February 26, 2012

The MTC is AMAZING! The first day went so much smoother than I thought it would go.  Everyone is so happy and loving and welcoming.  It's the greastest!! People have said that after the first Sunday the days fly and I'm beginning to see that. Before I go on, let me tell you about my companions.  Yes, plural.  I am in a tri companionship. Sister Condie is a fellow Aggie from Colorado going to serve in the Atlanta, Georgia Mission and Sister Mazzolini is from South Africa (lived there for eleven years) and now lives in Toronto.  She is going to the same mission as me. Woot! At least I will know someone on the plane with me.  

 

The first day was so great.  A little rushed with all of the hustle and bustle, but good.  The second day was actually the hardest for me.  I was having major feelings of inadequacy and trying to adjust with my companions.  They are both amazing.  They both have gone on several splits with the Sister missionaries before coming to the MTC so teaching is much more comfortable with them.  Sister Mazzolini asked me when I was expressing my fears about being able to teach, she asked "Do you have a testimony?" I told her yes.  She said, then you can teach.  That is all the Lord asks us to have: a desire, a testimony, broken heart and contrite spirit.  I don't know why it has taken me about twenty times to hear it, but it really clicked on Sunday.  

 

The MTC President, President Gordon Brown, talked to us at the Sunday Fireside and told us that we are not sent to the MTC to fail.  He gave us a list of steps that if we follow we can be successful missionaries.  My Branch President, President Miller, told us this the very first day: "Obedience brings about blessings.  Exact obedience brings miracles."

 

We have already begun teaching people.  My teachers, Brother Hatch and Brother Bush, role play progressing investigators.  We have only taught them once and the lessons were alright.  They were pretty good considering we have three people to balance between, but we are still just getting use to every one's teaching styles.  We also taught at the TRC, Teaching Resource Center.  We taught a referral, Sister Sala Tea, from Samoa.  I felt the spirit so strong as we told her about how families can be together forever.  It was a little disappointing when we figured out that she is already a member.  Oh, well, we take all of the role playing seriously.  One thing that I have begun to learn is how to teach by the spirit.  Sometimes, well, most times, when teaching I just have to bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and let the Holy Ghost do the rest.

 

My district is the bomb.  I have eight Elders and all eight are going to Lansing, Michigan.  They are all pretty mature for their age and we all get along so well.  We enjoy being around each other and learning from each other.  The two zone leaders are from my district, Elder Jones and Elder McGraw. They are both superb missionaries.  I wish I could see how much they are going to grow by the end of their missions.

 

Oh! I did see Dan and I'm hoping to be able to run into him again before I leave. It was such a tender mercy when he found me in my classroom.  I totally needed it.

 

The Lord loves us! We wants us to be successful and to be happy. I hope that I can hear from you soon, hint, hint.

-Sister Douglass