Okay, this is absolutely INSANE. I can't even begin to tell you how insane the MTC is. But I love it!!!
How do I describe my experience so far??? It's like. . . a harder-working, glorified EFY. Mixed with the biggest emotional roller coaster ever. :D The first two days were just the BEST! I have TWO companions: Sister Percival and Sister Chadwick. Sister Percival is a sweet strawberry blonde from Indiana. Sister Chadwick is a tall, athletic, HILARIOUS blonde girl from the lovely city of Provo. :) They are wonderful Sisters. Honestly, after constant days straight with them, going through this emotional, spiritual ride, I feel like I've known them for years. We've already gotten on each others nerves a lot (we all have red personalities) and laughed together until we've cried. I know all their little quirks and everything. It's pretty great. The Elders in my district are Elder Haws, Elder Facey, and Elder Lovell. All in one companionship as well. They are the BEST!!!! Elder Haws is from Arizona, Elder Facey is a black from England (with the COOLEST accent that is not as "posh" as Ashleigh's family) and Elder Lovell is black and from Guyana! They have blow-your-mind testimonies and are absolutely, completely HILARIOUS! I know soooo much about them, too! We're already a close family. They're so patient with us girls and our constant tears. ;)
We are so busy. ALL THE TIME. It's borderline ridiculous. We're told the "Obedience brings blessings--exact obedience brings miracles", so we're trying to do everything JUST RIGHT. But we fall so short again and again, and that stresses me out and frustrates me. For example, we have assignment after assignment on what to study and what to memorize and practicing. . . they say every day "Do this in your free time" and we look at each other like, "Free time?" We get out of class at 9:30 PM and are asked to have lights out at 10:30, so I barely have time to scribble a thought in my journal about the adventures of the day! But it's okay. It helps me practice prioritizing my time.
We sit in 3-hour block classes 2-3 times a day. I am learning EVERYTHING about Preach My Gospel. . . it's like my new best friend. Let me tell you, these teachers are inspired!!!! I love them, and I have rarely felt such love from people in my life. Young return missionaries who KNOW what they're talking about. We learn not to compare ourselves to them, because that's depressing. I never knew teaching the gospel could be so challenging, especially when you have two other people with you who think differently than you do. We struggled so badly! We have to teach the lessons in a certain amount of time without making it feel rushed, while discovering their needs and applying the lesson perfectly to them so they understand why we're telling them about it. We need to balance talk-time between all of us and testify with the Spirit. . . but not plan so much that we can't follow the Spirit if we're prompted to take a tangent. It is so hard to stay on the same page as the other Sisters at all times. Each of us has had a breakdown about this, at different times. We felt so inadequate. I'm beginning to learn what it means to be truly humble. "If [men] humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27 . It took soooo many prayers and tears and struggles as we tried to teach before we really hit a breakthrough. The teachers and the Elders were sooo comforting, though.
But our breakthrough was AMAZING!!!! We taught the best lesson ever!!!!! We were all crying, things flowed perfectly, we followed the spirit and COMMITTED JORDAN TO BE BAPTIZED!!!!!! Okay, let me explain quickly about teaching "investigators". Our two main teachers, Brother Sorensen and Brother Perfili, both role-play someone they know well. We teach them, from the beginning. They are wonderful actors and it feels so real for everyone. This process of learning is truly inspired.
We went to the temple today!!!!! And Sunday was amazing with our walk and the recorded devotional from Elder Bednar and choir. . . It's been a wonderful little breather from the chaos of day-to-day activity.
I am working so hard, and sometimes I am really overwhelmed, but I have never doubted I am supposed to be here. I feel Heavenly Father sustaining me in everything I do. I know He's aware of my efforts.
I have to thank all of the people who FLOODED my email!!! It's the best feeling in the world to open my email and have so much contact from wonderful friends. I'm so grateful I haven't been sick with missing people yet though! I'm too busy for that. My emotional hard times come from other places, so far. THANK YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER.
I hope all of you are doing great! I have an hour on email total at the MTC, so I won't have tons of time to email people individually. I'll try, though! And I'll try to send pictures! Thanks for all of your support. Also, I love the pillowcases. ;)
Week one of my 18-month adventure is wrapping up soon! Keep writing me! Can't wait for the future!
Lots of love,
Sister Merkley
P.S. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! I have a NEPHEW!!!!!!!!
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