"You know, I don't know that much Spanish. I don't have a perfect testimony of everything. I am only 19. I get proud. I get discouraged. I get impatient. I have problems. But the God of heaven and His glorious Son appeared to a fourteen-year-old boy with problems in the woods in New York. The creator of the entire universe answered a humble prayer of a boy with miracles that resulted in the restoration of His gospel. I am young, and I am not perfect, but that doesn't mean that God doesn't want me or that He can't use me. There is a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants that goes something like this: 'And by the weak things of the earth shall I thrash the nations by the power of my Spirit.' I love that verse. We are weak, but He is able. Even though the missionary force is very young and not perfect, the Lord will continue to thrash the nations. To bring them to repentance. To help them receive the blessings of His gospel.
I am so thankful to be a part of this miracle."

Friday, June 21, 2013

Day 3 at the MTC

iHola, mi familia!
So it turns out Fridays are my P-Days.  The MTC has been so crazy!!  Mom, you asked for details on what the first day was like, so here it is:
They took us straight from the car to all these lines to pick up cards and keys and whatnot.  My Usher was named Sister Richards.  She is going to the Philippines and was very nice!!  They showed us our room and then we went to the classroom.  Because my last name starts with an A, I was the only one there for like an hour.  I took a little entrance quiz on a computer, then met some people "in my district" who have been here for six weeks but are waiting for visas to Peru.  They were so nice!!  My teachers' names are Hermano Snyder and Hermana Jensen.  I really like them.  They only spoke to me in Spanish, and I replied in English haha.  Then we had a million orientations and things like that, a really good workshop with "investigators," and more orientations.  Like I said in the letter I sent home, which you may or may not have received yet, There are four hermanas y four elderes in my district.  All of the Elders are 18, but one has been to college for a year.   Hermana Smith and Hermana Watts, my other roommates, are 19 and from Vermont and Park City.  My companion is Hermana Nelson.  She is 20 years old and from Oregon. She has been at BYU for the last couple years. She is so obedient (Dad- I told her Wednesday that we were going to be the best missionaries ever :) ).  We get along real well and I think I am going to learn a lot from her.
Basically, we have been going to a lot of workshops, classes, orientations, and things like that.  The days are forever long!!!  Yesterday was so awesome.  I was basically running around exclaiming how much I loved the MTC!  Mom, you were wondering why the MTC is hard for everyone.  It is hard for me too!!  Last night I almost had a breakdown.  I can't pinpoint exactly the reasons for everyone, but let me tell you why it is hard for me:
1)  Because of my personality, I was kind of expecting to be the Alpha Companion I guess.  Haha that sounds weird, but I ususally end up taking charge and making decisions and stuff.  I am definitely the junior companion here!!  It is weird to feel so young in the middle of all these young missionaries!  It is definitely an adjustment. 
2)  I guess I just need to be humbled, because I am also the worst at Spanish in my district.  I am not saying that because I am being humble -- I legitimatly am.  We are all "intermediate," but I don't know if I am quite up to snuff.  It is nice to be the worst sometimes because I ask my roommates, companion, and district for help with words all the time.  But also, it is very discouraging.  My teacher yesterday had meetings with us all individually, and we talked about it.  He said he was the very same way in his class at the MTC, and he used every spare moment to practice speaking and learning, and he ended up being the most fluent in his class.  I will definitely need el don de lenguas (the gift of tongues)!  Though already, I have noticed that playing a part in my learning.  I remember things that I wouldn't have before.  It is pretty cool.
3)  Sometimes, it hits you that this is it.  That there is no backing out.  That you are so tired, but you still have to get up at 6:30 tomorrow.  That even though you want to quit, you can't.  It's kind of scary!  But I am trying so hard to have courage.  All will be well. :)
Everyone says it gets better and easier after Sunday, so we will see!!  Haha mom, there are two missionaries here going to Ventura!!  I told them that is where my family joined the church. :) 
So most of the time, I love the MTC!!  I saw Nate Pitcher here yesterday.... I have no idea why he was here.  Haha.  Anyway, the classes are so awesome.  I am grateful that I am blessed with the gifts of teaching and discernment in my patriarchal blessing (you might want to edit this out mom) because they will prove so useful in the mission field. 
I love you all and miss you guys so much!!  ... But not too much, haha.  (Do I sound like Silas, or what?)  See you soon, and talk to you next Friday!!
Love,

Hermana Kara Allred


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