Mom!
Hello! It was so good to hear from you! I loved your dearelder letters. They were light a ray of sunshine on these past couple raining days of the MTC.
Let me first of all start off by saying that I love the MTC. The Spirit that I have felt here is like nothing I've ever been able to feel before. There is something about being around so many missionaries who have the same purpose and the same goals that makes it so special. My companion's name is Sister Hollenbeck. She is such a sweet heart and is from Mesa, Arizona. She can be a little quiet at times; however, when she speaks she is very insightful. I think that we compliment each other very well, as I am typically a chatter-box. We also have been assigned to be Zone Sister Training Leaders. It has been a very humbling experience as we both kneel down in prayer to our Heavenly Father to know how we can best help the Sister's in our Zone feel loved, and supported. Many of them have been struggling with homesickness so we've been doing all we can to help these Sisters know that they are loved and that they are at the right place.
We got to meet our first investigator today. Her name is Ny and she is from Madagascar. She moved to Utah and was referred by her friend Claudia who is a member of the church. It's amazing to see how God has blessed her life and how He has led Ny to the gospel. She has many questions and tonight we are having our first official lesson with her. Sister Hollenbeck and I going to be teaching her about God's love for Her, and about the Book of Mormon. We hope that she will accept our invitation to read the Book of Mormon and pray to Heavenly Father to know if it's true. We hope to promise her that she will be able to find all of the answers that she is searching for within these sacred pages.
I have come to truly develop an even stronger testimony of missionary work and of the Book of Mormon. I know that it is the word of God and that we truly can draw so much closer to him as we study the words and apply it's teachings in our lives.
I know that the key to being a successful missionary, whether you are a full time missionary or just a member missionary, is obedience. I have come to learn more fully that we cannot teach the gospel on our own. We may think that we know enough; however, you will quickly learn that if the Spirit is not present, then the struggle will be real. I know that when we are being completely obedient to our Heavenly Father, he blesses us with the Spirit to not only teach the investigator, but also the spirit to know exactly what they need to hear. I have come to learn that the Spirit is the true teacher and is essential for missionary work.
Lastly, if you are considering serving a mission. Do it. It is one of the hardest things that I have ever done; however, it is the best thing that I've ever done. I promise you that you will find no greater joy in this life then by serving the Lord.
I love you so much.
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ so much! It makes me so happy!
Love,
Sister Smith
Hello! It was so good to hear from you! I loved your dearelder letters. They were light a ray of sunshine on these past couple raining days of the MTC.
Let me first of all start off by saying that I love the MTC. The Spirit that I have felt here is like nothing I've ever been able to feel before. There is something about being around so many missionaries who have the same purpose and the same goals that makes it so special. My companion's name is Sister Hollenbeck. She is such a sweet heart and is from Mesa, Arizona. She can be a little quiet at times; however, when she speaks she is very insightful. I think that we compliment each other very well, as I am typically a chatter-box. We also have been assigned to be Zone Sister Training Leaders. It has been a very humbling experience as we both kneel down in prayer to our Heavenly Father to know how we can best help the Sister's in our Zone feel loved, and supported. Many of them have been struggling with homesickness so we've been doing all we can to help these Sisters know that they are loved and that they are at the right place.
We got to meet our first investigator today. Her name is Ny and she is from Madagascar. She moved to Utah and was referred by her friend Claudia who is a member of the church. It's amazing to see how God has blessed her life and how He has led Ny to the gospel. She has many questions and tonight we are having our first official lesson with her. Sister Hollenbeck and I going to be teaching her about God's love for Her, and about the Book of Mormon. We hope that she will accept our invitation to read the Book of Mormon and pray to Heavenly Father to know if it's true. We hope to promise her that she will be able to find all of the answers that she is searching for within these sacred pages.
I have come to truly develop an even stronger testimony of missionary work and of the Book of Mormon. I know that it is the word of God and that we truly can draw so much closer to him as we study the words and apply it's teachings in our lives.
I know that the key to being a successful missionary, whether you are a full time missionary or just a member missionary, is obedience. I have come to learn more fully that we cannot teach the gospel on our own. We may think that we know enough; however, you will quickly learn that if the Spirit is not present, then the struggle will be real. I know that when we are being completely obedient to our Heavenly Father, he blesses us with the Spirit to not only teach the investigator, but also the spirit to know exactly what they need to hear. I have come to learn that the Spirit is the true teacher and is essential for missionary work.
Lastly, if you are considering serving a mission. Do it. It is one of the hardest things that I have ever done; however, it is the best thing that I've ever done. I promise you that you will find no greater joy in this life then by serving the Lord.
I love you so much.
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ so much! It makes me so happy!
Love,
Sister Smith
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