...So my district is 6 guys 4 girls. And we are all going to St. Louis! There is also another district of 10 people going to St. Louis! So we got a big group heading out! I think that is pretty rad! My companion is Sister Mendenhall, she is from Salt Lake! She's a big athlete so she kicks my butt to work out. But I really like her and I am grateful that she is normal! haha
The first day was long and intense. Everyone says hello too in several different languages! The host takes you on a tour then takes you to class where you just dive into learning! It was insane. The first night we did this group thing where we sat in on an investigator's home and witnessed missionaries teach him then we got to ask him questions and teach him like one, gigantor companionship. It was really neat. I really felt like I learned that when we hear people's concerns we tend to just teach at them and bombard them with doctrine and info. In contrast, it showed me that in order for conversion to occur, we need to go where the investigator is. We need to feel what they are feeling. It was really cool.
The next day was pretty tough. The schedule was long and kinda hard to adjust. We had to do personal study for like 4 hrs. It was hard and I had a tough time staying awake! I also started to feel unprepared and inadequate but when those feelings come, Heavenly Father provides spiritual moments where you remember why you are here! We had a great workshop yesterday where we focused on our purpose as misssionaries! That was wonderful! We have also met all of our teachers. Dad you will enjoy this. My teacher Brother Rassmussen quoted a scene from Remember the Titans, where they go running where the Gettysburg battle occcured. It was sooo funny! But They are so great and really funny and insightful. I really think it is the coolest thing to be able to feel the Spirit here all the time. I am trying really hard to have strict obedience but sometimes I forget to do stuff or I don't think some things are a big deal, but my sisters help me and remind me.
Today has been wonderful!! We had class time for 4 hrs this morning already! Sister Mendenhall and I met our Progressive Investigator today(it's just one of our teachers). I feel like Sister Mendenhall and I did really well and worked well together, especially for our first time. We taught him about trials and the Atonement and invited him to practice praying and communicating with Heavenly Father! We have another lesson tomorrow and we are planning to teach him about the Book of Mormon! Today we focused on the doctrine of Christ and how it pertains to the invitation of baptism! It was soo great! I really feel like we think its weird to talk to people about the gospel and invite them to learm more about it, but in reality we are just inviting people to access the Atonement and come unto the Savior. That just really touched me and I kinda got emotional!
So far what I have learned is a lot about missionary work, but a lot about myself too! Before I came to the MTC, I focused on what I would do as a missionary and what kind of missionary work I wanted to accomplish. But this isn't my mission, it's HIS mission. I need to open my heart and mind to the Spirit and be able to follow God's will when it comes to teaching. I also learned the importance of the Doctrine of Christ. That we need to have it engraven in our hearts in order to be effective members and to help us the rest of our lives. Guys, THE CHURCH IS TRUE. And I love how I am able to feel that and have it testified to me every day!
I SEE EVERYBODY HERE! I already saw Sister Allen (Courtney Allen), Elder Evans (Laurens boyfrend), Elder Sellars (Amys boyfriend), Sister Crandall (Kathryn), Elder Nye, and Elder Perez (friends from BYU)! Its so fun seeing everybody and it makes me soo happy! Although it's been a little hard to adjust to the schedule, today has been wonderful! But something that I am sooo grateful for is that we aren't speaking a language! That seems sooo tough! It is truly wonderful here and I love that I am able to be apart of the Lord's work!
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