Hello All!

Hello All!

 

So I am almost halfway through my 4th week here in the MTC.  Only 2 and a half more to go! Time flies here.  I literally never know the date or how long I've been here.  It feels like forever. 

 

This has been kind of a hard week for me.  We are meeting with two "investigators" right now and one of them is quite a challenge.  We can't seem to figure out what he needs from us or what to teach him.  But I keep doing the things that I know will foster the Spirit and hopefully I'll receive some inspiration soon! (Maybe I already have?)  This challenge is really helping me to grow, and my teachers are very encouraging.  They let us know that we're actually really good missionaries, but we're still learning.  It's hard for me to remember that I still have another 17 months to figure everything out. 

 

Well enough of the bad.  I have had some wonderful experiences this week!

 

#1- The MTC has grown so large that we have to hold our devotionals in the Merriott Center now.  WE GET TO LEAVE THE MTC! It was so weird to be out in the world again.  Cars, people in casual clothes, people on phones.  Weird.  We are quite the sight to see when we're all snaking our way over to BYU.  Missionaries as far as the eye can see.  Maybe I'll take a picture for next week.  People will stop their cars to wave at us or take our pictures.  It's pretty comical.  It's like they've never seen missionaries before. 

 

#2- I am in the choir for the First Presidency Devotional.  I don't know if you can watch it live or if you have to wait until it's posted on lds.org.  Word on the street is that there is going to be a big announcement, but I don't know.  The MTC choir is the hip-hop-happening place to be! My district showed up to choir practice an hour early and they had to start turning people away after a while.  Suckers. 

 

#3- I have been assigned as a Sister Training Leader in my branch.  I basically am over the sisters in our branch and work with the Zone Leaders.  I'm pretty excited.  Duties include: assisting the sisters with anything they need and showing them around, going to lots of meetings (boo), and visiting all of the sisters every night.  The last one is my favorite.  These sisters are so sweet and awesome.  I was having a hard time loving one or two people in my zone toward the beginning of my mission, so I prayed to have more charity toward others and LOOK WHAT I GOT! It's kind of stressful, but I know I will be blessed because of my sacrifice.

 

#4- Another sister and I auditioned to be a special musical number at an MTC devotional, AND WE GOT IT! I was a nervous wreck right before our audition.  They panel we auditioned for super critiqued my playing, but I know that my purpose in performing isn't to be a perfect musician.  I perform to help others come closer to their Heavenly Father.

 

#5- Last good thing this week.  My district has been playing beach volleyball this week.  We're so terrible, but I LOVE it! The other courts around us hate us because our ball flies on to their courts and they have to retrieve them for us, but we laugh the whole time.  It's a wonderful break from sitting inside all day.

 

Well, that's the list of how my week went.  I'm enjoying receiving letters from people.  Sorry I'm terrible at writing back. I'm going to blame it on the fact that this week has been crazy.  Keep writing me though.  My favorite part of the day is at 9:25 when I get to read my letters. 

 

Love ya'll guys!

Sister McElderry