YAY! Half way done with the MTC!

1/8/13

So because of the new BYU semester, we lost our old teachers. :( But we had a super last day with them. :) It was awesome. Hermano Law told us this awesome sad personal story a few weeks ago, and basically he's the most cheerful person I know. Every day he says he's 'superfeliz.' :D It reminded me a bit of "Any better and I couldn't stand it." So now I always say I'm superbien or superfeliz. :) He told us some awesome stories about his mission in Chile. I can't wait to get out into the field!!! BTW, the investigator that he played, Jason, was one that he actually talked to while in the MTC! It was online and all that. They used to do call center stuff, and they actually contacted him and he was interested and they had lessons with him via chat and such. Pretty awesome!

We didn't get a last day with Hermano Wald because he was sick. :( He got the disease I guess. We'll get to have one with him next week and get pics with him and all that good stuff.

We got fitted for our costumes today! None of the dresses fit me very well but hopefully they'll get something worked out. XD

Our new teachers are awesome! One of them is Hermana Eyring (yes, she is President Eyring's granddaughter) and she is awesome. She's super quiet and sweet and humble but powerful and really fantastic. Our other teacher is Hermano Waddups. He's super energetic and a great teacher. He really tries to keep all of us awake. It's nice. :) Our new Zone Resource Teacher is Hermano Campbell. He's super awesome too, and so basically all our new teachers rock, so I'm a tiny bit less upset about losing our old teachers. I will eventually send some pictures home, I promise. XD

I was unaffected by the sickness! Our district was so lucky. Only two of us got sick, and it was only for a day. There were hundreds of missionaries puking their guts out for New Years. :( I felt so bad! Even Elder Dean got sick. :(

I saw Elder Embly again! (I remembered his name). I also saw Elder Mertlich! Umm…The one from our ward going to Russia. :) I was on my way to Sacrament Meeting and he walked past and then I heard "Sister Harris!" and so I turned around and voila. It's so nice to see familiar faces!!

During our lesson on Sunday, Elders Dougal and Mason taught, and they used two Star Wars analogies and a LotR analogy to explain baptism, repentance, and relying on the Holy Ghost. It was awesome. :)

We got to go to the temple today! It was sooo wonderful. I just always feel superbien after going. :D Soooo goood! I definitely feel a greater love for those around me and a greater desire to help the all get to the Celestial Kingdom!

Okay so today in the devotional I learned some awesome things. Basically one thing I learned is that I really need to have more faith in our message. He told this story about these missionaries that went and taught a guy at 4:30 in the morning because that's when his wife said he'd be available, and when they got there, they said "Just meet with us for 20 minutes 3 times. If you don't believe it, you never have to see us again." After two lessons, the man said that he found himself hoping they'd come back every single day after that. :) 

This message is so incredible. I just sometimes forget how powerfully it will affect their lives! I need to remember that and have faith in the power of the gospel. :) Same with my testimony. (I'm scared about sharing it sometimes during Sacrament meeting or with friends because I'm afraid they'll judge or think I'm crazy, but I need to have the confidence that the Holy Ghost will back me up and I can change lives.) Another thing they said is "The only way to obtain different results is to do something different." I mean, it sounds obvious, but it's true! If you want to change something, you have to actually change what you're doing, otherwise nothing will change.

Oh okay so I'm going to share some goals with you so hopefully I'll actually stick to them more. Hermana Amendola and I are trying to 1) Actually talk to people in line, 2) Smile at people and make eye contact, and 3) Be grateful. :) These are all supposed to help me become more Christlike. I figure that if He were standing in the dinner line, He'd talk to people. So...I'm supposed to do that too! Sounds simple but it's something I struggle with, so, I'm working on it.

Here's a sweet scripture: 1 Nephi 17:50. If the Lord should ask me to do all things, I could do it! He will help me do whatever it is he asks me.

Here's a comforting one. Alma 1:18 tells me that this work is possible. It just requires all of my might and the faculty of my whole soul. That's all. ... ... o.O I need to get working.

Well, I love you all. :) I don't know what much else to say.

OH here's a good story...

Last night we set our alarms for 5:15 to do laundry as we usually do every p-day... then at 4:10 teh fire alarm went off and we were escorted across the courtyard to the gym, where we sat and talked about hamsters, gerbils, and all sorts of crazy animals that we've had as pets that have come to horrific ends until 5:20 when they let us out. Then we went and did laundry. Fun morning! XD

Oh! One of the missionaries in our district found out at 6:00 this morning that his visa finally came in and that he was heading out in.... 20 minutes. XD I'm glad I don't have to worry about a visa!!

Okay. I really do love you all. Keep being awesome. :)

--Hermana Harris--