AHHHH I AM A REAL LIFE HEAD TO TOE MISSIONARY! Craziness. This MTC (Missionary Training Center) stuff really takes the cake on the the happiest place on earth. Kicks Disneyland to the curb. I. love. being. a. missionary.
There is definitely a reason why they have you wait a week to write home. The first 24 hours were rough. Like way rough. It went a little something like this:
Slightly emotionally unstable after just saying goodbye to my family. Immediately whisked away to get keys, lunch card, name tag, (favorite accessory btw) german library, etc. Drop off unopened suitcase in room. Host says "God be with you. So long sister" And immediately german language everywhere. All within the first 15 minutes of being here.
They are seriously NOT KIDDING when they say they only speak to you in German... and all the students only speak german... I just sat there like a deer in the headlights. Eyes swelling up with tears. Every time I would attempt to ask a question my teacher would just point to our purpose posted on the board. (I appreciate the gesture Bro. Garlick, I really do...but that doesn't exactly help me out...) More tears. Then they tell us we are going to teach our first investigator. IN GERMAN. Uhhhhh... yeah that's not exactly going to work with me... MAJOR MELT DOWN. Like puffy eyes and everything. I am pretty sure the Elders in my district were thinking "Holy hormones." haha poor Elders... What did I tell you? It was rough. So I got into the lesson and the very first thing out of my mouth is "Hi, How are you? Will you commit to pray with your family?" uhhh. whoops. Oh gift of tongues. haha First language mistake down only 57348957347856783 more to go. But the feeling there? The spirit was still there nonetheless! No to mention all the laughter and bonding me and my comps had after that. This is so hard. I have never been more humbled and forced to rely on the Atonement in my LIFEEEE.
So..... I kinda had a change of focus. Actually I really had a change of focus. I was reading in my personal study and I read in 2 Nephi 7:7-8. And at the top of the page I had written "Trust in the Lord" If that wasn't already plenty of an answer... I continued to read.
"Let us stand together. Let him (satan) come hear me and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth."
Wait a second. This mouth? The same mouth that only knows about 10 German words? The same mouth that can't conjugate a single verb? The same mouth that pronounces every word wrong? Yes. That mouth. Trust in the Lord, Sister Heywood and you will smite satan. SUCH POWER. My purpose is to invite others to come unto christ. This is not a german school. I don't want to learn German. I want to learn German for people like my investigator. Sebina. So that is why you kept pointing to the purpose Bro. Garlick.....? That makes sense now.
This week has been the Mission Presidents training meeting. I GOT TO MEET MY MISSION PRESIDENT. Ah. He and his wife are a-dorable. Sweetest couple in the world. Or maybe it's a tie between them and Janice Kapp Perry and her wife. Yes, we met them. And they have a family song. Why do we not have a family song? CUTEST. I am amazed by God's timing. If I had come even one week later I would not have been here for this Mish Pres. training. Because of the training, SO many general authorities have been here. There were SIX in our devotional yesterday! Just hanging out listening to the devo like it's nobodies business. We were such fangirls. "Oh my goodness Elder Bednar totally looked at me" haha But Why wouldn't we be excited? It was so neat to be in a choir of 588 missionaries singing in the same room as apostles of God. Oh you can just feel their strength. I was also called as the music coordinator for my zone and I was asked to teach my class on the second day here and I get to teach on Sunday and share my testimony on Sunday. They really just through you into these leadership positions don't they? So humbling.
I really wish everyone could go to the MTC. It is SO hard to describe in words the growth and feeling here! Pretty much just put all of my spiritual experiences into one package and multiply that by a thousand and you might have a taste of the spirit here. Oh it's amazing.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE MAIL THIS WEEK. I felt so loved. That package? Oh my goodness. Kristen, you thought of everything. And I am pretty sure I am the most famous sister in the field now. I just gave everyone I saw a piece of chocolate or a dried mango or something. I felt like Santa Clause. It was great. Oh and Also I accidentally dropped our family picture and someone picked it up for me. and they held up the picture and asked"who's family is this?" in front of the ENTIRE mission in devo yesterday... haha so you're famous too! ;) And the Activity Day girls? OH MY. I have read those letters so many times already. and everyone else? Seriously, you are the best. One request for all of those who emailed me. If you can send me your addresses as well and then I can mail you my response? Or there is this wonderful invention called dearelder.com where you just type it like a regular email and then they print it off and send it to me. Whoever invented that thing deserves a holiday. Such a wonderful invention.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Have the absolute best time ever this week at Aspen grove. Make sure you get lots of pictures to send me of flat Sister Heywood. ;) I can't wait to hear EVERY detail so take notes! Give everyone some squeezes!
xoxoxoxxoxo
Sister Heywood
ps: I just realized I didn't even mention my comps! (companions) They are the best. So inspired. I am in a trio actually because one of the sisters left our district. But I will have to tell you more about them next week because there is no way I can sum them up in one wee little ps.
ps: My P-day (Preparation day that I can use to email ya'll) is on Wednesdays in the MTC so It will just give you a little pre-week boost. :)
The Last Supper.
My comps love you Kristen. They really do!
The goods.
If I only knew what I was in for.. ;)
