Last Week in the MTC!

Okay, so first, I keep forgetting to give you an update about which general authorities have come to the MTC to speak. So I wrote it down in my planner to remind myself....

L Tom Perry

David A Bednar and

Russel M Nelson

Omygoodnesss!!! They are all so amazing. They talked about everything and everything and I was able to be part of the MTC choir when L Tom Perry was here, so that was cool, but I forget the specifics he talked about... missionary work though.

Elder Bednar did a Q and A session when he came so whatever people had questions on, he just answered. His wife also got to answer some of them. It was so cute because before they left he bore his testimony, then invited Sister Bednar to bare her testimony after, and she said " I'd feel a lot better if my husband was up here with me", so then he came back up to the podium and it was just about the cutest thing ever! (Either that or I just haven't seen anything too cute in a while..) Elder Bednar also said that as we pray (as missionaries) both morning and night for the gift of tongues, and as we invite our family and friends to pray for that same gift for us, we will be blessed with it. So..... :)

Elder Nelson was great too! His wife spoke first and taught about the importance of desperation. When we become desperate, things get done, our prayers change, as well rely on the Savior. Elder Nelson talked about the importance of building Christ like Character in our lives. He said as we find ourselves becoming more like Christ, and developing Christ like attributes, we lose ourselves. I'm not sure if I said that quite right, but it is so true, and I think that is why returned missionaries are always so WOW! Cause they have lost themselves in the service of the Lord and they aren't focusing so much on me, me, me. Things are clicking here at the MTC, the puzzle is being put together in my mind. 

Last week I started to pray for the gift of discernment. I feel like it is a great gift to have and I search for the needs of each of my investigators. It no later came to me, on Sunday, when my companion was released as District Sister Training Leader (DSTL) to Zone Sister Training Leader. I was then invited to accept the responsibility to be DSTL. At first it didn't hit me that it was an answer to my prayers, but in sacrament meeting it did. This is a blessing from the Lord, he is giving me the chance to reach out to the other sisters in our district, and help them overcome any obstacles that they may be facing right now as we are in the MTC together. Also to be an example to the new sister that just joined our zone.

Hermana Afu and I had a hard day on Wednesday. Our lesson didn't go as well as planned with Claudio, and we felt like we had just hit a plateau in our Spiritual learning, and more so with the Spanish. We were walking back to our classroom after we taught and I brought it up. We continued to talk about it while we sat in the class when our teacher Hermano Brown (who plays our investigator Claudio) walked in and overheard. They took us back into one of the rooms to talk to us about it and asked a couple of questions.

My comp started to get teary eyed, and eventually I did too. We were feeling almost defeated. We told him we are trying so hard to let the Spirit guide our lessons, but we can't seem to find the words to say, so it was just hard the past 3 days at that time for us to have to the Spirit with us while we taught. Gosh our teacher is amazing. First thing he said was we needed to trust in the Lord. Then he said we are doing better than we think. Each Tuesday the teachers for each zone get together to discuss things. He said that Hermana Afu and I are the rocks in our district, and that the other teachers agree. Then he said to us personally that we are the best companionship that he has ever taught. He also shared his feelings and trials that he is going through in his life. Everything he said to us was perfect, and exactly what we needed to hear. 

After we finished talking, and he left to finish up with class, we stayed and my comp suggested we say a comp prayer. I offered the prayer, as she was still in tears. But it was just such a reverent experience. She then went to the bathroom so I had a few minutes to be alone and just pray again myself that I would be able to be strong, not only for my own well-being, but that we would both feel the love and hand of the Savior in our lives, and that she would be strengthened too. After I closed my prayer, I just listened, and heard the most comforting words, which led me to tears again. I will never forget this moment and the way that I felt. For I truly know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers, but not only that, he wants to speak back to us too.

Boy what a great week! For real, super bueno! I love learning! I learn things that have never crossed my mind, like there were 12 apostles in Israel when Christ reigned upon the Earth, but there were also 12 apostles/disciples called in the America´s too! I had no idea! Cool thought, makes sense though.

Love you all lots, and appreciate the letters and support from afar!

Con mucho amor

su favorita misionera <3<3<3<3 xoxoxoxo