Full Week in the MTC

Hola!

Wow, what a crazy week! Well, it actually felt pretty slow with all the studying and all, but there were still some exciting times. 

On Sunday, we went to church...of course. It was in English!!! Correction. Most of it was in English, haha.  It was very refreshing to not have to concentrate super hard on every single word that was being said just to understand. 

All the new missionaries got to watch "Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar for their first Sunday night film.  It was soooooo good.  Knowing the Gospel is true is not enough, we need to undergo a conversion of our hearts and become like the Savior. The Savior is never selfish, He never turns inward, He always turns out.  As missionaries we should always be thinking about how we can help others.  We are on the Lord's time, not our own.  (My favorite line from the talk - "Do I have a cookie monster mentality?")

We taught our "investigator" four more times this last week.  We committed him to baptism!! Haha, it's still kind of hard for me to take it seriously. And guess what? Our "investigator" became our teacher the next day. His real name is Hermano Gardner.  EXPOSED!  Next week we get a new investigator that is a real native Spanish speaker.  I'm a bit nervous. 

For Tuesday's devotional, Elder Rasband and his wife came to the MTC to talk to us.  How lucky are we??  My companion and I are in the MTC choir (I should not be in the MTC choir haha), so we got to sing during the devotional.  Something Sister Rasband said really stuck out to me - "Just give until the master stops giving to you." 

Yesterday, all the hermanas in my district did an English and food fast.  We couldn't speak English the entire day...so basically none of us talked to each other.  Haha just kidding, but I think it really helped improve our Spanish.  We will be doing and English fast every week from now on. 

Love you all!

- Hermana Blazzard

My MTC District

First Days at the MTC

Hola!

I'm finally a missionary!  Wow, it's so surreal!  The first day at the MTC was good. People started speaking Spanish to me right from the beginning. I just nod and pretend like I know what they're saying.  That's kind of how things are going right now...I just act like I know what I'm doing.  Fake it 'til you make it. 

My companion is Hermana Hales.  She grew up in Idaho, but her family moved to Utah a couple years ago. Before the mish, she went to BYU for a year. Haha, so we are basically the same person! She is awesome and we have some good laughs.  We were definitely meant to be companions! From day one, we set a goal to never use the elevator to get up to our classroom (on the 6th floor) so we use the stairs a bajillion times a day. Oh, and we both called each other "bro" when we met...yeah you're not supposed to do that.  We still do it sometimes which es mal.  What's funny is that I had to read that rule out loud during our branch presidency meeting.  Maybe it's a sign.  Jk, but really  I need to work on speaking in a "professional manner."  psh.

The elders and hermanas in my district are all going to Ecuador, but different missions.  There are A TON of missionaries going to Ecuador. I've met like a million.  Esta bien. 

We gave our first lesson in Spanish to our "investigator", Alejandro, yesterday.  It went okay, but we have lots to work on. It's frustrating because I can understand what he's asking, and I know how to answer, but my Spanish is very limited.  So we teach him again tonight, and I think we will do better. 

Today is our preparation day, and we went to the temple. It was fun to do something other than study! We study a lot. All day.  My saving grace is exercise time.  Yesterday, Hna hales and I ran a mile and played basketball. She doesn't even play basketball, but she won the first game of knockout. Then I won the second game. You just can't stop us. 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Alma 26:27 - "When our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back,behold, the Lord comforted us, and said:..bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

• Hermana Blazzard

Name tag

First day/meeting my companion

View from my classroom on the 6th floor

MTC Dorm Room (seis Hermanas)

Companion study outside

Temple trip on p-day

MTC Arrival

I don't have much time to write.  Things are moving very quickly already.  They only speak Spanish to me and I just nod and act like I know what they are saying.

My companion is Hermana Hales!! I haven't met her yet though.  I got to choose my bed, which I'm so happy about.  It looks like there will be six people in my room.  My classroom is on the sixth floor,  but not facing the street.  

I'm already soooo excited and everyone is soooo nice.  It's going to be fun!

My P-day is Saturday....that's what sabado means right??

-Hermana Blazzard