My First Week

So I survived the first week of the MTC!  Forreals, I feel like I've been here FOREVER.  But in a good way.  I've never felt so busy in my entire life...study study STUDY and more study.  So Jeff told me that we would be teaching our first investigator 3 weeks in.....yeah we taught our first investigator the SECOND day we were here...I was TERRIFIED!!! They didn't give us any spanish lessons or even English lessons...we kinda were just thrown in.  Luckly I have the bomb companion! Her name is Hermana (Kara) Varley and she's from......COLORADO! Ironic, no?  So she tells me all the time how Colorado is the best state ever and I'm gonna love it so much :) She's serving her mission in Toronto Canada....yes Spanish speaking.

Our district is tiny (I'm assuming because we're in intermediate) and it consists of Elder Massey (from Yuciapa,CA), Elder Shirley (from somewhere in Virginina) , Hermana Pack (from Vegas) and Hermana Clark (from Bountiful, UT).  We get along so well and we laugh ALOT.  Maybe more than we should but I mean it's seriously what keeps us sane.  Our teacher is Brother Tidwell from Colorado (woo) and we just found out that our "progressing" investigator we've been teaching all week (4 lessons) is our other teacher...so that was intimidating.  Her name is Sister De Leon from Guatamala.  When we taught her, she would look at her phone and yawn and look bored.  Good times especially when you get frustrated with yourself when you cant for the life of you think of one word to bridge your sentences in Spanish.  But we taught full and complete 45 minute lessons all in Spanish!  Our second lesson bombed because we (or maybe just me) was SO focused on sounding proficient in the language that I wasn't listening to what the spirit was telling me.  I totally broke down in front of my district (it was a very solemn mood because everyones lesson was not so good) and that night I prayed so much that I would know the language of the Spirit.  The next day my companion and I taught so clearly and it just flowed SO well.  There you have it, I learned a very valuable lesson.  The language of the Spirit speaks to ALL children...I needed to not focus on myself and my weaknesses but I needed to focus on the needs of my investigator.  It's crazy how much you think about, worry and love your investigator....even though they're just playing a role and already a member.

So watching General Conference was AWESOME!! loved it.  On Sunday night devotional we sang a rendition of Called to Serve....seriously the spirit was so strong.  I knew Heavenly Father was so proud and grateful for all of His missionaries and that he definitely watches over us.  I am among those noble and great spirits that were reserved to do such an important and marvelous work.  I am so blessed!  A mission (or the MTC atleast) was NOT what I expected at all....I quickly realized that a mission is HARD and I can't do ANYTHING without the Lord's help.  Learning about the Gospel everyday for HOURS is such a blessing.  I love it...I truly do.

Im not sure what else to write.  I think of you all often and smile.  Thank you for all your emails, I can't print them out or write you all back as I only have 30 minutes so send me letters! :) Oh I know how to say "Our Purpose" and Joseph Smith's first vision in Spanish. Que suave, no? Apparently I can teach in Spanish too....who would of thought?! It's funny because me and Hermana Varley always say "Man if we were called English speaking, we would tear it up!!" but then we had the opportunity to teach in English at a workshop yesterday and totally couldn't find the words in English....ha funny how that works right?  I was definitely called to speak Spanish speaking and the gift of tongues is REAL.  I will send pictures home so you can see that im alive and well :) I love you all so much and you're always in my prayers.  Don't worry about me, I'm doing the greatest work possible so I am beyond happy!

ps funny things that have happened:
-my skirt was tucked in my garments after i used the bathroom and my companion could NOT stop laughing...seriously...embarassing luckly no elders were around.

- in a dicussion we had with a bunch of missionaries...they kept saying that Joseph Smith had his first vision in 1827...forreals?!?! I even know its 1820....ay elders. gotta love them.
- theres a big fan in the computer room where we use programs for our language study and some elder FARTED infront of it and the fan was blowing right in our face....and theres no windows.  So I had to smell that for like 15 minutes....yup lucky me.

Anyways I gotta go! I love you and keep writing me! my district is jealous that I get like 3 letters a day :) gotta keep my reputation.

amo!