MERRY (late) CHRISTMAS everyone!!!! And Happy New Year
really soon!!!
MTC Culture Shocks:
1. Skype is precious. I was able to talk to my family and
hear their voices and see their faces and it was just the most amazing thing.
Most definitely the highlight of my week.
2. If you think you've seen a good nativity, you've never
seen the one at the MTC. On Christmas Eve President Martino and his wife acted
out the nativity with all their grandchildren and we sang Christmas songs
including ones from the children's song book and it was so cute and brought the
spirit so strong.
3. Christmas presents don't stay wrapped too long here.
Pretty much everyone opened their presents on Christmas Eve or before HAHA.
Practicing self-restraint at its finest.
This week's details: This week was so amazing. We taught our
last in-person TRC lessons so now we'll be skyping people in Albania and
teaching them! We are terrified but also ecstatic! The language is coming along
well. It's so fun diving into grammar and being able to feel confident in
teaching. We're working on increasing our vocabulary because that is the
hardest part at this point. Christmas was amazing. We got to watch movies, eat
a special Christmas lunch, hear from a General Authority (David A. Bednar), and
had a musical devotional by David Archuleta! I GOT TO SHAKE DAVID ARCHULETA'S
HAND TOO IT WAS SO AWESOME! Later that night we had a fun "family
night" sharing with our district what we learned in the devotionals
and sharing pictures we brought from home and fun stories. Christmas was
beautiful.
FUN STUFF:
1. We have to be extremely creative in the MTC because
there's not a lot we can actually do here. We conducted a talent show with a
bunch of our different friends hahah and it was so fun. The Malagasy, Germans,
Romanians, Farsi, Italians, and us (the Albanians) all came and it was awesome.
It was such a good turnout HAHA. Everyone brought their talents from singing,
skits, chair flipping, stair racing, juggling, magic, pushups, origami,
etc.etc. IT WAS SO FUN HAHA.
2. Foursquare is dead now because all the fun people left so
now we play volleyball and it is so INTENSE. We play with the Thai, Vietnamese,
and Korean speaking people and it's a blast. They all yell so much and it's
like life or death in there. The Albanian sisters and I get super into it. It
was so funny because one of the Thai Elders told one of the Albanian Elders
that they were so excited for gym because "The Albanian sisters are
coming". Our Albanian Elder just shook his head because he knows how
competitive we are haha.
3. When David Archuleta came EVERYONE was fan-girling so
hard. The Elders even more than the sisters surprisingly. Haha it was such a
treat to hear from him!
Spiritual thoughts:
1. Sunday we had a special Christmas program and heard the
most amazing songs. There are some talented people in our zone that's for sure.
Then we had the opportunity to share our testimonies of the Savior and share
our favorite Christmases with each other as a zone. Everyone's testimony is so
strong it was wonderful.
2. Elder Bednar and Sister Bednar spoke to us and we LOVED
IT. His message touched my heart I really needed to hear his words. He talked
about how to receive revelation. He said that often times we won't know we're
receiving revelation but the important thing is to listen to all inspiration
that is good. He said, "Be good, and go". I loved that. Everything he
said was so powerful, I can't do it justice. He said one thing that sure put us
on the edge of our seats. He was talking about the powerful revelation given to
the prophet through these last changes made in the church. He then proceeded to
say, " Buckle up, because we're not done." AHH so cool.
3. This week I learned that the word 'relationship' in
Albanian is marrëdhënien. This word translates to "take and give". I
love that. When we have a relationship with someone we give and take in
balance. It is so important that as we increase our relationship with the
Savior that we don't only take from him, but that we give to him as well. What
was your gift for Christ this Christmas? What will your gift to Christ be this
next year?
Although it was hard being away from family this Christmas,
I was really able to grow closer to my Savior. He was born of the most humble
birth, lived the most amazing life, died simply because of his love for us, and
rose from the dead. He is our Savior, Redeemer, Friend, Shepard, and Brother.
He told his disciples, "Come, follow me". I know as we follow him we
will be perfected in him. I love my Savior. SPREAD SO MUCH LOVE THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON. SMILE BIG!!
Hurrah for Israel!!!!!
Love, Motra Sëtën
No comments:
Post a Comment