Week 1: Holy Cow!!!

Elle at the Provo Temple.

Let me first start off by telling you that I have learned so much and am so thankful that I made this decision!

July29, 2015:

When I was dropped of here and the MTC I was doing my best to hold in the tears and let me tell you that I was successful! I was very happy for being able to do that. As we were walking off I couldn't look back in fear that I would change my mind. But I didn't and I haven't and so everything was good. We walked around got all of the books that I needed and took me to my room and then from there I was dropped off  in my classroom (which I would later realize I spend more time in that classroom then I do in my own bed). That is where I met Sister Herr, she is my companion, and she is from Hawaii. We hit it off really fast! We have a lot in common and have very similar personality’s, which has helped a lot. We met with our district for about an hour then we went to orientation where we started to teach people! YES!! On the very first day! We taught as a group and not by ourselves. But it counts we taught three people that night which I thought was crazy. Then we went to dinner and had steak and potatoes which was a good comfort food. But then we went and had a lesson and taught one more person! We are in our class until 9:30 every night which is not late but I am so tired by that time. I layed in bed after finishing everything up for the day and as soon as the light went off tears started to run down my face, I didn't make any noises but the tears kept coming.

Elle and her companion Sister Herr

July 30, 2015:

 Now the next day was even crazier!! The second day I felt as if I had been there for one whole week! We wake up at 5:45 to get ready for the workout class that they have in the morning for the sisters (I have woke up at that time every day except for Sunday I got to wake up at 6:30 (: and how good that felt). The workout starts at 6:00 am and only goes for half an hour so we hurry back to get ready for the day because breakfast is at 7:15. Sunday was the first day that I was able to eat all my breakfast without getting sick!! Which I am so THANKFUL for, but after we ate that’s when all of the classes start. Like I said I spend more time in my class learning and teaching investagatitors then I do in my own bed. We eat lunch about 11:30 and dinner between 4:30-5:00 depending on how many people we teach that day. But that second day July 30 is when me and Sister Herr taught our fist investagator her name is Meir but now we call her Megan cause we don't speak French (we are the biggest group of missionary’s that they have ever received and so they were short on teachers. So the two of our teachers were pulled from the French department. I like them a lot Brother Davis and Sister Hafen). She is has had such an amazing testimony of Christ since the first time that we met with her and the more we meet with her the more she learns. We have taught her a few times now and she will be getting baptized!! YAY!! We are so excited! In the short time that we have known her I feel as though she is family because I would do anything for her! I want her to have this happiness and now she will. I was finally able to read dads letter he gave me without tearing up when I look at it. We were in class till the end of the night again and same thing as the day before I was fine then the light went off and the tears were a coming.

Elle and Sister Herr

July 31, 2015:

I have the same morning every day we wake up eat breakfast, go and study. Study some more and then more studying and so forth. But we did service today, but service is just cleaning your building so don't let them fool you. But after that we had workouts and then got ready for the day again (by the way I have the privilege of getting to shower three times a day). But today was the hardest day for me. I finally broke down later that night and Sister Herr has been so good to me. I got really lucky to have her for my companion. But as soon as I was able to let it all out that is when the real work began!

Aug. 1, 2015:

Everyone said that the first Saturday in the MTC was the hardest. I thought the day went by a lot faster then the other days. We studied ALL day, but I was able to learn so much about myself and about my relationship with my Father in Heaven. We taught Megan again today and it went awesome. But I think that your fist investigator is going to be easy...it’s our teacher. But I got Bradyn's first letter today and wasn't able to get my packages. But that night was awesome! I have some awesome roommates and awesome zone and district and so I couldn't have asked for anything better!

Wishing Katie a Happy Birthday, MTC style.

Elle's MTC District.

 Aug. 2, 2015:

Today was my fist Sunday in the MTC and it was also fast Sunday. I don't think that I have ever fasted a full 24 hours until now! I wasn't hungry at all I was just running low on energy. We had mission Conf. in the morning which had such amazing talks. It started the day off right. Then we had several hours of studying. But we then had a Temple walk where we walk up to the temple with all of the missionary’s and then we take a lot of pictures. We had sacrament and RS and the Sunday Devotional. But Sunday nights we get to watch a movie!! Not what is sounds like. You can watch meet the Mormons or you get to watch different talks. There is one talk by Elder Bednar The Characteristics of Christ 2011 Christmas Devo.   that they only show in the MTC! It was one of the most amazing talks that I have ever listened to! I am so glad that I get to listen to it again of Sunday because you are in such awe that you have to watch it a few time in order to get everything. But I have had so much inspiration and it was amazing. I feel so at home here in the MTC and am so happy that I get to be here!

Aug. 3 2015:

Nothing to big happened to day other then we taught 4 lessons. It was so crazy! My relationship with my Father in heaven has grown so much I have had to opportunity to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion! I have had more sincere prayers and have really wanted to talk to my Father in Heaven and listen to what he is saying to me. He is the reason that we were able to get through all of the lessons that we taught. We taught Stephen, Carolina, Megan, and a member. I go crazy if I don't have fun every now and then but like I said my father in heaven and my savor have carried me a lot of the way. 

 

Aug. 4, 2015:

Today is the day that I have been looking forward to! We had the Tuesday Night Devotional. It was so amazing. There were rumors that someone from the 12 was coming!! After we taught all of our lessons again today me and Sister Herr decided to apart of the choir, and it was such an amazing experience! We sang the song Be Still My Soul, the Choir director told us that this song is about us. It is us talking to our self. When we started to sing the song I was overcome with the spirit and that is now one of my favorite songs. He then told us that Russel M. Nelson was coming to speak to us. When he walked in the room it was the most amazing feeling ever. His spirit was felt like everyone! That is what I want, I want to have the spirit that he talked with and the had everyone near tears. He is such an amazing person and I am so glad that I was able to listen to him. We then had a District mtg. and my district we have grown to love each other and I believe that we will forever be friends after we go off on our different missions. 

I love hearing form all of you and am so excited to continue to hear from all of you! Thank you for all the packages and the letters they have meant so much to me! I love you all so much! 

P.S. My letters won’t be this long every time! I don't think so. 

-- 

You have not failed until you quit trying.

Love, Sister Jackson 

Elle and Sister Herr