Home MTC

Hi everyone!

I can't believe I've already done a week of the MTC! Home MTC was way better than I expected. I honestly loved it. After slogging through online school, I thought it would be boring, but it wasn't dull at all. I was busy with classes, workshops (they asked us not to call them devotionals XD), companion study, and personal study. I also got to practice teaching a couple of investigators with my awesome companion, Sister Malu.

It's been a bit tricky to wake up on time some mornings. I haven't had too much trouble staying awake in the classes, though. They're much more engaging than online school. I feel like I already know my district so well, and I haven't even seen them in person yet! Two of the elders actually live a couple minutes away from each other, so they were able to meet for some of our classes.

I'm going to the Provo MTC tomorrow! I'm excited but also a little nervous. I've had a couple virtual tours and it looks like a big, beautiful college campus. It sounds like missionaries there get the VIP treatment. My dad says it's a lot bigger and better than it was when he went. Paden said that the Brazil MTC looked--and felt--like a prison in comparison. XD

I was asked to teach my family for scriptures every night. It's been very interesting. I've shared messages from talks and workshops, I taught the plan of salvation one night, I've shared a few fun scriptures, and also speed-recited the first lesson of Preach my Gospel. I also shared an amazing video about a woman named Calyann and her conversion story. I would totally recommend it! You can look it up if you search "Jesus is Real: Calyann's Experience with the Book of Mormon."

Even though I've only been a missionary for a week, I'm definitely feeling some withdrawals from worldly things. If anyone followed my art account on Instagram, you'll know that I've been drawing pretty much every day since December. I drew a bunch of animals and also had a comic that I loved. I managed to wrap it up, but I still miss drawing the characters. I've only doodled a couple of fish for Benton--on request--since starting the MTC, so I miss my art. I also miss typing my stories. That'll be a hard hobby to continue on the mission. Movies and music have been difficult to let go too. However, I know it'll all be worth it. None of that stuff will bring me eternal joy. Teaching people about the gospel and bringing them closer to Christ is a much better use of my time.

Time is a funny thing. I feel like individual days are long, but then I blink and a week has gone by. How can time feel like it's both dragging and zooming? I'm sure my mission will speed by for me as well.

I'm still not entirely sure where I'll be serving. I got plane tickets to Spokane Washington, but the Edmonton Canada mission president still thinks I'm coming to him. Perhaps the Lord is trying to test my patience and faith. I'll do my best to wait for new information.

I can't wait to actually go out and serve, but I also feel like there's so much more I need to learn! I'm full of so many conflicting desires. Mostly, I'm just excited to begin a new adventure. 

Love you all,

Sister Howard