Holy smokes family! I'M IN ARIZONA! And it's hot. But great!
My last week in the MTC was just crazy. I'm pretty sure I felt every kind of emotion possible. In SO many ways I was just on edge and ready to get out in the field but at the same time, leaving my district and teachers was so hard. I literally would have never guessed that a group of 12 18-20 year olds could get that close in six weeks. I have no idea how I still had tears left but they kept coming! That group will always have a little piece in my heart. But it's okay because we've already decided that we are going to have reunions (where we go on splits with the missionaries, do some temple sessions, and have testimony meetings) all the time when we're all back. Even our branch presidency wants in on it!! BBQ-ing at the Monson's - ahh yeah! (Just a little fun fact - the Prophet's nephew and I have the same colored salmon pants...and have planned to both wear them to the reunion:)) I know I have said it before but I'll say it again, I have been SO blessed to be surrounded by the people I was in the MTC. I think I just needed the extra help all of the incredible and amazing people around me - I thank my Heavenly Father daily for the foundation they gave me. Elder Darger had his sister send 14 ties to us she found at savers and we signed them and gave them to our teachers and zone resource trainers that were so helpful to us little missionaries! Saying bye to Hermano Clarke and Harris was the worst! Especially Clarke - we all had a huge bawling fest during class that day, knelt in prayer one last time together, and then he left and we ate cookies to console ourselves. :)
We also had in field orientation last week and basically what I learned or had reemphasized was that the mission will be 18 months of constant exhaustion...in a good way! It just seems like there is SO much you havce to do for each investigaor - memeber present lessons, teaching record, progress report, get referrals from the, etc. - AND they want, YOU want, to have 1,000 investigators all the time. It was just a little bit of a wake us call for me. But one of the teachers said this 18 - 24 months is going to be the hardest experience in your life thus far so why so all the RM's come back raving about their missions? Why don't they say, "It's all a big joke, don't go, it's not worth it."? I think I came to the capacity limit for what I could learn in the CCM and I'm glad to finally be in the field, put into practice what I've learned, increase my faith, and see miracles happen!
My last week in the MTC was just crazy. I'm pretty sure I felt every kind of emotion possible. In SO many ways I was just on edge and ready to get out in the field but at the same time, leaving my district and teachers was so hard. I literally would have never guessed that a group of 12 18-20 year olds could get that close in six weeks. I have no idea how I still had tears left but they kept coming! That group will always have a little piece in my heart. But it's okay because we've already decided that we are going to have reunions (where we go on splits with the missionaries, do some temple sessions, and have testimony meetings) all the time when we're all back. Even our branch presidency wants in on it!! BBQ-ing at the Monson's - ahh yeah! (Just a little fun fact - the Prophet's nephew and I have the same colored salmon pants...and have planned to both wear them to the reunion:)) I know I have said it before but I'll say it again, I have been SO blessed to be surrounded by the people I was in the MTC. I think I just needed the extra help all of the incredible and amazing people around me - I thank my Heavenly Father daily for the foundation they gave me. Elder Darger had his sister send 14 ties to us she found at savers and we signed them and gave them to our teachers and zone resource trainers that were so helpful to us little missionaries! Saying bye to Hermano Clarke and Harris was the worst! Especially Clarke - we all had a huge bawling fest during class that day, knelt in prayer one last time together, and then he left and we ate cookies to console ourselves. :)
We also had in field orientation last week and basically what I learned or had reemphasized was that the mission will be 18 months of constant exhaustion...in a good way! It just seems like there is SO much you havce to do for each investigaor - memeber present lessons, teaching record, progress report, get referrals from the, etc. - AND they want, YOU want, to have 1,000 investigators all the time. It was just a little bit of a wake us call for me. But one of the teachers said this 18 - 24 months is going to be the hardest experience in your life thus far so why so all the RM's come back raving about their missions? Why don't they say, "It's all a big joke, don't go, it's not worth it."? I think I came to the capacity limit for what I could learn in the CCM and I'm glad to finally be in the field, put into practice what I've learned, increase my faith, and see miracles happen!
Our district set a goal to do 200 lessons in the last four days in the MTC and we saw some amazing things happen because of it! We ended up teaching lessons ALL the time but there were some many people that told us the things we discussed/shared were exactly what they needed to hear! One companionship of elders even asked to take a picture with us because we helped him so much - seasoned MTC missionaries!
Saturday we had to tell one of our "investigators" that we were getting transferred and that we couldn't teach him anymore. And I bawled. What is wrong with me?! He wasn't even a real investigator!! Sunday was madness! With the Worldwide Mission Broadcast the schedule was nuts. AND we didn't have the cafeteria because the mission presidents were using that building so it felt like camping. Paper plates, plastic silverware, "eggs" for breakfast, hotdogs for lunch, and that smoke smell that doesn't come out of clothes/hair for anything. All we were missing were our tents.:) But it was ALL worth it for us to be part of that amazing broadcast (which by the way, i'm in the choir! 4th/5th row, black dress, can you find waldo?;)) Just to be in the presence of 11 of the quorum of the 12 was incredible! And the focus on member missionary work is going to be super important in the area I'm in!
Arizona -
Woke up at 4:30 on Monday, left at 5:30 with Markie (roommate), and got to the airport around 7. We got through security and to our terminal and then I headed for the payphone. I tried calling so many times but was running out of money so quickly called grandma hoping she would answer but oh well! It was at least good to hear her voice on the answering machine! :) haha Then I asked some airport workers if they knew how to call internationally and they even let me try to use their phone but it wasn't going through. I later (of course when it was too late) realized the number dad sent was wrong! He put 6561 962 503 instead of 6569. Oh well, apparently it wasn't meant to be! We'll just have to wait until December! We then boarded the smallest plane I've ever been on and all 30 of us going to the Tucson Mission flew down. There were only 3 of us coming that are spanish speaking and i'm the only sister! President and Sister Killpack are amazing and we have a really awesome mission from what I've seen so far. Our standard of excellece goals are dang high but we're reaching them and the Lord is hastening His work. We ate at the Killpacks last night and had a little testimony meeting. At the airport, the first thing the AP's said to me was "you are so lucky to be getting the trainer you are. she is the best." And it's true! Her name is *drumroll* Hermana Jenkins and we are going to do some serious work! I already love her a ton and am so excited to start sprinting hard! Well family, I pray for you and hope all is well! Happy late birthday Maren! Keep the faith and get to work you member!! Love you all!!
Hermana Stewart
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