MTC - Day 4 - April 12, 2008 - Journal Entry

Today was our first gym day. It was heaven sent - S. Hartman doesn't like to exercise and I can't leave her to go with S. Brinkerhoff and Stagg so today was the first day. I loved it! I went up to the third floor to use the weight machines and suddenly missed Golds Gym - all the weights were tailored to men - I tried to fit my short body on some of these machines - I looked ridiculous. Finally I found a cable row that was adjustable and then found a bench press - I did it to failure on 105 lbs. I quit counting after awhile, my legs were like Jello as I left.

S. Hartman went to play volleyball and we had agreed to leave at 9 a.m. but we forgot to say where we'd meet. We ended up spending 10 minutes looking for each other. It was scary. I was certain I'd lost my companion and some wild dog had eaten her. Obviously in the end we found each other. But I realized that staying together is a rule I want to keep.

Today is Elder Gwythers birthday, he turned 20. The Sisters and I made him a card and S. Hartman drew a Bronco on it - Elder Gwyther loves the Denver Broncos. During MDT S. Hartman and I got on Mormon.org and listened to some of the testimonies/conversion stories on there, two in particular really touched me. The first one was a woman whose husband was in the first plane that hit the Twin Towers. He was killed - this is what lead to her conversion. The second was looking for answers and in asking questions she found her way to the Mormons. It was great to listen after a long day.

I like S. Hartman a lot, but we have different study patterns and when we spend all day trying to figure out what the other is doing - it gets frustrating. We were making an outline for the first lesson and we each had different ideas and different scriptures and the constant "What do you think?" "Do you like that?" really starts to grate on you after 2 hours. It's hard work, but I really like it and I seem to be fairing better then some in my Branch - yea me.

We also got to give the first lesson for the first time, we worked with some Elders in our district, it went OK, we got all the points we wanted to across, but we were divided up into sections, each taking a turn - which made it stale and hard to listen to. The Elders showed us how to go back and forth while teaching - we'll do better next time.

MTC - Day 3 - April 11, 2008 - Journal Entry

We were all so exhausted that we fell asleep right away and remained oblivious to the world until our alarms went off. It was wonderful!

This morning in MDT (Missionary Directed Time), we (as a District) came up with goals, one of which was to get to know one another. This lead to a game - Elders Burnam & Hall shared personal scriptures - 2 Corinthians 4:8-11. Elder Gleason shared a testimony. Elder Gunther shared a story about his twin sister. I defended my name "Warrior Princess", Sister Hartman gave a brief overview of her life - she has moved a lot - Arizona and Colorado - she hated Nevada. I don't remember what Sisters Brinkerhoff & Stagg did, but I'm sure it was lovely.

We had 2 LGM (large group meetings) - finished "The District" and saw 2 baptisms and one person get dropped - it was a great spiritual day.

We got together with another district to practice commitments - they are a lesson ahead of us and it was good to get their feed back. I got to work with Elders Shumway and Burnam. Elder Shumway was great and he had some good suggestions. Poor Elder Burnam got flustered and had to start over several times.

MTC - Day 2 - April 10, 2008 Journal Entry

Had an awful night - the bed is horribly uncomfortable. S. Brinkerhoff & S. Staff got up at 5 a.m. to do stairs, I only made it till 5:30 before I had to get up as well. The shower was really warm - hot - too hot, but it got me going and feeling much more relaxed.

I got to have oatmeal for breakfast! Woo! We came back for class & Taylor McKay from Timpview was teaching, he gave a great lesson and I got to practice the first lesson. It started out well, but then I got flustered in the middle, luckily I finished off with a testimony and that can never go wrong.

I had a taco salad for lunch - I'm not sure what was in it but it sure made me foggy. I still managed to memorize "My Purpose". I used Learning Techniques - the other Elders and Sisters thought I was mad - but to each his own. (This is a method Kelli learned to help her memorize - she marches as she repeats out loud - if you have never experienced it - it does look strange).

We had our first LGM today, the first part was very much a repeat of what Brother McKay taught us and I was bored for the first bit. S. Hartman and I had to sit in the back because she gets anxious in big crowds. Anyway, we got to watch a movie about missionaries using "Preach My Gospel", it was fun and helped me relax even more. I can do this! (Written at 5 a.m. with a flashlight)

1st Letter from the MTC

Dear Family,

Hello from the MTC! It has been a long day filled with rules, humor, and learning. I share a dorm with 3 other sisters. Sister Brinkerhoff & Sister Stagg are both going to Nauvoo to serve in the Visitors Center. My companion, Sister Hartman is going to Florida. We met the Elders in our branch - 4 of them all going to Florida. One of the Elders best friend is in Dad's ward & his friend can't say enough good about Dad - it made me smile.

I had to have three shots & my arms ache, but they gave me Bugs Bunny Band-aids which makes it all better.

It's a little confusing - we get hard, fast rules from the President - be it Mission President or Branch President, but the District Leaders say it's really not that big a deal. Of course, they say this out of the hearing of the Branch President. I get the impression it's much like the Jewish laws - follow as many as you can & when you make a mistake you admit it and commit to be better. My p-day is Tuesday, so I'll write again then. I love you all! Kelli

SISTER KELLI ANN WILCOX

MTC Mailbox #136

FL-TAL 0429

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, UT 84604-1793

Kelli's estimated departure date for Florida is April 29th.

MTC - Day 1 - April 9, 2008 Journal Entry

Day 1

Not as bad as I thought. Very busy running to & fro. I got 3 shots and my arms hurt, but I got Bugs Bunny band-aids which makes it all better. We had 3 meetings today there are a lot of rules - not many seem to stringently keep them. My companion is Sister Hartman, we share a room with Sister Brinkerhoff & Sister Stagg - they are going to Nauvoo. We have 4 Elders in our branch, one of them has a friend in Dad's ward, who thinks that dad is the bee's knees - I agree.

Earlier today the Sisters were talking about how the last couple of weeks they've been plagued by doubts and they blamed Satan. I disagree - I think they just weren't raised by a Maloney - you commit to something and you do it. I don't know about S. Stagg & S. Hartman but S. Brinkerhoff had a strong confirmation - she's 26 and I'm surprised at how emotional she is. We have been asked to avoid referring to each other as "guys" which is a lot harder than I would have thought. I'm going to start trying to add "Y'all" to my vocabulary. It's part of my language! Anyway, so excited to be here, and looking forward to many more experiences.

Entering the Mission Training Center (MTC)

We arrived at the MTC at 1 p.m. We dropped off all Kelli's belongings and headed in the doors. Kelli received her Missionary Name Tag and we headed off to a chapel. We watched several Mormon ads interspersed with interesting facts about the MTC and missionary work. Finally the MTC President and his wife spoke briefly, informed us that the fence around the MTC was to keep mothers and grandmothers out, asked us not to accidently meet at the temple, and please do not leave messages to our missionaries on the sidewalk in chalk. We sang "Called to Serve" at a very fast pace - just like I like to play it - watched another movie (made in the 80's with big hair and big glasses) said goodbye and she was off!

Kelli - Set apart as a Missionary

Kelli was set apart as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was a beautiful blessing - she asked her mom and sister to Whitney to share thoughts - she asked for courage in her blessing.  She was given that and much more.  The Wilcox and Maloney Grandparents were there as well as her parents and sisters.