SMELL THE BARN

So this week has been an interesting week, although not much happened. 

We started off the week with a Skype TRC. It's basically just you and your companion skyping someone who speaks Chinese, usually a native, and then teach them a lesson. We taught this lady and her husband was a non member. She told us within the first 5 minutes that he had died 5 years before. It was really shocking that she would share something like that, but it was nice she trusted us. I then shared that I have recently had someone pass away close to me too and I was able to connect with her. We taught her about faith and the power that it has and can bring to us. By the end I could see she had some tears so I guess that's a good sign haha. She talked a lot though and would go on for about 4 minutes talking without stopping and we had no idea what she said. Our teacher told us to not let them talk that long, because she knew we couldn't understand the member haha. I guess it'll just come in time.

During that same time, our teacher was skyping one of her friends from China. I moved my chair over and said hello to the lady. I then said that Ye laoshi loves me. Ye laoshi turned over and just said:" Shei Ai Ni?" which means who loves you? She is crazy and really savage sometimes, but I still love her and learn a lot. She told me a few days later that Chinese people won't tell you they love you, they tell you through their actions. Chinese can be harsh sometimes!!

We got our travel plans this week! I'll put a picture down below, but I was super glad to get them. It really shows you that you are actually going somewhere to teach people. It gets you to think about your MTC experience and things you could've done differently. I don't know if I'm ready to go Preach the Gospel to a people who have never heard of it before in a foreign tongue. Ready or not though, here I go. The crazy thing is that all the teachers in the MTC were called into a meeting to discuss teaching. They found that missionaries have been teaching with almost too many materials. Some missionaries are relying on the teaching materials too much instead of teaching to the people's needs.

 I really had a breakthrough with this. I know I could be teaching way better than I am now. This whole week while I've had this in my mind, I haven't even thought about the language, it's all just been about personal testimony and conviction in the lessons you are teaching. The theme this week for me has been to strive to get a deeper testimony of these things, so I can teach them to others. I really have this desire now to study and find for myself these things. There's only one was to make these powerful and give these messages to these people. And that's through the Holy Ghost bearing witness of what you say. I am working on having the Holy Ghost with me all the time as a constant companion. I know I can be more obedient and waste less time. This is what I'm trying to accomplish. Some MTC rules are a little weird, and it will be different in the field, but me and Elder Beus have decided to be 100% obedient this week before we go out to the Field. We are really wanting to change.

I was able to see my cousin Karter come into the MTC this week which was awesome! We talked and I know already that he'll be great. We have different experiences at the MTC, but it's all the same work. It's good to see familiar people before you ship off to a foreign land. It gives me a strong start for sure.

Sorry this email is short. Nothing much happened this week. This time next week, I'll be packing to get on the plane and I'll have much more to tell. Love you!

-Elder Thayne

Oh yeah and the title has a story behind it. When horses smell where they want to go(which is usually home) You can sense it and they speed up to get there. We are speeding up and want to get to Taiwan now!!!