The past week has been a huge struggle for me here in the MTC. #MTCstruggles I am sick with Bronchitis, yet I continue to go to every study, class and devotional. I am also really struggling with the language and homesickness over Christmas.
But on Sunday nigh Elder Ballard, one of the elders in our zone gave me this list of scriptures:
Ether 12:27
1 Cor 10:13
Alma 13:28
3 Nephi 18:20
2nd Nephi 3:21
mark 11:24
Matt 6:34
2 Nephi 32:5
2 Nephi 2:2
If you get a minute, look these up! They completely change my perspective. I am super blessed! I (feel really blessed to have people like him in my life that are always turning outward. I hope I can be as Christ-like as him one day. My trials are Heavenly Fathers way of humbling me and making me stronger everyday. I am so blessed!
Sunday we went on another temple walk in the beautiful snow! It's so fun to see the missionaries who have never seen snow, experience the best snow on earth for the first time!
Our District is always having fun together, but more importantly we feel the spirit so strongly when we work hard. They always know just how to help me through my trials. On Sunday I asked for another blessing from Elder Visser. My testimony of the Priesthood has been strengthened since being here. It truly is God's power on this earth! I felt an incredible peace come over me. I still have bronchitis, the language is still hard, but I am able to bear those trials which God has asked me to bear. And I testify that trials are an opportunity for us to turn to God and we will be strengthened in Him. I also testify that you are ALWAYS worthy of God's love and forgiveness. You may feel at times that you are inadequate or too low to ask for God's help, but that is when He most wants to lift us up. And I promise you that He will do just that as you turn to Him in prayer and to His words in the scriptures. He will bless you as you turn outwardly to serve those around you. He loves you and He will make your paths straight if you will trust in Him. Do not be discouraged; the Lord has great blessings in store. Blessings greater than we can imagine for our selves, as we turn unto Him!
NEVER BE AFRAID TO CALL UPON YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! YOU ARE HIS AND HE IS YOURS! YOURS TO TURN TO ALWAYS!
So basically my companion is incredible! I had really been struggling with being so sick, so we stayed back at the residence during gym time so I could sleep. And instead of being bitter, my companion said something that will stay with me the rest of my life. She said, "God must have something great in store for you, Sister Culley. After all this trouble with your VISA, you getting sick and being discouraged by the language I've realized Satan must be really scared of you. I think he sends his best soldiers after the strongest missionaries. But you just keep trooping." I freaking love her! I know that I will get to Brazil. I know that I will speak the language. And when I do Satan better watch his back! He can't hold me back because I have God on my side!
Christmas eve was a lot of fun! We ran out of time in class so Sister Pratt and I didn't get to teach our new investigator, Belmiro. It was kind of a bummer because we planned this really awesome lesson about Christmas and the savior!
The dinner wasn't our usual prime rib, but it was pretty good. Stir fry and egg rolls... ha ha not very Christmassy if you ask me!
Then we had a wonderful devotional by one of the 70, Brother Evans. He talked about our letters home being uplifting, How am I doing? :)
Afterward we watched two Christmas movies: the story of Christ's birth an Mr. Kruger's Christmas.
This Christmas has been really Christ centered for me. It's incredible! I may not have my own family near me, but I have my second family, my district! I can feel your love and prayers in my behalf! keep it coming! I'm gonna need it! I am so blessed to have all of you back at home! I miss you all so much, but I am so filled with joy that I get to be with you for eternity!
We woke up on Christmas morning to our shoes filled with goodies. Then we went to Breakfast and off to EMAILING! for twenty minutes. It was so hard to say goodbye to all of you! I had missed you so much!
We had an MTC talent show that was so much fun! It's kind of nuts how talented everyone here is! And it is totally like Hogwarts, one of the missionaries was a MAGICIAN!!! a freaking wizard right here!! #mugglebrigade
Elder Bednar came to speak to us for Christmas. It was incredible they passed out cell phones to everyone and we texted Elder Bednar our questions and he answered them at the pulpit. Although he never got to my question, while he was talking my question was answered anyway! Such a cool experience!
I feel incredibly blessed to be here for the Holidays serving my Redeemer. I've missed you guys so much! But like I've said a million and one times, I am so blessed to have an ETERNAL FAMILY! I know that no matter what I face, I can overcome it with the love of my eternal family.
After we heard Bednar speak we went to lunch. Afterwards we went to a Jazz concert! a really good jazz band came and played a whole bunch of Christmas music for us. it was a lot of fun. What was cool about the band was that they were improvising most of what they were doing! So cool!
That night we went back to our classroom and read Christmas stories and ate everyone's goodies. It was a lot of fun!!
Oh and about the group pictures... Elder Sherwood DOES NOT HAVE HIS HAND AROUND MY WAIST. ha ha it is my companion's hand!!! #ohthestruggles
I love the MTC! I love you!
Love, Sister Culley
But on Sunday nigh Elder Ballard, one of the elders in our zone gave me this list of scriptures:
Ether 12:27
1 Cor 10:13
Alma 13:28
3 Nephi 18:20
2nd Nephi 3:21
mark 11:24
Matt 6:34
2 Nephi 32:5
2 Nephi 2:2
If you get a minute, look these up! They completely change my perspective. I am super blessed! I (feel really blessed to have people like him in my life that are always turning outward. I hope I can be as Christ-like as him one day. My trials are Heavenly Fathers way of humbling me and making me stronger everyday. I am so blessed!
Sunday we went on another temple walk in the beautiful snow! It's so fun to see the missionaries who have never seen snow, experience the best snow on earth for the first time!
Our District is always having fun together, but more importantly we feel the spirit so strongly when we work hard. They always know just how to help me through my trials. On Sunday I asked for another blessing from Elder Visser. My testimony of the Priesthood has been strengthened since being here. It truly is God's power on this earth! I felt an incredible peace come over me. I still have bronchitis, the language is still hard, but I am able to bear those trials which God has asked me to bear. And I testify that trials are an opportunity for us to turn to God and we will be strengthened in Him. I also testify that you are ALWAYS worthy of God's love and forgiveness. You may feel at times that you are inadequate or too low to ask for God's help, but that is when He most wants to lift us up. And I promise you that He will do just that as you turn to Him in prayer and to His words in the scriptures. He will bless you as you turn outwardly to serve those around you. He loves you and He will make your paths straight if you will trust in Him. Do not be discouraged; the Lord has great blessings in store. Blessings greater than we can imagine for our selves, as we turn unto Him!
NEVER BE AFRAID TO CALL UPON YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! YOU ARE HIS AND HE IS YOURS! YOURS TO TURN TO ALWAYS!
So basically my companion is incredible! I had really been struggling with being so sick, so we stayed back at the residence during gym time so I could sleep. And instead of being bitter, my companion said something that will stay with me the rest of my life. She said, "God must have something great in store for you, Sister Culley. After all this trouble with your VISA, you getting sick and being discouraged by the language I've realized Satan must be really scared of you. I think he sends his best soldiers after the strongest missionaries. But you just keep trooping." I freaking love her! I know that I will get to Brazil. I know that I will speak the language. And when I do Satan better watch his back! He can't hold me back because I have God on my side!
Christmas eve was a lot of fun! We ran out of time in class so Sister Pratt and I didn't get to teach our new investigator, Belmiro. It was kind of a bummer because we planned this really awesome lesson about Christmas and the savior!
The dinner wasn't our usual prime rib, but it was pretty good. Stir fry and egg rolls... ha ha not very Christmassy if you ask me!
Then we had a wonderful devotional by one of the 70, Brother Evans. He talked about our letters home being uplifting, How am I doing? :)
Afterward we watched two Christmas movies: the story of Christ's birth an Mr. Kruger's Christmas.
This Christmas has been really Christ centered for me. It's incredible! I may not have my own family near me, but I have my second family, my district! I can feel your love and prayers in my behalf! keep it coming! I'm gonna need it! I am so blessed to have all of you back at home! I miss you all so much, but I am so filled with joy that I get to be with you for eternity!
We woke up on Christmas morning to our shoes filled with goodies. Then we went to Breakfast and off to EMAILING! for twenty minutes. It was so hard to say goodbye to all of you! I had missed you so much!
We had an MTC talent show that was so much fun! It's kind of nuts how talented everyone here is! And it is totally like Hogwarts, one of the missionaries was a MAGICIAN!!! a freaking wizard right here!! #mugglebrigade
Elder Bednar came to speak to us for Christmas. It was incredible they passed out cell phones to everyone and we texted Elder Bednar our questions and he answered them at the pulpit. Although he never got to my question, while he was talking my question was answered anyway! Such a cool experience!
I feel incredibly blessed to be here for the Holidays serving my Redeemer. I've missed you guys so much! But like I've said a million and one times, I am so blessed to have an ETERNAL FAMILY! I know that no matter what I face, I can overcome it with the love of my eternal family.
After we heard Bednar speak we went to lunch. Afterwards we went to a Jazz concert! a really good jazz band came and played a whole bunch of Christmas music for us. it was a lot of fun. What was cool about the band was that they were improvising most of what they were doing! So cool!
That night we went back to our classroom and read Christmas stories and ate everyone's goodies. It was a lot of fun!!
Oh and about the group pictures... Elder Sherwood DOES NOT HAVE HIS HAND AROUND MY WAIST. ha ha it is my companion's hand!!! #ohthestruggles
I love the MTC! I love you!
Love, Sister Culley