Thanksgiving at the MTC

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865591538/MTC-missionaries-find-charity-service-in-lentils-and-rice-on-Thanksgiving-Day.html

First Letter! First week DOWN!

Hello!!

So I have officially been in the MTC for a whole week!  It's hard to explain, but it feels like I've been in here longer than I have, but I'm also surprised at how this week flew by.  I suppose I could simply write "THIS IS HARD!"  click the send button, and that would be it!  But I wan't to at least attempt to describe how rewarding this experience is already. Everyone was right. Holidays at the MTC are the greatest! I'm singing in the choir for Thanksgiving and Christmas programs for the general authorities.  Definitely one of the coolest things I've been apart of!  

At the MTC, it feels like you're in a bubble.  (They actually shipped all of the spanish speaking missionaries out to Wyview, so it's more like an island)  With no outside temptations or distractions, it is so very easy to call upon the Spirit and have Him by your side as a constant companion.  The work load is extensive and at times very frustrating.  After one of the 3 hour lessons in Spanish, I was especially grumpy because even though I could understand my teacher, I could never respond with fluid, cohesive answers.  Then I remembered that it was my second day, and I felt a little bit better...  In the missionary handbook, it tells us to follow with "exact obedience" and I was a little apprehensive at first. (my family will understand, because they know I don't like being told what to do)  But I realized very quickly just how crucial that is!  Even going to bed later than 10:30 makes it SO much harder to wake up the following morning.  The Lord knows what we need better than we do ourselves. The harder I work, the more I receive.  It is so important to utilize personal study time and language study!  Sorry for the lack quotable material, but I was reading yesterday and in Alma 39(??) there was one particular verse which brought me great comfort.  Basically it said that when we turn our hearts to the Lord and do what we're supposed to, we can unload all of our other concerns over to Him. How cool is that?! I know the Lord will take care of us when we allow Him to take control of the things we have no power over.  One of the things I'm struggling with is the language.  I'm doing my best in class and studying every chance I get, and I know that the Lord will make up for what I lack.  

I was so nervous before teaching our first investigator!  I was thinking that I couldn't possibly share this wonderful message to the extent that I wanted because of the language barrier.  I was so scared that he would ask me something and he wouldn't be able to understand my Spanish!  Me and my companion offered a prayer before knocking on the investigator's door, but I had a special prayer in my heart.  I was afraid my investigator would not be be able to feel the Spirit because of my inability to share the message without sounding like I had a learning disability.  I had studied what I was to teach, payed attention in class, and had done what I was supposed to do.  And now every time I teach a lesson, I'm able to speak so much more fluently than when I'm talking to other missionaries in my district or even in the classroom.  The Lord makes up the difference. You'll be glad to know that after 3 lessons, our "investigator" is coming to church and thinking about baptism :) I think our next one is an atheist so it might be a little more difficult...

I love this gospel, and I love the work I am doing!  I send my love to all of you!!

Hermana Smith