To My Loving Friends and Family:
What can I say? I've been here a week and the days all blend together. Everyday is a new adventure and a new challenge. Sometimes it feels like I've been in the MTC for an eternity, other times it feels like next week is too soon to leave. Upon arriving in the MTC, we did everything that needed to be done, such as paperwork and interviews and emailing home, and moved in, found out who our companions are and really got to know the MTC. Just, FYI there are 11 sisters and approximately 20 elders in total here at the England MTC. (Take that, Provo!)
The next day we really got to know the classroom. Haha, my teachers are Sister Rojas and Brother Loynes, and Brother Loynes is awesome. He's an effecient and effective teacher, but he has such a great sense of humor. My district includes 4 Americans, 1 Canadian, and 1 Australian. They are all so great and funny! Sometimes study isn't all that effective because we end up talking and laughing. But I promise, we're working hard!
My companion Sister Ellis and I have two progressing investigators (actors played by our teachers) Ramani from Sri Lanka and John from Greece (but has lived in the UK a long time). Ramani is very quiet and not very personable, but she's a good listener. John has two little girls and is seperated, and he feels like this came out of nowhere but he seems like he's really interested in developing a relationship with God. We taught another sister this week, Priscilla, and that was the most emotional lesson, because she is essentially atheist, and her daughter Nikki died from cancer a year ago at 11 years old. Rather than trying to share a lesson with her, the first visit we just tried to extend comfort and companionship so when we do teach her we can have a bond.
I have learned and felt the Spirit more here than I ever have before. The prayers we give 24/7 are so much more sincere than I feel they have ever been before. Sometimes it's hard never being alone or really independent, but I am figuring out patience as I go ;) Food is better than expected. Completely normal. Still figuring out effective planning/study.
Today we got to go to ASDA, the UK Wal-Mart and it was crazy. We were able to exchange money though. I hated walking out feeling like I had less money than I had before and nothing to show for it. The weather has been beautiful. Sunny yesterday and today, but it's been raining the rest of the time. There are a lot of ducks and geese here around the ponds.
QUESTIONS:
1. Typical day: Rain. Up at 6:15, breakfast at 7, personal study at 7:30, Teaching Resource Center at 8:30 (random lessons, like Priscilla), Exercise at 10:40, Lunch at 12, Study/Practice/Service at 12:40, Studying Revelation through (BoM/Prayer/etc) at 1:40, Coaching Missionary Study 3:10, Companion Study/Progressing Investigator3:40, Additional Study/Practice 4:40, Dinner at 5:10, Companion Study/Progressing Investigator @ 6, Teaching Demos (roleplays) @ 7, Learning from Ch. 3 of PMG, Daily Planning @ 9, Snack @ 9:40, Lights out at 10:30.
2. Sunday we had a "normal" 3-hr block in the morning, then lunch, then we skyped home for mothers day, had a meeting about the temple, took photos, watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, Dinner, Devo, break, another Devo, and ended normally.
3. Church History Trip: No. Temple: this morning! It was beautiful, and I felt so much love from Heavenly Father that I want to carry with me to Scotland :)
4. Nothing that is necessary, no.
5. Like I said, I have felt so much love today from Heavenly Father in the temple, it nearly causes my heart to burst! Today I have felt so much love from home from emails :) I love hearing from you! I miss you all so much.
I know that this Church is true. I have had so many (daily) ups in downs here, but I truly feel the grace of Christ in my personal abilities. I am becoming better everyday because of Him. I have faith that all our faults will be made up for. I'm so happy to be here.
I love you all so so much!
Sister Kirkpatrick
(P.S. Ask me next week for a list of why the England MTC is secretly Hogwarts.)
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