May 21, 2015

Thursday is Taylor's p-day so we got her first email today. She sounds upbeat even as she is being challenged!

Well, I made it to the MTC safe and sound! I cannot believe that I am really here and that I am really a MISSIONARY!! Every time I see my name tag, I am so surprised to see "Hermana Gregory La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias". It is so bizarre. 

When I got to the MTC, I was whisked away and taken to all these places to get everything that I needed then taken to my room where the sisters in my district are all staying. I was then taken to my classroom where I spend approximately TEN HOURS A DAY in. I miss the sun. But it is so fun. My companion is Hermana Kelley Krage from San Diego California (Elise, it is like a piece of you is here with me) and she is going to Independence Missouri. The other two girls in my district are Hermana Bradford and Hermana Greenhalgh who are both going to Nicaragua. There are four elders in my district, Elder Canlas, Elder Jenks, Elder Porter, and Elder McBride, all going stateside. It is nice being somewhere where we are all going stateside (except for the two sisters) because we all understand the worry of learning Spanish for an English speaking community. Well, Wednesday was just a bunch of orientation. Then Thursday, Hermana Krage and I were told that we were getting a new companion to become a trio with us. She was in the advanced Spanish class and was not doing well, so she asked to come join our class. Her name is Hermana Emily Clark from South Jordan, Utah heading to Los Angeles. So fun! 

Most days are just class, and class, and class, and more class. It is very exhausting trying to learn so much Spanish. The first moment in class on Wednesday until the last moment before you leave, classes are Spanish only. My whole district has had Spanish experience before, and I haven't, so it is hard to try to keep up with their advanced conversations and words. What is driving me nuts is that I am at the point where I am actually pretty okay with understanding, but I cannot speak what I want to say. I am so excited for the day that I can! 

The MTC is definitely hard. More than I expected. I am struggling with the idea of sitting all day in class with no outside sunshine time. I am also struggling with the language pretty bad. Our teacher is Maestra Pullan and she is incredible.On Monday I had a complete break because I did not understand what was being taught and I broke. I ended up sobbing on her shoulder out in the hall in the middle of class. It is pretty embarrassing to break down like that in front of the whole class, but thankfully my district is SO sweet. Maestra Pullan ws kind and decided that she was going to help me more one-on-one when we companero study, which is so kind and helpful, and definitely a blessing. So now, I think I will be okay! The Lord is definitely watching out for me. I need it. 

We have two investigators. Ella and Hely. Ella is so nice and kind and makes me feel really good about my TERRIBLE Spanish. She allows me to ask my companeras what word to use or how to say (como se dice and que significa are my two favorite phrases). Hely is so hard and very Catholic so we are struggling with her. I can't even understand her; she talks so fast and with such a thick accent. But es muy bueno. We are improving every day and that is what matters. Thankfully Hermana Clark and Krage are so so good at Spanish, which is so nice because they help me SO much every single day. They also have a lot of patience, thankfully, so they are okay with me being slow and needed English helps. I am so blessed!

We have incredible Sister Training Leaders. One of them I have really become great friends with. Her name is Hermana Van Kampen from Colorado. She didn't know any Spanish before she came (3 weeks ago) either. So she understand how I feel and how to help me. I am so grateful for her and her friendship.

We had a Sunday night devotional from one of the members of the MTC presidency and then a Tuesday night devotional from Ulisses S. Soares. I love devotionals! They are so uplifting and thought and action provoking. We also watched a film on Sunday called "Character of Christ", a talk given by Elder Bednar to the MTC. If you can find it, read it or watch it. It will change your life! Also, if you find a written version, will someone send it to me? I would like to have it if possible :)

So, since class is boring to describe, let me share the funnest/funniest thing that has happened yet. Hermana Bradford and Elder Jenks dared each other to drink a full glass of hot fudge. Hermana Bradford tried, and drank about half of it before she felt like she was going to puke. Then Elder Jenks literally fountained the fudge in his mouth, before he drooled it all back out!! It was awful, and so funny. And so gross. But he is definitely a blessing to our district because we have a group of very focused very studious people, and so we all get to serious and focused and do not remember to take a break and laugh every once in a while. But he does, thank goodness, otherwise I'm pretty sure we would all die and go home.

The MTC is so hard. So so hard. But it is so incredible. I am learning so much about myself and and am definitely being converted to the Lord. I LOVE it. The Lord knows us and knows what we need, and He is always watching out for us. The MTC is a constant spiritual haven as well, and I love it. I hate and it and love it at the same time.

I love you all and hope things are going well back at home. Stay in touch!

Love,
Hermana Gregory

P.S. Oh! If you want to talk to me fast or get a response from me faster, I can get letters any day of the week. Otherwise, I try to will email you back on Thursdays!