So the MTC was amazing. I guess I never realized that the MTC is a dedicated ground. Just like at the temple, the Spirit resides there. I have so many spiritual and wonderful experiences.
So let me tell you a little about my district. So there are 8 of us. There is Elder Vassuer (from Canada), Elder Nwobi (from Nigiria), Elder Swan (from Weiser, Idaho), Elder Dreher (from Alberta, Oregon), Sister Dunford (from Morgan, Utah), Sister Wardell (from Wyoming), and then my companion Sister Brown (from Woods Cross Utah). Our branch president is President Cutler. We have gotten so close to each other. We really are like family. We had a hard time focusing the first few days because we all just clicked so well. I can say that without a doubt that the only thing that I will miss the most will be my district.
So our teachers for the entire two weeks were Sister Standford (she served a mission in the Indiana, Indianapolis mission), Brother Baker (he served in the London mission), and Brother Ellsworth (he served in the Albuquerque, New Mexico mission). Both Brother Baker and Brother Ellsworth were Josh's teachers here as well. They were all amazing teachers, but my favorite was Brother Ellsworth. He was always there for me and always made sure that I was okay. I only talked to him about how hard it was for me to adjust to always having a companion. When I had the most trouble he gave me a scripture that I absolutely love. It is in John 14:17-18. It was just so comforting and just what I needed to hear.
So I want to tell you a little bit more about our investigators. So Sam, Everett, and Harley were all members and teachers at the MTC. They were the first ones we taught. Then Carla was a real investigator. She is 26 and all of her family joined the church, and 3 of her sisters went on missions. She has traveled all over the world and lived in New Zealand for a year. I loved her, we bonded so fast. The last meeting we had with her she cried. She realized how much she needed to change. She felt the Spirit so strongly. She wanted to get baptized. The other investigator we found walking from the laundry room to our dorm room. I had just said hi to him. So we started talking a little bit, and he asked if we had any time in our schedule to teach him. We did!!! I fell in love with him. He was so prepared. He went to sacrament meeting without us asking him to. He felt the Spirit and the Lord is already blessing him. His family hadn't talked to him in years, and after he went to church his family called him!
Well Monday was our last day at the MTC. We left for the airport at 4am, and we were in California. It is so beautiful here. There are pine trees and palm trees right next to each other. In Rancho it is so green and windy. We stayed the night at the mission home, and the President and his wife are so sweet and funny. The first day we just did a lot of training and we actually went out and tracted in a park. So Sister Dunford and I went and started walking around and we couldn't find anyone to talk to. So we stopped and I prayed, and not even 10 seconds after I prayed there was a lady with a stroller that we stopped and talked to.
So Wednesday was the day that we met our new companions/trainers. Mine is Sister Bethany Hopkins. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and she had been out since September. We are in the Hesperia Zone. Which is kinda funny because as we were on the plane I told everyone that this is the area I would be sent. We are in the Greentree Ward. In the middle of the desert.
We are in an apartment that the elders have lived in for years. We are the first sisters in this area for 20 years... The ward is so excited to finally have sisters. The apartment is kinda shabby. Saturday morning our microwave exploded. Our rooms do not have doors or lights. We had to buy lamps. And the first day we sat at our dining room table, Sister Hopkins' chair broke... LOL
Oh and on Saturday I was able to meet an APOSTLE!!!! We had a mission conference with Elder Neil L. Anderson, Elder Perkins of the Seventy, and Elder Douglas Hyum of the Seventy. It was amazing.
We were also whitewashed into our area. Which means that neither of us have ever served here. So both of us are trying to learn the people, find new investigators, learn all the active members, and visit all the inactives...which our ward has a lot. At church on Sunday there was only about 40 members present. We only filled up the first few rows of pews. But the area is huge and the ward list is around 30 pages long, which means lots of inactive members. But we already had 4 lessons this week and we only had 3 days, and we already have 6 appointments this coming week.
I know that the Lord has a reason for us to be here.. I am hoping that we will have lot of success. I am already falling in love with all the people here. I know the Lord provided a way, He wants me to Obey. I know that if I try to be exactly obedient that He will send blessings. I love all of you and hope that everyone has an amazing week. Please tell me about all your wonderful mission experiences..
Love,
Sister Bell
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