Every Week I Have 14 Hours On All Other Missionaries

Week 32:

As for interesting stories this week, I don't have many. This week promoted a lot of personal change; Hence the confusing email subject.

A couple months ago, I was waking up at 7:00 AM, the mission rule and I was tired every morning. I found myself not having enough time to study Chinese and I could tell. One hour of studying wasn't enough. My first idea was to stay up late, but that was seen as a serious transgression in the mission field, threw that idea out. My Speaking and Listening were poor so I started waking up at 6:30. Half an hour still wasn't long enough. 30 minutes was not long enough to reach my language goal. I was waking up at 6:00, doubling the time I have to study. Other missionaries thought I was a bit crazy, but what they don't know was that my Chinese was improving twice as fast. I wasn't feeling anymore tired now then I was getting an extra hour of sleep. My Chinese was improving but I wanted to become better and becoming better was going to take more work. I started waking up at 5:00 AM and just had an interview with the mission president and he asked me if I'm getting up on time. Told him that my alarm is set at 5:00. What I didn't tell him is that sometimes I don't use the alarm. Some mornings I'm waking up at 4:30. I haven't seen immediate results but big change doesn't come in a day. Now I'm getting 3 hours of language study in the morning plus the opportunity to use my newly learned Chinese throughout the day. I'm not feeling anymore tired, and , people may be crazy when I say this, but I've been having more energy throughout the day. A true blessing. The harder I work, the more blessings come rolling in. Some mornings I am very tired but I tell myself that after my work is done, I can take a nap (haven't taken a nap though which is surprising because I love sleep). Every Week I Have a 14 Hour Head Start on All Other Missionaries.

On a normal note, this week we have been working with members trying to get Less Actives back to church. Two missionaries I'm living with are going home this transfer and the church members have been going crazy. They are all wanting to invite them over for meals and share some dating tips to them for the missionaries to bring home. Its a real treat sometimes when I'm able to understand what they are saying. 

Happy Mothers Day!!

杨長老

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

Random Pics for the Week:  

YUMMY McDonalds Sandwich

Not quite like the picture on the box!

Ate at a super nice restaurant on the top floor of the tallest building in our area.

We went bubble finding.