I'm enjoying the MTC so far. It's been a great experience. We had an orientation the first day and there were about 600 new missionaries, they said. The MTC presidency and their wives spoke. And I was called on to say the closing prayer (!!!).
We had our first class on Wednesday and I met my companion. Her name is Sister Douglass and she's from South Jordan. She's going to go to the Texas Huston East Mission along with 4 elders in our district. The two other sisters in our class (Sister Olsen and Sister Lemmon) are going to the Ohio Cleveland mission like me and 4 elders in the other class are going too. Our teachers are really nice. The elders are nice too, they always talk to us and let us sit by them at meals. They even take our trays away so we don't have to haha.
We are learning so much and it's been such a great experience. On Wednesday night we had a "teaching experience" where there were 3 investigators being taught, all with different religious views and we were learning how to approach the Gospel in different ways to meet their needs. One was very religious-ish, he knew the bible and loved to be outdoors and loved his family. He was lonely and one of the things they talked with him about was the plan of salvation and how he could be with his wife who passed away again, and with his kids. The next guy was Japanese and had no knowledge of Christianity whatsoever so we had to start from the beginning basically. The last investigator was very close to being baptized and the only reason she wasn't was because no one had asked her. Anyway, it was a neat thing to learn about.
We are preparing for an investigator to teach. We're planning on teaching the Restoration lesson and talking about the importance of families and the Book of Mormon. Her name is Katherine and her brother is a recent convert to the church (he is the one who referred us to her). She was raised Catholic but she doesn't go to church anymore. (That's about all I know by memory, I don't have my notes with me.)
If I can figure out how to send some pictures I will! (I know, ME not knowing how to upload pictures, right mom? haha) These computers are set up differently than I'm used to so I've got to figure out how to upload pictures a different way.
All in all, everyone's just really nice and all the missionaries say hi, all the elders hold the doors for us sisters, and even take our trays. It's been a real blessing to be here and I know it's the right place to be. I can feel the spirit everywhere here and it's really powerful.
I hope all is well with everyone.
Sister Hedin
PS. My p-days at the MTC are on Fridays! We didn't get to go to the temple today but we have a temple walk on Sunday. We are definitely going next P-day!
