BAREV FAMILIA, Your favorite Queer Here :) (I know I didn't spell that right, but it's the new words I've learned from the Armenian Sisters that have their classroom above us, in the same building.--- It is so fun to be here in this place where everyone is trying to learn and speak their own language! I feel like I have a special bond with them all haha. I've learned a little Korean, Chinese, Armenian, French and Polish!) Super fun. Hopefully people don't get sick of hearing an "Hola" every 10 people they pass- there are definitely a lot of Spanish speakers around this place!)
Anyway--HOW ARE ALL OF YOU!? sounds like everyone is just alive and healthy- despite the FREEZING cold weather! wow. Chilled to the bone. REALLY crazy to think that I'm not going to be able to "cool off" for awhile in 2 weeks. It still hasn't sunk in that I'll be in a completely different place, talking with real Chileans, and trying to understand their accent. WHAT?!
As for this week, there are so many highlights! Hopefully I can tell you a few! On Wednesday our district finally got the chance to "host" the new missionaries. This is quite the coveted service. Once the Elders pick all the new missionaries up from the curb, they help the sisters to the residence halls where we, the experienced ones, take over :). And I actually got to host two different sisters- one of them being Becca Debore!! (She's from my BYU ward) -- As strange as it was to picture myself having only done the same thing less than 7 weeks ago, it's strange how fast you learn and how quick you grow in that period of time. At least you get to know where the cafeteria, the residence hall, the gym and your class is...if nothing else. haha. But it was fun to meet and greet and help someone feel comfortable that I already new!
On Thursday evening we were sitting down for dinner in the cafeteria, having the normal dinner of rice and meatballs, when who would come and sit with our district, but President Brown. Yes, this would be the president of the MTC currently. Just sat down like it was no big deal; I think we would all agree that our heart rates went up a little bit. But he is so nice and caring. He chatted with us all about our experience here at the MTC and he asked us about each of us personally. I found out that he went to WEBER HIGH, and had his first date with his wife in the Valley. I think her name is Patricia Brown- and she grew up in Roy (I'm pretty sure we're related--after we sang in the Fireside we talked for a little bit - maybe Jon Child's sister is her grandma??) Anway, then Pres. Brown started asking us about our purpose and had us state it, and then he started asking us what scriptures we could use for each part of our purpose (found in Preach My Gospel, chp1). To my very surprise, I was able to answer each part. 2Nephi 8, 31; 3 Nephi 11, 27; Ether 12....etc....he found out that we knew our family (well thanks to Uncle Marlin's name :) and we had a fun time discussing the "doctrine of Christ" (yup, that is completely enjoyable and normal around these parts..Gotta love being a missionary).
Fast forward to Sunday. It was fast Sunday, so after testimony meeting as a ward we had our Mission Conference- which is with the whole MTC. The MTC Presidency spoke along with some others, and the spirit was really so strong. President Brown was the last speaker, and he, close to the beginning of his talk, started talking, and then all of the sudden I hear these words coming out of his mouth: "There is a sister here, and I hope she's not in the overflow section in the other building, and she is from Huntsville Utah, going to a mission in Chile. And I would like her to come up and bear her testimony." GUH GUH GUH WHAT?!? So, knowing that, by process of elimination, the next words that were going to come out of his mouth were going to be my name I started to put away my note book. Oh boy, I don't really know if my heart has beat that fast in the whole time I've been running stairs here. haha. Quite a slow walk up to the pulpit. But, once I got up to the pulpit, and slowly looked out across the 2,000+ missionaries, I wasn't that nervous. So strange. I was able to just bear my testimony that has been strengthened so much of my Savior. I have learned, more than ever before how real the Atonement is. You become so dependent on His strength and His mercy and His forgiveness to be able to be motivated during the hours of class, to be strengthened when you're so frusterated at your lack of skills, and to have the Spirit to make it even possible to have anything make sense that comes out of your mouth. It's just the basic teachings of Christ that we're going to teach- but it's also these basic doctrines that will bring us the happiness to keep going everyday and enjoy eternal joy someday.
It was an incredible experience. No doubt.
And dont' worry- I definitely didn't have time to do my hair, so Mulan bun and all I bore my testimony :) I'm still me!!
As for other things, teaching is going well! Pedro is going to try and let go of his drinking! - We haven't had to dunk him in cold water yet! (oh boy, Mitch, I'm so pumped for you!! - everyone in my district loves hearing about your experiences!) And Hna. Young and I are having a BLAST! being together as a companionship. We have so much fun, and we both just push each other to want to be better. She is such an inspiration and strength to me of always wanted to change and be better. If we aren't laughing we are trying to practice and teach in a way that will prepare us for the people in Chile. (P.S. we are trying everytime we teach now to invite people to be baptized...this work is rolling forward!!)
Oh, how I love you all!! Thank you so much for EVERYTHING! those MIDDLEFORK COLORS ARE HIGHER THAN EVER !! haha
With all the love I can send through the computer, yours truly
Hermana Hija (as I'm known)
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