June 24th, 2017 Week 2 at the MTC

My Whole District (top row left to right: Elder Bollingbroke, Elder Hernadez, Elder Pena, Elder Killpack, Elder Riley, Elder Booth, Elder Evans. Bottom row; Hermana Hogan (my companion), Me, Hermana Roberts, Hermana Meyer.)

"I ran into Sister Jeffreys on the way to the Provo Temple"

June 27, 2017

Week 2 in the MTC

Hola Familia y Amigos!

Sunday- was the first Sunday in the CCM and it was kinda interesting. Because we are English speakers learning Spanish we say all our prayers and songs and talks from the missionaries are in Spanish but the lessons and talks from the branch presidency are all in English so its kinda a weird church service but I like it. Also, we had devotional and Donny Osmond spoke (pics to follow). That was cool I guess but I'll just say Donny is a great performer but not exactly a great speaker...

Monday- Was service we scrubbed all 5 flights of stairs is one building. Then we had class but that was rather uneventful. But that night we taught our "investigator" again and he accepted our invitation to baptism. Even though I knew he was not a real investigator it still was really amazing. It just made me really excited to get out in the field. Also, today Elder Riley was feeling awful and asked the other Elders in our district to give him a blessing. I was able to watch and listen as these elders used their priesthood, many of them for the very first time.

Tuesday- Was choir and the devotional. The choir practice is almost as spiritual as the devotional because the director is so very knowledgeable and the spirit is so very strong, then the choir sings and the devotional (look it up on byutv you might be able to see me) But at the actual devotional President and Sister Halstrom spoke and they both did a very good job, they talked about deciding now what type of missionary to be.

Wednesday- We hit our one week mark! We are also no longer the newbies but other than that nothing really happened. Also our whole district and some others in our zone planned a road trip for when we are all home. We even made a road map (Pic to follow)

Thursday- Today we took a few short "field trip" to the other language halls to see the huge pictures in each wing of the new buildings. (I have one picture of Moses parting the red sea. It's really cool). I really love how much spirit and awe can be captured in one picture. I will have to send more pictures of them but they really don't do it justice.

Friday- We had a lot of class and not much went down. But then last night our room and the other sisters in our zone decided to pool all of our snacks and had a feast (Pic to follow).

Now mom to Answer your questions

1. How is your Spanish? It's coming... I feel comfortable saying prayers and bearing my testimony but other than that when ever I speak it is very broken Spanish but it is getting better every day. While teaching our investigator I can understand about 70% of what he is saying I just don't know how to respond to him.

2. Have all the others in my district had Spanish before? Almost everyone has taken 1-2 years but I'm the only one who has taken 5 or more. So I'm a little ahead of them but not by much. I think by the time this is done we will all be able to speak at about the same level.

3. Is your apartment/ class in the new buildings? Yes both are. Our class is on the 5th floor and I always get distracted looking out on the whole valley, cuz you can see everything from up there.

4.What is our daily/ weekly schedule? well the schedule is crazy different every day but we always have 2 classes, 3 study breaks and an hour of gym time, and then P-day on Saturday.

5. How's the food? not very good... I miss cooking for myself.

6. Who are your teachers? I have two of them Hermana Evans and Hermano Jake both are so great and I really love them both. We also have other teachers that will come in sometimes to just help out which is what Hermana Southard was doing.

7. What has been the hardest part? For sure the Spanish. I'm frustrated because I took 5 years and it should be coming easier and it's not but at the same time I understand way more than I can speak so that is encouraging.

8. What had been the best part? Honestly, my district/ zone! We are all such great friends we do everything together and we laugh A TON. We all feel the stress of being missionaries but instead of getting frustrated with ourselves and each other we just laugh. Like I can't even describe how much we laugh. Even at things that aren't really that funny. And when one of us is feeling sad or home sick we all rally to help them. It has truly been a great blessing.

Anyway It has been great week. Thanks to all who have wrote letters and sent emails and packages. I love getting to read them throughout the week they are so encouraging and helpful. I love you all and hope to hear from you all soon!

Con mucho Amor,

Hermana Dobson