One Month Down!

(This post is out of order. Chronologically, it comes before "Last P-Day in the MTC")

HOLA!!

This week has gone by pretty quickly!! We work really hard and I have devoted myself to focusing more and I have come to love being here. If I ask the Lord to help me in my efforts, then I have to be willing to put in the work. It's just how it works :). 

Quick update on feet: After some hastle, I have finally gotten approval from my mission president to wear open back shoes/sandals in the mission field!! HALLELUJAH!! So today my companion and I get to go shoe shopping! Hehe :). Mom and Dad-- I'll be using my debit card for this and I'm not exactly sure how many pairs/how much I will be spending, but hey, I'm a girl and I get to buy new shoes.. sooooo ;). Chiste, ya'll know I'm practical. 

So Friday was the 4th and it wasn't quite as exciting here as it may be outside the MTC, but everyone wear appropriate colors! We were able to have a program in the evening where missionaries performed fun musical pieces and we watched 17 Miracles. And then we got to watch the fireworks from the Stadium of Fire, so that was sweet!! 

With our investigators: Juan Carlos accepted the invitation to baptism! We are working on helping him build his personal relationship with God because we think he is becoming more converted to us sister missionaries, but he's progressing well. We have a new investigator named Gabriel and hahahaha me cae bien (I like him). He seriously is so funny and basically he already has the answers to this life, just needs the message of the restored gospel. He has accepted to be baptized as well! Funny story with him hahaha-- so after our lesson with him yesterday he was like "Your spanish is really good... I mean it. I'm not just saying that to be nice. Not once have I ever wondered what the heck ya'll were saying. Your spanish is really good, how long have you been learning it?" I said "uno mesa" hahahahahahahahaha. For those of you who don't speak spanish, that translates to "one table", when I meant to say "uno mes" which is "one month". Oh the irony.. we laughed for a long time. But the Spanish really is progressing!! It's amazing. I spoke with another lady that we met outside for like 10-15 minutes just about ourselves and our families and normal conversation. She asked me where I was going to which I said Mexico, in two weeks, and that I was nervous because my Spanish isn't very good, and she was like "uhhh.. no, your Spanish is actually good". HONESTLY, they are just being nice. I'm going to get to Mexico and everyone is going to point and laugh, but it's nice to hear for now. However, my r's are starting to roll consistantly so that's pretty exciting. Anyways, the point is, the Lord truly is helping me. On Sunday I fasted for help with the language, however, I took the approach to help me AUTHORIZE the Spirit to bless me with the gift of tongues (like that quote I sent last week) because I have to work for it, and I asked for helping in doing those things. It's amazing.. in lessons, I often forget we're speaking Spanish and the words just flow as I testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel. Other times, like in day to day conversation, I struggle more, but the Gift of Tongues is real. The power of God is real, and He is blessing me with it. 

The district I was close with left this week which was beyond sad. I feel almost lost without them because they've been our best friends this whole time, and now my district is the old one. We have 31 ELDERS IN OUR ZONE AND 4 HERMANAS... I'm gonna die.. hahah the maturity level is... unreal. Hahahaha I think I'm gonna lose my mind by the time I leave here. Okay okay, maybe I'm a little dramatic, but... nah.. I'm being real haha. 

Our district has been described as a family though, which is pretty truthful. We are really close and I'm pretty sure Elder Morris' goal here in the MTC is to make me crazy because he seriously acts like a brother to me. We all say that he's going to fly home from his mission and Hermana Roberts is gonna be there at the airport just waiting to punch him because I can't touch him now. I will not either confirm nor deny this statement. 

Um okay I have like 5 minutes left so the last couple of things:

- We did a lesson over skype with a man in Mexico!

- Elder Anderson gave the devotional on Tuesday... wow!! 

- Hermana Bullock and myself auditioned to perform a vocal duet (I Know that My Redeemer Lives) for the MTC on Sunday or a devotional. We made the "yes" pile, which means if they can fit us in before we leave, we will perform. Mom, I know this will make you happy since you have always wanted me to share my voice. It makes me nervous, but I'm stepping out of my comfort zone haha.. performing infront of the whole MTC. I even have a section of solo.. yeah. What. 

Basically this week was great! Same 'ol, same 'ol, but I am learning SO much and am forever grateful for this experience. And seriously, I am SO EXCITED to teach the people in Mexico! My testimony of why I am serving a mission was strengthened so much this week and I wish I could find the words to expound, but I KNOW this is essential for my growth here on this earth and I just have this overwhelming desire to share the truthfulness of the gospel with people despite how much teaching is not my favorite. But I look down and am proud of my skirt and name tag. I'm still in the MTC, and hopefully this feeling will remain (and strengthen) in Mexico, but all I can say is that if you give your all to the Lord, He will make more of you than you could ever do on your own. From the devotional by Elder Anderson, sometimes the Lord tells you to do small things in order to give you something larger. 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Roberts

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