Entering the 4th Week

So hello family and friends! Another week has come and gone here at
the MTC. The time hear is in one of those wierd zones, where I feel
like I've barely been here but at the same time, I feel like I've been
here forever! It's a little strange! Last Tuesday for our devotional
we had... Elder Russell M. Nelson come and speak! What an incredible
experience to be in the same room as an apostle of the Lord! It was so
wonderful to be there and to feel of that Spirit. He also had his wife
speak a little bit, and I loved her message. It was basically Do It
Now. Elder Nelson spoke to us all on just the importance of the work
that we are doing as missionaries and he shared with us stories and
advice to help us and build us up. I felt like my hand could not keep
up with notes as he was talking because I wanted to write everything
down!
Besides that, I had a fun Wednesday because I got to take a class at
the LRC, Learning Resource Center, and I was taught by none other than
my good friend Logan! It was so fun to see him and be taught by him in
that atmosphere! Friday was our busiest day ever! We went to the LRC
again, the TEC (teaching evaluation center), the TRC (teaching
resource center) and the RC (referral center) all in one day! I felt
like I never had a moment to sit down and breathe! So in the TRC we
taught three students. They were very rowdy at first and it was hard
to get our message across, but as soon as we said a prayer the mood
just changed. They became attentative and focused on our message. It
was a neat experience to see the power of prayer working in that
environment. I love the TRC. Some say that it is not a great teaching
tool because all of the volunteers we teach are already Mormon. But
what I love is that every time I teach, I try to teach them something
new and I end up learning something new. That is how it should be!
Every lesson taught should be about strength and learning something
new for yourself. That is how I feel every time I teach and what a
wonderful feeling that is!
My favorite part though, of Friday was by far the RC. The RC, for a
quick reminder, is a calling center. People call in after seeing an ad
on tv for a free church related movie or a book of Mormon, or after
receiving a passalong card. We answer those calls. We also follow up
on what we've sent out to people and call them to see how they are
enjoying their free item and how they felt about it. It is our only
real missionary experience while we are in the MTC. So, last week I
was nervous and panicky the entire time and let's just say, I wasn't
looking forward to it on Friday. When we got there, I said a prayer,
asking that I might feel comfortable and at peace, that I might be
guided by the Spirit as to what to say and do and that I might have
some good experiences to change my mind and thoughts of the RC. Well,
as soon as I finished, I received my first phone call. It was from a
woman in California who wanted a video on strenghtening families. She
opened up to me, just over the phone, about all of the struggles that
her and her family were having. She felt like it was hard to keep them
together. It was like I was having a lesson with her over the phone! I
shared with her my testimony of the gospel and families and asked her
if she would be willing to have the missionaries come and teach her
more about the importance of families. She readily accepted and when I
gave her the address to a church near her, she readily accepted my
challenge to her to bring her family to church that Sunday. It was an
incredible feeling, knowing that I am helping her feel more comfort
and peace in her life. My 2nd experience while there was calling a
woman who had received the Finding Faith in Christ video. I called to
ask how she enjoyed it, and she was so enthusiastic! I asked her if
she would like me to send her another video, or the Book of Mormon and
she readily agreed. She even wanted the missionaries to take the book
to her so that she could learn more. As I was talking to her, she
finally said that she had to go, because she was on a date! Isn't that
hilarious?! Here she is, going on and talking to me about all the
things that she has enjoyed thus far in learning about the church, and
all that time she is in the middle of a date! I was like, oh, well
we'll call you back to get some basic information from you later! I
couldn't stop laughing afterwards!
So as you can see, this week has been very helpful for me. I have
grown in ways that I never could have imagined! Both of my roommates
left this week. They were on the fast track and so Hna Romero is in
Ohio and Hna Martinez is in Phoenix. Linds, I gave her the address to
your salon so maybe she'll stop by. I love you all so much and am
grateful for the examples that you have been to me. You are always so
encouraging ni your letters and it's so fun to get them! I love
hearing about what's going on in your lives. I loved hearing from you
Sharon! I love getting news about the office! I'll write you a longer
letter later! And thanks mom and dad for the thanksgiving package! We
have all enjoyed it! When one eats, we all eat! :)
Just a heads up, I am sick, but I am getting better! No worries! All
of the elders in my district were sick, so I guess it is my turn. It's
just a cold. Probably also doesn't help that I've had to wake up at
4:45 the last two days to take our roommates down to teh travel
office!
I love you all. My time is out! Have a great Thanksgiving and hope to
hear from you soon!
Hna Sorensen
aka Kaylee