Saturday, November 2, 2013
Week 2 - MTC
Ciao Mama!
I'm doing great! My second week has definitely been so much better than the first. And time is already seeming to fly by! I now have the first vision, and the baptismal invite memorized in Italian, and me and my colega (companion) have been teaching without any kind of language script, which is really hard! But when I open my mouth to speak it's a miracle I can form sentences at all. I end up saying what I wanted to say, but not the way I wanted to say it, but as long as the Spirit is conveying how I feel about it I try not to stress so much about it. Although I'm definitely working hard on language and on studying the gospel.
It stinks to hear about so much sickness going on at home. It's getting cold here too. But I haven't been sick or even felt a little down once yet, even my stomach. I can't believe how it changed so drastically so quickly, I'm still saying how grateful I am for this, even though I've been fine for about 2 weeks now. I remember my Central choir years... I try to forget. It gets better later on. Somewhat. I got an email from dad saying he got some meat for the family! He's such a good provider. You should be so grateful for the meat he got and don't complain about it at all. (I'm saying this because he said you'd complain about it). In all honesty though, make sure you cook it a lot, I trust that meat about as much as I trust the meat I get served in the cafeteria here. Um... I can't think of too many things I'd like for Christmas, I don't really know what I'll need in Italy yet. I probably want a beay, and a scarf! Our teachers keep saying how scarfs are a huge deal in Italy, so might as well show up not looking like a foreigner.
Keep sending me Sawyer's letters! We send some to each other, but I still want to hear about what he's doing. He seems to have so much more going on than me, and I can't wait to get to Italy and be as busy as he is. I keep trying to picture Coleman and Natalie's costumes, but I stop halfway because I'm thinking, "Do I really want to see that?" Just kidding! But I hope he does great on the GRE! That sounds good, trick or treating at Jack's age was starting to get weird for me too, although I'd definitely go around and grab all the Reeses I could. Speaking of singing, I sang in church last Sunday with a big Hawaiian that's in my district, we sang Nearer My God To Thee, and he has a great voice. We made the branch president's wife cry, and one of the Sorella said how she needed that song. Not sure what that meant, but I'm glad it helped someone.
Oh, I was also called to be the "online media" person. All I really do is pull up videos and other things that are super easy but the old teachers find it really hard. So all my computer experience wasn't for nothing! Make sure Jack hears about that so he can tell you about it when you tell him to get off the computer. I do sing in the choir here, (which does the exact same thing) but they all try so it's a fun thing.
I'm glad to hear from you and miss everyone a lot!
Ti voglio bene,
Anziano Vaclaw
Week 1 - MTC
Ciao mama!
This week has been great! I didn't expect anything like this, but I am truly loving it. The language is very difficult for me, it gets mixed up with the spanish I know, but so far I can pray, teach about simple gospel subjects, and bear my testimony, so it has been a very productive week. I don't have my P.O. box number, but I will try to bring it next time for you! But I definitely am missing Jack's company. I hope he's doing well with all the brothers gone, it must be difficult, so it's good that he's doing stuff to keep his mind off it. Luckily I have been doing plenty to keep my mind off of just about everything but the work. But make sure Owen or Sam wears one of those disco outfits we used to have! If it'd fit, that'd be awesome.
I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing so well! I have been doing well over myself, I'm humbled and grateful for everyone's prayers and thoughts that I read in the letters. I will work my hardest to live up to those expectations. The flight was the hardest part of leaving, I definitely felt like I was hitting a major turning point in my life. Arriving at the MTC is an experience I don't think I'll forget! I showed up and immediately went to the language class (which I was a little late for) and jumped in headfirst to learning the language. I also met my companion, who is probably the best companion I could've hoped for, who is Anziano Briand. He is a recent convert to the church, from Canada, and has had a very interesting life story. I think he's my first companion to teach me to think of how the investigators feel about the message I have for them. He has led a somewhat difficult life, and his story of coming to the church is inspiring. We work very well together, and some sisters have asked if we knew each other before, because we seem to get along that well! The life here at the MTC is exhausting yet rewarding. I can already comprehend almost everything my teachers tell me, as long as they are related to a gospel discussion, and I know that if I didn't have the spirit helping me learn I'd have no chance whatsoever. I am enjoying the life of a missionary, besides waking up at 6.. praying each morning and night, teaching an "investigator", and learning the language and the gospel is exactly what I need right at this point in my life.
I'd like to say i've been working hard, but we could always improve. We try to challenge ourselves and stick to the schedules which we have to do our studying, planning, teaching, etc. My district is also great! We all get along, and i have plenty of friends within the Italian, and Romanian speaking missionaries. Although, it seems that we are the only italian speaking missionaries at the MTC campus! The other ones got shipped out the day before we arrived, I dunno if that's how it always is, but it's still not what I had expected.
I miss everyone, and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Ti voglio bene,
Anziano Vaclaw
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