MTC: Week 2

I somehow survived to week two.

Not going to lie, I didn't think I would make it past the first week! But I am here and

LOVING IT!

Seriously, my teachers are phenomenal, my zone is phenomenal, my district is like me family, me and my companion are soul mates and that pretty much sums it all up!

But there are definitely still hard days.  Actually, every single day is a struggle.

Hermana Zimmerman and I have a really hard time focusing.  It is seriously bad news.  Mostly because she is like a genius and understands everything in an instant and I take just a bit longer to learn, so by the time I do, she is long gone mentally haha

Also, it doesn't help that she is allergic to basically life so she is always dealing with some awful health thing.  Poor sister.  But I love her to death! Our afternoon teacher, Hermano Harris, said that we teach with great unity and we made A LOT of progress just in the week we have been here.

What is amazing is that the MTC teaches you how to follow the Spirit and how to teach.  And that is such an amazing thing to be able to do. I have already felt the difference between when we follow the Spirit in a lesson and when we don't.

So my district should basically have its own sitcom.

As I previously mentioned, we have six elders and six hermanas.  And we are all SO tight.

And I am so grateful for them.

The language is coming.  It is amazing how fast you learn here.  In fact, I have actually started to think in Spanish.  But I still struggle A LOT.  Especially when teaching lessons just because it is extremely difficult to explain the feelings of you heart in a foreign language! But hopefully after 18 months, I will be able to do it!  Not without Heavenly Father's help, of course.

So, I think the biggest thing that I have learned Spiritually this week is how the Lord is so mindful of all of us.

Elder Allen and his wife came to be our devotional. After that, we were going to watch Sister Monson's funeral.

Elder Allen started his talk and at the beginning said that everything he had prepared would not work because he was prompted by the Spirit to talk about something else and prepare us for the funeral.

I already knew that this was directed towards me.  I have been struggling a lot with my dad (who passed in February) this past week and the Lord knew I needed a pick-me-up.

So Elder Allen told a story about an elder in his mission whose dad had died while he was serving- and how this elder made it his goal to completely dedicate himself to his mission and make his father proud.  Two weeks before he was supposed to go home, this elder died in a serious car accident.  After that, he had us all sing Come, Come, Ye Saints along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

"And should we die before our journey's through, Happy Day! All is well!"

I testify to you that this is true.  There is a mission force on the other side of the veil who is happily working to spread the Gospel to all of those souls who have yet to hear it.  My dad and I are doing the same exact thing just on different sides- and the Lord needed him there.

All is well, everybody! All is well!

I just wanted to let you all know that this church is true.  There is no denying it!  If you have any questions, Ask the Missionaries! They can help you!

MTC: Week 1

HOLY COW.  It has already been a week. Well almost.  They aren't kidding when they say the days go by like weeks and the weeks go by like days.  It is crazy here.  Such a different life.  the first few days were hard, not going to lie.  It is just hard to adjust to.  You literally wake up, study, eat, study, study, study, eat, study, plan, go to sleep. 

The amazing thing is, nobody tells you what to study.  it is up to you and your companion to listen to the Spirit and follow its direction of what to learn. 

I am pretty sure that the MTC is the most inspirational place in the world.  All of the teachers are inspired.  and they somehow know exactly how to help you.

Also, my companion is amazing. Hermana Zimmerman.  She just gets me even though I'm sure I am teaching her a lot of patience.  This week it is our goal to teach me how to tell time on my watch.  My district is even more amazing.  The sister I home taught (hermana berrett) is in my district as well as five other amazing sisters.  There are six of us total and we all get along wonderfully.  The elders are all going to mexico and they are also extremely amazing.  Seriously, there is no other way to describe this place than amazing.  Every single person has something to offer that the other ones don't and of course, my zone is, you guessed it, amazing.

Also! My branch presidency is LOADED. Like President Wilkins is harold b lee's grandson.  Such an inspired man.  When he interviewed me, he somehow just saw into my soul and knew just the question to ask that let him see what I needed.  I was also interviewed my his counseler, PRESIDENT MONSON's nephew, Brother Monson.  But they are basically the same person.  they tell stories the same way and have the same voice inflection and everything.  it is like President Monson himself is talking to you.

For all of those who didn't here about President Monson's sweetheart, Francis, dying, please keep the Monson family in your prayers.

What else... It is literally impossible for me to say everything that i have learned.

Hma zimmerman and I have taught three lessons together with our investigator, Enrique.  It is really funny because we barely know him, but we love him so much. We committed him to baptism the first lesson, but then he started asking really difficult questions.  Ones that would be difficult to answer in english, nonetheless spanish.  But the Lord knows you and knows when to help you and when to let you figure things out on your own. 

That is probably the best lesson i have learned thus far.  listen to the Spirit!!! because life is nearly impossible without it.

Okay. MTC life.

Ridiculous.

You have half an hour to get ready in the morning. which is pretty much impossible for me.  and then, because our classroom is on the 5th floor, we get to walk up NINETY SIX stairs several times every day.

96!!!!

That is more than the stairs by the RB at BYU.

Unbelievable.

But it is worth it. sorta.

The food is there.  neither good nor bad... just kinda there.

But i am able to show off my creamery skills on Wednesdays and Sundays whenever they have icecream(: it is pretty exciting and i feel sort of like a boss.

And Sundays are the best days ever, btw.  it is packed, but somehow still extremely restful.

mary edmunds was the speaker at the devotional and she said, "we are gathered here today because we believe in meetings, we hope in meetings, we have endured many meetings and hope to be able to endure all meetings.  if there is anything that is a meeting, could be a meeting, or somehow resembles a meeting, we seek after these things"

SO FUNNY.  Because somehow you feel like that in our church.  But we loooove meetings!

What else.... Oh. Sunday night we watched The Testaments.  if you've never seen it, do it.  Such a great movie.  however, there is this weird love story like intertwined.  and when there was the kiss, we could NOT handle that as missionaries.  literally we were all so uncomfortable and everyone was nervously fidgeting. Oh man. #missionarylife

Speaking of which, the first couple of days with the elders is hysterical.  I have not seen a worse cootie complex since like third grade.  which is great! Stay focused, elders! But you are allowed to speak to us sisters hahaha

Anyway, i am running out of time and i am so sorry for how scrambled this is.

But, I want you to know that the MTC is amazing and this work is even more amazing.  I know that this is where i need to be, to help all those souls in Santa Rosa, ca come to Christ and know that they are loved and not alone.  There is a power here in the mtc.  And it is because what we are doing is true.  the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints is true.  Every morning when i put on my badge, I put on the name of christ.  I am his representative, and so are all of the amazing youth here.

support missionary work.

Love missionary work

Because i love it

Sincerely, hermana bryant

ps. Send me letters!!!!!!!!!!!  They make my day!

Entering the MTC

Hello family and friends of Anneli Bryant! This is Alexa, her sister, and I will be taking over her blog for the next 18 months to keep you updated. Today is the day we drop her off at the MTC where she will be for the next 6 weeks for language training until she reports to Santa Rosa, CA.

Her temporary address while in the MTC is:

Sister Anneli Jasmine Bryant
MTC Mailbox # 203
CA-SRO 0625
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Please wait to send packages until she has arrived for Santa Rosa, but letters are very wanted! Anneli will be sending me weekly updates that I will be posting to this blog.

Also, through dearelder.com, you can type up a message and it will send it to her in letter form for free! (This is only free while she is in the MTC).

Thank you to all who have supported Hermana Bryant!! She will be needing it these next 18 months :)