Leaving the MTC

Wow! It seems so crazy to me that I am already leaving this wonderful place. I feel like I am not ready, but also feel like I have learned so much. I basically spend my time going to class and doing study time. My district and I have a hard time with studying though, because all we want to do is talk. We really have been so blessed to be with each other and to also be with our teachers. I love brother Griffiths, as a goodbye present he gave us all pictures of him with a little quote on it. Then sister De Boer was also a great teacher. We had to teach an investigator that they taught, and we got sister De Boer, and turns out the investigator that she was playing, was her! Her story was amazing, and getting to know her that way made me just love her even more. She was baptized when she was 19 almost 20 and then a year later went on a mission! Her parents didn't support her getting baptized, and still don't support her being LDS. She is such an example.

Well other then that not too many exciting things, except,  oh yea I was sitting about two rows behind all of the apostles at the World Wide Broadcast and I was able to sing to them in the choir! It was such an amazing experience. I was blessed to be there. I also just joined the choir that day, so I didn't exactly know what to sing. Although I was lucky that we got to practice real quick. Once the apostles walked in the spirit just flooded the room. I can testify that these are men who are called of God. They had such amazing messages! I hope that all of you will strive to really help the missionaries. We can all be missionaries, we don't just have to wear a name tag.

I am so nervous to be going out into the field. I have definitely learned to rely on the Lord. I can testify of that to all of you, that if you only ask he is there. We had an amazing experience the other night with one of our investigators that we are teaching (she is an actor). We went in to teach her with four of us sisters, cause there wasn't enough time for us to split and do our own lessons with her. So as we are sitting in there teaching her she interrupts us. She asks us how we can teach her, and tell her that we love her when we didn't even know her. We all went silent. We didn't know what to say. I felt like we had gotten to know her, she really seemed to connect with us the other times that we had visited her. After a while she asked if Christ was in this room, what would he tell you I needed to hear? Again, the room went silent. Finally sister Arnold one of the sisters in my district told her that if he was here he would want her to know that he loves her. The spirit was there immediately. We then went on to talk about how the holy ghost can testify to her of that love. That was when I was prompted to ask her if she would kneel down and pray with us, and ask if Christ loves her. We were able to get down for her to say a prayer. She kept saying how scared she was, but then she finally did it. After the prayer we paused. Normally in a pause it feels awkward and the normal response is to say something. Something we learned though is that sometimes you need it to be silent so that you can just let them feel the spirit. Finally she told us that she could feel it. She knew he was there and that he loved her. We then ended it, and I again was prompted to ask her if she would be baptized. She said that she would think about it. After walking out of the room, we were all in shock! The emotions I felt were crazy. I never thought that she would say that. I thought that the lesson was going the complete opposite way! This is why I am out here. Even if it was a fake investigator, it was her real story. I was able to feel the love that God had for her. I felt that love for her myself. I was so grateful we were able to change her life, if only just to bring her closer to Christ. Whenever I am out on the mission field and I am having a rough time, I will always think back to this experience, and think back to the reason why I am really out here. I am so grateful for her, her name was Lawanna! 

Well I guess its time for me to go now! I leave tonight for a plane at 1:58 in the morning!! I am so scared but so excited. Me and my district have been able to become so close. I know that God placed us all in the same district for a reason. We have all become so close. Last night we were able to have a little testimony meeting, and the spirit was so strong. Like it always is! These elders and sisters are so amazing, I wish you all could meet them. They are going to do amazing things along with me in Wisconsin. Like one of them always says, "We're going to go ham in the paint in Wisconsin". Don't really know what it means still, but I know we will go out there and do great!! The MTC is a great place, I will never forget all the many things that I have learned and the people that have touched my life since I have been there. I wouldn't have been able to do anything that I have done without the Lords help. I ask all of you to just look back and notice how many times, whether small or big, when the Lord has been right there for you. It will be such a faith builder if you do that. Well I love you all and pray for you. Hope the weather is nice and hot!! I am off to Wisconsin ;)