MTC Part One!

It's crazy to think I will only be here one more week! There is so much to learn, so many people to teach, so many things to do, and I have 8 more days in which to do it! 

Where oh where to start?? How do I describe my experience in the MTC in a short email? It is incredible. The minute I walked in the doors, I felt the power of the spirit here. Imagine focusing on your own and others' salvation, 24/7, with ZERO distractions. Imagine exploring the gospel and ways to teach it from every angle. Imagine learning to love someone in less than a minute of talking to them. Imagine crying, laughing, stressing, growing, and learning every day, more than you ever thought possible! Imagine still being the exact same person you were before you put on a name-tag, but having added responsibility and expectations, along with so many added blessings and power. That's a bit of the MTC experience. I wish everyone could have a chance to experience the unique and incredible spirit that is here.

When I was set apart, President Holland promised my mission would be one of joy and laughter. Well, that is already being fulfilled...in the form of my sweet wonderful companion! She redefines the word hilarious. Her name is sister Dahlberg, and she has made me laugh more in the past 4 days than I have ever laughed in my entire life, and that is not a joke. She's from Ogden, Utah, and went to Dixie State University this past year. She loves clothes, polka dots, making friends with strangers, and has such a strong testimony of the gospel! She is so happy and positive, and she says, "Sister Petrie, I love you!" ALL the time! I love her SO much, and I am so blessed to be her companion. The other sisters in my district are Sister Furniss from Idaho, and Sister Shontell from Gilbert, AZ! We are all blonde. We have so much fun together, I can't even explain how much I love these sisters. Pray for them! The MTC is a bit of a shock, but we are learning so much together! I am Sister Training Leader over my zone with Sister Furniss, and oh boy, that is a learning experience! 

MTC District Sisters

I have the most incredible teachers. Here at the MTC, we start teaching investigators at day 2, and usually we teach our teachers, role playing one of their friends. Mine and Sister Dahlberg's first lesson was teaching Brother Buahin (from Ghana) the restoration! It. was. a. disaster. It was literally awful. They tell you here that you will probably come out of your lessons crying at least once, but I had no idea I would be crying coming out of my very first lesson! Sister Dahlberg was very good and taught me a lot about letting it roll off my shoulders. She was incredibly positive. In the lesson, J. (our pretend investigator) told us he wasn't learning anything, and that he thought we weren't doing a good job. Ohhhh dear! The good thing was, we did MUCH better the next lesson! We taught another investigator, P., and committed him to baptism! 

What I learned from that experience was that what we say...really doesn't matter! It's important to become the best teacher we can be, to learn correct principles and improve our teaching skills, but when it comes down to it, the spirit will teach us how to love and what to say to our investigators, and that is what makes the real difference. This week, I learned how important it is to turn outward in our missionary work, and just LOVE those we meet! Loving someone you just met is a sacred experience, because the Lord teaches you how to love them. I have experienced that more times than I thought possible this week and it's changing me!

I have to do a shout out to my awesome district! Our elders are incredible. We set goals every day, and we actually achieve them! We are so so SO close. Each elder and sister has so many individual struggles...and yet in the midst of their struggles, they turn outward, and not inward! They are dedicating their lives to helping others. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by their awesome spirits! 

MTC Zone

A few random fun things! 1. My WHOLE district (4 elders, 4 sisters) is going to the St Louis mission...so that means we can be friends forever! 2. Elders get to sing in the missionary choir at the priesthood session of General Conference...but we don't! Bummer! Look for Elder Hunter (Ben)! 3. We went to the temple this morning and it was incredible!! 4. They feed us way too much food here. 5. Speaking of Elder Hunter, I ran into him!!!!!!!!! I was so happy, we struggled to just give a firm handshake! Also I saw Sister Packer, and Elder Marques! (He served in our ward with Matt Okelberry) Also, SO many friends from BYU! Lots are serving missions! 

Well I love you all! Emails and letters are Christmas in the MTC, don't forget to write! :) Also, ask me questions! 

I love you all SO much. I'm praying for you! 

Loves to the moon and back,

Sister Petrie (yeah, it's official. I have a name tag!!!)