Week 3: Sickness has taken over
Tuesday, September 5th-
P day was super busy. I got to go to the temple and do all the little chores that needed to be done. We had a great devotional with a guest speaker… Gary E Stevenson. It was fantastic. I am so ready to go and invite people to learn about something that has made me so happy. What a privilege. The whole mtc is sick, and it hit our district. A lot of the Elders have colds, and we had a sister start throwing up and go to urgent care. Before she went to urgent care, some of the Elders from our district gave her a blessing. As we saw them coming marching towards us, I could feel the spirit and see the lords little army. It was really impactful. As they gave the blessing, people stopped out of respect and after they shared how strong the spirit was. Blessings have so much power, and elders going to serve and bless others' lives with the priesthood is more than special and powerful. The lords work can not be stopped and will not. I could eat our elders up(not literally just meaning they're pretty cool)
Wednesday, September 6th
I have been at the mtc for a week now. Feels like it's been forever but also so quick, which makes no sense. Our district is sick. 7/14 have either a cold or flu. I gave everyone emergen-c to drink. Meals were okay today. For our service project, we vacuumed one of the teaching buildings. The teachers are supposed to vacuum their classrooms, and we just had to do the halls. As I went by, so many classrooms looked awful with food on the floor, so I did a bit extra. Played some volleyball, which was fun. Did lots of studying and marking up my scriptures. Found out I'm awful at going from a normal conversation to a gospel related conversation. I am not smooth at all. I did, however, teach very well with Sister Jacobson. We taught two Elders in our class for 5 minutes. We were supposed to teach from the spirit and not with notes, and we really shared a good message with a strong spirit. I feel confident in sharing what I do know to be true, but I have lots to learn. I did bad today and ate a donut. I couldn't resist, and I am now feeling ill and am so bloated. Can't complain it's my own fault, but I did make it a whole week without gluten prior to this incident. Patting myself on the back. I have ate half a bag of frootie tootsies in three days. That might also be contributing to my stomach problems. I should probably cut myself off, but whenever I look tired, my companion sneaks me one in class. I blame her.
Thursday, September 7th
Today, I was wide awake for once. Class was so good we had time to do some personal study and I studied covenants and what it really means to take Christ's name upon us. I taught two good short lessons today. I had gluten-free waffles that were super good and a gross hamburger that I drowned in ketchup, which resulted in me getting made fun of. Apparently, I eat an insane amount of ketchup. Dinner a random Elder talked to me for 25 minutes with a ginormous smile on his face the whole time and this polite country sophisticated voice. He's from South Carolina. He was so kind, but then he started talking about things I had no idea about and could barely hear him. I also just wanted to get some food and eat. Poor chap. He's ecstatic to go serve in pocatello idaho. His sister is going to BYU I, which is super close to him. He'll be a great missionary, but when I had nothing left to talk about and made the intense "help me eye contact" with my district, no one came to help carry the conversation. Apparently, Elders don't understand what "help me eyes" are. The last eventful thing of the day is that I planned my lesson for Sunday. I got asked to speak in sacrament, and then I exercised with my district. Which was super fun. I got some running/jogging tips from Elder Possin that were quite helpful. I've never laughed so much in one day. Our district is hilarious. I quite enjoy each individual and their uniqueness.
Friday, September 8th
The sister in my room has now contracted the cold or covid that is going around. I am stuffed up, so I'm probably next. 7/14 are sick in our district. Ran into another elder who told me multiple people in his district have pneumonia. The MTC is literally a germ pool, my worst nightmare. I have been snorting vitamin c and hand sanitizer. Breakfast, they didn't have my milk, so I ate dry cereal and was sad. Elder Croft shared an intelligent insight with me today. It's on my Facebook. Taught two helping others appointment one about the Book of Mormon and the other about the Godhead and prayer. I feel we did very well. I saw Elder Bourett again and got to play some volleyball with him and my district. A good day. I am surprised my social anxiety has completely diminished. I have no fear in talking to random Elders and Sisters. I've met so many cool sisters these last two days. I love being friendly and bubbly. I think my roommates are ready to get rid of me. A few nights I get on my hour long joking tangents. It's my yapping hours. I'm sure my parents do not miss it. Prayers always took an hour longer than expected because as soon as it was time to pray, I felt the need to share my whole life story and become a comedian. Now my roommates get to enjoy this. Xoxo.
Saturday, September 9th
Today, we went to the temple. Food was below average today. My stomach is not happy. Highlight of the day was finally getting my grandma's letters all at once. She is pure joy. I love her. She shared a fantastic scripture
Micah 7:7-8
Today was pretty bland
Sunday, September 10th
I gave my talk during the sacrament. Today I was able to meet Bonnie Cordon. It was so cool. She is a powerful disciple. My special milk was all gone, so I had to branch out for breakfast and try a different milk. lunch was fantastic. Dinner was so mid. They put rosemary or something like that in the gluten-free French toast. It was not great, but I am grateful for the people here volunteering to make sure everyone has food they can eat. I have only had anxiety about packing. I'm so calm, except I keep dreaming of my bags being too heavy. I fly out on Thursday. I don't think that has set in. My social anxiety and fears are basically non-existence here, I thank God every day for that. I loved talking to so many people this week. Something about giving others real genuine compliments each day makes me so happy. I think the Lord would want them to know how great they are, so every day, I seek to find someone to compliment.
4/14 people are left healthy. The rest are all sick.
Read this it's the most important
The Lord needs more people who are all in. There will come a time when sitting on the edge will not be enough. The Lord's grace is not just for the worthy. You have never strayed too far, and you are never too late. Some worry they're not worthy of God's love, and I can testify that God's love is for all and worthiness is all about being honest and trying to improve. God will never get tired of waiting for you. He will never tire his efforts to help us.
The savior sends personal messages in the exact time that you need it. The Lord is so mindful of all of us. He sends tender mercies all the time, but we must first be faithful, obedient, and have humility. You have to trust in the Lord, believe in his power and love. I have had so many tender mercies just this week. I have no doubt that God exists and is our loving heavenly Father. I have no doubts our brother, Jesus christ, our savior, died for us and took upon him our infirmities. I know he felt exactly what it's like to be each of you individually in your darkest of times. He knows you. He knows what it's like to feel temptations, and he knows what it feels like to not resist and give in. He knows what it's like to live with guilt. He knows what it's like to fight anxiety and depression. He knows what it's like to feel so far gone and so lost that there's no hope. He knows you. He knows how to help you and provide comfort. Because of him, we get the opportunity to live again. We get knowledge of what happens after death. I know we don't have to suffer alone. The Lord is waiting to take upon your sins and heartaches. Let him carry your pains and bring you eternal joy. It is not about who you are now but who you can become with his help. All it takes is faith.
I know all who seek the truth with a sincere heart will find it. This is God's true doctrine. This is his church. If you have seen miracles, seen the truth, and you turned away from it. I invite you and challenge you to come back. Gain that testimony and hold onto it. It takes great faith to hold onto what you have felt and known to be true when it suddenly seems to dry up or life gets hard. "Do not minimize the faith you already have. It takes faith to join the Church and remain faithful. It takes faith to follow prophets rather than pundits and popular opinion."- President Russel M. Nelson
The words Remember Remember keep going through my mind. Remember the moments when I knew what was true. Remember the moments I felt the spirit undeniably. Remember what you've felt so when the hard times come, your faith will not waiver. I can not and will not deny the truth I know.
Elder Hall, Aydens twin
Bonnie Cordon
Elder Paine
Elder Hall, Elder Possin, and my companion
Elder charcheknos twin
My favorite photo
Me and some of my besties 🩷
The coolest district misisng a few plus a random Elder
Elder Smith
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