04/19/2013

 

News from the MTC:

 

Elder Richard G. Scott came!!!! I decided to sing in the choir because another sister in my district wanted to, but her campanion didn't want to go. So, we go on splits to choir practice. The choir sings at devotional and we are promised a seat. So, I'm sitting there waiting for it all to start and people around me start standing up, and it was Elder Scott. This man is special. I wish I could repeat the whole thing to you, but I'll just give you the highlights. He gave an apostolic blessing that those that are trying to learn a new language could do so. So, I guess I'll actually be learning Spanish. He also told us again and again that we were called of God to serve a mission and He did not send us here to fail. When he bore his testimony of Jesus Christ the Spirit was SO strong. He said, "I know that Jesus Christ lives because I know Him." If that doesn't give you goose pimples, you are probs already dead. We sang the closing song and then all the sudden he got BACK UP. He repeated again that we are called of God and He did not send us here to fail. It was perfect. I can't even describe how strong the Spirit was there. i wish you all could have been there.

 

We challenged our first "investigator" to baptism and he accepted! He's our teacher now, but the "role" he was playing was his real conversion story. I know that he is already baptized, but the fact that he even understood us at all is amazing. The gift of tongues is real because Hermana Foster and I just go in there with a lesson prepared and with no idea how to say it, but we open our mouths and (most of the time) the right words come out. The first two lessons were rocky...VERY rocky. The last two turned out ok. This Spanish stuff is hard. We're learning new things everyday though, and I know we'll get it. I mean, how many times does an apostle give you a blessing that you will.   

 

Overall, life at the MTC is good. Our district, zone, and branch are so amazing. We've got some great Elders and Sisters in all of them. One Elder is going to Florida at the same time I am, so that will be nice. We've als been blessed with the best teachers. we've got the best of the best. Sir!  Seriously though, this is the hardest thing I've ever done. At the end of the day, I am emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. All I want to do is sleep forever and sometimes have a good cry, but it has also been the best thing that I have ever done. When I bore my testimony to our investigator about Christ, Spanish was not an issue. The words came and I could feel the Spirit so strongly. The church is true, guys. I hope you know that. Love you long time.

 

Hermana Gardner