This week has been amazing. I love every minute that I am here. I am learning and growing, and trying my best to be my very best. I hope that is enough :)
Everyone else has gotten their flight plans, and I have not. Some sisters and 2 elders are going to Lubbock, Texas and then the other elders are going to Australia. I think I am the only sister in the whole MTC who is going to Africa... No joke. Hahaha I know of two elders who are going to Zimbabwe, and that is it. So in other words, I do not know where I am going, but I am leaving on Monday. So Mom- if you send a package, make sure it will arrive to me by FRIDAY. The mail is closed on Saturday and Sunday and I am leaving on Monday, so I would not receive it. Please pray my visa gets accepted. And if it doesn't, that I will be going to Lubbock, because I love all of the Sisters in my district SOOOO much. They are some of my best friends. You get so close, so fast! haha
I have been debating how to send emails, because I feel like there is so much I can say but forget to... so I am going to go day by day!
Tuesday: After I emailed from home, we got ready for our devotional. At dinner, our District leader brought me a letter that said... I MADE IT IN THE MISSIONARY CONFERENCE CHOIR!!! We are singing in the Saturday Afternoon session. Look for your favorite sister missionary. ;) Sister Crawford, Sister Floyd, and Sister Cole are all in the choir too, Middleton represent!!! shout out to Mr. Child for teaching us all we know! :) The songs we are singing are so powerful, and I will probably cry the whole time. We are singing, Hark All Ye Nations, I Will be Valiant/ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ,and Hope of Israel.
Every Tuesday night we have devotionals. Bishop Waddell of the presiding bishopric and his wife spoke and it was so powerful. Sister Waddell spoke on kindness and I really want to improve on that. We can always be more kind. Bishop Waddell talked about how a mission isn't the best 18 months or 2 years of your life, it is the best 18 months or two years FOR your life. I loved that! I know this will definitely bless me for the rest of my life.
Wednesday: As sister Training leaders, we do an orientation the night the new missionaries come in. That was so much fun. It truly helped me turn outwards and focus on others. I felt Christ's love for those new missionaries and I am so glad I could help them out, to be for them what I needed what I first came in. They are so sweet and I love them! On that day we also had a workshop about technology. Everyone in my district is an electronic mission, and I am not... so they separated us. I already felt weird being without a companion, but I sat by myself and ALL ELDERS came and sat at the table. I felt like I was doing something wrong I didn't say much and was so happy to be reunited with my sisters!
Thursday: We taught another lady named Ysabueax, and it went so well! Sister Fitzgerald and I just connected with her and got to know her. I just love people so much!!! I love talking to them and seeing their faces when they actually understand what we are saying and it just clicks. I know that is the spirit.
Friday: Today was AMAZING! I started choir practice on this day at 7:15 a.m. We have it every day until Conference. I don't/ can't even complain, because it is amazing and uplifts me! I told you about Margaret last week, and Sister Fitzgerald and I were just struggling. We were having a really hard time planning effectively, and knowing what our individual people needed. We really studied about Heavenly Father and prayer. Having doing that, we gave the best lesson we ever gave. I couldn't tell you what I said, because it was the spirit speaking through me. We both cried when we got out of the room because we were so happy. HEAVENLY FATHER ANSWERS PRAYERS. You just need to put a little bit of work in first.
Saturday: Nothing really exciting happened on Saturday. We just had class, taught lessons, and met more people to teach. Sister Fitzgerald and I are improving so much and I am so grateful for that.
Sunday: This was the most spiritual day I have had in the MTC. We have sacrament meeting and Relief Society, and a whole lot of other classes! It is amazing. In the new buildings, there are beautiful murals. We did a mural experience where we were silent, looked at the scriptures, and pondered the scripture reference. We went to the mural of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. I read in D & C 122:7. I testify that everything we experience will be for our good. We may not know in the moment, but Heavenly Father will bless you for patiently enduring. I have had some anxieties about having to go to Africa, which I will address more a little later, but I felt the love of my Savior so strong. I know that I would not be going if the Lord didn't know it was for my benefit. He needs me there, so I will go forward with faith. We had a lesson that day about eternal families. The branch president and his wife taught us about eternal families. I am so grateful for my eternal family and being born of goodly parents. I love each and every one of you so much. I strive to have an eternal family someday because it brings so much joy! They showed a clip of what President Nelson and his wife said. They said that as us missionaries do the Lord's work, there are our loved ones and ancestors on the other side of the veil helping us. I immediately felt grandpa's love for me. I know he is aware of what I am doing, and he will be with me in my missionary work. I am so grateful for that.
Monday: I went to the clinic because I had to have a malaria orientation... ya that scared me to death. The medication I will start taking most often has some unpleasant side effects, so I not only was given Malaria medication, I was given some medication to help with the side effects. This caused me a lot of anxiety. I know I will be protected and watched over, but I am still really nervous about all the new diseases I will be exposed to. I got the medication and will start taking it today. I hope that my body does okay with it. Before I leave I had the thought to ask my Branch President for a blessing, that will bring me comfort.
Overall it was an amazing week. Each day just got better and better. I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and will be going where I need to go. I am excited to leave the MTC and get out in the field, because I want to teach and bring people Christ!!! I bought a call card, so I will probably call you guys on MONDAY MORNING EARLY. I can't wait to talk to you!! I hope you are doing well, I love you so much.
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Sister Kershaw
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