MTC Week 1!

Well Hello Everybody!!

So excited to be here I have so much to tell, but only 20 minutes in which to relate it.

These last three days have been absolutely wonderful!  The MTC is like a giant beehive.  There's no way to describe it.  Everyone is so busy, but it's a good kind of busy.  I love the vibe from this place.  There's nothing quite like it.  As soon as I arrived I was greeted by my escort who hustled and bustled me this way and that, picking up books, manuals, nametags, ID cards, and explaining where everything was as we went on our merry way.  My head was spinning a little bit.  But I loved it.  She helped me take my luggage to my dorm, and then dropped me off at class, where I met my teachers, companion and district.  When I first walked in, it was a room full of Elders!  They were all assigned to the Pocatello, Idaho Mission, which extends into Rexburg and up into Jackson Hole, WY as well.  I told them how much I loved the area and the people up there and that they would love it.  My companion is Sister Garrick.  She is so awesome, and way easy going.  We have really gotten to know each other well in just the last three days, and are discovering just how alike we are.  Funny enough, she actually roomed with an old roomate of mine, Katelyn Hoyt, (Mom, you remember driving her home from the airport?) Small world, huh??  She is assigned to the Salt Lake Temple Square mission, where ironically, Katleyn is serving at this very moment.  It's an even smaller world apparently.

I feel like I've been here at least an extra week, with everything we've covered.  We've attended multiple seminars, devotionals, workshops and more.  I feel that the focus if these last few days has been solely on the investigator.  We have been taught how to really listen to them.  How to get to know them.  How to love them.  It's been an eye opening experience.  Sister Garrick and I also had the opportunity to teach our first investigator yesterday!!  Well, okay, not really.  It was our teacher and we were role-playing, buut I promise you this, our teacher must have taken acting classes or something because when we walked in the room it was certainly not Brother Leah (Caty would like his accent by the way--he's British ;) Anyway, it was a little nerve racking, but an awesome experience.

We met with our zone last night and took turns introducing ourselves.  I was the only one going to DC, and haven't actually met any other "DC-ers" so far.  Fingers crossed.  We also met our Branch President, President Baker.  He told us that the theme for Sacrament meeting this Sunday was going to be enduring to the end, and that several of us would be speaking.  He then said that he would decide just exactly who, right after the Sacrament so we better be prepared.  Yikes!  So today is our P-day, and Sister Garrick and I have had so much time on our hands we're not quite sure what to do with ourselves.  I think I'd like to brush up on how better to endure to the end.  We haven't worried too much because there's always always always things to do.  While wandering around earlier trying to find the laundry room, we just so happened to run into the new MTC President and his sweet wife, President and Sister Nally.  Just shook their hands right now.  What amazing people.
       

Time is running out.  On a different note, I will be here a bit longer than anticipated.  My estimated departure date is February 11th, so mark your calendars for the big day!! I'll be sure to keep you all posted.  Apparently the time cuts don't begin until those reporting February 1st and later.  Oh well.  More prep time right??  I am so excited to get out in the field!  CAN'T. WAIT.

I love you all.  The gospel is true.  Until next week!

Sister Graff