Tuesday, May 28, 2013

MTC

                                                                                                                                                                                               May 15, 2013

Hey Family & Friends!
This is my only Prep day here, so this is the only email you'll get from me while I'm in Provo! Crazy eh?! :) We got our travel itinerary a few days ago and we fly out on Monday. There are 11 of us flying out that day including my companion, Sister S, and I. We need to leave the MTC at 3 in the morning because our flight takes off from Salt Lake at six. Bah. It will totally be worth it though! I'm SO PUMPED TO GO TO CANADA!! :)
This first week has been INCREDIBLE! Incredibly spiritual. Incredibly hard. Incredibly busy. Just simply incredible :) We have hours and hours of classroom instruction  everyday. It's been a little rough because I haven't been to school for the past year, so it's taken some adjustment. I have been learning so much though. I love my teachers! Brother A is from Ghana and has a super sweet accent! Brother C served his mission in Australia and teaches in a way that is really easy for me to understand. He taught us the difference between doctrines, principles, and rules. I feel like my understanding of teaching doctrine is increasing everyday. My favorite part of being a missionary in the MTC is the way in which I can tangibly feel the presence of the Holy Ghost with me. It's like I have two companions :) It's really incredible. 

My companion, Sister S, and I have been working on memorizing D&C 4. We have a goal to always be memorizing something. Whether it's a scripture, a quote, something from PMG, etc. I have loved the opportunity to study D&C closer. You should go read it...Right now :) Sunday night was probably my favorite night here. We had a devotional then we had the choice of watching a church movie or a General Authority talk. Sister S and I went and watched a talk that Elder Holland gave in the MTC years ago. He said exactly what I needed to hear. He said things like, "You won't ever be full time again for the Lord. DON'T MISS IT!" "Since this is the Lord's work, you have to do it His way, and by His rules." "Go out and astonish somebody." "The road to salvation goes through Gethsemane." "We have to be strong because Christ was." That last quote really hit me hard. It's helped me so much this week when I find myself needing to refocus on Christ.

Guess who came to the MTC last night?! RUSSELL M NELSON! That's what's up :) His wife, Wendy, spoke too and she said something I'd never thought of before. She said, "Pray to be led to those whose ancestors are praying for you." I've thought about how joining the church will effect future generations, but past generations? Now that's awesome! :) Sister and Elder Nelson talked a lot about the millions of people praying for the missionaries from both sides of the veil. This realization has definitely been a blessing. Elder Nelson also said, "In order to put Christ first, you need to lose yourself." I've thought about that a lot. And I think part of "losing yourself" is burying the parts of yourself that aren't so Christlike. For example, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis burying their weapons of rebellion. Sister S and I have set goals to help us with that. So it's been a great seven days in the MTC :)

THANK YOU FOR THE DEAR ELDER LETTERS! I thought the mail scene in the best two years was a little bit of an exaggeration... No. It's real. Missionaries love mail, email, pictures. Ya know. Just any proof that you are still living :) Hahaha. I LOVED the last letter you sent! Elder B, our district leader, handed it to me as I was typing this email. Thank you thank you THANK YOU! So thank you for the love and support. I feel your prayers 

 I'm sharing a room with five other sisters! Our room is seriously a cloud of hairspray when we leave for study in the morning. It makes me laugh :) Ps. I keep finding random note cards in my luggage... Thanks 

Thank you so much for your love and prayers! Keep smiling and have a great week! I'll call you early Monday morning :) Never forget how much I love you!
Love and prayers forever, B

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