Joke:
Why are all the Book of Mormon characters' legs sore all the time? (answer at
the end)
Ola!!!!
It's
been a wonderful week, I absolutely love it here! And yes, Tuesdays are my
P-Days. I got to a computer as early as I could today- I knew you guys would be
waiting :)
Well
I love it here at the MTC, it's been so wonderful so far! I'm so glad I brought
my straight-up zebra-print flannel pajamas with me :) I get a million
compliments on them from the other girls on my floor, haha I've worn them every
night :) My companion's name is Sister Roos. She is absolutely adorable! She is
great- she and I get along super well and we both have the same drive to be
obedient and accomplish as much as we can. She struggles a little more with the
language than I do, but I don't mind because it gives me an opportunity to
practice teaching and make sure I really understand the language myself. The
other companionship in our room is Sister Herrick and Sister Johnson. They are
awesome- we are 4 little peas in a pod and we have a lot of fun together :)
A
lot of people I've run into, or talked to at the MTC for my first couple days
would just tell me- "Hold on til Sunday! You can make it!" or
"If you can make it til Monday, you will survive". Here it is,
Tuesday, and I still don't quite understand what they mean by that. Everyone
the first day or two made it sound like I would be having the worst and most
difficult time ever, but I have yet to find that to be the case. Yeah, it's
work. yeah, it takes discipline. yeah, your teacher starts teaching you in
Portuguese the minute you get here. But the thing is that it is so doable.
Every minute of your day is planned, it can feel hectic and rushed, but that's
all part of the ride! There's a list of things to do and there is a whole
language to learn, but you just have to take it one step at a time, do the best
you can, and realize that the Lord is with you every step of the wya, and you
are doing His work, so he will be there to help you. The MTC is great, it's
busy but I love it :) I love learning the lanugage! Portuguese is awesome and I
can't believe how much I already have learned!!!
The
thing that has been the hardest for me so far is realizing that I don't know
anything. Seriously. There was a group investigator exercise we did Wednesday
night, and I realized I don't know anything. I have a testimony. I know how
this gospel has helped me, and how Christ has been in my life. But that isn't
enough. This Gospel is for everyone. Everyone. And we have to recognize that
what we have the biggest testimony of in the Gospel is not necessarily what
these people need. We don't know what other people have been through. it takes
a life time to figure that out. But Christ knows each of us personally.
Heavenly Father knows each of us personally. So the thing that I've learned is
that I don't know anything about these people. But Christ does. I realized how
vital it is to listen to the Spirit because the Spriit will guide us to know
and say what each investigator of ours needs. Its really great :) I hope that
made sense- I'm realizing how short a half hour time limit really is!
Well,
Sis Roos and I taught our first lesson in Portuguese on Friday. After we
had been there barely over a day. Sweet. We were nervous but it went
well. Then we taught our second lesson. Then our third lesson was yesterday and
it was SO GOOD. Previously, I was the one that talked
the most, and I had no idea what our faux investigator would say or ask
when he talked; then, Sister Roos would be the one who mostly
listens and understands, but struggles speaking. For our third lesson, we
decided to change that. So I helped Sister Roos with vocab and put her in
charge of most of the lesson (it was on Joseph Smith and prophets) and I
focused on trying to understand what she and our investigator said when
they spoke. Our lesson went amazingly well. I was incredibly proud
of Sister Roos- she did an excellent job with her portion of the lesson,
and when our investigator asked questions, for the first time ever, I
understood and was able to respond. We used vocab that we didn't even
think we knew. We spoke with confidence and while our language was
broken, the Spirit was still present and everything that needed to be said was
said. It was such a testament to me that the Lord's hand is in this work-
I can pray, testify, speak, and teach in simple but good Portuguese already. I
know it is because I am doing the Lord's work, and I am learning with the
Spirit present. Its such an amazing feeling, it really is and I do
not have the words to describe this feelnig or happiness I have.
It's just so great :)
Well, I
have to say, I was SO EXCITED when I saw Mom's DearElder
that told me about Becca Rays mission call. I maybe screamed a
little.... I am SO EXCITED for Becca!! I've meet a ton of people that
are going to Fortaleza :) And Portuguese is the Celestial language, so
that's just great too :) She will make an incredible missionary and I
am ridiculously psyched for her!
Props
to Andrew on his race. Keep being a boss so I can brag about you and
sound cool to my friends. Thanks, man :) I'm glad the family
sounds like everything is going well!!
My
chair in the classroom ate me the other day and I ended
up on the floor with my arm in the folded chair. It was super embarassing
but everyone got a good laugh :) Oh, and during gym time, I kind of
dominate the Elders at 4-square. Reminds me of the good ol elementary school
days! I saw sister Mara Thomas like my second day here! She is beautiful
and doing great as always :) And Sister Bergloff is in my Branch, so I see
her lovely face often, it's great
(Answer
to the joke: Because of all the Nephites! Get it? Knee-fights?? Hahaha courtesy
of Elder Olsen. This joke is considered hilarious here at the MTC)
Well,
I hate only having a half hour to write. I hope I at least touched on
everything I wanted to!! I'm glad you all are donig so well. Thanks Mom for
getting all that last minute stuff taken care of. I feel bad I couldn't get
that taken care of, so thanks for that :) Feel free to send me a DearElder!
Also, if any of you have a couple minutes, feel free to send an anonymous
DearElder to Elder Jose Antonio Yciano and my comp, Sister Kimberly Ross. They
haven't gotten mail yet, and it would be much appreciated- just use my same
DearElder info and change the name (Parker can you put my DearElder info on my
blog under the address section? Thanks bud). I sent a letter home last week
with my updated address- hope you got that.
Well,
time is out, I love you all! I love the mission so far, I love the language.
Love it. And It's such an incredible experience already and I know I'm supposed
do be here. I have 30 seconds to log off the computer now. LOVE YOU!!!!
Love
Always
Sister Hayley Walton
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