and head back to the dorms for bed.
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday:
7:00 Sack breakfast in our PJ's consisting usually of a bagel, orange juice and disappointment when the peanut butter is gone
7:20 Mini-nap time
7:45 Work-out/tear every muscle in your body time. I usually run about a mile each day, and then we do strength training with our personal trainer, Elder McCusker. We are all getting really strong! (and really sore...)
8:45 Shower and get ready for the day
9:15 PCL Time (Personal, Companion and Language Study)
11:55 Lunch
12:15 PCL
1:30 Class
This usually is an hour of teaching investigators, or more language study time, an hour of grammar lessons or Preach My Gospel lessons (all in Chinese) and then an hour of "coaching" when the teacher meets with you periodically and checks in with you on your goals. There's ALOT of self guided study time, even if the teacher is there.
4:30 Dinner
5:15 PCL
6:00 Another 3 hour class block, about the same as the one from the afternoon.
9:00 Planning for the next day, and district announcements and prayer
9:30 Head back home
10:30 lights out
Saturdays we have class in the morning and study at night, and Fridays we have service in the mornings, which means cleaning bathrooms etc.
Sundays are different, because we have church, so there's no class, but still alot of study time. We love it here!
Wednesdays are P-days:
Laundry, Temple (when it's open), and lots of e-mailing. Because there isn't alot that needs done on P-days at the MTC, our Branch President allows us to email for longer than the one hour. After dinner, P-day is over and we have a 3 hour class block until 9pm when we plan and head back to the dorms for bed.
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday:
7:00 Sack breakfast in our PJ's consisting usually of a bagel, orange juice and disappointment when the peanut butter is gone
7:20 Mini-nap time
7:45 Work-out/tear every muscle in your body time. I usually run about a mile each day, and then we do strength training with our personal trainer, Elder McCusker. We are all getting really strong! (and really sore...)
8:45 Shower and get ready for the day
9:15 PCL Time (Personal, Companion and Language Study)
11:55 Lunch
12:15 PCL
1:30 Class
This usually is an hour of teaching investigators, or more language study time, an hour of grammar lessons or Preach My Gospel lessons (all in Chinese) and then an hour of "coaching" when the teacher meets with you periodically and checks in with you on your goals. There's ALOT of self guided study time, even if the teacher is there.
4:30 Dinner
5:15 PCL
6:00 Another 3 hour class block, about the same as the one from the afternoon.
9:00 Planning for the next day, and district announcements and prayer
9:30 Head back home
10:30 lights out
Saturdays we have class in the morning and study at night, and Fridays we have service in the mornings, which means cleaning bathrooms etc.
Sundays are different, because we have church, so there's no class, but still alot of study time. We love it here!
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Halfway point for the MTC!
Well, Sunday was the half way point! We officially have less time left in the MTC than we have been here! I honestly can't imagine leaving. The MTC just feels like normal life. The first week we were here, the "oldest" district said "We were born here, and we're going to die here." I finally understood what they meant. I'm not feeling stir-crazy, but our district as a whole is has cabin fever. Our tiny little classroom full of 9 people feels rather claustrophobic. I feel bad for the districts who have 12-14 people in the same space!
This week was nice though because we got a bit of variety in our schedule. Monday, we got to host Senior Missionary couples and help them move into their rooms at the MTC. It was so nice to get to know them, and to speak some English! There were 85 couples and 3 sisters that came in on Monday. I was assigned the job that gave me the most amount of time with the couples. I spent about 15 minutes getting to know them, welcoming them, and answering their questions. We have couples who are headed all over the world! One couple was from Washington and they were going to serve in their hometown at the family history center, another headed to Congo, and another to Cambodia. All of them were so excited to be at the MTC and to talk with the young missionaries. I thought about how I love loving people and how wonderful it was I had the opportunity to help the senior couples.
I look forward to the day when I can get to know and love people in Chinese. I pray each day as I study I will blessed with the gift of tongues so I can serve in the way the Lord needs me to. I'm already starting to see this gift as I study and practice. I feel that I have an affinity for language comprehension in Chinese. I think this is interesting because it seems this is yet another way the Lord is humbling me. I struggle most of the time to speak more than very simple sentences, but I can usually divine some meaning from what people say to me, This seems to be a gift from the Lord that will allow me to love the people and not focus on myself. If I all I can do is listen, I will have to simplify and teach what the Spirit guides me to. I will be able to love the people and understand their questions and concerns.
We have a language study software called TALL, Technology Assisted Language Learning that helps us study flashcards, check our our speech, and has reading and listening practices. I love watch the videos of missionaries meeting with church members and investigators because it helps me come to understand the culture and the people of Taiwan. I'm so excited to be there and to get to know those who need more of Christ's light in their lives.
I also had the wonderful opportunity to sing at the MTC Mission Conference this Sunday. There were over 2,000 missionaries there. It was a great experience. I'm so grateful for the experiences the Lord is blessing me with here and the opportunities I am having to bear my testimony both through words and song.
Today our district had a picnic at lunch, and tonight our district gets to help orient the new missionaries to what teaching is really like. We are all slightly anxious because we have never really taught in English and it's surprisingly hard!
Thank you all for your love, prayers, letters and packages! Trust me, the encouragement, and sometimes the chocolate, is well needed ;)
Wo ai nimen,
Qi Jiemei
This week was nice though because we got a bit of variety in our schedule. Monday, we got to host Senior Missionary couples and help them move into their rooms at the MTC. It was so nice to get to know them, and to speak some English! There were 85 couples and 3 sisters that came in on Monday. I was assigned the job that gave me the most amount of time with the couples. I spent about 15 minutes getting to know them, welcoming them, and answering their questions. We have couples who are headed all over the world! One couple was from Washington and they were going to serve in their hometown at the family history center, another headed to Congo, and another to Cambodia. All of them were so excited to be at the MTC and to talk with the young missionaries. I thought about how I love loving people and how wonderful it was I had the opportunity to help the senior couples.
I look forward to the day when I can get to know and love people in Chinese. I pray each day as I study I will blessed with the gift of tongues so I can serve in the way the Lord needs me to. I'm already starting to see this gift as I study and practice. I feel that I have an affinity for language comprehension in Chinese. I think this is interesting because it seems this is yet another way the Lord is humbling me. I struggle most of the time to speak more than very simple sentences, but I can usually divine some meaning from what people say to me, This seems to be a gift from the Lord that will allow me to love the people and not focus on myself. If I all I can do is listen, I will have to simplify and teach what the Spirit guides me to. I will be able to love the people and understand their questions and concerns.
We have a language study software called TALL, Technology Assisted Language Learning that helps us study flashcards, check our our speech, and has reading and listening practices. I love watch the videos of missionaries meeting with church members and investigators because it helps me come to understand the culture and the people of Taiwan. I'm so excited to be there and to get to know those who need more of Christ's light in their lives.
I also had the wonderful opportunity to sing at the MTC Mission Conference this Sunday. There were over 2,000 missionaries there. It was a great experience. I'm so grateful for the experiences the Lord is blessing me with here and the opportunities I am having to bear my testimony both through words and song.
Today our district had a picnic at lunch, and tonight our district gets to help orient the new missionaries to what teaching is really like. We are all slightly anxious because we have never really taught in English and it's surprisingly hard!
Thank you all for your love, prayers, letters and packages! Trust me, the encouragement, and sometimes the chocolate, is well needed ;)
Wo ai nimen,
Qi Jiemei
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Monday, June 27, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
First Day Down!
We received our first letter from Sister Keogh last night! She is loving the MTC already!
Hey everyone! I'm here at the MTC and everything is WONDERFUL!!!
My P-Day is Wednesday so you'll hear from me then. My companion is Sister Smith and we are already (attempting) to learn Mandarin. The Spirit here is so strong and I'm so so happy.
Hey everyone! I'm here at the MTC and everything is WONDERFUL!!!
My P-Day is Wednesday so you'll hear from me then. My companion is Sister Smith and we are already (attempting) to learn Mandarin. The Spirit here is so strong and I'm so so happy.
Love you all!!!
Have a wonderful week, and remember the Lord loves you. (:
With Love,
Sister Keogh
Qi Jeimei
Have a wonderful week, and remember the Lord loves you. (:
With Love,
Sister Keogh
Qi Jeimei
Arrived in the MTC!
Sister Keogh arrived safely in the MTC yesterday! She will be in the Provo MTC until August. You
will be able to write her same day delivery emails through dearelder.com for free while she is in the MTC. Her address is
Sister Abigail Keogh
AUG03 TAIW-TCG
2005 N 900 E unit 44
Provo UT 84602
You can also write her emails at abigail.keogh@mylds.net
She would love to hear from you!
will be able to write her same day delivery emails through dearelder.com for free while she is in the MTC. Her address is
Sister Abigail Keogh
AUG03 TAIW-TCG
2005 N 900 E unit 44
Provo UT 84602
You can also write her emails at abigail.keogh@mylds.net
She would love to hear from you!
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