So...it's Halloween here at the MTC. That doesn't really mean anything, but I wore an orange shirt this morning so I've done my part. And the fact that it is Halloween doesn't mean much to me either. Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a huge fan of Halloween. The one exception was probably last Halloween when I dressed up as a minion from "Despicable Me." But other than that, dressing up isn't my thing. I'm just going to lounge around all day in my "Party at Gatsby's" sweatshirt and that'll have to do. Of course, the best part of holidays never is the festivities. The best part is spending time with your family. I wish I could see Trey in his little puppy costume again, and the costume that kept Brad up until one in the morning. But pictures will be enough :)
I'm not really sure what to share this week - I got sick but it only lasted for a day so it wasn't too bad. Also, I accompanied an elder in my zone, Elder Holmquist, at the Senior Missionary Orientation on Monday. We didn't think we'd be chosen to perform because another elder sang the exact same song at a devotional, but I didn't think about just how many meetings they have here and how many musical numbers they need. Now that I survived accompanying that musical number, I'm accompanying another one for an elder in my district, Elder Reeder. He has a really great voice and the music is easy so I won't mess it up, so there's a chance we might perform it in front of EVERYONE. We're trying out tomorrow so....we'll see how that goes.
I was released from my calling as the Coordinating Sister for our zone, and my companion Hermana Ivey was called in my place, so I have less meetings on Sundays and more free time to study. Even though I didn't do too much for my calling - since there were only three other sisters in our zone and they left a week ago for Guatemala - I liked the trainings and the meetings. I liked being in branch council because it reminded me of the ward council in my singles ward that I went to for a year because of my calling as an FHE co-chair. I just like having the opportunity to serve and help people.
And I was again reminded of that this week. It seems like something I shouldn't forget, but sometimes I lose track of it. I've been trying to regain that focus in the past few days. I can't remember exactly what the Sunday fireside talked about, but I remember it made me ask myself, How can I remember my commitment to think of others before myself? How can I remember that as the reason I am here? Pretty much everything I do as a missionary is to help other people, except for writing emails and letters to friends and families. But at last night's devotional by Don R. Clarke of the Seventy, who also spoke in Conference this month, he reminded us that what we write in our emails should be uplifting to those who read it. So, I'm trying to focus more on relaying the things I have learned here, in the chance that it will bless the lives of those who read it. I'm no fountain of knowledge, I'm still figuring things out - I was even hesitant to get a blog because I felt somewhat uncomfortable asking people to listen to me. I hate it when things are all about me - I am not even a huge fan of my own birthday. So I don't want these emails to just be boring journal entries, or just a layout - a schedule - of my week. I decided to serve a mission because I want to help people - that's my whole purpose for the next 17 months. In an effort to do that, I may not write every week anymore - sometimes it gets exhausting just thinking about all I've learned in only one week's time. But I will write to share important experiences I have and essential lessons I learn.
That being said, and in reference to the devotional last night mentioned above, Don R. Clarke focused his talk on one of the most important words in our missionary purpose. The missionary purpose is to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." Elder Clarke mentioned several different ways that we can help people. I know that if I focus on that one word - help - throughout my entire mission, I will be given the ability and power from God to change lives by bringing them to a knowledge of the truth. In Sunday School one day, a while back, my teacher related that the central message of the gospel is love: love of God, love for others, the love of Jesus Christ displayed through His Atonement. If we show love, which can only be done through serving each other, we can change lives by taking upon ourselves the name of Christ. There was this quote on my boss/uncle's computer from Gandhi that said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." If you heard the talks from Elder Holland and Elder Hales, it tells us how to be Christians: love God and love others. And that's the simple message that I'm sharing, and that we can all share wherever we go.
Anyways, that's my little two-cents for the week. Hope you all have fun tonight!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Another week down!
I feel kind of old, especially since I've seen a lot of people leave since I've been here. It's weird to think that I'd be leaving right now if the new rules were in place, if I was only here for six weeks total, and I'm glad that change won't affect me. I need all the time I can get to prepared. But the biggest thing I've learned this week is the best way to get better at something is to do it. In most of the lessons I've taught, I've stayed pretty quiet and let my companion do most of the talking because I didn't know how to say the things I wanted to say. It's affected the quality of the lessons more than just a couple of times - she's a great missionary, but I know there are things I need to contribute. This week, I just made it a goal to start talking, even if I don't know how I'm going to get the words out. I have learned A LOT of Spanish in 6 weeks - the fact that I can have a 20 minute conversation with someone in Spanish - and understand them for the most part - blows my mind. I know I'll get my feet kicked out from underneath me when I get to the field and won't understand anything again, but it gives me faith that I'll be able to be an effective missionary even when speaking in Spanish.
A few things happened this week, but I'm having a hard time recollecting everything right now. I was lucky enough to snag one of the coveted computers in the laundry room (the only computers we can use when not in missionary attire) but that means I didn't prepare what I was going to say. Everything has been good here though. Sometimes every week feels the same, but we had five different substitute teachers this weekend because one of my teachers was out of town and the other one was sick. It was a really interesting experience. We didn't get to teach as much, but we learned a lot because they all taught us differently. We focused mostly on how to teach to the needs of our investigators and that helped a lot. Once you know what they need, the lesson just seems to flow and you know what they need to hear. It's amazing how I've felt the Spirit guide our lessons in the past few days when I really tried focusing on it.
We had another "celebrity" at Relief Society this week. Ann Dibbs, the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's General Relief Society Presidency, came and spoke to us. She spoke for over an hour, so our second etiquette lesson was cancelled this week. Thank heaven. She shared a really great message about being virtuous, and then asked for any questions we had about her dad - Thomas S. Monson. She cleared up the misconception that he dyes his hair - it's still naturally brown. So that was a fun fact to learn about the Prophet. It was really cool to hear her stories about the lessons he taught her growing up.
And then at last night's devotional, Larry Echo Hawk of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke to us. So, since Conference, we've had 5 speakers that also spoke in Conference: Elder Bednar, Elder Shayne Bowen, the Relief Society President (I can't remember her name for the life of me right now), Sister Ann Dibbs and Elder Larry Echo Hawk. It's cool seeing all of them outside of Conference. I loved their talks in Conference, but their talks to us at the MTC are so much more personal. Usually those talks are about HOW we can be good missionaries; Elder Echo Hawk's talk reminded me of WHY we should be good missionaries since he shared his conversion story, and how his conversion changed his entire life. He is a descendant of the Native Americans and his life wasn't going anywhere. Because the missionaries knocked on his door, his family was baptized. Then, his Priest's Quorum Leader wanted to help him, and decided to help him train for football. He went through a lot of other experiences along the way, but his hard work paid off and he became a first-generation college student because he received a football scholarship to BYU, where he played all four years despite his size. He owes everything to the missionaries because they got the ball rolling so he was able to change his whole life. He went to law school, taught law at BYU, was attorney general in Idaho, and worked in the federal government regarding Native American relations. All of his kids have gone to college, and some of them have served missions too. My dad sent me a thought this past week about Alma the Younger and how he became a great leader after being converted to the Lord, and asked me to think about potential of the people I teach to become great leaders if they are truly converted. I think I said this last week, but I'm so excited for that opportunity to change lives, and see how changing one life really can contribute to the changing of the world.
Also - I lost one of my skirts somehow this week. Not really sure how that happened. But it was my mom's least favorite - and by that, I mean she hated it - so she'll probably be happy about that.
It's finally cold here - I woke up to a little snow this morning and put on a sweater for the first time. But most of the MTC is covered so it's not bothering me too much. And I'll miss the worst of winter here and completely SKIP winter next year so I can't really complain.
And.....I think that's it. EXCEPT.....Sunday morning. The fire alarm went off in our building at 6am Sunday morning. I had just woken up but I was still lying in bed. We all jumped up and ran outside. There wasn't a fire - they think it went off because of some dust on the sensor. Even though it was clear, we had to wait for a technician to come and check it out. So....we literally sat outside for an hour. They had opened up the gym, but it was warm enough outside so me, Hermana Johnson, Hermana Riter and Hermana Ivey just laid outside on the cement. A few other sisters that we knew from another zone joined us when the sisters inside the gym started singing hymns like "There is Sunshine in my Soul". I'm just glad I wasn't in there for that. I don't know what it is about Sunday mornings - they just always have to start out bad apparently. But they turn out pretty good.
And this Sunday, I'm accompanying an elder in my branch for "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief". We tried out to perform at one of the devotionals on Thursday morning but we hadn't heard back yet. And then, at this Sunday's fireside, an elder sang the EXACT same song. So....I wish they had just told us that we didn't have a shot because someone else was about to perform the same song. I'm also accompanying an elder in my district with another musical number and we're trying out either tomorrow or next Thursday. It's been nice playing the piano again - I haven't had much time here to do so, but I've played more here than I have in the past few years.
So, that's that. Love you all!
A few things happened this week, but I'm having a hard time recollecting everything right now. I was lucky enough to snag one of the coveted computers in the laundry room (the only computers we can use when not in missionary attire) but that means I didn't prepare what I was going to say. Everything has been good here though. Sometimes every week feels the same, but we had five different substitute teachers this weekend because one of my teachers was out of town and the other one was sick. It was a really interesting experience. We didn't get to teach as much, but we learned a lot because they all taught us differently. We focused mostly on how to teach to the needs of our investigators and that helped a lot. Once you know what they need, the lesson just seems to flow and you know what they need to hear. It's amazing how I've felt the Spirit guide our lessons in the past few days when I really tried focusing on it.
We had another "celebrity" at Relief Society this week. Ann Dibbs, the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's General Relief Society Presidency, came and spoke to us. She spoke for over an hour, so our second etiquette lesson was cancelled this week. Thank heaven. She shared a really great message about being virtuous, and then asked for any questions we had about her dad - Thomas S. Monson. She cleared up the misconception that he dyes his hair - it's still naturally brown. So that was a fun fact to learn about the Prophet. It was really cool to hear her stories about the lessons he taught her growing up.
And then at last night's devotional, Larry Echo Hawk of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke to us. So, since Conference, we've had 5 speakers that also spoke in Conference: Elder Bednar, Elder Shayne Bowen, the Relief Society President (I can't remember her name for the life of me right now), Sister Ann Dibbs and Elder Larry Echo Hawk. It's cool seeing all of them outside of Conference. I loved their talks in Conference, but their talks to us at the MTC are so much more personal. Usually those talks are about HOW we can be good missionaries; Elder Echo Hawk's talk reminded me of WHY we should be good missionaries since he shared his conversion story, and how his conversion changed his entire life. He is a descendant of the Native Americans and his life wasn't going anywhere. Because the missionaries knocked on his door, his family was baptized. Then, his Priest's Quorum Leader wanted to help him, and decided to help him train for football. He went through a lot of other experiences along the way, but his hard work paid off and he became a first-generation college student because he received a football scholarship to BYU, where he played all four years despite his size. He owes everything to the missionaries because they got the ball rolling so he was able to change his whole life. He went to law school, taught law at BYU, was attorney general in Idaho, and worked in the federal government regarding Native American relations. All of his kids have gone to college, and some of them have served missions too. My dad sent me a thought this past week about Alma the Younger and how he became a great leader after being converted to the Lord, and asked me to think about potential of the people I teach to become great leaders if they are truly converted. I think I said this last week, but I'm so excited for that opportunity to change lives, and see how changing one life really can contribute to the changing of the world.
Also - I lost one of my skirts somehow this week. Not really sure how that happened. But it was my mom's least favorite - and by that, I mean she hated it - so she'll probably be happy about that.
It's finally cold here - I woke up to a little snow this morning and put on a sweater for the first time. But most of the MTC is covered so it's not bothering me too much. And I'll miss the worst of winter here and completely SKIP winter next year so I can't really complain.
And.....I think that's it. EXCEPT.....Sunday morning. The fire alarm went off in our building at 6am Sunday morning. I had just woken up but I was still lying in bed. We all jumped up and ran outside. There wasn't a fire - they think it went off because of some dust on the sensor. Even though it was clear, we had to wait for a technician to come and check it out. So....we literally sat outside for an hour. They had opened up the gym, but it was warm enough outside so me, Hermana Johnson, Hermana Riter and Hermana Ivey just laid outside on the cement. A few other sisters that we knew from another zone joined us when the sisters inside the gym started singing hymns like "There is Sunshine in my Soul". I'm just glad I wasn't in there for that. I don't know what it is about Sunday mornings - they just always have to start out bad apparently. But they turn out pretty good.
And this Sunday, I'm accompanying an elder in my branch for "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief". We tried out to perform at one of the devotionals on Thursday morning but we hadn't heard back yet. And then, at this Sunday's fireside, an elder sang the EXACT same song. So....I wish they had just told us that we didn't have a shot because someone else was about to perform the same song. I'm also accompanying an elder in my district with another musical number and we're trying out either tomorrow or next Thursday. It's been nice playing the piano again - I haven't had much time here to do so, but I've played more here than I have in the past few years.
So, that's that. Love you all!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
One month!
I can't believe it's already been a month. Anyone who has been to the MTC will understand how strange time is here; it's almost impossible to explain to anyone who hasn't been here. It seems like it flew by, but there were a lot of long hard days and looking back, I have learned SO MUCH just in this month - in regards to Spanish, the gospel, everything. I caved and bought Jesus the Christ and love reading it. Sometimes it evens distracts me from what I'm supposed to be doing, but I'm trying to read it only occasionally when I have a little extra time - like P day!
I feel like a lot has happened this week. When I wrote last week, I hadn't seen Parker yet, but I saw him the very next morning at breakfast and realized we have all our meals at the same time! I usually see him every meal, if only for a few seconds, so that's been a nice little blessing. The last month here at the MTC will probably be the hardest, especially since he won't be around anymore. I'm still loving it here, but I'm slowly getting more and more antsy to get to San Francisco. Once Parker is gone, I'm pretty sure I'll be ready to go - mentally at least. But for now, I'm just enjoying all the time I have to study Spanish and Preach My Gospel and the scriptures so it's been great.
We've had a couple problems in my dorm this week. Last Wednesday night, our room was infested with bugs - we probably killed about 10 bugs that night and then we sealed up the windows with Scotch tape - it was all we had. We've got some duct tape on it now but......bugs still keep getting in. So, that's been fun. Also, the building lost water Saturday night around 10pm and it was out all night. They were drilling right outside our window for a couple hours, keeping two of my roommates up - thank heaven I sleep like a rock. Then we all got up early Sunday morning, at 6am, to figure out what was going on and the water still wasn't fixed. The signs on the bathroom door directed us to a different building so we could get ready, but there were only two bathrooms that were tiny and no showers. There were only a few people there when we got there around 6:15 and we were all just imagining the rush of girls that were going to wake up at 6:30 and all rush over and cram into these bathrooms. But when we got back to our building, the water was back on. It was literally fixed within minutes of everyone in the building waking up. I guess you could say it was a miracle, but I was just a little put off initially. But it is what it is - just bad luck. And kind of a good story.
Sunday was my first Relief Society meeting here at the MTC because it was the first normal Sunday I've had here at the MTC - no temple dedications, fasting, or general conference. The Relief Society General President came to speak to us - she spoke at the Relief Society General Meeting and at the Sunday morning session of Conference so like Bednar, I've heard from her a lot recently. It was a really great meeting, and her words answered a lot of the questions I've been having. After the meeting, we were all invited to go meet her if we'd like, but I couldn't go because I had to stay for the dress and grooming meeting for all the "new" sisters. Most of it was about modesty so it was probably a good thing to hear and remember. But the last ten minutes were about etiquette. One of the wives of the MTC Presidency taught us how to sit down in our chairs and how to go up the stairs and how to walk and all sorts of stuff. My mother will probably appreciate this, but all the hermanas in my district, myself included, didn't really. I understand where they're coming from but....I go up five flights of stairs multiple times everyday to get to my classroom. And I'm usually running late. I don't have time to glide up the stairs. And holding your knees together when you sit is really hard! If we have skirts that cover our knees it shouldn't matter if they're spaced a little apart, should it? And there was one thing they said that kind of caused my heart to break: "Don't skip." After hearing that, Hermana Riter said, "They're trying to suck the joy out of my life." My biggest problem with the etiquette thing is just the fact that they don't give any type of etiquette lesson to the elders, who are two years younger and most of them right out of high school. I mean, when we go to the cafeteria, the elders just make a huge mess with their food and play with it - and it literally reminds me of high school. So....separate but equal? I think that should be applied here in terms of etiquette. But much to the dismay of my mother, I am sure, they did not address table manners. So....at least they're not trying to control that part of my life.
But it is kind of funny to think about how we are ALWAYS being watched here. We walked to the temple on Sunday, and saw two people get in trouble for meeting their family at the temple. I was about to tell all my friends that I go to the temple around 1pm every Sunday afternoon.....but after seeing that, I guess I shouldn't encourage anything of the sort. If anyone did come, I would only be able to talk to them for maybe 30 seconds before MTC security figured it out. When they're looking for someone, they just call the classroom directly. It will be nice to be accountable for myself once I get out of here and do the right thing not just because someone is hovering over me telling me what I need to be doing.
I'm already over time so I'll wrap this up. The one thing I've heard a lot of this week is remembering to keep a bird's eye view, to look at the big picture of why I'm here. At our devotional last night, the speaker asked "Why are you here?" My answer? To change the world. To change people's lives by helping them understand the plan of salvation and Christ's Atonement for us. To make people happier through that knowledge. And I know I can only do it through the Lord, but I know I can do it. He's given me the tools and resources and power to do so. Right now, at this time of my life, this is the best way I can make the world a better place. After the devotional, the first counselor of the Branch Presidency was talking about how in the world we live in, the economic and political times, this gospel is what people need. I can't remember who said this, but I read this quote the other day: "We have what they want." My knowledge of the gospel is a gift, a gift I've been commanded to share. I've been given this calling in order to do so. The only way to change the world is one life at a time. And that's what keeps me going each day.
Have a wonderful week!
I feel like a lot has happened this week. When I wrote last week, I hadn't seen Parker yet, but I saw him the very next morning at breakfast and realized we have all our meals at the same time! I usually see him every meal, if only for a few seconds, so that's been a nice little blessing. The last month here at the MTC will probably be the hardest, especially since he won't be around anymore. I'm still loving it here, but I'm slowly getting more and more antsy to get to San Francisco. Once Parker is gone, I'm pretty sure I'll be ready to go - mentally at least. But for now, I'm just enjoying all the time I have to study Spanish and Preach My Gospel and the scriptures so it's been great.
We've had a couple problems in my dorm this week. Last Wednesday night, our room was infested with bugs - we probably killed about 10 bugs that night and then we sealed up the windows with Scotch tape - it was all we had. We've got some duct tape on it now but......bugs still keep getting in. So, that's been fun. Also, the building lost water Saturday night around 10pm and it was out all night. They were drilling right outside our window for a couple hours, keeping two of my roommates up - thank heaven I sleep like a rock. Then we all got up early Sunday morning, at 6am, to figure out what was going on and the water still wasn't fixed. The signs on the bathroom door directed us to a different building so we could get ready, but there were only two bathrooms that were tiny and no showers. There were only a few people there when we got there around 6:15 and we were all just imagining the rush of girls that were going to wake up at 6:30 and all rush over and cram into these bathrooms. But when we got back to our building, the water was back on. It was literally fixed within minutes of everyone in the building waking up. I guess you could say it was a miracle, but I was just a little put off initially. But it is what it is - just bad luck. And kind of a good story.
Sunday was my first Relief Society meeting here at the MTC because it was the first normal Sunday I've had here at the MTC - no temple dedications, fasting, or general conference. The Relief Society General President came to speak to us - she spoke at the Relief Society General Meeting and at the Sunday morning session of Conference so like Bednar, I've heard from her a lot recently. It was a really great meeting, and her words answered a lot of the questions I've been having. After the meeting, we were all invited to go meet her if we'd like, but I couldn't go because I had to stay for the dress and grooming meeting for all the "new" sisters. Most of it was about modesty so it was probably a good thing to hear and remember. But the last ten minutes were about etiquette. One of the wives of the MTC Presidency taught us how to sit down in our chairs and how to go up the stairs and how to walk and all sorts of stuff. My mother will probably appreciate this, but all the hermanas in my district, myself included, didn't really. I understand where they're coming from but....I go up five flights of stairs multiple times everyday to get to my classroom. And I'm usually running late. I don't have time to glide up the stairs. And holding your knees together when you sit is really hard! If we have skirts that cover our knees it shouldn't matter if they're spaced a little apart, should it? And there was one thing they said that kind of caused my heart to break: "Don't skip." After hearing that, Hermana Riter said, "They're trying to suck the joy out of my life." My biggest problem with the etiquette thing is just the fact that they don't give any type of etiquette lesson to the elders, who are two years younger and most of them right out of high school. I mean, when we go to the cafeteria, the elders just make a huge mess with their food and play with it - and it literally reminds me of high school. So....separate but equal? I think that should be applied here in terms of etiquette. But much to the dismay of my mother, I am sure, they did not address table manners. So....at least they're not trying to control that part of my life.
But it is kind of funny to think about how we are ALWAYS being watched here. We walked to the temple on Sunday, and saw two people get in trouble for meeting their family at the temple. I was about to tell all my friends that I go to the temple around 1pm every Sunday afternoon.....but after seeing that, I guess I shouldn't encourage anything of the sort. If anyone did come, I would only be able to talk to them for maybe 30 seconds before MTC security figured it out. When they're looking for someone, they just call the classroom directly. It will be nice to be accountable for myself once I get out of here and do the right thing not just because someone is hovering over me telling me what I need to be doing.
I'm already over time so I'll wrap this up. The one thing I've heard a lot of this week is remembering to keep a bird's eye view, to look at the big picture of why I'm here. At our devotional last night, the speaker asked "Why are you here?" My answer? To change the world. To change people's lives by helping them understand the plan of salvation and Christ's Atonement for us. To make people happier through that knowledge. And I know I can only do it through the Lord, but I know I can do it. He's given me the tools and resources and power to do so. Right now, at this time of my life, this is the best way I can make the world a better place. After the devotional, the first counselor of the Branch Presidency was talking about how in the world we live in, the economic and political times, this gospel is what people need. I can't remember who said this, but I read this quote the other day: "We have what they want." My knowledge of the gospel is a gift, a gift I've been commanded to share. I've been given this calling in order to do so. The only way to change the world is one life at a time. And that's what keeps me going each day.
Have a wonderful week!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
3rd week!
Hi everyone!
It's officially been three weeks.....which also means my brother Parker is finally here!!! I haven't seen him yet, but I'm sure I'll run into him sometime in the next few days. Things are good here - I don't know, there isn't much to say. Every week is pretty much the same, but Conference made this week a little different. It was quite extraordinary to be at the MTC when President Monson made the historic declaration that 18 year-old men and 19 year-old women can now serve missions. Right after he sat down, the entire auditorium was bustling for a few minutes during the choir number. The news doesn't affect me much at all; after all, I'm already here and Parker just got here today and most of my guy friends have already gone and most of my girl friends are already married. But it had been a hard week - I felt I had learned so much and progressed so much in the first two weeks, and so last week I felt like I wasn't going anywhere or getting any better. As President Monson spoke those words, words that I know came directly from our Father in Heaven, I was reminded at how much joy I feel in the privilege and opportunity I have to share the gospel. I was again reminded why I am here - I feel like that reminder comes at least once a day. I need it to; it would be hard to do everything I do without it.
But I am so grateful that the Lord gives us living prophets. As we've been learning how to teach the first lesson, which is all about the restoration of the gospel, we often tell investigators that one of the ways that we know God loves us is through prophets. I never really looked at it that way until this conference. I loved many of the talks focused on the fact that if we are truly converted, if we really love the Lord, we will change for him - we will do the things he wants us to do, we will become the people he wants us to become. I know that's the only way I will be able to be a successful missionary.
For Conference, we had to sit in the auditorium for EVERY SESSION. Classes were cancelled, so it was a nice break, but it was still a long weekend. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk; he is particularly good at talking about temporal things in spiritual ways, and it reminded me that I don't want any regrets: on my mission, in my education, in my entire life. I especially loved the Saturday afternoon session of conference: it's always my favorite session - all of the talks were great. While the elders all watched the priesthood session, all the sisters watched the Relief Society session. I loved how much it focused on the Atonement and how it's not just for our sins and our mistakes. It was probably the most powerful General Relief Society Meeting I have ever seen.
The Sunday sessions were great too, especially Holland's talks. He always gives me a different perspective on things. And then, after having conference all day, we had one of our regular Sunday night firesides where Chad Lewis came and spoke to us. Apparently he played football for BYU and played in the NFL for 9 years - I can't remember what team. He had some really ineresting stories that he was able to relate back to the gospel, and it was really interesting. It was mostly geared towards the elders - obviously - but it was a good message. Then we had our normal Sunday night routine, where we attend a rebroadcast of a certain MTC devotional that we pick. My district all saw a talk by Elder Bednar entitled "The Character of Christ" which was very similar to the message he shared at our special stake meeting a few weeks ago before I came here. So I'd heard from Elder Bednar three times in the past month.
AND THEN.....Elder Bednar came and spoke at our Tuesday night devotional last night. So....he's obviously got something to say that I need to hear. I hope I finally picked up on it last night. But anyways, that was really cool. He talked about how to study the things we learned from Conference. It felt good to be in the presence of an apostle of God, and I felt the same thing I felt when I went to a session of conference last spring, and when I went to that special stake meeting.
I welcomed the new district last week so that was fun - there are three hermanas and they leave in three weeks for the MTC in Guatemala. I got to skip a few hours of class for orientation so that was a nice break. Also, my companion and I have been counting - here at the MTC, we have sung "Called to Serve" five times as a collective whole, and we only meet together twice a week. It's obviously the song of choice.
Anyways, P-day is almost over and we have a lesson tonight and then another one in the morning. And between that, we have a little goodbye party for Hermana Dalia in our district who leaves tomorrow for the Dominican Republic MTC. But I hope everyone enjoyed General Conference and learned something - I know I did.
Love, Hermana Hunsaker
It's officially been three weeks.....which also means my brother Parker is finally here!!! I haven't seen him yet, but I'm sure I'll run into him sometime in the next few days. Things are good here - I don't know, there isn't much to say. Every week is pretty much the same, but Conference made this week a little different. It was quite extraordinary to be at the MTC when President Monson made the historic declaration that 18 year-old men and 19 year-old women can now serve missions. Right after he sat down, the entire auditorium was bustling for a few minutes during the choir number. The news doesn't affect me much at all; after all, I'm already here and Parker just got here today and most of my guy friends have already gone and most of my girl friends are already married. But it had been a hard week - I felt I had learned so much and progressed so much in the first two weeks, and so last week I felt like I wasn't going anywhere or getting any better. As President Monson spoke those words, words that I know came directly from our Father in Heaven, I was reminded at how much joy I feel in the privilege and opportunity I have to share the gospel. I was again reminded why I am here - I feel like that reminder comes at least once a day. I need it to; it would be hard to do everything I do without it.
But I am so grateful that the Lord gives us living prophets. As we've been learning how to teach the first lesson, which is all about the restoration of the gospel, we often tell investigators that one of the ways that we know God loves us is through prophets. I never really looked at it that way until this conference. I loved many of the talks focused on the fact that if we are truly converted, if we really love the Lord, we will change for him - we will do the things he wants us to do, we will become the people he wants us to become. I know that's the only way I will be able to be a successful missionary.
For Conference, we had to sit in the auditorium for EVERY SESSION. Classes were cancelled, so it was a nice break, but it was still a long weekend. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk; he is particularly good at talking about temporal things in spiritual ways, and it reminded me that I don't want any regrets: on my mission, in my education, in my entire life. I especially loved the Saturday afternoon session of conference: it's always my favorite session - all of the talks were great. While the elders all watched the priesthood session, all the sisters watched the Relief Society session. I loved how much it focused on the Atonement and how it's not just for our sins and our mistakes. It was probably the most powerful General Relief Society Meeting I have ever seen.
The Sunday sessions were great too, especially Holland's talks. He always gives me a different perspective on things. And then, after having conference all day, we had one of our regular Sunday night firesides where Chad Lewis came and spoke to us. Apparently he played football for BYU and played in the NFL for 9 years - I can't remember what team. He had some really ineresting stories that he was able to relate back to the gospel, and it was really interesting. It was mostly geared towards the elders - obviously - but it was a good message. Then we had our normal Sunday night routine, where we attend a rebroadcast of a certain MTC devotional that we pick. My district all saw a talk by Elder Bednar entitled "The Character of Christ" which was very similar to the message he shared at our special stake meeting a few weeks ago before I came here. So I'd heard from Elder Bednar three times in the past month.
AND THEN.....Elder Bednar came and spoke at our Tuesday night devotional last night. So....he's obviously got something to say that I need to hear. I hope I finally picked up on it last night. But anyways, that was really cool. He talked about how to study the things we learned from Conference. It felt good to be in the presence of an apostle of God, and I felt the same thing I felt when I went to a session of conference last spring, and when I went to that special stake meeting.
I welcomed the new district last week so that was fun - there are three hermanas and they leave in three weeks for the MTC in Guatemala. I got to skip a few hours of class for orientation so that was a nice break. Also, my companion and I have been counting - here at the MTC, we have sung "Called to Serve" five times as a collective whole, and we only meet together twice a week. It's obviously the song of choice.
Anyways, P-day is almost over and we have a lesson tonight and then another one in the morning. And between that, we have a little goodbye party for Hermana Dalia in our district who leaves tomorrow for the Dominican Republic MTC. But I hope everyone enjoyed General Conference and learned something - I know I did.
Love, Hermana Hunsaker
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Week 2!
Hello everyone!
I made it through week 2! Things are much calmer now. We finished teaching our first investigator last week....and then he ended up becoming our second teacher. On Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, I have 6 hours of class, 3 with one teacher, 3 with the other. But now that I've gotten the hang of the schedule, it isn't too hard. I have no idea what I said in my last email so hopefully I don't repeat anything - I don't have to time to go back and reread it.
My companion Hermana Ivey and I are still getting along really well, even though we're not doing so great at getting up early to go to the 6am workout classes for the sisters. We've gotten to know the elders in our district a little better too, so that's been fun. We usually all play volleyball as a district every day during our gym time. It's funny to think that most of the elders here are younger than I am - that's not very common considering that I've been at BYU for the past couple of years. It's also weird being in an environment where you are not just discouraged but FORBIDDEN to flirt with boys. I mean, it makes total sense and I totally agree with it....but it's a weird change from college, especially since I went to BYU. But....they're all Parker's age so I have no problem with that rule. I can't believe he comes in one week! I've been counting down my time here based on when he gets here.
As excited as I am to get out there to San Fran, I really love it here at the MTC. It's busy but I always feel like I'm learning something, and I can almost always feel the Spirit. If I don't feel the Spirit, I know it's because of some rule that I'm not keeping because the Spirit is so strong here. At most of the devotionals and firesides, they always talk about obedience. The MTC slogan or motto, as you could call it, is "Obedience brings blessings; exact obedience brings miracles." There are a lot of rules and it's easy to dismiss one for something else that's good, like staying up past curfew to write in my journal (which I must admit that I did last night), but I'm trying my hardest. The days are long and busy, but we have so much time to study and learn more about the gospel and the language.
Spanish is hard, but I really love learning it. The hardest part is knowing what I want to say, recognizing what the Spirit wants me to say in a lesson, but not being able to put it into Spanish words. I know if I keep working at it, I will be blessed with the gift of tongues, but sometimes it's hard to have that perspective. But I do know that there is no other way I could have learned as much as I have in these two weeks any other way. I've learned more than I would learn in at least a year of high school Spanish. And I know that the only way I've done that is through the Lord.
Things have been kind of stressful, but the world keeps turning. On Sunday, I was called as the coordinating sister for my zone, meaning that I welcome the new hermanas and help the zone leaders with the orientation for the new district. We had a new district come in today, with four hermanas who are here for three weeks before going to the Guatemalan MTC. I haven't met them yet, but I'm kind of excited to take on this responsibility. I was really stressed a few days ago and didn't know how I was going to do everything - and then my branch president called me to this calling. It actually made me feel more relieved because I was reminded that Heavenly Father knows that I can do anything and everything he asks for me, even if I doubt that I can at times. And I do get to miss a little bit of class tonight and tomorrow, which will give my head a rest. My only concern is that I've been a little more quiet and introverted since I've been here at the MTC and I'm not sure if I remember how to be social.....but it's something I need to learn again if I've forgotten, considering I'm going to meet new people everyday for the next 18 months.
I'm almost out of time but I want to talk about one more thing. Yesterday was the first time our class went to the TRC. The TRC is just a program where member volunteers come and we teach them more about the gospel. We don't act like they are investigators, but it just gives us experience meeting other people who speak the language and learning to understand and get to know them. I can understand practically every word that my first teacher here, Hermano Goodman, says because we've had class with him for two weeks, but it's still hard for me to understand my second teacher, Hermano Rhoton. I was surprised at how much I liked TRC - my companion and I taught two ladies, one originally from Argentina and one who served her mission Spanish-speaking in Boston. For the most part, I understood them and we had a really good, normal conversation with very few awkward pauses. So that boosted my self-esteem a little bit.
I'm excited for this next week, especially the chance to see Parker here next Wednesday! Adios!
Hermana Hunsaker
I made it through week 2! Things are much calmer now. We finished teaching our first investigator last week....and then he ended up becoming our second teacher. On Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, I have 6 hours of class, 3 with one teacher, 3 with the other. But now that I've gotten the hang of the schedule, it isn't too hard. I have no idea what I said in my last email so hopefully I don't repeat anything - I don't have to time to go back and reread it.
My companion Hermana Ivey and I are still getting along really well, even though we're not doing so great at getting up early to go to the 6am workout classes for the sisters. We've gotten to know the elders in our district a little better too, so that's been fun. We usually all play volleyball as a district every day during our gym time. It's funny to think that most of the elders here are younger than I am - that's not very common considering that I've been at BYU for the past couple of years. It's also weird being in an environment where you are not just discouraged but FORBIDDEN to flirt with boys. I mean, it makes total sense and I totally agree with it....but it's a weird change from college, especially since I went to BYU. But....they're all Parker's age so I have no problem with that rule. I can't believe he comes in one week! I've been counting down my time here based on when he gets here.
As excited as I am to get out there to San Fran, I really love it here at the MTC. It's busy but I always feel like I'm learning something, and I can almost always feel the Spirit. If I don't feel the Spirit, I know it's because of some rule that I'm not keeping because the Spirit is so strong here. At most of the devotionals and firesides, they always talk about obedience. The MTC slogan or motto, as you could call it, is "Obedience brings blessings; exact obedience brings miracles." There are a lot of rules and it's easy to dismiss one for something else that's good, like staying up past curfew to write in my journal (which I must admit that I did last night), but I'm trying my hardest. The days are long and busy, but we have so much time to study and learn more about the gospel and the language.
Spanish is hard, but I really love learning it. The hardest part is knowing what I want to say, recognizing what the Spirit wants me to say in a lesson, but not being able to put it into Spanish words. I know if I keep working at it, I will be blessed with the gift of tongues, but sometimes it's hard to have that perspective. But I do know that there is no other way I could have learned as much as I have in these two weeks any other way. I've learned more than I would learn in at least a year of high school Spanish. And I know that the only way I've done that is through the Lord.
Things have been kind of stressful, but the world keeps turning. On Sunday, I was called as the coordinating sister for my zone, meaning that I welcome the new hermanas and help the zone leaders with the orientation for the new district. We had a new district come in today, with four hermanas who are here for three weeks before going to the Guatemalan MTC. I haven't met them yet, but I'm kind of excited to take on this responsibility. I was really stressed a few days ago and didn't know how I was going to do everything - and then my branch president called me to this calling. It actually made me feel more relieved because I was reminded that Heavenly Father knows that I can do anything and everything he asks for me, even if I doubt that I can at times. And I do get to miss a little bit of class tonight and tomorrow, which will give my head a rest. My only concern is that I've been a little more quiet and introverted since I've been here at the MTC and I'm not sure if I remember how to be social.....but it's something I need to learn again if I've forgotten, considering I'm going to meet new people everyday for the next 18 months.
I'm almost out of time but I want to talk about one more thing. Yesterday was the first time our class went to the TRC. The TRC is just a program where member volunteers come and we teach them more about the gospel. We don't act like they are investigators, but it just gives us experience meeting other people who speak the language and learning to understand and get to know them. I can understand practically every word that my first teacher here, Hermano Goodman, says because we've had class with him for two weeks, but it's still hard for me to understand my second teacher, Hermano Rhoton. I was surprised at how much I liked TRC - my companion and I taught two ladies, one originally from Argentina and one who served her mission Spanish-speaking in Boston. For the most part, I understood them and we had a really good, normal conversation with very few awkward pauses. So that boosted my self-esteem a little bit.
I'm excited for this next week, especially the chance to see Parker here next Wednesday! Adios!
Hermana Hunsaker
First week at the MTC!
So....We only have 30 minutes every preparation day to do email. It counts down and if we go over time, it starts counting up again and sends the report to my branch president - so I'll have to make this quick. Every day here seems really long but this first week has gone by pretty fast. In just a few hours, my district won't be the new missionaries anymore. The first day here, last Wednesday, was pretty crazy. It was nice because you had a little sticker on your nametag so everyone knew that you were new, and everyone was really friendly. The elders help you grab your bags from the car, and then they introduced me to my host sister, who showed me around the dorms and took me to pick up my books and everything I needed to do.
Then I met the people in my district. My companion, Hermana Ivey, has been going to UVU so we're kind of both Provo girls. I never wanted to claim myself as a Provo girl - and I still tell people I'm from Colorado - but Provo's my home now too. Kind of. Oh well. She's really nice and has a really strong testimony, being the only active member of her immediate family. She's taught me a lot already There are three other sisters in my district - Hermana Dalia, Hermana Riter and.........Hermana Johnson! I knew Hermana Johnson when we lived in Dublin, CA when I was four or five, and our moms are still really good friends. I knew she was coming into the MTC on the same day as I was and that she is serving Spanish-speaking, but it was total chance that we are in the same district. I also live in a room with these four sisters and Hermana Judy who is going to Spain. She's a solo sister because her visa is taking a while to be approved so she's going to be reassigned temporarily and she leaves next week.
So the first day was a blur. And I can't even remember most of it at this point. Thursday was the longest day of my life, probably because we didn't have gym time. Just class and meetings and study time and everything. The schedule here is crazy. They pack so much into one day, it's not even funny. I've also had a hard time falling asleep every night so that makes it harder. I get 6.5-7 hours of sleep a night though still, so I'm surviving. It's nice being busy - without having school, I would come home and have nothing to do at night and I'd be completely unproductive. Now, I'm busy from 6am-9pm at night. In a way, the MTC is just like school, except you're only studying two subjects ten hours a day - the gospel, and Spanish. So I like it in that way.
But sometimes it's hard not to have a choice. I mean, I always have a choice. But I've always been the kind to take a break when I need it. And that's not how life works here. You have to push and push and push - and then you can finally rest at the end of the day. I'm also surprised at how well I'm picking up Spanish. Sometimes I mix up Spanish and French, and I couldn't speak AT ALL in our first lesson, but it's coming, and I understand a lot of it already. We gave our first lesson - get this - on FRIDAY NIGHT. IN SPANISH. Our THIRD DAY at the MTC. It was insane. And then we gave one the very next morning. I felt much better after the second one - after the first one, I was really doubting myself. But "whoever the Lord calls he qualifies." I just need to remember that every day.
I've loved the firesides and devotionals and spiritual workshops that I've attended - they've all helped me learn a lot. I just know I need to rely on the Lord completely and seek to have the Spirit with me all the time. I've felt good this past week. It's been hard, but I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. We watched the broadcast of the temple dedication, and I loved seeing that as well.
Anyways, I'm really out of time. I can't wait for Parker to get here in two weeks!!! He is going to love it - if he works hard. I got a package from my co-workers the other day which was really nice and needed. I haven't gotten much mail, but the mail I got came on Friday, which was the really hard day. So that's all I needed. But if anyone wants to write, my address is on my facebook page and you can write me at dearelder.com FOR FREE while I'm at the MTC. And Mom - you're slacking on the packages if I'm getting packages from Uncle Steve before you!!! Haha. Love you all and hope everything is great at home!
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