So thinking about what I was going to write throughout the week, I
figured it was pretty boring and I had little to say. However when I
think about it tons has happened and I could go on for hours.... to bad I
don't have hours... to start out with this is my last p-day in the
good old mtc!! am I going to miss this place, why yes, yes I am. it is
filled with a spirit, I've felt no where else. a constant continual
spirit, but one you still have to seek for. I see people here with the
wrong attitude and it makes all the difference. My teacher complimented
me this week, during my departing interview. out of everyone here
I've probably struggled the most with the language. for some out reason
it's foreign to me... hhehheheh anyways he said despite your
difficulties, struggles and frustrations you've remained postie.
something I really admire about you. No matter what you keep smiling
and making yourself have a good time, nothing brings you down to a place
you can't get back up. I really appreciated this compliment, because
sometimes I feel like a complete failure. His comment reminded me of the
quote; "preach the gospel, and when necessary use words." So maybe I
can't speak yet. but I can smile:) and smiling is universal.
Highlight of my week:
TRC (where you teach a member) on Tuesday
was awesome. Today was via skype. Hermana Redford and I taught a
middle aged woman named Laura who is in mexico. a real live genuine
foreigner!!! We discussed the importance of receiving personal
revelation in church. The reception was awful and with her thick
accent and speed I couldn't really understand a word she was saying.
But she was extremely patient with my Spanish and so sincere. The
experience was probably close to the top of my experiences here, why?
because it made me excited for the field. My concern here is that I
don't love the investigators enough, but my struggle is my investigators
have been my teachers being stubborn. I instantly loved Laura, even
though I didn't know her. This short 20 minute conversation made me
motivated to pick up my Spanish and to give all my energy to the work.
So I don't hate lessons anymore, that's good. considering it's all we do
in the field. I think I smiled from here straight to mexico the entire
time. She even cried a little. maybe cause I was slaughtering her
language but I prefer to think that is was because the spirit was
strong:) it was the best!!!
Since I'm leaving the mtc this week I decided to include a few of my favorite things:
1)
everyone here is extremely friendly. You get "hellos" from everywhere
in every different language. you'd think we were a bunch of six year
olds in Disney land mixed with a spiritual element of course. you look
in every direction and you see companionship studying, reading
scriptures, materials, practicing languages, singing. The gospel isn't
more alive anywhere else more than it is here. everyone wants to be
the best they can be and come closer to Their Heavenly Father and
Savior. 2.) You can get so much out of the littlest things here. we
have this exercise as a district where we read a random chapter out of
the book of Mormon while thinking of just one random question you want
answered. each person reads a verse and explains their thoughts. Even
if it is the most random verse you can learn something, and each time we
do it without fail I find an answer. The book of Mormon is great, You
should all read it sometime:) I will really miss this place and all the
memories of frustration and giggles I've experienced here. I'm ready to
leave though, and get out for my next big adventure.
My calling is music coordinating sister. with my
companion we pick the hymns for priesthood and sacrament and special
musical numbers. She plays the piano I wave my arm around (it's a
secret I don't actually know how to lead music... shhhh). since it is
our departing Sunday,
our district will be singing "nearer my God to Thee" in sacrament.
Cross your fingers I don't get picked to give a talk, scary!!! We hear tomorrow or Friday
about our new location of preaching. I'm feeling California for some
odd reason.... but maybe my previous dream about teaching buffalo in
Wyoming will become a reality! who knows!! I'm more anxious for this call
than the first one, who knows why!
This week we also mixed things up with "exchanges". my
companion for the day was Hermana Millet it our district. We had a
grand ole' time. We taught Hose and even committed him to baptism
(booya!) he came to church on Sunday,
also a big bonus. He is an awesome "investigator" and I felt very
good about the lesson. Maybe it's fake but if feels pretty real at
times! I really enjoyed switching things up with a companion. we are
more on the same level of Spanish which was extremely nice, I could
actually understand the conversation, woot woot. However by the end of
the day I loving welcomed my companion back into my arms for a reunion
hug. One day was long. haha
Something I learned this week, ok I learned a lot,
1.
It is important to pause for inspired questions. Often i am to quick
to respond scared of silence, however this is very bad. If i take the
time to pause and think for a second, i'm allowing the spirit to answer
my prayers and give me thoughts that will help the investigator whether I
know it or not. This has been a major focus of mine and boy oh boy
does it take practice. But when I do, I see a huge improvement. PAUSE
for inspiration folks. do it. at the same time once you get that thought
you need to speak it without hesitation. Often I will think of
something incredible to say but hold off and then it vanishes within a
hot second. Even when it's just note taking, or reading in the
scriptures. Maybe it's cause my mind is going a million miles a second
here, either way record!!! other wise it's lost. Record your small
plates (inspiration, thoughts, feelings) not your big plates (coping
entire quotes, talks, sayings, you know the "history and facts").
hopefully that makes sense. haha last pday my thoughts are everywhere
with so much to do.
2.Movie night this week was a talk given by Bednar
called "characters of Christ" unfortunately it is just a mtc video
otherwise i'd advice every person in the world to watch it. but for some
odd reason it's under a copy right thing, and they only show it here.
You only get to watch it when they show it:( It changes lifes, really
it's incredible. It was given on Christmas last year, it of course
focuses on Christ. The biggest thing I pulled from it was when the
natural man(he refers to him as the cookie monster) turns in, to
himself, Christ turns out to others. He gave a few examples. One that
we all know, was when Christ was in the garden, how he experienced every
pain, suffering of mankind. How the pain he endured is more than our
comprehension. Yet still afterwards he healed a man's ear, thinking of
him instead of himself. While he was even on the way to being
crucified. It really struck me, anyone and everyone would have looked
in instead of outward, Not Christ. A lesson we can all continually
progress in. Finding Christ in us. Bednar expressed very boldly; "this
mission is not about us, get over yourself and work." The greatest
conversion that should happen on a misison is yourself, however when you
think of it like that it won't happen. Literally losing yourself in
the work is the only way. It was a great hour and a half.:)
since it's the a happy holiday, aka pioneer day, we've
had many a talk given on the incredible pioneers before us. One of my
favorite was about a young girl who left some of her sick family behind
and traveled with the rest(all of which died on the trail) for something
better, Zion. When she arrived to salt lake her feet were amputated due
to frost bight, later half her legs. She said; "when you can no longer
walk, you crawl." Her faith never wavered, she was incredible
strong. she still managed to walk everywhere she went, and had a huge
family of her own. I don't about you but I often wonder if i'd have
enough faith to do what so many of our ancestors did before us. Leaving
everything behind, walk across the plains in blizzards and losing loved
ones left and right. I think to think I would be able have the faith,
either way I am forever grateful for what they did. It's brought
generations of counting blessings, I love this gospel. and Just
like the lady in the story in a sense, "I am a pioneer today, now, and
forever"
HAPPY 24th!!! I hope this email somewhat
makes sense, it's jumbled. Anyways I love you all so much and hope you
went to the parade! as soon as I get my travel plans i'm allowed to
email you:) so look for it!!!! i'm going to go pack..... YIKES!!!
H. Alley
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