MTC Week 2

 

Merry Christmas!

This is the second week I have been in the MTC training to eventually leave for Knoxville, TN. 

This week was also Christmas so that was a lot of fun. I got to spend one last Christmas with my family before I leave for Tennessee. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I wouldn't normally have if this wasn't virtual. There have been so many great experiences this week. I heard a story that inspired me in one of the workshops I attended recently. There were four missionaries who were assigned to the first mission in Turkey. In order to start teaching in the mission, they had to learn their language quickly and effectively. They didn't have a lot of resources, but they did have someone from the area come to teach them. Their teacher challenged them to memorize 100 Turkish words a day, which is a very high expectation. They worked hard to achieve that goal, but I know God blessed their efforts and they accomplished more than they ever expected. I am not speaking a foreign language, but I am inspired to seek high expectations and trust in God to help me achieve them.

I had the opportunity to virtually practice teaching three real people this week. These people could be actors or they could be real people who want to know about the gospel. I loved this experience because I got to use the techniques and skills I learned in my classes. I taught a man named Micah, a woman named Jeanette, and a man named Dwayne. All three were great experiences and I learned something from each of them. However, the lesson with Dwayne impacted me in a powerful way. This man was actually raised in a small very religious town in West Tennessee and has lived all over the United States. I could tell he has definitely faced some difficult struggles in his life. He shared with me how he was taught growing up that if something terrible happened in your life this was God punishing you for your sins. My companion and I taught that God was not there to punish us, but support us when bad things naturally happen in life. Everyone experiences something troubling in their life, however God will provide us peace if we seek Him. I learned from him how hard life can sometimes and that not everyone has this knowledge to bring them peace.

Note from Mom:

One of the things we have enjoyed having the MTC at home is the nightly recaps of the day. Many nights, he and Ben sit downstairs, talk and have gospel discussions with each other. This is a special experience for both of them that I am sure will not be forgotten. We get to hear immediately about his experiences and even hear him "in action" (we try not to eavesdrop, but we all do still live here haha). The rest of the family has been respectful and often volunteer to play games, keep the tv off or go on walks with him. He is so anxious to do what is asked of him and to learn all that he can.