Sunday, February 5, 2012
Still in Limbo
Well, I'm still in limbo, but the amount of things I can do in limbo just got reduced to almost nothing. Why? Because I got in a car accident and broke my collar bone. I blogged all about it over on my mission blog, so feel free to head over to www.sisterbusath.blogspot.com and find out just what happened =]
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Life in Limbo
Well, I am now a non-college student, but not yet a missionary. Therefore, my life hangs in limbo...
I'm not a fan.
School finished up, I forcibly quit my job (the only reason I quit was because the University wouldn't let me keep working at the library if I wasn't a student. Boo) and I moved home. It will all be worth it because I get to be a missionary!
I now spend my time...not doing a whole lot of anything. I am getting to nanny more, which is wonderful. I want to spend as much time with "my kids" as possible before I go away for 18 months and the forget me =[ Hopefully that won't happen! I have also begun to really study Preach My Gospel. That is one amazing book. Even if you aren't preparing to serve a mission, I highly recommend studying it! I am learning many great things. I also need to get my Chinese study on.
I haven't decided for sure whether I will be emailing out my weekly letters or having them posted to a blog or both =] So just in case, and because we all know how much I love blogs, I have created one for my mission! I was shocked, but the URL sisterbusath.blogspot.com was available, so you can check me out over there while I'm on my mission!
Seeing as I'm no longer a BYU student (well, for the time being) I will be mostly posting my mission preparations over there, and most likely (as long as I can convince a family member to do so) my letters will be posted over there as well.
Fear not, this blog will not disappear. I will resume posting here when I get back from my mission and once again become a BYU student!
Follow me to: www.sisterbusath.blogspot.com
See you in August of 2013!
-Andrea
I'm not a fan.
School finished up, I forcibly quit my job (the only reason I quit was because the University wouldn't let me keep working at the library if I wasn't a student. Boo) and I moved home. It will all be worth it because I get to be a missionary!
I now spend my time...not doing a whole lot of anything. I am getting to nanny more, which is wonderful. I want to spend as much time with "my kids" as possible before I go away for 18 months and the forget me =[ Hopefully that won't happen! I have also begun to really study Preach My Gospel. That is one amazing book. Even if you aren't preparing to serve a mission, I highly recommend studying it! I am learning many great things. I also need to get my Chinese study on.
I haven't decided for sure whether I will be emailing out my weekly letters or having them posted to a blog or both =] So just in case, and because we all know how much I love blogs, I have created one for my mission! I was shocked, but the URL sisterbusath.blogspot.com was available, so you can check me out over there while I'm on my mission!
Seeing as I'm no longer a BYU student (well, for the time being) I will be mostly posting my mission preparations over there, and most likely (as long as I can convince a family member to do so) my letters will be posted over there as well.
Fear not, this blog will not disappear. I will resume posting here when I get back from my mission and once again become a BYU student!
Follow me to: www.sisterbusath.blogspot.com
See you in August of 2013!
-Andrea
Friday, December 9, 2011
End of another Semester
Well, another semester has passed me by. All I have left are 4 finals, and then I will be done until Fall 2013! Wow, that sounds crazy! I am so ready for a break in school! I know a mission will be hard, but I am so ready for it, and I am so excited!!
I talked with brother who works at the MTC and evaluates incoming missionaries who have experience in their assigned language. He asked how much experience I had with learning/speaking Chinese. And then we talked for about five minutes in Chinese. He asked me my name, where I am from, where in China I had been, if I liked Chinese food, what kind of Chinese food I liked, how many kids were in my family, how many siblings I had, whether they were brothers or sisters, if I was the oldest, and maybe a few other questions. I was able to answer all the questions he asked, and only had trouble understanding him when he asked me where in China I had been, if I liked Chinese food (only because I couldn't understand the word he was saying for 'to eat', even though I knew it; it sounded different over the phone) and another question, which I don't remember. So, I did pretty well, I thought, but then he said he'd recommend that I stay in the MTC for twelve weeks. He asked what I felt, and I told him I felt like 12 weeks might be too long, but that I was happy to do whatever he felt would be best for me. He explained that the way the six week program works is that, the first 3 weeks are spent mostly speaking English, and you are taught how to teach the gospel in English, and then the last 3 weeks is Chinese, but you are already expected to be able to then teach in Chinese at almost the same level to which you were taught in English. Yeah, that wouldn't be good for me. I don't have the church vocabulary to do that. Or enough grammar to do that either. So after he explained that to me, he asked how I'd feel doing that and I said, you are probably correct in saying that I should stay in the MTC for 12 weeks. So 12 weeks it is! He said that, after I study for the next few months, if I feel like I have improved enough, and feel that only 3 weeks of Chinese would be sufficient, I could call him again and we could talk again, but I don't think I will have enough practice speaking Chinese before I go into the MTC to be able to do that. So I will practice and build up my vocabulary, so that when I am in there, I can progress further and be able to help out the other missionaries who may not have as much (or any) experience with Chinese as I do.
The thought of being in the MTC for 12 weeks is a bit daunting, but I am excited and it will be great!
I have sold my housing contract which is such a relief! I am about 1/3 moved out of my apartment, and will work on getting most things moved out tomorrow and Sunday. Finals are next week, and I have one a day through Thursday and will go home either Thursday night or Friday. Friday we are picking up Noelle at BYU-I and moving her and her friend home for the next semester, and then Saturday we are leaving for California! We will only be there till Thursday, but we are going out for my cousin's wedding, which is on Wednesday. I am so excited to go to California, and I am so excited that I will be able to go to my cousin's sealing! This will be the first sealing I've been to, so it is exciting!! Once we get back from California, we will be having an early Christmas Eve dinner with my Mom's family and then Christmas! I'm really excited for Christmas =] And New Years!
And after the holidays, I get to spend 2 1/2 months studying Chinese, Preach my Gospel and nannying lots =] Got to get in my fill of kids for the next 18 months!
I talked with brother who works at the MTC and evaluates incoming missionaries who have experience in their assigned language. He asked how much experience I had with learning/speaking Chinese. And then we talked for about five minutes in Chinese. He asked me my name, where I am from, where in China I had been, if I liked Chinese food, what kind of Chinese food I liked, how many kids were in my family, how many siblings I had, whether they were brothers or sisters, if I was the oldest, and maybe a few other questions. I was able to answer all the questions he asked, and only had trouble understanding him when he asked me where in China I had been, if I liked Chinese food (only because I couldn't understand the word he was saying for 'to eat', even though I knew it; it sounded different over the phone) and another question, which I don't remember. So, I did pretty well, I thought, but then he said he'd recommend that I stay in the MTC for twelve weeks. He asked what I felt, and I told him I felt like 12 weeks might be too long, but that I was happy to do whatever he felt would be best for me. He explained that the way the six week program works is that, the first 3 weeks are spent mostly speaking English, and you are taught how to teach the gospel in English, and then the last 3 weeks is Chinese, but you are already expected to be able to then teach in Chinese at almost the same level to which you were taught in English. Yeah, that wouldn't be good for me. I don't have the church vocabulary to do that. Or enough grammar to do that either. So after he explained that to me, he asked how I'd feel doing that and I said, you are probably correct in saying that I should stay in the MTC for 12 weeks. So 12 weeks it is! He said that, after I study for the next few months, if I feel like I have improved enough, and feel that only 3 weeks of Chinese would be sufficient, I could call him again and we could talk again, but I don't think I will have enough practice speaking Chinese before I go into the MTC to be able to do that. So I will practice and build up my vocabulary, so that when I am in there, I can progress further and be able to help out the other missionaries who may not have as much (or any) experience with Chinese as I do.
The thought of being in the MTC for 12 weeks is a bit daunting, but I am excited and it will be great!
I have sold my housing contract which is such a relief! I am about 1/3 moved out of my apartment, and will work on getting most things moved out tomorrow and Sunday. Finals are next week, and I have one a day through Thursday and will go home either Thursday night or Friday. Friday we are picking up Noelle at BYU-I and moving her and her friend home for the next semester, and then Saturday we are leaving for California! We will only be there till Thursday, but we are going out for my cousin's wedding, which is on Wednesday. I am so excited to go to California, and I am so excited that I will be able to go to my cousin's sealing! This will be the first sealing I've been to, so it is exciting!! Once we get back from California, we will be having an early Christmas Eve dinner with my Mom's family and then Christmas! I'm really excited for Christmas =] And New Years!
And after the holidays, I get to spend 2 1/2 months studying Chinese, Preach my Gospel and nannying lots =] Got to get in my fill of kids for the next 18 months!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Oh to have the faith of a child
One of my favorite blogs (who I think I've mentioned before) is A Full Quiver. They are an LDS family who has adopted five special needs children from China. I got to meet the family by chance this summer when I was volunteering at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They are an absolutely amazing family and I just adore them! About a year ago they adopted two girls from China: Lexi, who is blind, and Sophi, who was born without arms. Lexi is 6 years old and comes up with some of the funniest things! She has grasped the English language very well, and has also grasped gospel principles amazingly well, even for a six year old, let alone a six year old who only started learning about the church less than a year ago, and is learning it all in a language that isn't her native language. Talk about one special little girl!
Well, the reason I'm mentioning all this is because of a recent post on their blog. You can read it here on their blog and I would highly encourage you to read it.
Lexi knows that she will be healed (her eyesight restored) when she dies, and she is very excited about this and the fact that Christ will heal her. Her parents shared an example tonight of this, and for me, this was a great example of the kind of faith we all should have:
"Tonight as I was tucking her into her bed, I was just overcome with how much I love this beautiful, special girl. It's been almost a year since she joined our family and I can't believe her grasp of English, her resiliency, her happy demeanor, and her pure testimony of Jesus Christ. As I kissed her goodnight, she said, "Mommy, can I fix my eyes?" I said, "No, sweetie, only Jesus can fix your eyes." She replied, "But I know how! I just have to go like this," and proceeded to put her hands over her eyes. [my insert: her parents had showed her how Christ might heal her eyes, and it was by putting his hands over her eyes and then when he takes them away, she would be able to see]
Such childlike faith.
I have no doubt that it is faith enough to be healed now, if it is His desire for her. "
Lexi is such a sweet example of the kind of faith we need to have. We need to have the faith that we can be healed, or that Christ can and will take away all our pains. He will never leave us alone, I know that. I am so grateful for the examples of children who have such pure faith in Christ and his atoning power. Without them, I would often forget how much Christ loves me.
Oh how I am grateful for these simple reminders.
Well, the reason I'm mentioning all this is because of a recent post on their blog. You can read it here on their blog and I would highly encourage you to read it.
Lexi knows that she will be healed (her eyesight restored) when she dies, and she is very excited about this and the fact that Christ will heal her. Her parents shared an example tonight of this, and for me, this was a great example of the kind of faith we all should have:
"Tonight as I was tucking her into her bed, I was just overcome with how much I love this beautiful, special girl. It's been almost a year since she joined our family and I can't believe her grasp of English, her resiliency, her happy demeanor, and her pure testimony of Jesus Christ. As I kissed her goodnight, she said, "Mommy, can I fix my eyes?" I said, "No, sweetie, only Jesus can fix your eyes." She replied, "But I know how! I just have to go like this," and proceeded to put her hands over her eyes. [my insert: her parents had showed her how Christ might heal her eyes, and it was by putting his hands over her eyes and then when he takes them away, she would be able to see]
Such childlike faith.
I have no doubt that it is faith enough to be healed now, if it is His desire for her. "
Lexi is such a sweet example of the kind of faith we need to have. We need to have the faith that we can be healed, or that Christ can and will take away all our pains. He will never leave us alone, I know that. I am so grateful for the examples of children who have such pure faith in Christ and his atoning power. Without them, I would often forget how much Christ loves me.
Oh how I am grateful for these simple reminders.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Well?
Well, what has been going on in my life? Not a whole lot really. I've just been trying to keep up with school and finish the semester! Once it is over, I won't have to go to school for 1 1/2 years! Yay! I'm really happy about that =]
I officially changed my major...again...to Biological Science Education, which is the Biology teaching program. Why did I do this? Because I didn't want to take Organic Chemistry (I was 7 weeks into the class and had had enough). So I switched! I am excited to come back to school and start my teaching classes (after my mission though =] )
I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving next week! It is probably my favorite food holiday! OO I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Things are going well in getting ready for my mission! I have bought a few clothing items, and have been filling out lots of paperwork! And I am going through the temple tomorrow, and I'm so excited!
That really is about all that is going on right now. We are going to California for Christmas for my cousins wedding, and I am so excited to be going back to San Jose! It has been way too long! I'm excited to get to see people one last time before my mission =]
And then we will come back to Utah for Christmas, and hopefully then go to LA after Christmas =] Yay for going to California twice over Christmas!
I officially changed my major...again...to Biological Science Education, which is the Biology teaching program. Why did I do this? Because I didn't want to take Organic Chemistry (I was 7 weeks into the class and had had enough). So I switched! I am excited to come back to school and start my teaching classes (after my mission though =] )
I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving next week! It is probably my favorite food holiday! OO I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Things are going well in getting ready for my mission! I have bought a few clothing items, and have been filling out lots of paperwork! And I am going through the temple tomorrow, and I'm so excited!
That really is about all that is going on right now. We are going to California for Christmas for my cousins wedding, and I am so excited to be going back to San Jose! It has been way too long! I'm excited to get to see people one last time before my mission =]
And then we will come back to Utah for Christmas, and hopefully then go to LA after Christmas =] Yay for going to California twice over Christmas!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
My Mission Call!!
I got my mission call tonight!!!!
I AM GOING TO THE TAIWAN TAICHUNG MISSION!!! Mandarin Chinese speaking!!!!!
I report to the MTC on February 29, 2012!!! I am beyond excited!
Here is the video of me opening my call!!!
Love you all!
I AM GOING TO THE TAIWAN TAICHUNG MISSION!!! Mandarin Chinese speaking!!!!!
I report to the MTC on February 29, 2012!!! I am beyond excited!
Here is the video of me opening my call!!!
Love you all!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
TOMORROW!!!
Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya! Tomorrow! You're only a day away!!!!
My mission call should be here tomorrow!!!
I'm opening it at 9 PM!!!
And then I'll post the video of me opening it, and make you watch it to find out where I'm going =]]
CAN'T WAIT!
My mission call should be here tomorrow!!!
I'm opening it at 9 PM!!!
And then I'll post the video of me opening it, and make you watch it to find out where I'm going =]]
CAN'T WAIT!
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