taryn 9.16.09

Hey everyone!>
The days are getting a little teeny bit easier every day. I think it might be the fact that i have been out of the states for almost a month and a half now, only like 10 more of those! Im guessing jord has transfers this week, that is crazy he isnt a greeny anymore, ive still got two more weeks, this whole 7 week transfer is pretty long, especially to have for a first transfer. moves are in 2 weeks though! we only have 11 moves in country, and because of the holidays and everything, i think ill only have a little more than 9. mom and dad, i have a list of things that i already want to take you to and people to meet! oh how glorious that day is going to be. i c a n n o t wait!!!! >
The language is coming a little better every day, though the process is so slow. when i really try to pay attention to people talking, i can understand a lot of what they say, but it is hard to do that all day. by the end of the day my brain is fried!! i am excited for the day that i can express my feelings and be able to teach by saying anything that i want and not worry about people understanding. i feel that it will make time go a lot faster. It is the whole time commitment that kills me, if you havent noticed. I miss ALL of you so much, it feels like it is such a long time away. One thing that i am really benching on is that all missionaries say that the time goes by fast, especially after the 1st and 2nd moves. i am counting on that. I am really trying look at this all differently. i am trying to take it all in and appreciate it. trying to see my importance here, and that this is really is only going to be a small portion of my life and this is the only time in my life i will ever get to do this. also, something that has really helped is really relying on the scriptures. i have began to read them as soon as i get up for a little while before i exercise. i have learned to love my study time. i look forward to it every day. I hope that you all appreciate the sriptures and treasure them as i do right now. i wish that i had seen their importance and the treasure that they are before now. never in my life has prayer and the words of God been so essential and so special to me. Something that has helped me a lot the past week is something that Erin said in an email last week about her mission (other than the fact that she said the time will pass quickly) she mentioned a picture of me amd her before her mission. that that same little girl is who Heavenly Father sees. it really hit me that he is my father. that as much as i am dying to be in dads arms right now, i have another father who loves me even more. That i have Him to comfort me in this struggle while i am away from my amazing earthly parents. One thing that i cant comprehend yet though is that he loves each of us, every person that much. how is that possible? how is it possible for HIm to know me so well? all i know is that He really does. He has helped me so much during this refiners fire that i am going through. I am going to continue to try to comprehend that though.> >
THis past week has had some exciting events.>
1. i got your package. thank you SOO much! i cant tell you how wonderful it is to get those things. That is something that i have really realized the past few weeks is how many people love me. that keeps me carrying on. i read your words every morning from previous emails and it urges me onward. thank you so very much. you are all so thoughtful. oh, random thing, i sent a package a few days ago. im sorry it is not too exciting. i went to send it and it was 55$, it is way expensive sending things from here. so, i had to downsize it, you should get it in like 3 weeks??my plan now is that i will collect some hopefully fun things the next couple of weeks and then i will send another package through boat mail, which takes like 3 months, but is 3xs cheeper.. i put my sd card in there though, hopefully you will enjoy those pictures! > >
2. we had switchoffs last thur night and friday. i went to dindang, which is the heart of bangkok. there are people everywhere!!!! it is so huge!!! it made me really grateful for my area and my invesitgators and sister hulme. coming back was comforting. i didnt realize how much i had made this place a part of me already. we went to lunch on friday in dindang and just as we were about to eat a huge fire broke out under the bridge we were right next to. it was crazy! we watched for a minute, but then got scared that something was going to happen and booked it out of there as black smoke was billowing into the little side restaurant (really just an open area with tables and a little kitchen) the most funny part is that people were still driving over the bridge through black smoke and as pieces were melting off the bridge. firetrucks didnt come for like 15 minutes. thailand...> >
3. gan and min, two of the little girls we are teaching got permisison to be baptized! gan was already being taught, she has actually been going to church with her neighbor for like 4 years already and missionaries didnt realize she wasnt a member until a few moths ago. but, min will be the first person that i have taught from the beginning. she is actually only 11, but already has a strong tesimony. she and i have a bond already. she is a person that i feel i was supposed to be here for. we taught the word of wisdom last week and she has already denied drinking coffee that her mom bought for her. people here have such faith. i hope she can continue in this faith. >
time is up, i hope i havent bored you all with my rambling. it is nice to get my feelings out. one more thing that has been part of my foundation for keeping going is jordans last letter that he sent. first he listed a bunch of way to avoid eating food, haha it was pretty funny and i have actually already used one. but the thing that lifts me up everymorning when i read his letter is that he said "we are in this together." even though he is so far away, it is comforting to know that we are both doing the same thing, going through the same thing. i think of him several times during the day and try to picture what he is doing at that moment. man i love him. we have grown up together and i have always looked up to him, but his incredible faith and strength has made him one of my heros. he has become one of my best friends. i know he is already such and incredible misisonary. >
sorry, one last thing that also urges my forward is what grandma pam said a few weeks ago. you are a young and a robert. you can do this. we can do this. we can do anything together. i know that this is true. i know with families anything is possible, especially mine. i feel bad for anyone that isnt in our family, i truly have the best in the world!!!!!!!!!! i love you all!!! i miss you so so much> >
love, sister young>
ps. ask me any questions you want. i dont know what kind of things that you like to hear..