Week Two of the MTC

Hello everyone!! What a week this has been. There have been so many ups and downs, I don't even know where to start. First off, before I forget, I leave the MTC next week on the 16th, so Monday! I have no idea what my P-day will be for that week, or if I will have one at all, but just a heads up :). Also, if you have been trying to right me on Dear elder, my box number is 106. Last Tuesday we had a devotional with the General Young Women's President, Bonnie L Oscarson. SO COOL! She gave an awesome talk on missionary work and all the places her family has served. and what some of their advice was to us. It was amazing. On Wednesday we got a new district in our zone, the girls are so awesome!! I haven't got to know the elders well at all, but they all seem great too. We also found out that day that Brother Coutu would be leaving our district and teaching another :(. I have loved him as a teacher and will miss him tons. Thursday and Friday were pretty uneventful days, I mean as uneventful as missionary life can be. We had some great lessons with our investigators, Patricia, Harper, and Daniel. All of them came so far this week in their faith, and have come so close to Christ and using his atonement in their lives. We also did some family history work and that was so cool!! People on both sides of my family have been pretty darn busy, the geneology records go back so far!! There is still much work to be done, but it is so fulfilling. The flu has been reeking havoc on our district, so keep them in your prayers!! On Sunday I went to choir and it felt sooooo good to sing again. I have missed choir and music so much! My favorite time in the day is when we sing opening and closing hymns :). We had a devotional by Kelli Mills, who is the director of all of the MTCs around the world. He made us laugh, and I think that was the best part. I needed a good laugh. We watched Legacy after, and boy, is it different watching it with 60 plus missionaries who have been deprived from the outside world for weeks haha. Saturday was probably the worst and best day of my mission thus far. I have been very patient, seeing gods hand in my life everyday, and trying to love everyone i meet. I have been pretty content and stress free thus far, but Saturday was my breaking point. The stress just hit me, i was angry and impatient with myself, and feeling completely and utterly alone. I am not one to cry in front of others, but I think I had been holding it in so long I couldn't take it anymore. So, I turned to the only person I could at that point, and that is god. I have never prayed so fervently and desperately in my entire life. At first, I prayed for understanding, and for a softer heart, and to feel like I was enough. I prayed and prayed, and while when I finished I felt better, I didn't feel as though my prayer was answered. Just after my prayer Sister Holt and I went into our final appointment with Patricia, and the spirit was so strong, and she committed to baptism. I was so shocked, she was so ready for christ to be in her life, but she had so many doubts. We left the lesson so full with the spirit, and I was feeling a lot better. After that, We went to our class with brother Griffiths, and my role plays throughout the class went PERFECT. And I am not good at Role Play, so that was so awesome for me. Then, Sister Holt and I had companionship inventory and since then we have been working amazing together. Our evening appointment with Harper went amazing, and she too committed to baptism! Holy Cow! We were so excited! And then, after that, our investigator, Daniel, also committed to baptism! We had our final lesson with Brother Coutu, and we spent the last hour reading Alma 7, and talking about God and Jesus' love for us and the atonement and sacrifice of him. I don't think there was a single dry eye in the room. I wept. I was so overcome with the love Jesus has for me, and a desire to use repentance more in my life. The spirit was so strong, and that night I truly gained a full testimony of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. God answers the prayers of those who have a sincere heart, and ask with real intent. I was at my lowest, and by his mercy, I was lifted up and answered in a miraculous way. I know he can answer all of our prayers, and if we just turn to him, he will open his arms wide to us and shower us with love and blessings. My favorite scripture this week is Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live; but not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." I love being a missionary!!!! I Love you guys, and I miss you dearly. Thank you for all your prayers, they mean the world! Sister Parry