Yup I'm still alive, don't worry! So yeah- my P-day is Thursday while I'm at the MTC, not sure why we didn't get one last week, but nonetheless I'm glad it finally came! So quick announcement: you guys can email me anytime! I can read any emails throughout the week- I just can't email back till P-day!
So seriously, if you've had a cool experience or really good day tell me about it!!! You have no idea how letters cheer up missionaries! Are you sure that I've only been here for 8 days? Cause I'm pretty sure I've been here for WEEKS! Each day is so jam-packed with meetings, workshops, roleplays, studies, etc. All good things though, I'm loving every minute of it. My district is super awesome- we are already a family! My companion! Her name is Sister Christenson. One thing I love about her is that she loves to play the piano as much as me, so we like to take turns playing during personal study. She's from Utah and she is going to Salem with me! There are also 2 other sisters in my district going to Salem as well, so that's been super fun! I LOVE the sisters so much! There has definitely been more than one night that was spent laughing so hard for so long. Its honestly the best. As a district we eat together, play sports together and sometimes even study together!
So probably the biggest highlight of the week; each year future mission presidents come to the MTC to get trained by the Quorum of the 12, and they came this past weekend! Something super cool about this year was that instead of them being secluded in one building, the apostles would all come out and talk to us! One time I was literally 3 feet away from elder Uchtdorf. On Sunday we had a devotional where the entire quorum of the 12 apostles were there! My district and I participated in the choir for that devotional (as well as 90% of the other missionaries at the MTC) which was SUPER cool!! We sang "Jesus once of humble birth" and the spirit was so strong.
I love the MTC! It is an amazing place and I love the spirit that is felt here! I've been able to practice teaching SO MUCH and overcoming that fear of talking for so long and making sure I'm getting it right is over! I mean yeah I totally mess up, but I'm not afraid to.
I've already had so many spiritual experiences teaching the gospel to investigators that aren't even "real". I've gone to at least 3 lessons that I've cried in already. The Spirit is just SO strong!! Things that I often say during the lessons come to mind immediately before I say it, and often times it's not what I would think I would say. I've learned (and I'm still continuing to learn) how to rely on the Spirit on how I can teach my lessons.
Sister Christenson and I were called to be the STL's (sister training leaders)! We work with the zone leaders to plan things and last night we welcomed the new missionaries that came. It's super weird to think that was me last week! Only 2 weeks to go in the MTC! No matter how much I love it, I can't wait to get out in the field and serve and teach!
With Love,
Sister McCown
