First Week

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Hola everyone!

I have officially finished my first week in the MTC, and wow.. has it really been only a week?? Being in NJ with Danielle and last wednesday doesn't feel like it was that long ago, and yet I feel like so much has happened since then. I was dropped off by Celeste and Eli, and then rushed around the MTC with no idea what was going on. I am on the west campus (living at Wyview.. strange, since I used to live there, and classes at Raintree. We are at Raintree in classes like ALL day.) A typical day is up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:15, class for 3 hrs where mi miestros (teachers) speak absolutely nothing but Spanish. It was overwhelming the first day haha, but I got used to it and now I don't even notice most of the time that he's speaking in another language. Learning Spanish is HARD... some days are better than others. I know the Lord his helping me and that the Gift of Tongues is real because there is no way I could know as much as I do already without it. I passed my knowledge of Spanish from 2 years in high school on like day 3 hahah, but we also use it far more. I mean.. I actually have to communicate in Spanish so that makes a huge difference. It's taken me a while to cope with the fact that I won't be able to speak fluently for some time haha and its frustrating as heck, but now that I've accepted it, things are going better. It helps that I'm finally starting to get used to the routine. Oh after 3 hrs of class, we have lunch, then we teach an investigator, and study until lunch, and then after dinener we have 3 more hours of studying. On Tuesdays we have a devotional in the evening (this week Elder Ballard spoke... SO GOOD!! I wish I had time to share.) Then bed by 10:30 and man, do I love that.

My companion's name is Hermana Bullock and she is from Colorado Springs. She also enjoys being active and using our gym time for sports and actually working out which is nice. We have lots of things in common (both a blessing and a curse-- things like being a leader) but it really works out and we work well together. She's fun and we laugh at ourselves all the time. My district is also great. There are two other Hermanas in my apartment and we are really close with them too. And the elders in my district really help to lighten the mood, especially when I get stressed haha. 

So basically to sum it up, this is hard. But it's good and I know the Lord has not called me to serve a mission just to let me fail. I rely on prayer SO much and the Spirit definitely is here providing help and comfort. And it's also fun! I laugh a lot and we have a good time. 

Oh, my companion and I taught 5 lessons to an investigator this week (all in Spanish, thank you) and she has committed to baptism!! Yay!! (Please ignore the fact that she is most likely already a member of the church ;) .. just for practice!) But exciting none the less. Hermana Bullock and I taught the first 2 lessons trying to rely on our own knowledge. They didn't go super well and so as we studied and practiced, we changed our approach. We went in with only a few notes and decided to just listen to her and get to know her and love her. Then we went forward with our lesson, but listened and relied only on the Spirit, not on our own (very limited) knowledge. It's frustrating because you know exactly what you want to say, but can't find the words to say it in their language! I can't wait for the day when it all clicks and I can truly just listen and love the investigator without any thoughts of how I'm going to say anything. But el don de lenguas es verdad. Yo se Jesucristo es mi el Salvador. (I promise I can say more than that, but I'm almost out of time and it's hard to type in spanish without a spanish keyboard haha). PS I can pray, bear testimony, teach (simple) lessons, and have (simple) conversation in Spanish! Whoo! But still have FAR FAR FAR to go :).


I love you all SO very much!! I miss you and think about you daily, but I know I am where I should be. I would share some of the spiritual insights I've had this week if I had the time, and man, I wish I did because there is so much to share, but all is well. The Lord loves each and every one of you and I know without a doubt that he is aware of you and has a very specific plan for each of us. 

To those of you who I couldn't e-mail today, I have this great thing called paper and pen, which I am fond of. :)   

Prayers would be much appreciated! Love you :) 
Con amor,

Hermana Roberts


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