MTC Week 3 - Routine Routine Routine

Hello Everyone! 

   Thank you all so much for all the love you have given me. Little notes and prayers are what pull me through everyday. I have realized how luck I am to have so many special people I can turn to for advice and help. It really is amazing. 

   Now that we've been here awhile, we have our set routine that won't change for the next seven weeks! It's nice to know what is going on but also a little mundane. I am loving my Chinese class. It's really hard but the Gift of Tongues is real! The harder you work, the easier it comes. Which is true for almost everything in life, but especially learning Chinese. I have two wonderful teachers. One who served in California and one who served in Australia. They are a good balance for each other. They work one-on-one with us and really care that we understand the language, as well as the gospel. 

   Something spiritual that happened this week was when we studied scriptures together as a district. Our teacher asked us to think of a question and then think about it as we read 1 Nephi 1:1. I had been worried about being safe in Taiwan so I asked God if he would protect while I was serving. I had an overwhelming feeling that everything would be 100% ok. It was amazing and it shows how powerful scripture study and prayer can be together. 

    One thing that's kinda crazy is my zone's service assignment. We have a really nice gym to work out in everyday, but our assignment is to turn it into a makeshift conference center! We pull out a HUGE mat to put down and set up so many chairs. We use string and wooden blocks to make the rows perfectly straight, wheel in a organ, and set up a stage with a wooden front and all! It really is quite amazing how so many people can come together and make something beautiful. 

   Another thing I have discovered is that I actually like four-square! Kinda random. But people are really nice and it's just a chill way to have some fun in the morning. Also, we have a "Sister Spikeball Club" every Thursday and Saturday. I've been teaching a group the rules and our goal is to be able to beat the Elder's by the end! :) We will see if that actually ends up happening. 

   The Spirit is real and I can testify of it's power. I have been opening my heart and beginning to learn how to be humble and it's helped me so much. I love the MTC and can't wait to continue my adventure. 

    Love you all, 

      Sister Jessica Meeks

MTC Week 2 - I'm alive.

Hi Everyone, 

   This week has for sure been a roller coaster. One second you're feeling the spirit so strongly because of the amazing atmosphere and the next second you're dying because you can't figure out what your investigator is saying! But it has been an amazing experience. 

    Something that is unique about the experience so far is that I'm in a trio companionship instead of the normal double. This for sure has benefits and downsides. My two companions are Sister Swanson and Sister Austad. They are totally different but each bring strong suits to the table. I am so blessed to have two people supporting me instead of just one. I am the only one who has studied Chinese before so we're at different levels which causes some challenges.  But my teacher does a really good job of helping everyone at their own level. 

    In the MTC, you never stop moving. We are going from breakfast to class to studying time, to a devotional, to back to class, etc, etc, etc! Because of this we're all a little tired but it has all been good movement. The spirit here at the MTC is so incredibly strong. I can't beleive how much I've learned about the gospel in such a short time. The very first day we had a devotional with all the new missionaries and we sang ' Armies of Helamen' and they change the line from "We will be the Lord's Missionaries" to "We are now the Lord's missionaries" and it was a cry fest for sure. Such an amazing spirit came over the room and I couldn't deny any of it. 

    We taught our investigator all in Chinese the 2nd day. That was pretty much a total train wreck! But a learning experience none the less. Our investigator's name is Peng Li Ming and he doesn't speak any English! We barely speak Chinese. It's really hard to know what you want to teach but not be able to speak the language. But I know that through studying and the gift of tongues we will be able to help him. 

    Funny story, I have met a lot of people here who know my older brother Andrew. (Who also served in Taiwan Taipei) One of my teachers was in his Zone in the MTC and he says he remembers him because he sang Lion King songs in the shower :) That made me smile and reminded about home and how much support I have. 

    I know the church is true. It's easy to have a testimony here because if you waver a little bit, someone is there to build you right back up. There is a constant spirit testifying of the truthfulness of the gospel. I am so happy to be here and I'm so happy to learn more in Chinese and more about the spirit. 

Love you all, 

Sister Meeks

We have a competition to see who gets the most mail and I'm winning so far! Please send anything if you get a chance. Small letters in the mail or through DearElder really help me make it through the day. 

Picture 1: Me and my amazing companions! 

Picture 2: Our district! We are the smallest by far. All the Elders are going to different missions in Canada and my companions are going to Taiwan with me. 

Picture 3: We ask each other one get-to-know-you question every night and I asked if they had any hidden talents. A head stand competition then came from it :) 

MTC Week 1 - I made it!

First email from the MTC.  I also got a wonderful text message from my neighbor who volunteers at the MTC.  She said they had over 700 missionaries enter the MTC today - the most all year.  She said Sister Meeks looked happy and well.  Whew!


Hi Fam! 

   I made it to the MTC! My first day was amazing. I can already feel the spirit and it's awesome. I'm in a trio companionship so that's neat! I love you all and miss you already. Just letting you know I'm alive and made it through the day :) 

   THANKS! 

        Sister Meeks

The Drop Off

Yummy lunch at Los Hermons with everyone but Daniel. Then off to the Provo City Center temple for some pics.  See you in two Sister Meeks.  We love you.