Selamat Pagi

I cannot believe it is another p day.  Sister Norton sprained her ankle last night playing volleyball so it has been very stressful for her, and then that makes me stressed.  She was pretty down and then the elders next door in our zone came and asked if they could give her a blessing.  It was so incredible.  I just started to cry because it reminded me that just because I'm not home with dad anymore, there are still boys who are willing and able to give blessings when we need them.  It was great.

So I found out this week that President Clark is considering opening up an area in Singapore for Sisters to serve.  YAY!!!!! I tried not to squeal but that would be so exciting.  I would love to serve there.  My departure date is May 2.  I am still trying to learn the language but it is amazing how much I can say! My problem isn't vocabulary.  It is just grammar.

I had this thought sitting in district meeting the other night.  It occurred to me there are about 80 total missionaries in my mission, Singapore and Malaysia, and 10 of those being sisters.  There are how many millions of people that live there? So if you divide them by us, you can figure that while just walking down the road to breakfast and maybe pass 100 people, they may have just missed the opportunity to ever hear about the gospel.  Do you know how much pressure that adds! You better believe on my way to breakfast I will be stopping people on the street.

I am reading the Book of Mormon in Indonesian.  Something really stuck out to me this time in 1 Nephi 2.  We already know Laman and Lemual were being hefers but in verse 16, Nephi said that he cried to the Lord, and that his heart was softened so he didn't rebel like his brothers.  So he didn't wake up and become a leader.  He could have been a hefer too.  But instead, he prayed to receive his own witness of what his father was preaching, and when he did, he was told he would be a ruler and a teacher over his brethern.  I pray everyone will take the opportunity to ask God if it is true and receive their own testimonies.

Thank you for all the letters.  I heard from Christina, Melissa and Tom this week.  It was a great week.  They all make my day so thank you so much for sending them.

Alahai!!

Mom, salamat hari jadi!  I think this may have something to do with the birthday I just had.  Lisa said, "want to hear something crazy about the whole japanese disaster? We have been praying mtc wide for the people and the missionaries but our president told us that the reason they were all safe was because they were at a zone conference somewhere inland.  Some of the areas were destroyed but the missionaries were safe because they were at their meetings.  Also no members were hurt.  It goes to show the Lord's hand is in everything.

Lisa writes each time she has never been in a place where she is so spiritually fed.  She has personal study every morning for an hour, and she says this is her sacred hour.  A few days ago she was feeling very humbled and prayed to keep her energy up and work hard and she found this scripture - John 14:27 - she felt so much better and was reminded once again the Lord does know her.  Then her companion, Sister Norton, shared Ether 12:6 which talks about a trial of faith.  She writes, "I could write a whole email of scriptures that I have found that mean so much to me, maybe I have become a sister missionary after all...haha. But I can still laugh!"

Also it turns out she is learning 2 languages.  "Malay is like a combination of tongan and polynesian with an arabic base.  And Indonesian (the scriptures are translated into this language) we learn so that we can teach them what it says in Malay.  Make sense??  Most of the people we will be teaching are trying to learn Malay as well because it is not their native language."

"We do this thing called SYL (speak your language) so you incorporate all of the malay/spanish/whatever words you know instead of English.  It sounds like I'm in the UN or something!!"

She also misses Dana.  The greatest Pilates teacher in St. George.  Lisa loves hiking, running, and mostly Pilates so the MTC has been a bit of a change for her.  She tried to play volleyball and when the ball came straight for her face she screamed and dropped to the ground.  At which time she was made fun of.  So the next time she tried really hard to hit it and hurt her wrist so bad she couldn't hold a pencil for a week.  She "tries" a little basketball!  She has always been more into the artistic side of being active.

She comments at the end of every letter how much she appreciates letters.  It helps her stay grounded (with Jessica's help) and cheering (this would be you Amanda) for her friends.  She can feel a small part of the world she left behind.

Dare I say, one month down and 17 to go?  I am trying to find the bright spot today.

Week 1 update

Lisa is working very hard in the MTC.  The importance of her calling and her sincere desire to help the people in her mission (as she puts it, "people's salvation is at stake!") has inspired her to work even harder.  Sounds like the MTC has been very effective!  She writes, "We get up at 5:50 every day and can crawl in bed at 10:30.  I have no time to think, only study.  I can say a pretty rough prayer and a solid testimony as well as communicate to people in malay.  I wish I could speak better, but it will come."  Also her study as of late has been the condescension of Christ.  She writes, "Here are a few points maybe you would find interesting:
1- Condescension means to voluntarily lower yourself from a high place
2- He was born in an inn. He had no home really. He didn't belong.  Matthew 8:20
3- Luke 14:11
4- D&C 38:7-8
5- Philippians 2:1-11 He only looked in "the fashion of a man" (vs 8) "He came like a man almost"
6- He was born near the river Jordan (lowest place on earth)
7- He died with thieves
8- The tomb, the Garden tomb, wasn't his
9- Isaiah 53:6-7
These are just a few of the things that stick out to me."

Lisa also says, "Funny thing. The other day Sis. Kubota accidentally called me Lisa and I jumped.  My first thought was 'how does she know my secret name!' I'm ruined already."

Lisa is a huge part of our family.  We love and miss her so much.  She mentions how much she loves letters so if you have time, please write to the address above or search DearElder.com (this is a site that you can email to and they will print the letter and put it in her box).  Her time online is very limited, so if a letter is sent by mail or through Dear Elder, she can read it prior and save her online time for responding.

Lisa's first letter

mission farewell 2/27/11

Many small people who in many small places do many small things can alter the face of the world. 

Lisa referenced this saying from the Berlin Wall in her talk along with her experience with Leah in Africa.  She worried about this talk up to Sunday morning. She also didn't know her primary class was going to sing to her.  Truth is, she was amazing. Many people came up after and said it was the best meeting they had attended.  Lisa has a unique ability to express her love for everyone regardless of nationality and religion. 


We are grateful to all friends and family that were able to attend.

Proof we did laugh once on March 2