Good is not good enough and Tiematch Tue.

Elder Coletti's Letter Aug. 24, 2015:

 

Monday Aug. 17, 2015:

We went to the temple in morning and that was pretty amazing!  We did an endowment session and it just honestly gets better every time I go.  This was my second time at the Provo Temple doing an endowment session while at the MTC. I have been blessed enough to attend once a week while I have been here!  I get more out of each session every time I am able to attend. I heard something this time that I hadn't heard before and it hit me really hard!  It made gave me a completely different perspective and honestly made me reflect and ponder.

Tuesday Aug. 18, 2015:

The Tuesday Devotional today was from President Echo Hawk of the 70s.  He gave a talk about how being good is not good enough.  I can totally relate to this because that was our motto for Bingham football last year: "Good is not good enough."  I can be good and that it is alright if I don't sacrifice that little bit extra in order to gain  just a little more. However, if I am willing to sacrifice a little bit extra and give every ounce of effort I have, then it will just help me that much more.  I really took to heart what Echo Hawk said and I am trying to apply it in everything I do.  When I am preparing a lesson for an investigator, I don't just want to make it a good lesson.  I want to make it a great lesson that will help invite the Spirit. God doesn't want us to be half converted or to give half of our effort.  He wants us to give our whole soul to him.  He wants us to serve him with all of our might, mind and strength.  He wants us to completely rely on him. We cannot do it without him.

 

Wednesday Aug 19, 2015:

We played basketball for the first time in about 2 weeks.  I loved it!  I was getting a little overwhelmed and stressed out and playing basketball was absolutely perfect to help me to relax!  4-square just wasn't cutting it: ) We taught Tony today which was a little tough.  It wasn't a bad lesson at all, but we just haven't had any progress with him.  He either asks questions that take 10 minutes to explain or we only have 15 minutes to teach the entire lesson and it doesn't seem to be working.  However, I do see his jianzhang (testimony) growing more and more every time Elder Miller and I teach him. It helps me to realize that every investigator is different.  For example: Holly is progressing miraculously and quickly!  We've almost taught her all the lessons!  Tony, on the other hand, has just started the second lesson about the Plan of Salvation.  The contrast between the two investigators has taught me that we need to take our time with the investigator's needs and treat them as individuals.  Tony doesn't understand as much as Holly, but that's alright!  If he wants to be truly converted then he needs to understand and find out for himself. He needs to develop his own testimony.  From the first lesson to the most recent one, I have seen so much conversion with him.  Although it is slow, he is starting to believe, and in the long run that is the objective.  It doesn't matter how fast or slow the lessons are being taught. It just matters that we are teaching the lessons according to each individual investigators needs and pace.

Thursday Aug 20, 2015:

Today we taught Holly. We had one of the Elders in our district come with us to the lesson and pretend to be a member.  It truly was an amazing lesson.  The Spirit was felt in the room and she was absorbing everything!  She asked some really good questions and we were able to give her answers that were of comfort to her.  Elder Chia, the Elder we brought that was pretending to being a member, did BANG (AMAZING)!  His testimony was powerful and absolutely helped Holly understand the importance of our lesson. We learned how effective having members come to help teach investigators is. In the MTC, I have learned to try to have a member in all of your lessons with investigators.  They help so much because they are a second witness testifying of the truth of the gospel and they completely relate to the mudaoyou (investigator).  I love members and appreciate members more than ever now!

Friday Aug. 21, 2015:

The end of today was lehai (above awesome)!!  So a couple weeks ago, my wonderful mother sent me a package that contained water guns.  My district and another district used those water guns and had a crazy water gun fight!  It was at night and so everyone was a little rowdy and it was soooo fun!  I got someone in the back who was peeing in a urinal (don't worry I did a double tap;))!  SO FUNNY!!!  It ended up being me vs. the entire other district because my district didn't really participate!  I was running, diving, dipping all over the place!!  I felt like I was James Bond or some secret agent man!  Today we taught Tony which went great!  We had Elder Butler, another Elder from our district, come as a member and he was the spark we needed with Tony!  Tony asked Elder Butler a bunch of questions such as "What do you think of this" and "How do you believe that?".  It gave Tony a different perspective on everything and helped him so much.  I am so grateful for members.

Saturday Aug. 22, 2015:

Did I mention how much I love TRCs?  We taught this member by the name of Simon. Simon had to be the nicest individual I have met in the MTC.  He is an old Asian man who served his  mission in California back in 1972.  For TRCs, the missionaries are supposed to teach.  However, that was not at all how it turned out.  He taught us!!  The majority of his speaking was in English too!  He taught us about how God knows our challenges in life and that he knows of the sacrifices we have made in our decision to serve a mission.  He was saying how God watches us from heaven and helps us along the way.  He referred to missionaries as agents of God.  We may not be 007 or James Bond, but we are greater agents.  We are the agents of God.  He also gave us an analogy about lemons.  He said that Satan is going to tempt us and tell us to do "sour" things by throwing lemons at us.  We, as missionaries, need to learn what to do with these lemons.  We need to learn to make lemonade with them. It was a really cool analogy and it left quite an impression on us. He also gave us tips about the people of Taiwan and how they are really shy.  We need to ask them engaging questions that will get them thinking and talking.  We need to ask questions that will start conversations.  I absolutely loved Simon.  Today was hump day!!!!  We are half way through the MTC.  I can't believe how fast the first month has gone by. Sept. 22 will be here before we know it and we will be on a plane headed for Taiwan!

 

Sunday Aug. 23, 2015:

Today we watched a talk by Bednar called the "Character of Christ".  It honestly gave me so many revelations!  I learned to just get over myself.  I was feeling a little down and discouraged about the language (its hard!) and trying to figure out just how am I going to be an effective missionary if I am struggling with Chinese. Elder Bednar said that the doubts and concerns I am having are of the natural man.  The natural man would turn inward.  The natural man would say help me and feel bad for me when they are facing adversity. When Christ would face adversity he would turn outward.  He would help others when everything wasn't going right for him. This is the true Character of Christ.  The Character of Christ that I desperately need to work on and want to try and emulate in all that I do.  I have to get over my own wants and needs. I need to put others before myself.  Christ was honestly incredible.  My love for him is ineffable.  However, Bednar also said that a testimony of Christ is not enough.  You have to be truly converted to Jesus Christ.  I have to change towards him and make a "turn" in his direction.  It is only then that I will be truly converted to Christ and his incredible Atonement.

 

Love you all,

Elder Coletti

 

Tiematch Tuesday!!!

District 39d and our  laoshi (teacher) Sister Hsuing

 

Sleep Walking and 4-Square

Monday Aug 10, 2015:

We taught Tony and he asked some really good questions.  They really had Elder Miller and myself thinking.  I asked my teacher how he would have responded.  He gave a wanmei huida (perfect answer).  He said (speaking in Chinese) to adjust your answer in a way that would be most helpful to the investigator.  We need to step down to their level of spirituality and then help bring them up to our level. We can't expect them to know, understand, and believe the same things we do.  That's not going to work.  We, along with the Shengling (Holy Ghost), need to help them understand as much as possible and be their escalator.  We need to assist them in reaching the top level.

Tuesday Aug 11, 2015:

We played 4-square for gym today which was a blast!  It really took me back to my elementary days when we would 4-square all the time during recess!  I have a funny story.  We were playing 4-square with another district. I was having fun and kind of being fancy with the ball by doing behind the back tosses and what not.  Later that day, that district came into our classroom and challenged us to a game of volleyball.  We accepted and said we would pohuai (destroy) them (jokingly of course)!  They said that I'm the only one in the district who is actually coordinated.  Hmmmm.... I don't think I can remember a time I have been complimented on my coordination.  We all had a nice giggle out of that conversation. We had our Tuesday evening devotional which was really good.  It was by Elder C. Scott Grove from the 70's and he really motivated me to lose myself in the work.  He taught about how we need pure focus for a pure love of Christ.

Wednesday Aug 12, 2015:

This day was one of the most productive days I've had so far in my experience at the MTC.  The devotional last night motivated us to be more focused and not slack off as much as we have been.  We were focused the entire day which was great!  Elder Miller and I taught Holly today which was incredible!  We went in with this full lesson but adjusted it according to what she needed to hear and what the Shengling (Holy Ghost) was inspiring us to say.  It was a really special experience.

Thursday Aug 13, 2015:  

We have a new Elder in our district.  His name is Elder Woo and he is from Canada.  There was a miscommunication with him and the MTC.  He was accidentally put into the fast track program.  He had a solid background with Chinese but he didn't know any gospel words in Chinese.  That is kind of important. He is going to do a 5 week program and be  added to our district.  He'll leave the same time as our whole district.  We had a lesson about how to have an effective language study plan and that has helped me a lot!  I now have goals that I want to accomplish and I have outlined a plan on what I need to do each day in order to accomplish my goals.  Each day I need to memorize 30 words, 10 phrases, 1-2 grammar principles, and 0.5-1 scriptures memorized all in Chinese. No problem:)

Friday Aug 14, 2015:  

Not a whole lot happened today.  We taught Tony, which went better than most of our previous lessons.  We went over the Moermenjing (Book of Mormon) with him and he really seemed to understand it this time!  The first time he didn't really understand the importance of it and just thought of it as he would any book.  After our lesson, he understand the the Book of Mormon is more than a book.  It is evidence that there is a God and that he wants to help us return to him.  It was a really cool lesson.

Saturday Aug 15, 2015:  

One of my favorite lessons yet!  Today for TRCs Elder Miller and I taught this sweet, old, Asian lady.  She had to be one of the nicest people I have ever met.  We decided to teach her about prayer and how to make it more meaningful.  We had her read a scripture about it and after she read the fourth word she was already getting emotional.  She cried the majority of the lesson and it was just an amazing experience.  The Spirit was present and the lesson was wonderful. We wanted her to share an experience about how prayer has blessed her.  She said that we were an answer to her prayer.  She was really busy the previous day and just really stressed about family, work, etc.  She didn't know if she was going to be able to make it to TRCs.  So she prayed about it and got an answer that she should make time and attend TRCs.  She said how blessed she was to have listened to our words and how grateful she was for decision to serve others.  One of the coolest experiences ever!  We decided to have an "English Fast" which was really fun!  We were not suppose to speak in English for the entire day!  It was really hard, but also totally worth it!  I learned that I know a lot more Zhongwen (Chinese) than I give myself credit for.  My district is going to continue doing the "English Fast" every Saturday which I'm going to look forward for every week!  

Sunday Aug 16, 2015:  

The devotional was INCREDIBLE!  It was basically a concert!  A band called the Nashville Tribute Band came and played for us  Almost the entire band is made up of return missionaries or converts.  They played some of the most inspirational music about Joseph Smith and the Restoration.  It really moved me.  Elder Miller and I were assigned to be the Sacrament Coordinators.  We are so excited!  We basically have to choose some missionaries to bless the sacrament and pass it.  We want to enhance our calling so were going to be the best Sacrament Coordinators ever (because we all know I'm very coordinated)! ;).  We both also blessed the Sacrament this week which was one of the scariest things I ever done!  We had to read the bread and water prayer in Chinese.  It had to be perfect.  We would have to do it over again if we either pronounce it wrong or say it with the wrong tone.  Don't worry though, we both did it perfectly our very first try which was a huge relief.  I have another funny story.  I slept walked! I had a dream that I was playing tag with Elder Miller and that I was running away from him.  It turns out that I was actually doing it in my sleep! I ended up waking up in front of the building door having no clue how I got there.  I didn't have my watch so I didn't know what time it was.  I also didn't have my key so I was locked outside!  I stood outside for about 30 minutes, banging on the door, until finally someone let me inside.  It must have been funny for the Elder that opened the door.   I had my blanket (I don't know how or why I brought it with me) wrapped all around me and I looked like a ghost!    It turns out this happened at 3:00 in the morning.  It was funny but also really scary for me! 

Love you all,

Elder Coletti

Ben Ben Ben and Spiritual Cookies:)

Elder Coletti's Letter:
Monday:  We taught an investigator named Tony which was really tough!  He spoke Zhongwen (Chinese) the entire time and he had a weird accent, so it was hard to understand!  I would just smile and nod the whole time and act like I knew what was going on.  After the lesson, my companion, Elder Miller, told me that he said we were stupid!  I laughed so hard!  He said we were stupid and I smiled and nodded to that!  Ben Ben Ben (Stupid Stupid Stupid)!  As bad as it sounded, it was actually an amazing experience.  It motivated me to understand and get better at Zhongwen (Chinese).

Tuesday:  We taught an investigator named Holly which was BANG (AMAZING)!  Elder Miller and I went in with a whole lesson plan but we completely changed it just by listening to the Spirit.  We changed it according to Holly's need and what she needed to hear at that time.  It truly was incredible.  One of the highlights of my MTC experience so far.  Then later that night we had a devotional.  We got to listen to President Nelson!!  Since it was an apostle speaking, it was broadcast to all of the MTCs in the world! It was one of the coolest experiences I've ever gotten to be a part of.  I, along with my whole district, participated in the choir which is truly amazing.  The spirit is tangible and we all just feed off of it!

Wednesday:  Nothing really happened this day.  Just a casual day full of Spiritual cookies;)

Thursday:  This day was a day I really needed.  I was a little stressed about the mission language and so a little discouraged.  But later that day I learned to not get discouraged if you don't now the mission language because that is not the important thing.  The important thing is to know how to learn the language of the Spirit and that is something I have learned while at the MTC.  If I rely on the Lord, he will help me learn this seemingly impossible language.  If I teach by the Spirit, then the Lord will fill my mouth with his words.  This doesn't mean that I shouldn't do my part and learn the language.  I read a something somewhere about how a miracle does not occur without an act of faith.  This idea has helped me a lot these past few days to try my best to learn the language.  If I do as much as I can, the Lord will do the rest.

Friday:  This day Elder Miller and I had no lessons so it was pretty relaxed.  A lot of studying and a lot of talking.  I got three packages this day which infuriated my whole district!  It was so funny!  But I just want to thank all the people who have supported me.  I really appreciate all the time, etc. everyone has sacrificed for me.  I sincerely thank everyone!!  Wo ai nimen (I love you all)!!

Saturday:  We had something called TRC which was really fun!  Volunteer members come and hear a lesson from missionaries.  It basically felt like home teaching.  Elder Miller and I taught this one lady who is attending BYU.  She spoke English, Cantonese, and Mandarin! CRAZY!!! So we taught her in Mandarin which was super fun!  Then we taught our teacher, Brother Walter, because they didn't have enough volunteers so he was helping out.  BTW Brother Walter is one of the coolest brothers I have ever met!  He is 22 years old and served in the Mandarin speaking Canada mission.  He went to high school at Jordan and played PG for the basketball team.  He's fluent in Mandarin and has shared so many BANG (AMAZING) stories.  He is one of the most spiritual individuals I have met and I don't even understand the majority of what he says!  He has taught me so much and reassured my sacrifice to serve the Lord.  I know that this is the right thing and that through Yesu Jidu de bangyang (Jesus Christ' example), we can become amazing human beings.  Brother Walter has been a wan mei de (perfect) example of how to be a missionary.

Sunday:  Sundays are probably my favorite day!  It's like a buffet of Spiritual experiences.  No kidding!  The priesthood lesson is taught by missionaries and only missionaries are usually in the room.  The lessons are always inspiring, especially hearing it from someone going through the same difficulties.  After priesthood, we have sacrament which is incredible.  It's in Zhongwen (Chinese) and the Spirit is ever so present.  The branch president randomly calls on two missionaries to give short talks to the whole branch.  Each talk is no longer than 5 minutes and it is so cool!  Especially when I understand what they are saying! ;)  Then we do a temple walk which is so cool!  We walk to the temple and look at the incredible sight.  Really fun!  We said goodbye to some of the funnest missionaries to be around!  We said goodbye to Elder Yang, Elder Shih, and Elder Chan who are all fluent in Chinese and only came to the MTC for 12 days.  We also said goodbye to Elder Anderson who is one of my favorites!  I'll see him later though because he is going to Taipei as well!

Elder Coletti's Letter 8/3/2015

Some parts of Elder Coletti's Letter 8/3/2015:

Good Monday everybody!  MTC life is amazing.  I love it so much.  We always have something to do which I'm starting to love.  We're always either studying by ourselves, learning from a teacher, teaching an investigator, or eating food!  That's basically the schedule everyday, so that is really fun!

Elder Miller is a stud.  He is super nice and patient in everything he does.  I love him. He is super spiritual and very gifted in Chinese.  He graduated from Lehi and Chinese is BIG  there so that's why he took so many years of it.  The investigators we are teaching are actually our future teachers or they are already members.  They are just role playing/acting as an investigator.  I don't know if you have received my written letters, but Xiang Lu Ying (the investigator we first taught) came into our class and started teaching us!  Totally caught us by surprise!!  Chinese is coming along really slow, but I feel a lot more comfortable now than I did  last Monday.  The Gospel learning is unbelievable.  Yesterday we watch a movie on Joseph Smith and it was incredible.  All the sacrifices he had to make in order to restore our church was INSANE!  He could of just made it easy and followed the crowd, but he made the right decision and it has effected all of us so much.  I'm glad I am named after him! J/K.

My favorite part of the mission is probably the amazing people I get to interact with.  Also.....the food is unbelievable here! Haha I love learning the language and the gospel as well!  I just love everything about this place!  

 

Let me know if anybody has questions.  There is so much going on here. It's hard to keep track of it all.  

I love the quote that mom sent me. 

It's really true! God doesn't care about what you know or how much you know.  All he cares about is that we have faith in him and that through him we can accomplish unbelievable things.  Rely on God to help you through tough situations and he will provide.  I've learned here at the MTC to stop relying so much on myself, but rather rely on God and let him fill my mouth with his words.  

 I love Alma 32.  It talks about how if we plant our seed of faith towards God it will grow into roots in the ground that can't be taken out.  It will grow into a mighty tree that cannot we swayed.  And later on, it will grow fruit on our trees.  And others will partake of the fruit that we have to offer.  And while partaking of our delicious fruit, they will love it so much and want it for themselves.  But....we all know what's in the center of an apple right?  More seeds to spread to others so they can plant their seed and let it grow through faith.  That's what I took  from that chapter anyway. 

 I love you all and hope all of you stay safe!  Don't miss me please!  I am happier than ever right now.

Elder Coletti

I just absolutely loved Elder Coletti's comments about Joseph Smith and Alma 32!  I'm seriously in awe at the spiritual growth!  His  light and spirit just radiate through his letters and I can feel his wonderful testimony just growing....it is an absolute joy for me to witness as a mother!  It also makes my heart a little less sad that he is gone......a little.