So you're probably all dying to know what life in the MTC is like. Right? Right. Well it is totally and completely overwhelming. The first day, Wednesday, was a lot better than I expected. Classes were not too scary and we didn't have to teach any investigators. We got put in our districts pretty much immediately. I am in the advanced language district. There are 5 sisters and 2 elders. We are going all over the world. My companion, Sister Jackson, is the only other one going to Rome. She's taken a year of Italian at BYU. She's great! We have a lot in common. We also both really want to obey with exactness. That is fantastic because I am realizing more and more that that is not always the case with missionaries. That night we had a meeting with a all of the missionaries who came in that day (I saw Spencer Clark). We practiced teaching investigators all together. I mean 100 people teaching 1 or 2 investigators. It was interesting... One thing that did really impress is the caliber of the other missionaries. Everyone had such insightful things to say. Also, the Spirit is amazing. Even though we are all completely exhausted the Spirit still touches us and helps us know what to say.
Yesterday, Thursday, was, without a doubt, the LONGEST day of my life. I am pretty sure I lived a whole month yesterday. I am also relatively certain that I experienced every emotion known to man (with the exception of anger). I woke up bright and early. Of course. And got ready. That part was actually better than I expected. I was able to get up pretty easily. The we had companion study, breakfast, and personal study. All good. Then came our first class. It was ok. But I was getting REALLY tired. I thought I was going to pass out in the middle of a lesson. We practiced giving the first discussion to our companion. Then Sorella Jackson and I did it in Italian. It went much, MUCH better than I thought it would. Until I rather bluntly said that all of the apostles began to die.... Might not sound funny in English, but it was HILARIOUS in Italian. We busted up. Then came lunch. I was worried I would fall asleep in my food, but I made it through. Then we had class again. And we got new teachers.... One of them looks exactly like Andrew Mason. Yeah... That made me feel awkward haha. They are way more intense than our other teachers. I was getting so overwhelmed and feeling so inadequate. At one point I thought I would cry. But I didn't! Small victories. After class things started to get better. We had dinner and then met with the Branch Presidency. During the meeting I was feeling pretty down, but then I had a person interview with the Branch President. I just got to talk. It felt so good and I immediately felt so much happier. Then I got assigned to be one of the two sister training leaders for our zone. SO basically I work along side the zone leaders to make sure that everything goes smoothly and to orient the new missionaries. I am actually super excited. I feel like it has given me a real reason to be her in the MTC.
Today is P-day. So far we've just done some online assessments and gone to the temple. The temple was SO amazing. It was nice to get to walk there and just take a break and find peace. It was nice to feel like me again. I just love being there. And now I am here writing all of you.
So what have I learned so far? Well, a lot. But the biggest thing has been realizing that I can't do this. Not on my own. I have to completely rely on my Heavenly Father. I think I came to the MTC a little too cocky. I thought that I had talents that would automatically make me some sort of awesome missionary. The truth is that this work is not about me being an awesome missionary. It's about being worthy and receptive. It is only through the Holy Ghost that investigators can be changed. My words, not matter how persuasive, do not have the power to bring conversion. It is only the Spirit. So I am trying harder to totally lose myself. To stop thinking about my needs all of the time and to focus on giving my life over to the Lord. I know that he will make more of it than I could.
So how are things? Are Matthew's papers in? Are you guys getting excited for school? Are you missing me quite terribly?
Mom, could you get on my facebook and message Kathryn, Natalie, Hannah, and Andrew Potts (obviously) to see if they want to be on my weekly email list? If so, could you get their emails and forward this to them? Also, did my bag come?
The church is true. I promise.
I love you all!
Sorella Katie Francom
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