Crazy week in the MTC!

Hello Family and Friends!

The MTC is starting to get a lot better! The girls here are treated like princesses! The elders go out of their way to do so much for us like get our dinner trays and throw our food away- it's so nice!

We started Temple Square visitors center training on Wednesday and that was a lot of fun. And then on Saturday we get thrown into the fire!  They will pair us up with a Temple Square sister and we just start teaching people! We officially report to Temple Square on Tuesday July 23rd. We depart the MTC at 6 AM! Time has gone by so fast! I guess I'm kind of sad because I have become really close to all of the sisters in my district! There is a sister named Sister Sherrat and she reminds me sooooo much of Christie. All we do is laugh. Everyone calls us to repentence when we're together because we're so loud.

The past couple of nights at Visitors Center Training we have been meeting with investigators so we can practice teaching in very short amounts of time. I have had some awesome experiences!  Last night I realized how important it is to just be yourself. In the past I never went all missionary-mode with a soft voice but I was just more reserved. But last night I decided to just be me and I could tell my investigators truly felt the spirit.  I do have to be careful about being too much myself though because sometimes I say things without thinking! This one man was comparing us to nuns and I said "I guess in a way we are similar to them except we have fashion sense." ...... I messed up BAD! He laughed but I didn't even think about the fact that he might be catholic or have a family member who used to be a nun. I have to be careful about what I say!

Since my companion is sick I didn't get to go on the field trip to Temple Square today :(.  It's hard watching all the other sisters get on the bus while I am stuck inside this tiny room :(  I prayed and prayed that Heavenly Father would help my companion to have the motivation to go on the field trip today but I guess he is answering my prayer in another way.

Last night we met with a less active member who is struggling with her testimony of the gospel.  I felt like I could relate to her because we have had some similar experiences. She has been very confused and is kind of lost and isn't sure about her relationship with God. I didn't say anything remarkable but she said I helped her a lot. The spirit was so strong. I shared Alma 32:4 and talked a little bit about faith and trust in Heavenly Father.  I asked if she knows that Heavenly Father thinks of her as his daughter and then I invited her to think of the many ways he has blessed her in her life. She got kind of shaky but a good shaky. She said she was going to pray to know the truth. I could tell she really has been struggling.

I am going to be completely honest... this mission is hands down the hardest thing I have ever done so far.  It is completely out of my comfort zone.  Since I have been here I've been embarrassed, hurt, annoyed, sad, and there are times when I have just been mad.  It is so hard.  I feel like I know nothing about the scriptures and my dyslexia is 10 times worse than before!  Before I put my papers in I knew it was going to be like this.  But even though I've been experiencing all of these things there has not been a single moment where I thought about going back home.  Even though it is hard on me, I love every minute of it because I have received blessings and have grown so much in just two weeks!

I have learned patience, faith, how to love my least favorite kinds of people, and how to not dwell on romance.  I have learned more about the gospel and have a much better understanding of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  My relationship with Christ has grown enormously and I have a better understanding of how to listen to the spirit. 

I have learned not to judge other people and to stop thinking of myself.  I've learned how to stick up for myself and tell people they are being ridiculous for being offended if I say the word "dork" (that really happened).

I have learned how important it is to keep a clean house and to never leave without praying first.  I've even become better at time management.

For the first time in my life I have come to find out that this really is the true gospel of Jesus Christ.  NO DOUBT in my mind.  I have also found out how much the Savior loves me!  I know my Heavenly Father wants me to succeed and he wants me to have confidence.  I had the worst day yesterday.  It was just one of many hard experiences here at the MTC and I said a prayer and asked why I just can't seem to get any of this down and all the other missionaries seem to blow me away.  And then something came to my mind instantly.  I remembered my first couple of months working at the hospital and how hard it was for me to catch on.  As much as I wanted to quit, something told me not to and eventually I was receiving compliments for my work.  It reminded me that sometimes I am a slow learner but when I finally catch on to something it becomes very easy for me.  My point is, even though this is hard, it is worth it and it is what Heavenly Father wants me to do.

I have lots of motivation for serving this mission.  I want to be a better example to Kendall and the twins; I want to bring others to Christ;  I want to be able to give my kids knowledge of the gospel; I want to be a good daughter and friend.

Thanks so much to everyone for writing! I'll get back to everyone if I can today!

Love you all,

Sister Park