Christmas here really was wonderful. I told you most of what went on in the email I sent a couple of days ago, but there are still a few things that I left out. It's a REALLY good thing that you and the family has been sending food, because Christmas Eve dinner was a hilarious disappointment - leftover pizza. I topped it off with some cereal afterwards. Even though it was kind of pathetic, I couldn't help but laugh - I feel like that night's dinner was just preparing me for whatever Taiwan will have in store for me a year from now. Monkey brains? Squid on a stick? Raw eel? Blood pudding? We'll just have to see. That night for our "prelude music" for our Christmas Eve devotional, we sang "The Twelve Days of Christmas - Missionary Style." It was super-cheesy, but also really fun - I made sure I wrote down the verses so I could share them with you:
On the first day of Christmas a missionary needs: a copy of the Book of Mormon
Two Heavy Bags
3 Meals a day
4 Referral calls
5 golden contacts
6 bowls of ice cream
7 sessions planning
8 teachers teaching
9 sisters singing
10 prayers of blessings
11 elders preaching
12 apostles speaking
Anyway, the verses were kind of funny, but the real hilarity came from the lady who was conducting - she was acting all of the verses out, and soon we couldn't help but act out right along with her. My companion always gets embarrassed really easily about these sorts of things, so of course I had to act out everything in a very exaggerated fashion and try and be as obnoxious as possible (again, maturity level isn't what it used to be) - she laughed, though, and we had a good time.
On Christmas after I wrote you, we watched an old MoTab concert with Syssel. It was good and she really does have a lovely voice, but I think she chose all of the slowest songs in the Christmas carol repertoire. By the end of it we wanted to settle down to a long winter's nap. I ate a quick sack dinner, and then got out my violin and played for a little bit! It was WONDERFUL. It had been too long, and I loved going through old pieces that I had played as well as running through some of the new Jenny Oaks Baker arrangements that Grandpa and Grandma had sent (thank you! They're wonderful!). We had a Christmas fireside with Elder Allen, one of the people in charge of Mr. Kreuger's Christmas, and then watched.... Mr. Kreuger's Christmas. I really do love that movie (even though the thought of a friendless and lonely old person makes me really sad every time), and the scene with the Christ child was particularly meaningful to me this year.
In further news, I'm officially leaving the MTC in two weeks from today. How crazy is that? I can't believe it! I'm trying to have an "English fast" every day and speak Chinese as often as possible - it's difficult and sometimes we get a little lazy, but the thought of not being able to express myself in two weeks is so terrifying that I'm resolved to work hard and make that not-being-able-to-talk-at-all period of time as short as possible. That being said, I'm really excited about going to Taiwan, and I'm really excited to go out and serve the people. And even though my Chinese isn't very sufficient in terms of fluency in the language, I know that I can teach and that I can bear my testimony of Jesus Christ and of His Church, and that's what's important, right? I'm also learning to really love the language as well - it just makes a lot of sense. For example, we found out the word for doughnut yesterday - it's tiantianquan, which literally translated means "sweet sweet circle." Then again, there are some things that don't make as much sense, such as the translation for owl, which is "cat head eagle." Terrifying.
Okay, spiritual thought time - this is from Elder Bednar's talk (and sorry if my notes on that were somewhat disjointed last email - the timer on the top righ-hand corner of this computer screen really is unnerving). He read from Matthew 4:2-12. , when Jesus was tempted by Satan. He fasted for forty days, and then was tempted over and over again by Satan. Exhausting, right? Then it says in verse 11 that angels came and ministered unto Him. I think that's reasonable - He must have really needed the support that they could have given Him. Well, there's a footnote in verse 11 that leads to a JST which tells us that "Jeseus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and behold, they came and ministered unto him (John). " I never knew that! It was incredible, actually, to think of a time when Jesus would have most needed comfort, He sent angels to go and minister to John, because He knew that John was in trouble and needed help. I love that the Savior has given us such a perfect example - He always turned to help others when they needed it, regardless of His own needs. I know that He still does that today with our needs - that when we most need Him, His help is there. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thank you everyone for your continual love and support! Have a great week - until next Tuesday!
Love,
Sister Rebecca Winters
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