Merry Christmas from the MTC! ;)

November 14, 2014

Merry Christmas from the MTC!! Just kidding. But really the snow yesterday was quite the tender mercy. It was gorgeous, and I feel like I appreciate everything here more than I did before. Perks of being a missionary!! Also, you know you are a missionary when an elder compliments your necklace and you feel like that's violating some code of conduct. Hahahaha not really, but really. 

Okay!! So. I love missionary work and the gospel and everything about it here. I will fully admit, it is so so so so so so hard. This week was harder than last, but it is so worth it. 

Let me start from the beginning... Friday....I don't remember...but I think it was good!! Saturday we had our last appointment with our investigator Rachel. Found out she went to Maple Mountain and knows Marianne!!! They were on student council together!  So that was super cool. Sunday was AMAZING. The devotional was fantastic. It was by Elder Condie and he said some powerful things about women in the priesthood, especially sister missionaries. He compared it to an umbrella. The men are holding it,  but that doesn't mean the women aren't using it. Then after we watched a devotional by Elder Holland given a few years ago called Missions Are Forever. I LOVE ELDER HOLLAND. He was so blunt about everything. Ah. I can't describe it. It was just amazing. If I had ANY doubts before about being able to serve for the full 18 months, they are gone. There is no way someone could listen to that and feel like they should go home. He said that missionaries are apostles with a lowercase a. And that he is an apostle with a capital A. And that is the only difference. That is just something so interesting to think about and consider.  Monday was our last day with our district :( they all left for Roseville California early Tuesday morning! It's crazy how much I have come to love them all. We are a family. (We also have a district 67 b reunion planned in Vegas. CHECK YES!)

These pictures are with our teachers. Seriously, we had the worlds BEST teachers. Ever. And Joseph Smith. We love him too.

The elders gave all the sisters blessings Monday night and it was amazing to be surrounded worthy priesthood holders who I had only known for 12 days, yet they were able to speak to my spirit. The church is so true!! I know that sounds cliche, but it is really the only way to describe how I felt.  Tuesday was weird. We didn't start Visitor Center training until Wednesday so Sister O'Grady and I were homeless. But I absolutely love her so we were able to talk a lot and make it fun and productive. Wednesday we got to break free!!!!!! I mean....go on a field trip...............haha we went to temple square to learn about visitor centers and take a little tour.

Did you know only 2% of sisters are called to VCs?? And because of the online work we do, we teach investigators all over the world!! You know the chat feature on Mormon.org? That is us. So we have already started doing that. It's so cool! But we get a lot of crazy questions, mostly about polygamy. We had a lady compare Joseph Smith to Warren Jeffs. It was frustrating. All she wanted to do was argue so finally I had to tell her that we weren't there to argue and our purpose was to help others come closer to Christ. And then I bore my testimony of Joseph Smith and how he was putting his faith and trust in God and following his commandments. She stopped chatting after that. :) and then Thursday was more training and chatting. I absolutely love it. I feel like I am almost made for a visitors center. It just fits....mission calls truly are inspired!! 

So I know that doesn't sound like a hard week, but the reality is while everything seems happy and fine on the outside, the biggest struggle in the MTC is the internal battle. The pressure, stress, expectations, etc...and I've only skimmed the surface. But prayer works! I promise. I would not be able to do it if it weren't for prayer and the Atonement. My testimony has grown so much in the two weeks I have been here. But more importantly, my devotion to this work is stronger than ever. 

We have twelve sisters in our VC district. They are going to New Zealand, LA, Kirkland, and London! I love the diversity here at the MTC. I've met people from Fiji, Samoa, Portugal, Haiti, Australia, etc...I love it!!

Saturday we go back to temple square and get to pair up with a sister and actually work with her!! I'm so excited!! :)

So there are two elders in our neighboring district that are the funniest. They are SO tall and Samoan. They keep life interesting. 

OKAY SO THERE WAS A HUGE SPIDER OUTSIDE OUR CLASSROOM WINDOW AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE TWO PANES OF GLASS BETWEEN IT AND US, IT WAS TERRIFYING. BOO SPIDERS. I HATE THEM. 

My flight leaves at 9:55 on Tuesday morning so I will be calling probably around 7:30. Also, I have a direct flight so that is so wonderful!! Tender mercies are real. 

So Monday night, Sister O'Grady fell asleep when the lights were still on and then after we had turned them off, she woke up thinking we had put a sheet on her or something. She screamed and started panicking "WHAT IS ON ME. WHAT IS THIS. WHAT IS ON ME." It was SO funny!!! :)

Being surrounded my a bunch of girls isn't as bad as you would think. ;) I mean, sometimes we can all get a little cranky, but then we also have full on Disney choirs in the showers. It's crazy fun. 

I saw Mckenzie Livingston in the temple last Thursday!! Tender mercies are reeeeeallll. 

Elder Pryzbyla is here!! I love seeing familiar faces. :)

On chat we use our first names and it's weird because those don't exist here, ever. 

This morning we went to the temple and it was amazing. There was light snow everywhere and a layer of frost, but there were still orange and red leaves and everything was so serene. It was probably the most peace I have ever felt in my life.

Okay! I'm issuing a commitment. Read a chapter in the scriptures with a specific question in mind. But a powerful question. Powerful questions make for powerful studies. Begin with a prayer, and be open to receiving revelation. I did this yesterday. I read 2 Nephi 3 (the vision about Joseph Smith) with the question "Why would God command him when he was 14? Why not wait until he was an adult? Why a 14 year old boy?" It was amazing the things that I noticed and the answers I received. Another sister read the same chapter other a totally different question and also was astounded with the revelation gained. Remember, powerful questions make for powerful studies. Also, if you want, pick a missionary in the Book of Mormon and study them. Their conversion, life, mission, etc....I studied Alma the younger. His conversion is amazing!! I invite you to also write me an email or letter telling me about your experience. :)

Well, I wish I had more interesting things to say! I probably will by next week when I will have been in ENGLAND for a few days! I'm not sure when my pday will be...I will let you know...Letter and emails are great!! I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and support. You have mine as well. LOVE YOU!!!!

Love always, 

Sister Moody