This week has been insane. I can't believe I'm leaving for California tomorrow! I'm so excited. We leave the MTC at 3:20 am. Super excited to have a new adventure in my life that will change my perspective.
Guess
who came and spoke at the MTC devo. on Tuesday! Elder Neil A. Anderson.
He spoke about sacrifice, adversary, opposition, and deliverance. He
split them each into different groups. The one that really stuck out to
me the most was sacrifice. He said you have to give something up to
become something more. I LOVE that. It's really true when you're out on
the mission. I do believe that I'm becoming something more on the
mission. He also told us that instead of asking, "What can I get?" ask,
"What can I give?" This week I've been really trying to learn that, and I
have learned. I know I'm going to be really learning tomorrow when I
reach Long Beach California.
This
past week had fun at lunch at lunch. Just eating a salad when a crunch
came along. Not the normal salad crunch. More like a bizarre, hard
crunch. I soon found out that it was part of my retainer, and I had
swallowed it. I'm fine. Nothing happened to my stomach. Went to the
orthodontist. They said that the rest of my retainer looked great so
they just made me one to put on at nights. Just got it today. Something
to get used to.
Saturday I
finally had my first melt down. I was being super quiet, trying to hold
back tears. S. Murray and I were having comp study when one of our
teachers, Brother Call, came in to see how we were doing. He looked at
me and asked if I was okay because I didn't look myself. That's when I
lost it. Good thing no one else was in the room with us. I told him how I
didn't think I was a good enough missionary and that I didn't think I
should be here, but I didn't want to come home early because I promised
myself and President Walker that I wouldn't. B. Call told me that he
felt the same way when he was in the MTC. He then told me to go to
D&C 4 where he then recited, from memory, vs. 2-3,5. He told me that
if you have a desire to serve God than you're always going to be an
amazing missionary. I love that. I've really been uplifted and working
hard ever since then.
Yesterday,
after sacrament meeting, Sister Hinckley and I were just playing the
piano and harmonizing. When we finished I heard a lady ask us if we were
going to audition for any musical numbers. When I turned around it was
President and Sister Bertasso (1st counselor of the MTC) I was so taken
aback. We told her that we leaving Tuesday morning. She was so
devastated, trying to convince him to have us sing for one of the devo's
last night. We were both so touched, each thinking that we sounded
horrible.
At the MTC we get
to teach real investigators. There's this one lady named Sharon. She's
from Newport, TN, and has gone through so much. It was really hard to
get through to her. We were so excited when, on our last visit with her,
she said she would start praying. She swore she never would, but we
were able to help change her.
The other
investigator's name is Jeongyeon. Her American name is Kaylee Lee. She's
from Korea and is actually going to BYU. Just got married and is going
to be baptized! So excited. I don't know if they're members or not, but I
feel so privileged and excited to experience the real thing where we go
help find them on our own and from investigators.
Love you all and hope you're doing amazing work. Keep sending me emails.
Love,
Sister Stone
Sister Eliza Stone
California Long Beach Mission
6500 E. Atherton St.
Long Beach, CA 90815
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| Jeongyeon |
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| Sharon |
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MTC President Burges and Sister Burges
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