Week 10

Hi Family!!

Ok so you guys are probably wondering why in the world you didn’t hear from me and it’s because my p-day changed! The whole MTC is on a different schedule now. Sorry that I couldn’t warn you guys. We went to the temple early early this morning and it was so beautiful all lit up. It was my last day at the Temple for about a couple of months. It was weird to think about it, but I’m grateful I got to go when I could.

Ok soooo.... Another crazy thing happened this week. Sister Jorgensen went home. She left on Saturday, and it was cleared by the Missionary Department that she needed to go home on medical release. It has been weird without her. The last day she was here we dressed up as identical twins, and it was so much fun. The pictures are adorable. I can’t wait for you to get them. :) (Blue pinstriped shirt. yellow skirt, red shoes, blue tights, and the same headband.) Ok so that means that my new companions are Sister Yancey and Sister Reid. I am back in my old district, and in pilot program again for my last week in the MTC. It’s been a roller coaster here. I didn’t think that my experience was going to be like this, but I have had peace about it the whole time. I know that the Lord is aware of me and my needs and I know that He will take care of me.

It was so good hearing from you guys. It was such an intense week. I have been looking forward to your email. :) Can you believe it’s my last P-day? I still can’t believe it?

Elder Scott came this week for devotional! (I cant believe that was only a week ago, it seems like and eternity. ha) It was a surprise visit and so everyone was really excited! He gave such a powerful testimony of the Savior. It was an intimate and special time he had with the missionaries. He taught us from the scriptures and gave us lots of good advice. A couple of things he said: "The spirit will never prompt you to do something you can not do.... It would be out of harmony with Gods plan" "In order to do something that you have never before done, you must do things that you have never before done." He gave an apostolic blessing to all the missionaries and gave us the blessing of the Gift of Tongues. I started totally balling, because I needed that. I have missed class multiple times a day because of Sister Jorgensen’s doctor appointments and I was terrified that I wasn’t going to be able to learn Chinese, but after that blessing I have never felt more calm and peaceful about my mission language. I am so loved.

It sounds like you guys had an awesome Easter! I wish I could have been there, but you know... I’m here. ;) We actually had a really good time too! I made everyone gather their Easter eggs from all the Easter packages they got and we had a zone Easter egg hunt! Elder Thatcher and Elder Baker hid them all, and all 31 of us got to find some eggs. It was so much fun, and everyone had a great time. After the hunt everyone said "Thanks Mom" and it was really funny. ha Other than that it was a typical Sunday. No special speakers or stuff like that. It was special though because of the spirit and everyone’s intense love for the Savior and his work. It was one of my favorite Easters. Thanks for the Easter Package! It was so fun! I used all my candy to fill the eggs for the hunt and everyone loved it. Thanks for thinking of me.

I love you guys so much! Thanks for keeping me updated on life, and when I have more time, I’m gunna write to you all.

Mom here are the answers to your questions:

Skirt-Any bright fun color you want. I don’t want black anymore. It’s too boring.

Shoes- Bright color size 8ish

Tapes- It’s going to be good to get a new player. We need to make sure that we get to talk to each other all the way across the world.

I can’t think of anything else that I need? If I do, I'll write you a letter today so we can get it taken care of.

It’s been such an amazing experience here. I have felt so loved and supported, and I have learned so so much. I am so excited to go to Taiwan and to let people know that there is purpose to life and that God wants us to be happy. It’s amazing how much our Father in Heaven loves us and I see it everyday. :)

Pay attention to the things that keep repeating themselves in your life. I have found that it is God trying to tell you something. :) He loves us and wants to talk to us. Listen carefully, pay attention and he always answers your prayers.

I love being a missionary, and I love this work!

Have a great week!! Talk to you guys on the phone soon! xoxo

Love Sister Lee

Week 9

Hiya family!

It was such a good week this week. The weather was awesome, I love my companion, my teachers are great, my district is cool... I’m a really lucky Sister Missionary.

I leave for Taiwan in just 2 weeks, and even though I’m really excited; I don't wanna go... ha I love it here! I learn so much everyday, and I like my routine. ha The only thing that I can’t stand is the food. I lasted 9 weeks liking the food and now I hate it with a passion. The only meal I like is breakfast because I get to have a bagel but other then that I dread meal times. ha

Anyways, let me tell you about Wednesday. It was my favorite day.

Morning: Woke up, studied, had my bagel, planned for my investigator, and laughed a lot with Sister Jorgensen.

Afternoon: Hosted! That means that I got to go to a meeting about how to help the new missionaries get settled in and get their books, and then go to class. I got two sisters. One was from Hawaii, and the other was from Samoa. Both of them hardly spoke any English, and they were shy but smiley. :) It was so great getting to help them out and hear their stories. I have seen them a couple of different times and they both run up and give me big hugs. It’s cute. (Well let’s be real, I run up and give them big hugs, and they just smile and tap my back. haha)

Mid afternoon: We were in class and some random guy asked Sister Jorgensen and I if we could teach the new missionaries that night and we said yes. We quickly prepared a lesson plan, and then we got to go to dinner early.

Night: We got to teach a new set of missionaries! I don’t even know if I told you but the first night you get here a group of missionaries all sit in a room and watch the demo missionaries (me and Sister Jorgensen), and then right as the lessons going awesome the missionaries are asked to leave and then the big group takes over and acts like one big companionship. Anyway we were both a little nervous but as soon as we got there in front of our investigator it was normal. We introduced ourselves, and asked how she was doing. Her name was Luwana and she was this sassy black chick. She was great, and we had a good time getting to know her, but she was a little standoffish and wouldn’t really open up. Anyways we just basically got to know her. Somehow it came up that she had cancer and that’s why she had time to meet with the missionaries. Of course I just started balling, and told her about how my grandma had just passed away. We talked to her a little bit about how God is our Heavenly Father and that he loves us. She said that she wanted to learn more about that and that she believes in God, but she doesn’t know that he loves her. We got cut off at a really good point, but the rest of the lesson was "epic". That was the feedback we got from the instructors.

Anyways. Really long story, and I feel like I didn’t even do it justice. Having that experience taught me that God loves his children, and that the gospel can cater to anyone no matter what their situation. He intended it to be that way. It’s for us because he loves us, and if we let him in and allow him to guide us we will be blessed.

I love being a missionary, because I get to love people like Jesus would if he was here.

I Love you guys! Have a great Easter!

Love, Sister

Week 8

Hi Everyone!

Last night we had a great musical fireside and the Men’s BYU chorus came and sang to us. At one point they had a member out of the choir come and tell us his conversion story and he was from Taiwan! It was so cool. He is a translator for the MTC and for the church. :) He had all the Mandarin speakers stand up and he told us that we were lucky to go to Taiwan, and that we need to be patient with our investigators. So cool! We got to talk to him last night, and he was actually from my mission! He said that he would be there at the end of April and that he is putting me in charge of "covering his mom".

Guys I have just about 3 weeks left, and this is starting to get real. I am going to Taiwan?? A couple nights ago I had a dream about me just talking to a bunch of kids my age who didn’t have the gospel and I could understand them, but I couldn’t really talk back, but I wanted to get to know them and where they were in their lives, and try and be their friend, but I couldn’t because my Chinese was terrible. I woke up that next morning with this huge resolve to be more diligent, and study as much as I can before I leave.

We got to teach 4 lessons this week, and they just keep getting better and better, I feel like I am understanding how to teach to their needs more, and the Lord is blessing me with every aspect of my lessons. It’s so cool, and I love being able to learn and grow from him. Sister Jorgensen and I are a great team, and I love her guts. It’s such a blast studying and teaching with her. :)

Ok so this Saturday night I had a party with my girls! I individually invited each companionship and I told them that they had to call me and RSVP. They totally all did and it was awesome! :) Sister Becky Ghiz sent me a fun package with Chips and Salsa and candy and other stuff so we ate that for our party. It was so much fun! I also used the glow sticks you sent me and they were a hit. We had a blast. I’m sending pictures soon.

Ok so one thing I wanted to share really quick was that I have learned a lot about prayer this week! President Bertasso showed us in John 16 where he taught the apostles how to pray, and it was really cool. He said that we are supposed to pray specifically and that if we do so then the Lord will bless us. I have started doing that this week, and have started having really sincere and earnest prayers and the difference is amazing! Also this week during companionship study we talked about the word Amen. When we close with amen it means that Jesus agrees with what we have said. How cool! That has helped me be more sincere in my prayers and has helped them become so special!

Guys I love being a missionary. Sometimes its hard, but it’s such a huge blessing and I am learning and growing so much. I love you all!! Thanks for the love, prayers and support. Have a good week everyone! I’m sending a tape today.

3 Nephi 18:21

Love Sister Camilleeee

Mom thanks for the Scripture. I did remember your favorite I was just making sure. :)

P.S. Molly left this week, and on the same day Chantelle got to the MTC. Fun huh

Week 7

I luv luv luv luv luver you guys!!

It was so great to hear from everyone! Conference sounded like so much fun, and I am so glad that Audrey and Dave got to spend a lot of time with the Family. Hearing that Krista came over made me cry because I was picturing you guys all at home together, and I was so happy to hear that it was like a dream come true and you guys all did get to hang out. Conference was so amazing! Audrey I also loved the talk about being and doing. It was an answer to a prayer and it so of course you would like the two talks that I liked, ;) Ok Conference in the MTC rocked. It was a blast. Not because we did anything out of the ordinary, but because I was a missionary surrounded by 2,000 others and it was an incredible feeling knowing that that is where I was exactly supposed to be. :)

I’m sending out a tape today with all kinds of conference chit chat, so I am excited to talk to you guys more about it later!

Mother.... You are an angle. THANK YOU for my skirt! It is SOOO cute. :) I squealed out loud when I opened it, and my companion said "shenme!?" "what?!" I am so spoiled. I wanted to wear it on Sunday so I could feel more at home, and it totally did the trick. Saturday it was beautifully sunny and warm, and on Sunday it had snowed 4 inches. haha It was defiantly a spring outfit but I wore it anyways, and got tons of compliments on it (naturally) I got to say that "my mom made it" every time, and I loved it :)

Ok so everyone sounds awesome! I had just as good of a week as you guys did I think. :)

Delan.... you are the man. Nice work coloring on Kade and Miranda’s faces. haha For April fools my companion and I dressed up as each other and it was pretty funny. She has a rad eccentric style, and my style is cute but totally different then hers. Anyways, our whole zone got a good kick out of that, and other missionaries who know us pretty well thought it was pretty funny. Other than that not too many crazy things happened on April Fools.

Ok so I feel like I have so much to tell you! First off... You guys need to go on line and watch the KSL 5 army of faith thing they did on the MTC. After devotional last night we got to watch it together as an MTC and it was pretty fun. I was there when it was filmed, and they show all the places that I talk about on my tape so watch it. You’ll love it!

Mom, I took some pictures of my companion and me that I am sending you with my tape so watch for those.

Last night’s devotional was pretty fun we had Vai Sikahema come and talk to us. He played for the Cardinals, and the Green Bay Packers, and for BYU and now he’s a sports announcer. He’s serving in a stake presidency now and so it was fun listening to his missionary stories and see how through his work he does missionary work. (I had no idea who this guy was, but dad I thought you might like it.)

The new sisters came this week! It was so fun meeting all of them. We have 6 sisters and 11 elders, and they are all so stinken cute. Idk what happens in 6 weeks, but I totally feel old and its weird. It’s also crazy to think that I leave for the field in a month from yesterday? What? Yeah... I know right. Anyways I got to go around to their rooms and meet them the first night, and then got to be their when the had their welcome meeting from the branch presidency. They are all great girls, and we have already had a lot of fun with them. Nanny got the Asian goodie bags to me and they turned out so cute! We had enough for all so I am giving them to the zone tonight it congrats to them making it thought their first week. :)

Audrey your pictures are adorable! I can’t wait to see more of them. I love you so, so much, and thought about you lots yesterday. :) You are so ready for this next big step in your life. You are doing everything the Lord has intended for you and I promise he loves you and is so proud of you for making it to the temple with Davey. I love you.

Roooba! There are lots of new sisters who went to BYU-I I'll get the scoop and write you about it.

Paigey: I got to watch the Young Women’s general broadcast and I thought of you too! That conductor lady was so weird and funny, (do you remember) my companion and I were laughing at her. ha You are turning into be such an amazing young women! People want you to baby sit for them because they can see you are trust worthy and have such a kind and loving heart. I’m excited for you. Thanks for doing what you know you should... I’m so prouda you. :)

Kader - They sang your favorite primary song in conference and it made me cry I missed you so much. I love you buddy. I am so glad you have fun with your friends.

Ah man this week was good. Mostly because of Conference and the good weather. This whole week I had been thinking about how little time I have left in the MTC and how fast my mission is already going/gone. All week I was thinking of goals I could set, and what I wanted to become once my mission was over. I’m really grateful that I listened to Conference because my prayer was answered! I cant get over the fact that I am a child of God and that Heavenly father is my father and that He loves me so much. I know that if we sincerely desire to do good, and listen to his council, love his children and keep his commandment; he is more then willing to bless us, and allow us the desires of our hearts. For me this week it was to know how to be the best missionary I could be as well as companion and friend. If I wouldn’t have listened to him I probably wouldn’t of heard what he was trying to tell me, but because I know he is always there, listening and answering my prayer I listened, and I heard.

I love being a missionary. Not only cause I get to learn and grow my self, but because through my actions and words I get to show people how much their father in heaven loves them and that he is aware of their needs.

Guys I love you all soooo much! It was such a good week we even got to sit out side for class a couple of times. I’m excited for you guys to get your tape. There are lots of fun surprises on there. :)

Can’t wait to talk to you all soon! xoxo

Love, Sister Camille Lee

Camille's New Address

Sister Camille Lee
Taiwan Taichung Mission
Provo MTC # 313
2005 N 900 E
Provo, Utah 84604

and thus saith she...please write! :)

Week 6

Ok.... This. week. was. nuts!

I have a new companion, and I am not in the Pilot program anymore.

There were some emotional issues going on between a companionship and it was so intense that the district presidency had to get involved. The first half of the week everyone was on edge thinking it was going to be "them" who was getting switched but it ended up being all of us. President Baker sent a fax to the Zone Leaders Thursday night, and I was pulled out of class so I could be aware of the change before they announced it to the zone. One of the Sisters was having extreme anxiety over one of her teachers, and so her and I switched spots. I miss my district, and my teachers, and my companion, and my investigators, and the curriculum of the pilot program. I have a list of things to talk to you guys about on a tape, because an email doesn’t even do my week justice. ha Even though my world has been turned upside down, I have managed to be ok. I know that the Lord knows much better then we do, and me being yanked out of everything familiar and having to start over is good practice of what it is going to be like in the field. I keep telling myself that it is just like a transfer. :) I know that there is a lot to learn from my new companion and my new district. They have a totally polar schedule and way of learning the gospel, but that just makes me even more grateful for my first 6 weeks in the MTC. Guys I am half way done! Can you believe it? :) I don’t feel ready for it to be half way, but it's good cause I get to vamp up my studies. ha

Other things that happened this week:

*Both of my investigators agreed to be baptized. I moved right after committing both of them. Sad, but I’m glad that I had a chance to learn and grow with them. So cool. :) (My new district doesn’t teach. We are just in class all day. It’s so different. More details to come.)

*We moved rooms! So in the midst of high intense emotion we had to switch rooms. It was such a crazy week. : /

*I am a MTC celebrity. haha The speaker at Sunday night devotional asked someone to read a couple vs. of scripture and I was right by the mic and so I decided to volunteer. I have had soo many people stop me and say stuff like: "Oh good job reading" "Oh I like your necklace you were wearing" "Oh you were that girl from devotional" haha soo funny. It wasn’t a big deal, but I guess here at the MTC it’s a big deal.

*I met a missionary from Ukraine and we got to talking. Come to find out we know a lot of the same people and it was so fun getting to talk to him.

Sorry if any of this situation was unclear. Ask me questions and I would love to clarify. :)

Like I said before; this week was nuts. But even amongst all the craziness of be changing companions, being the coordinating sister that all the girls talked to about their feelings and about their situation, and still being Camille and trying to adjust to the big changes. I have felt so loved and supported. Even though I can’t see the end right now, I know that Heavenly Father is there for me, and that he is aware of my situation. In the missionary handbook it says something like "first turn to the Lord if you have any problems" rough paraphrase... but I had been telling my girls that all week when we were unsure who was going to move, and then when it ended up being me it was comforting to know that I had a testimony of what I had been telling them. Oh you guys I feel like I sound so cheesy! :) Just know that I am still loving it here at the MTC even though some things that have come my way where unexpected.

All the new missionaries get here Monday! I get to do orientation with them, and I am so excited to have them come. :) Mom thanks for offering to send something for my calling if needed. If you wanna have someone in Utah send something fun for them for their first week that would be awesome. :) If not, no worries, just a suggestion.

Ok I’m out of time. I LOVE YOU GUYS! Thanks for all the dear sisters, and letters, and tapes, and packages. I am so spoiled. Read the scriptures it will make you feel better. Pray for each other... that will make you feel better too.

Have a great week! suuuuuuure love ya! :)

Love Sister Camille Lee

Week 5

Hi!

Thanks for the pictures! They were so great! Audrey your dress is beautiful, and the balloon ride looked freakin sweet. Mom and Dad sweet cactus! :)

This week was a good one. Not because I had a good time, but because I have learned the most. :) Wednesday was the worst day of the MTC. I cried all throughout the day and cried myself to sleep. I missed my family, I hated Chinese, I was mad at my self because of my lack of faith and diligence, I was not liking my companion, and teaching our investigators went terrible! haha I was a mess and looking back now it was kinda comical, but at the time I was so sad because I had never felt the least like my self in my whole life.

Lets just say after a lot of prayer and one on one with God, the next day was incredible. It’s amazing how willing the Lord is to bless those who try, and are sincere in including him in their life. Over these last couple of days I have never been closer to my companion, I have studied more Chinese then I ever thought my brain was capable of (and I’m retaining it!) I got your tape and all your dear elders today, and the email. I have the best family fill since I have been in the MTC, and I have never felt more confident in my teaching. What a blessing! If it weren’t for some sincere prayer and scripture study and some serious humbling I know that I wouldn’t have been as chipper as I have been in the last couple of days.

Because of my mini breakdown I got to study a lot about grace and the enabling power of the atonement. Mom and Dad, study that.... It’s great stuff. :)

Ok so now for the fun stuff!

It sounds like spring brake was amazing. I loved, loved, loved your tape, and I am sending mine out tomorrow! It has lots of fun stuff on it this time, and I hope that you guys like it. I’m glad I get to respond to yours before I send mine out.

Real quick: Rooba! I totally wrote you the coolest letter, and then I got one from you that was basically the same letter you wrote me. It was sweet (I hope that made sense. ha) Anyways, I couldn’t send it cause I didn’t have any stamps, but you will get it when you get back from your trip! I am so excited for you. :) Don’t worry about your roommate situation. You basically just go to bed anyways. I can’t wait to talk about Wicked!

Rest of the family; All your letters are coming in the mail soon as well. It was SO good to hear from everyone. I actually haven’t finished all the tape, but I am doing that tonight. K will someone please tell Joeli to write me, and that I’m sending Krista a letter. I miss her so much.

Besides this week being full of the highest high and the lowest low, it was still pretty fun. :)

The older districts are all leaving tomorrow and so that means that we are now half way through the MTC! It’s so crazy?? Because all of the old leaders were leaving, we got new leadership and I was called as the new RS coordinating sister. That means I work with the zone leaders and be everyone’s mom and take care of them basically. I had a couple of meetings yesterday and that they were really good, we got to talk one on one with Sister Brown the MTC presidents wife, and so that was fun. Anyone of the girls could have had this calling, I’m just grateful that "If the lord needs an errand run, he can call on Camille Lee" It will be fun taking care of the new girls. :)

Hmm what else?! :)

My district is hilarious. We have the funniest things happen everyday. Sister Smith is having her mom make T-shirts with funny inside jokes on them so we can wear them as a district. Oh the things you do in the MTC. haha

Oh! Audrey your wedding plans sound amazing! I approve of the colors, decorations, the huge A and D thing is so sweet, and I’m SO sad I won’t be able to boogie with you and the DJ. ha It sounds perfect so far. I do have some ideas so I will write home all about it. :)

Everyone’s spring break sounds like you all had a ton of fun! Mom I wish I could taste all the yummy treats you have been making. You guys know how to have the perfect amount of fun. I miss everyone individually so much! I pray for you guys every night, and I know you do the same. Even though you are so far away, I feel like we haven’t skipped a beat, which has been really nice. Good luck with everything everyone!

My mission has been the biggest adventure of my life so far. It’s been the funniest, the scariest, the most intense, the happiest, and I have never felt like I have had more purpose in my life.

Everyone work hard to be nice to each other and include the Lord in your life. It’s amazing how much he loves us and how much he ready and willing to help you! Say your prayers and read your scriptures every night everyone. Its amazing how much you can learn from the lord.

Ok, ok I gotta go!! I’ll talk to you guys soon! Soo good to hear from everyone. :)

phili 4:13