Thursday February 9, 2017
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| Georgia Atlanta North Mission! |
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| Cool badge pic |
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| Sister Hansen and I pointing to our mission in Georgia on the World Map! |
I made it through one week here at the
MTC! A lot has happened this week, so I will try to describe it as best I
can.
You already know about that cool role play with the investigators as all the new missionaries had a chance to
rotate and switch through teaching three different people. It reminded me a lot
of the Stake Missionary Conference back home! Apparently that's what it's really like. I was able to feel the
Spirit so strongly and really testify that these people are children of God!
Heavenly Father wants them to be happy and have the wonderful gift of Jesus
Christ and His Gospel in their lives! Everyone also said "Welcome to the MTC"
when us newbies walked by since they out an orange sticker on our badges. Also,
I LOVE the new magnet badges! They are amazing!
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| Sister Hansen and I on our second day here |
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| Sister Hansen and I |
That same day, I also met my companion and district! My
companion's name is Sister Hansen and we hit it off right away! She is a huge
Harry Potter geek like me (plus Doctor Who, Sherlock, Avatar, you name it). She
told me she is from a tiny town called Joseph City in Northern Arizona, which is
mostly made up of a huge extended family...kind of like how everyone is related
in that show Once Upon A Time. We are both going to serve in the Georgia Atlanta
North mission and we are so excited to share the gospel together despite being
two introverts who don't normally talk to complete strangers. She and I have
already taught some lessons this week, too. They get you started right away here
at the MTC! They are mostly members role playing, but it is still good practice
for me and I feel like I am learning so much every day that I spend here...how
to teach people, work in unison with my companion, and learning the gospel
better and how to grow my faith in Jesus Christ and feel His Spirit.
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| Our district in the classroom we spend most of our time here in studying |
Our first lesson took place on the third day. We were able to
teach our teacher, Brother Hooper as an investigator he taught (Wayne). Sister
Hansen and I did our best to teach him about the restoration. We fumbled a bit
in working together in unison, but I think we are figuring it out. Our class is
composed of our entire district at the MTC, which consists of all three
companionships of Sisters who bunk in our room and two companionships of Elders.
The Sisters are: Sister Reynolds & Sister Gifford, and Sister Hurd & Sister Chappell. The Elders
in our district are Elder Tolman & Elder Stokes, and Elder Reeves & Elder Miller. After sharing our testimonies
with each other on our first day together, we are a pretty tightly-knit group
now. We are also all going to Georgia. Some are going to Macon, (like you, Mama!) but we will all be pretty close to each other for the duration of our
missions, which is pretty cool.
Basically, our schedule every day has become a pattern of studying
(Book of Mormon study, personal study, companion study) for investigators, class
time learning skills for teaching, eating, exercise time (which is so great to
have as a break from sitting down all day!) TRC teaching for investigators, and
sleep. TRCs (I'm actually not sure what the real name is!) are basically
teaching opportunities that are set up for one week. So this week we teach
Marcus, who was raised Catholic, but is now going to BYU is taking the lessons
very well! Sister Hansen and I like to call him our golden investigator because
our other investigator, Leah, is very strong in her religion in which she
believes that Christians simply have to accept that they are weak and Jesus is
the only one that can save them - we only try to show compassion to others
because of Jesus' perfect grace for us. Sometime I feel so frustrated that she
is so CLOSE to the truth, but she will only listen to us when we agree with her
(meaning not anything that requires us to do things). My companion and I have
agreed that we simply have to love her and there is a reason that Heavenly
Father wanted us to have that challenge this week.
It's a pretty crazy schedule, and pretty busy, too, but I have
been enjoying it so much! I have never felt the desire to serve or the Spirit
stronger in my life, and even though it is hard to leave for a year, I know
that this is my calling in the Lord's work.
I love all of you and want to thank you so much for your love and
support in my mission! I am so excited to serve, and even though I have a lot to
learn, I know I can do it. I miss you all and would love to hear from you!
Please feel free to respond any day of the week since I can read emails any day.
Lauralee
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| Our district in front of the Provo temple |
P.S. went to the temple today to do endowments and Sister Hansen
and I did some family names :) It was amazing to be there!
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