It might be because we are stuck in a place that could
almost resemble a prison (besides all the spiritual experiences though I know
Joseph Smith recieved revelation in Liberty Jail so the MTC could be a prison)
but missionaries are dying for any sort of entertainment. I have a few
examples; One: Two Sundays ago we watched Legacy and when there was that
romatic drama we changed into a bunch of elementary kids and when they
kissed... YEP! We all went EEEWWW or the other response OOOHHHHH! Another
Example: One of the elders in my distirct got a bouncy glowing ball in a
package and we find so much entertainment in tossing it around and hitting it
against the wall. We are in a classroom all day except that one hour of gym and
so we find ourselves laughing at the stupidest things! I know I have mentioned
before that the MTC is trying to get me fat right? Well one of the hermanas in
my district Hermana Moore said this yesterday, "I think the MTC is the
witch in Hansel and Gretel. We're locked up, eat food all day, sit all day and
get fat and then at the end.... They'll eat us!" Its an interesting
analgy. Pretty accurate I think. :D
Wednesday the 5th (Last week) and Wednesday the 12th we got
three new districts in our zone. The first two have four hermanas and four
elders each. The newest district that came this Wednesday have NINE elders and
NO sisters. And the Oldest district is leaving this next week so even though we
have only been here a little over 2 weeks we are now the oldest. I can't
believe that we are going into our third week!
There has been some major events lately here at the MTC. The first one is last Wednesday (the 5th) they had 900 missionaries enter the MTC! The most ever! Another crazy event is that we are now having Tuesday Devotionals in the Marriot Center! and just the choir at the devotionals (which I am in by the way) has over 1800 missionaries! So this Tuesday we made the short walk out of the MTC to the Marriot Center! My first thought when I was out was "RUN! YOU'RE FREE!" Kidding... Well I mean it did come to my mind but it was just in jest. The Devotional was so good! Elder Arnold spoke! and AAHHH his testimony shook my heart! It was so strong! If I have time at the end I'll share a few thoughts when I give my spiritual thought. The last major event! It hasn't happened yet but on the 23rd there is a huge Missionary Training Broadcast. I have no doubt that you have heard about it because Dad is in High Counsel. The First Presidency and most of the 12 apostles will be there! AND! Well I'll be singing in the choir there! :D EEEEEEE so! look for me okay? I'll be in the Alto section! They also mentioned it will be made into a video so that the world can see it! I am kinda excited!
Callie (my cousin for those who don't know) left this
Monday. She lived in the same building I did so I took her a airplane snack for
all the goodies my companion and other hermana had received. It was so hard to
say goodbye to her. I might have cried... So she is now in Kentucky serving the
Lord. I am kinda jealous I wish I could be out there right now. However, the
Lord wants me here so I will work my hardest to learn spanish.
I am so grateful that I am not attached to a boy while I am on my mission. My companion, Hermana Snow, has a novio (a boyfriend) and it probably would be that bad but here is the catch! Her boy has a job here, IN THE MTC, teaching Japanese. She's always worried (or I believe excited) to run into him while she is here. She hasn't yet but every time we are outside walking to another building she looks out for those white name tags (the teachers wear white name tags, missionaries wear black). It gets better... worse... He actually SAW HER! He was in a building and saw us walking! He knocked on the glass trying to get our attention but was unsucessful. I will be honest with you, I hope she doesn't see him. I think it would distract her even more! I don't know how she handles it and I am glad I don't have to.
Last Saturday Hermana Moore got the stomach flu. So she
slept all day in our room to get better. Luckily none of us got the flu from
her HOWEVER.... I am sick. I got an AWFUL cold this last Tuesday. It was so bad
that it sucked all the energy and color from my face. I was shaky and weak all
day. We had to teach on Tuesday also! So I slept and hoped and prayed that I
would be better before we had to go teaching. It didn't happen. So I slept all
day until 5 and by then I had gotten enough rest and enough food that I could
go to the devotional. I felt bad for my companion who had to stay in the room
because I was sick but I am also grateful for her because she was willing to
help me in any way she could. I still
have my cold but it is not nearly as bad. I will be excited when I can breathe
out of both my nostrels! haha
I have run into a few people I knew from BYU but the best person to run into was Sister KAREN ROSE! Not sure if you guys remember her but she is from our stake. She came into the MTC last wednesday but the best part is that she's learning portugese in the same building and same floor so I now see her all the time! So Callie leaves but I now have Karen so its all good(:
I am still struggling with spanish! I am so grateful I am
not learning some crazy language like Russian or Chinese! If I am struggling
with español then I would be a mess if it was something else! Haha. Even though
its hard I have the best teachers in the world! I have three main teachers.
Hermano Litznberger (sp?), Hermano Monroe and Hermano Barfuss. Each teacher has
their own way of teaching. Hermano Litznberger is a breath of frest air from
all the spanish. When it comes to personal topics he'll talk english and we talk
and talk (we meaning my district). Hermano Monroe has shared some crazy
spiritual experiences however he is so intimidating. I have no idea why but he
is. When I am speaking spanish to my companion he'll come over and listen and
all of the sudden I wont know how to speak at all, in english or in spanish. He
is one of our investigators so that is kinda hard but it's helping me get over
how intimidating he is. And then there is Hermano Barfuss! HE IS SO AMAZING!
(and cute but that has nothing to do with anything). He was our investigator at the very beginning
and then became our teacher. He is so sincere and positive! I am so grateful
for him! We were doing individual coaching and it was my turn and he really
boosted my self-esteem. The Lord really
does send the right people into your life when you are struggling.
Alright! I think I made up for my short e-mail last week!
Before I go I do want to leave you with a spiritual message. Deuteromy 31:8
"And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he
will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
The underline part. He will not fail us! No matter what we are going through he
will be there for us and direct us!
Okay I love you all! Work Hard, Don't Do Drugs!
Hermana Durfee
Picture 3: I drew a picture of my district! :D
Picture 1: Callie's last night here in the MTC!
Picture 2: On our way to the Marriot Center
I'm sure most of you know this, but Charlee has a very sarcastic sense of humor. :) I just want to clarify that the MTC is NOT prison. I (Brittney) LOVED it! It might be compared to going on a retreat to a Zen Buddhist monastery or something because it is very spiritually uplifting but very confined. I especially loved church and the Sunday and Tuesday evening devotionals where leaders of repute within the church come to speak and inspire.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it could be compared to being in school all day everyday (complete with cafeteria food...although I liked the food for the most part (especially the chocolate milk and the French toast sticks)) and I'm sure you can imagine that if 18, 19 and 20 year olds are in school for 12 hours a day, they definitely may compare it to prison. ;)
That said, I do think it's obvious that Char is having a good time and making the best of the situation as she is so good at doing. I can't believe it will only be a few more weeks before she's off to Denver!!! Crazy. :)