3rd Letter from the MTC - November 30, 2012
Family!
Well, I was getting too comfortable here. The MTC was too perfect. So the
Lord decided to mix things up. I now have a new companion, new district, new
schedule, new building to live in etc. And it has been really rough. More than
I thought it would be. It happened on Wednesday with very little notice. So
that is why I am emailing today instead of yesterday- my new Pday is Fridays.
Thanksgiving was AWESOME! I loved it so so much. Elder Holland spoke in
the morning and got us all fired up. He spoke mostly about how much we all take
for granted about being born in the dispensation- the dispensation that prophets
like Jeremiah and Isaiah looked forward to with joy. As they knew they were
bound to fail, they also knew that we were bound to succeed! You have no idea
how cool it was to sit in that room and know that we are fulfilling prophecy!
Scriptures like Alma 13:24 and D&C 90:11 are so inspiring right these days-
knowing that I am one of them who the prophets saw and rejoiced over. He also
said something really interesting- he said that never in ouir lives will we do
something that is more important than our missions, although some things we
would do are equally as important. I was a little taken aback when he said that
because we've all heard over and over again that the most important work we will
ever do, but he then said that the reason this was true was because if we are
doing our missions right, from the minute we wake up to the minute we go to bed
we are engaged in the salvation of souls. The spirit was so strong during his
talk.
Then we had Thanksgiving dinner, which was delicious. Then we went to a
prething for our big service project. Some people talked to us about Ousigaba
or something like that for an hour. It was really interesting, but maybe not
the best of ideas to have it right after a load of turkey- i saw many eyes droop
:). We then went and made kits for children in Mali. I'm sure that it was
really great, but my table was super inefficient and we kept running out of
supplies (even though they told us like 328593 times that there were exactly the
amount of suplies that we needed) and so for most of the hour our table just sat
there. I got to put 2 pieces of gauze in every bag. Salvation of souls people.
;) Meanwhile, as an extra treat, they blasted (and I mean blasted- we were
right next to the speakers) Primary pop music. Like the stuff from Singles
Ward. It was so funny. So overall, while maybe not quite as efficient as it
could have been, we all had a lot of fun.
Next was a program thing. We didn't really know what to expect and they
started us off with a musical number violin solo. It started off super
beautiful and then all the sudden, there was like a hoedown going on! My
district and I were super confused, but then we realized that they "tricked" us
and turns out this was a super informal meeting. So we stomped our feet and
clapped our hands along with everyone else. Then they did a skit of The First
Thanksgiving, complete with a black missionary acting as a puritan minister and
shouting "Hallelujah" when his part came around. Every time we all would raise
our hands or stand up and shout back "Amen!" It was really fun (although when I
brought it up in my new district everyone gave me the warning eyes and then told
me that the Native American girl in our group found it super offensive. Darn.)
We ate our sack dinners and then gathered once more into the giant hall for
our special evening program. Everyone was confused about who would be speaking
because Elder Holland had already spoken that day. Then they started passing
out popcorn and I got REALLY confused (okay so now I realize it was obvious).
Why were they letting us eat popcorn while someone spoke to us??? (Yeah, I know,
I'm a moron) Then they turned on 17 Miracles. Haha. In my defense though, we
gather in the gym at least twice a week to have someone speak to us so I never
expected us to be there and watch a movie together! The movie was great and
sad. AND they turned on the Christmas lights! We;ve been watching them put
them up the whole time we've been here. I'll try to send some pictures later
today. So overall, Thanksgiving was awesome. It was exactly what we all
needed.
Jordon Catron Deareldered me this week and said he set the record for most
Cordon Bleus eaten in one meal at the MTC. It was 8. So of course I challenged
my district to beat it and they took it very seriously. Elder Hill ended up
eating 8 and one bite. He threw up after the 7th one though so I'm not sure it
counts. Then another elder in the zone found out and ate 9. It was disgusting.
Hermana Kennedy and I accidently sat next to him in sacrament meeting right
after and it was a hilarious experience. He had to lead the music and he looked
like he was on the edge of death. After the sacrament, he excused himself and
I'm pretty sure he went and threw up.
Having a companion is interesting because by Sunday, if I lost Hna. K for
even 2 seconds, those two seconds are spent mildly freaking out. "Where's mi
compañera!????" You just get so used to having one that when they're gone, it's
super weird. Hna. K really was the best. I feel so blessed to have been her
companion.
So now we're to changing districts. I had realized that it wasn't going to
happen, and I was so relieved. I love love loved my district and my zone. I
loved everything about being at the MTC. In fact, after we sang "Hasta ver"
(God be with you till we meet again) to the departing district in our loudest
most joyful voices, I realized that I was so excited about being here another 7
weeks with them! (Everyone always talks here about how they can't believe they
Still have ___ weeks left). On tuesday, the guy who was supposed to move me
came and talked with me. I had almost decided that I didn't want to move
districts because our teacher let me and another Hna. leave during grammar study
and study together other concepts. But when he talked to me, it was apparent
that everything had already been worked out for me to move to Intermediate
spanish. He already had a companion who was also moving up and put us in a
district. I really had no choice- he is one of the most efficient people I've
ever talked to. I was hesitant and he said "is there any other reason BESIDES
being attached to your district why you feel you should stay?" Ouch. Those who
have been to the MTC will get this- you spend 95% of your wkaing hours with your
district. You get so attached.
But I knew it was what I needed to do. Heavenly Father gave me direct
spiritual assurance that it was what I needed to do. And this is what the
mission is all about! The Elders all gave me a beautiful blessing and it just
talked so much about hard things coming. Haha. I was so grateful for them for
doing that though. I moved rather abruptly the next day. And I am so grateful
that I got the spiritual assurance that this is where I need to be, because it's
been hard. I don't think you could put more opposite people in the same
district. But they love each other and so I know I will soon too. My new
companion is Hermana Chung from New York. She's great. Pray for her too
because it's been hard for her too.
Here is my new address
Hermana Christina Ross Catron
MTC Mailbox #125
CHI-ANT 0114
and then the rest of the address- i can't remember it.
Thank you so much for everyone who sent me letters this week. Jeanelle and
Callie- I still have letters for you that I wrote last week but didn't send
because I was too poor to buy stamps. :) They'll be really outdated but at
least they'll show you taht I love you. I absolutely positively love getting
letters. ANd especially the last few days, they have made a huge difference.
Letters of encouragement are much appreciated in this next little while! But
don't worry about telling me all about how this really is how the mission is- I
definitely know that! All you who called me a slacker last week for not pushing
myself got your wishes! :) Just tell me how awesome I am. Just kidding. But
seriously. ;)
I'm still happy to be here. I love this work and I know the Lord is
shaping me. The Church is true and this gospel changes lives. It IS for
everyone. The gospel can help every single one of us. I regret so much not
realizing that fully before coming here. Stop coping out and asuuming that
someone isn't ready just because they are satisfied with how their life is
going. I have heard so many stories since being here about how it just took one
invitation to church, or one comment about the Book of Mormon to change
someone's life. The spirit is ready to testify, but He needs us to act and help
people.
I love you all so much,
Hermana Christina Catron
P.S. Can I get some pictures of family and friends? Right now all I've
got is teh Whetton family, Callie and Mags and Kate Griffith's wedding
annoucement. :)
Well, I was getting too comfortable here. The MTC was too perfect. So the
Lord decided to mix things up. I now have a new companion, new district, new
schedule, new building to live in etc. And it has been really rough. More than
I thought it would be. It happened on Wednesday with very little notice. So
that is why I am emailing today instead of yesterday- my new Pday is Fridays.
Thanksgiving was AWESOME! I loved it so so much. Elder Holland spoke in
the morning and got us all fired up. He spoke mostly about how much we all take
for granted about being born in the dispensation- the dispensation that prophets
like Jeremiah and Isaiah looked forward to with joy. As they knew they were
bound to fail, they also knew that we were bound to succeed! You have no idea
how cool it was to sit in that room and know that we are fulfilling prophecy!
Scriptures like Alma 13:24 and D&C 90:11 are so inspiring right these days-
knowing that I am one of them who the prophets saw and rejoiced over. He also
said something really interesting- he said that never in ouir lives will we do
something that is more important than our missions, although some things we
would do are equally as important. I was a little taken aback when he said that
because we've all heard over and over again that the most important work we will
ever do, but he then said that the reason this was true was because if we are
doing our missions right, from the minute we wake up to the minute we go to bed
we are engaged in the salvation of souls. The spirit was so strong during his
talk.
Then we had Thanksgiving dinner, which was delicious. Then we went to a
prething for our big service project. Some people talked to us about Ousigaba
or something like that for an hour. It was really interesting, but maybe not
the best of ideas to have it right after a load of turkey- i saw many eyes droop
:). We then went and made kits for children in Mali. I'm sure that it was
really great, but my table was super inefficient and we kept running out of
supplies (even though they told us like 328593 times that there were exactly the
amount of suplies that we needed) and so for most of the hour our table just sat
there. I got to put 2 pieces of gauze in every bag. Salvation of souls people.
;) Meanwhile, as an extra treat, they blasted (and I mean blasted- we were
right next to the speakers) Primary pop music. Like the stuff from Singles
Ward. It was so funny. So overall, while maybe not quite as efficient as it
could have been, we all had a lot of fun.
Next was a program thing. We didn't really know what to expect and they
started us off with a musical number violin solo. It started off super
beautiful and then all the sudden, there was like a hoedown going on! My
district and I were super confused, but then we realized that they "tricked" us
and turns out this was a super informal meeting. So we stomped our feet and
clapped our hands along with everyone else. Then they did a skit of The First
Thanksgiving, complete with a black missionary acting as a puritan minister and
shouting "Hallelujah" when his part came around. Every time we all would raise
our hands or stand up and shout back "Amen!" It was really fun (although when I
brought it up in my new district everyone gave me the warning eyes and then told
me that the Native American girl in our group found it super offensive. Darn.)
We ate our sack dinners and then gathered once more into the giant hall for
our special evening program. Everyone was confused about who would be speaking
because Elder Holland had already spoken that day. Then they started passing
out popcorn and I got REALLY confused (okay so now I realize it was obvious).
Why were they letting us eat popcorn while someone spoke to us??? (Yeah, I know,
I'm a moron) Then they turned on 17 Miracles. Haha. In my defense though, we
gather in the gym at least twice a week to have someone speak to us so I never
expected us to be there and watch a movie together! The movie was great and
sad. AND they turned on the Christmas lights! We;ve been watching them put
them up the whole time we've been here. I'll try to send some pictures later
today. So overall, Thanksgiving was awesome. It was exactly what we all
needed.
Jordon Catron Deareldered me this week and said he set the record for most
Cordon Bleus eaten in one meal at the MTC. It was 8. So of course I challenged
my district to beat it and they took it very seriously. Elder Hill ended up
eating 8 and one bite. He threw up after the 7th one though so I'm not sure it
counts. Then another elder in the zone found out and ate 9. It was disgusting.
Hermana Kennedy and I accidently sat next to him in sacrament meeting right
after and it was a hilarious experience. He had to lead the music and he looked
like he was on the edge of death. After the sacrament, he excused himself and
I'm pretty sure he went and threw up.
Having a companion is interesting because by Sunday, if I lost Hna. K for
even 2 seconds, those two seconds are spent mildly freaking out. "Where's mi
compañera!????" You just get so used to having one that when they're gone, it's
super weird. Hna. K really was the best. I feel so blessed to have been her
companion.
So now we're to changing districts. I had realized that it wasn't going to
happen, and I was so relieved. I love love loved my district and my zone. I
loved everything about being at the MTC. In fact, after we sang "Hasta ver"
(God be with you till we meet again) to the departing district in our loudest
most joyful voices, I realized that I was so excited about being here another 7
weeks with them! (Everyone always talks here about how they can't believe they
Still have ___ weeks left). On tuesday, the guy who was supposed to move me
came and talked with me. I had almost decided that I didn't want to move
districts because our teacher let me and another Hna. leave during grammar study
and study together other concepts. But when he talked to me, it was apparent
that everything had already been worked out for me to move to Intermediate
spanish. He already had a companion who was also moving up and put us in a
district. I really had no choice- he is one of the most efficient people I've
ever talked to. I was hesitant and he said "is there any other reason BESIDES
being attached to your district why you feel you should stay?" Ouch. Those who
have been to the MTC will get this- you spend 95% of your wkaing hours with your
district. You get so attached.
But I knew it was what I needed to do. Heavenly Father gave me direct
spiritual assurance that it was what I needed to do. And this is what the
mission is all about! The Elders all gave me a beautiful blessing and it just
talked so much about hard things coming. Haha. I was so grateful for them for
doing that though. I moved rather abruptly the next day. And I am so grateful
that I got the spiritual assurance that this is where I need to be, because it's
been hard. I don't think you could put more opposite people in the same
district. But they love each other and so I know I will soon too. My new
companion is Hermana Chung from New York. She's great. Pray for her too
because it's been hard for her too.
Here is my new address
Hermana Christina Ross Catron
MTC Mailbox #125
CHI-ANT 0114
and then the rest of the address- i can't remember it.
Thank you so much for everyone who sent me letters this week. Jeanelle and
Callie- I still have letters for you that I wrote last week but didn't send
because I was too poor to buy stamps. :) They'll be really outdated but at
least they'll show you taht I love you. I absolutely positively love getting
letters. ANd especially the last few days, they have made a huge difference.
Letters of encouragement are much appreciated in this next little while! But
don't worry about telling me all about how this really is how the mission is- I
definitely know that! All you who called me a slacker last week for not pushing
myself got your wishes! :) Just tell me how awesome I am. Just kidding. But
seriously. ;)
I'm still happy to be here. I love this work and I know the Lord is
shaping me. The Church is true and this gospel changes lives. It IS for
everyone. The gospel can help every single one of us. I regret so much not
realizing that fully before coming here. Stop coping out and asuuming that
someone isn't ready just because they are satisfied with how their life is
going. I have heard so many stories since being here about how it just took one
invitation to church, or one comment about the Book of Mormon to change
someone's life. The spirit is ready to testify, but He needs us to act and help
people.
I love you all so much,
Hermana Christina Catron
P.S. Can I get some pictures of family and friends? Right now all I've
got is teh Whetton family, Callie and Mags and Kate Griffith's wedding
annoucement. :)