Familia!!!!!
I am official a missionary writing on P-day! Oh my
goodness. It is amazing to think that I made it to this day! So much has
happened in the past week and a half, it is madness. The first couple days were
really crazy. They pretty much just throw you into it... the Spanish and
teaching and studying, and it was definitely a bit overwhelming. Everyone just
kept saying make to Sunday though, and they were so right. Once Sunday came
around, I definitely felt like I got into the swing of things! I love the MTC!!
:)
Okay, so where to start. My companions. I love them!
There are three of us in a companionship because one girl didn't end up coming.
So my companion’s names are Hermana Johnson and Hermana Call. We are all going
to the Chile Osorno Mission and I love them!! Hermana Call is a musical theatre
major and seriously one of the most creative people I have ever met. And
Hermana Johnson is so sweet and funny and beautiful! We have lots of things in
common and often break out in fits of laughter haha. I just love her! Our whole
district is awesome too. There are two other hermanas and 6 elders, all of whom
are awesome. We aren't all going to the same mission (some to Argentina,
Santiago, and Bolivia), but we will all leave the same day. Basically...
districts are the best. They are like a little family :)
Spanish!!!
I am not joking when I say they literally throw you into the language haha. You
speak and teach it before you even learn it. Our first lesson with our
investigator, Daniel, was last Friday and we were so nervous because we hardly
knew what to say! I am so so sooooo grateful I took that Spanish class at BYU
last semester though. I totally underestimated what a blessing it would be! I
am by no means a pro, but it has been such an amazing blessing to know the
basics and such.
The Spirit here at the MTC is so incredible. I can't
even describe how amazing it is to be in a huge congregation of
missionaries before devotional and sing hymns together. Talk about the most incredible
feeling ever! It's like a literal wave of the Spirit that completely fills the
room and reverberates off the walls. It is amazing. One hymn that we have sung
a lot and you hear hummed in the hallways quite often is "Come Thou
Fount." I already love this song, but I love it even more now! There is a
line that says, "Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it." That is
exactly how I feel. Heavenly Father, here is my heart! I am here to learn and
serve and bring others unto Christ. I can't do it without your help, so take my
heart, my whole soul; so that I can become the missionary you want me to be :)
I have received so many blessings while I have been
here! Heavenly Father just answers the tiniest little prayers. One day, Hermana
Johnson and I had been feeling really discouraged about the way a lesson had
gone and about feeling like we needed to "prove ourselves to the
elders," especially the zone leaders who seemed to favor the elders. There
were lots of tears, and things were just rough. That night we were divided up
into companionships so older missionaries could come talk to us, and who walked
in but the zone leaders! They gave the most spiritual and uplifting advice
about teaching investigators and reminded us that the Spirit is the teacher,
not us. Our job is to help others come unto Christ, and let the Spirit do the
rest. They also reminded us what an amazing difference sisters make in a
district and how the sisters in their district motivate them and make them want
to be better. Can you say answer to prayers? Hermana Johnson and I started to
cry as soon as they walked out. It what exactly what we needed to hear :)
We have heard so many times that the Spirit is the
teacher, but I can feel the difference when we are trying to teach the lessons
and the Spirit is teaching. It is amazing! Our thoughts are in tune with each
other, and even though our Spanish is weak, we know what to say. One sister
told us that we should pray for three things in the MTC: 1) the gift of the
Holy Ghost 2) the gift of Discernment and 3) the gift of Tongues. In THAT
order. We are here at the MTC not to learn Spanish, but to become converted and
learn to teach with the Spirit. It is s amazing! I love the MTC!
Ahhh running out of time. But I love you all! Sooo
much!!! I have gotten so many letters, and I love everyone who has sent them! I
will respond as soon as I can! Also, read 1 Nephi 3:15. I know we all have a
work to do, and Heavenly needs us to bless his children. I am so grateful for
this gospel. I know it is true. I know I can do anything with my Savior. I know
that this is where I am supposed to be and there are lives that I need to reach
in Chile, that only I can reach. I love the MTC so much and I am so glad I am
here!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!! :)
Your missionary,
Hermana Teeples
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