They actually gave us a chance to say goodbye and take pics. We had nice Elders who said, "Take your time." She's way excited to start her next 1-1/2 year of being Sister Johnson!
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:47:09 -0700
Subject: Check it out! I'm totally at the MTC
HELLO FAMILY!!
How is everyone doing? I hope everyone is doing well :) Mom says you are already seeing blessings. That's great! Because I am too. I am learning so so so much! They just jam-pack your brain full of information. It's absolutely nuts. Anyways- I am going to quickly reply to some of your messages but I really want to handwrite some messages today too. So if my response doesn't seem very good to what you all sent me, just expect an answer in a letter k? Ok! I love you!
So I have received dearelder mail from Dad and Mom twice and Melanie once. You guys should write me ALL of the time :) getting mail really is the highlight. It is crazy how some of the missionaries totally depend on it. Honestly, I am ok either way. After learning how to wait for a year with Michael mail, I have the blessing of being able to handle it just fine. And I got a letter from Dad. It was good to see Dad's handwriting. I sure love you all :) Ummm... ok. So MTC stuff. My companion is Sister B from Arizona. She was inactive for 6 years and completely turned her life around. She has basically seen everything of the world. It is amazing looking at her now because you would never guess that she would do all that crazy stuff. She has a strong testimony of missionary work because the missionaries were the ones that helped her turn her life around. Other fun facts about Sister B: during her 6 years of inactivity she went through a hippie phase. She had a dred and everything! WICKED AWESOME! She has a dog that she loves. She loves Lord of the Rings and she loves to quote funny movies. Also she is a massage therapist- major blessing! She has helped me relax after all of the tension of class time and teaching lessons.
I got called as a Coordinating Sister. It is almost like the Relief Society President and I have finally felt why callings like that are so difficult. You have so many Sisters to look after and make sure are doing ok- it can be quite stressful to think about. Luckily, the Lord also gives you strength. And He knows exactly what you can handle. When I had an emotional-stress breakdown, they were all there for me. See the thing is, my whole life I have tried to do everything right. I live by rules- in fact, I can't function if I am not living by the rules- and I can see my vision and my purpose for being here. Others, however, are still figuring that out. Out of the group of Sisters in my room (there are four of us total) I feel like total Molly Mormon. They have all been more closely associated with things of the world and have used the Atonement in other ways. I don't judge them at all. In fact, I totally adore them. The thing is sometimes their conversations feel totally unrelatable to me. I mean, most of my friends hadn't even kissed boys.... It's just different. It is good though. I learn a lot from them.
The MTC actually does have good food. I am really grateful that I figured out how to eat before I came though. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I mostly just eat eggs in the morning and lots of salad for lunch and dinner. They have other good things though like meat and potatoes and hamburgers and ice cream... Mmmmm today they had coconut macaroons. Ya :) So the food is really good actually. There is enough variety.
As far as the learning here goes- wow, wow, wow is it wild! What a wild ride! Boy is it wild! They literally cram you crazy full. You are in class or studying ALL day long. MELANIE!!! READ THROUGH THE LESSONS IN PREACH MY GOSPEL!!! Just do it. That is the one thing I DIDN'T do and its hard to find time to do it here. BECAUSE I am already teaching investigators. That's right. In fact, yesterday was the most heinous? lesson of my life. Her name is Louanna? Lowana? (It just makes me think of Lafownduh). Anyways, she was this very blunt little black lady that really was not going to let us in. More info- so they do teaching called TRC (Teaching Resource Center). They do Zone teaching and they do class teaching. Within each of those teaching sections you are teaching several investigators or less-active members. I have a total of 6 people to teach. Usually about 2-3 a day. Anyways, the TRC gets people (less-active or investigators) who COULD be actors- or they might be real. As far as I can tell, the ones we have are VERY real. At least it feels that way. So it is way intimidating because you don't know very much and you don't want to mess up. Well, my companion and I went in to talk to Lowana (I'm just gonna spell it this way) and we had NO idea what we were doing. We tried to just ask questions and get to know her. We talked about her belief in God. And 20 minutes in we had nothing left to say and 25 more minutes to fill. We were gonna try to teach the first lesson or the Book of Mormon or anything but our minds both were drawing complete blanks. She started to fight with my companion a little bit. I was getting more nervous by the minute- but I was honest with her the whole time which seemed to help. I was able to step in and start teaching a little bit- but words were practically impossible. Then by some miracle, right before we were about to leave, she said that we had been sent by God to help her feel His love around the holidays which is usually a hard time since she isn't close to her family.
We stepped away feeling like we had learned a TON. Be prepared. Always. But even then, the Lord won't allow you to fail completely if you are really trying. Then one of the Branch Presidency shared a thought about how as long as we help people feel God's love, we are successful. That made me feel better. What a growing week..... So much to tell and literally only one minute left on the timer.
I LOVE YOU ALL!! I wish you the Happiest Thanksgiving! Have fun with the family at Grandma's house!
Love always,
Sister Alicia Johnson
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