Friday, February 26, 2016

MTC Week 2

So no pictures again this week. The little converter dad gave me to upload pictures with does. not. work. Sorry. I sent an e-mail last week asking for a new one, but I guess it got lost in the hurry of things... So yeah. No pictures. Super big bummer. But I can't do anything about it because none of the sisters have a converter either. Sorry! 
Sister Atkinson is going to e-mail some of the pictures she's taken, so I'll forward those to you hopefully! 

Wow! What a packed week! I don't even know where to begin... okay, so this week I have spent a lot of time learning how to teach the PMG lessons! I'm not really sure what to tell you all about that... It's basically just what it sounds like. 10+ hours sitting in a classroom everyday learning about the restoration, role play teaching an investigator, realizing you don't know how to teach anything. Learn how to stick with the basics, and then role play again and again and again! We teach our P.I. Phil almost every night, and then we teach 2 different TRC's 4x a week. So mondays, tuesdays, wednesdays, and saturdays. It has been a really helpful experience, and also 100% terrifying everyday. 
So everybody I ever talked to about going on a mission told me "just make it until sunday!" ... not really sure why. I always thought it was like, wait until sunday! It gets so much easier, or better after that! Which I guess is true, but sunday was definitely my homesick day! Sorry, I know I probably shouldn't talk about that, but I just really missed my piano all day! (uh...and my family. i miss my family every day...) ANYWHO! Sunday really was great though! It's a little sad I only get one more!
Sister Atkinson and I taught Phil, our Progressing Investigator the other day with the entire class sitting behind a 1 way window! That was absolutely terrifying...! But the lesson was actually one of our most effective lessons, so it turned out alright. 
Getting packages has been really fun! I go three days without getting a package notice, and then one day I get 4 of them! So I get to walk all the way from the post office place to my room carrying TONS of boxes, and every missionary I pass looks at me like I am next in line for the throne.. that's been pretty fun! But it gets a lot less fun really fast when you open up a box and find some nectarines that are SUPER soft... and you're like... "what?? I could have eaten these 2 days ago!" But life goes on... 
I love my district guys. Like, REALLY love them! I've come to realize that there is no such thing as an easy MTC experience. Everyone is being pushed to their limits in one way or another and it's really hard! But these wonderful missionaries deal with everything in such a graceful way. I look up to them so much! We actually lost an Elder yesterday. That has been one of THE hardest things I have ever dealt with. He is such an amazing missionary you guys. And amazing person! He was our District Leader too. So he was always checking in on everybody, and making sure that we were all doing alright. He decided to go home to sort some things out, and be worthy to have Heavenly Father's help everyday. I admire his desire to do the right things so much. He told us he has had friends who have gone on missions and never repented of some of the bad things they did before, and he thought that he would just do the same things. But he could not do that. He has felt the spirit so much here, and he wants to be able to feel it even more. He wants to serve Heavenly Father with all of his heart, and he knows in order to do that, he needs to go home for a little while. 
When this Elder left there was never a moment of disappointment, or judgement. It was only love, and pride. But when he left, it just opened my eyes to the reality of how hard it is to be here. And how going home IS an option. I could go home TODAY if I wanted. I had to step back and re-evaluate what I am doing, and why I am doing it. And don't panic. I prayed to Heavenly Father for a really long time yesterday and I have never felt so determined to serve with absolutely everything I've got. I want to truly forget myself and get lost in this work. I want to be the missionary that goes above and beyond, and loved every single person I meet! Elder X leaving was an emotional, hard thing. But I have gained such a stronger resolve to serve my Father in heaven because of it. 
I love this gospel. This is why we are here. Please try to remind yourselves of that EVERY day! It gives me such a greater perspective of everything. I don't get frustrated as much as I used to because I know it isn't the end of the world. And I try to love everyone I talk to that much more because I have started to get a glimpse at just how hard life is by teaching my investigators. Be kind to everyone. Try to not fight. or get impatient. I know it's hard. And it always will be, but it really is worth it to try and keep the peace. Keep the spirit with you ALWAYS. Repent every night. Ask Heavenly Father for help with what you are struggling with, and ask for forgiveness of your weaknesses. If you don't know what those are... you're lying. But maybe not. Pray and ask what your weaknesses are so can work on them.
We are here to grow closer to Christ and Heavenly Father. Don't let a day go by where you don't think about your relationship with them, and make a conscious effort to improve it. 
I love you all! 
Sorry for the picture problem again. 
Next week I'll be writing you from CANADA! 
I'm not sure when I will be able to e-mail next because I fly out Tuesday morning, and I'm pretty sure P-days are on monday... so it may be a while!
Sorry for not sending any letters too- my branch president said you can't write letters during the week.It has to be on P-day! (I still don't know that I believe that, but OBEDIENCE!) P-days get really busy really fast, so I don't always have the time I want. But know that I love you, and am thinking about you everyday! Honestly, every. day. 
-Sister Dobyns

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