Birthday!

Hola!

 

This has overall been a pretty good week in the MTC. Eating has gotten better here. I no longer feel like I have to bolt my food at every meal. Those first couple of weeks I was constantly overstuffed and sick to my stomach or starving. (Hermana Clifton thought I was crazy. :) Now, I think I've adjusted to quickly eating three larger meals a day with no snacks in between instead of my usual three smaller meals eaten over a longer period of time and with snacks in between. I feel like I've also been able to be more diligent in my studies this week. I've started recognizing some of the benefits of exact obedience. One small example is sleep. I've been working really hard to be in bed by 10:30 or earlier every night and to get up (or at least role over onto my knees and pray) at exactly 6:30. Getting up is always hard for me, but as I've been obedient to the bed times and get up times I've found myself able to be alert and not really tired throughout the day. It has been a real blessing. I've also noticed that the more diligent I am with my studies the happier I feel at the end of the day, no matter what other successes or failures I face.

 

As of now, both of our investigators have committed to be baptized, but we havn't set specific dates yet. It has been really cool to watch the transformation as they both learn more about the gospel and how it can bless their lives. I love watching their faces during lessons and seeing them think about what we've taught them and what they're feeling. This week one investigator told us about how her friend who is a member was always so happy despite also having problems in her life. Our investigator thought that maybe the difference was the gospel. It was so exciting to see her come to that conclusion on her own. I hope that as we continue to teach her she will find that happiness even though we can't solve all the problems in her life. I can't wait to be able to see these changes in all of the people we'll be able to teach in California! I am terrified that I won't be able to communicate with them or that I won't share exactly what they need, but that's what trainers and the Spirit are for right? I feel like I've slowly been improving in my ability to feel the Spirit directing me during lessons and studying.

 

This morning we went to the temple and did a session. I think temple time is my favorite time of the week. (It's too bad it feels more like three weeks between each time we get to go.) I love the feelings that I have in the temple. This morning on our way there we walked up with some random elders and we sang hymns with them as we walked up. One that we sang was 'I Love to See the Temple'. I have always loved this primary song. I especially love the second verse that says, "I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday. I'll covenant with my Father, I'll promise to obey." I love the way the promises we make with God at baptism and in His temples have blessed my life. In the temple today I was thinking about how the temple is the Lord's house. I don't know which general authority said it, but I heard somewhere that Christ has walked every room of His temples. It was amazing to stand in the celestial room and realize that Christ could have stood right where I was standing; he could have been standing right there next to me. I have truly felt him holding me up through my hardest times here. I know that He loves me, and approves of what I am doing.

 

Happy week to everyone!

 

Hermana Hardy