1st email from Mission Training Center (MTC)

I love being a missionary! This is such a great experience. I love my companion, Sister Lee. We are like twinsies! Her and I get along so well and we have very similar personalities. It's so awesome! I love being in the Mandarin Branch here at the MTC because we get to spend a whole lot of time getting to know each other since we are here for 12 weeks. I think my favorite part about the MTC is how much the spirit is here and how everyone treats each other. Every one is so nice and helpful. It's fun practice Chinese during gym time and stuff. I love my branch!

Our District is a pilot language learning program that the MTC is testing. They basically have been speaking Chinese to us since we arrived. We taught our first investigator on friday and saturday and it's been crazy. My companion and I have had our ups and downs with the language. We've been taught how to pray and how to bear our testimonies. We just need more practice. The biggest thing our teacher stressed to us after our first investigator lesson was that we need to focus on teaching with the spirit and and studying and the language will come later. Study the Gospel and all other things will come into place. I'm a firm believer in that. On our second lesson we taught our investigator like that and I believe that it was way more successful.

We had the coolest firedside last night. Brother Nally and his wife (member of the MTC presidency) gave a musical fireside. They talked about the importance of uplifting music and how it can bring us and others we teach closer to Christ. They allowed us to requst some of our favorite hymns which we sang as a congregation. Then we ended by singing Called To Serve. IT WAS AWESOME! 2,000 missionaries singing all at once. It was so cool to see. I then realised that we are special individuals for choosing at such a young age to do such an important task. And that is to serve our God and preach his word.

Somethings I'm growing to understand are: getting to know your investigator and teaching to them not at them, teaching by the spirit, praying for the spirit, studying Preach My Gospel and the scriptures, and lastly the importance of exact obedience. These things have been taught to us here at the MTC starting within the first 30 min or hour of being here. I understand the purpose of these teachings and I'm trying to be better about following them. I know that in the little time I have been here and been trying, I have been greatly blessed for it. I'm realizing more and more that I'm supposed to be at the MTC at this point in time with these people. Sister Lee is supposed to be my companion and anyway. I just know that this is all for a reason and it's so perfect that it's amazing. I love being a missionary. This is such a happy place! This is the experience I have been waiting for since I graduated high school.

I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father know who I am and that they love me very much. I know that the prophet has been called of God to guide us, His people. I know that I have been saved for this time to help bring others unto Christ that they may live a happy life.

<3>

Hello!

So, it's coming down to the last week-and-a-half before I leave for Utah. It's pretty crazy. I'm excited for the adventure that this mission will be for me and for being able to learn and grow. I've been slowly packing all of my things and despite that, it still hasn't quite hit me that I'm leaving yet. I know that the hardest part about leaving will be leaving my boyfriend, Brent. He means everything to me he's been such a tremendous influence on my life. It's so hard to think that I won't see him for a few years. He's putting in his mission papers too and won't be leaving until after I do. Sometimes I wish I was leaving first but that's not what God has intended for us. I know that we are both intended for great things all in the Lord's time :-)

I do have some fears of what is to come on my mission. Things that every missionary fears: not being able to learn the language; getting sick; losing their luggage; etc. I'm nervous but I also know that the Lord has prepared me for this very instant in my life and any challenge will be but a moment. I'm so grateful for the challenges and trials that have helped me be ready, because this Gospel is something that is worth it all.

I'd like to take some time and thank my parents and my brother, Garrett, and his wife, Lisa, for all that they have done for me. I'm so glad that they are in my life and for the examples they have been to me. They have taught me so much about faith, patience, and love that has helped to make me a stronger person. I love them so very much.

This is all going to be so crazy. I'll be sure to keep you posted :-)

<3 Sister Lethco