MTC - Day 11 - April 19, 2008 - Journal Entry

It's been a long day. We're all feeling a little stressed. We will be on a plane in 9 days and we don't feel like we know all the things we need to know.

I'm taking comfort in looking back and seeing how far I've come, and hoping I make as many - if not more - leaps next week.

We taught the full second lesson today, we taught it to two Elders who've been here three days. They taught us the first lesson and did an amazing job. They got to all the main points they needed to, but they were so sincere and genuine it didn't feel like a good story - they taught with power.

So today at lunch we were talking about vegetables (stirring I know). Elder Hall said his favorite veggies were potatoes and corn - probably because they are among the least healthy. He further commented that corn was one of the hardest things to digest. Sister Hartman spoke up and said she had never bothered to look before. Coming from sweet, innocent Hartman this was hilarious. Sister Hartman then drew this cartoon for us...

MTC - Day 10 - April 18, 2008 - Journal Entry

We got to do a service project today - basically we cleaned the bathroom for free. It was awesome! They gave me a hose with soap attached to it. It foamed out and I got to soak everything, including myself, but still awesome.

Sister Hartman and I had another TEC today - we had become confident and were doing our lesson perfectly - according to the book. Our teacher told us that since we had the concepts we need to look at the big picture. Don't give a history lesson - interest the person - get animated - tell a story - the spirt works in the heart and mind, if we're only reaching one of those things our investigators only get 1/2 the spirit. I really liked his advice, but Sis Hartman was frustrated, it took me a long time to talk her down - she seems better now.

We had a district meeting and we talked about our purpose and had a testimony meeting - we were asked to share our testimony on missions, missionaries and how they've influenced us. I got the pounding heart and sweaty palms and I shared the edited version of my Mary story. It was a powerful meeting.

MTC - Day 9 - April 17, 2008 - Journal Entry

Today was our second visit to the TRC. It went so well. It was our third time teaching Lesson One and we were in harmony - we covered all the things we wanted to, asked questions, bore testimony, and were able to give answers to hard questions. And I made them laugh. It was a great confidence booster. We have two more appointments to teach Lesson One at the TEC to continue to hammer out bugs. In the meantime, we get to start working on Lesson Two. Our teachers have been introducing Lesson Two to us and it is so simple and complex. PMG (Preach My Gospel) recommends teaching simply "don't teach everything you've learned". It makes sense, imagine hearing the basics for the first time and some kid trying to tell you what she has learned after years of study. It would be overwhelming and possibly boring.

We just got our travel plans. Our flight leaves SLC airport Tuesday, April 29th @ 7:10 am. We have to report with all our luggage at 4 am. We have a 5 hour flight to Georgia and then a 2 hour layover before continuing to Tallahassee. In Georgia we are allowed to call home-yippee!

Returned from RC - really hate it there.

MTC - Day 8 - April 16, 2008 - Journal Entry

It's been one week - it only feels like a few days. We had RC again today - I strongly dislike that place. But Sis Brinkerhoff had an amazing conversation with someone and practically taught the first and second lessons over the phone - it was great to listen to. Elder Burnam got someone who just wanted to argue, but he did a good job at keeping calm and staving off a fight. I do like inbound calls, I got to talk to an awesome woman - her kids are all grown up and I think she's a little lonely, we talked for a while and I had the opportunity to bear my testimony and get a feel of how easy it is to love someone you've never met.

We had gym after RC - I'm still sore. Sis Hartman and I were able to teach the first lesson to a teacher (TEC) and get some great advice on how to teach better. Bro Lovejoy gave an amazing lesson on the Godhead that shows how they are one and yet separate at the same time.

(Creator)...............(Redeemer)...............(Comforter)
..Father......................Son.....................Holy Ghost...........Me/You

1-Man.....................1- Earth..................1- Power.............. 1- Multiply
(2 Ne 29:7)............(D&C 14:9)............(D&C 29:30-31).......(Gen 1:28)

2- Sent Son............2- Atonement......2- Baptism by Fire...2-Salt of Earth
(D&C 49:5).............(Mormon 9:15)..........(2 Ne 31:17)....(D&C 101:39-40)

3- Prayer................3- 2nd Comforter..3- Comforter........3- Comfort
(Matt 7:74)............(John 14:18-20)......(John 14:26).....(Mosiah 18:9)

OK, this is how God the Father, His Son, and the Holy Ghost are one -yet separate and how we can be/have been one with them. We are all together but separate. I didn't know what a 2nd Comforter is and had Bro. Lovejoy explain it: First read John 14. The basic bare bones definition is: a witness, a personal visitation of Jesus Christ to teach, instruct, and prepare you to meet God. How cool is that?

MTC - Day 7 - April 15, 2008 - Journal Entry

P-day! The sisters and I rolled out of bed and went to the laundry room, got a quick breakfast and sat down to wait for our clothes. Elder Ireland (from Australia) helped me set up my email account, there is a flashing timer on the side of the computer counting down the seconds I have to try to communicate all the things that have happened in the last few days. In the end it was impossible and I made a copy of the journal and sent it home. We went to the Temple as a District - there was such an incredible spirit when we got to the Celestial Room - we were awed by the power we felt. I had to thank our Heavenly Father for the opportunity to worship there - what a wonderful blessing and we got to participate!

We had a devotional today, Bishop Edgley from the Presiding Bishopric spoke to us about not getting discouraged and that one soul was success. He said that if you get one soul and average that they have one child, and each child has a child ... it will average 1,500 people brought to the gospel. "I'm a nobody until I'm on the Lords errand". The gospel is pure, simple and logical.

Faith is the power
Obedience is the price
Love is the Motive
Christ is the Reason

At the end of the meeting I saw Dr. Lauferty the Chiropractor - I talked to him briefly - End P-day

E-mail - April 15, 2008

Hello everyone! How are you? Me, I'm doing great, I'm working hard and learning so much. I'm asking questions I never thought to ask and I'm finding the answers. Before I get started, I need to ask my mommy for a few things: Things I forgot: Towels! They were in the dryer and I didn't pack them, Sister Hartman has let me use one of hers, but I want mine! I also want a sweatshirt-it's cold out! I think it's on the floor in my closet.

Things not to send me in Florida: Don't send all those books I thought I wanted. 1) I don't have time 2) It's against the rules 3) I bought all the approved reading material and it is so much better than anything I have. Jesus the Christ by Talmage - WOW. I'm only on the 3rd chapter, but I am simply awed.

Things I still want: I still want the ASL Sign Book, I think it will be very helpful. It's on top of my movie shelves.

What I've been up to: Well, I barely have time to breath, I'm so busy! It was hard the first 3 days, but by Saturday I had hit a rhythm and I'm doing great. One disclaimer, this system does not have a spell check and I have difficulties spelling so I'm sorry if you don't know what I'm trying to say. I have a great District - 4 Elders and 4 Sisters. All the Elders are going to Tallahassee as well. My companion, Sister Heartman is going there too. The other two Sisters Brinkerhoff and Stagg are going to Nauvoo. How cool would that be? I'm going to make copies of my journal to send home because we have a 20 minute time limit on the computer so I'll send all the details I have later today. It's hard to record what is going on here, we sit and learn for hours, it's impossible to record that. Sunday we had Barbara Thompson come speak to us, it was very good. We weren't sure if she is the new General Relief Society President or in the presidency, do you know?

You know that scripture that says every time you bear your testimony your sins are forgiven? I get to bear my testimony so much that I hardly have time to sin! We also pray all the time, I've always thought that I had a prayer in my heart, but here we pray continually. Yesterday I counted 12 times! I kind of love it.

The Elders aren't at all like I thought they would be. They are hard workers and it's fun, I'm getting so spoiled! All the Elders stand when a sister enters the room - I haven't opened a door for myself since I got here - and the Elders part like the Red Sea in the halls when sisters go by. I'll never accept a normal man again.

Fun antidote about our Elders: The sisters had left the classroom to go do personal study but we left the door open and heard the Elders say how glad they were that we were gone 'cause they could finally pass gas! Anyway, I only have a few minutes left, but I'll write letters and give you more info. Expect that on Thursday or Friday. I love you all! Sister Wilcox

Kelli's email address at the MTC is: kelli.a.wilcox@myldsmail.net

MTC - Day 6 - April 14, 2008 - Journal Entry

I feel like I've hit my stride. I was mostly familiar with the routine which is odd because we did two things I'd never done before. We taught the first lesson to some volunteers today, we did really well and the volunteers asked some great questions particularly about the Holy Ghost. It was hard to explain the feeling but we shared Gel 5:22-23 to help. The hardest question we got was after we talked about receiving personal revelation we were asked why we needed a latter-day Prophet when we could receive personal revelation. S. Hartman and I said that most people didn't have that kind of faith and it wasn't until after we left the room that we remembered the Key of Authority. Oh well, we'll know next time.

Today we also got to go to the Referral Center. That was scary! I got yelled at once, but I got to answer a lot of questions too, so....I don't know. I'm not looking forward to doing that again.

All in all a good day.

MTC - Day 5 - April 13, 2008 - Journal Entry

Oh happy day, it's Sunday - a day of rest. We still got up @ 6:30 a.m., but since we've been getting up at 6 to make our 7 am meetings it was like sleeping in late.

I spent the morning reading "Jesus The Christ". I've never read it before, it is incredible! I can't wait to pick it up again. We had Relief Society, Barbara Thompson spoke, the sign said she was from the General Relief Society Presidency and S. Hartman thought she was the new President - I don't know, we'll look it up tomorrow.

We had sacrament meeting as a District - I played the piano and fudged horribly, but I didn't get to practice so I choose not to feel bad about it. After Sacrament our little Branch walked up to the Provo Temple and took pictures, it was fun. There were missionaries crawling all over the place.

We had a fireside, the MTC Administrator spoke about how to ponder. I never thought too much about it, but being able to stop and think and question and find my quiet place can have a great impact. After the Fireside, we went to listen to President & Sister Boone. President Boone didn't really have a topic just skipped around and gave good advice. One of the things he talked about was "Seven Significant Scriptures on the Subject of Saving Ones Soul".
Say that 10 x's fast! OK here they are:

James 5:19-20
D&C 4:4
D&C 31:5
D&C 62:3
D&C 15:6
D&C 18:15-16
1 Timothy 4:16

This was a great day - a really needed day to relax, think, and review what's been learned the last four days.

Letter - April 13, 2008

Hello Again!

Sorry about how short that first letter was, we had about 15 minutes before lights out. We really only get to write letters on Sunday & P-day. I am learning so much, but a large part of what I'm learning I already knew. While practicing giving lessons I have to define things like Apostle, Prophet, Apostasy and Dispensation - I didn't realize how much and how little I know.

Being with a companion isn't that bad, what's hard is trying to study together and make one lesson plan. We each have different ideas and ways to talk and teach, it is a constant compromise that gets tiring after a short while. We also got in a slightly heated debate about Satan, so many people here blame their problems on him - it started to get old so I started talking about how little power he has - it was not well received. Oh well - they can suffer if they want.

I regret my stationary choice. Anyway, I made a copy of my journal which gives a slightly more detailed overview of my days - but I have only 2-3 minutes sporadically throughout the day so sometimes it doesn't really flow - or I'll get up early and write by flashlight so it's really sloppy and we all know my problems with spelling - being a missionary hasn't changed that. Keep writing me, I'll write Sunday and Tuesday 'cause that's when it's allowed. I love ya-all so much! Give me lots of mail, I'm falling behind on the district competition to see whose parents love them the most. (It is measured by the amount of mail we receive). The Church is true, the book is blue - get married in the temple and have a nice day. Sis Wilcox