Bonjour mes amis!
Wow. What a week (almost) it has been! It's so true what 'they' (who is they) say... The MTC is happy and hard and long and sad and wonderful all at once! So the trip out to Salt Lake wasn't too bad. Some creeper was trying to talk to me and I was all "just let me be sad in peace." But then it turns out he wasn't a creeper and actually was super nice and served his mission in Washington and is moving to San Antonio for work. I don't know why that matters. Anyways. It was awesome getting off the plane and seeing my favorite brother. I have enjoyed having him at the MTC with me. Although he was supposed to eat lunch with me today and so I was bragging to my companions and then he never showed up and I looked dumb. Thanks a lot, Zach.
It was kind of hard to say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa at the curb. Mostly cause I saw all the sisters and I was like "ya nevermind. Just take me back." But I forced myself to be brave and put a smile on my face and then went through 100 lines getting my nametag (en francais!) and key and books and etc. etc. We dropped my stuff off in my "residence hall" (isn't that buggy? Just call it a dorm. This isn't the England MTC) and then went to my class and more orientations and blah blah blah.
So...my companionS. Avec un S. (with an S). That's right. I am in a trio! Triple the stress! I mean fun! haha. Sister Tribe is from Utah and is serving in Montreal. Sister Herrerra is from West Jordan and also serving in Montreal. They are both very sweet girls and we have really had a lot of success...as far as finding the cafeteria goes. No doubt we are very different but more on that later!
So you know how everytime you hear about a missionaries schedule you hear that they wake up at 6:30 and go to sleep at 10:30? They LIED! haha so because so many sisters et elders have entered the MTC they have to stagger the schedules and the French/Haitian-Creole and some Spanish speaking missionaries have to be at breakfast BY 6:30. Which means we wake up at 5. And still go to bed at 10:30. Pretty much we eat and study and eat and study and eat and then if we are lucky we can go to the bathroom and maybe see the sun. Haha it's not that bad but the schedule is a little tedious. The days are long and the work is hard. But I am learning to love it.
MY DISTRICT. I absolutely adore the elders in my district. Elder Lynch is from Scotland (I KNOW!!) and is serving in Togo, Africa (Again, I KNOW!). Elders Peck and Sanchez are going to Madagascar too! I'm way stoked. We are gonna get so close on that 45 hour plane ride... There are only 6 missionaries in my district, two sets of trios. So we are already so close. It's weird. Then our zone has 12 missionaries in it, us plus 6 other elders, all serving in Montreal, Canada. I love them too! They are just all so kind and fun to talk to. Plus I pick on them and they can take it. Which I appreciate. We are very close as a zone as well. We went to the temple this morning together and we sing hymns en francias chaque nuit ensemble. I love the elders and sisters I am serving with. Techinaclly there are other districts in our zone but they leave to Paris and Lyon next week. But I have gotten very close to a few of those sisters and will be tres triste to see them go. It's funny how quickly you feel love for those around you. I blame the lack of sleep.
So...Friday. It goes down in history as one of the worst days I have had in a while. It started out okay but then we had to teach our first 'investigator' (he's already a member but don't tell anyone). Pretty sure that's spelled wrong but whatever. So...we did awful. Bad. Horrible. I left the room (our lesson was like 5 minutes long) and broke down a little bit. I cannot truly put into words how frusterating it is to know something and have a sincere desire to share it and to change a persons life and NOT be able to say it. I mean we were there. We know the gospel and we love the Lord but we do not know the language. I have never before felt so inadequate, useless or discouraged. My heart was broken because I knew I was there to tell that person how much his Savior loved him. I knew it but I could not say it. And I will admit...I was a little frusterated because I felt like I was sacrificing so much and I expected the Lords help. Wrong attitude to have. That night I prayed harder than I have ever prayed before. I plead with the Lord to give me the gift of tongues and to help me help His children....
The next day was MON ANNIVERSAIRE! Je suis vingt (20!) ans! It was wonderful. The alarm did not go off and so we slept until 6:45! haha and some sweet sisters had put kind birthday notes all over my door. And a bag of treats on my bed and I got y'alls package! Thanks especially to Andrea....the beef jerky was much needed (we eat dinner at 4!) So our next lesson with our 'investigator came around. And let me tell you...the gift of tongues is real. I still stumbled and made mistakes and sounded dumb BUT I didn't take ANY notes which is a HUGE deal for my third day in the MTC. And it was okay. I was able to communicate. Nothing miraculous happened but I remembered words and phrases that I had studied. I was able to testify and the spirit was felt. How wonderful it is to know the Lord is aware of me and is helping me out.
So then Sunday. It's also true that you just have to make it to Sunday. I don't know why but it works. Sunday was a weird day for me. Fast and Testimony meeting was all in French (every sacrament meeting is) and GUESS WHAT? I understoof 95% of it! My French has come back to me SO MUCH and even though I am nowhere near fluent, I can communicate with the missionaries that have been here for 4 weeks. So....again...gift of tongues....real thing. But then my sabbath went down hill. As I said before, my companions and I are very different. I began to get annoyed with one of them (totally my problem not hers) and the spirit left me so fast it made my head spin. I felt bitter and alone and angry and hopeless. I knew I needed the spirit with me becasue no way can I last 18 months without it. It's hard enough with the spirit for goodness sake! So again I pled and asked for humilty (not easy for my bull headed self) and then I forced myslef to tell this sister I loved her. And suddenly, I did. I saw her more as the Lord saw her and the spirit returned. What a beautiful gift that is! I can honestly say the spirit has become one of my best friends here. It was hard but I am grateful for my change of heart.
Oh hey! I am going to San Francisco tomorrow! haha with Elder Peck and Elder Sanchez to get our Visas! I have heard from other missionaries that had to go get visas that it's so fun and you go to the pier and the golden gate bridge! I am way stoked for that. Plus Elder Sanchez are the greatest. So I am excited. Guess what else? I feel down the stairs my first night and sprained my ankle. Welcome to the MTC!
So I love you all! I know the church is true. That's all that matters.
Sincerement,
Soeur Edwards.
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