MTC, Week One Done

This is how my first week at the MTC went:

Sister Voss {my host} got me all set up with my name tag and books for class, then dropped me off at my classroom where I met my district and teachers. There are four companionships, two sisters and two elders. All of us are going to Birmingham and we will all be on the same flight when we leave. We're all pretty happy about that. We have grown so close in such a short time. The four elders remind me so much of my brothers and the sisters have become sisters to me. It has been such a neat experience to see how much all of us has grown in the gospel since being here. We had a really cool open discussion about the Plan of Salvation yesterday during study time. 

My companion is Sister Calamity from Cedar City, Utah. She is part Navajo and so sweet. We get along great and have a blast studying and preparing lessons together. Yesterday was our first Training Resource Center lesson with and investigator. It was such a cool spiritual experience, and we didn't even use the lesson we had planned for Patty. She had some questions for us that we answered for her. One of the questions was about what trials we have had that affected our lives, and why didn't we turn away from God? I was prompted to share with her our experience with my little sister Marissa, who was a miscarriage. Patty has a son who passed away and she is still grieving over his death and where he is right now. I was able to share with her my knowledge of the spirit world and where Marissa and Patty's son Joseph were. I also told her that if Joseph didn't have a chance to hear the gospel on Earth, that is where he would be taught. The Spirit was so strong in the room last night, and I am so certain Marissa was in there by my side, helping to testify the truth of my words. Sister Calamity and I will be visiting with Patty again tomorrow, and we can't wait!

 Sister Calamity and I!

 {Left to Right} Sister Robison, Sister Maxwell, Sister Calamity, Sister Woodard

This has been what my schedule was like:

We arise and get out of bed by 6:29. Our branch president likes us to do this, and be in our room for quiet time by 10:14, so we do.

Breakfast is at 7:00 and morning class starts at 7:30. We have class with Sister Porter until lunch at 11:30. Sister Porter served for 5 1/2 months in Birmingham waiting for her visa, and she tells us fun stories about the area and the people. One time they made a street contact and asked if they could leaver her with a prayer. As Sister Porter opened the prayer "Dear Heavenly Father..." the lady repeated {insert black lady voice} DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER! And Sister Porter wasn't sure what to do, but she continued the prayer, with the lady repeating words and such. When she closed, the lady said "amen, amen, amen." It was really funny and all us missionaries were cracking up the whole time. 

Class with Brother Meteer starts at 12:15 and goes until 3:15, when we have personal study until 4:30 and dinner starts. I like Brother Meteer. He has a different way of teaching than Sister Porter so some of the others don't like him as much as we all like Sister Porter, but I'm learning a lot from him. He is mine and Sister Calamity's Progressive Investigator and I'm learning a lot about how to teach someone. He portrays Adam, an investigator he taught on his mission who wasn't really sure if there is a God and if there was, God didn't care about him. It's been interesting to try to teach someone who is curious but not really open to learning about God's love and the gospel.

 

After dinner, we have district study and zone study. Last week Brother Norman would come get us to watch the other missionaries' TRC lessons, then afterwards give us a topic to study in the classroom. This week we teach our own TRC lessons during that time, but still have a topic to study.

Some days we get done by 8:15 and have gym time until 9:15. If we don't have gym time, we stay in the classroom until about 9:30 because they don't like us to be in our residence halls until then. So we basically live in our small classroom, but we find ways to make it bearable and even fun. 

Sunday was my favorite day in the MTC. I learned so much without being cooped up in a classroom all day. Relief Society was awesome with two speakers and several of the branches meeting together. After lunch, we had sacrament meeting as a branch. It was so weird to me to have the bread and the water over within 5 minutes. We were asked to write talks on the Book of Mormon and be prepared because the branch presidency wouldn't tell us who would be speaking until 30 seconds before we were to get up if we were chosen. I was prepared, but I'm glad I wasn't chosen. 

For the Sunday evening devotional, Sister Sheri Dew spoke to us about working with the Spirit of God on our missions and using the divine enabling power of the Atonement. It was a really good talk. After the devotional they show films until 9:30. My district stayed to watch Elder Bednar's talk "The Character of Christ." IT WAS SOO GOOD. Seriously, look it up and watch it cause my words can do it no justice.

I have seriously grown so much in just the few days of being here. I am so happy the Lord called me on a mission and I obeyed. There is nothing I would rather be doing than serving the Lord.