Missionary Training Center - Week One

All my Orlando ladies

Hey everyone!
I am loving it here at the MTC. Week one is done!! I am physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted in the best way possible. If you don't read this entire email, here is what you will want to know! I love my district, my companion, and my roomies! (the first day I met all of the girls I was on a group chat with pre mission!!!) I am eating well, they definitely don't let you starve. They have some awesome salads and wraps!! My morning starts at 5:45 and we go all the way until 9;15 in our classes and are usually asleep by 10:30! Just to do it all over again the next day. It is actually pretty rewarding because I get so much done. 5:45am me and my companion go to the exercise class for only the sisters...It makes me feel better about eating as much as I do (I balance food and exercise, it is all good)

Sister Bulloch, Miller, ME, and Sakona

The first two days were most definitely the hardest. It felt long, and the meals seemed to be HOURS apart. I just struggled to wrap my head around that I was actually here. I haven't prayed harder. It has been so worth it. I love being in workshops, and studying. Personal study is my favorite time (even if I struggle to stay awake) The scripture I came upon during Book of Mormon reading in our district class was Alma 38:2! It says, "And now, my [daughter], I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments;for blessed is he that endureth to the end." That was the scripture that really helped me to pick my head up and start paying attention despite how tired I was, or how inadequate I felt.

 We started teaching a person on Saturday! Her name is Maddie and I feel so much love for her already. They send you into this big room full of people that want to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and you choose the person. As usual, I was very nervous about this because I felt so unprepared. Sister Sekona: (Sidenote....She is tongan and we are both very similar and that makes it hard to communicate. But we teach very well together. I love her more everyday!) We prayed before going into the room and as we walked in, I was drawn to this college aged girl. We walked right toward her (I could have promised I was going to run away) and as I went to introduce me and Sister Sekona, I saw a colorado sticker on her laptop and after that it was easy to make conversation and everything flowed really well. The spirit was so strong and I hope she felt it as well. She has had experience with the spirit but isn't aware that it is the spirit.

Sunday was a long but spiritual day. Fasting made it hard to focus but we all made it!! That night we got to watch a "movie", which was Elder Bednar's talk given in the MTC a while back. It is titled "Characters of Christ". Holy heck. The most AMAZING, inspiring, and straight forward devo ever given. He talked about the importance of turning outward.That the Savior is the perfect example. Not everything is about you! Pretty much saying to "forget yourself and go to work." That is going to be what i live by every day for the next 18 months. My goal is to just love others and serve them as much as I can. Continually striving to turn outward!

The Elders

My district is my favorite.Half is going to Layton and the rest are Orlando. My companion is going to Layton.  Everyone is amazing. Their testimonies and examples are pretty inspiring. One Elder's mom is at home currently struggling with stage 4 cancer (Elder Bryant), another Elder (Elder Bair) was atheist 5 years ago and has one of the most amazing testimonies and love for others, another Elder (Elder Freestone) parents were recently divorced. I am not sure if it is ok to share these things but they have been such examples and lights in our district. Yesterday was when we learned of these things and was my favorite day. The spirit hit every second yesterday and I was uplifted to say the least!

I love you all! Thanks for the prayers and support. I can read emails any day of the week, I just cant reply until Pday. So please send emails, dear elder letters, and packages with snacks would be highly appreciated haha. (there is a sister that is in my room that gets a package or letter everyday soooo...just saying.)
XOXO,
Sister Johnson