Tuesday, January 27, 2015

MTC 6.0 ( Week 6 ) Excitement and Uncertainty Rolled Into One





On Tuesday, January 27, 2015 4:14 AM, Jayzon Christian Sy <jayzon.sy@myldsmail.net> wrote:


Hello!!!!

How is everyone back at home? I only have 4 weeks left. And I'm not sure if my Hong Kong Visa is here, But I pray every night that it will all be alright! Where the Lord wants me to go. I heard a lot of stories about missionaries getting reassigned with a purpose. So I am prepared for whatever will happen.

This week was great, its still all the same. Sleep study sleep study sleep study. Everyday I gain a stronger testimony And I can feel the spirit every time. By the end of my mission I want to be an example to everyone around me. That is my goal for my entire mission. How am I gonna do that? I am gonna try my best to be exactly obedient in order to reach my goal. I just want people to see Christ in my life and that Christ can make a family stronger. 
I think my mandarin is getting better, I do my best to learn a lot each time. Words are coming out of my mouth already. Its great, Gift of Tongues is achieved through your Hard Work. I know Heavenly Father is helping me and I have to do my part. Faith with Work is Success. 

Analogy I learned this week. Its an Analogy about the Atonement of Christ. When your mom lets you have piano lessons, she pays the teacher for your lessons. It does not mean if we have piano lessons we will become better pianist. We have to do our part, we have to work hard for it and pay attention to the lessons. But here is the thing, can we become great without our mom paying the teacher? 
So Christ has payed for our sins already. And we can become better people, but we have to put in our effort. Through His atonement we have a chance to be back to Heavenly Fathers presence, but we still have to do our part. We have to keep the covenants and do our part. So the decision is in our hands, do we want to become better Pianists or not :)

Til Next week! 
Elder Sy



















(c) Elder Jaron Barnes

The above picture is our typical MTC Drop Off's. Yes I was assigned as a Host two times already. I'd feel like crying every time I fetch these missionaries because I  get to see their mom and dad teary-eyed together with their families. It reminds me of that day during my departure when I have the chance to hug my parents for the longest time. I cant take pictures during Hosting Assignments. In hosting I say " Welcome to the MTC, I am elder Sy and I will be the Host for your son today. Do you need need help with the bags? okay here this is what we will do, I'm gonna help your son to grab his books and drop his baggage in his room and get him started for missionary work. Now you have 3-4 minutes to say your goodbyes" .


MTC 6.0 Sights and Sounds
























Tuesday, January 20, 2015

MTC 5.0 ( Fifth Week ) Weight Gain & New Haircut






On Tuesday, January 20, 2015 4:11 AM, Jayzon Christian Sy <jayzon.sy@myldsmail.net> wrote:


Hello!

This week has been great. I feel like my Mandarin is getting better. How are all of you? I am so happy with the pictures you have just sent. It was great, especially the picture of mommy and princess. 

I can't believe its been a month since I have left home. I am having a good time here. I am blessed to be able to get along well with my companions. I really learn a lot from them. They are good examples to me. Their Chinese is doing great too! Everyday we strive hard to become fluent but we know its hard and it will take a while. We just have to do our part because we know Heavenly Father is helping us. He assigned us to this language for a purpose, I know that He will really help us. Everyday in the MTC has been great. I love how, everyday, I gain a stronger testimony for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have gained a stronger testimony for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This week I learned that missionary work isn't easy. Salvation isn't easy. We all have to taste a little pain of what Christ has felt in the Atonement. His atonement isn't cheap. It is for all of us to return to the presence of Heavenly Father. So if days gets rough and you feel like the world is against you, think of the pain Christ had to go through.

This week is just the same, same schedule. Every  day we strive to do our best to SYL ( Speak Your Language). It really helps me improve my Zhong Wen. I remember the first day in the MTC when we had our first class. Our teacher spoke Mandarin the whole time and not everyone understood. Now I saw the improvement because now they really understand. 

This week I learned that I can't do anything without the help of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I learned that I should humble down and lift up my weaknesses to Him. It really helped me when I do that. Now I can feel the help I really need. And this week I wanted to improve in my English too, they said my English was great, but I dont think so HAHAHAH. So I always ask my companions to correct me if ever I am saying things wrong. 

That is all for this week, til next week!
-Elder Sy


Have you noticed something different ?
Can you see it clearly now ?
By now you should have seen the big difference. Right ?


Wait ! I know what you're thinking and about to say. You are absolutely correct.  Wait ! Don't say it ! Just keep it in your mind. That will do.











A quick Sights  & Sounds clip on the Streets of Provo Temple







Tuesday, January 13, 2015

MTC 4.0 ( Fourth Week ) . From 'District Leader' To A 'Zone Leader'







 On Tuesday, January 13, 2015 4:16 AM, Jayzon Christian Sy <jayzon.sy@myldsmail.net> wrote:


Hi Mom Dad Brent Reese & Zach,

How are all of you? I miss you all! How is Cebu? Is it still hot? MTC is beginning to feel like a routine. Its great tho, I learn a lot everyday. It is starting to hit me that I am a missionary. There's not much that happen this week. The food in the MTC is still great. Send more Dear Elders! 

This morning 3 of the missionaries in our zone departed from the MTC. Elder Leon, Elder Scott, and Elder Holt left. Scott and Holt is assigned in Toronto Canada ( Mandarin Speaking) Elder Leon is headed to France ( Mandarin Speaking) Crazy huh? There are lots of Mandarin speaking missions. It is not just Hong Kong and Taiwan. Tomorrow Elder Smith and Elder Philipps is departing too. Elder Smith is assigned to Canada Calgary and Elder Philipps is headed to New York, New York Mission. Both are Mandarin Missions. Once they are out we will be the Older District in our zone. We have a big responsibility because there is a new district. I was released as district leader, now I am a Zone leader for the zone together with Elder Brandley. This week was fun. In the zone we have this things called " Pass Downs " Missionaries since before passes down things. Last Night I was passed down with the " Glam Army" It is passed down to the Good Looking Missionary in the Zone HAHAHAHAH! Its fun!

This week I have learned something about commandments. Let me start of with an analogy. Parents wants there children to be safe, they don't want the child to be in danger. Do parents want their child in the middle of the road playing? Of course not! Because they do not want their child to be in danger, they set rules. But here is the thing, does the 1-2 years old child know why the parents sets rules? Of course not, the kids mind is to innocent to understand. Here is what I want to share about. Heavenly Father gives commandments that we do not understand. Through his prophets he gives his commandments. Sometimes we think that the commandment given is stupid and pointless, but no. Heavenly Father knows why he gave commandments to us. So we just have to be obedient in all the commandments given to us. 

(Mandarin Language)

Wo zhi dao moermenjing shi zhen shi de. Wo zhi dao touguo Yese Simi Yesu Jidu de fuyin Hexin le. Wo zhi dao jiating keyi yiqi yong yuan. wo ai nimen. bu yao wang ji daogao. Wo zhi dao qidao you hen da de liliang. Wo zhidao touguo qidao Shen hui Bangzhu women he ta hui zhufu women. Fong Yesu Jidu De Ming > AMEN.

Love,
Elder Sy


Here is the content of my new Assignment :



An E-mail from Sister Kathleen Ong Thompson.                                                                        
( The Sister Missionary who 16 years ago taught the Gospel to my Mom and my Family ).

From: Kathleen T <katy_ong@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 30, 2014 at 11:29 PM
Subject: Family History Photos-Your parents baptism in Taiwan


Dear Elder Sy,

Hopefully, you received the package from my family this week.  Here are some photos to go with the package.  I am in Bountiful, Utah visiting my parents, so I was able to pull out these photos from my missionary journal and send the package.  My husband, my two kids, and I live in San Jose, California.

A recent family photo with my husband's Grandfather, who is 100 years old and still drives himself to the SLC temple each week.  Baby Claire is three months old and my son Allen is 2 years old.



March 5, 2000:
Goodbye photos with Zhongli English Branch, last time I saw you and your Mom.



October 10, 1999:
Your parents baptism day: Sister Workman and I taught your Mom in the evenings and the Elders taught your Dad during the day.  I remember your Mom prayed about the church being true and tithing.  She was so happy to share that she received an answer to her prayers.  Your parents were the first couple/family to be baptized in the Zhongli English Branch.






December 25, 1999: Branch Christmas feast




I am thankful for your Mom, who kept in touch and her faithfulness in praying that I would get married and be sealed in the temple.  I did not get married until I was almost 35 years old.  Her encouragement, love, and prayers helped me to have an eternal perspective and to have faith in the Plan of Salvation.  I was happily married in the Salt Lake temple.  Your parents' sacrifice to support their family and have you live together always reminded me to not take family relationships for granted.

Elder Sy, in San Jose I have a framed photo of your family after your parents were endowed and you and Brent were sealed to your parents in the Taiwan temple.  I hope that on tough and discouraging days on your mission, you will remember how many people love you and that you are sealed to your family forever.

Missions are not for the faint of heart, so be bold and know that you share a message of truth from the Savior.

My family will be praying for you as you learn and grow.

Sincerely,
Sister Katy Ong Thompson

P.S.  I know P-days are busy and you may not be able to email non-family members, so don't worry about writing back.




An E-mail From Bro. Richard Tregaskis to my Mom. 
( He taught my Dad the Gospel and my Family during his Mission in Taiwan in 1999 ).

On Tuesday, December 30, 2014 1:06 PM, Richard Tregaskis <richard@prettifuldesigns.com> wrote:


Hi Carmen,
It is so great to hear from you! My wife Dedra and I are so happy that you guys are doing well! That is so exciting that Jazon is going on a mission. We live near the Provo MTC, so if you need me to take anything over there or help in any way, just let me know.
It was truly my privelege to share the gospel with you and Julian. I thank God every day for the opportunity to serve him in Taiwan.
Where are you guys living now? in Cebu?
Dedra is pregnant with our 4th child and is due in June.
We love you guys too and wish we could visit you.
Love,
Richard and Dedra





Families Can Be Together Forever


MTC 4.0   Four weeks of training  has passed so quickly. Four more weeks to go before The Mission Field.








My District
My Study Table
It's a transition period. From Boys to Men 










Gym Time