Ok the first ten minutes at the MTC were rough because I was tearing up the whole time. Ok here's something about me that I feel like has been happening over the last year but confirmed at the MTC--I'm turning into a big baby!! When it comes to anything about the Gospel and testimonies and the Savior and my family I start bawling. And by bawling I mean getting a HUGE lump in my throat and trying to stifle it down for the next twenty minutes and shallow breathing and eventually my face starts to crumple and maybe I reach a point where I can't keep my composure, so not really bawling but might as well be. And it's so embarrassing. My companion can sweetly shed a few tears without revealing any sort of emotion in her voice and can continue in the conversation--I just choke up and have to stop singing/talking to swallow it down! Gotta work on that.
The first full day here at the MTC was kinda rough because it was seriously just SOOOO LONG. And I knew that was what it was going to be like, and I knew we were going to be in class all day, but nothing can fully prepare you for how long it is haha. And we're in the SAME classroom. All day. We eat breakfast at 7 and go to class at 7:30. We stay there until lunch at 11:30 and then come back at 12. Then we stay there until 4:30 and leave at 8:15 for gym. That's our typical schedule for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, and Saturday. Tuesdays are P-days and Sundays are a little different. But we still have a few hours of classroom time even on those days. Normally on P-days we can walk up to the temple and do a session, but unfortunately the Provo temple is closed for the next two weeks for maintenance. :( So today we have a little more free time but next week I think we're actually going up to the temple to clean it? We'll see.
So, collaboration is HARD. I thought that I had gotten better at it with my job since changing bosses and fellow coworkers I've had to do a lot of it in the past month as I write the family programs, but this is a new level! My companion and I have to plan out every single word we're going to say to our investigator Muriel, and we are pretty similar in a lot of ways, but we don't exactly have the same teaching methods maybe. I've learned that although I'm pretty sure I'm always right (I am), I need to let her take the reigns on almost everything because that's how I'll learn patience. And by that I mean it's not like I don't do anything, but if she makes a suggestion that I don't fully disagree with, I let her do it. Because the Lord is trying to teach me something and I think he's trying to teach her something too--but neither of us know all the answers. Maybe both of us are right, and both of us need to work together and figure out what the BEST way to teach Muriel is. I just didn't realize it would be so mentally exhausting to have to plan EVERY SINGLE STEP in the teaching process and even plan out our prayers! When you're learning a different language, you have to do that kind of thing haha. I said the closing prayer at church on Sunday and during the whole last talk I was planning out what I was going to say word for word because I knew I would stutter and say things totally wrong in French if I didn't.
Speaking of the language, I'm SO GLAD I have a background in French. It has definitely come in super handy and I understand almost everything our teacher and investigator have said so far. They are American, so it's very different, but I'm still glad. I seriously have NO idea how people can go in completely cold not knowing a language at all and learn it at the MTC, it would be so incredibly frustrating. I've seen that in some of the elders here in my district. But it will come in time! Also, I'm pretty sure that the advantage I have will only last for a little bit, and then it will be a struggle in France and I'll just have to learn it as soon as possible. I've started to read the Livre de Mormon in French and it's getting easier too! I'm slowly starting to pick up on the scripture words like "it came to pass" and "for behold," things like that. The gift of tongues is real! Also every single time someone talks to me, even outside the classroom like in our residence or at meals, my first reaction is to respond in French. Which is funny cause I kinda secretly make fun of those fresh RMs that always have to speak their mission language like it's the greatest thing so they speak it everywhere and it's like....we don't care that you speak Spanish....and now I'm that person!!! Ahh so nerdy but whatever. I have to be! That's how we learn! This morning I woke up with the words of "Mon Objectif" (my purpose as a missionary) running through my head in French. So that's probably a good sign. We memorized that and now we're trying to memorize the first vision in Joseph Smith's words. Work at the MTC is hard and long, but at least memorization is something I would be glad to do.
So we eat dinner at 4:30 here..... yeah don't know whose idea that was but needless to say we're starving when we get back to our rooms at 9:30 and so naturally we have to snack. Each of my roommates and I have gotten a package of some sort with goodies in it sooo yeah. If we gain weight, it's not because we're making unhealthy eating choices in the cafeteria (because we're pretty good about that), it's because people love us and send us treats. And we LOVE that and are not complaining in the slightest :)
Speaking of which, I got a Christmas package from the ward and it was SO CUTE!! There was this adorable banner that said Merry Christmas and Lacey's primary class all wrote a little message and signed it, some very sweet letters from people in the ward, lots of candy, and a photo album of everyone in the ward holding up cute little signs. And a picture of us! Because I'm always that in that awkward college student phase of coming home only for a couple weeks at a time twice a year, I don't know a lot of people in the ward and in the photos but there
were plenty I did know and recognize and it was still the sweetest thing!! I will definitely be glad to have those photos later.
One of the best parts about this week is that my best friend Ren Ren came to see me at my building yesterday!! I so desperately wanted to see a familiar face so when he poked his head in the door I was so happy. He works at the MTC and had just finished a shift teaching Japanese. Maybe that's not allowed for him to find me but I think the Lord was ok with it and he was probably just following the Spirit cause I just really needed to see a familiar face! It's hard to believe that life is still going on outside the MTC...I have a sliver of a window in my classroom and while the view is mostly ugly MTC buildings, I do have a small view of the mountains behind them. And I look out there and remind myself that I'm close to home and that little bit of familiarity is nice.
Also, SURPRISE CALLING ON CHRISTMAS, WHOOP WHOOP! I will be calling the home phone at 4:00 pm mountain time so that means 6 for you, family! Please be ready! If no one answers the home phone which is highly probable then I will call Dad's cell phone number (Mom's will likely be dead or ringing upstairs where no one will hear it... ;))
Ok probably have to go soon but I'M SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS HERE it's just going to be the best. I love my companion and my district and there will be a general authority and I just know it's going to be so nice and I'll probably just be crying the whole day of happiness but it will be great! The spirit here is pretty tangible. I wish you all could experience it. Linda Burton had a relative that wrote during Christmas and said "I was feeling sorry for myself being here alone for Christmas but now I feel sorry for all of you that can't be here during Christmas!" So there you have it. I'm sure that's how I feel on Thursday.
Je vous aime et me voyez des lettres!! :D
Joyeux Noel!
Sister Hurd
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