12/16/13
Oi Familia!
Tudo Bem?? Eu eston muito Bem!
Entering the MTC is the experience of a lifetime! I hope… more like wish that everyone could have it. Even it it is just walking in the doors. I imagine it is what Riley must feel like when he walks onto the football field. As I walked away from you all it broke my heart! I couldn’t look back, or I might not have kept going. It reminds me of the scripture, “He who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God” but as I put one foot in front of the other, all the missionaries lining the sidewalks began to cheer. I think this is what it will feel like when we walk through the concords of angels and into the arms of our Savior. I have never felt so pumped!
As soon as I entered the front doors of the MTC all doubts or questions of my purpose or my adequacy left my mind. I then went through a whirl wind of people giving me things and asking me questions. Somewhere in that confusion a sister pinned on my badge and said, “you now represent Christ, welcome to the MTC”.
OH BOY! Then I went to my residency, dropped off my bags and my host, sister Calder, dropped me off at my classroom (where we spend ALL of our time)! My district is 54. I was the first sister to arrive (surprise, surprise) so it was just me and a group of elders and our professor for the day.
Later on I met my companion, sister Pratt, she is from Missouri and is 19. She went to BYU and she is awesome! MUITO OTIMO! She is able to keep me on point and she is almost as big a tom boy as me, so we get along really well.
That night we went as a large group to teach 3 separate investigators. SO AWESOME! (in English) I bore my testimony to the first investigator, Sarah, about the Love of God and Happiness that comes from following Christ. I also bore my testimony and conversion story to her. She pulled me aside afterward and said “thank you” and seemed really interested in me. The investigators here are employees of the MTC, but I’m treating them like they are real.
The other investigator that I loved was George. He is an amputee veteran of the Army. He is a professional artist and we talked a ton about art. We didn’t really get around to having a gospel discussion, but I made a friend and that’s all that really matters.
Thursday we met our Branch Presidency. Everyone in our district gave their testimonies and it was super powerful.
Friday has been my favorite day so far. We had a lot more personal and companion study time. But my favorite part was teaching mine and sister Pratt’s first investigator, Dermival. We taught in Portuguese and I’m not even sure what was being said or what I said.
Afterward our district (4 sisters and 6 elders) had two hours of extra time and we decided to have a testimony meeting in Portuguese. It really brought the spirit and brought us closer. I asked a blessing from our district leader, Elder Burg, because my hip was hurting worse than it had for a really long time. It’s from the billions of flights of stairs. But afterward I felt so comforted and by later that night I felt completely better. The priesthood is God’s power (poder) on earth!
I feel so blessed to have the district that I do. They all make me laugh, which is so important in the MTC! Being too serious could make you depressed so easily.
Okay, tell me everything that’s going on at home. Ri, how was the dance? Levi, how did your concert go? How was the family Christmas party? I love my 12 days of Christmas. Send me pictures and write me using “dear elder” or snail mail so that I can get mail. The only mail I’ve got is a package that the Buxton’s sent and Mom’s dear elder.
I love you all! Go enjoy jamming to music and being alone! Haha! I am with someone 24/7
I love you all so much and miss you like crazy!
Give Zoe a kiss for me and WALK HER!
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Culley
Oi Familia!
Tudo Bem?? Eu eston muito Bem!
Entering the MTC is the experience of a lifetime! I hope… more like wish that everyone could have it. Even it it is just walking in the doors. I imagine it is what Riley must feel like when he walks onto the football field. As I walked away from you all it broke my heart! I couldn’t look back, or I might not have kept going. It reminds me of the scripture, “He who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God” but as I put one foot in front of the other, all the missionaries lining the sidewalks began to cheer. I think this is what it will feel like when we walk through the concords of angels and into the arms of our Savior. I have never felt so pumped!
As soon as I entered the front doors of the MTC all doubts or questions of my purpose or my adequacy left my mind. I then went through a whirl wind of people giving me things and asking me questions. Somewhere in that confusion a sister pinned on my badge and said, “you now represent Christ, welcome to the MTC”.
OH BOY! Then I went to my residency, dropped off my bags and my host, sister Calder, dropped me off at my classroom (where we spend ALL of our time)! My district is 54. I was the first sister to arrive (surprise, surprise) so it was just me and a group of elders and our professor for the day.
Later on I met my companion, sister Pratt, she is from Missouri and is 19. She went to BYU and she is awesome! MUITO OTIMO! She is able to keep me on point and she is almost as big a tom boy as me, so we get along really well.
That night we went as a large group to teach 3 separate investigators. SO AWESOME! (in English) I bore my testimony to the first investigator, Sarah, about the Love of God and Happiness that comes from following Christ. I also bore my testimony and conversion story to her. She pulled me aside afterward and said “thank you” and seemed really interested in me. The investigators here are employees of the MTC, but I’m treating them like they are real.
The other investigator that I loved was George. He is an amputee veteran of the Army. He is a professional artist and we talked a ton about art. We didn’t really get around to having a gospel discussion, but I made a friend and that’s all that really matters.
Thursday we met our Branch Presidency. Everyone in our district gave their testimonies and it was super powerful.
Friday has been my favorite day so far. We had a lot more personal and companion study time. But my favorite part was teaching mine and sister Pratt’s first investigator, Dermival. We taught in Portuguese and I’m not even sure what was being said or what I said.
Afterward our district (4 sisters and 6 elders) had two hours of extra time and we decided to have a testimony meeting in Portuguese. It really brought the spirit and brought us closer. I asked a blessing from our district leader, Elder Burg, because my hip was hurting worse than it had for a really long time. It’s from the billions of flights of stairs. But afterward I felt so comforted and by later that night I felt completely better. The priesthood is God’s power (poder) on earth!
I feel so blessed to have the district that I do. They all make me laugh, which is so important in the MTC! Being too serious could make you depressed so easily.
Okay, tell me everything that’s going on at home. Ri, how was the dance? Levi, how did your concert go? How was the family Christmas party? I love my 12 days of Christmas. Send me pictures and write me using “dear elder” or snail mail so that I can get mail. The only mail I’ve got is a package that the Buxton’s sent and Mom’s dear elder.
I love you all! Go enjoy jamming to music and being alone! Haha! I am with someone 24/7
I love you all so much and miss you like crazy!
Give Zoe a kiss for me and WALK HER!
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Culley