Week 5 in the MTC

Week 5 in the MTC

 

Family, Friends, Everyone Whom I Love,

 

It is insane to think I am in my last days here at the MTC. Its interesting because I was really worried about liking the MTC, and now its sad to thing I am going to be leaving.

This  week we learned subjunctive and I realized that I actually in fact do not know how to speak Spanish. It truly is a humbling experience here at the MTC, but I am working hard at improving. Hermana Spencer has been giving me sentences and I conjugate them on a mini white dry erase board and I translate sentences she gives to me. This is helping a ton! My fake investigators are preparing for baptism and we FINALLY finished the Plan of Salvation. Feels like it took a decade to finish teaching that lesson. There's just so much in it, ah I just love it. 

 

This week was also humbling as I started as the new coordinating sister. It was interesting because since my assignment is one of a few of the assignments sisters have, I just found myself in meetings with all elders. A very weird feeling since I am used to having, not one but TWO other sisters with me all the time. I had the opportunity to interview the Hermanas this week and check in on companionships and their well being. I was way nervous but it was a truly spiritual experience. There were certain things I said to them that I know I would never think to ask or advise. I know that the Lord had specific things he wanted each of them to hear and through his spirit he was able to guide my words. I've never really had that kind of experience before and been aware of it. The power of the Spirit is so real. In every lesson it is communicating much much more than my broken Spanish ever could.

 

I have studied much about Christ recently. The Plan of Salvation is WONDERFUL because I get to talk about my favorite thing, the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am able to talk about his perfect life and example and express to people that they don't have to feel alone, or scared, guilty, or burdened. We have a Savior who was willing to take all of that from us so that we can feel clean, comforted, loved, and full of purpose. He is literally our advocate with the Father. (D&C  45:3-5) He pleads on our behalf because he understands. Because he truly loves us so much. I love being able to share my testimony of that. Being someone who is acquainted with much grief in my short life already, I know that I have been able to handle all of it through relying on him. Such a joyful message that is that I get to bring to people. We have the potential to change and become new people in Christ, people who reflect his light and love. In class this week we talked about how all that we have received from Christ, the Help and comfort, we are supposed to turn around and provide that for others. That is why I am here. Because I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has saved my life in every meaning of the word, and I owe all that I am to his work. To carry out the joyful message of His Gospel to those who need it and are searching.

 

Thank you to all of you that have helped and supported me in the difficult times I have had. I am striving for strict obedience every week and the closer I get, the greater the blessings. I love you all. Keep the letters coming.

 

 

Oh & I got my travel plans this week!!! I fly to California one Tuesday the 2nd. I think I will be able to call probably around 9am your time for a little bit and chat before I fly out. I will get more info to you later about my Santa Rosa Address.

 

 

Love you all and Keep the Faith,
Hermana Wise

 

Week #4 in MTC... Called to Serve

 

I don't even know where to begin. This week has been so full of blessings.

I began this week really struggling. I am one of those people who does not usually remember my dreams, but I have had a lot of bad dreams lately. Maybe its because the Spirit here is so strong, the only time Satan can get to me in at night. That as well as some other things have been weighing on my mind. The days got better. I love my companions, they lift me up so much. Hermana Hearne is such an example of exactness and charity. Hermana Spencer is a hard worker who has a passion for the scriptures and can make me smile unlike anyone else. Both totally rock at Spanish, and I'm getting there. We have finally mastered (for now) our planning for lessons so that we can teach effectively and focused on our purpose.

We helped another fake investigator come unto Christ and he decided he would prepare to baptism and I was the one to invite him in Spanish! Hopefully, my ability to speak will get better this week, that's the goal. The most important thing I have learned about the language is that it doesn't matter how my Spanish is, as long as I am utilizing the language of the spirit, the people I teach will get what they need to hear. Also an Elder in my district found out he has Influenza and he was "quarantined" and sent to live in the sick person housing. We all got put on meds to protect us from it. It was actually a kind of funny situation.

Yesterday was by far the most impactful Sunday yet. I have been called to be the Coordinating Sister for my branch. A coordinating sister is basically like a zone leader, but I am only in charge of the sisters in my Zone. I am truly humbled by this call. I am thankful the Lord trusts me to carry out his work and I know he will magnify me to fulfill it. I am expected to be a shining example at all times because the other sisters in the Zone look to me to know what is right. My number one role though is to love the sisters and to take care of them. To be the one they come to when they are struggling or if they are struggling with companions or homesickness or whatever. I am praying earnestly that I will be able to remain diligent and obedient so that the Lord will bless me to help them. Every week they have every missionary prepare a talk in Spanish and they call 2 or 3 missionaries every week on the spot to share their talk. I was called up this week to talk about the Atonement. It was truly humbling, for my Spanish is far from perfect. I am learning to stop talking so much and listen more. After sacrament meeting, we have district meetings and my companionship taught the lesson about the Atonement. I truly felt the Spirit working through me as I shared my testimony and knowledge of this essential and important part of how I am who I am. Alma 7:11-12 - Read it and ponder on how the atonement can be applied everyday! I am learning so much about the gospel, myself, and what is expected of me in this life! Such a busy time, but I am truly blessed!

I have more to tell you about the Atonement but my time is up, so I will send it in the future.

I love all of you, thank you for helping me become who I am. For supporting me through times of struggle. For strengthening my testimony of this Gospel. It changes lives. It helps up become new creatures, better creatures. As we come to know our Savior and submit our will to his, we can become more like him through repentance and the enabling power of the atonement. I absolutely sure of that truth.

- Hermana Wise

Letter #3 MTC "Packed full of lessons"

Family & Friends of whom I am deeply grateful,

This week has been packed full of lessons I needed to learn!

      Tuesday was the hardest day I have had yet at the MTC. I was struggling a bit with some of my old mental problems, but I was keeping it all in most of the day and pushed through. That night I spoke with my branch president and I immediately felt better. The leaders of the church who are called of God really are called of God and know those they serve and how to help them. I know what he told me is what the Lord wanted me to know to help me move forward. My companions were really supportive, I am so lucky to have them and the other girls in my district. That night we had a devotional from Elder Aidukaitis of the seventy and he extended a challenge I want to extend to you now. 1) Decide which kingdom of Glory you want  to go to 2) Write the name of it in BIG LETTERS in your journal so that when you look back you never mistaken that decision for another one 3) Make every decision from here out according to your kingdom. Once you make that decision, all others will be easy. Mom you may have the primary kids do it too!

Teaching as a trio is really hard! I realized that my teaching style is way different that at least one of my companions every time we plan, but we make it work. I realized how bad I am at not stopping to listen. If I have learned anything this week that is it. SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND LISTEN CHRISTINA. Listen to your investigator's. Listen to your companions. Listen to the Spirit. We got to teach volunteer BYU students in the TRC this week and it was really fun to teach a member and not have to start from scratch. A LOT EASIER.

This week for our Branch, our topic was "The Gift of the Holy Ghost" and every week we are all to write a talk in Spanish and they pick two missionaries to speak from the branch. One point from the talk I wrote came to me one day during personal study and I realized how important it is for us all to realize: "Whenever we receive inspiration from the spirit, it is a personal commandment from our Father in Heaven." We are told "if ye love me keep my commandments" and I truly know that when we act on spiritual promptings, we are showing him we love him

Spanish is coming slowly but surely. The Christ-Like attribute I chose to focus on this week is Diligence. Only if we are diligent will we be able to receive the blessings in store for us. Diligence includes working  hard but also smart. You all know I am one of the least organized people in the world, but I have found that as I push that out of me and become smart about my time (well actually my time is the Lord's now if we want to get technical) that the Lord blesses me how I desire.

I love you all. Thank you for all you do to support me. I am blown away by all the letters I get. They make the days SO much easier and help me work harder. Keep the Faith!

- Hermana Wise

Christina's Mission Updates

Week 2

Hey Family! & Friends too!

This week has blown my mind. I am on such a spiritual high.

A new Hermana (Hermana Hearne) joined our district and she is now a part of Hermana Spencer and I's companionship! A trio once again! That means I have had 4 companions in the first week and normally people only have 1 the whole time they are here! I got super lucky, both of my companions are amazing at speaking Spanish and I ask them to correct me all the time because I am the weakest link when it comes to language ha-ha. Still I feel like it is coming. I have our missionary purpose and the baptism invitation memorized in Spanish and I'm working on the first vision. We finished teaching our first investigator (fake, she's actually our teacher) but she accepted our Baptism invitation and is going to church! We have two new investigators this week. Again both are my teachers playing random people.

Speaking of teachers, mine are amazing! Hermano Robinson and Hermana Hudson are PERFECT for my learning style. Both are spiritual giants who know the language so well. This

Dan was Baptized on Saturday!!! I broke down in tears when I received his letter. I was so happy. Alex was the one to confirm him yesterday. I wish I could have been there, I am so proud of him and feel so truly blessed to be a part of this for him. He is going to change lives, he truly has changed mine.

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting and we had to bear our testimonies in (broken) Spanish. The spirit was SO strong. It really forced us all to be humble and go up and bear testimony of the simple truths of the Gospel. I shared mine about the powerful influence of the Atonement. That I know Jesus Christ is my Savior, he knows me personally. Because of his sacrifice, I have overcome my challenges & I have been magnified to where I am today. Elder Ballard spoke to us too! On Tuesday! It was life changing. Also, we got to hear from the Provo Temple President and I got to go today and I learned SO much! Last night we watched a recording of an MTC address from Elder Bednar called "Character of Christ." He spoke about Mosiah 3:19 and how the natural man is like the Cookie Monster. "I WANT COOKIE NOW." The natural man within all of us is selfish and wants instant gratification. We must put that off and become a saint and can only do that through the Atonement. The character of Christ is that he turns out when we would turn in. Ah i love it.

Well I love all of you so much! Letters are amazing Keep them coming.

- Hermana Wise

P.S. Shout out to Ashley Downs for the Homemade cookies she overnighted! And for all the dearelders I have received. I have sent out a ton of responses today, so keep them coming! I will write back.