Friday, June 24, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Remembering China
As the one year anniversary of returning home from China approaches, it's hard not to think about how fast time flies and how quickly things can happen. I mean, I definitely was not thinking that I'd get married before I had been home for a year! But, here is a little update on all of 'the China girls.'
Jillian: serving a full time LDS mission in South Korea. (I was floored when I heard the news, mostly because she had such a difficult time learning Chinese. I thought "how will she learn Korean?!" But, she has a little extra help from the Lord this time.) Jillian did a great job as a head teacher, even during difficult times. I know that she is doing an amazing job serving as one of the Lord's teachers.
Mikelle: serving a full time LDS mission in Malaysia. Adam and I had the opportunity to go the her farewell.. She is going to do so great! I have to admit, I didn't particularly get along with Mikelle for the first couple months while we were in China. But, thankfully I got over myself and we became good friends. She has such a strong testimony and I know that she is doing an amazing job spreading the gospel.
Abby: serving a mission in Nauvoo as a Young Performing Missionary. Abby has such a way with bringing people closer to our Heavenly Father through music. I'll go ahead and admit that I sometimes had a hard time showing love for Abby while in China. But, again, I was able to get over myself and see her for the absolute wonderful person that she is. I'm grateful that I was able to serve in China with her. And I know that she is helping to touch thousands of lives through her talent this summer as she serves the Lord.
Jaimie: married and still loving her crazy life. Jaimie got married just six weeks after we got back to the states. I'm not sure how she didn't go completely crazy, trying to plan everything that quickly. I'm so glad that she and Dan only live thirty minutes away. It took a little adjusting when I got back to the states; I was used to spending every waking moment with this girl, then all of a sudden I was 2,000+ miles away from her! Good thing I moved to Utah. She actually threw a bachelorette party for me. And yes, she did a good job at embarrassing me. Thanks, teacher Jaimie!
Brianna: married and finishing spring classes. She and Nathan got married in December, just before Christmas. I was lucky enough to be in Virginia when they were married. They were such a cute couple, even in the freezing cold! Brianna & Nathan will be carpooling with Adam and I across the country for our last HUGE Teerlink Family Reunion. It is going to be so fun! I can't wait!
Sarah: just got her mission call to Edmonton, Canada! She is going to be so great! I'm so happy for her. Sarah always had a way of bringing me back down to earth and reminding me of what's really important in life. She has a testimony that just shines! She is going to be a wonderful sister missionary.
Now, for those of you who may not remember, our whole group didn't fit into one apartment while we were in China. We lived in two apartments. Jilllian, Sarah, Abby, and Mikelle lived in one. The second was home to Jaimie, Brianna, and I. So, that means that one entire apartment is now serving missions, while the other one got married. Funny, huh? Big changes continuing to happen in all of our lives. I love it!
It's almost been an entire year.. I am still so grateful for the time that I spent in China with these wonderful girls. I fully believe that my experience there has changed me forever. It helped turn me into the person that I am today.
Thank you, girls, for sharing those six months with me. Wo ai ni men!
Jillian: serving a full time LDS mission in South Korea. (I was floored when I heard the news, mostly because she had such a difficult time learning Chinese. I thought "how will she learn Korean?!" But, she has a little extra help from the Lord this time.) Jillian did a great job as a head teacher, even during difficult times. I know that she is doing an amazing job serving as one of the Lord's teachers.
Mikelle: serving a full time LDS mission in Malaysia. Adam and I had the opportunity to go the her farewell.. She is going to do so great! I have to admit, I didn't particularly get along with Mikelle for the first couple months while we were in China. But, thankfully I got over myself and we became good friends. She has such a strong testimony and I know that she is doing an amazing job spreading the gospel.
Abby: serving a mission in Nauvoo as a Young Performing Missionary. Abby has such a way with bringing people closer to our Heavenly Father through music. I'll go ahead and admit that I sometimes had a hard time showing love for Abby while in China. But, again, I was able to get over myself and see her for the absolute wonderful person that she is. I'm grateful that I was able to serve in China with her. And I know that she is helping to touch thousands of lives through her talent this summer as she serves the Lord.
Jaimie: married and still loving her crazy life. Jaimie got married just six weeks after we got back to the states. I'm not sure how she didn't go completely crazy, trying to plan everything that quickly. I'm so glad that she and Dan only live thirty minutes away. It took a little adjusting when I got back to the states; I was used to spending every waking moment with this girl, then all of a sudden I was 2,000+ miles away from her! Good thing I moved to Utah. She actually threw a bachelorette party for me. And yes, she did a good job at embarrassing me. Thanks, teacher Jaimie!
Brianna: married and finishing spring classes. She and Nathan got married in December, just before Christmas. I was lucky enough to be in Virginia when they were married. They were such a cute couple, even in the freezing cold! Brianna & Nathan will be carpooling with Adam and I across the country for our last HUGE Teerlink Family Reunion. It is going to be so fun! I can't wait!
Sarah: just got her mission call to Edmonton, Canada! She is going to be so great! I'm so happy for her. Sarah always had a way of bringing me back down to earth and reminding me of what's really important in life. She has a testimony that just shines! She is going to be a wonderful sister missionary.
Now, for those of you who may not remember, our whole group didn't fit into one apartment while we were in China. We lived in two apartments. Jilllian, Sarah, Abby, and Mikelle lived in one. The second was home to Jaimie, Brianna, and I. So, that means that one entire apartment is now serving missions, while the other one got married. Funny, huh? Big changes continuing to happen in all of our lives. I love it!
It's almost been an entire year.. I am still so grateful for the time that I spent in China with these wonderful girls. I fully believe that my experience there has changed me forever. It helped turn me into the person that I am today.
Thank you, girls, for sharing those six months with me. Wo ai ni men!
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