November 13, 2012 - First week in the MTC

Hi Family!!!

I can't believe that I've only been here since last Wednesday. It feels like I've been here for at least 6 weeks. The first day was a little rough, because the MTC loves to baptize you by fire. Which is good because you definitely learn from your mistakes. After the first night, I prayed that I wouldn't be so overwhelmed, and it's worked! I love the MTC. My companion, Sister Holyoak (yes, she's related to the Holyoaks in our stake) is awesome. We get along so well. We mesh well and we help each other out. I love her. She's from St. Charles, IN but hasn't lived there since she was 17. So crazy that we're both from IL. The other two girls in our room are also amazing- Sister Bramwell and Sister Wise. They're both from around here- Orem and Springville. I love love love my district. Like I said the first day was rough, because I was sick and getting sicker. After I prayed, my mind was cleared and class became a lot better. I love my teachers. I want to apply to be a MTC teacher when I get back. Only BYU students can work here and I think that it would be spiritually uplifting to work here after the mission. The second night our District leader was called, Elder Ah Mu, and I asked for a blessing. One of the Zone Leaders concecrated the oil. The spirit was so strong and it was a sight to open my eyes and see all of the Elders standing in a circle around me. After my blessing, our district was unified. We have become friends in such a short time and I already love the Elders and Sisters. I'm getting better- I went to the doctor and I have a virus so there's not much else to do. Also there are no hangers here so I had to buy hangers and a towel because I forgot a lot. lol Oh, well.

 

The spirit is so strong here. I love going to classes and learning. It makes me miss school, but this is better than school. I realize that people in my district don't feel the same way, but I'm glad that I've been blessed to like the learning. I never realized how hard teaching people is. We have three investigators. Two of them are acted out by our teachers. Chantha and Lacy. And right now we have one TRC (Training Resource Center) investigator, that are actors. We don't know if they're members or are actually investigators. Cool, eh? The spirit is just so tanigble here. I have been able to wake up at 6:30 everyday. We actually wake up earlier so that we can get ready and be in the classroom by 7 for personal study. My day is so packed. I'm so excited for a p-day today so that I can write you guys and I love getting the DearElder everyday instead of having to wait until one day of the week.

 

I'm trying so hard to really pray and listen to the spirit to know what our investigators need. When I'm reading during personal study or companionship study things just pop out at me to what our investigators need. I just thought that everyone had this, but I can tell that I have been blessed to have the spirit of discernment. I guess I didn't really think that being able to read people and pick up people's feelings would help too much, but it really does. We're trying to find the balance between feelings and teaching what we need to. It's amazing to me when I get this inspired thought in my head to ask or say and it seems to reach them. Missionary training can be frustrating, but I just remember our purpose as missionaries and it makes it seem all so much more real. We're really here to bring people unto Christ through teaching them the Doctrines of Christ (2 Nephi 31). We're not the ones that convert, it's the Lord. We're just here to help. I'm excited to learn more and more.

 

I'm striving to be exactly obedient, but it's hard with the time. The time just seems to move so fast here. The MTC time warp.  I love you all and I wish that I could just send you a video of me so you could know everything. Thank you for your support and I miss you.

 

Love,

 

Sister Collins ( so weird to say that and have people call me that)