MTC Day Three

The Elders at lunch were tossing an apple back and forth catching it with forks the sending it to the next person,  forks still in.  By the end there were five forks sticking out if that poor apple.  The sisters and I grabbed our drinks before disaster could strike. 

11 Elders and 4 sisters in our district. A companionship of three, who we call the "trio".

Yesterday, the was a speak to everyone activity and were practice speaking to each other.  It's an odd number so for the first round one of the Elders practiced with the teacher. For the second round,  Elder Lake and I were going to practice together,  but then we noticed the same elder from last time had to practice with the teacher again, so Elder Lake volunteered to switch. Today the teacher told us we would be practicing getting to know people and we would have to partner and practice with someone other then our companion and before he was even done explaining Elder Lake called across the room " I call sister Dickson! Since yesterday didn't work out." I was chosen first, before we were even supposed to choose. I feel very welcome and included in this group.

During class, our teacher, an RM, said "you will never know the struggles of biking in the wind with a skirt on and a map." One of the Elders nodded and said "I hope I don't."

Sister Perry stuffed almost an entire slice of cheesecake in her mouth after being dared to by the Elders. We all cheered.

Our district now eats together with every meal.

I was a little sad while working out thinking of Colleen, but then thinking of her motivated me.  I ran nearly a mile, did a little core work, and Sister Davis and I worked out on the machines fir leg and arms. Colleen motivated me to push my self.  When I felt sad and like stopping, I would think of her and push harder, run faster. It was good workout.

MTC Day Two

I don't have much time, so I'll send the quick notes of the day.

I had a huge breakfast. My companion and the Sisters from our dorm ate very little and felt sick. The chocolate milk tastes like it has chlorine in it.  When the Elders heard she was feeling sick, in unison several Elders all asked "did she drink the Orange Juice?" The answer was yes. They continued to check in on her during the day and suggesting different things that may help. They were very kind.

The scripture markers mom gave me a few years ago have been a blessing for not only me, but the other Sisters in my dorm. They think they are the best thing ever.

Sister Bingham is my companion, and we room with Sister Perry and Sister Davos. 

Everyone thought my name was Sister Dickinson.

I ran into Elder Deeds, who left the same day as me and is from our ward, in the MTC store.

I notice that the rain smells differently here, more crisp, a fresh earthy smell. It smells like fresh dirt and asphalt and snow and mountain air. It's a sweet earthy smell. I like it.

The sisters and I explored with some of the Elders from our district. We are all really connecting. Everyone's really friendly and there are so many here filled with the light of Christ. I can't wait to watch that light grow throughout the weeks we are here.

A companionship of Elders showed up wearing the same color and kind of coat. It inspired the rest of the district to match the next day. We planned on all wearing polka dots. I feel like it's a tender mercy for me. I miss home, and mom loves polka dots, so it feels as if it's His way of saying he's watching out for both of us.

At night, an alarm went off. Elders were evacuated from the building across the way. It was 36 degrees outside. It was around 11 at night. We watched from our fourth story window. Several Elders waved at me and pointed at our windows. Our lights were out, but I guess the street lights made it so they could see us. We waved back and took a few pictures. It was quite entertaining. 

Elizabeth's District

Pointing to where she's headed on her mission

Day 4- Our first P Day!

P Day lasts from when you wake up and ends at 6:30, when you arrive at class. Between then and class, you are free ti go to the temple, do laundry, write emails, call home, take a nap, or do whatever else that needs done.

We woke up and went to the temple this morning. The night before Sister Perry helped me and the other sisters to find four family names to do baptisms for. 

I was finally able to call home and talk to my family!!!

I spent almost thirty minutes writing a long email home about my experience thus far, but when I pressed send an error sign popped up,  the page automatically reset itself,  and the email was deleted.  I tried all I could to recover it, but it didn't work.  I had to rewrite the whole thing,  send our again, and the same thing happened,  but this time I copied it before sending it.  I pulled up a new email,  pasted the old,  and sent it off. This time it made it.  

We were walking between classes and Sister Bingham mentioned get bag was heavy,  so I started carrying it. Elder Dao saw and cheered me on, saying "Elder Dickson, stepping up!" I looked at him and said "what?" He repeated himself "Elder Dickson, stepping up." He repeated himself five times thinking the look if confusion in my face meant I didn't hear. I finally said "do you mean Sister Dickson?" At that he went quite. I laughed for a while at that. Then later in class my teacher started calling me elder, then corrected herself. I reassures her and told her it wasn't the first time that day I was called Elder. Sister Bingham laughed and looked over at Elder Dao, who started saying sorry while another Elder next to me seemed to be trying to reassure me, but I just shrugged and said "honestly, i just find this entertaining." 

MTC Day One

As the plane lifted off and I watched the parking lot with my family in it grow smaller and smaller, a tear or two slipped out. After that little show of emotion, there were no more tears, just a tightness in my chest. I talked to the lady next to me and she was very friendly. Sadly it was only a twenty minute flight to Seattle, so I didn't get that long to talk to her, but it was pleasant enough. A good start to a Journey. 

Once we reached Seattle, I went to the information desk and asked where I would board my flight. It was right next the where I had disembarked, so not too far away. I sat down and began my two hour wait for the flight that would take me to Utah. I read my scriptures and also read the letter my dad had sent me off with, and I laughed at his story of his experience at the MTC. As I sat there, my eyes became so heavy. The adrenaline of waking up at two in the morning and the emotions of leaving my family for 18 months to serve the Lord had caught up to me and I was left exhausted. I am a very paranoid person, and I was worried that if I dozed off someone would try and steal my stuff, but I ended up dozing off and waking back up every few minutes, then falling back together. I think I got a good twenty minutes of sleep at the airport, maybe a little more. Once I boarded my flight, it took only a few minutes for me to slip back into the warm embrace of sleep. Once I woke up the tightness of my chest was gone and I felt reassured and excited for my future. I feel that as I slept the Lord was able to transform me into the missionary He needs, and I am so grateful for that.

Once I reached the airport, I rented a cart and put my two large suitcases on it with my smaller carry on suitcase and made my way to the information desk. I asked where my shuttle was, and he pointed to a booth only a few feet away with the big sign that read "shuttle information." I felt very smart. I made my way over and was told the shuttles for the MTC leave every 25 minutes. I asked how long it was till the next shuttle. She told me 25 minutes. I sat down and waited, not knowing what to do. Once the shuttle arrived, which turns out was an old Mini van, an older gentlemen and I were picked up. On the way out the driver got a call about two other missionaries that needed a ride, and we stopped and started trying to juggle three missionary's suitcases and find room for them and all of us. As we drove away, I found out that the missionaries were both called to serve in Brazil.

After arrival, once our suitcase wheels hit the sidewalk, missionary hosts were out of the door and escorted us inside with smiles and reassurance. We got our tags and my missionary host escorted me to my room. We had to carry my two large suitcases and smaller carry on up four flights of stares. My host, who was shorter them me, carried both my suitcase and carry on up the stairs, leaving me to carry only one, and it took me much longer to climb the stairs. It was very impressive. After dropping off my luggage at my room, she led me to my classroom. There I found out I was late. The introduction class for our district was over and most of the district had left for the devotional. There were four Elders in the room, and I went with them to find my companion. When we made it to the devotional, we didn't see her and sat together. We didn't see her after as well. 

We went to the front desk and asked what to do, and they suggested I join up with a random companionship of sisters for the time being and meet my companion in a few hours when our district would meet up once again in our class. I walked down the hall, found two sisters, and asked if they would be willing to adopt me for the time being. They luckily said yes. We went to dinner together, and I was feeling stressed and homesick and lost. Right as my anxiety was at it's highest, two sister missionaries came over and sat next to us. They had been in the MTC for a few weeks and the Holy Ghost seemed to radiate off of them with love and comfort and peace. It was as if two angels had sat down next to us. They will never know how much of a help they were by simply sitting next to me. They didn't know what I was going through, they just sat with us and smiled and were friendly. It felt as if a weight was lifted off of me. After dinner, I went with the adopted companionship to a two hour activity, then they dropped me off at class.

There I met my companion, Sister Bingham. I also met our district, and we soon hit it off. They are all very friendly and energetic and welcoming. I soon felt at home. In our district we have four sisters. All of us Sisters are heading to the Colorado Denver South mission. The Elders are heading all over the place, but we are all speaking English. I am so excited to serve and learn along side them and I can't wait to see how much we grow before we head our separate ways. 

Usually at the MTC missionaries speaking their own language stay for about three weeks, but because of Thanksgiving we will be staying four weeks. I am looking forward to every second. 

So overall the first day was confusing, chaotic, and stressful, but that just makes it an adventure. I can't wait to see what else the Lord has planned for us and to see how we will grow from each and every experience.

Elizabeth's good friend Colleen got up at 2:30 am with us to see her off at the airport.