Week #3

Dear Everyone,

It has been a crazy last week at the MTC!  I cannot believe I am already writing that, "last week at the MTC!"

In just one week, I have become the QUEEN of four square, (not really, I stink) and my comp and I committed our investigator to Baptism! I would say it was a productive week.  Life is CRAZY!!!! But really though, this last week has gone by so fast its insane!

Honestly, the whole MTC experience has gone by fast. I have learned so much and have grown close to so many people, BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO LEAVE. We have to be at the travel office tomorrow at 3:30 in the morning, that's AM, in case you were wondering. This is so we can catch a train, and then trax to the airport (mom, do not get up early to try and ride the same train), so that we can make our 7:00 AMflight. There are 15 of us going to Columbus, Ohio tomorrow. The Elders in our district left early this morning for Utica.  Last night we had a testimony meeting with all of us together and it was very sweet. The Elders cried and so did the Sisters, me included. Our Elders are so great, we were so blessed to have such great guys serving with us in the MTC, I know they will rock it in New York. The last thing they all said to us was "KILL IT IN 'LUMBUS!" Hahahaha, we laughed way hard. We will miss them lots and lots.

 

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW. I can't believe that my "His Grace" video for the Mormon Channel has been released. Nobody here at the MTC really knows about it (which is good), but I was able to get on Mormon Channel and watch it. It's a little weird because I just shared a very personal and crazy moment in my life to the world, I hope it helps at least one person. I watched it on Youtube for a second and I saw lots of lovely comments from random strangers I don't know, it was very nice. So thanks random strangers for your support!!!! You rock!!! I hope the video is well received and that from it, we as members of the church can start a new conversation about a topic that is "taboo." I really hope this happens and that the stigma can be eliminated. I'm glad I could be apart of the conversation. 

Sister Brush and I have had some incredible lessons this week. The Spirit has been so strong. We committed our TRC investigator to baptism. We were worried she wouldn't do it, because she is so worried about her family back home and breaking traditions. We told her she was going to be a missionary to her family in Thailand and she got so excited. She offered to say the closing prayer and the only thing she prayed about was us. The entire prayer was about her gratitude for us and she blessed us as we move forward.  It was sweet.  When we left the room Sister Brush and I cried because of how beautiful it was. The spirit was so strong. It made me so excited to teach actual investigators.

 

We had an incredible devotional last Tuesday! Elder M. Russell Ballard came to the MTC and spoke to us. It was so powerful. He spoke about how our attitude and the way we think about a situation or a problem on the mission is half the battle. He kept saying "You need not wait to be great". I was so great and just what I needed. He's so cute (can I say that about an Apostle?). He also talked about Dr. Ben Carson and how he changed his entire life with hard work and a positive attitude. Elder Ballard loves Carson almost as much as I do. LMAO.

The Spirit has been so strong this week. We had an incredible lesson in Relief Society this week! Also, I just realized that this is the first time I've ever said that sentence about Relief Society, but it was really good!!! It was about the Book of Mormon and I grew an even greater love and appreciation for Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The girls in my zone are all so cool and all have such cool stories as to how and why they decided to serve. I am inspired by all of them everyday. I will miss them all so much, but I (thankfully) wasn't called to serve in the Provo MTC Mission, I was called to serve in the Columbus, Ohio mission. I can't wait go. I love you all so much! The church is true! I've never felt more certainty about that in my life! Through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith restored this Gospel back on the Earth in this dispensation, and for this moment in time. I'm so grateful for love and prayers from you all back home. I feel them everyday. My heart is filled with so much love all day everyday I feel like I might explode!  Which is weird for me. I've only been gone for 3 weeks, and I already feel a change in myself. I'm no longer a grumpy troll who lives under a bridge!!!! I'm just a normal troll who lives in Ohio!!!! That's all I have to say this week!!! Thanks for everything!!!!  Ohio, here I come!!

Bye!!!!!

xoxoxoxo,

--Sister Hannah Thomas