Week 7 at the MTC

Hola Family and Friends!

It's Monday yet again. I can't believe how fast time flies by! I feel like I am in a time warp. Can you believe that in ... drum roll... 14 days I will be on a airplane heading to Chile? I sure can't but, I am so excited. I'm surprised to see that I don't have any nervousness for it, but I am confident the nerves will strike the second I step off the plane. I just have SO much love for those Chileans and I haven't even met them, but I think that love and the love for my savior are motivating me to work harder than ever before. It's actually very satisfying to get into my room at 9:30 and just collapse on my bed, exhaustion means I have had a successful self-less day. But along with that exhaustion comes so much joy and happiness, beyond my own. I think I will really miss the MTC. Its funny that such a prison of a place can be my favorite place in the world!

I read some of the Ensign on LDS.org yesterday and I noticed that yet again, many of the articles are dedicated to missionary work... in case you haven't caught on, I think the Lord is trying to tell us something. He needs more missionaries! My teacher Hermano Coles is a huge middle east buff. He LOVES all things Arabic and Muslim and he thinks that the events in the world, coinciding with the call for more missionaries, is to prepare the church to bring the gospel to the middle east. I like to think that some of the people I teach will have children that bring the gospel back to their brothers and sisters inJerusalem (That's where the nephites came from).Cool thought. We shall see!

Yesterday, Ann Dibbs of the General Young Women's presidency was our speaker in Relief Society (Relief Society is maybe my favorite part of the week, the sisters get so many cool speakers) Sister Dibbs is President Monson's daughter. After an awesome lesson about virtue and encouraging young women to be strong, we opened it up to questions about her Dad, Thomas S. Monson. She shared some really cool stories. The prophet's favorite color is Yellow, because it is the color that makes all other colors pop. If you leave a picture in the sun for a long time, It looks so bad because the yellow is gone and only blues greens and blues remain. cool huh? Also she said he loves to sing and whistle. He has a favorite boy scout song that he sings to his grandchildren and he is always whistling, if he is in a good mood. She also talked about her mom and her strength and support to the prophet. Sister Dibbs said, as a little girl, she would sneak into her parent's silver chest and would read her parent's patriarchal blessings. She said they the blessings in her mother's wouldn't be complete without the callings of her father and visa versa. She said they fit together like puzzle pieces. I loved that story!

Also, last night, we had a very animated speaker talk to us at the fireside. He spoke about how we will all experience turbulence while on on missions and in life. He said when we feel pain, sadness or turbulence of any kind, its because the Lord is stretching us- he thinks we are ready to do greater things. He also talked about how waves of turbulence, though they seem like a trial, can actually be a blessing, lifting us over the craggy, dangerous rocks just below the water. I loved this perspective. It made me realize sometimes the trials in our lives are saving us from more danger, and helping us over come deeper, scarying things.They also help us to become better, happier people. I haven't felt too much turbulence thus far at the MTC, but I know it will come in good time! If any of you are feeling like you are being stretched a little too much, or jostled around too much, try to see it from a different perspective. The Lord trusts that you are ready to grow! (Jesus savior, Pilot me #104).

Anyways, yet another great week for me! I hope you all are doing excellent too! Keeps those letters coming, I want to hear updates on the outside world. I have had so many powerful experience this week. And I have been working harder to see God's hand in my life, directing me to what he has in store for me. You know what I've discovered? Prayer is the way we can better recognize this guidance in our lives! I promise you he is there, whispering encouragement and offering comfort, sometimes, we are too busy or distracted to notice. Pray to see a glimpse of his hand and his plan for you! It will come and you will be amazed with how much he has in store for you! "I am in your midst but you can not see me" D&C 38

My time is up... I LOVE YOU ALL. I am excited to talk to my family on the phone in two weeks! Keep up the good work and know that I love and miss you all

Hermana Royal