Tuesday, June 21, 2016

MTC

Two weeks down, one to go and then I'm out in California! We get one hour at night before lights out and that is a huge struggle for me because I want to prepare for bed, make friends and talk to people, prepare for the next day, and study. Balancing these things is tough for one hour. Let's just say talking to people has become more of a priority and writing in my journal less - kind of sad. Especially now, as I was made a Sister Training Leader this past week so I have to talk to the other girls and make sure I know what they need. I can't know what they need until I have get to know them. And we double our zone on Wednesday. I'm a little stressed about that because that's so many more girls I have to interview and welcome. I love it though. It helps me remember what I felt on the very first day. Last Wednesday when our new district came we barged in their room and yelled WELCOME TO THE MTC! And they just stared at us. No smiles. They looked like they were going to cry. We were like Oh! sorry! and got out of the awkward classroom that held our shocked new friends. haha We were so confused why they weren't more fun, but thinking back on it, first day is the worst and so overwhelming. Everyone is contemplating what exactly they got themselves into. I know now to be lots more gentle with the newbies :D I think because the MTC was so hard for me at first, I can really relate and help the girls. I know it helped me anytime someone else said that they were also homesick at first because you look at them and know that it will get better.

The food is so bad this week because they are constructing and fixing up the cafeteria. I think this week we are going to have to walk to the cannon center. ​I feel bad for the newbies who never tasted the good food.




On Tuesday night, we had devotional with Elder Soares from the seventy and his wife gave her testimony before he spoke which he had translated to english for us. I loved it because she said that if you want to get to know the Savior, serve him. If you want to get to know Him better, serve Him better. It really struck me and I thought, How do I serve Him in my life? And then I took it further. How do I serve Him as a daughter? missionary? sister? friend? student? Aunt? CNA? Piano Player? Employee? Coworker? Volleyball Player? Companion? This new mindset blew my mind and has changed everything I do. I constantly have that question in my head. How am I serving my Savior now? and what roles am do I play?

I relied heavily on Christ and His Atonement before, but I have never before appreciated and relied on it so much as now. I know that Christ knows us individually and as we put our faith in Him we can access the redeeming, healing, and enabling powers. We can be so strengthened and our weaknesses can be made strengths. I feel the guidance I receive from the Holy Ghost and my Father in Heaven. I feel the love of Christ and my Father as I put my trust and devotion in Them.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

1st Week

Hey guys! The MTC is so great! I am having a really hard time with homesickness. I'm kind of a big baby. Sometimes I think that I just cannot do it, because I miss home so much. But other times I can see that I will be fine. My district is really great I love them. My companion is Sister Heder. She's from Tooele, Utah. I have learned so much about the simple doctrines that Christ has set up for His church. It really is the simple things that we do. We are studying so much about the importance and the need for the doctrine: faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Like I knew they were important, and I had a testimony of this, but my testimony grows every moment I am here. Teaching the people is much harder than I expected. I have testified and taught people all my life, but my nerves are on end here and I feel like I have to have an answer for everyone's problems. Not to mention I am constantly wiping away my own tears from homesickness. I just want them to know that I am also on the difficult road of continual conversion. I am not perfect. Sure, I am a representative of Christ, but I am only doing my best. I have to go now because I am running out of time. I had a great day today playing Volleyball with the Polynesians. :) I am bound to get in trouble soon because I have a hard time keeping myself from diving on the court - which is against the rules because it is too competitive and we might get hurt. :/ I am trying, but I cannot let a ball drop - not in my nature anymore. It's all reaction. I still serve well. :) It was the most care free fun I have had since I have been here. It felt great to be care-free. I take that for granted. Oh, and by the way I check email like everyday. I just can't type any until Preparation-day.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Here I Go!

Here I am at the airport leaving Kansas for the next 18 months. See you in 18! Keep in touch!




Monday, June 6, 2016

California Roseville!

I've been called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to CALIFORNIA ROSEVILLE! I report to the Provo Mission Training Center on June 8th and about 2 weeks later I will be in California. I'll be serving for 18 months and teaching in the English language.
I am choosing to serve a mission because Jesus Christ is an important part of my life. The knowledge I have of His plan for us and the grace we receive from His Atonement brings me so much happiness. I want to share with as many people as will listen so they too have the opportunity to feel the peace and joy that I have felt. I know that relying on God brings so many blessings.
I am so excited for this opportunity and have realized how little even my closest friends know about what I am doing for these 18 months of my life. I would love to answer any questions or just tell you a little about what I am doing before I go. Or you can visit www.mormon.org
(This picture is the only one we got of me after I opened my call over skype with my family about a month ago.)